Keeping it all in the family!

 I have been wanting to share this article for years. Written by my nephew Paul Pickett. He is sharing an interview with my son Joe Hafera, New Media Artist (and more) for the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California. I think it is one of the best explanations I have heard describing what TPI is all about... And yes I am very proud of both of you guys! To read the article click here

The rest of the story! (video)

> You may have seen the "Jerry Jumps" video that I recently posted on
> Waterslandinggolfpark.com and on facebook.  The video is about a drill
> that I use to reduce tension and improve balance at the starting
> position.  You simply take your stance, then without thinking about golf,
>  jump off the ground and when you land you are  in balance and
> tension free.  You will just react to the jump naturally. Your
> instincts will not let you land rigid and out of balance.
> I remember teaching junior groups this drill. Watching about 10 or 15
> kids lined up on the tee line and jumping and landing with their golf
> clubs was quite a sight.
> Where did I learn this "drill"? Well, back in the 80's I had a chance
> to play a round of golf with Sam Randolph.  You might say "OK, who is he?"
> Sam is probably best known for being runner up and U.S. Amateur
> Champion in consecutive years, and later joining the PGA Tour and
> winning a PGA Tour event.  As we played the first few holes I noticed
> that Sam did a little jump in the air before settling in for each
> shot. Finally about the fourth hole I finally said "Sam what are you
> doing?".  He explained that when he jumped he felt that he landed in
> perfect balance.  I can't think of a better way to start a golf swing.
> I have been using it with my students ever since, got to be well over 20 years! Thanks
> Sam! Now you know "the rest of the story"! Good Day! (I stole that part
> from Paul Harvey).
 Here is the video if you missed it.

Cross training is a ball with a racket!

I played racketball today for the first time in quite a few years.  In my younger years I played quite a bit,and really enjoyed getting back to a great game.  My host was Robert Robbins, golf teaching professional at the Sports Center at the Corolla Light Resort in Corolla, NC.  Robert had never played before, so it was exciting for me to introduce him to a game I have always enjoyed.   I think we played about ten games, Robert wanted to play until he beat me (that guy has a lot of heart!).  He will have to wait until next time.  I am sure my days are numbered because he is a good  athlete and  did very well for the first time!  After playing today I could not help but think about what great cross training this  sport is for my #1 sport and life long passion...golf.  Let me count the ways it is great cross training for golf

#1 the cardio is great because of the start stop action, it reminded me of the interval training that the Titleist Performance Institute  suggests for golf. 

#2 it is a rotary sport that requires lower body and upper body rotation.

#3 requires (in most cases) lower body stability, separation (upper and lower), and firing against a stable lead leg (again most of the time).

#4 when we cannot use our lower body for stability in racketball because of the speed of the game, it requires great balance and proprioception to execute the shot (single leg balance test anyone?). 

#5 it requires great concentration on the ball, seems harder than golf because it is moving and you are often moving, often at high speed.

#6 hitting shots in all different directions, trajectories, speeds and distances is wonderful eyehand coordination that correlates to golfs face control, touch, speed control, trajectory control and much more that relates to controlling the golf ball.  In racketball it is happening so fast that it is much more instinctive.  That has got to be a good thing!

#7 strategy that requires quick, instantaneuos decision making regarding angles, speeds, tracjectories ........ect

All that good stuff for golf and guess what? It was just plain FUN!

So if you are not playing golf or practicing golf or training for golf get out and do something that requires movement!

A little of this and a little of that!

I played 9 holes today, yes it was a little cold (about 42 degrees). I have not played in over a month, but I just wanted to see what my swing felt like before I headed for Florida.  I have been working out twice a week with my TPI certified trainer Jason Meisch.  He recently did a assessment to see if I was improving my physical condition since my last assessment.  One of my limitations has been the range of motion with my thorasic spine (upper torso).  Jason said that I had improved my range of motion.  While I was playing today it occurred to me that if I improved my posture at address I would improve my range of motion.  Yes, this is the very thing I have been telling my students for years!  If you sit down and round your back and try to rotate, then compare it to making your back straight and rotate, voila! you can rotate fartherwith you  back straight.  So, yes I need to keep training to improve my T-spine rotation, but I also need to train and be aware of impoving my posture.  The two operative words here are "train" and "aware".  I don't think you can improve your posture just by thinking about it (although most of my students think this is the case) and maybe you cannot improve your posture just by training.  As in most of my experiences in golf it takes some of this and some of that to improve.  The some of this and some of that are the Six Success Factors of Golf: Swing Technique, Physical, Mental, Equipment, Course Management, Special Knowledge.  This was great info that I learned from PGA Professional, Dr. Gary Wiren in a PGA seminar about 15 years ago!

It's a great day at Waters Landing