What’s in the Bag: Mitch Flemming, GolfTEC Coach

From the April Momentum Newsletter. A look inside the bag of Mitch Flemming, Coach at GolfTEC Cleveland East.

Driver: Callaway FT Tour (8.5-degree, 44″); Aldila Voodoo shaft, X-flex

Distance has never been an issue for me. I feel at 44 inches I have more control, allowing me to hit more fairways. I am also a high-spin player. This head style, combined with the Voodoo shaft, allows me to reduce spin and flatten my trajectory for even more distance.

For those of you looking for increased accuracy and consistency off the tee, experiment with shorter length drivers. You may be surprised how much more consistency you will gain without giving up any distance.

Fairway wood: Sonartec SS 3.5 (14-degree, 43″); Aldila NV 105 shaft, X-flex

I used to change my 3-wood numerous times every year, trying to find one that I liked. Not any more—I’ve had this in my bag for four years.

Hybrid: Callaway Diablo Tour (18-degree, 40.75″); Fujikura E Fit-On 380 HB shaft, X-flex, 240-255yds

I love how hybrids have changed the game. They really allow for an easier transition from fairway woods to long irons.

Irons: Callaway Prototype (3-PW), Dynamic Gold X100 shafts

Even with my high swing speed, I am thinking about replacing my 3-iron with an additional hybrid. Most players carry at least one long iron that should be replaced with another hybrid. They are much easier to hit and more effective on approach shots because the ball descends from a steeper angle with higher spin, making it easier to hold the green.

Wedges: Callaway Jaws (54-, 60-degree), Dynamic Golf S300 shafts

Six-degree gaps are the most you ever want between your wedges. In fact, I recommend having less than six-degree gaps for most of my clients. I feel very comfortable with partial-swing shots and I practice them a lot. For many players, hitting a full shot is more comfortable. Carrying an extra wedge will give you more opportunities to make a full swing and stay in your comfort zone.

Putter: Titleist Studio Select (35″)

I’ve been putting with this style of putter for the past 10 years. When I find something I like, I stick with it. I use a 35-inch putter because of the way I set up. I like to have a bit more bend in my arms than the average person but my hands still hang freely under my shoulders. Setup is a critical part of putting. If you’re not able to set up properly, you will have a very difficult time creating a consistent, un-manipulated putting stroke.

Ball: Callaway Tour i(z)

I haven’t played with the new ball yet but am very excited to try it. It looks to be a step up from the Tour ix ball, which was designed to reduce backspin off the tee (which I need) without sacrificing feel around the greens.

Accessories: Nikon Laser Range Finder

I like a laser range finder because I like the “point and shoot” method. They are very valuable when approaching from the green from a funny angle or when playing a course you are unfamiliar with.

If you’re considering an equipment upgrade or just want to try out some new equipment, call or stop a GolfTEC Improvement Center near you.

Four Steps to Improve Your Pre-Round Golf Routine

April Momentum Newsletter Performance Secret by Brian Thornburg, GolfTEC Tulsa Coach in Tulsa, OK.

Consistency is what every golfer strives for. Having a sound pre-round routine will help you become a more consistent golfer. Routines are designed to help players focus instead of getting distracted with negative thoughts. Here are four things to focus on in your pre-round routine:

1. Arrive Early. However obvious this might seem, you have to do it. If you show up three minutes before your tee time, you simply don’t have time to go through a pre-round routine. So show up at least 30 minutes early. Give yourself time to prepare. Otherwise your first few holes will be your warm up. And we all know how that tends to go.
2. Stretch out and loosen up. Don’t forget to stretch when you start warming up prior to your round. Focus on dynamic/ballistic stretching, as opposed to static. There are countless dynamic stretches to choose from but the key is that they all involve movement, which stretches your muscles while warming your body up and increasing blood flow. Instead of doing seated toe-touches (static stretch), stand up and do alternating toe-touches (dynamic stretch). In the short run, stretching will help loosen up your muscles and avoid injuries. In the long run, stretching will increase your flexibility and range of motion.
3. Take a few swings. After you’ve stretched, it’s time to hit some balls. Remember, this is NOT the time to work on your swing. This is a time to loosen up your golfing muscles and work on rhythm. Start with your shorter irons to build your rhythm. Never reach straight for your driver. As you hit and build your rhythm, progress through your set from wedges to driver. Finish up your warm up sessions with a few wedge shots. This will allow you to end your warm up making smooth, controlled swings.
4. Get a feel for the greens. When you finish your warm up session, you need to spend some time on your putting and short game. Getting a feel for speed of the greens is critical during this time. I’ve found that the best way to do this is to putt from fringe to fringe. Do this a few times, trying to get the ball to stop right where the fringe begins. After you fringe putt for a few minutes, practice your shorter putts to get used to seeing the ball go in the hole. This will help you build confidence for your round. Finally, spend a few minutes hitting some sand and pitch shots to get a feel for how the greens are reacting.

