Tournament number two of the Fedex Cup Playoff kicked off today in Norton, Massachusetts at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Tiger Woods tries to defend his title at the Deutsche Bank Championship after skipping last weekend’s Barclay’s. So far Tiger is 1+over par after 10 holes. Tiger’s playing partners today are none other than Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. Mike Weir and Ryan Moore are both atop the leader board at 6-under par 65, although Camilo Villegas is also at -6 through 14 holes. Steve Stricker has continued his consistent play with a 4-under par 67.

Elsewhere, there is the LPGA Statefarm Classic in Springfield, Illinois. Sherri Steinhauer is leading on the second round of play with a 9-under par through the first 9 holes. She has a multitude of golfers shortly behind her with 5 golfers at -6, including Annika Sorenstam, and 8 golfers tied at -5.

Finally, the senior’s Champions Tour Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach has just gotten under way with Morris Hatalsky shooting a 7-under par 65 to lead by two strokes.

Check back for more updates.

The following is an article that professional golf instructor Rick Bradshaw of the Jim Dent and Rick Bradshaw school of Golf recently wrote:

THE SECRET TO EFFORTLESS POWER IS SPIN/TWIST

From Rick Bradshaws’ DVD – Formula to a Tour Swing/The Centrifugal Golf swing.
By Rick Bradshaw, Director of Instruction- Dent/Bradshaw School of Golf, at Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club, Tampa, Florida.
2004/2006 PGA North Florida Section Teacher of the Year

Over the years I’ve always been amazed how thin little girls could drive the ball almost as far as men. What is the root to effortless power and tremendous club head velocity It must not be the muscular arms and upper body because certainly Michelle Wie lacks that, yet drives the ball close to 300 yards with her tall elastic frame.

I like to refer to my favorite golf book On Learning Golf, old teaching mentor Percy Boomer and his chapter As a Dancer Sees It. This instruction was based on Percy teaching a well known dance instructress. During this lesson Percy’s pupil said that she visualized the golf swing as an upright pillar with a number of circles around it. Boomer stated that the pillar represented activity. He meant that the body during the swing should spin like a drill into the ground or a tornado twisting with great velocity. The dancer was concerned that the circles around the pillar were active and she wanted them passive. Boomer was trying to suggest that the hands, arms and shoulders want to act or interfere with the spinning centripetal force of the body instead of reacting to it. It is this inner spinning force that ensures that the respective outer force will swing the club head into the back of the golf ball repetitively striking it on the center of the club face. Ultimately long shots are a result when you make center face contact of the club head against the ball with greater club head velocity. YOU CAN DEFINITELY PRODUCE GREATER CLUB HEAD SPEED FROM THIS CENTRIFUGE ACTION, rather than trying to force the club head at the ball relying solely on hand eye coordination and upper body strength. Maybe, if you are a Fencing Gold Medalist or Zorro, but physics is the more efficient means of striking a golf ball. .To achieve enhanced spinning stand taller and more upright at address. This will suggest a drawing of your arms together and raise your wrists as you now have to stretch down to the golf ball. This full stretch feeling down to the ball will pull you arms together and connect or link your upper body to the power of the torso and hips twisting.

In an earlier chapter I recall Percy teaching a lady that was slightly overweight. Quoting Percy “I took up a wooden tee between my thumb and fore finger and spun it around and told her: this is golf power in its simplest and purest form.” She responded, “You don’t expect a stout old lady like me to spin do you?” He stated “Why not, you do on the dance floor.” I told her that a friend of mine once told me that the lightest partner he ever danced with was a lady that weighed over 200 pounds. From the quizzical way that she looked at me I knew I had scored a point. I held up the tee again and said to her. IF YOU TURN ON THE PIVOT YOU WILL PLAY GREAT GOLF BUT SO LONG AS YOU SLIDE YOU ARE DOOMED!

Power is definitely produced through a centrifuge, type motion or spinning of the torso while your feet remain fixed to the ground. Trying to power the ball by use of the hands, arms and shoulders alone without a turn on the backswing and twist on the through swing of the torso results in a serious loss of energy and clubhead speed. The hands do of course play an integral part in the transmitting of speed out to the club head. But they are prominently transmitters not generators of power.

