MARK WOOD BIOGRAPHY - Mark Wood Golf...

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Transcript of MARK WOOD BIOGRAPHY - Mark Wood Golf...

Page 1: MARK WOOD BIOGRAPHY - Mark Wood Golf Academymarkwoodgolfacademy.co.uk/files/9613/6119/9991/HIT... · I was like a kid so passionate about golf; ... techniques and short game methods
Page 2: MARK WOOD BIOGRAPHY - Mark Wood Golf Academymarkwoodgolfacademy.co.uk/files/9613/6119/9991/HIT... · I was like a kid so passionate about golf; ... techniques and short game methods

MARK WOOD BIOGRAPHY

I turned pro in 1996 after a fairly successful amateur career and my journey into the professional ranks was very interesting. As a kid I remember buying almost every instructional book, video and most of the monthly golfing publications as I was devoted and hooked in becoming a better player. I was like a kid so passionate about golf; my brain was a sponge soaking up all the different swing techniques and short game methods as I wanted to be the best golfer in the world. As time went on I soon realised that a lot of what I was reading and seeing was confusing advice and I was not advancing the way I thought I should be. So after a short time I decided that I needed a coach who would help me fulfil my passion and goals. I must have gone through 6 or 7 coaches before I found a great coach called (Nick Bradley) who was coaching some of the finest professionals in the world. Nick really helped me and my golf, I remember going to watch Nick coaching his professionals and I got a real buzz from that and I started to realise that the dream of becoming the best golfer in the world was not for me, I wanted to be a coach. That was quite an eureka moment for me as I could not understand that the tournaments that I was playing in I was more interested about the players swings and games than I was my own!! Even playing social golf outside of tournaments with friends I was always giving them advice of what shots they should hit and advice on their techniques, I was so much more concerned about everybody else’s game apart from mine, and I was trying to make a living form playing golf!! From that point onward I turned my attention full time into becoming a great golf coach who is driven and passionate about helping golfers of all abilities improve. I get a great buzz from helping golfers starting out in the game as I do when one of my pro clients wins an event.

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Golf is a power game these days, all you need to do is look at the driving ranges and compare them to the short game facilities, which one is busier and what have most golfers got in there hands……. The Driver!! I am going to give you a few key drills and exercises that will create more distance for you, but the first thing I want you to do is to check with your local Professional to see if your Driver and irons are custom fitted for you, as this is important in the process. For instance if I had an elderly golfer with limited flexibility and a very slow clubhead speed using a 7.5 degree extra stiff shafted driver they would automatically increase their distance by switching to a driver with 14 degrees and a senior/lady flex shaft. Just as is the same as Justin Rose using a 14 degree ladies flex shaft his distance numbers are going to fall considerably because the DNA of the golf club is not matched to his swing. So this very important for you to get this checked out today. There are 5 key things that will generate more distance for you and they are –

• Increased clubhead speed with good Dynamic loft at impact from a good angle of attack. • Good fitted equipment that suits your swing DNA. • Good swing technique as poor technique will most certainly cost you yards. • Centre strikes on the clubface • Flexibility and Strength is also a key.

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TIP #1 -The Grip The Grip is very important in the in the set up and golf swing as it is the only direct contact we have with the club. It gives us clubface control as well as leverage in the golf swing otherwise known as ‘lag’ which will help create more power. When placing the left hand onto the golf club make sure you have the grip sat down across the fingers so the fleshy pad sits on top of the grip. Always hold the club down an inch from the top of the handle as well.

Close your hand onto the grip making sure you keep a “short left thumb” as extending your left thumb down the grip will cause the left wrist to lock and can cause injury to the hand or wrist. It will also reduce the power within your swing and will also force the grip up into the palm of the left hand. Keep the ‘V’ of the left hand pointing up between your collar bone and right shoulder

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Avoid gripping it up through the Palm and the Long Left Thumb as this will reduce the flexibility of the wrists in the swing losing you power and distance.

