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We have all watched tournament competition on TV and in person. It really looks like a battle or 18 hole ‘Grind’. It really is but not primarily between combatants! It is a battle between the man or woman and the golf course. The challenge is against the golf course and ‘Old Man Par’. It can be looked upon as a war of attrition against Par. If it is a four day tournament, mistakes on day one often create a sting on Sunday’s last hole and the player‘s total. You cannot win it on the first few holes but you certainly can lose it early!

To maintain golf’s reputation of being ‘A Gentleman’s Game’ the ‘Handicap System’ was created long ago. If one can play to the course published Par (i.e. 72 strokes to get around the 18 holes), one is deemed to have played to Par, to a ‘Zero Handicap’ or to ‘Scratch’.

Firstly, the “Target Heel” is a part on the ‘Target Swing Side’ of our body.

When Mr. Nicklaus (The Golden Bear) was at the ‘Tob Of Backswing’ (TOB - Swing Sequence #5) his ‘Target Heel’ was lifted above or off the ground. What did this accomplish? It slightly extended his ‘Range Of Motion’. (ROM - The distance his Hands could move relevant to his feet … Brace Hand Travel Distance - ‘BHTD’)

Put yet another way, Jack’s ‘Swing Circle or Clubhead Travel Distance’ (‘CHTD’) would increase. This tended to increase his Clubhead Speed and Distance. If we can keep everything under ‘Pivot and Swing Control’, the same benefit would be ours as a result of ‘Lifting Our Target Heel’.

If you are not ‘Failing’
You are not trying!

What percentage of your golf strike attempts, Putting To Driver, are less than ideal or expected … deficient in ‘Outcome’? One is rewarded by focusing on ‘The Process’.

Even if you are not a formal ‘Student Of The Game’ (without lessons) just by being both logical and aware of your ‘Set-Up’ and accomplished ‘Ball Flight Line and Shape’, by performing a ‘Pre and Post Shot Routine’, you shall improve and have more fun. (see ‘The 5 Set-Ups’ - Posture, Grip, Stance, Ball Location and Alignment’)

Our “Around Force” refers to ‘Pivot Engine Rotational Force’. (see ‘Spinal Action’) Our Hip & Shoulder Alignment Axes are recognized correctly as ‘Around Force Elements’. (see ‘Horizontal Pressure’)(see ‘Round & Round’)

An underlying objective in making a successful golf swing is getting the ‘Sweet Spot’ onto the ‘Bottom Inside Cheek’ (BIC - Red Dot) at BOSA. (‘Bottom Of Swing Arc’)(see ‘Timing’)

The Clubhead travels ‘Back & Up in the Back Swing (Brace Side’) and Down & Out in the Front Swing’. It involves what your ‘555 Team’ refers to as the ‘Bend & Straighten Action’. (see ‘Up & Down’)(see ‘Primary Articulating Joints’ [PAJ] - Wrist, Elbow and Shoulder)

All our global ‘555 Round Table Family’ likely knows what the ‘Rapid Fire Drill’ is? Firstly, it is NOT too rapid … just fluid and repetitive. Warm up before you go to work with this drill! Set-up for a very normal #8 Iron strike. A couple inches farther away from your feet (Stance Sternal Pivot Center), set up another golf ball. Add six more for a total of 8 in the line.

You can come to a stop between the balls but, once you are in the groove, say your ‘Trigger Words’ (“Sweep & See It”) making a solid strike with your “See It” words. Total drill duration will be about 20 to 35 seconds. You will ‘Step In’ at each ‘Top Of Front Swing’ with your ‘Off-Loaded Brace Foot. Learn this sequence in ‘Slow Motion’ first.

To add a little ‘Ocular Acuity’ nutrition, set up 8 more golf balls, not in a line, but in random location is what will be about a ‘3 Foot Circle’.

You know our ‘5 Set-Ups’ (PGSBA) and ‘5 Essential Elements’ (CCCSA). They are your ‘555 Team’s Bread and Butter’! Try to make a great sandwich without these ten foundational ingredients! Rhetorical?

The baseline science and physics of Golf is ‘Compression and Line Of Compression’. What the heck does that mean? Hitting the ball solidly in a direction where you want it to end up! Prey tell, how do we manage that feat? We have to do it the ‘Old Fashioned Way’. We must earn it!

Let’s Keep It Simple?

A: Master One Golf Club … Your Putter First

New golfers must initially learn the generic golf swing … small to big. One can quickly improve on the driving range and golf course by just swinging one club for most of your current strikes and practice routine. For example ‘One Clubbers’ might play nine (9) complete holes with the #8 Iron. That means ‘Putting, Chipping, Bump & Run, Punch, Pitch and Full Swing’ with it! If you make your ‘Dance Floor’ strike or stroke ‘Thin’ it will perform acceptably end over end and find the bottom of the cup. This novel approach to mastering your golf game is FUN. Try it!

The goal of golf is to move the little, white golf ball a distance until you ‘Hole Out’. You need not keep score. Just play the hole as it unfolds for you! As you improve, add one more club and keep working. In this ‘Progressive Manner’ you shall comfortably get to your Driver.

“Of what?” you ask.

Be aware and informed as to what ‘The 5 Set-Ups’ are … Posture, Grip, Stance, Ball Location and Alignment’. No golf swing anywhere in the world takes place without all five of these ‘Set-Up’ ingredients. Think about and learn them! Ponder them in your ‘Pre & Post-Shot Routines’.

Your ‘555 Team’ has also isolated ‘The 5 Essential Elements’ … Clubface Aim, Clubhead Path, Clubhead Speed, Sweet Spot and Angle Of Attack’ (AOA). Be aware of these and determine how they must fit into your golf activities. Every swing has these five elements. These are now ten ‘Foundational’ items!

There is no reason to fear grass or sand bunkers … fairway or greenside! The plethora of available ‘Bunker Advice’ is well-known. One must be aware that each individual will very likely have his or her own ‘Bunker Set-Up Variations’. That is ‘Cool’ as long as you are ‘Scientifically and Mechanically’ appropriate and your technique works in the heat of battle!

You know the myriad of ‘Instructional Drifts’ so I am not going to take more of your valuable time herein. A few points! If you have questions, simply call your personal ‘555 Team Member’.

Practise from an ‘Average Bunker’ … not too hard, soft or deep. ‘Buried Lies’ add to the challenge. Start with your ‘Sand Wedge’ as it will usually have about 56 degrees of ‘Loft’ and 12 to 15 degrees of ‘Bounce’. You can use any tools that will get your job done! With the Clubhead laying on its back, stand on the face. Doing so, your shaft and handle will show you the expected ‘Trajectory’ or ‘Ball Flight Profile’. That will suffice for now. ‘Keep It Stupid Simple’.

If you accomplish a regular or Slow-Motion Sweeping, Turn & Lift, Back & Up to the Top Of Back Swing (TOB - Swing Sequence #5) Your ‘Lever Assemblies shall cooperate and help make this TOB happen smoothly and rhythmically ‘On Path and On Plane’.

As you Load Coil to the Brace Side, your Brace Rear Pocket shall rotate back and up. The feel and mechanics is a ‘Sit Down Motion’ when at TOB. Picture this? If you wind up a sturdy elastic band does it get longer or shorter? Correct! Shorter! Hence ‘The Sit Down’ analogy!

Your once ‘Plumb Spinal Column, will have usually become ‘Aft-Tilted’ especially with long-shafted sticks! (see ‘A Little Out Of Plumb’)