the san diego golfer

LPGA Video: Paula Creamer vs. Natalie Gulbis

2009-12-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that I haven't really featured any LPGA videos on thesdgolfer. I came across this interesting video on youtube comparing Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. Check it out

Back to Business...

2009-11-09T21:25:00.002-08:00

A lot of has been happening in the golf world since my last blog post... I'm still trying to catch up. So the Fed Ex Cup has come and gone and several tournaments as well. Just recently, Mickelson is at it again after a huge win at HSBC Champions in China. So what does this mean for Phil?

Here are some comments

Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: It's interesting the way Phil and Tiger's long, multi-faceted relationship is trending. Tiger used to own Phil like Hideki Matsui owns Pedro. Not anymore. At this moment in time, Phil is clearly the best player in the world. The question is, can he sustain it into 2010 and someday overtake Tiger in the ranking? The way Phil is putting, anything is possible. He seems reborn.

Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Phil's best golf has always been good enough to scare Tiger. The big difference is that Tiger plays at a high level every time he tees it up, while Phil usually only shows up for three or four weeks a year. I'll believe Phil is the best player in the world when he can sustain this level of play for a full season. (And pick off a couple more majors.)

So hopefully in 2010 we'll see a very competitive Mickelson.

Golfer's million-dollar shot

2009-09-18T12:09:00.002-07:00

I came across this really cool article on Yahoo about this amateur golfer shot. On Tuesday, Jason Hargett participated in one of those "hole-in-one for big bucks" contests as part of the Mark Eaton Celebrity Classic in Utah.

It's unbelievable! Check it out!

Anothony Kim Provides Insight on Hitting Drives Straigher

2009-09-15T12:38:00.004-07:00

I found an interesting article by Anthony on how to hit your driver straighter than ever.

1. CHOKE UP
Make the longest club in your bag shorter for more control

The most obvious quirk in my technique is that I choke way up on the grip — about two full inches. And I choke up with every club in the bag. I started doing this out of necessity: I have a short torso and long arms, and if I took a "normal" grip I'd be too far away from the ball. Over the years, however, I noticed that the choke gave me more control — especially with the driver — and I've never looked back.

My response: I've had good luck choking up on my driver. Although I hear people losing distance but I have better control. Control is way better than distance in my opinion. I totally agree with Anothony's tip.

2 . SHORTER IS BETTER
Since the choke automatically makes the club shorter, I sacrifice some distance. But it's less than you think — 10 yards at the most (and I still average 300 yards off the tee). So I have to hit 7-iron into the green instead of an 8-iron. Big deal. I'd take a longer iron from the fairway than a shorter one from the rough any day. You saw the benefits of this strategy during the Ryder Cup. The guys who consistently hit fairways and greens were the ones who won points for their side. When you're accurate, your opponent feels it.

3. PRESSURE COOKER
One more thing on my choke grip: it holds up well under pressure. That extra bit of control works great when the stakes begin to rise, like when you're in the final pairing on Sunday. Anyone can hit great shots on the range. The key to winning is hitting them when the pressure peaks, and the choke is a good way to make sure you don't fold underneath it.

4. NORMAL GRIP
Gripping at the end of the handle works, but today's clubs are long enough that you don't have to.

5. THROTTLE BACK
A shorter backswing will keep you on the short grass

Whenever I'm playing in a pro-am, I'm amazed at the length of most amateurs' swings — it's like they've spent three months at the John Daly School of Driving. Over-swinging is a death move for me. I can get away with swinging the club to parallel and beyond from time to time, but on Tour, time to time means a string of missed cuts.

6. POWER SECRET
I'm more comfortable making a three-quarter backswing, with my hands stopping at shoulder height and my club way short of parallel. I knew from an early age that I wouldn't be able to generate power with my arms alone on account of my size, so I don't swing them back as far. Instead, I focus on turning my upper body as much as possible and keeping my legs stable, like I'm holding my hips back. So even though my arm swing is short, I've built up resistance between my upper and lower body, and that's where my swing power comes from.

MY BIG MISS
I'm very flexible, which is good because it allows me to turn my upper body without turning my hips to create energy. But it also makes it easy for me to overturn. When you see me on the course in this position, I'm not playing my best.

THREE-QUARTERS
I could make a bigger backswing, but it wouldn't give me any extra power. What's important is that I create coil.

SQUAT DOWN
Here's how you can rip it out there with a choked grip and a short backswing

When you swing down from the top using only your arms, it's easy to get off plane. The secret to swinging on plane and with power is in your legs. I start my downswing with my lower body, which pulls my arms into action.

SIT AND SPIN
After sitting down, I turn as fast as I can through impact, using the ground as leverage and getting my weight over my left foot. It's a burst of energy at the bottom of my swing, which is why when I lift weights I only do "explosion" exercises, not high-repetition sets. You only need to be fast through impact.

AT THE TOP: I'm coiled and in control. Then, to start my downswing... literally push into the ground. Notice the "squat" look to my lower body as I start down. This connects me to the ground so I can use it for extra leverage and power.

HIP ACTION
I hold my hips back on my backswing, but turn them loose on my downswing. BALANCE POINT My left foot stays in contact with the turf. It's the center-point of my swing through impact.

BALANCE POINT
My left foot stays in control with the turf. It's the centerpoint of my swing through impact.

This Weekend... It's the LPGA vs the Chargers

2009-09-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

The LPGA is coming into town this week for the Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines... This is somewhat an issue since our San Diego Chargers are playing a home game. By sheer bad luck of the draw, the Chargers' schedule was determined after the Samsung's date was set, and the football team's home opener fell on the same day as the golf tournament's final round. The last two hours of the golf are to be played between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., during the heart of the game. If the Chargers were to be blacked out, it stands to reason that more people would show up for the golf and watch it on NBC, which is handling a women's tournament for only the third time this year.

So if the Charger game gets black out, NBC can increase those ratings with women's golf :D

TaylorMade Officially Releases the Raylor Rescue Club

2009-09-05T19:35:00.002-07:00

Taylormade is set to make the Raylor, available in lofts of 19° and 21°.

According to Tom Olsavsky, TaylorMade's senior director "The new Raylor hits the ball higher, longer and straighter from tall grass," said of metalwood creation, in a release. "It's the ultimate weapon for getting out of the rough."

The Raylor is designed with a slightly sharp, slightly pointed leading edge that TaylorMade says allows golfers to slide the face through the grass and onto the back of the ball more effectively

The Raylor, which will retail for about $230, will come standard with a Fujikura RE*AX 65-gram shaft that's one inch longer than standard to create added clubhead speed.

Tiger wins Bridgestone Invitational

2009-08-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

The victory was the 16th in 30 WGC events for the world's No. 1 player, including six times in the CA Championship, three times at the Accenture Match Play and a record seven times at Firestone Country Club in the Bridgestone and its forerunner, the NEC Invitational.

He has won the last four times he's played at Firestone, winning three in a row before sitting out a year ago while he was recuperating from knee surgery. He also won three in a row from 1999-2001.

New Ping G15 and i15 Clubs Due Soon

2009-07-29T09:26:00.004-07:00

PING has announced the launch of two new ranges, i15 and G15, that are set to hit the shelves later this summer. The new i15 and G15 models ensure that PING has something in its line-up aimed at every level of golfer.

PINGS have been always popular with golfers. PING clubs have a classic look that golfers can appreciate... But they also have the performance all golfers like. You may ask How can you top a very successful line of clubs? You add more forgiveness and increase the ball flight.

Throughout the i15 range PING has sought to offer controlled ball flights, classic looking heads and high levels of feel. The i15 woods are a totally new offering from PING, with the black-faced driver sure to standout on the shelf. The irons will replace the i10 model but will still offer relatively thin toplines and the ability to control the trajectory - benefits that the better player is sure to enjoy.

The PING G15 range represents a progression from the highly successful G10 version. Here PING is offering high levels forgiveness and a higher ball flights throughout the G15 range.

Sean O'Hair: Top 10 Things He's Learned on Tour

2009-07-15T00:13:00.003-07:00

01 Be comfortable in your own skin.
It's easy to get psyched out playing with certain people, especially if they hit it farther, have a prettier swing, or have won more stuff than you.

It's funny, I ran into eventual champion Geoff Ogilvy a bunch of times at the event, but it wasn't until I saw him on TV that I realized how comfortable he looks in his own skin. Some players might come across as relaxed because they're joking around, but they're actually really nervous inside. With Geoff, it's different. You can tell he's utterly content to be who he is no matter who he's playing against. He walks in his slow pace, stays in his same, easy rhythm and doesn't play any more aggressively than he always does. That's how I want to be.

02 Learn to recognize confidence.
Growing up in Lubbock, Tex., we had a neighbor who was a top amateur golfer. "Fox" was his nickname. When I was 7, Fox told me that before a horse race starts, when they're in the starting gate, all the horses already know who's going to win, including the one who's going to win. The horse projects an aura of confidence all the others tune in on.

What Fox was saying really hit home for me earlier this year when I saw Ernie Els taking out just a wedge and a putter for a practice round. I said to my caddie, "Ernie's going to have a good week." And sure enough, he finished top five. The three times I've won on tour -- the 2005 John Deere, the PODS Championship last year and the Quail Hollow this year -- I've had that uncanny confidence, which I think I projected.

03 Play money matches.
On a Tuesday or Wednesday, I'd rather play a match for a few hundred bucks against Steve Elkington at a nearby course than play a practice round at the tournament course.

Like a lot of the veterans, Steve is great at getting in your head. Once he told me to my face that I was a C- player. I don't think he said it to be mean, but to motivate me. Watching how a veteran handles himself in money matches, like how he always gets up and down when he needs to, teaches you how to be tough. It's an invaluable way to prepare, definitely worth any cash you might lose and more important than another day on the tournament course.

04 Travel well, play well.
I can't attribute this wisdom to any specific player, but it's a common mentality among the veterans: Be very observant at each tour stop your first two years. It's hard because this period can be kind of a blur, but if you can figure out which hotels you like to stay at, which restaurants you like to eat at, which courses set up well for you, this will help you set your schedule later in your career.

In your second year, make sure you play all the tournaments you missed that first year. Find out which cities you like. If you're excited about going to a place, chances are you'll play better. And one more thing: Travel comfortably, but be smart. I have no problem jumping on a $90 Southwest flight to Florida because I feel less pressure to make a check.

