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 Golf Lessons Update – December 17, 2009

Yesterday I interviewed James on the driving range at Fiddlesticks. The purpose of the interview is to learn from others as to how real golfers practice on the driving range. I will feature one “driving range interview” per week here at AzGolfInstructor.com, so keep coming back to watch.

“James Interview”

Happy Golfing,

Arizona, Phoenix Golf Lessons Update: Thursday, December 11, 2009

I made it my goal to offer golf swing help and golf game help to all golfers. So here is my 2009 Christmas offer: If you receive a new golf club or a set of golf clubs for Christmas, then I will offer you a 45-minute lesson at no lesson fee. The only cost is a medium basket of range balls.

Terms: 1 lesson per person and must purchase a medium basket of range balls. To redeem this offer you must book your golf lesson no later than Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Happy Golfing,

Phoenix – Scottsdale – Tempe – Arizona Golf Lessons Update: Wednesday, December 10, 2009

Are women’s golf clubs that much different than men’s golf clubs? Can women play with men’s clubs? Can a man play with women’s clubs if he so desires? So, what’s the deal?

Women’s Golf Clubs

1. Generally lighter as far as shaft weight and overall weight.
2. Loft angles are generally higher in drivers and fairway clubs.
3. Grip size is smaller [diameter of grip thinner].
4. Set makeup [modern - circa 2006] to include fewer irons as shown in above photo.
5. Colors of clubs, shafts, balls, accessories are definitely marketed as feminine.
6. *Shaft torque tends to be on the high.

The reason why the golf club manufactures build clubs lighter for women is beacuse they are assuming women are not a s strong as a man. Well, in most cases that is true. The clubs are lighter to make it easier for women to swing the club. Also, the grip size is “smaller” because women tend to have smaller hands. The reason loft angles are higher in drivers and fairway clubs is to help the lady golfer carry the ball higher in the air. The *shaft torque – is a measurement in number of degrees at the shaft tip. The higher the torque rating [e.g. 5.0 degrees of torque] will give the player a softer feeling shaft overall. Also, the higher the torque maybe suitable for women because they tend to have slower swing speeds. Thus a low torque rating, say a 1.8 degrees in a driver shaft would be suitable to a player that swings over 105 miles per hour. And, the marketing of women’s clubs use to be this: Men’s clubs that were cut shorter in length, a blue grip, and maybe a flower stamp on the club. That used to be the norm. But in today’s marketplace, the ladies have more choices and better equipment to play with, just like the men do.

If you are a lady golfer and would like answers to your golf equipment questions, please contact me at 602-828-GOLF. You can also email me at rcamacho at azgolfinstructor dot com.

Recommend links for women’s golf clubs:

Adams Golf
Callaway Golf
Ping Golf

Happy Golfing,

Arizona Golf Lessons Update: December 9, 2009

A few weeks back my student told me about a horrible experience at PGA Tour Store. According to my student, the story goes like this:

Jeff [my student] walks into the PGA Tour Store with all good intentions of buying a new driver. So, Jeff walks over to the hitting bays and is greeted by one of the “pro’s.” Jeff informs the “pro” that he would like help to determine which driver in their stock is best for him. Jeff proceeds to swing different drivers. The “pro” based on his “expertise” tells Jeff what he is doing WRONG. The “pro” now tells Jeff what he needs to do to have a better swing. Remember, Jeff did not go there to get a golf swing evaluation and lesson. Jeff went there to buy a driver.

Jeff was discouraged and feeling very uncomfortable as the critiquing and “golf lesson” continued. After twenty minutes of this disaster of an episode, Jeff was done. Jeff told me, the experience was miserable, and would never want to go through that again. So the story ends with my student, not buying a driver, and he was left with a bitter taste of PGA Tour Store gone wildly wrong.

Phoenix – Tempe – Scottsdale – Arizona Golf Lessons Update: December 8, 2009

As we come to the end of another golf year what do you intend to do to improve for 2010? Are you going to buy new golf clubs? Are you going to buy new golf instructional videos like the ones you see on the Golf Channel? Are you going to study via a new golf instructional book? Maybe you have been thinking about having your golf swing put on video and a have a golf swing teacher compare yours with a Tour Pro for comparison? This way, the teaching pro can tell you what you are doing wrong, not that you already don’t know that.

Whatever course of action you take, consider what is really best for you and your golf game. If you don’t know, I am sure you can ask via Google, and perhaps YouTube. I am offering you, the reader of this blog the opprtunity to speak to a real person (me), to help answer any questions you have for the following:

“I want more distance, so how do add I more?”

“I hit my shots fat and thin, why?”

“My arm (left) hurts as I swing back, because I’m trying to keep it straight like the Tour Pro’s, so why does my arm hurt?”

“My goal is to be a scratch golfer, so how long will it take me to achieve, because right now I am 15 handicap?”

