I have no idea whether the hype behind the new Taylor Made club line called Rocketballz is for real or just another sad carrot dangled in front of us amateurs who want to believe that technology can make us better. The Rocketballz line is just beginning to be marketed now for the 2012 season.

Whether it works or not, my hat goes off to the marketing folks at TaylorMade, because the videos they’re releasing with pros like Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Sean O’Hair are great. I found myself laughing during the testing session with DJ because he’s laughing after hitting a 3 wood over 330 yards! (video link HERE). The link will take you to the marketing video. After it’s done select the DJ video. After it plays, check out the other Rocketballz videos at the Golfer’s Warehouse site. You’re going to laugh and you’re going to lust!

Be honest, haven’t you dreamed that you could buy a club someday that would give you 20 or even, gasp, 30 more yards with your same old swing? Somebody put me out of my misery. Get a TaylorMade Rocketballz 3 wood, try it out and report back that you got ZERO more yardage. Then I can stop thinking how I can buy one for myself without my wife knowing!

Related posts:

1. TaylorMade Marketing

With the new year fast approaching it means that golf season and the Master’s are just around the corner. The new year brings a chance for change and buying the latest, coolest equipment for the upcoming season.

If you’re heading into your garage or garden shed to find a dusty, neglected pair of golf shoes, it’s probably the time to start looking for a shiny, new pair.  

Golf shoes need plenty of care and attention to keep them at their best performance, and if yours are looking a little dated, and your just not getting the performance out of them you’re looking for, you may find the new technology advances and standard of shoes could improve your game in a very measurable way.

So to help you make a wise and well-informed decision, let’s take a look at the new Nike golf shoes out there with the best technology and trends for the 2012 season:



Nike Tour Premium Golf Shoe


The Nike Tour Premium golf shoe brings together a traditional, classic golf shoe with the new performance enhancing technology that you expect from Nike Golf. You can walk the golf course in both style and comfort with these new shoes, designed to provide even better stability and balance on uneven ground (where you are most of the time, right?!)



Made from a rich full grain leather upper, they have been designed to offer you a soft and supportive fit so you feel stable and balanced throughout your swing. The heel located Nike Zoom unit is part of the Nike Air family which is a lightweight and durable design which provides you with extra cushioning and comfort.

Enhancing your stability during the quick movements of your swing is just one benefit this shoe offers (and one of the most important!)

 The ‘Power Platform Technology’ gives you greater balance, smoother weight transfer and a stronger push through impact, this technology is used by Tiger Woods who was also instrumental in its testing.



A full length contoured sock liner with ‘poron’ inserts, moulds to the shape of your foot so you have maximum support and comfort whilst wearing the Nike Tour Premium shoe around the course.



The full length Phylon midsole has dual capabilities that provide stability in your heel and cushioning from your mid-foot to the toes. The mid sole has been developed to support each part of the foot accurately.

I’ve already put my order in, what about you?




Nike Zoom TW Golf Shoe



Here’s the shoe named after one of the game’s best players, so it has a lot to live up to! The Nike Zoom TW shoes have a number of features to ensure that they are comfortable and dependable, whilst the latest technology makes sure you can be at the top of your game.  

They have been revamped and packed with technology to ensure better support, traction, stability and control.  



The Nike Zoom TW is made from the highest grade, full grain Sadesa leather uppers which have had a hydrophobic surface applied which keeps your feet dry and protected whilst playing golf on those wet days.



Nike’s biomechanical experts have placed their next generation Flywire technology at the fore foot with ultra-light, high-strength fibers to provide lateral stability right where you need it during your swing.  



These shoes also use the Nike Zoom unit in the heel giving a lightweight and hard-wearing design, providing you with responsive cushioning, making sure you maintain stability during your swing.

Whilst the full-length Phylon midsole provides a plush, king size foot bed with exceptional cushioning and comfort for a day on your feet.



Nike Power Platform TW stabilises the foot for better balance, smoother weight transfer and more power through impact.  It provides maximum flexibility in the outsole, allowing more ground contact and maximum power to the golf ball.



The Nike Zoom TW 2012 also has the full length contoured sock liner that provides comfort with ‘poron’ inserts, which mould to the shape of your foot for the life of the golf shoe.

