Archive for the ‘Golf Professionals’ Category

Why 99% of Pro Golfers FAIL to Make it to the PGA Tour!

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

During my year-long stint as a mini-tour golfer, I’ve came to realize many things including the reason why 99% of pro golfers out there FAIL to make it to the PGA Tour.

Here’s the top reasons:

1. They run out of money.

2. They don’t have financial back-up to go for a long time.

3. They simply don’t have the talent.

Well, my top 2 reasons are probably the #1 reason why not all of the Top 10 college golf players never even see a day playing at the PGA Tour.  Of course, the lucky ones will have all the money in the world but simply lack the talent to make it to the PGA Tour.  (For example, they try out the PGA Qualifying school and fail 10 years straight.)

For those who have tried and failed, my advice is to move on with better things in life.  As great as life of a pro golfer looks on TV, what you see is only a share of world’s best talent in my opinion.  I have seen many great golfers including amateurs and pros that never make it simply they get caught up with life, that of making a living.

To make a living as a mini-tour golfer, you must practically finish somewhere the Top 30, it doesn’t matter which mini tour you play including Canadian Tour, Hooters Tour, Nationwide Tour, and etc…etc…

So, where do these 99% of others go?  They simply lose desire to play pro golf or get caught up making a living.

If you have kids who want to grow up to be pros on the PGA or LPGA tour, they better have good financial backup.

On average, you probably need at least $50,000 a year just in expenses for golf equipment, practice/playing fees, and competition entry fees.

Pro competition fees can be pretty hefty and unless you make hundred grand from your day job, I don’t think there’s a way for you to play pro golf competitively.

So what?

Just realize that if you are going to play pro golf, you should have a smart financial plan so you can keep going even if your scores don’t make you money.

It’s a whole different ball game than being an amateur because your life is basically on the line.  How well you play determines whether you will eat bread the next day or not.

As for me, I broke my finger and also ran out of money only a year into my mini-tour stint.  I didn’t realize how much money I needed until I started making money with pro golf.

Luckily, after 6 years of jumbling my life and starting my own online blogging business, I am glad I can slowly start back at my dreams again, that of playing competitively with the top pros in the world.

Don’t get me wrong, the pros on the PGA Tour are probably the best of the crop but playing on the PGA Tour is a lot easier if you can keep trying and you have some sponsors to back you up. (and also time to practice/play everyday)

And don’t forget, some even make it to the PGA Tour, win a couple tournaments, then fall into thin air.

That’s simply golf, it’s not so predictable, even if you are the best in the world.

I just wonder, whatever happened to some of those golfers I used to know who were so good? Well, they’ve moved on.  I am not.  Ricky Barnes is one of those who made it btw and I hope Joel Kribel does well soon too, they both got a ton of talent.

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Golf Book Review – Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons – The Modern Fundamentals of Golf!

Friday, October 30th, 2009

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Even with Tiger winning so many majors and Jack Nicklaus having accomplished so much, there’s still only one “best striker” of the golf ball in my mind, Ben Hogan.

What’s amazing about Ben Hogan is not that his swing is perfect (which it is and most modern golf instruction have derived from Ben Hogan’s concepts, this very book), his car got hit by a big rig on a foggy day and he was paralyzed from the waist down!  Well, he came back somehow and was able to walk again AND he won more majors after that.

If you get into such a serious injury and still be able to win major golf championships, that certainly is a miracle.

Not all Ben Hogan’s concepts are valid as golf equipment has changed over the years but most of the core concepts are very valuable and if you haven’t read this book, you are not a real golfer.

Really, what do Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have in common?  I bet they got Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons of Golf somewhere in their house.

Look at all the shots Tiger is hitting, all those knockdown shots?  Well, they are Ben Hogan’s shots, really.

I bought my copy when I was 9 years old, that’s 20 years ago.  The pages are sorta ripped but I still read it at least once a month, it’s very entertaining to me to read it over and over again.

Get your copy on Amazon, this is a book every golfer should have if they consider themselves real golfers.

P.S. This is like the “bible” of golf, seriously.  No one else in the world has written a book detailing the mechanics of swing the correct way decades before slow-motion digital cameras were available.

