SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE GOLF DOCTOR

Don't Forget!

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 am, listen to Mike, The Golf Doctor, on the radio show. Pick up some great golf tips and game improvement ideas.

Avenue 1410 / 1660

Just click on this link and listen!

http://www.avenuefla.com/

HERITAGE BAY BIRDIE BASH!

Heritage Bay Golf Club - Birdie Bash!

Hello All Fans:

Come on out for some great fun! Enjoy a Trick Shot Show by Mike Calbot. There will be food, entertainment, prizes, and trolley rides.
(click on picture)

Where: Heritage Bay Golf Club, Naples

When: March 20, (Saturday) 11am - 3pm

Schedule of Events:

11:00 am - noon (Short Game Clinic)

12:30 pm - 1:30pm (Trick Shot Show)

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ( Tips From The Pros)

See you there! Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

PITCH v/s CHIP

Golf Tip: Pitch v/s Chip
By Mike Calbot

For those of you who are having difficulty with what club or shot to use when just off the green this tip may just be of help.

All statistics show that a ball that is rolling has better speed and directional control. This is why so many people putt when just off the green. The golfer who when only a few feet off the green pull out the sand or pitching wedge and end up well short due to spin and bite on the ball or much to long because they counted on this bite and it did not happen.

The simple solution for more consistency is to go to the chip. Next time you go out to practice take ten balls, drop them several feet back off the green, take your 6,7, or eight iron and try to find for that situation which club gives the best and most consistent result. Repeat this from various positions around the green.

You should find that the good shots improved and the missed shots are more salvageable than the missed shots with your wedges. In order to make such a change in your golf shot thinking it will require practice but the pay off you will enjoy through lower scores.

Have more Fun,

Mike Calbot
“The Golf Doctor”, Director of Instruction, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

SHORT GAME GRIP

Improve your short game with the proper grip.

By Mike Calbot - The Golf Doctor

Golfers often struggle with the short game around the greens because they try using their normal golf grip for the short game. The grip is as different for the short game as the grip is for putting. You would not use your putting grip to hit a driver so why would you use the driver grip to hit a chip or pitch shot.

First let us understand the function of the full swing natural grip. The hands need to be placed on the golf club grip to supply leverage for power and speed along with the ability to re-square the club face during the release back through the impact zone. This is best accomplished with the more conventional grip which is held more in the fingers and diagonally across the palm of the left hand. Notice from the front view that the left thumb is at about 1:00 o’clock on the club grip and that the left thumb is only down to the second joint of the index finger. The “V” that is formed by this position is indicated by the blue line in the picture. When the right hand is placed on the club both “V’s” form a parallel line to the right side of the face.

The short game grip in function, is to eliminate wrist action and for the clubface to stay more square through the impact zone. Generally most golfers use an open stance and the short game grip which allows the ball to track better and offers a softer impact for better feel and control. Notice in the short game grip photo that the left thumb is on top at 12:00 o’clock and that the thumb is more stretched down the grip. This is because the club is held slightly more in the palm of the hand. When the right hand is placed on the club you can clearly see that on the short game grip the “V's" point towards the left side of the face.

The next time you go to the practice range give the short game grip a try and you will be amazed with the results.

Enjoy,

Mike Calbot, Director of Instruction, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

MOVE THAT LEAF!

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PRESHOT ROUTINE

This tip was inspired by one of my playing partners this past weekend. Many thanks to him. Here is what happened:

One of my partners had a putt of about 2 feet in length. He had gone through his entire routine and just seconds before he hit the putt, a leaf blew right into his line. Rather than taking the time to move the leaf and regroup, he chose to hit the putt, which he missed. When we were walking off the green, I asked him if he saw the leaf. He replied, "yes."

When something like a leaf enters your preshot routine, it is very disruptive to your concentration and can ultimately cause you to lose your focus altogether. Situations like this happen all the time. When golfers encounter disruptions like this, they usually will just go ahead and hit the shot. This is because they are concerned about taking too much time if they back of shot and go through their routine again. What they don't realize is that hitting the shot once, and in this case a putt, will take less time than having to hit the shot twice because of a miss.

So remember, when that leaf or distraction enters your thought process, take the time to fix the situation so you can be completely focused on your target. Just a little discipline can go a long way to shooting lower scores. Good Luck, you can do it!

Jay Kragh, PGA Professional, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools