Posted by Charlie King on Mon, Sep 06, 2010 @ 04:40 PM
Please watch Video 1 and 2 for the Golf Channel Instructor Search. Please place a comment under the video you are voting for.
Posted by Charlie King on Wed, Jun 16, 2010 @ 09:46 AM
By now you've heard about my fictional run for President of Golf Instruction. Yes, it's a spoof, but I really do believe that the current way we teach golf is not helping golfers and a new "administration" needs to take office and help golfers reach their full potential.
As part of my Presidential campaign, I taped a campaign speech. You can watch it here.
The speech lays out all the things that I believe would help your golf game the most. I talk about the way I think golf should be taught and how you deserve to reach your FULL POTENTIAL.
In the speech, I tell you why I think there's an inherent problem with using a method or model to teach the full swing. My "platform" focuses on SKILLS, just like any other sport.
I talk about why it's hard to trust a golf instructor and how my profession needs to make this right. I want to give you a road map to follow to play your best golf.
I know you want to hear how to hit the ball LONGER, STRAIGHTER and how to MAKE MORE SHORT PUTTS. You can get that by downloading the Clinic on the website!
I also am unveiling my biggest campaign promise: Pure Impact: The Solid Contact Project. This easy to understand program is designed to focus teachers and golfers on golf's magic, addictive feeling. This feeling I'm referring to is the feeling of a pure shot hit right in the sweetspot of the club. If you were feeling that more often, you would be loving golf more and having more fun. I'm going to show you how. Click on www.charliekingforpresident.com and enter your name and e-mail address to get access to the 2 videos.
So, check out the video of my campaign speech by clicking here or go directly to http://www.charliekingforpresident.com/ and watch my run for President of Golf Instruction unfold.
Posted by Charlie King on Wed, Jun 09, 2010 @ 05:38 PM
Is that possible? In this case ... YES!
The drill I show on page 52 of the July issue and the video at www.golf.com/slice is one of the simplest but most powerful drills in golf. Click here to watch me explain the drill on golf.com.
Posted by Charlie King on Sun, Jun 06, 2010 @ 10:29 PM
Hello, Golfers! As most of you have heard by now, I’m campaigning hard to be the next President of Golf Instruction (www.charliekingforpresident.com). Why? Because it’s time for a change --- it’s time for the new rules of learning golf to be shared with the public. No more forcing a square peg into a round hole. Rather, my new party will allow every golfer to be Unique --- to develop their own style while developing and fine-tuning their Skills.
You see, that’s what it’s all about --- looking at golf as a motor skill like swimming, and then breaking it down into learnable, improvable parts or steps. I recently explained this to Golf News Network anchor Traci Buch, who interviewed me as I drove through the state of North Carolina on my way to yet another golf course and another campaign stop (www.charliekingforpresident.com ) .
I have hit the campaign trail, going from state to state and visiting golf clubs to reveal my new party platform -- and enlist the support of golfers who understand that there is a better way. As you all well know, change is not always an easy thing to effect. Especially when something has been established and ingrained for so long --- as is the case with the old party, with the old rules of golf training.
I am delighted that Traci interviewed me, because not only was it a good exercise for me to think through and share WHY I launched this campaign in the first place --- but it also reconfirmed for me how important my mission is and reignited my passion to help golfers everywhere improve their game.
Let’s face it --- that’s what we all want. It’s the primary reason that you are even reading this e-mail. Yet for all these many years, people have been shown an example or model and told, “This is the way to do it. You have to look like this…” or “You have to swing like this.” Horse hockey! If you have the seven essential skills of golf, and you practice those skills, you can swing your own way if it works for you. My feeling is this: There is no single “best way” – but there IS a best way for YOU.
When you click here and you watch the short video of my Golf News Network interview, I’m willing to bet that you will be inspired too --- that you will feel your own passion to change how golf is instructed. And when you do --- then let your fingers do the typing and forward my e-mail to your friends. Let’s make this viral --- let’s sweep the cobwebs off these old ways of thinking and start a revolution in golf --- a revolution that will lead to more golfers across America getting lower scores and enjoying the game more than ever before. Now that’s something to get excited about!