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Golf Book Review – Advanced Golf by Greg Norman!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

advanced-golf

If you want to get your game to another level, one of the MUST READ golf instructional books is Advanced Golf by Greg Norman.  Before Tiger Woods came into golf, Greg Norman was the #1 golfer in the world.  Well, Greg Norman might have failed in a lot of majors but I don’t think it’s his game that caused that rather something “mental”.  Regardless of how he came up short at majors, he’s still regarded as one of the best golfers ever lived along with Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.   At least in my book he is still one of my golfing heroes.

I grew up watching Greg Norman beat virtually everyone and I betcha Tiger Woods has this very book in his bookshelf somewhere, probably autographed by Greg himself. I know for a fact that Tiger looked up to Greg Norman and learned a lot from him before he became the #1 golfer in the world.

Anyways, if you are going to get this book, make sure to get the hardcover version as it will last you longer, I still have my same book I bought back in 1995, still good as new after 14 years. :)

Let me tell you a little bit about the book though, it’s a great book because Greg Norman features his iron swing and driver techniques in detail, especially made for those golfers who are trying hard to break 90, 80, or become a scratch golfer.

This book was also written while Greg Norman was taking lessons from Butch Harmon.  (and Tiger started taking lessons from Butch before he started winning everything…)

FYI, Tiger Woods started golf when he was 2, Greg Norman started when he was 15 years old!  If you count how many years it took Greg Norman to win a professional tournament versus how long it took Tiger, you will get what I mean how talented Greg Norman is.  If Greg only started golf a bit earlier, we would never find out.

Anyways, this book is definitely a classic and I am sure it will be a classic for years to come.  If you are a hardcore golfer, this is a MUST to have in your bookshelf.

Get it on Amazon here, and make sure to get the HARDCOVER if you are hardcore golfer! (there’s an option for that)

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Tiger’s Swing at 2009 PGA HD!

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Here’s a good shot of Tiger’s swing at the 2009 PGA.  Although he lost, there’s plenty here to see. :)

I can see why he lost, his head is dipping like 3-5 inches on the downswing instead of the usual 1-2 inches.  That’s not going to help him hit the ball perfect.

Download latest version of Flash to view video!.

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

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I am starting to Play Pro Tournaments AGAIN!

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Well, after years of not playing competitively, I’ve finally decided to take a shot at the PGA Tour again.  My goals for this year is to play at least 2 Pepsi Tour tournaments before the year is over.  I know that’s not whole lot of competitive golf but heck, I gotta start playing somewhere!

Next year, my goals are to enter couple Nationwide PGA Tour Monday qualifying events hopefully around my neighborhood in Northern California.

I will also be trying to qualify for U.S. Open next year, wish me luck to make it to the Open baby!

Anyways, my swing is looking really good, I’ve simplified it enough where I don’t have to practice much to keep my swing in shape.  (although I have desire to hit at least 300 balls everyday)

I haven’t really played much, maybe 5 rounds total in the last 2 years but it shouldn’t take me too long shooting 60s again.

I realize I am getting older but my swing is more stable and mature.  My thoughts on golf has naturally improved due to age.  Maybe that is why before Tiger’s era, pros didn’t start winning majors until they were in their 30s.

Wish me luck and I will try to keep updating the blog although I will get very busy now focusing only on one thing, winning the U.S. Open!  (hahaha, that will take me years but heck, it’s a good goal)

Today, I hit the ball GREAT just like 2 days ago.

Here’s couple swing thoughts I was using to hit laser-accurate iron shots and super-long 350 yard drives:

For short shots, be very loose, light hands, and make a very smooth swing.

Also, swing inside-out and try to keep that swing in motion before you start looking up where your ball is going.  This doesn’t mean your head stays down, just keep your spine angle consistent until after impact, that’s the key to crisp, iron shots.

For extra, super-long 350 yard drives, I’ve developed a new method of creating “super-lag” with my woods.  Basically, you start turning your lower body quickly right as you are reaching the top of your backswing, this creates a “super-lag”, plus you will be able to square the ball easily with the added amount of clubhead speed generated.  I find that a nice 15-yard draw is generated with this method or a straight shot.  Before using this method and just hitting the ball hard with my driver in the past, I experienced a lot of blocks to the right.