05 Go slow on equipment changes.
Paul Azinger once remarked that the guys tinkering in the equipment trailers week in and week out usually are the same ones missing cuts week in and week out. With all the cool new clubs, plus the pressure of sponsors, sometimes it's hard to resist, but you have to be patient and not put something in play prematurely. My TaylorMade R9 is the best driver I've ever played, but I waited months after it came out until I found just the right shaft and loft and setting. If I'd made the switch too soon, I would have risked never having full confidence in it.

06 Listen to the sand.
I remember the first time I saw Jose Maria Olazabal, who is maybe the world's greatest bunker player, practicing sand shots. His club made more of a thump than a splat sound at impact. I don't know what his technique is, but every time I practice I just try to re-create that sound. Once I hear it, I know that whatever I'm doing is right.

07 Don't depend to much on video.
OK, maybe she's not a PGA Tour veteran, but my wife, Jaclyn, played college golf at Florida Atlantic and knows a thing or two. In 2003, when we were packing the car for the start of another mini-tour season in New England, she demanded I leave the video camera at home.

We had had some rough seasons leading up to that, including one point when we were down to our last 3 grand and eating lots of bean-and-cheese burritos just to save enough money for entry fees. During this stretch I had gotten addicted to analyzing my swing on video. Video has its place, but it's better to know your swing by intuition so you can fix it mid-round. I listened to my wife, left the camera at home, and that year I started to turn the corner.

08 Trust your caddie.
When I first came out on tour, I would go out and chart courses with my caddie. Now I leave that responsibility solely to Paul Tesori, who's been on my bag for two seasons. I'm by nature a somewhat controlling person when it comes to information, but learning to let go has taken a tremendous psychological weight off my shoulders. Tiger Woods plays quick practice rounds because he has so much confidence in Stevie Williams. Tiger told me early on that I needed to find my own formula, not just copy him or any other players, but some things just jump out at you. You don't see many guys in the top 10 who change caddies like shoes.

09 Soak up your favorite player's rhythm.
As a junior I emulated Davis Love III. I was built like him, tall with long arms, and tried hard to copy his swing, especially that wide takeaway. I wore nothing but Polo, played the same equipment as he did, even mimicked his waggle. My dad would tape entire tournaments and edit them down so it was just a montage of DL III's shots. I would sit in my bedroom and watch those videos over and over. Whenever I was playing badly or was nervous the night before a big tournament, a session with those videos would let me soak up Davis' rhythm. You watch something over and over again, you'd be surprised how much it starts to show up in your game.

10 Life can't revolve around golf.
I used to think golf was everything, and so every time I scored badly I would be miserable. When your happiness depends entirely on how you play, that's putting way too much pressure on your game. All the best players have other things in their lives they can turn to when they want to get away.

Take Kenny Perry, who restores old cars. Right now I have two young children, Molly Kate and Luke, so they're pretty much my only hobby. But someday I'd like to get into restoring cars, or something like that.

This article was found on Golf Digest Magazine's Website.

Tiger Woods Wardrobe Planned for 2009 British Open

2009-07-14T10:05:00.005-07:00

It looks like Tiger Woods has his wardrobe preselected by Nike. The industry term for deciding exactly what shirts go with which pants, and which sweater, is scripting.

Solid Backswing Pivot Golf Tip

2009-07-07T00:35:00.003-07:00

This tip will help those golfers that swing hard but still don't drive it very far.
Also, it will golfers who try to keep your head still during your swing. The most natural thing your head can do is float with your body as you coil behind the ball.

If you try to keep your head still you'll leave your weight over your left leg. This leads to a reverse pivot, the most common and most damaging power leak. To correct this
problem

Your head should move enough so that your nose points at your right foot at the top. If you're in this position, then you'll know that you've transferred your weight to your right side and are in the correct spot to deliver a powerful blow to the ball.

Hunter Mahan's AT&T National Golf Clubs

2009-07-06T10:38:00.002-07:00

Tiger Woods ended up with the win at the AT&T Nationals but Hunter Mahan finished one shot behind! Unbelievable. He definitely made his way surpassing Anthony Kim. Here are the clubs Mahan used at the AT&T National.

DRIVER: Ping Rapture V2 (10.5°) with a Ping prototype 824 X shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping G10 (15.5°) with a Fujikura ZCom 84 X shaft

HYBRID: Ping Rapture V2 (17°) with a UST V2 89 X Hybrid shaft

IRONS: Ping S-57 (3-PW) with True Temper X-100 shafts

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design (54°), Ping Eye2 (59°) with True Temper S-300 shafts

PUTTER: Ping IWI D66

Phil Mickelson Backwards Shot on Short-Game DVD

2009-07-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago I mentioned that Phil Mickelson released a short-game DVD. On that DVD he shows us a very cool backwards shot that he used a couple times during tournament play. If you're Phil Mickelson, you turn around backwards, twist the club in your hands so that it looks like a spatula, and presto ...

Check it out!

NEW Tiger Woods 2010 Video Game

2009-07-01T13:05:00.002-07:00

Another year and another Tiger Woods video game is out. On the last installment of Tiger Woods 2009 we saw the introduction of online play. On the Wii version we saw All-New Party Game Mode. You battle your friends in 15 fun and challenging mini-games that keep the competition fierce, long after you have finished your round.

So how can EA Sports improve a golf game you may ask. Tiger 2010 gives you different options for swinging the clubs around with a vast array of mini-games. Skins, Bingo Bango Bongo, Target Practice, there are a dozen other ways to test out your bag of clubs without having to devote an hour to 18 holes.

Another cool feature is the Real-Time Weather Conditions powered by The Weather Channel, real-time weather now effects gameplay by providing current conditions at actual courses. Putts will roll slower on wet greens and drives will be shorter due to the rain soaked fairways

Check out a more indepth review of Tiger Woods here

IGN Tiger Woods Review

Rocco Mediate PGA's Lovable Loser

2009-06-16T09:56:00.006-07:00

Last year was a very memorable to Rocco Mediate and the fans of the US Open. Rocco finished as the runner up at last years US Open. Mediate was playing in the pro-am for the FBR Open earlier this year, and when his group arrived at the final hole he had about a 12-foot putt for birdie. The crowd exploded with cheers after making that putt. There was this one heckler waiting...

“Hey Roc!” the guy belted. “If you'd have made a couple more of those at the Open, you would have won the (expletive) thing!”

Mediate's popularity hasn't dropped off. In the 21 tournaments he's played since the Open, the 46-year-old has been consistently mediocre. He has made 19 cuts, but has posted only two top-20s and hasn't come close to sniffing his first victory since 2002. Slowed by arthroscopic knee surgery in February, he's only 142nd on the money list.

Vijay Singh Swing Vision Analysis

2009-06-03T11:58:00.003-07:00

Another popular player on tour is Vijay Singh. He has won three major championships (The Masters in 2000 and the PGA Championship in 1998 and 2004) and was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. He won the FedEx Cup in 2008.

2008 Barclays

- Focused on pivot with his hips and shoulders.
- He has incredible body rotation

2008 Travelers Championship

- Best turn than anybody on tour.
- Great rhythm

New School vs. Old School

(Tiger vs. Vijay)

Awesome comparison between Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.

Memorial Day Practice

2009-05-25T22:08:00.003-07:00

The weather was perfect in San Diego to practice. It was a tough practice today... It seems like it hard to get back into it. I had my share of top balls but I think I still need to find a consistency within my swing. It's hard to focus on different things at the same time but I know what I need to work on. I practiced some shots on the tee, which seemed to help out. I was able to hit some shots cleanly and was able to get the hang time on some shots. But my question is "How effective is practicing iron shots off the tee?" When i transition from the tee to the golf mat it feels different. I can't seem to hit it cleanly. So I'm kind of confused on how to correct it...

Anybody have suggestions?

Charles Barkley Almost Kills Fan?

2009-05-15T22:19:00.002-07:00

It looks like Barkley is at it again. Charles Barkley recently attended the Regions Charity Golf Classic in Alabama. If you go see Barkley at a tournament beware! You will be at risk so make sure your not in his path or else you might get hit like this unlucky fan. It's funny it was so quick that he couldn't yell "FOUR".

The entire article can be found here.

Haney Project Update

2009-05-15T15:36:00.004-07:00

The Haney Project with Charles Barkley is coming to a close after tons of re-runs. I've watched this show from day one and made sure to record it every Monday. It seems Barkley has been improving a bit but hasn't found that ultimate cure for the swing. I think he will forever have that little hesitation. His tempo is somewhat improved... But after hitting tons and tons of balls I have yet to see a "miracle". Hank Haney can do so much still it's up to Barkley to burn all those tips and technique into his brain. I wish Charles Barkley the best.

Putting Underrated

2009-05-14T11:36:00.001-07:00

After a range session I worked on my putting with my friend. Putting is something I haven't focused a lot of time on lately. I've been pretty occupied with trying to perfect my swing that I've completely forgot the putting game. My friend and I took a bunch of balls and practice a few shots. We came up with a few little games that were fun and helped us practice.

One of the games was to spread bunch of balls around the putting target. This allowed us to focus on different shots from different distances and different angles. Another game was placing balls in a straight line and counting how many balls we can get into the hole. I realize now that putting is tricky as driving the ball. I hope to put more time into putting.

Player Championship Update

2009-05-08T10:17:00.004-07:00

The Players Championship at Sawgrass kicked off yesterday. Ben Crane made four birdie putts longer than 20 feet, kept his ball on land throughout another wild opening round Thursday on the TPC Sawgrass and wound up atop a leaderboard. Tiger Woods couldn’t make his putt. Phil Mickelson started off with three straight birdies early in his round, but later couldn’t keep the ball in play. And defending champion Sergio Garcia opened with a 71. Brian Gay made a small error by trying to reach the fourth green from the left rough, coming up short and into the water.

Seems like the stars are off to a bad start... We'll see if they can bounce back from a bad first round.

Choking Down on Golf Club

2009-05-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

When I usually hit my hybrid and drive clubs I have a tendency to choke down on the the grip. I noticed several golfers such as Anthony Kim use this technique so I decided to adopt it to my regular routine when hitting with my woods and hybrid clubs. I've done research and found out that choking down on the club effectively shortens both the club and your swing arc without altering your swing. A smaller swing is easier to control. But the downside of choking down is that you will lose a half-club's worth of distance, but what you'll gain in control will be well worth the trade-off.

Friend's Driving Range Video

2009-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

My friend and I went to the range last Saturday. At the beginning of our driving range session we both looked really rusty. After I made a few adjusts and felt more relax I was able to hit decently.