These are just a couple of things that you can do to improve your consistency and become a better player. Create a routine that works well for you and stick with it!

Click Here to find out how you can get started with GolfTEC.

US Open Challenge: Vote for Finalist and GolfTEC Client, Scott Fahrney

Few, if any, opportunities exist for an amateur golfer that are as cool and unique as the US Open Challenge.

In case you don’t already know what it is, one lucky (or perhaps unlucky if you consider the pressure they will face) golfer will get the opportunity to play Pebble Beach one week before the US Open. Pretty cool huh?

But it gets better. A lot better.

First, not only is the round one week before the US Open, but Pebble Beach will be set up to match Sunday conditions — pin placements, notoriously-thick rough, NBC cameras…you get the picture. And second, the golfer who is chosen from the five finalists will fill out a star-studded foursome.

18 holes at Pebble Beach in US Open conditions, national TV coverage, teeing it up with the likes of Drew Brees, Wayne Gretzky and Mark Wahlberg — now that’s a round of golf.

Here’s the important part. One of our very own GolfTEC clients (from GolfTEC West Paterson, NJ), Scott Fahrney, has a shot to win this coveted opportunity. Scott is one of the five US Open Challenge finalists. An open voting process will determine the winner — which has already started and ends on April 30. How cool is that? You can watch his entry video here to learn more about him.

How you can help Scott get this opportunity

It’s simple. Just head over to www.gdopencontest.com, register if you haven’t already, and then vote for our man, Scott Fahrney. Wouldn’t it be cool to watch Scott challenge Pebble Beach on national TV, knowing that he’s a GolfTEC client like you? We certainly think it would.

So get your vote in before April 30 and start spreading the word to your friends so we can give Scott the best possible chance to win.

The 2010 Masters: A Few Thoughts and the Best Shot

Throughout the 2010 Masters, three things were aplenty: captivating storylines, big names atop the leaderboard and phenomenal golf shots.

The storylines could be summed up in headline-like fashion: “Watson fires a stunning first-round 67,” “Couples leads the field after opening-round 66,” “Tiger’s back and hungry with 4-under 68.”  That was just after day one. Overall, the stories were as good as the golf itself.

The leaderboard was never lacking big names. During the four-day tournament, names like Woods, Watson, Couples, Mickelson, Els, Westwood, Kim (the list could go on) were jostling for the top positions. And with Lefty winning the Green Jacket, the big names started on top, and stayed on top.

Not to be forgotten were the shots. Oh, the great shots we witnessed. Surely, something along the lines of “He did not just do that!” came out of our mouths when Tiger hit that wicked hook on the 9th hole. Or when Mickelson made back-to-back eagles after holing his 139-yard approach on 14. Or again, after Mickelson hit that gutsy, what-many-would-call-reckless approach shot from the pine straw on 13 — which settled three feet from the cup.

Quite a Masters it was.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in. What was your favorite shot from the 2010 Masters? Vote below. If you don’t see yours (we kept it simple with the three big shots), either leave your answer in the comments or vote for another (or do both).

A Word on GolfTEC’s 15-year Anniversary

Today marks an exciting milestone for all of us at GolfTEC: 15 years of helping golfers like you play better golf.

On April 10, 1995, Joe Assell started something bigger than either he or his co-founding partner, Mike Clinton, could imagine by teaching GolfTEC’s very first lesson. 15 years and millions of lessons later, Assell and Clinton are leading GolfTEC with the same passion, vision and drive they have brought from day one.

“When Mike and I first started, our dream was to get to ten Improvement Centers,” Assell recounted. “Once we hit ten, we kept going and thought 100 was a long shot pipe-dream. We blew past 100 a couple years ago, and now have 140 Improvement Centers, with more opening next month.”

But for Assell, Clinton and our entire company, the focus has been — and will always be — on a different set of numbers. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of strokes shaved off handicaps. Thousands of career rounds, holes-in-one and tournament wins. Fewer lost balls, three-putts, slices, hooks, chunked and topped shots. A lot more enjoyable rounds, a lot less frustrating rounds.

Assell put it best in saying, “Along the way we have helped hundreds of thousands of golfers play better and enjoy the game more.” That’s what matter most. And it’s one of the key reasons why GolfTEC has had success for 15 years.

If you’ve taken lessons at any one of our Improvement Centers, thank you. We hope you continue to improve your game at GolfTEC. If you haven’t taken a lesson with us, we’d love to show you how our Proven Path can help you play better golf. Just call or visit your local GolfTEC to get started.

Thanks for being apart of GolfTEC’s 15 years of success. Here’s to 15 more.