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Linking the hands becomes a choice for you. You can either Overlap, interlook, intermesh or baseball (this is suited for juniors of a young age and ladies).

Overlapping Grip Baseball Grip

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Intermesh Grip

Interlocking Grip

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Placing your right hand onto the grip should be performed in the following way. Place the lifeline of your right hand onto the side of your left thumb and then close the right hand over onto the grip.

The inner part of the right forearm should be parallel to the target line and the ‘V’ of the right hand also pointing up in the same direction as the left hand ‘V’. Keep the grip pressure light as a too tight a grip will rob you of clubhead speed and power.

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TIP #2 -The Posture Creating a good posture is key if we want to make a good ballistic athletic powerful movement in which clubhead speed is created. In order to achieve this, stand with your feet shoulder width apart and hold a club down your tummy and bend from the waist.

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Softly flex at the knees as this is very important in good posture. Let the arms drop and form a good grip on the club as normal.

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The knees are going to have the feeling of being turned outwards ever so slightly as this will help with our body turn. The weight in the feet needs to feel in the balls of the feet almost as if you are creating a strong connection between your feet and the ground, remember we need a solid base to swing and this is your point of contact with the ground, and to create power and force which in turn creates clubhead speed we need great stability.

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Postures to avoid are the stooped over posture and the reverse C posture where the lower back is arched awkwardly. Both posture will impact your body turn and power.

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TIP #3 - THE “X”STRETCH There is a saying in golf that less is more, and that is very true as many golfers feel that to hit the ball further they need to “wind up” more in the backswing, creating a bigger unbalanced turn is most certainly not the way to generate more power. A very good way to generate more power is to keep the body turn under control, yes we would like to get the shoulders turning 90 degrees and hips between 40 – 50 degrees from the address position up to the top of the backswing and this is where the science comes in. Using K vest and other 3D data systems we know that as the shoulders continue to turn and the arms and club continue on their journey in the backswing there becomes a point where the hips start to re rotate back towards the target this is called the “X Stretch” in golf. The greater X Stretch we create the more power we have to deliver to the ball. The chain of events that happen as we start the downswing with the hips stretching

away from the upper body turn is as the hips get back to a slight open position at impact they slow down and this causes the upper body, arms and club to speed up creating more power at impact. A good way to practise the ‘X’ Stretch is one of two ways; firstly put a club down your toe line and at arm’s reach and place your hands on top of the grip. Keep your shoulders and chest turned away from the target and practise rotating your hips back towards the target just like you would in a downswing. Feel the stretch through your core, lots of energy and maximum power for distance. Another good way to practise the ‘X’ stretch is to hold the club across your shoulders and practise the same procedure above.

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TIP #4 – Turn Don't Sway A common mistake is golfers sway in the backswing and this reduces the function of a good body turn and reduces power and as a result distance. The picture here shows that I have swayed and my lower body weight has shifted to the outside of my right foot, I am now in a poor position to start the downswing and therefore the kinetic chain of good movements is diminished and power is lost.

A good drill is to push an alignment cane down into the ground just outside your right leg and start to turn inside the cane, the weight will most certainly feel more stable during the backswing , you will be using your core much more effectively which will pay dividends as you start the downswing. At the beginning of the change of direction form the backswing to downswing there should be a lateral movement towards the target with the lower body followed by a rotational movement.

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TIP #5 – Keep Relaxed Tension is a huge energy sapper in a golf swing, so when you set up to the ball make sure that your grip pressure is relaxed. The best way of doing this is to think about your forearms, if you keep these relaxed it is impossible to have tight wrists and a tight grip. Keep your chin held up and your neck muscles relaxed as this will also contribute in making a good athletic body turn which in turn leads to power. Remember your arms are the levers in a golf swing so keeping these relaxed adds to increased speed.