“I either blade the ball out of the sand, or I leave the ball in the sand, what am I do wrong?”

“I was told to use my lower body on the downswing to hit it longer, but it does not work, why?”

“I am try to fire my hips really hard on my transition, but I sky my drives, how do I stop that?”

“As I get closer to the green, say 85 yards to 35 yards to the green, I hit it fat and thin, what can I do to hit more greens from short distances?”

“I think I need a new driver, but which one is best for me?”

“I don’t understand why I can’t play shots with my 60 degree wedge.” “I play much better shots with my 54 degree wedge.” “Why?”

“I am a strong guy, so why is that my buddies out drive me every time we play?”

“Why does my ball keep going to the left?”

If you would like an answer to one of the above questions, or you have another, please call. I would like to help you. I offer help to everyone I meet. There is no fee to call to receive help. The only cost is your time. I will respond to you within 24 hours. I can be reached at 602-828-GOLF or email rcamacho [at] azgolfinstructor [dot] com.

Happy Golfing,

Phoenix / Scottsdale Golf Lessons Update: Monday, November 23 2009

You may have put in hard work in your education, your body, your profession, and yourself [mind, body, spirit]. But do you put in the hard work ethic as you have done in other areas? You may have many reasons why you do, or do not work hard on your golf game.

Reasons why you may not work hard on your golf:

1. “Too busy”
2. “Not enough time in the day”
3. “Work too many hours”
4. “Family”
5. “Golf takes too much time to to play 18 holes”
6. “No reason to, I still suck”
7. “Too frustrating”
8. “The more I try, the worse I get…”
9. “I don’t know what to practice”
10. “I would rather play, F the range”
11. “I bought a training aid from the TV infomercial, but I am too embarrassed to try it at the range”
12. Female Golfer: “Too many guys come up to me to try to help me, even though I did not ask for their help”
13. “I will practice tomorrow, not today, I am too tired.”
14. “It gets dark too early”
15. “It’s too hot”
16. “It’s too cold”
17. “Too expensive”
18. “I hate hitting off mats”
19. “The range balls are terrible”
20. “I am too embarassed”
21. “I don’t want to like like an ass”
22. “I really won’t do those golf drills, I saw on YouTube, Golf Channel, and PGA dot com.”
23. “I am thinking about quitting”
24. “I quit, so been there done that”
25. “The golf pro I paid $crewed me up”
26. “Waste of money”
27. “It gets dark early”
28. “I am not good enough to take this seriously, but I do wish I could play better”
29. “If I did not have a job, I would work on my game everyday”
30. “If I win the lotto, I will buy the range and practice 8 hours a day like a job”
31. “My wife hates golf”

If I missed any, please add to the above list. If you really want it bad enough, you will find the time to work very hard on your golf game. I am sure there is a driving range near you that has lights and is open 7 days per week. Some driving ranges offer a discount on range balls if you buy in bulk. I know that Fiddlesticks in Tempe offers a range pass: $75 [month] for all the range balls you can shoot. At Rio Salado Golf Course, which is also in Tempe, offers a large basket of balls for $5.00 after 5:00 [p.m].

If you are thinking about quitting golf, call me or email me. I would like to help prevent you from leaving the best sport in the world.

Happy golfing,

Phoenix, Arizona Golf Lessons Update: November 20, 2009.

Starting Wednesday, November 25, 2009 the Adult Golf Class will move from Tuesday and Thursday to Wednesday night.

Cost: $16.00 per student including a medium basket of range balls.

There will be two time slots:

1. Beginner Level: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2. Intermediate Level: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The class is open to men and women golfers. So, if you would like to learn and receive professional coaching, I invite you to come out to Fiddlesticks in Tempe. Fiddlesticks on Elliot Rd. just east of I 10, can easily be reached from Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix.

Next week’s topic is the driver + fairway woods + Q & A.

Happy golfing,

Arizona / Phoenix / Tempe / Scottsdale Golf Lessons Update: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

All beginner golfers, and intermediate golfers should eliminate the following from your mind:

1. You don’t have to keep your head down.
2. You don’t have to keep your lead arm straight on the backswing.
3. You don’t have to make a “swing change” after each shot is played to fix what went wrong.
4. Accept the fact that you will drive the ball only so far per YOUR golf swing.
5. The golf ball should not be your concern.
6. You don’t have to swing the club back on a straight line until the end of your backswing.
7. You don’t have to create a “big shoulder turn.”
8. The reason you are not CONSISTENT is because you attempt to make “swing” corrections when things go wrong.
9. Do not concern yourself with how far you hit the ball.

If you would like clarification on the points above, please contact me for discussion. I will explain and answer your questions. You can reach me at (602) 828-GOLF (4653) and email at rcamacho [at] azgolfinstructor [dot] com.

Also, I am on the following platforms for discussion:

Twitter
Linked in
Google

Happy golfing,
Robbie Camacho