My friend was a different story. He was struggling at the get go. Trying to remember what I taught him previously his shots weren't going well. He got a couple of good ones in there when using the Nike clubs. I think the added forgiveness of the clubs actually helped him.

I had the opportunity to record his swing on video and noticed a lot of things that need to be fixed.

I'm not a golf instruction by any stretch of the imagination but I notice a few things wrong.

Golf Swing 1
- The first thing I noticed is his grip. As you can see, his hands are slightly apart. They need to be closer together.

- The take away looks good. When he goes to his back swing his left knee bends too far back and the left ankle is off the ground. This causes some imbalance in his swing.

- His left arm bends as well. The left arm needs to be straighter and his wrists need to hinge on the top of the golf swing.

- In his down swing his head moves out of position during impact. He needs to keep his a steady.

Golf Swing 2
- On the downswing he moves his head up ultimately missing the target.

Golf Swing 3
- He kept his head down on this swing and made contact with the ball.

Tips for Chip Shots.

2009-04-25T10:06:00.003-07:00

One tip that I've been working is opening the club face while chipping. This accomplishes a few things. It allows me to swing the club a little harder so I can pop the ball a bit up. It also gives me additional control because when the ball lands it doesn't roll so much. When opening the club I had to open my stance a little more. Also, when the club face is open I had to shift my body in the direction of my target.

Give this a shot and let me know how it goes.

Jimmy Kimmel and Justin Timberlake Hit Some Golf Balls

2009-04-23T14:47:00.004-07:00

I was flipping through the channels late last night and decided to watch Jimmy Kimmel. Justin Timberlake was the current guest. Although I'm not a Justin Timberlake fan I like Jimmy Kimmel. In the middle of the conversation they talk about Timberlake's golf game. Justin has been raving about the new Diablo driver from Callaway Golf... He says he actually gained an additional 50 yards with the driver. Then Jimmy Kimmel challenges Timberlake to a simulated golf challenge. Check out the clip below and you'll see how it all unfolds.

The SD Golfer at Twitter

2009-04-22T09:49:00.003-07:00

Have you guys ever heard the buzz about twitter? It seems like everybody is talking about it a lot lately. So I decided to set up a new twitter account. I think this twitter thing will provide more frequently golf updates. However, the SD Golfer blog will contain more detailed posts but for those brief news stories and product releases it will be on twitter. You can check out my twitter at http://www.twitter.com/thesdgolfer.

Let me know what you guys think.

New SD Golfer Template Transition.

2009-04-22T09:39:00.002-07:00

I've been working on the san diego golfer blog template lately and will be switching to it very soon. So if you see that my blog is not working it's due to the fact that my blog is undergoing the transition from the old template to the new template. Thanks for your understanding

The New Masters Champ is ..... Angel Cabrera

2009-04-14T10:05:00.003-07:00

This year's Masters was exciting. There were leader changes during the tournament. It started with Chad Campbell then Kenny Perry then Angel Cabrera. We also had the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson on the last day. Both golfers were clawing there way up the leader board. However, both golfers didn't make crucial putts in the end that cost them a chance to win the prized "green jacket". Mickleson ended up finishing fifth with -9 and Woods eventually finished 6th with three other golfers.

At the end of the third round Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry, and Angel Cabrera tied with -12 forcing a playoff. It was Perry who looked poised to become the oldest major champion at the age of 48 years, 10 months. He made 11 straight pars, birdied the par-3 12th from 30 feet, the par-5 15th with two putts and the par-3 16th with a spectacular shot to 1 foot.

Cabrera's approach at 18 on the first extra hole came up short, but he clutched up again by making a 6-footer for par. This is the first Masters win for Argentina.

Signifiance of the Masters Tournament

2009-04-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

I always wondered what the importance of the Masters Tournament was. People getting into golf wonder what the Masters Tournament is. So I did some research to learn more about the tournament and it's significance.

The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters is one of four major championships in men's professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year. Unlike the other major championships, the Masters is held each year at the same location, Augusta National Golf Club, a private golf club in the city of Augusta, Georgia, USA.

The tournament has a number of traditions. A green jacket is awarded to the winner of each tournament, which must be returned to the clubhouse after a year. The Masters isn't just about the "green jacket" and the cash prize. It's all about being part of a special group of people.

As with the other majors, winning the Masters gives a golfer several privileges which make his career more secure. Masters champions are automatically invited to play in the other three majors (the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship) for the next five years, and earn a lifetime invitation to the Masters. They also receive membership on the PGA Tour for the following five seasons and invitations to The Players Championship for five years.

Masters round one completed

2009-04-10T14:12:00.004-07:00

On top of the Masters Leaderboard aren't your star studded cast. Chad Campbell after the first round is on top. Campbell got off to the greatest start in Masters history with five consecutive birdies, reeled in another four straight on the back nine, and despite bogeys on the last two holes, shot 7-under-par 65 to take sole possession of the lead. The course record of 63 was out there for him.

However, the tees were moved up, the pins were easy on the eyes, and the weather was ridiculously perfect. Tiger Woods on the hand is within striking distance. And Phil Mickelson, second favorite to Woods here, is eight back after a 73 because he couldn't very well make birdies from the trees. He used the word "terrible" four times to describe his play.

The Race for the Green Jacket.

2009-04-08T10:03:00.005-07:00

Tomorrow brings the awaited "Master Tournament" at Augusta. Last year Trevor Immelman won the prized green jacket beating big time golfer Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. This year there are lot of expectations for a lot of golfers.

For Tiger Woods it's been 3 years since he won at Augusta. Woods is looking to end the drought. “The last couple of years, my putting has been streaky here,” Woods said. “I get on rolls where I make everything, and I get on rolls where I didn't make anything. You have to be consistent around this golf course.”

Phil Mickelson on the other hand with a win will rank him number 1. “It would be an incredible feat, regardless of the fact he did not play for eight months. It still would be a great feat,” Mickelson said.

Media Circus Featuring Tiger Woods

2009-04-01T19:04:00.004-08:00

Looks like the media has been crazy about Tiger since his first win since the US Open. It's so facinating that the game of golf seems to revolve around one man... Tiger Woods. He put more excitement and fun to an otherwise not so hype sport. I didn't get into golf because of Tiger. I got into golf because it was fun. Having Tiger Woods as ambassador introduces new players into the game of golf. Young people idolize Tiger Woods as they would Lebron James or Michael Jordan. It's always fun to see Tiger giving the PGA professionals a run for there money. I can't wait to see what's in store for this year. Maybe another remarkable win ala US Open. Only time will tell...

It's good to have Tiger back! Go get 'em Tiger!

Tiger's Finally Back!

2009-03-30T09:45:00.004-08:00

After a few slow starts Tiger Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in a remarkable win over Sean O'Hair. or the second straight year at Bay Hill, he made pivotal putts along the back nine and came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to win. From the middle of the fairway, he had 164 yards to the hole the same distance as last year.

In the end, Tiger Woods drove away from Bay Hill wearing the navy blue blazer traditionally awarded to the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

9 Health Tips for Your First 9 Golf Holes of Spring

2009-03-27T13:32:00.004-08:00

Spring is upon us with golf in our minds. I found an interesting article from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin to help all us golfers prepare ourselves for the first golf holes.

1. Start with half swings. After a long winter layoff, you may get anxious over the golf ball your first time out on the links. The tendency is to over-swing, but you'll be much better off if you warm-up by hitting short irons on the range with a 50% swing for 10-15 minutes before you get to the first tee.

2. Replace worn-out grips. Many golfers hands' will become sore after their first few rounds of the spring, undoubtedly because they are using muscles that have been resting all winter. Worn-out grips make the problem much worse, so check your grips and re-grip your clubs if needed before you head out to play.

3. Break in new shoes. A new season often means new golf shoes. But be sure to wear them around the house for a day or two to break them in. Blisters can stay with you for weeks - and if you don't have new shoes, be sure to change your spikes to avoid a nasty slip and the possibility of straining a muscle.

4. Don't forget your hamstrings. Lower back pain is commonly associated with golf, but many people forget that the hamstrings are directly related to the lower back muscles. Stretch your hamstrings regularly, which will in turn help you to decrease strain on your back muscles.

5. Apply Sunscreen. That's right, sunscreen. In April and May, few people think they will be affected by the sun on an overcast spring day. But a four-hour round leaves you little place to hide, and one bad burn can linger all spring.

6. Ease into a high volume of play. Playing too much too soon can lead to overuse injuries.

7. Stretch when you are warm. Muscles are more responsive to stretch if warmed first. Regular daily stretching is more beneficial than just stretching when you play golf.

8. Bring your own water. In spring, many courses don't have beverage carts on the course. If you are walking, you'll become much more dehydrated than you might think, putting yourself at risk of injury and muscle fatigue.

9. Stand up straight. Posture is key with golf. A straight spine at address is much better for you than being hunched over the ball.

NEW Calvin Klein Golf Clothing

2009-03-23T16:07:00.003-08:00

Calvin Klein is now expanding is line of clothing onto the golf course with there new line of golf clothing. I checked out the site and there styles look very Calvin Klein-ish. These will definitely appeal the stylish golfer! You can check out the Calvin Klein site here.

Mickelson Wins CA Championship

2009-03-16T10:16:00.004-08:00

Mickelson is continuing his ride to the top with yesterdays win at the CA Championship at Doral Florida. Nick Watney was closing in but needed a birdie on the 18th hole, which yielded only three in the final round, Watney thought his 30-footer was good until it stopped one turn away.

"I'll get over this," Watney said. "It's a positive week. I played really well. Beat 78 of the best players in the world. Beat Tiger, which is always good. I'm very pleased with the way I'm playing."

Mickelson fell behind for only one hole with a bogey at No. 4. And on No. 7 built a two-shot lead when Watney made bogey from the bunker. Mickelson ripped a 3-wood from 256 yards over the water just over the par-5 eighth green for a birdie.

Mickelson won for the second time in three starts and moved to No. 2 in the world ranking, as close to Tiger Woods as he has ever been. Depending on how Woods fares at Bay Hill, Mickelson might have a chance to go to No. 1 when he plays again.

Friday the Thirteenth Driving Range Practice

2009-03-13T20:09:00.004-08:00

It seems lately my practices have been really inconsistent. My last few range practices have been up and down. This was no different. It was down for half of my practice session. I noticed after hitting the first half of balls was my back was giving me issues when in posture. The increase torque from the swing is actually causing more strain in my back. As much as I want to grab a bucket and swing it's a good idea to stretch out. My flexibility wasn't as good that's probably why I was either topping the ball or hitting to the right side.

