Hafera's Blog

Keeping it all in the family!

2011-03-14T20:54:30Z

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)

2011-02-22T23:10:09Z

> 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!

2011-01-08T04:12:43Z

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!

2011-01-05T02:08:51Z

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

2010-12-20T16:29:51Z

Carolina Club...great shape, great greens, great company!

2010-11-16T15:59:17Z

Teaching Professional Robert Robbins hosted me and my student Paul at the indoor golf teaching area at the Sports Complex at Corolla Light.

I had not played in about a month, it was a beautiful day and I thought I needed to go play. Here at the OBX recovering from my trip to FL, I joined my friend Robert Robbins, teaching professional at Corolla Light and his friends Miles and Bill to around at the Carolina Club. What an enjoyable day, the course was in great shape especially the greens (very fast), and the guys were a pleasure to be with. Just what I needed a nice day of golf! I did not score well but I wanted to see how my body performed, since I have been working out. It is amazing to me how well I can hit it just by moderately pursuing my TPI workout program. It is exciting to think what would happen if I gave it a little extra effort!

Whew! What a week!

2010-11-15T01:47:09Z

Just got back from from quite a week. I left last Monday for Orlando and spend Tuesday and Wednesday assisting with a Titleist Performance Institute Level 1 Seminar. That was followed by attending the TPI World Golf Fitness Summit, Thursday thru Saturday. Amazing week! Working the Seminar with lead instructors Jason Glass and Gord Workum and Dr. Harry Sese was a great experience. They made me feel welcome to "Team Canada". The enthusiasim of the instructors was matched and surpassed by the group we were teaching, what a pleasure. This was the sixth Level 1 I have been involved with and I always learn something I have missed in the past.

Ok, then on to the World Golf Fitness Summit. I had the priviledge of hearing the best in the world of golf, golf fitness for 3 days. While I must admit it was overload at times, it was amazing as I look back on the line up of speakers.....Sean Cochran (tour training/Phil Mickelson), Tom House (shoulders/foundation), Roger Fredericks, PGA (golf fitness), Gray Cook (fitness/medical), Peter Kostis (golf swing), Dr. James Andrews (Biomechanical analysis/injury prevention), Mike Bender, PGA (swing instruction), Brian Bradley (east/west breathing), Dr. Ernst Wick (junior growth velocity), Andy Plummer/Mike Bennet (stack and tilt), Chris O'Connel (one/two plane) and panels of experts on golf nutrition, swing, fitness, and medical. What a group and that is just a partial list. This will be a great resource for me, the next time one of my students asks me about Stack and Tilt or One Plane or Phils trainer I will have first hand knowledge, I heard it form the "horse's mouth"! I will share more with you later, either in this space or on the lesson tee!

Tennis Elbow or Golfers Elbow?

2010-10-19T02:20:16Z

My brother Jim visits TPI Certified Physical Therapist to get elbow treatment.

Larry turns and grabs a better backswing!

2010-07-04T23:42:17Z

Jason Meisch, TPI Certified Medical Level 3 was out to WLGP working with the AMM 3 D Motion Capture Satuday morning. After being on the system, Dr. Larry was working on his backswing with the turn and grab drill.

Bump and Bang!

2010-07-04T02:13:31Z

Helen saw a dramatic improvement in her swing and club speed after working on this drill----Bump and Bang!