Here’s to playing your best golf ever in 2012! Start by getting a pair of updated, performance-based golf shoes.

Related posts:

1. Nike Lunar Control Shoes Are Keepers
2. You Need A New Pair Of Golf Shoes
3. Plastic Golf Spikes Suck!

I just had to put this in. I mean we have all these cool golf gadgets and golf training aids. Things like the Gyroscope, the Momentus, The Inside Approach, The Secret and on and on. All these really high-brow, fancy-dancy golf inventions. What what about the lower-brow ones – like Bathroom Golf?

Who says we can’t revert to a little bathroom humor here at GolfDash

My wife showed this to me the other day and we all got a good belly laugh out of this product. Another classic dumb golf product – but you gotta love it!

Read the description:

Bathroom Golf

This contour is made of felt and comes with 2 plastic balls and a flag he can place where he wants. For added fun, he can hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. 23″L plastic putter included. Rug 29″ x 35″. Spot clean only. Now $12.99

This just maybe the gift for your golfer who prefers to practice his putting in the privacy of their own bathroom.

I just be a little worried if your putts per round goes down substantially. Then whatya gonna say?

(Said with a serious tone) “I found this terrific golf putting training aid and the cool thing is that you can practice while your . . . ”

Well, you can finish it from there.

Happy putting!

PS: find the product here: Bathroom Golf

No related posts.

The local pro comes up to me yesterday and says, ‘Great looking shoes, what are they?’ Pretty impressive when a 30 year PGA pro sees something new on the course.

This year, right before the Masters, Nike sent me a pair on their Lunar Control golf shoes with Master’s green highlights in the sole (check them out at Nike HERE). Unfortunately, my wife and I were in the midst of moving at the time. They got packed away and I forgot about them, until this week when they were discovered in a box we were unpacking. Now that I’ve worn them for 45 holes, I’m sure glad they showed up.

Let me assure you this is not a paid piece. Doug and I have tried out many products and we pride ourselves on calling them as we see them. We’re not about to damage our reputation for honesty and accuracy just because we got a product to try out. Having said that, I love these shoes. They just got promoted to ‘every day’ status.

My favorite shoes until now were old Etonics. I mean old as in 10 years old, before they went under and were subsequently resurrected by another company. Why did I like the old Etonics? Because they fit my feet. I have a wide forefoot and narrow ankle and haven’t found a golf shoe that really fits since those Etonics. The closest I came was in an Ecco, but even they pinched my little toe and the sole/platform didn’t feel stiff enough for me. Because of these issues, when I wasn’t wearing the Etonics I was in a trail running shoe.

I’m also an odd size -12.5 – which no one really makes. Normally 12′s are too small and 13′s are too big. Because of all my ‘fit’ issues I wasn’t expecting much from the Nike’s.

Man, was I surprised. The first time out I decided I’d walk 9, I didn’t want to commit to 18 and have my feet screaming in pain. No problem with the Lunar Control shoe, not even a break-in period. They felt great on the first tee and just as good today after 18.

There’s a lot of technology that goes into a modern high-end golf shoe, but in the end it’s how they feel. This is a comfortable shoe, about like my house slippers in that regard. They’re also extremely light and there is no foot fatigue after 18 holes, which I do get even from my old trusty Etonics. When I’m finished walking, the first thing I usually think about after the last putt is getting out of my golf shoes. If the Nike Lunar Controls didn’t have spikes, I’d wear them home, they’re that comfortable.

Besides comfort, these shoes keep you low to the ground and create a great connection with the earth. I feel more securely anchored with these shoes than anything else I’ve ever worn on the course. The shoe comes with Scorpion Stinger spikes which are great out of the box. If they wear well, I’ll use them on my other shoes at replacement time.

The outer sole looks like it’s plastic, so it should last a long time. It really isolates the foot from all of the little undulations, stones, twigs and what have you that you step on during the course of a round. I’m sure part of the comfort comes from the full length contoured sockliner. Whatever it is, it works. I wish I had a pair of sneakers that felt as good.