My practice session was mainly focused on my left arm and how I need to keep it somewhat straight. I've tried that but it didn't really work out for me. I ended up topping the ball. To correct this issue what I did was slightly bend my left elbow on the top of my golf swing. This help me gather momentum when going down. This technique helped me out. Maybe I'm just thinking to much and need to relax more.

I also practiced on the grassy area of the range to get a better feeling on how it might be like on the actual golf course. It felt different. The ground felt uneven, the grass wasn't really consistent, etc etc. There were so many condition factors. My first few shots involved dirt flying in the air. The club was covered with mud. I did however get a few good shots.

Mickelson Up 2 Shots in the CA Championship

2009-03-13T17:19:00.002-08:00

Mickelson built a two-shot lead Friday by chipping in for birdie for the third time and launching a 3-wood from 245 yards around the palm trees and over the water, setting up another birdie. There 3 guys right on his tail. Nick Watney who is -11, Rory McIlroy and
Kenny Perry are both -10. However, golf's favorite player was nowhere insight. Tiger Woods was 10 shots behind. Woods beat Mickelson in the final round four years ago at Doral that came down to the final shot. They were paired again in the last group in the third round in 2006, and Woods got the best of him again.

"It kind of (stinks)," Mickelson said. "I hope he comes out tomorrow and plays a great round and makes a move. I would love to get him back from '05. I came close in '05 and got beat, and I would love the opportunity to play head-to-head."

LPGA Coming to San Diego, Torrey Pines in September

2009-03-13T11:34:00.003-08:00

On September 16 - 20 the LPGA will be hosting the Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines South Course (6,700 yards, par 72). It has been 15 years since an LPGA tournment has been in San Diego. With last years historical US Open the city has been getting a widespread international exposure.

"On behalf of the City of San Diego, we look forward to welcoming the LPGA Tour with the 2009 Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines," said Jon Maddern, Deputy Director/Golf Operations Division for the City of San Diego, owners of Torrey Pines Golf Courses. "This magnificent facility has witnessed many spectacular golf moments over the years, and we know that the best in women's golf will create more history here in September."

The LPGA and IMG are hoping that the absence of the tour for 15 years has made San Diego hungrier for the women's game, which is vastly different and, arguably, far more watchable from the last time it was here in 1993.

The LPGA players get to test their skills on a layout as demanding and beautiful as most they play.

For more information regarding this event click here

The Left Arm in the Golf Swing

2009-03-11T15:16:00.003-08:00

On the Haney Project Charles Barkley, Haney kept reminding Barkley to be flatter. He was referring that his left arm and hand needs to be flat in his back swing. Luckily I found a cool Shawn Clement video regarding the left arm! Check it out

Here is another helpful link by Jim Ballard. YouTube didn't have the link to embedd the video, you can find the link here.

Callaway NEW Big Bertha Diablo Driver

2009-03-11T09:27:00.003-08:00

On March 13, 2009 (Friday the 13th) Callaway Golf will be releasing the NEW Big Bertha Diablo driver. The Big Bertha line of clubs and drivers are known for there easy-to-hit and ultra forgiving clubs high handicappers go to. The Big Bertha features

Hyperbolic Face Technology
Hyperbolic shaping is the cutting edge of driver face design. Mathematics and engineering combine to create Callaway’s highest ever ball speeds across the entire face.

Edge Technology
The unique shaping of the all-titanium clubheads allowed the engineers to move weight in specific locations to achieve the optimal CG location and ball flights for the Draw or Neutral options with a higher MOI. It also helps close the clubface at impact so golfers can better release the club with power.

Draw and Neutral Head Shapes
Provides golfers with the opportunity to select a driver that will most benefit their swing type and promote their desired shot shape.

S2H2 Design
Increases discretionary weight by removing it from the hosel and repositioning it in the perimeter of the clubhead to add stability.

Dr. Alan Hocknell, VP of Innovation and Advanced Design states "We also use head shape more aggressively than in previous designs to steer the center of gravity to neutral or draw locations." The MOI in the Diablo Neutral is 20 percent higher (the Draw version is 10 percent higher) than the Big Bertha 460 driver.

A couple of Big Bertha Diablo Articles

First impression:Callaway Big Bertha Diablo driver

Golf Gear Select: Callaway Big Bertha Review

Recap The Haney Project: Episode 1

2009-03-10T17:24:00.012-08:00

I finally had the opportunity to check out the first episode of the Haney Project Charles Barkley on my digital video recorder. The first episode of the Haney Project Charles Barkley is the ultimate golf makeover.
The show starts off with highlights of Barkley's golf swing. According to him he's been struggling for the past 10 years.

Neil Hartman, a close friend of Barkley's seen him achieve a 12 handicap. According to Hartman his game starting going downhill when the camera's started focusing on him. A psychologist said that Charles has the ability to handle pressure. But his golf swing is a selective type of pressure which is the reason why Barkley has a difficult time couping with it.

Now the fun begins when Barkley meets with World's Best Coach Hank Haney. They discuss about Barkley's swing and how Barkley hits the ground first. This is the ultimate challenge for Haney. Barkley then attempts a Tiger Day.

"Tiger Day".

6AM - Work out for an hour

Breakfast

9AM - 11AM - Practice hitting balls

11AM - 11:30AM - Putting

11:30AM - 12 PM - Play 9 holes

Lunch

1PM - 3PM - Practice Tee

3PM - 4PM - Work on short game

4PM - 5PM Play another 9 holes

5PM - 5:30PM Hit more balls

5:30PM - 6PM More putting

When Barkley approaches the golf ball he is completely terrified. On his downs swing he tends to move closer. to the ball. His swing plane is way off and his club head is 40% closed. Barkley has a really positive attitude. He is committed to his project and is willing to put in the work.

Here are my overall thoughts of the show. I really enjoyed watching the show. The production value is very high like MTV. The Golf Channel has a winner with this show. I feel this show will help new golfers find faults in a bad golf swing and how to correct it.

Yang Wins Honda Classic

2009-03-08T22:17:00.003-08:00

Y.E. Yang shot a 2-under 68 Sunday to end up one shot ahead of John Rollins and pick up his first PGA Tour victory. The Korean had three straight birdies on the front side and didn't give up, picking up a two-year exemption and a check for $1,008,000. With the win, he qualified for next week's CA Championship at Doral, plus earned an invitation to next month's Masters.

New Blog Writer Addition Craig Hagen

2009-03-08T17:31:00.004-08:00

I would like to welcome our newest San Diego Golfer blog writer Craig Hagen. He will be providing additional insight to the world of golf. He will focus his blog posts about golf courses, tournaments and associations that beginners may not be aware of that are great endeavors.

Craig Hagen started playing golf at the age of 13. He "borrowed" his dads clubs, some old leather gripped Bobby Jones Spaldings, and mostly played on courses where he could sneak on for free until he was probably 18 or 19.

He played some high school and community college golf, and stayed active in tournament golf as an amateur. Hagen is currently working to transition to a golf course management career over the next few years. He has qualified to start the PGA apprenticeship program.

Craig has played golf in some very interesting places such as St Andrews, North Berwick, Pinehurst, etc. He has a more holistic approach to the mental side of the game. For instance, whenever he has a friend starting out he would buy them Michael Murphy's GOLF IN THE KINGDOM as he think the writing gives a future golfer the right mental approach to golf.

I really look forward to Craig's contribution to the SD Golfer blog!

Barkley and Haney Are a Solid Hit

2009-03-07T09:29:00.003-08:00

Last Monday was the premier of the Golf Channel's The Haney Project attracted more than 800,000 viewers. According to Golf.com this is currently the Golf Channel's highest rated television of 2009.

SwingVision Spotlight on Sergio Garcia

2009-02-27T00:19:00.005-08:00

This Swing Vision Spotlight is on Sergio Garcia. Garcia has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings (over 250 weeks between 2000 and 2008). He reached a career high ranking of two after winning the HSBC Champions tournament in November 2008.

Sergio has the strength to hit the ball incredible distances. The first shows him hitting a ball 250 yards with his 4 iron. AMAZING.

- Creates lag in the wrist and cranks the angle.

2007 Nissan Open

- Has more narrow stance.
- Garcia's shoulder turn is way pass 90 degrees

2008 Barclays

World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play

2009-02-26T15:37:00.003-08:00

Tiger Woods has been back starting yesterday for the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play. All eyes were on Tiger Woods in his return. He was able to defeat Brendan Jones in the first round. Woods birdied the first hole from 4 feet, earned a conceded eagle on the second. The world's top player handled 64th-seeded Brendan Jones of Australia 3 and 2 Wednesday in the first round.

"I thought it would take me a little bit longer to get into the rhythm of the round and try to find it," Woods said. "But I came out and felt good."

Woods showed and apparently felt no ill-effects from surgery last June in which the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee was reconstructed, one week after he beat Rocco Mediate in their Monday playoff at Torrey Pines.

SD Golfer Contest #1 - Official SD Golfer Logo

2009-02-26T02:01:00.005-08:00

This is my first attempt setting a blog contest. If you have the graphic skills or really creative know how to make a killer logo for the SD Golfer (San Diego Golfer) I'd love to see it. The winner will receive a The Golf Wherehouse Gift Card (Site Affiliate). We will use this logo as an iphone graphic as well as the fav icon on your browser. And quite possibly printed on a limited run of t-shirts. I looking forward to seeing everyone's entries.

If you have any questions please feel free to leave any comments. And I'll get back to you.

Please send your submissions to thesdgolfer@nyms.net.

The contest will end March 31st.

Recommend Equipment: The Golf Glove

2009-02-25T13:27:00.004-08:00

Different sports use gloves. Baseball players have there gloves to catch or to bat. Football players use gloves for better grip on the ball. We even use gloves to keep us warm from the freezing elements. When you think of gloves you usually wear one for each hand. It's weird with golf. I always that thought it was odd that you only need one glove. Although it's not required it is recommended.

Usually a golfer will wear one glove, on the lead hand (the lead hand is the top hand of your grip - for right-handed players, the left hand; for left-handed players, the right hand). The reason why a golf glove is recommend is that the human hand simply isn't as tacky as the material used in golf gloves. Especially when sweating or when grips are wet. A golf glove will provide a more secure grip.

Most gloves in the market are made out of soft cabretta leather that is flexable and breathable. There are a lot of gloves on the market from Taylormade to Footjoy. It's all personal preference. I owned a Nike Dri-fit Tour glove and it was thin and soft. However, I wanted a little bit more padding in my palm area that would reduce my grip tension. I have a tendency to over grip the club. I went with the Bionic Glove. It has all the padding I need.