A drill to help you feel and imagine the twist would be The Centrifuge Drill: Assume an address position with no club. Rest your triceps on your chest then twist your body back then re-twist through violently. Feel the blood rush out to your finger tips. Be aware of what muscles produce this twist. If you feel your feet, calves, thighs, hips and body generating this force you have performed the drill correctly. Another more subtle drill to keep your arms down and less active is standing at attention with your arms down at your side and just turn from your hips. Imagine you are turning in a torpedo tube. It is this pirouette type twist which will sling the club up and around on both sides of the swing. This, I assure you, is not a new twist on power but is the secret to effortless velocity in the golf swing. THIS IS WHY BOOMER QUOTED TURNING IN A BARREL AS A GREAT MINDS IMAGE FOR YOUR SWING!

My favorite quote for power and consistency is “FOR THE TOP NOTCHER MAY FEEL HIS BODY AS A STEEL BAR TURNING BETWEEN HIS TWO FEET, WITH ALL THE TIME THE BONES OF HIS BIG TOES OPPOSING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CLUBHEAD-THE EXTREMES OF THE SWING”

THE TAKEAWAY OR CARRY BACK AS PERCY BOOMER CALLED IT IS THE GOLF SWING IN EMBRYO.
The feet and legs have an extremely important role in initiating power. As you address the ball, standing more upright with a slight bend from the waist, stretch your arms down to the ball. This full stretch of your arms, will pull your upper arms together taut, forming a triangle. Be aware that the force of the club head pulling when you swing will pull on your arms raising your wrists into a fairly straight line from your body’s swing center out to the club head because your hands and arms are attached to you shoulders. The club shaft plane will point up through your stomach just above your belt. It is imperative that you establish your taut, full stretch, connected feel of impact at address. This will not only suggest the impact feeling, but ensure you initiate the take away with a pivot or turn because your arms are pulled together. Your knees must maintain a slight flex at address as well as into the loading of your back swing. Do not straighten your right knee as you turn back! DO NOT PICK OR TAKE THE CLUB AWAY WITH THE HANDS LEAVING YOUR BODY BEHIND!

The take away is initiated from the ground up as a turn into the resistance of your right foot, flexed right knee, leg (calf and thigh), and hip. If you keep the right knee flexed you will not sway. This turn or twist feeling and technique, initiated delicately from your left foot into this right foot resistance, will transfer your weight enough to load energy to maximum efficiency. The efficiency is to create enough centripetal force (A rotating force that keeps an object turning in a circle) to act upon the club head being taken back. This turn back is slow and concise. It is a twist back of your thighs and hips into your right foot. The moment your body weight hits the resistance of your right foot energy starts to move up your legs into your torso. Picture your self as an architect’s compass that draws circles. Your legs are the sharp end that stabilizes the compass and your arms and golf club represent the pencil end that draws arcs. The top of the compass that you use to twist is your force center. The force center is the part of your body that the pulling force turns out through your arms to the club head.

THE FORCE CENTER IS LOCATED AT THE POINT IN YOUR BODY WHERE THE UPWARD FLOW OF FORCE ENDS AND OUTWARD FORCE BEGINS. Percy boomer stated that it was located somewhere in the pit of your back. To feel this yourself try the centrifuge drill again, turning and twisting, or spinning, and see if you can locate in your torso where the flow of power stops flowing up and starts moving out of your shoulders arms and hands. F=MV2/R is the formula to centripetal force. The tighter you spin the inner circle or force, the faster, more constant and on arc the responding outer circle. IT’S LAW!
POSTURE- An opposing force in the golf swing Posture is the position the body assumes in its endeavor to create an inner force through rotation opposing an outer force.
CENTERED ON WRIST ACTION.
WHEN AND HOW DO THE WRISTS, HANDS AND FINGERS ACT OR REACT DURING THE GOLF SWING!