I haven’t tried the shoes in really wet conditions yet, but the one piece plastic soles should really help in that regard. They also come with a 2 year limited waterproof warranty, but that’s to be expected with a shoe that lists at $190. While that price may be a bit steep at first blush, it’s well worth it if they perform for 3 or 4 years as they have so far. If you’re like me, you’ve bought too many pairs of $100 shoes to save money, only to have them last one season before the footbed is shot or they start to leak.

If the Nike Lunar Control fits your foot, I highly recommend you give them a try. I’m confident after the first 9 holes you’ll know you made the right choice. Now if I can get my wife to let me buy a pair in black…..

Get your very own pair here: Nike Lunar Control Golf Shoes

Related posts:

1. New Year, New Shoes
2. You Need A New Pair Of Golf Shoes
3. Plastic Golf Spikes Suck!

In my opinion, today’s mainstream golf teacher is very one-dimensional and can only help players wishing to improve in a very limited way. I know a lot of pros will highly disagree with this view but hear me out.

I’m not saying it’s they’re fault, per say, but a LOT more goes into playing excellent golf than trying to flatten someone’s golf swing or having them line up square.

What if you go to a golf lesson and the instructor wants to to complete a fuller turn but come to find out your body cannot get into that position easily? it might be more of a biomechanics issue than a swing issue. If you don’t have that knowledge how can you assess it.

What if you typically have excellent front nines but in the middle of the round you never fail to produce a number of double-bogeys? Well, could be any number of things including proper nutrition. Did you (or do you) have on a regular basis a couple of sugar coated cider donuts and a large coffee before your typical round? Uhhhh, maybe a peanut butter protein bar and a banana might be a better choice. Maybe that’s your answer (or certainly part of it)

What if you just cannot shake the dreaded banana-slice despite seeing your golf pro repeatedly? Maybe your golf clubs need to be custom-fitted to your unique swing speed and style. I don’t think once, in all the lessons I have taken in the past fews years that any pro has even looked at my equipment. I mean, it might be as easy as changing the weights slightly on your driver.

What is just went through a trying divorce and you’re trying to compete at the highest level? What if you have “unfinished business” that you need to take of to set your mind (and body) free to play your best golf ever? (and coincidentally, have your best LIFE ever!)

I mean who’s looking at the big picture? Who is looking at YOU as an individual golfer who has strengths, weaknesses, challenges, hopes, goals, etc.

What I truly think is missing is a new kind of golf professional. Someone that has a more holistic view of the game. That can assess at a “big picture” level.

What has lead me to this conclusion? Well, I have happily been the Tim Ferris of the The 4-Hour Bodyfor golf. I’ve allowed myself to be a laboratory rat for all sorts of golf experimentation. From getting biomechanically assessed to seeing a sports nutritionist to testing and practicing the latest golf fitness routines to getting custom-fitted for golf equipment to consulting with a sports psychologist and more.

And the more I have explored the more I have found such a big “disconnect” between all these professionals. One has no idea what the other one is doing. They all work in their own silos. You have to piece this all together but if you had someone who had at least a knowledge about this information could really propel your game to (I believe) unheard of levels.

See, it’s the compounded power of all these that make a difference. It’s not just one thing. It’s all of these often small changes working synergistically that produce HUGE improvements in your golf game.

This is big. Really big. 2 years ago a wrote a post about Jon Fitzgerald’s wonderful film, called : Best Golf Film of The Year: The Back Nine.Go find and watch that film. The film is about Jon’s quest to become a pro and shows you ALL the various dimensions he explored trying to get the most out of his game – from fitness to mechanics to state of the art equipment and more. It really shows the type of professionals he had to employ to get the most out of his game.

Sure, you could go out and hire each of these specific knowledge professionals separately but for the average golfer or even the serious amateur it is just not time or cost-effective. So what’s one to do if you want to make a serious commitment to your game?

My answer is: I don’t know. It’s missing. John and I (of GolfDashBlog) have been fooling around with trying to come up with a thorough assessment process to help diagnose some of the issues we’ve seen and how to identify certain patterns in golfers who are seeking excellence in their golf game and who want that extra edge. Patterns that would be unique to YOU. Nothing canned or generic. It would never work that way.

Nothing is really finalized at this point but I’m curious if I’ve totally lost my gourd or if others are interested in hearing more. Let me know.