Until next time…
Your devoted golf instructor,
Charlie King (and your future President ;-)
Posted by Charlie King on Mon, May 31, 2010 @ 06:10 PM
That's the number of views for "Golf's Most Important Lesson". I am going to assume it is because of your forwarding of the video.
I told you in a blog post last year that we had reached 10,000 views and the views have been exponential ever since. It has done well enough that I just got a message from Youtube asking me to do a profit sharing arrangement. How about that, good ol' Youtube asking me to share in the profits. I haven't read the fine print, but I am sure everything is good.
Here is the video. Please continue to pass this along. It truly is Golf's Most Important Lesson. Every golfer needs to know what is in this video. I wish I had known this when I started.
Stay tuned for more Golf Tips from Charlie King.
Posted by Charlie King on Wed, Apr 28, 2010 @ 06:34 PM
This question is asked a lot at my short game schools. "What is the difference between a pitch shot and a chip shot?" A chip shot has more ground time than air time. It is a low running shot. A pitch shot is a mini version of a full swing. It has more air time than roll.
To have good pitching essentials, you must have a good routine.
Pre Swing- Grip, aim, set up, posture, and stance
Ball Position- Back in your stance, the ball flight will be lower. (Most run out)
Middle of your stance, the ball flight will be a little bit higher
Forward in your stance, the ball flight will be the highest. (Least run out)
In pitching, the height of the shot needed depends on how much green you may have to work with. For example, if you were to have 30 or 40 feet of green between you and the hole, you may be able to put the ball back in your stance and hit a lower, running pitch that may only half to fly half way to the hole and release the rest of the way. This shot can be done with a sand wedge or even a pitching wedge. This is the more favorable type of pitch shot, as it is the easiest, with the most room for error.
Some situations may call for a high, soft pitch shot. Usually you may have to go over a bunker, or water, to a pin that may only be a few paces onto the green. A lob wedge is best utilized for this shot. Most would agree that this shot is the hardest shot in golf. Easiest to try to just avoid this shot. If laying up to a green with a tight flag always stay far enough back to leave yourself a full shot into the green.
In chipping, the shot is a low shot that is only in the air for a pace or two and then roles most of the distance to the hole. Ball position is in the middle to back of your stance. Make sure that your weight remains steadily on your forward leg. There is no weight shift for this shot. Once you have this set-up understood, change clubs to make the ball roll farther or shorter. For example, a long chip shot may call for a 7 iron, where a shorter amount of roll could be done with a pitching wedge.
Most importantly with both shots is impact. Remember, hitting slightly down on the ball makes it go up. I repeat, hitting down on the ball will make it go into the air. If you're constantly "sculling" these shots, you're most likely trying to help the ball up in the air. Commonly referred to as "scooping" or "flipping" your hands. And trust me, no matter how often your partners tell you, I promise, it's NOT because you are "lifting your head or looking up!!!"
Good luck with both of these shots.
To get drills and ways to practice, please go to our website
www.reynoldsgolfacademy.com.
Posted by Charlie King on Fri, Feb 26, 2010 @ 02:42 PM
Do you get up and down from off the green?
You might be asking yourself what does this mean. When one golfer says to another golfer "good up and down" it means that you were off the side of the green and you chipped the ball onto the green and made the putt. In Charlie's book "Golf's Red Zone Challenge" there is a great quote about chipping, "When you're a good chipper, chipping gives you par for a partner."
A chip shot is defined as a low running shot, where a pitch shot is defined by more air time. A chip shot is necessary when you are only a few yards off the putting green. At the Reynolds Golf Academy we recommended a two club system, such as an 8 or 9 iron or a pitching wedge or sand wedge. Master two clubs so you can master distance control. You want to select a club which will allow for the ball to just carry onto the putting surface. How much green you have to work with will determine which club to use. Usually the rule of thumb is the further the flag is from the edge of the green, the less lofted of the two clubs you would choose. Everyone is different; it doesn't matter which two clubs you choose, one is not better than the other. Master those two clubs and it will build your confidence around the greens.