If having a glove feels uncomfortable you can go without the glove. You have to make sure your grips aren't aren't damp or else the club will slip.

I found an article on how to purchase a golf glove on eHow.com

Step 1
Buy a pair of leather golf gloves. Leather contours to the hand perfectly, and remains moisture-free even in adverse conditions. Buy a slightly smaller size than normal since leather gloves stretch with use. If they get wet, let them air out naturally, don't pop them in the dryer.

Step 2
Warm your hands in cold weather with winter or thermal golf gloves. Thick, knit playing gloves can be worn on both hands. They keep the hands warm and allow the player to concentrate on his shots.

Step 3
Select an all-weather glove that adapts to humid and wet conditions. Perfect for the golfer who ventures to course even in the most inclement weather, these synthetic gloves let your skin breathe and cling to your hands during wet weather.

Step 4
Slip a mitt over your golf gloves in the winter. This keeps your hands extra warm between rounds. You can't play with them on, however, so just slip them off when you're ready to hit the golf ball.

Step 5
Wear synthetic golf gloves if you want a more lightweight, durable material. While synthetic materials make up small parts of a glove, like the knuckles or finger joints, some manufacturers sell gloves made entirely from synthetic materials. While not as good-looking as leather gloves, they do last longer.

Northern Trust Open Results! Mickelson Wins!

2009-02-24T19:19:00.002-08:00

Last years champion Phil Mickelson defended his title sucessfully at the Northern Trust Open last week. It was a close match for Steve Stricker, who finished one shot behind. KJ Choi, Fred Couples and Andres Romero finished two shots behind. It was the 35th victory of the San Diegan's career, and easily one of the hardest earned.

“When I wasn't swinging well, and I needed to make some birdies and make something happen, I just blocked everything out, looked at he pin and swung to it,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson drained birdies at 16 and 17, and made a relatively routine par on the last to eke out a 1-over-par 72 and win the $1,134,000 prize at 15-under 269.

The Haney Project: Charles Barkley

2009-02-22T00:53:00.004-08:00

I just saw a cool television show advertisement on the Golf Channel called The Hanely Project: Charles Barkley. We've probably all seen Charles Barkley's horrible golf swing. He has this hesitation on his down swing and his mechanics are all wacky. Hank Haney (Tiger Woods swing coach) attempts to fix NBA great Charles Barkley's golf swing. This is something all of us can watch and learn.

The show premieres on March 2nd at 9PM ET.

Here's a short video clip of Charles Barkley's Golf Swing

BREAKING NEWS! The Tiger is Back

2009-02-19T16:47:00.002-08:00

Eight months after winning the U.S. Open on one good leg, a healthy Tiger Woods is returning to golf. Woods said on his Web site Thursday that he will defend his title next week at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, believing that his reconstructed left knee and his game is fit enough to play.

"I'm now ready to play again," Woods said.

2009 Northern Trust Open

2009-02-19T13:56:00.003-08:00

The 2009 Northern Trust Open starts today at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. Phil Mickelson won last year's tournament. Now he has to defend his title. Up for grabs is $6,300,000.00. Let's see if Phil can bounce back from his recent slump and win this bad boy!

The Word Golf...

2009-02-18T16:04:00.003-08:00

I was to this home furnishing store yesterday with my mother and I noticed a Golf art frame. It said "Golf is a four letter word" I smiled briefly and found it quite amusing. Golf can be frustrating and from time to time. And those times when things don't go too well one can blurt out another set of four letter words.

I did some searching and found this:

Golf - The Four Letter Word Explained

Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.

I wish I could play my normal game...just once.

Golf is harder than baseball. In golf, you have to play your foul balls.

If you find you do not mind playing golf in the rain, the snow, even during a hurricane, here's a valuable tip: your life is in trouble.

Golfers who try to make everything perfect before taking the shot rarely make a perfect shot.

The term "mulligan" is really a contraction of the phrase "maul it again."

A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers...neither of whom can putt very well.

An interesting thing about golf is that no matter how badly you play; it is always possible to get worse.

Golf's a hard game to figure. One day you'll go out and slice it and shank it, hit into all the traps and miss every green. The next day you go out and for no reason at all you really stink.

I play in the low 80s. If it's any hotter than that, I won't play.

If your best shots are the practice swing and the "gimme Putt", you might wish to reconsider this game.

Achieving a certain level of success in golf is only important if you can finally enjoy the level you've reached after you've reached it.

Golf is the only sport where the most feared opponent is you.

Golf is like marriage: If you take yourself too seriously it won't work... and both are expensive.

The best wood in most amateurs' bags is the pencil.

To some golfers, the greatest handicap is the ability to add correctly.

In golf, some people tend to get confused with all the numbers... they shoot a "six," yell "fore" and write "five."

Swing easy. Hit hard.

If you find yourself pleased that you locate more balls in the rough than you actually have lost, your focus is totally wrong and your personality might not be right for golf...it is also just a matter of time before the IRS investigates your business.

Why is it twice as difficult to hit a ball over water than sand?

Golf! You hit down to make the ball go up. You swing left and the ball goes right. The lowest score wins. And on top of that, the winner buys the drinks.

cure to swing speed issues

2009-02-13T10:22:00.004-08:00

In my previous driving range sessions I've encountered issues with my swing speed during the downswing. When I tried to experiment with increasing the speed it caused me to hit the ball inconsistently.

I might have found a cure that help golfers with the same issue! I'm going to practice during the range and see if i can see better results.

Speed 101
Golf Medic

Cure

Tension will cause you to grip the club too hard, reduce flexibility, and thereby reduce power in your swing. Focus on relaxing your arms and lighten your gripping pressure. Work on improving your swinging technique and sequencing to help encourage a free, relaxed, and powerful swing.

Therapy

If your feet are too narrow, you will not be able to support a proper hip turn. Your feet should be the same width of your shoulders when using iron shots and a little wider with woods. Your head should be just behind the ball from setup all the way through impact.

If your hands are too close to your body, it will prevent you from gaining the width you need during your backswing. By the time you reach the top of your backswing, you should have made a full shoulder turn with the shaft of the club far above and behind your head so that it is parallel to the ground.

If you hyperextend your forward arm and allow your shoulders to lead the downswing, it will cause you to shift and rotate your hips; this will throw off your balance, tempo, and you will lose power with your shoulders open at impact when they should be square. A BIG cause for slicing and loss of power is from starting your forward swing with your arms and upper body.

The goal is to allow the clubhead leading your arms into the downswing as it passes in front of your body and knees. Your hands, shaft and clubhead must remain on the same swinging plane that you created during the backswing as the clubhead moves down into impact.

The toe of the club will pass the heel of clubhead as it follows along the target line at impact. Your body weight should shift onto your forward foot as you complete your follow though with your belt buckle facing the target.

I hope this helps.

Celebrities Sighting at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

2009-02-11T20:37:00.004-08:00

Every February the stars decend at Pebble Beach for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Tomorrow celebrities such as Michael Bolton, George Lopez, Peyton Manning, Bill Murray, are scheduled to tee up tomorrow at the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am with your favorite PGA stars.

Practice rounds actually started on Monday at all three courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Poppy Hills Golf Course. The real winners of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am are the hundreds of nonprofit organizations which benefit from the proceeds of the tournament.

The entire list of celebrities attending the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am can be found here

Related Articles:
Celebrity Challenge comes down to a short putt
Contra Costa Times

Golfers, Fans, Stars Descend on Pebble
MSNBC

SwingVision Spotlight on Phil Mickelson

2009-02-11T10:00:00.004-08:00

This week's SwingVision Spotlight will focus on another fan favorite Phil Mickelson. I've included Swing Vision videos from 2006 to 2008 so we can analyze the varies changes that Mickelson has made.

In 2006, Mickelson uses a lot of hip and shoulder turn. In 2008, he shorten his swing but has a few issues with his timing. What we can learn from Mickelson's varies swings is that small tweaks can make a whole lot of difference.

2006 Torrey Pines

- Phil Mickelson has a great amount of hip equals a great amount of shoulder turn.
- If his leg work is good his shots are tremendous

Byron Nelson Classic 2007

- Very interesting swing comparison video from 2004 and 2007.

2008 Colonial

- This video is the most recent version of his swing. You can see his golf swing has shorten. He maintains the flex in his knee which helps maintain his spine angle.

- Cool bunker shot analysis.

callaway x22 better than x20?

2009-02-10T15:28:00.003-08:00

I currently have a set of Callaway x20 irons with graphite shafts in my bag. I've had them for less than a year and have enjoyed them so far. I'm able to hit the ball with ease. The X20's last year received a GOLD in Golf Digests 2008 Game Improvement Irons.

"Callaway has always made irons that are easy to hit, and this one ranks near the top. Plenty of distance, loads of forgiveness and a look that, if not exactly slim, inspires confidence. Lie-angle options that can be as much as 3 degrees flat or upright help with fitting."

At last year's 108th US Open, PGA Golfer Rocco Mediate was actually swinging with X20 irons in his playoff performance with Tiger Woods. Who would have thought a PGA golfer such as Rocco Mediate would use game improvement irons in a tournament.

Last November, Callaway Golf released its next generation X22 irons. I wondered what could they have improved from the previous generation.

- I found out that the MOI (moment of inertia) has been increased by 10%, meaning that you get a higher rate of forgiveness on off-center hits.

- A modified Tru-Bore design assists in the vibration dampening and enhanced feel.

- Another addition is the new precision notch weighting. This means that the weights of the club are moved to the perimeter of the iron to create a hotter club face, while maintaining the lower center of gravity for ideal trajectories and feel.

All these new improvements seem very impressive. However, I will need to visit my local golf shop and try them out myself to see if it's a worthy upgrade.

Releated Article

DESIGNING THE X-22 IRONS: An interview with Callaway Golf R&D

Golf Monthly Review

Whats in Nick Watney's Bag?

2009-02-09T19:58:00.004-08:00

After a spectacular come from behind win at the Buick Invitational, I wondered what's in Nick Watney's Golf Bag. His entire bag is full of Titleist clubs.

This is what I found

Driver
He currently uses a 11.5-degree Titleist 905R with a UST Proforce V2 CB 79 shaft, X-flex, 45 inches.

3-wood
Watney's 3-wood is a 15-degree Titleist 906F2 with a UST Proforce V2 86 shaft in there.

Hybrid
Watney has opted to go with a Titleist hybrid 585.H, 21 degrees, with a UST Proforce V2 104 shaft.