Related posts:

1. Golf Game Killer: The Sway
2. Guaranteed to Improve Your Golf Game!

Unfortunately we live in a world gone mad with consumerism. And it’s unbridled consumerism that’s killing golf. To those making the big bucks in golf, everything looks rosy. That’s probably what Nero thought before he saw the flames devouring Rome.

Equipment companies are having a feast, though they probably feel more like junkies – ‘wish we could stop this technology madness but I don’t think we can live without it’. Golf ball manufacturers are in the midst of the ‘Great Golf Ball Wars of the 21st Century’. Pretty soon even us slugs will be able to manage a 410 yard drive. Our old par 71 course will be reduced to a par 50 or maybe just 7 holes averaging about 600 yards.

And only a few have been brave enough to standup and say anything. Some who should be listened to, like Jack, are politely ignored. TV commentators, some so painfully honest that they’ve never seen a really great golf shot, can’t be bothered. Or, maybe they fear for their jobs.

I like technology. I like my perimeter weighted clubs and I like golf balls that are really round. I enjoyed my first big bomber driver when I gained an extra 15 yards to offset my age. But we don’t know how or when to stop anymore.

Where are the governing bodies? Has someone gotten to them – told them to bury their heads if they know what’s good for them. There have to be some limits somewhere. Limits are good for you. I’m most disappointed by the R&A. I’ve always assumed that they have a much better appreciation of ‘tradition’ than the USGA.

America has been clearly about money since the end of WWII. But doesn’t ‘old Europe’ have a bit more common sense? At any rate, let’s have a dialogue – you know, a friendly discussion of the situation. Let everyone express themselves, hear all sides – amateurs, tour pros, club pros, retailers, equipment makers, and organizations.

Amateurs, let’s not forget that we are the driving engine. It’s our money that pays for everything else including the tour pros. Without us the whole thing sinks like a 55 Caddy in a peat bog. Go to the forum sites and make yourself heard and to the blogs.

It’s not just about saving ourselves some money, or saving courses, it’s about saving the game we love. If the governing bodies won’t do it, then we’ve got to do it ourselves fighting hand to hand combat.

Related posts:

1. Who’s hitting it farther with Technology?
2. The People Have Spoken About Technology
3. Pushing The Muscle Limits

I recently got custom fit for new golf irons through the franchise, GolfTec, in Burlington, MA. The process was extremely interesting and I’ll share the process below.

Getting custom-fit for golf clubs is one of the buzzwords nowadays but I think totally warranted. We’ve done a number of pieces on this in past articles. But get the gist of it in this video by master clubmaker Tom Wishon in our article, How Custom Golf Club Fitting Can Measurably Improve Your Game. It’s very eye-opening!

As I mentioned in my last article, Getting Custom-fit for New Irons – I decided a number of weeks back to upgrade my irons after about 8 years or so playing them. They served me very well and it’s always a bit awkward upgrading to something new but at this point in my playing career and really wanted to have technology on my side. I wanted more forgiveness and much more of a game improvement set of irons. My old Nicklaus Bear N1′s were kinda “quasi” blade style club and just didn’t cut the mustard on non-flush hits (yeah, hmmmmmm, imagine that!)

So I booked an appointment (which was about a 2 hour drive) at GolfTec. I was familiar with them just via brand but really only knew about their services on a cursory level. They told be to bring 1 iron (a 6 iron) and my golf shoes (to replicate as close as possible your actual setup)

My first impression when I arrived was that this was a professional outfit. The interior was beautiful (see photo above) with a nice waiting area with golf TV, associated golf books and training aids. My wife came along for the ride so it was nice to have an area like this. I’ve been to some other somewhat related golf establishments and all you got was a folding chair and a rickety card table. Appearances and environments do matter (to me anyway).

After my “coach” (they are called coaches not instructors) introduced himself and we had a chat about what I was looking for in terms of my golf game improvement. We then headed into one of the golf performance rooms (see photo below)

First, my coach did some measurements. The hand was measured first (for grip size) then the length from wrist to floor (to see what length clubs you might need). Somewhat to my surprise (as I thought I had “smallish” hands) my coach did order an extra wrap of tape (under the grip) for me. He said to prevent being too “handsy.” My club length fit into the “standard” category. No changes needed.