Well, that’s all for today, I will be gone golfing!

P.S. I will also be ordering some custom golf wear I can wear to tournaments to show off my golf blog.  PLUS, I will be interviewing couple of my old golf pro friends at Pepsi Tour, sorta like reality show for aspiring pro golfers.  (You will get to see what they are thinking, where they are going, and who knows, some of these guys DO make it to the PGA TOUR eventually so that’d be interesting stuff to watch.)

My first tournament here at Boundary Oaks Golf Course in Walnut Creek, pray for me!  (although I think it will take me at least 3 tournaments before I start playing well…)

samll

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Posted in A+Featured Golf News, A+Featured Swing Tips, Junger Woods, Natural Golf Swing, PGA Pros, Rhythm, Swing Tips | No Comments »

Tom Watson’s Explanation on the Secret to Consistent Golf Swing!

Monday, August 31st, 2009

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Well, I might have analyzed hundreds of golf swings in my life but perhaps Tom Watson’s explanation on secret to a consistent golf swing will help you more with his simple wisdom, “keep your spine angle consisten and turn around it.”

And this has everything to do with keeping your clubhead and body parts on-plane.  The golf swing plane only exists as a result of this spine angle.

I think this advice will help you more because it’s so simple and it’s coming from Tom Watson.

Watch the video and learn! :)

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Posted in A+Featured Swing Tips, Golf Professionals, Golf Swing Basics, Golf Swing Plane, PGA Pros, Swing Secrets, Swing Tips, Tom Watson | No Comments »

The Most Incredible Stymie Hole-In-One by Leif Olson!

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

This is probably the most incredible “stymie” hole-in-one by Leif Olson at the Canadian Open last week.  This is as close as you get to a “bank shot” in golf.

WOW, that’s all I can say.

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Posted in A+Featured Golf News, Golf News, Golf Professionals, Golf Video | 1 Comment »

Winner of British Open Tom Watson!

Monday, July 20th, 2009

The title of this blog post says, “Winner of British Open Tom Watson” when Stewart Cink won the Open yesterday.

Why?

Well, I just have to give out my best wishes to one of the best golfers ever lived, Tom Watson.

When I first started golf, I read Tom Watson’s Getting Up and Down.  Tom Watson has always been one of my golfing heroes and to be leading the British Open at 59 years old until the 72nd hole was just plain awesome.

Of course, I know Stewart Cink probably deserves his share of applause but to me, the real winner of 2009 British Open is Tom Watson, simply because he’s too old and he tried so hard.

I see all these sports writer about how “Tom Watson” came up short when in reality, Tom Watson accomplished something unreal over the weekend at the age of 59.

Heck, if Tom Watson finished anywhere near Top-20, that’s a miracle.  The point is that this 59-year golfing super-star finished 2nd at the British Open.  Plus, he did tie Stewart Cink for the total number of strokes.

When you compare this to Rocco at the 2008 U.S. Open and Greg Norman at 2008 British Open, you know it’s 10 times more incredible because Tom Watson was the “oldest” to finish 2nd at a major championship.

My last thoughts, keep ‘em coming Tom, I think you can still win another major in the next couple years.

APTOPIX Britain Open Golf

(Image Credit)

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Posted in A+Featured Golf News, Golf Professionals, PGA Pros, Tom Watson | 2 Comments »

Lucas Glover Golf Swing Analysis!

Friday, July 10th, 2009

As you probably well know, Lucas Glover edged out my former junior golf colleague Ricky Barnes during this year’s U.S. Open 2009, beating numerous great golfers like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and David Duval.

Needless to say, let’s go over Lucas Glover’s swing to see what makes him a “major” champion.

At address, Lucas Glover really gets his head behind the ball, his upper spine and head both tilted slightly towards the target.  This slight move helps you to hit the driver on the upswing and also makes sure your head stays behind the ball during the swing.

Lucas has a very strong grip which also goes well with this type of setup.  His feet are about 10 degrees open each.

*Notice that his head is almost over his right foot, not something you’d teach someone but it works for Lucas Glover.