Wedges
For his short game Watney uses the Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled, 56 and 60 degrees. What makes them unique is that they're stamped with his nickname, "Rube," on the back.

Irons
He split his iron set to get more help in the long irons. The 3- and 4-irons are Titleist 704.CB. His irons are 1- to 2-degrees weaker than standard.

5-iron
Watney's 5-iron through pitching wedge are blades, Titleist 695.MB, with True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 shafts. He also uses grips are Golf Pride New Decade MCC with an extra wrap of tape.

Putter
His putter is a protoype Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback Xperimental by Titleist. It has an extra wide sole that helps him with his aim

Nick Watney Passes Rollins and Villegas for the Win

2009-02-09T18:11:00.004-08:00

What an interesting turn of a events at the last day of the Buick Invitational. We saw the lead shift from Camilo Villegas to John Rollins to Nick Watney.

Watney rallied from 5 down to secured his second career victory. He made a curving 38-foot putt for birdie on the 16th hole to get a share of the lead for the first time. Then coaxed a 63-foot effort to 3 feet below the hole on 18 to make a final birdie finishing 4-under-par 68 on the South Course.

John Rollins had a disappointing performance. Rollins had a three-shot lead with five holes to play until making a bogey with a poor chip on the 14th. On the 16th he had another bogey. And in the 18th he failed to hit the green on the par-5 leading to a par. Rollins shot a 74.

Both Camilo Villegas and Lucas Glover also had there chance.

Glover was within one shot of the lead until he pulled his tee shot on the 17th and missed a 7-foot par putt. He then birdied the last hole for a 68 and tied for third, two shots behind.

Villegas was also within one shot until a three-putt from 10 feet on the par-5 6th. He made bogey on the 17th and in the 18th hole his 40-foot eagle putt stopped a few inches above the hole. He closed with a 72.

Practice Session in the Rain

2009-02-08T22:41:00.005-08:00

I went to the driving range tonight to fit some practice in. There wasn't any rain when I left the house . It was slightly cold but wasn't bad. It was like a ghost town at the range. Nobody was there except the girl running the pro-shop. Half way into my practice the rain started to pour.

This was the first time practicing in the rain. It was tough to focus on my shots. I felt rushed setting up for some shots. I now know how it feels to play in the rain. Fifteen minutes later the rain stopped and I was able to resume my normal session.

My overall session was okay. I hit my irons good. I just had to slow my downswing down. I noticed that if I tried increasing the speed during my downswing the ball would push right. When I slowed the downswing I was able to hit the ball straight.

The Golf Medic recommends:

"Move the ball up in your stance because you might be setting it too far back.
Therapy

Do not try too hard to hit the ball fast or hard. Practice swinging the club while focusing on your unifying your body and arms as you swing. Use a nice and relaxed grip to help encourage a free release.

Many push slicers tend to grip the club too hard and unwind their shoulders too quickly, causing the club to move through the impact zone well after their body. You should also make sure you are not swinging too much inside of the target line, causing the club face to open at impact."

I also practiced chipping with my pitching wedge. I made good contact and the shots were felt crisp. I had problems hitting with my hybrid and my 3-wood. My last session I was hitting the hybrid and the 3-wood with ease. Maybe I was just having an off night hitting those clubs. If i were to grade myself for this practice session. I'd be a C.

Whos John Rollins?

2009-02-08T00:16:00.006-08:00

Who's John Rollins? He is the one top of the leaderboard at the Buick Invitational. Rollins is currently ahead 3-shots (12-under) of Camino Villegas, who was the previous leader.

Rollins had two birdies in the first four holes to take the lead. Villegas struggled from the sand and on the greens. The only disappointment for Rollins came from a trio of three-putt bogeys, including a missed 3-footer for par at the 18th. The ball caught the left edge and horse-shoed out.

San Diego's own Phil Mickelson's hopes ended on Saturday when he failed to get going and shot a 73, leaving him 11 shots behind. Let's hope "Lefty" can make a come back! Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers made a brief appearance on the broadcast... He talked about his interest in golf and the Charger's post season surge. Pretty cool.

GO CHARGERS!!

The Setup Secret for Monster Drives

2009-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

We all want to drive the ball longer with the driver. Longer drives equal lower scores. I usually set up with the aligned to my left toe. Since the shaft is longer my back is a bit upright. My weight is a bit balance but slightly favoring the right foot at address. I feel by having some weight on the right side I can shift my weight to create more power. I found out that it's wrong.

According to December 2007 issue of Golf Magazine:

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD
Take your address position with a driver in front of a mirror and set 60% of your weight on your left foot. Make sure that you're balanced over the balls of your feet, not your heels.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Check the mirror again and see if your right shoulder and right hip line up. It's not uncommon to lean your upper body toward the target when you try to set more weight over your left foot [above, left].

This forward lean increases the chance of a reverse pivot and a slice. But when your right shoulder and right hip are in alignment and you're balanced over the balls of your feet [above, right], your upper body tilts correctly away from the target and sets you up for a full, powerful backswing turn.

Buick Invitational UPDATE

2009-02-06T01:09:00.002-08:00

The Buick Invitational 2009 kicked off yesterday at Torrey Pines. The Columbian, Camilo Villegas, is currently the leader after Thursday's first round of golf. Villegas made five scores of 2, a pair of chip-ins, and fired a 31 on the back nine to tie his career low by shooting 9-under-par 63 on the North Course. Much of the round was played under a mix of clouds and sunshine. Then the the wind came up and the rain arrived just after 2:30 p.m. It continued to rain into the evening, ensuring both courses will play longer Friday.

We'll see if the rain shows up this weekend. If bad weather leaves CBS with air time to fill, it'll rebroadcast last year's Buick Invitational, won by you-know-who...

Golf Fashion Trend - Big and Bold Belts

2009-02-05T18:00:00.001-08:00

A new fashion trend among Tour Players is the big, BOLD belt buckles. These belts are reminiscent of the western style buckles. Tour players can now express themselves fashionably. The first golfer that I noticed wearing such a belt buckle was Anthony Kim. The large initials AK appear on his belt buckle. It looked silly at first but it definitely seems trendy. Companies such as Adidas, Nike, Oakley, Puma and other companies have flooded the market with there belts.

My favorite belt buckle would be either the Adidas "Trophy" leather belt with trademark three-stripe brushed metal buckle or the Puma riveted leather belt with die-cut buckle.

BLING! BLING!

New SD Golfer Layout Coming Soon!

2009-02-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

I find it fitting to improve my blog with a fresh new layout for thesdgolfer blog for 2009. I really like how it's turning out so far. Justin, my brother is a graphic designer at San Diego State University mocked up the design. I'm looking to have everything done in a week or so. Below is a sneak peek of the header graphic of the new blog :)

SwingVision Analysis Spotlight on Tiger Woods

2009-02-04T09:43:00.006-08:00

The best way to learn the perfect golf swing is to watch the pros on television. Each golfer has there own unique style whether it be adding more hip turn or lifting the left heel slightly (right handed golfer). They use the basic fundamentals and tweak them to fit there style.

CBS Sports has a feature on there broadcast called SwingVision with Peter Kostis. SwingVision essentially uses various high-speed cameras that shoot at 40,000 frames per second, capturing unique pictures such as the compression of a golf ball upon impact or the subtle nuances of a player's swing. SwingVision was developed by CBS Sports and first used on the PGA TOUR in 2004. Peter Kostin provides an in-depth analysis from beginning to end.

These SwingVision segments are a perfect reference for any golfer looking to learn more about swing mechanics. I find it fitting that we first start with Tiger Woods as the first golfer.

Torrey Pines 2006

Buick Invitational 2007

89th PGA Championship 2007

New for 2009 from Cleveland Golf

2009-02-03T10:22:00.003-08:00

For 2009 Cleveland Golf has released HiBore Monster and Laucher club models.

The new Cleveland HiBore Monster XLS line drivers comes in three different flavors: Monster XLS Tour, Monster XLS Draw and the Monster XLS. Golfers who've hit with this club say that the club looks like a monster off the tee. The face is 16% larger than the previous Hi-Bore XLS. The sound during impact is quite loud. It produces a higher ball speed than any of the other Cleveland drivers which means better energy transfer.

The Launcher model comes in a Driver, Fairway Wood and Hybrid. Cleveland states that the Launcher driver has a 21% larger face than both the original Launcher 460 and Launcher Comp allowing generous room for miss-hits resulting in maximum forgiveness.

According to Golf Magazine

"This Launcher has an exaggerated sloped crown, to pull weight lower and more toward the rear for added forgiveness. In short, the Launcher is designed to produce midlaunch shots with low spin, for a flatter trajectory. By contrast, the HiBores deliver higher-launch, higher-flying shots."

I'm not to fond of the conventional looking head design. It has a traditional look at address. I like the square looking clubs from Callaway and Nike.

Cleveland Launcher Driver video review from Golf Monthly

2009 Buick Invitational @ Torrey Pines in San Diego

2009-02-02T09:55:00.009-08:00

Golf is back in San Diego for the 2009 Buick Invitational this week. Just last year at the 108th U.S. Open, Tiger Woods walked the Torrey Pines fairways in pain, holding off Rocco Mediate in a very memorable 19-hole Monday playoff win. Tiger Woods was hoping to make history at the Buick Invitational to win five straight. There are plenty of other stars looking to capture a win including Retief Goosen, Rocco Mediate, Corey Pavin, and Phil Mickelson.

The key players to watch at the 2009 Buick Invitational are:

Phil Mickelson
Lefty surprised everyone with a missed cut in the FBR Open, his first event of the season.

Living in San Diego has its advantages, since this Rancho Santa-Fe resident knows the course like the back of his hand.

Padraig Harrington
Harrington didn't fare well at Torrey Pines for the U.S. Open finishing in a tie for 36th.

We'll see if Harrington can make a come back after coming off a career-best season with victories at the British Open and PGA Championship.

Hunter Mahan
Mahan has been a Buick regular since 2004. His best finish at Torrey Pines came in June when he tied for 18th in the U.S. Open. He tied for 29th at last year's Buick.

But he comes to Torrey Pines in '09 having shown the extent of his talent at Valhalla with a 2-0-3 record in his first Ryder Cup.

It looks like it will be a great week of golf for San Diego!

Stay Tuned!

Tiger Woods speech @ Opening Inaugural Celebration

2009-02-02T00:26:00.003-08:00

I found this video on YouTube of Tiger Woods speaking at President Obama's Opening Inaugural celebration.