Your number one priority in chipping is to hit the ball solidly. The majority of golfers try to lift the ball into the air and onto the green. This results in a scooping motion where your wrists bend upward and the club head gets in front of your hands. This may result in hitting it fat or topping it across the green. Other words in "golf launguage" associated to those bad shots are "chunking it" or "blading it".
The keys to effective chipping are:
- Have about 60% to 80% of your weight on your forward leg, the leg closest to the target. Keep the weight there throughout the swing; no weight shift.
- Ball position is back of center.
- Hands slightly forward.
- The club is swung on an arc. Be careful not to take the club back to low or pick it up too sharply.
- Maintain the same grip pressure throughout the shot.
- Pick a spot where you want the ball to land, then release.
Remember practicing your chipping and becoming a solid ball striker can help your overall game. For more information on chipping and drills to help you improve please go to http://www.reynoldsgolfacademy.com/ and look at our series of video clips and sign up for our newsletter. We want you to be our next success story! If you have any questions please feel free to send me them at knicoletti@reynoldsplantation.com.
Check our Charlie's Chipping video below.
Happy Golfing!!
Posted by Charlie King on Thu, Jan 07, 2010 @ 07:18 PM
Have you set your Golf Goals for 2010?
As we look ahead to the New Year, ask yourself some important questions in relation to your golf game. Have you gotten better in the last year or two? If you have, what has been the reason? If you haven't, why not? There are many different types of goals. We're going to focus on outcome goals, physical goals, and mental goals.
Which area of your game do you want to work on? Setting goals is a way to give you a direction and a purpose for the up and coming golf season.
Outcome goals get you to think about what you want to accomplish. Goals should be challenging and just out of reach so you have to stretch. If you set your goals too high for the short term, it can lead to an attitude of "Why even try?".
Examples of a few outcome goals would be:
- The number of tournaments you want to play in or qualify for
- A scoring average you would like to accomplish
- Average putts per round
- Anything you would like to improve on from last season
Physical goals have to do with what our physical skills, essential skills and techniques are. What aspects of your physical game need to be strengthened so you reach your outcome goals?
- Do you need more distance?
- Do you need to become a better putter?
- How far do you hit each club?
- Are your clubs fit for you?
If any of these apply to your goals, what do you need to do about them? Do you need new equipment? Are you practicing correctly? Are you taking golf lessons and working on a specific area of your game? Do you need to gain more physical strength and get more stamina? A golf professional should be able to help you set some of these physical goals.
Mental goals allow you to look back and assess why you have not been able to play to your potential or why you are not getting the most out of your game.
- What mental skills do you need to strengthen to reach your outcome goals?
- Do you need to improve course management?
- Do you need to better manage your emotions on the course?
- Do you need to toughen up for competition?
Whatever your golf goals are, stick with them and I promise that you will improve. Remember "Goal Setting" is the best way to give you direction on where to start so you get better. If you need help with reaching these goals, give us a call 706-467-1660.
Happy Golfing!!
Karen Nicoletti LPGA Golf Professional
Posted by Charlie King on Sat, Nov 21, 2009 @ 01:55 PM
I've posted the second segment below of The Red Zone TV Show that we did last year. There are a couple of golf tips in the segment, but the thing that I think is the most instructive is watching the golfers through impact. The most common fault in golf is the upward bending wrists I call scooping. Notice which golfers hit the ball the most solid. It is the golfers with firm wrists at impact. I know I harp on this, but have you done your drills to make good imact a habit? Keep up the good work.
Posted by Charlie King on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 @ 06:10 PM
This brings us to the halfway point of the 7 Essential Skills for Golf. My title says "Swing the Club", I also call this skill Effortless Clubhead Speed. If you have been working on your skills as we have been reviewing each skill, your pre-swing is better, you are hitting the golf ball solidly and your body is supporting the swing and being a powerful base for operations.
Our instinct is to muscle the club to get our distance. We tend to be quick from the top and using very tight grip pressure. I call the video "Is your Swing Really a Swing?" because the term "swing" is used too loosely by golfers. Watch the video to get the explanation and the drills that make your golf swing into a swing.