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On the takeaway, Lucas Glover takes away very very wide, sorta like Tiger, I bet he tried to copy Tiger’s move here.

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About half-way, Lucas is still very “wide”.  The way Lucas Glover swing the golf club reminds me almost of a slingshot.  Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve seen a handful of great players who have a “slingshot” golf swing.  This isn’t a bad thing so if you do this, keep doing it.

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At the top of Lucas Glover’s swing (or transition since his hips are already moving down now), Lucas doesn’t overswing, he actually has a pretty compact backswing although it’s hard to notice when you see it in full speed.  Watch carefully as this is when Lucas does the “slingshot” move, he will practically drop his shoulders, arms, and hands straight down.

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I don’t know if you notice here but, Lucas Glover is coming on a very steep angle in contrast to his takeaway and backswing.  This isn’t my favorite way to swing the golf club as your shoulders and hands must compensate for the difference.

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At impact, Lucas Glover drops his body a bit (like everyone) but his feet are still on the ground and his left shoulder to the clubhead forms a perfectly straight line, probably his key to consistency.

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After impact, watch how straight both Lucas Glover’s arms are, that is really good stuff.  And also note his feet are still on the ground!!!  (and yes that is awesome.)

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Lucas Glover’s finish is what I like most about his swing.  See how straight his body is?  This isn’t just good for consistent golf, it’s also great for your back.

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Overall, I’d give Lucas Glover’s swing 8 out of 10.  Lucas didn’t win the U.S. Open with his swing, he also had some good luck with the weather and pairings.  Of course, Lucas has a really good short game and mentally “tougher” than the others.

Here’s Lucas Glover’s Golf Swing in Slow-motion video:

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Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

The stuff you need to learn from Lucas Glover’s Swing:

1. Wide takeaway - Wide takeaway isn’t just for hitting the ball, it also let you swing more free as you can “feel” the centripetal force as you swing back.

If you want to learn to do a wide takeaway, simply put only your right hand on the club and try to swing back like you are holding a slingshot.  If you can feel that, apply it on your real swing.

2. Stable Impact - You want to learn to hit the golf ball without losing your balance.  Next time you are on the range, try to develop a stable impact position by “staying up” through impact.  You will almost feel like you are standing up at impact if you do this right.  In fact, you want to feel like you are standing up during your whole swing.

3. Great Finish – Great finish usually result in great balance and that you end up standing tall like Lucas Glover.  Next time you are at the range, finish your golf swing and stand “tall” afterwards and hold your finish for 3 seconds.  If you can do that, that means you have kept your balance through the swing.

More cool balancing exercises – Take a golf pencil, bite it with your mouth and try to hit full shots without losing your golf pencil.  If you can master this, your body will automatically learn to balance and swing better.

Well, that’s about it for today folks, I will try to have more golf swing analysis later this week so I hope you get better at golf!

Go practice now, don’t just sit there and read golf blogs.

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Posted in A+Featured Swing Tips, Golf Professionals, Lucas Glover, PGA Pros, Slow Motion, Swing Secrets, Swing Tips, swing analysis | 1 Comment »

Independence Day AT&T National Predictions!

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

As of now, Michael Allen, Cameron Beckman, Anthony Kim, and Tiger Woods are tied for the lead at 9 under total.

Based on golf history and performance, I would have to say Anthony Kim (who is the defending champion) and Tiger Woods both have great chances of winning.

There’s so many great names at the top of the leaderboard this Independence Day weekend, I hope all those guys get to see the fireworks at night.  (which I am sure they will)

As for me, I will be taking a break and start a barbeque, cook up some nice tri-tip steaks, teriyaki chicken, and more goodies.

Okay, my final prediction – Tiger Woods or Anthony Kim, although I think Tiger might have an edge this weekend.  We will have to see and find out if those two end up in the final group tomorrow.  If that’s the case, Anthony Kim will have to psych out Tiger Woods for the trophy or the other way around.

Either way, I am glad two of my favorite players are at the top.

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Posted in A+Featured Golf News, Anthony Kim, Golf Professionals, PGA Pros, Tiger Woods | No Comments »