Kenny Perry wins FBR Open

2009-02-01T23:12:00.004-08:00

At the FBR Open, Kenny Perry and Charley Hoffman duked it out in a playoff. Both Perry and Hoffman went an extra 3 holes.

The playoff opened at the par-4 18th, Hoffman and Perry drove into bunkers. Both PGA golfers settled for bogeys. The playoff then moved to the 10th hole par-4 (403 yard), which Hoffman birdied in each of the first three rounds. Hoffman bombed his tee shot off a cart path and over the green, then chipped to 13 feet. Perry drove into the left rough, then hit an iron 20 feet from the cup. Both players two-putted, and the playoff dragged on to the 17th.

In the end, Perry finally finished off Hoffman, making a 22-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole. It was the 13th PGA Tour victory for Perry. Perry received $1.03 million for his win.

More coverage of the FBR Open 2009 can be found here

Analysing golf shots 'makes you worse'

2009-01-31T00:48:00.005-08:00

According to an article on Metro.Co.UK website

"Golfers who analyze their technique too much can end up playing worse.

Scientists asked 80 golfers to practice a putt until they holed it three times in a row, then to describe what they did.

It then took them twice as many attempts to sink the same putt again, St Andrews University found."

I think this article is spot on. Sometimes I would over think and complicate the situation. Golfers need to relax and not be stressed out by the shot at hand. Technique, stress of the shot, and high expectations can ruin the experience. Everything needs to flow to enjoy the game.

The article can be found here

one year of golf

2009-01-29T20:33:00.007-08:00

It's been a little over a year since i started golfing again. In 2008, I had to learn how to swing the club and learn the fundamentals. I learned that the golf swing is full of pieces that take time to develop. I took my learning seriously and worked hard. If I had a bad session at the range I would go back and look up the tutorials on YouTube. I had the opportunity to take a few lessons with a golf instruction. It was great having someone look at analyze what i was doing right and wrong.

By the end of 2008, I felt comfortable with my swing. It's far from perfect and I may on occasion hit left or a right. Right now getting good contact with the ball and making sure I knew what I did wrong is all that matters. I found out that it's good not to over complicate the situation. The swing needs to flow smoothly. I also had the opportunity last month to provide useful instruction to a friend getting into the game of golf. I was able to cover a lot of things in a short span of time.

2009 brings a lot of new opportunity for me to continue to grow and enjoy the game. I look forward to playing several rounds of golf this year.

phil mickelson to make 2009 debut @ FBR Open

2009-01-28T18:12:00.007-08:00

San Diego native Phil Mickelson will be making his 2009 PGA Debut at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona tomorrow. Mickelson will be looking to add another win to his 34 career wins, the most by any left handed golfer. In 2008, Mickelson made his debut at Buick Invitational and came in 6th. We'll see if "Lefty" can make an impressive debut in 2009!

2009 Brings a New Year of Equipment

2009-01-27T23:07:00.004-08:00

I've been fascinated by golf equipment. Companies invest so much money on there products to improve the average and professional golfers. This year brings new products from different companies.

Callaway released the x22 irons a few months ago. In addition, they have a new line of FT-IQ drivers.

The new R9 Line by Taylormade is expected to be released in March. The R9 will feature full adjustability in that it will combine 3 moveable weights with our newest technology-Flight Control Technology (FCT).

the Nike victory red irons looks impressive. they have three different victory red models. the full cavity, forged split cavity, and the TW blade. it seems its targeted towards the better golfer. Nike will be releasing the dymo set of drivers. i'm looking forward to these line of drivers.

nike's new SQ dymo2 drivers

2009-01-26T11:04:00.007-08:00

looks like nike is at it again with a new line of SQ drivers and woods for the 2009 year season. this year they have the Dymo2 to released in February. reviews have already come in from the UK and they seem very promising. they tweaked the head size, geometry, center of gravity, loft and lie again, and the spin ratio and optimizes them in there various models.

i've been always impressed by the sumo2 square wood and square hybrid. i was able to hit long and straight with both of my nike sumo2 clubs. how can nike improve such a good club. according to golf monthly UK it is the best performing square driver in the market today. i'm looking forward to trying these new set of clubs at the local golf shop when they are released.

Practice once again

2008-12-07T20:22:00.005-08:00

Today I decided to practice my swing. It's been a long time since I've been at the range hitting balls. Although I've been able to hit a few balls last week I wouldn't consider it practice since I was focus on helping my friend with his swing.

I got a large bucket of balls and went for it. I've made solid contact with a lot of my swings. Surprisingly my shots went straight. Usually I have a tendancy to hit more left or right. The shots that I didn't hit I forced the shot, trying to hit further. To fix that issue I just let gravity move the club down... In my head i'd say "nice and easy" This helped me slow things down... I had a blast hitting with my sumo2 square 3 wood... The ball just went far.

Overall it was a good practice session. I can't wait to get back there.

golf instruction

2008-12-01T20:47:00.002-08:00

after a long hiatus from hitting balls at the driving range it was time to come back... not for practice but to help a friend of mine learn the game of golf... he has hit a few balls before at the range with friends but not really focusing on form or technique. it was just for fun. he has an upcoming game with a few coworkers and wanted to improve and learn. with my limited instruction from my workshops and the knowledge from what i learned from the internet i helped him out.

it was a challenge trying to figure out what to focus on.... so i put everything together... first the grip. second the stance... third position of the ball... and the swing. i broke it the swing down into pieces. i noticed a lot of things that i had issues with in the beginning. he got some good contact with the ball. not bad for a beginner.

he was astonished with the results. i felt good helping him out. although there are so many things to cover but i was able to help as much as i can.

Tiger Woods on track to being a billionare

2008-07-10T17:03:00.002-07:00

With all those endorsements and tournament winnings he's on his way to being the first billionaire athlete by 2010... In my opinion, he's deserving of it. He's one of those athletes that strives for excellent every single time he's out there. I just hope he returns the favor to people who are in need of help.

You can check out the article here

so many things

2008-07-09T17:16:00.001-07:00

well i haven't gone out to the range in about a month. i dont feel like im experiencing any withdrawl symptomns. LOL. i've keeping myself occupied with other things at the moment. Going to the driving range and hitting balls gets a bit costly if you add everything up. so i decided to take a little break from golf and focus on things that involve little or no money. so ive picked up some running shoes and some clothes. ive been running more often and looking to run my first 5k race this august 17. don't get me wrong i really like playing golf. i just need to find some time to fit it in my busy schedule. but this running thing is getting a bit serious :)

check out my runner's blog here.

nike sumo2 3 wood vs my top flite 3 wood

2008-06-11T10:25:00.004-07:00

i finally received a sumo2 3 wood (square) from ebay. it looks awesome. i really like the square look of the club. the forgivable square shape inspires long and straight. when i was comparing it with my top flite 3 wood. the top flite wood has a much bigger face compared to the sumo2. im not sure if it has a higher MOI though. the graphite shaft on the nike sumo2 is slightly shorter. ill be comparing them at the range in the days to come.

focusing on the spine angle.

2008-06-05T08:38:00.004-07:00

during my practice on wednesday, i noticed a few things about my swing. first, slowing down the tempo is a good way to get hit the ball consistently, steady and relax grip helps hitting the ball straight, but another thing i usually overlook is my spin angle. spine angle and posture go hand in hand. this is the number one reason why i top the ball. on the back swing im able to keep my posture together but sometimes on my follow though i have a tendency to get out of my spine angle a little to early. this usually results in a top ball (thin shot) or a shot to the right or left.

i was trying to figure out a way to correct this... so i thought of a baseball player going up to bat. they have there own posture. so when the batter prepares to hits the ball, they focus on the target and stay in the same posture throughout the swing. there head stays in the same position as well. so i tried to experiment that. i swung a few times and sure enough it worked. my shots were a straighter and felt more consistent. now i need to work on my speed during the downswing... i found a few videos on youtube that discuss spine angle. check them out.

this video shows a guy hitting a few balls. if you look carefully at his spine angle he doesnt move at all. plus his tempo and everything seems very spot on.

the video talks about keeping your head still throughout the shot.

tigers woods is back and practicing

2008-06-04T16:37:00.002-07:00

It seems like Tiger Woods has recovered from his knee surgery and is practicing. today he was seen at torrey pines golf course in san diego. looks like he will be playing at the US Open next week. according to the an article on the internet he hasn't played 18 holes but has been practicing. for more information about tiger woods and the upcoming us open can be found here.

ogio sliver and bionic glove

2008-06-01T10:38:00.008-07:00

well i've been getting some new goodies these past few weeks. first off i returned my mizuno scratch bag. i really liked it but was having second thoughts on whether i should get the ogio sliver bag instead. i went to the golf mart and looked at the ogio sliver golf bag. when you look at the bag it looks a bit heavy but when i actually lifted it up it felt really light. the weight is comparable to the scratch bag but it seems to be more functional. it has the traditional look as well. the woodie divider is a nice touch as well. it allows me to sort out my driver, woods and irons. it can easily fit a full set of clubs. another plus for me is that it matches my ogio shoester bag :)

i picked another golf glove. i decided to try out the bionic glove. i purchased a pair of bionic glove fitness gloves which were awesome. the bionic glove is in the same token. it has a special padding in certain areas of the hand to reduce hand fatigue and strain. my dri-fit tour glove was gettin pretty beat up and was causing some hand strain. the bionic glove feels really good. i can't wait to try it during my practice.

nike sumo2 fairway wood 3

2008-05-31T16:00:00.001-07:00

ive been searching around ebay for a new fairway wood to replace my top flite 3 wood. i had my sights set on getting a sumo2 fairway 3 wood (15 degree). i've had positive results with my nike sumo2 square hybrid and decided this would be as easy to hit off the tee than my driver at the moment. a lot of people are not fond of the square look but i think its the best way to get the ball up in the air. ive been on a few auctions on ebay but haven't won anything till NOW! i was able to pick up a 2 week year old one. i'm looking to have it sometime this week or next week. :) now i have to pick up that nike 5900 lucky 13 driver and the taylormade spider center shaft putter too... then ill definitely be ready for my first round of golf!!

short morning practice

2008-05-26T12:32:00.004-07:00

i went to southbay driving range to get some practice. for some weird reason i don't seem to hit the ball good over there. i had some decent shots but overall i didn't feel consistent. maybe it might be a mental thing.

another thing i noticed when i was practicing was my eye glasses. my eye glasses didn't really feel that secure on my face. at times when i look down at the ball my glasses would move ever so slightly. i just have to make i have my contacts . i experimented a few things today. i noticed on a swing with a normal tempo i would hit the ball okay. but once i slowed my back swing and slowly moved my hips... i was able to generate more power than the normal tempo shot. i need to remember just to slow it down... grip check was good. distance between the ball was "okay". i had my share of top balls today.

first golf game posponed

2008-05-25T09:42:00.002-07:00

my friend and i had to postpone our first game at national city golf course.. first off it rained the past few days. so the condition of the grass might not be as good. second he doesn't have his full set of clubs. he needs to pick them up in LA. so instead of playing a game unprepared we decided to postpone our game. we're looking to play sometime soon possibly by the end of this month or first week of june.

the sunday bag.