Next, he calibrated the awesome launch monitor (see pic below). I think it is somewhere in the $5,000 range. So it’s no piece of junk. I’ve been on golf monitors before and this one seemed to be very high-end. This was the “guts” of the testing. I first hit a number of shots with my current 6 iron that I brought along. Then the software spits out the data, like, launch angle, club speed, ball speed, backspin, accuracy, distance carry, distance roll, whether ball went right or left and a number of other parameters. It was really fascinating to see this.

Once there was a “baseline” to work with the proprietary software hits a database with more than 1,00 clubbed shaft combinations and spits out out 3-4 recommendations. In my case it was 3. It selected Callaway RAZR X, Taylormade Burner 2.0′s and Ping G-15′s. I then proceeded to test all of these clubs. After hitting them the software selects the best club for you based on how you hit them – including all the parameters I mentioned above.

What was interesting was it selected the Pings for me but I just was not a fan of the look of them. They just looked to horsey and clunky to me. So I went with the next selected one, the Taylormade Burners. They are just a sexy looking club and, from what I’ve heard, are getting great all-around reviews.

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention. Another part of the test was to tape the bottom of the club and hot a number of shots off a piece of hard plastic. This will give you an idea of the lie-angle. After hitting about 5 shots my wear pattern was consistently on the toe (it should be more in the center of the club) This was factored into the customization of my clubs where my new ones will be bent 3 degrees upright (to prevent the toe from digging and, in my case, I’m a lefty, shooting the ball off to the left)

That was pretty much the process. It took a little over an hour. The next question is, of course, do you want to have them order your clubs. I knew this ahead of time so was prepared to pay in full for my clubs. They have a relationship with Golfsmith (one of the best in discount golf equipment) and the prices were very comparable to what you would pay out of the catalog.

Keep in mind, you can also customize how many clubs you have. I wasn’t sure I wanted to have a 4 iron but ended up getting one anyway. The price with the 4 iron was about $525 (give or take) and the price wit the 4 iron was like $650 (tax included). The fee for Golftec was $99. The clubs I ordered will take about 2 weeks to ship after they are custom fit.

One point I wanted to make. I was actually looking at the Burner 2.0′s before my appointment and had no idea that they would be suggested for me but I probably could have bought them off the rack as the only customization I received was an extra wrap of tape and the lie angle bent 3 degrees.

I’m not sure if that’s the norm or not. But I would have never known had I not gone through with the process. And, of course, where the rubber meets the road is on the course. Probably by the British Open I will give an update on how they are improving (hopefully) my game!

All in all, I was very pleased with the GolfTec process. Very professional and scientific. Not a lot of guessing. Obviously, you have to like the “look” of your clubs so there is still that variable in place but I guess, that’s the art side of the process. You could just blindly accept what the computer spits out but they still have to look and feel right to you.

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have on the process and/or would love to hear your comments.

Related posts:

1. How Custom Golf Club Fitting Can Measurably Improve Your Game
2. Custom Club Fitting Starts Today!
3. Custom Golf Club Fitting (Part 2)

I am off this coming week to get custom fit for a new set of irons. It’s been about 8 years or so since my last set and since I am re-committing to playing a lot more golf (and getting better) I figure I am due.

Since re-committing to my golf game I have done quite a few things. I have started a new exercise program based on my biomechanics assessment I have joined a golf club (Crumpin Fox Golf Club here in MA) and am scheduled to be re-fitted for irons this week at GolfTec in Burlington, MA. At some point I will be getting fit for a driver but as I’m a married man I can only get away with so much *smile*

But really excited about finally getting some new irons. I think I have had these irons for maybe 8 or so years. I really liked the look when standing over them. Very classical and a thin top-line. I would, however, describe them as a quasi blade/cavity back.

So you really have to hit it on the screws to make these clubs work. As my playing has become less frequent, they have been harder and harder to hit and with technology changing so much, you almost have to re-evaluate your equipment every 3 years or so and certainly NOT 8!

You can see a pic of the clubs below. Interestedly, while trying to find a pic picture of the Nicklaus N-1′s I came across this post by MyGolfSpy.com titled, 15 Craziest Irons Ever Made, and guess what clubs I found there? yup, the Nicklaus N-1′s! It’s really a fun post to peruse.