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TIP #6 – FEEL THE GROUND AS YOU SWING The Smash Factor One way of creating energy in the golf swing is to increase the pressure point between your feet and ground in a backswing. Many golfers as they swing back pull the force up away from the ground and this creates a negative effect on creating power. Think of jumping up into the air if you kept your pressure of your feet very light on the ground and then jumped you will not get very high. If you increase your pressure down into the ground before you jumped you would jump much higher as it gives you more energy from a solid base. In the swing I am not saying lose height in the backswing to increase your pressure, you should keep fairly constant levels (knees and chin) but most certainly feeling that more force is being applied to the ground in the backswing will help create more leverage through impact.

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TIP # 7 – CREATE A WHOOSH THROUGH IMPACT

A lot of golfers create a lot of unwanted tension in the arms, wrists and hands in the downswing causing them to have a very slow and stiff release through impact. Imagine throwing a ball with a very stiff arm, wrist and hand, you would not be able to throw the ball very far. It would be a different story if everything was relaxed, the ball would travel a lot further through the air once released from your hand. So with this in mind; make some practise swings concentrating on hearing a whooshing noise as the club picks up speed through the impact area. You want to hear a long loud whoosh as the club passes through the impact area. I term it as the club is ‘freewheeling’ and the ball just gets in the way at impact. This will generate more power and distance for you.

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TIP #8 – RIGHT FOOT BACK AND TURNED OUTWARDS If you suffer with flexibility issues then this is a great drill for you. As we get older we tend to lose some flexibility in our bodies making it harder to create a decent full turn in the backswing, which unfortunately costs us power and distance. A great way to naturally create more body turn is to set up to the golf ball with the right leg set slightly behind the left leg (toe line aiming right of the target line) with the right foot turned outwards towards a 2 o’clock position. Keep the upper body parallel to the target line. This sets the right thigh and hip ‘open’ and the range of motion you will get towards creating a full body turn in the backswing is fully restored creating more power and distance in the golf swing.

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TIP #9 – STEP IN WITH THE LEFT FOOT DRILL This is a great drill for feeling the correct flow of weight transference to the left side during the downswing which will create power and distance. With a mid- iron set up to the ball as normal to establish a good grip and posture. From there step across with your left foot towards your right foot. You will now have a very narrow stance with the ball positioned outside your left foot.

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Make a smooth backswing and when you are just reaching the top of your backswing and sensing it’s time to start the downswing, firmly step your left foot across to the original starting point. This process is ideally going to happen just before completion of the backswing.

Now with the left foot firmly in place you will be able to fire your body through impact into a full follow through position. This is going to create power and distance.

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TIP #10 SET UP WITH THE RIGHT SPINE ANGLE It amazes me how many golfers set up with the spine angle in a totally wrongs position, especially with the driver. I can only assume that because the ball is further forward in the stance for the driver, they feel that there head and eyes are set too far behind the ball and therefore feel the need to set up to the ball with an incorrect spine tilt. With the incorrect spine tilt the shoulders can get too open at address causing an off plane golf swing which again is going to lose you distance and control. Both of these pictures show poor classic spine angle with the shoulders aiming too far left, with poor spine tilt towards the target leading to poor weight distribution at the set up.

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To set the correct spine tilt for the driver stand with the feet shoulder width apart holding the club up so it matches your spine and then take a small side bend away from the target.

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Bend from the waist and flex at the knees softly to set the correct posture angles, core and thighs engaged. You can now see that I am set behind the ball with my upper body, head and eyes and the shoulders are square to the target line and my weight 60 – 40 favouring my right side. A very powerful set up to create maximum distance.

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With the irons, hybrids and fairway woods minimal spine tilt is needed as we are looking for a steeper angle of attack.

Less spine tilt with naturally help create the slightly steeper angle of attack; remember we are looking to hit these clubs in particular with a descending blow. Far too many golfers try to sweep there fairway woods and hybrids leading to poor shots. Get the spine tilt correct and you will be on your way to much better golf.

