Driver position Tip

All too often I see amateur golfers at set up with their head in an incorrect position for their driver. The position of the head at set-up is critical as it can affect the shoulder & spinal rotation.

Picture 1 shows the incorrect position with the neck at 90' to the ground

Picture 2 shows the correct position, with the neck tilted to the right . By doing this you can see the left shoulder is now higher than the right, with the head tilted to the right , but still in line with the spinal angle.

Another vital component of the driver set-up is the ball position. As, you can see from the photo my ball position changes due to the club being used. For the driver because we are looking for maximum distance & width the ball is place just inside the left heel.  Playing the ball in the correct place takes no athletic ability, it's just remembering to monitor it. Get it right, and your driving will improve immediately.

Yours in Golf,

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

HDipSportsNutirion

Skype: Darren Mc Loughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc LoughlinPga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Tel:0861713465

Email: darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

GolfCentral Daily Tip

Check out my latest tip on GolfCentral Daily.



http://www.golfcentraldaily.com/2013/08/docs-pro-lesson-perfect-posture.html

Yours in Golf,

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

HDipSportsNutirion

Skype: Darren Mc Loughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc LoughlinPga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Tel:0861713465

Email: darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Tuesday Tip in the Irish Examiner

After the weekend watching the worlds elite golfers , the one thing that struck me was how good all of their posture was. I wrote a quick tip for the Irish Examiner (below) talking about how to rectify this. (thanks to Donal 'Doc' Hughes for his help). You can do this drill anywhere so you have no excuses for bad posture.
Make your practice count.

Yours in Golf,

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

HDipSportsNutirion

Skype: Darren Mc Loughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc LoughlinPga 

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Tel:0861713465

Email: darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Monday Tip

Well we had a fantastic PGA Championship with Jason Dufner winning. Going along with the theme of the PGA today's tip is about the "waggle" in the set-up. Dufner waggles the club numerous times , but , what is the purpose of the waggle?

1: The waggle releases tension in the hands, wrists & forearms

2: It can be a miniature version of  the takeaway

3: The waggle can be a kick start to initiate the backswing

Drill: When using the waggle try to ensure that the clubhead takes the path of your desired backswing & that the hands follow a similar path.
1: Take your set-up position

2: Raise the club a couple of inches, from here move the hands, arms & shoulders back a couple of feet with a relaxed grip.

3: Make this movement as many times that is comfortable to you.

4: On the last waggle when complete that is your "GO" trigger.

Try this & see if it works for you just like it did for Jason Dufner.

Yours in Golf,

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

HDipSportsNutirion

Skype: Darren Mc Loughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc LoughlinPga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Tel:0861713465

Email: darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Goals & Objectives 5 Step Plan

The plan below, outlines the goals & objectives you are trying to achieve, and further, helps you to clarify the specific strategies that you need to employ to realise those targets.

1: What are my dreams, where would I like to go?
Where do I want to be ( with respect to my chosen performance event) in one year, five years etc.

OUTCOME GOALS

2: What are the 'objective' outcome indicators that will tell me that I am making progress in pursuit of these targets? eg making cuts, winning competitions, making teams etc.

3:What aspects of my performance ( or my approach to my performance) do I need to improve on ( physical or psychological ) to realise the objectives that I have identified? What skills do I need to acquire? eg. putting, driving , concentration, routine etc.

PERFORMANCE GOALS

4: How will I be able to assess my progress? How will I know whether I am making progress, or whether the specific aim has been achieved. ( Use Stats here)

 PROCESS GOALS

5: What are the specific strategies that I need to employ to help me achieve my performance goals. These can vary in specificity. For example, one focus on my key word or phrase that represents that desired movement objective, whereas, one might have a specific goal to adhere to their routine every time they have some doubts about the upcoming shot.

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

HDipSportsNutirion

Skype: Darren Mc Loughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc LoughlinPga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Tel:0860827800

Email: darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Use this golf profile sheet to analyse where your game is at. With 1 being the worst & 10 being the best, this will build up a visual profile of where your strengths & weaknesses are.

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

086-1713465

darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Skype: darrenmcloughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc Loughlin Pga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA

Breathing exercise

Pre / During-golf breathing exercise

It is very important that your physiology is is a calm state to reach peak performance on the golf course. There are numerous ways we can do this this , but, having control of your breathing can help numerous elements in trying to achieve maximum results. This exercise is designed to be used everyday 3 times a day minimum. When you are feeling anxiety , fear or uncertainty it can get you into a state of calm & to be in the now. For, golf it is a fantastic aid to focus on the task at hand, as , sometimes the mind can wander & you need to be in the present to attain the correct result through the process.

1: Breathe in expanding your stomach outwards ( like a baby does) not through your chest. Breathe in for for a period of 5 seconds.

2: Hold the breath for 7-8 seconds while placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth & touching the top front teeth.

3: Exhale pushing the air through the gap between the tongue & the top teeth making a hiss noise until the lungs have been completely emptied.

4: Repeat this exercise 10 times. Some people may feel light headed , but do not worry. The exercise will bring an air of relaxation & calmness to your physiology & will have a calming affect on the mind.

Darren Mc Loughlin

PGA Professional

HDipSportsPsychology

086-0827800

darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Skype: darrenmcloughlin

Facebook: Darren Mc Loughlin Pga

Twitter:@DarrenPGA