Anyway, back to my custom fitting. The process, I’m told, will take about an hour. I am bringing just 1 club my 6-iron and my golf shoes. A whole series of test will be done, including grip size, shaft flex/kick point and I will also be put on a launch monitor to determine loft and lie-angle.

What is a bit unique about GolfTec is they do something called “database matching”. Here is what they say about it:

GolfTEC’s database-matching system takes your swing data and virtually tests it against more than 1,000 clubhead and shaft combinations, returning a list of clubs that best suit your game. There is an absence of personal, brand and inventory biases. GolfTEC’s goal is to get the perfect clubs for your game in your hands. Because GolfTEC works with nearly every major club manufacturer, you aren’t limited by your Coach’s brand bias or a limited selection of manufacturers.

I’ve been thinking about getting new irons for some time now (especially since I’m planning on playing a lot more golf this year) and, figured, if I’m gonna do it, might as well do it right. The fee for the testing is $99. I will give a full report on the entire process and my thoughts about it.

Of course, where the rubber real hits the road is on the course. In another month or so I’ll report on how they are affecting my game. Until then – hit ‘em straight!

PS: you can download the link to the very informative article called, Buy a Better Game It appears the article is only available via PDF. Once you get to the above website on the right side of the page is the Feb 2011 Golf Magazine cover. Below it is the PDF download link. Also, some nice videos to check out on this page as well.

Top Image: ©2011 Callaway Golf Company.

Related posts:

1. Custom Fit Golf Clubs
2. Key To Hitting Down On Your Irons
3. Custom Golf Club Fitting (Part 2)

I am totally with my GolfDash partner, John, who wrote a great article a while back titled, You Need a New Pair of Golf Shoes. It was totally on the money. The gist of it being *most* golf shoes are really not that comfortable or really that effective for the average golfer.

I’ll tell you why. Those cheap, expensive, plastic pieces of garbage (golf spikes) you have to buy 5 times a year do really nothing to help you create a solid base in which to generate an effective, dynamic swing. There’s nothing there.

I notice this ALL THE TIME when I’m upstairs in my home practicing my swing with my Merrell Hiking Shoes on our carpet. You really feel how your feet and body *should* move in the golf swing. It feels like a corkscrew action as the tread of the hiking shoe interacts with the carpet. It’s a really powerful feeling.

I keep thinking if I could only find a way to replicate this somehow on the course I’d be a single digit in a month. But somehow (and like John, I’ve tried a ton of golf shoes) no manufacturer seems to be getting this. There is style, granted, but no innovation. I’d throw style away in a New York minute that get a better grip between golf shoe and grass.

Other than paying for those useless plastic spikes, I mean, what are we really getting? a leather, sometimes waterproof shoe. Come on guys, we can do better than that, right?!

I’m just waiting for that rogue, innovative company who will blow the lid off the parading of the “accepted” golf shoe. But I would suggest going off to a cave somewhere and totally forget about anything you have ever seen in golf shoe design (real easy, huh?) and start totally from scratch. Address the real issues of golf shoes and what they are meant to do and how they should perform.

Granted, this doesn’t (as much) pertain to the pro because they can play in sneaker (a la Fred Couples) and do just fine but for the average golfer your feet and the earth really do create the power and torque in your swing and with today’s current footwear you just can’t optimize that feeling at all.

Speaking of Fred Couples, it IS interesting that Fred chose to wear the ECCO Golf Street Shoes* Why did he choose them? Because of his back problems. The “classic” golf shoe just didn’t cut the mustard. Bravo to ECCO for at least *re-thinking* what a golf shoe is.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this and if you have found any golf shoes that really work for you. And please help me TWEET this post so I can get others on board my personal mission

*For full disclosure these are NOT an affiliate links. I am just using ECCO and Merrell as examples.

Related posts:

1. You Need A New Pair Of Golf Shoes
2. Nike Lunar Control Shoes Are Keepers
3. New Year, New Shoes

When golfers refer to the secret of “finding the slot” it can be somewhat problematic because it’s so often misunderstood how you get there.