2008-05-23T14:03:00.006-07:00

i went to the golf mart in mission valley the other day to pick up a nice portable bag that i can take with me to the range. i originally had hopes of purchasing a nike skinny bag that i saw online... but when i saw it in person the material looked thin and flimsy... so i looked around and these portable bags i found out are called "Sunday Bags" these bags are very light weight bags that are usually good for a sunday round of golf.

there a few selections at the golf mart. there was a ping one, titleist, sun mountain, mizuno, and ogio. all of them looked great. the ping and the titleist sunday bags had the same material the nike one had... a nylon style material which i wasn't too fond of. the ogio one looked really nice. it looked like a mini stand bag without the stands. it looked cool but i didn't really wanna lug a traditional looking bag. if i wanted to just bring two clubs to the range itd look dumb in that bag.

the bag that stood out the most was the mizuno scratch n sac bag. it had great material. looked very sturdy it looked like a baseball bat bag but had a golf flair. it has a nice padded arm strap. although i don't have any mizuno irons this bag will be great for times at the range. these is a nice large pocket for storing stuff and a small pocket for small stuff... like my cell phone, i'll just lug around my huge bag when i go to the range. i picked a black one which looks really slick.

here's a brief description about the bag

The Mizuno Scratch-Sac™ is a no-nonsense, unstructured player's bag which can hold a full set of 14 clubs. A heavily waterproofed coating to the tube material ensures a dry set for those early morning rounds.

features:

Waterproof - Entire tube is waterproofed to ensure dry grips each time.

Shower Cap Lightweight, compact rainhood with QuikSnap attachment.

Safe T Pouch - Inner lining pocket with zip closure to store valuables.

booking my first tee time....

2008-05-22T15:39:00.008-07:00

im finally going to man up and try playing an actual course. i've been practice the past few months and think its about time. the driving is cool and all but the fun is on the course. so my friend and i will be teeing up at the national city golf course.... 9 holes. i will be booking my tee time online with golfnow.com... i never booked a tee time before in my life. we'll see how it goes. anyways, i will be practicing this weekend and get some distance numbers out of all my clubs. im a bit nervous and excited at the same time. i think its going to be all about the timing and tempo... take it slow and steady and not rush it.

The National City Golf Course scorecard can be found here

last nights practice.

2008-05-21T11:06:00.003-07:00

i went to the driving range yesterday after work after my three or so weeks of not practicing. i have to admit it went quite well. i brought four clubs. My driver, Nike Sumo2 #3 Hybrid, 7i and 8i. it felt weird at first, since i didn't have my glove and my golf shoes. i was using my barehands the entire time. it was a different experience. i was able to feel my grip pressure better but holding the club put a definite toll on my hands. i just hope i don't get any bad calluses from this experience.

i had to focus and recall my routine (ball position, grip pressure, takeaway, and tempo). my main focus was how much i gripped the club. i didn't want it too tight. the first couple of balls were iffy. but once i got my groove i was able to crank away. lots of long and far shots. i had a few top shots but i think its because my spin angle wasn't consistent throughout the swing. i also had a few swings were i missed the ball. i was trying to increase my club head speed but that totally screwed me up. slowing down my takeaway and my downswing resolve that issue.

all in all it was a pretty good practice with just 4 clubs. i really liked carrying less clubs than my entire bag. it helped me focus on the clubs i wanted to work on. now i have to find a nice small bag that will carry a few clubs. :)

the results are in...

2008-05-20T21:11:00.002-07:00

the nike sumo2 square hybrid is the best hybrid ever! i can't believe how far i hit it the ball with it. it felt like i was hitting my driver. the ball just went up and stayed up! the graphite shaft and the square head definitely helped out. i was kind of afried that the stiff shaft would a bit harsh but it worked out perfectly. i can't wait to get a nike 5900 driver and woods. i highly recommend this club! and plus i got an awesome deal out of it too :)

long time since i practiced...

2008-05-20T14:40:00.004-07:00

today is the day that i get some practice in. after work ill be heading over to the driving range to hit some balls. i'm going to finally try out that nike 3 hybrid i purchased two weeks ago and just feel for my swing again. i haven't gotten some practice in and i hope i'm not that rusty. these past few weeks i was focusing on getting my body physically fit to improve my core strength to assist me with my consistency and balance. hopefully all my working out at the gym will pay off.

tiger down. others have a chance.

2008-05-07T22:17:00.003-07:00

well its been all over the news that tiger has gotten surgery done to his left knee and now is rehabbing. this is the best the opportunity for other people to win. 2 weeks ago adam scott played an awesome playoff in Byron Nelson Championship with ryan moore. i have to say that was an awesome duel between two young golfers. it was really suspenseful like an overtime game in football or going extra innings in baseball. and last week, 22 year golfer, Anthony Kim at the Wachovia Championship was able to bring a stunning win. he hit several monster shots. this one i found on youtube was the one that stood out

new hybrid club!

2008-05-03T20:29:00.003-07:00

i finally was able to pick up a new hybrid club... i've been looking on ebay and didn't have any luck... just recently i was browsing craigslist and did a search for sumo2. i came across this ad.

im thinking to myself, is this for real? usually when there is no pictures or the pictures are from the website it might be fake... so i sent an email to the person and she still had the club. we exchange a few more emails and i decided to meet up. the club handle is still wrapped in plastic and the head has some plastic in it... after my long search i finally found it!! i haven't had a chance to use it yet but will soon :)

good bye top flite hybrid!

the perfect grip video!

2008-04-29T23:29:00.002-07:00

i think this totally clarifies everything i need to know about grip. i'm going to try this out next time on the range.

working out...

2008-04-28T22:40:00.002-07:00

lately ive been getting into a work out routine at the gym. i think this new work out routine will definitely help me out with my golf game in the long run... building more muscle to generate more power. plus with all that coiling and uncoiling of the body can definitely put a lot of stress on the body... i remember before my whole work out routine my back would feel all sore the day after i hit a bucket of range balls. stretching out before hitting balls to helps too.

practice on the grass.

2008-04-23T22:43:00.003-07:00

tonight i was able to fit in some practice. i decided to try something new. i went to the grassy section of the driving range to get a feel of how it would be like in a different setting without the practice matt. it was quite an interesting experience. there was actually little grass and more dirt. my shoes gripped onto the uneven ground. they seem to sink into the ground really well but didn't really feel stable. the first few shots i couldn't get the ball up. the ball flight was really low, i got some rollers. i'm not sure if it was the even ground or just the different setting. i made sure to run down my checklist to make sure my grip pressure was off and my tempo was a little bit faster than normal. the last time i practiced in the evening was when i had that nightmare of a practice. the thought of it still lingers.

after a few sessions in the grass i decided to move back to the mats. the grass was a bit beat already and wasn't worth continuing my practice. it felt way better on the mats. my driver shots however where going way left. i'm not sure if it was alignment. my hybrid shots were good... no complaints.. iron shots were up and down.

my main issues are the usual. grip pressure and tempo. i need to loosen my grip and slow down my tempo and not rush.

mental toughness

2008-04-21T15:49:00.006-07:00

i notice that negative and positive feelings can definitely effect one's game. although, i haven't really played a full course yet i believe that thinking positively can help improve a player's score. i remember a few weeks ago when i had that nightmare session i was full of negative feelings. after hittings one bad shot after another definitely affected my confidence. i think it made me more determine to do even better. it pushed me to figure out what was going on and to research ways to improve my swing to become a better player. when you look at a lot of the tour players they seem to block out negative feelings... i was watching tiger woods during the masters. he was behind trying to catch up. but during the end he was able to make it catch up. he made a few bad shots and was able to overcome them.

as a beginner, i feel that learning from my mistakes is good learning. i have such high expectations to do better every time. with a variety of videos online and golf forums the help is endless. it all depends on the player and how determine they are. the more determination and hard work the better the score.

golf fitness part 1 (shoulders and back)

2008-04-19T18:11:00.005-07:00

i noticed that golfers usually get stereotyped as being overweight athletes, which is totally not the case. although they might not look fit doesn't mean they're in shape. they're in shape but in other areas. look at tiger woods for example, he has a total athletic physique. in all sports its important to be in shape. so i've been hitting the gym about twice a week to make sure i work out my core muscles and getting my cardio... and again youtube has been helping me out with what exercises they recommend for golfers...

i found a few videos that might be quite handy for those who want to work out there shoulders and there backs.

confidence is up again!

2008-04-17T00:58:00.003-07:00

back to the driving yet again to work on things... i was feeling a bit anxious and nervous about this practice session. last night, i went over a few youtube videos to refresh my memory... one was the distance from the ball, keeping the feet together, the grip... all these videos were done by Shawn Clement...

anyways, it was a hot day, i would say upper 70s or low 80s and wearing a black shirt didn't help out. i went down the mental checklist i set up for myself... posture (check), grip (check), distance from the ball (check), smooth takeaway (check). my checklist really helped out a lot. i made sure my grip wasn't tight. in a scale of 1-10 it was about a 5. that was a major issue i had previously. i would get a bit tense and hold the club too tight which tightens my muscles and results in a crappy hit. loosening up really made my swing flow well.

my primary focus for this session was to develop a smooth tempo, not rushed at all and a sturdy grip. i hit balls really far and straight. i let gravity do its work and made sure my wrists naturally hinge at the top of swing. everything was smooth and flowed. i hit my x20s really well. a lot of my driving range balls were high and long ranging from 100 to 170 yards. it was just a thing of beauty... so i took out the dreaded 4-hybrid. guess what... i hit that really well too. i seem to tense up when i hit the hybrid. but this time i loosen my grip and slowed my tempo.

later on in my session i got a little hungry and was starting to hit some balls crummy... it seems like the lack of food definitely affects your performance. i hit my driver really bad due to the lack of food and focus. but i didn't let that get to me. i just went back and remembered to slow down and it worked.

my confidence is back up again. this was the best practice session so far!