Golf Lessons – Phoenix, Arizona Update for Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Here in the Arizona desert, the bunkers at most courses are very firm to hard sand [dirt]. Here is a swing thought [1] to help you to get out and to get the ball closer to the hole:

1. Tell yourself to “scrape” the sand, not “hit” the sand.

2. Allow for both arms to be slightly bent prior to your backswing. Why? Since you cannot ground your club in a bunker – your club-head will be above the sand on your backswing, and as you swing forward your arms will extend as your club-head enters the sand.

3. Practice. Practice. Practice. Most people don’t practice shots in the bunker.

If you would like help in learning to become a better bunker player, then call for help. One session may be all you need.

Happy Golfing,

Arizona, Phoenix Golf Lessons Update – March 7, 2010

Here is a list of ten excuses for not hiring a professional golf-swing coach in Arizona.

1. I tried it once, but wasted my money.

2. Too expensive.

3. The “golf pro” sucked.

4. My neighbor will help me. He is good. He shoots 85 – 90 all the time.

5. I will figure it out myself.

6. I have my golf mags and Internet to help me.

7. The golf pro tried to get me to change my grip. What a waste of $50 bucks, so never again.

8. I am not good enough for golf instruction.

9. I am happy shooting 30 over par, so why change that now.

10. What a scam, so I am not falling for “lessons.” Why pay the guy who I can beat.

Look, you may only need one session. If Tiger Woods and many other PGA TOUR pro’s pay their golf swing coaches, then why don’t you?

Better Golf In 2010,

Arizona – Phoenix – Tempe – Scottsdale Golf Lessons Update for Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Since I was a small child, I loved going to the driving range. Here are some pics of driving ranges throughout the world:

Chelsea Piers, NY

Chicago, IL

Tokyo, Japan

Los Angeles, CA

Bangkok, Thailand

United Kingdom

So where do you practice? Do you enjoy the practice tee? If not, then why? How can you get better if you do not practice. Do you know how and what to practice? If you would like help to make your practice more enjoyable and beneficial, then call or email me for answers to your golf questions.

Better Today & Tomorrow…

Phoenix, Arizona Golf Lessons Update: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Yesterday I played nine holes at Rio Salado golf course without the flag on each hole. Why? Not my choice, the course was closed at 5:00 p.m. yesterday due to the rain.

Here is what I learned yesterday:

1. By playing without the flag, I made my target the middle of the green.

2. If I did not reach the middle of the green, then on in regulation was fine.

3. By playing shots onto the green, I was focused on the big target – the green.

My Results: 7 out of 9 greens in regulation with a score of 1 over par. Not bad for light rain and strong wind.

Happy Golfing,

Arizona [Phoenix Metro Area] Golf Lessons Update: February 12, 2010

If you love the sport of golf and you are in it for life, then be true to yourself about wanting to get better. I know you want to get better, and I know you say that to yourself, but stop kidding yourself and accept the fact that you may just always be at the level where you currently stand. However, if you are willing put in the time and work very hard, then you can reach your goal dream of becoming a good player.

I said, “time” above, so if you work 40+ hours per week and have a family, then time is going to be an issue. And, what about your budget, because you know this golf stuff isn’t free.

Here is a list of things to do for those who are very serious about improving:

1. Find a driving range that offers “unlimited range balls” per month. At Fiddlesticks, in Tempe, AZ you can buy a monthly pass for $75. It’s worth it, especially beacuse of the hours of operation. Hours at Fiddlesticks: Sunday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 8 :00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.. And it is true that Fiddlesticks golf range closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday.

2. Seek the best professional instructor/coach to help you. The money investment in YOUR game is worth it.

NOTE: Ask your golf pro this question when he or she tells you to do something – the question you should ask is:

WHY?

3. For your budget: What other hobbies, sports, collectibles, gadgets, and gym memberships can you give up for golf? If you say you are willing to to do what ever it takes [within reason] to improve, then start cutting costs today, not tomorrow.

3. Stop trying to save a buck by “trying” to learn how to swing the golf club via youtube.com. However, you can certainly learn from watching videos on how to play a certain type of specialty shot.

4. I have said this in my other posts: Look up the word “swing” on Google. You will scratch your head on this one.

5. Would you like free unlimited range balls? I know some serious golfers who work part-time at golf courses and driving ranges on top of their full-time jobs. I commend these golfers for their willingness to sacrifice their time in exchange to work hard on their golf.

6. For the 40+ hour a week working person: Average within seven days per week at least two hours per day of golf practice, and at minimum [1] 18-hole round. You can’t do 18-holes, then play [2] 9-hole rounds.

7. For the retired person who is very serious: Average at least 3 hours of golf practice per day and at minimum [2] 18-rounds with [2] 9-hole rounds within seven days per week.

For more information about what you can do to improve your golf game, please contact me by phone at (602) 828-GOLF. Also, I welcome your questions by email.

Better Golf Today & Tomorrow,

Phoenix, Arizona Golf Lessons: Update for Monday, February 8, 2010.

Golf terminology [in no particular order] you may or may not be familiar with:

1. Center – The midpoint between the shoulders.

2. Flexibilty – The lack of muscle tension.

3. Swing – To and fro motion – backward and forward.

4. Mental Direction – Your mind telling the muscles what to do.

5. Path – The arc by the clubhead. The path of the forward swing is not the same as the path of the backswing.

6. Practice – Just hitting balls is not practice. Practice should be performed with a goal(s) in mind.

7. Response – The body responding to the motion of the swing back and forward.

8. Rhythm – The relationship of one side of the swing to the other side.

9. Tempo – The rate or speed of motion.

10. Timing – All parts of the club reach the moment of club-to-ball contact.

If you would like a further explanation of the above “terms” and/or others, then please feel free to contact me. I will respond within 24 hours.

Better Golf Today & Tomorrow,

Phoenix, Arizona Golf Lessons Update: 02.04.10

I am often asked this question: “How many golf lessons do I need?” My answers:

1. ‘It depends on how good you want to be.’
2. ‘Are will willing to work very hard?’
3. ‘Will you put in more time to work hard on your short game?’

To be good at golf is subject to your definition of what ‘good’ means to you. We all have strengths and flaws with our game, so you need to always work on both parts. Today I spent 90 minutes at Western Skies Golf Course in Gilbert, AZ.

Here is how I managed 90 minutes for practice:

1. 30 minutes for bunker shots.
2. 30 minutes for chipping.
3. 30 minutes for putting.

The bottom line is this: If you love the game of golf, then work is not such a bad word. You just can’t kid yourself about your time to practice or not to practice. You need to make the decision to accept your current level of play, or make a commitment to do whatever it takes [within reason] to seek improvement. By the way, you probably will not see any major improvements from the golf magazines.

For information about professional golf instruction and coaching, please contact me my phone and/or email.

Better Golf Today & Tomorrow, Robbie Camacho