Month: May 2014

CREATE MORE DISTANCE WITH YOUR DRIVER

May 19, 20140 commentsUncategorized

As a Teaching Professional I am consistently asked the question how can I get more distance with my driver. There are multiple factors that come into play when trying to achieve this. The first factor is SPEED. How fast are you swinging the golf club?  The second factor is CENTEREDNESS of contact. Are you hitting the center of the club face? The third factor is ANGLE OF ATTACK. Are you hitting DOWN on the golf ball or hitting UP on the golf ball? These three components will separate you from being a poor driver of the golf ball or an excellent one.

When trying to achieve more distance with your driver, remember that speed is not the most important part of the formula. Speed is the factor that is the most difficult to achieve, so trying to swing harder will only create more problems. If you can focus on making changes to increase your CENTEREDNESS of contact , you will see more gains in distance.

The third most important factor is angle of attack. Most likely you are hitting down on the driver, which will create extreme backspin and insufficient launch angles. A long consistent driver of the golf ball will consistently be hitting up on the golf ball opposed to hitting down. In doing this, the golf ball will be launching at better angles with less backspin equaling more distance.

*to achieve a better angle of attack move your ball location more forward in your stance. 

Rico Riciputi, PGA

ricoriciputigolf@gmail.com

 

 

 

IMPORTANCE OF LAUNCH MONITORS

May 16, 20140 commentsUncategorized

Since the introduction of launch monitors golf instruction will never be the same. Launch monitors are changing the way we teach the game and also rapidly improving someone’s journey to becoming more consistent golfers.  A launch monitor is a doppler radar ball tracking device, these systems can track the ball in flight and provide the teacher and student with specific ball and club parameters.  The information these devices provide us with is essential to improving a students swing and game. Some of the most important factors a launch monitor can track is, swing speed, ball speed, yardage, spin rate, launch angle , angle of attack , swing path, club face and also smash factor.

When a student is getting fit for golf clubs its imperative that they get on a launch monitor. As an instructor I am  limited with what I can see with the naked eye, so having the ability to use a launch monitor there is no guessing. When fitting a student into clubs one of the most important factors to pay attention to is angle of attack and swing speed. These parameters can determine how much spin is applied on a golf ball and help the instructor select a shaft that best fits the student.

For example, If a student is getting fit for a driver and has a swing speed of 90 mph and his angle of attack is four degrees down,this golfer will be applying to much backspin on the ball and will be at a lost of distance.  Without having a device that can track these readings the instructor is really just guessing what might be best for you not only with clubs but also you’re swing.

To wrap up this article, launch monitors are an integral part of the game to fit golfers into the correct equipment, but to also help you with your swing. So don’t waste anymore time and get with you’re local PGA Professional.

Rico Riciputi, PGA

ricoriciputigolf@gmail.com

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