Luckily, in Jim McLean’s new book, The Slot Swing,he does a terrific job of explaining the golf swing slot and what that means exactly and more importantly, how to find the often elusive “slot”

This is the one statement that got me to buy the book below:

“In 99 percent of professional swings, the downswing shaft position is flatter than the backswing shaft position”

And consequently:

“One main reason recreational players suffer and frequently hit slices, pulls, and pull-slices in that they swing over the top. In a majority of the amateur swings I’ve seen and analyzed, the downswing shaft position is steeper than the backswing shaft position.”

For those of you who are not quite clear what exactly is “the slot” it is the dropping of the club from the backswing to the forward swing where the club “falls” into a slot – most typically felt by the the right elbow (if a right-handed golfer) dropping towards your right hip and instead of your right forearm being more parallel to the ground it leans toward being more vertical.

When your right arm does become more parallel to the ground, you typically get the feeling of your arms being detached from your body and the dreaded “over the top” move is inevitable. Man, I know that feeling all to well!

But when you DO feel the slot, you have a feeling of graceful power, fluidity and a totally feeling of integration with your entire body. Ironically, due to biomechanic efficiencies, your swing seems much easier and effortless. Remember, the slot position is the key fundamental downswing key to hitting successful shots. It’s the perfect place to deliver a solid, accurate strike with speed and with the proper angle of attack.

Oddly enough, I was fooling around with this fairly intensely at the end of the golf season. Even trying to exaggerate this as I felt I was really on to something and my irons were getting crisper and crispier (love that word crisp as it relates to golf!)

Anyway, what I did was really feel my golf club shaft being more vertical in my backswing, my left elbow (I’m a lefty) dis-attaching from by body and assuming and almost horizontal position (or parallel to the ground) the shaft assuming a almost perpendicular position to the ground, then dropping the elbow back down (as you do this your same forearm because more vertical) in the transition.

If you try this, it has a very Jim Furyk type of feel to it. Almost feels corkscrew-like and to me, quite a powerful, integrating move. Where I ran into trouble was a competitive round where I tried to rush the swing. A move like this takes time to build and time to unfold. So be aware of this when trying to integrate the feeling.

In the book Jim explains the “Three Shapes of the Slot Swing” which is really fascinating. I basically thought I knew these but then realized I really did not. The first being The “Standard” Slot Swing epitomized by Sergio Garcia. The “Single Plane” Slot Swing represented by Tiger and finally, The “Reverse” Slot Swing of whom Bruce Lietzke (or Sam Snead) best represents.

Jim suggests picking the one that feels most appropriate. However for MOST of his students he recommends The “Standard” Slot Swing. I suggest try them all out (just a few practice swings and you can easily find this out) and see what best works for your swing type.

Another thing that I really loved about the book were the illustrations by Phil Franke. There are 75 in all and do an amazing job of clarifying Jim’s concepts. I love that you can see the arrows going back and then the arrows going forward in the illustrations. In this case a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Additionally, Mr. McLean includes 6 drills to help re-enforce “The Slot” concepts. Some I have seen before but the last one (#6) is a doozy (I won’t give it away) but this one drill (I have never seen it before) just might get you into THE consistent slot and solve your problem once and for all!

One drill I found effective fooling around with my own swing was swinging a club with one hand. In my case (again, being a lefty) was my left arm. Swinging the club more vertically on the backswing and then flattening the shaft on the downswing. Making sure you are pouting the butt end of the club at the ball in the downswing. It’s exaggerates the concept a little but (to me anyway) really helped re-enforce the feeling.

Jim McLean has studies thousands of hours of video, has studied the pros by eye, has had conversations with the all time greats, given thousands of lessons so he knows a thing or two about the golf swing. The book (with all the illustrations) is a pretty fast read but I really believe “The Slot” is one of the keys to becoming a consistent and powerful ball striker.

To get the book go here: The Slot Swing: The Proven Way to Hit Consistent and Powerful Shots Like the Pros.

The Kallassy Swing Magic Driverwill help you re-inforce the slot position.

Find the “Pro Slot” with the Power Angle Pro.

Related posts:

1. Swing Keys vs Swing Thought
2. Understanding the Swing Plane
3. Left Arm in Golf Swing – Straight or Relaxed?