Jaacob Bowden's Swing Man Golf Blog

Choosing the RIGHT Golf Ball

by Joel Coe

Picking the right golf ball is very important to how your shots will translate on the course.  A lot of people think that picking the most expensive clubs and most expensive balls will help there game out.  But in reality, everyone's swing and game is different from the next person so having the right golf ball is essential to good shots.

Teeing off with the right golf ball is crucial to optimal performance.  There are two main types of golf balls, 2 piece and 3 piece (4 piece) golf balls.  A 2 piece golf ball can typically help with improving distance and a 3 piece golf ball will help with accuracy.

With that said, a 2 piece golf ball is made for higher handicap players.  They help improve distance with the harder cover.  They also have a low spin rate so when you hit your dreaded slice or hook the ball won't spin as much resulting in a straighter shot.  Although they get more distance with a lower spin rate they are not as good around the greens as a 3-piece (4-piece).  A normal price for a pack of 2-piece golf balls is from $12-$30 and a lot of times they will come in 18 packs.

A 3 piece (4 piece) golf ball is made for a lower handicap player and someone that makes consistently good contact.  The reason for this is because 3-piece golf balls like the Titleist Pro V1 will give a player that makes good contact better accuracy.  Also a lower handicap player is usually much better around the greens and a 3-piece gives you the softness around the greens that you need to have the golf ball hit the green and stop.  Prices for 3-piece (4-piece) golf balls are much more than 2-piece balls.   Prices are usually over $40.

Hope that helps the next time you go to purchase golf balls.

Pushing/Fading the Golf Ball

Question:

Besides not having very good swing speed, I also push and fade the ball.  My problem isn't just swing speed, it's squaring and releasing the clubface.  Are there any items that would help that come with your program?

Jaacob's Answer:

The Swing Man Golf site can definitely help you with your swing speed.  Most people have a cruise speed (one that they use on the golf course) and a maximum speed.  We work with raising and training your maximum speed, so that when you back off to your cruise speed, it will feel like you are exerting the same amount of effort.  However, because we raised your baseline, your cruise speed will be much higher than before.  In the first 30 days with the twice-weekly Basic Program, typically I hear back about 12-16 mph (30-40 yard) driver swing speed gains.

I'm not so sure we need to change your back swing length.  The length of swing that you are currently making gets you the best contact...and good contact is important.  You can lose 20 yards on your drives just by missing the sweet spot by an inch.

As for the little push fade, here are several things that you might try to help get the club back square at impact.

1)  If you don't already have one, get a driver whose face is a degree or two closed...and/or one of the adjustable-weight drivers that is draw-biased.
2)  Start the club head out slightly closed at setup.
3)  Make your grip slightly stronger, i.e. turn your hands a little bit more clock-wise (assuming the you are a right-hander).
4)  Don't open the club face up so much on the back swing.

Vijay Singhs Swing Vision from Barclays

By Joel Coe

Vijay Singh was the winner of the 2008 Barclay's and very well deserved with this picture perfect swing.  Check it out.

Vijay's Swing in Slow Motion

Increasing Swing Speed at the Age of 81

Question:

Jaacob, I'm 81 years old and I have a 10 handicap . My driver clubhead speed was 102 mph 6 years ago but now its at 86 mph and continues to deteriorate with age. Am I to believe that you can teach me how to significantly increase my clubhead speed?

Jaacob's Answer:

As we all get older there is definitely physical deterioration that takes place.  However, the good news is that a level of this can be warded off and it's also never too late to make improvements from your current state.  Over 70% of our subscribers are over 45 years old, and over 30% are 60 and older.  Especially if you are not already doing anything for your swing, swing speed training works at any age and it is actually much easier than you might think.

Typically, I hear back from people gains of 12-16 mph (30-40 yards) in the first 30 days with the 10-minute twice-per-week Basic Program.  If you are willing to do additional strength training things, I don't see any reason why you couldn't even do better.  For example, we had a fellow start out around 95-100 mph last winter.  This past spring, he reported back that he had hit a new maximum of 139 mph and he was now competing in the Super Senior division of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships.  This is an extreme example, however, the point is that you can do amazing things at any age when you have the motivation.

Michael Phelps´ Top 5 Fundamentals for Pulling Off the Impossible

“I won’t predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.”

The Olympic Games are almost over and if there was one king at these games then that has to be Michael Phelps. He set one world record after another. He took home the most Gold Medals (8!) that anyone ever has at one Olympic Game. And he also has the most Olympic Gold Medals that anyone has ever won in the history of the games...read more

Controlling Your Nerves before a Tournament

Question:

I have a big tournament starting Friday.  I have been playing good but my nerves always seem to get me in trouble in tournaments.  Is there any way to control them?

Jaacob's Answer:

I've got a some little tricks that I do to help me control my nerves under pressure.  Here are a few suggestions:

1)  Before a shot, picture or feel roots growing out of your feet.  It can help bring your energy down out of your head and help make you feel more grounded.

2)  Before your shot (maybe while the other players are hitting their shots), you can also hold your hand over your stomach.  There is this field called educational kinesiology.  Essentially, it's a science where if a person were to perform certain physical movements or motions, it has a subsequent physiologic change on the body chemistry.  Holding your hand over your stomach for a few seconds has a grounding effect on the body.

3)  Take a few deep breaths before shots.  Sometimes in nerve-racking situations, we forget to breathe and consequently tense up.

4)  In such a way that other players don't notice, flex all of your muscles really tight...then relax...flex your muscles really tight...then relax.  A couple cycles of this will help loosen you up.

5)  It might be a little late to start for Friday, but meditating 4-5 times per week and 5-10 minutes a day can really help for future mental improvement.

6)  Remember to keep things in perspective.  After all, the absolute worst thing that could happen would be that you hit a bunch of bad shots and shoot a high score.  It doesn't always feel good in the moment, but you would get through it and there would be many more rounds of good golf to be had later on.

Swing Speed Program Progress

by Joel Coe

My Swing Speed Training Progress

With using the basic program I didn't think my swing speed would go up so rapidly but it has in just a week and a half!  I am training for the European Long Drive Qualifiers on August 31 in hopes of making the European Long Drive Finals in England.  I have always been a decently long hitter but with this program I have increased my swing speed by 10 mph in a week and a half.  I'm interested to see how much faster I can get before the European Qualifier on August 31.  My goal is to be in the 150's by the competition.   Wish me luck :)

Here is a chart of my progress...
                           
            Swing Speed w/ Res             Top Swing Speed
Day 1           116 mph                           130 mph      
Day 2           116 mph                           132 mph
Day 3            off day                             off day
Day 4            off day                             off day
Day 5           121 mph                           136 mph
Day 6           123 mph                           135 mph
Day 7            off day                             off day
Day 8            off day                             off day
Day 9            off day                             off day
Day 10          120 mph                           140 mph

I will post my final results in a couple weeks...Check it out!