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TIP #11 LEFT BELOW RIGHT FOR SWING WIDTH Swing radius width is vitally important if you want to maximise your distance potential. Collapsing the left arm at the top of the backswing will do you no favours at all. It leads to lack of power and very inconsistent ball striking.

A great way to practise keeping your swing width is to grip the golf club with the left hand below the right hand. Make some slow practise backswings keeping the left arm fully stretched out. This will give you the feeling needed in creating swing radius width which will most certainly create power and distance. After a few slow motion practise backswings; make your normal grip and slowly swing up to the top of your backswing creating the same feelings.

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TIP#12 – KEEP THE SWING ON PLANE This is an important subject if you want to maximise power and distance with accuracy. I could write lots about this but I will keep it very brief and to the point. A good downswing will see your hands travelling on a good plane with the shaft also travelling on a good plane. Your hands will travel down from the right shoulder down towards your navel and the butt of the club will be pointing down towards the target line. Use a mirror or a video camera to monitor these angles on the downswing as getting this right will lead to power, distance, accuracy and consistency.

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If your hand plane gets too far out in front of the ideal hand plane position the shaft can get too flat in the downswing. This will lead to a poor impact position with little power. The shaft can also get too upright if the hands fire out of plane and the same powerless impact condition will be created.

If the right shoulder gets too active in the early part of the downswing “firing up and over” will cause a very steep decent down towards the ball, again this causes lack of power, distance and accuracy.

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TIP #13 – SWING IN SEQUENCE To feel that you are using the wrists in the golf swing I want you to practise hitting some shots with your feet 10 inches apart and hit some shots off a tee peg. Place a tee peg in the butt of the club so when you reach the half way position in both backswing and forward swing the tee peg points at the ground. Keep this working in harmony with your body turn. You will create a freewheeling motion of the golf club as you do this drill which leads to increased clubhead speed and more power and distance.

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TIP #14 – KEEP THE LAG IN THE DOWNSWING This is a great way to practise holding the lag or angles in the downswing, far too many golfers spend this energy far too early in the downswing by losing the angles too quickly.

This drill is to hit some 7 irons off a low tee peg, position the ball in the middle of a slightly narrower than normal stance. Grip the club with just your right hand and position your right hand in its normal position on the grip. Your left arm can be placed behind your back. As you swing back your wrist will start to hinge and the elbow will start to fold as you swing up to the top of your backswing. As you make the downswing focus on releasing the angles gradually so as you accelerate with force into the golf ball and into a full finish. Remember do not hit at the ball as impact is a swing through movement not a stop at position.

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TIP # 15 – TEE IT UP AT THE CORRECT HEIGHT Many golfers get there tee heights mixed up especially if they have an over steep “over the top” downswing, they tend to tee the ball way to low and this causes an even steeper swing into the ball, especially noticeable with the driver. So the correct heights are as follows – Driver = Half to ¾ of the ball above the top edge of the clubface, this is because the swing with a driver needs to be an ascending blow and this can only be achieved from a shallower swing path into the ball.

Fairway Woods/Hybrids & Irons = Give yourself just a good fairway lie, in other words the ball is teed up very low as we need to be having a steeper angle of attack for the ball divot strike. This in effect squeezes the ball and traps it between the face of the club and turf creating a powerful strike.

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TIP #16 – DELIVER EVERYTHING ON TIME A lot of golfers who try to hit the ball harder will fire their right side far too early in the downswing. This image shows that my right foot has lifted far too early in the downswing as the knee has also fired to early, this encourages the spine to tilt to much away from the target which will lose you distance. Hanging back on the right side is also destructive as this will cause the hands to flip through impact losing you distance.

A good impact position would see the body slightly open to the target line with the right knee and club arriving together at impact, creating maximum force. When practising this drill use a mid-iron and tee the ball up, start with some soft half swings getting the feeling of everything being delivered together. After a short time you will be able to increase the swing length and speed keeping the feel of everything being delivered together at impact.

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You’ve Always Wanted To Play Better Golf.

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www.markwoodgolfacademy.co.uk

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