Percy Boomer stated that the parts of the body above the waist must remain passive in the swing. Boomers definition of passive was “TO ABSTAIN FROM ACTING WHEN THEY MIGHT ACT”. This suggests that the upper half of your body must do nothing as you swing but in deeper analysis of Boomers goals he wanted a reaction not an action. Boomer also stated that passive meant to pass along the power or flow of force created by the pivot. If you grip the club in the fingers lightly so you can feel the weight of the club head the pressure is correct. As you initiate the golf swing buy a pivot, turn or twist from the feet, thighs and hips, your club will be carried back low. Your body turn back will end soon as you hit the resistance of your right foot and flexed right knee, and hip. This is called a hip brace and is responsible for the clubs momentum acting upon your wrists as long as your arms are still connected and resting on your chest. The momentum of the club head then takes over and swings up on the backswing resting against your hands, most notably your index finger of your right hand and back three fingers of your left. There should be virtually no slack at the top of the back swing with potential energy stored ready for its release out to the club head. As you twist your torso back through to the target unleashing tremendous velocity and energy into kinetic energy allow the club to free wheel with no thought of hitting at the golf ball. Just maintain the arms full stretch feeling you felt at address and hope Isaac Newton was right. Your thought and slogan as Boomers was turn on the back swing and the twist through impact. Think Turn and Twist, while keeping your arms braced, straight and wide against the sides of your chest throughout the swing to maintain a wide constant swing arch while creating power from spin like a centrifuge.

For more information on golf schools and lessons contact Rick Bradshaw 220-8099 or www.tourexperience.com.

1

Originally uploaded by spencebuck

As many of you know, golf schools and academies have popped up across the United States. Florida has become a hub for many of the top name golf schools. Recently, Rick Bradshaw of the World Famous Jim Dent and Rick Bradshaw School of Golf in Florida answered a few questions for Skinnymoose (Rick Bradshaw in the middle, with one of his students, Tim Petrovic, on his left and Jerry foltz on the right on the set of Academy live golf channel).

Rick Bradshaw has been a professional golf instructor since 1979. He was selected by the awards committee for the 2006 National PGA Teacher of the Year and has been ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the top golf instructors in Florida from 2005-2007. You can check out more about the Jim Dent and Rick Bradshaw School of Golf at http://www.tourexperience.com/. Come back tomorrow to read an article Rick recently wrote called “THE SECRET TO EFFORTLESS POWER IS SPIN/TWIST”

I want to begin by thanking Rick for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions.

1-Rick, why did you decided to get into teaching golf rather than playing professionally?

In 1979 I had a chance to open a computerized high tech golf school in West Chester County N.Y. I felt this was an opportunity to truly study and research the golf swing to not only help golfers but give myself the understanding of the golf swing that might propel me into playing the tour. My plan kind of back fired on me as I became very successful at teaching the golf swing to all level golfers and my lesson book filled to the extent of 70 lessons a week. The more people I helped and the notoriety I achieved through television, writing articles and pouring my full emotions into teaching and discovering the true secrets to an efficient and effective golf swing, the less time I had to compete and practice. Becoming a tour professional requires great commitment almost selfish desire to be the best at every aspect of golf. I chose through time to become the best I could be at communicating and teaching the fundamentals and techniques of the golf swing.

2-What’s the allure to you of teaching golf?

The allure of teaching golf is to get an individual to swing a golf club with virtually no effort yet strike the ball with great club head velocity. Teaching someone to achieve and apply the secrets I have discovered about learning the golf swing in virtually one lesson gives me a feeling of an artist creating a sculpture or magician performing a unbelievable trick.

3-What’s a normal day for you? Do you teach golf for a couple hours and then hit the links for the rest of the day?

A normal day for me is teaching golf from 9 am until dark with no lunch, 6 days a week for the last 20 years.

4-How is going to the Jim Dent and Rick Bradshaw School of Golf different from going to your local driving range and getting lessons?

Going to the Jim Dent/Rick Bradshaw School of Golf guarantees you learning the true secrets to effortless power in the golf swing. Participants will receive instruction from Rick Bradshaw, 2 time section PGA Teacher of the Year, first hand not assistants. The true physics and forces responsible for the club head swinging into the ball striking it square in the center of the club face with tremendous velocity will be revealed. Few golf schools or teachers understand the forces involved in the golf swing. The fact that I drive the ball over 300 yards with only one hand on the club is proof of how to create great club head velocity with minimal effort or work being performed. Examine laws of circular motion and apply them to the golf swing and body and the swing very easy to understand and perform.

5-What’s involved in the process of someone enrolling at your school of golf?

Visit my web site at Tourexperience.com and send me an email. I am more than happy to speak with people who want to learn the golf swing.

6- What is the most challenging aspect of golf?

Probably keeping it simple. Knowing the important things to focus on and eliminate the many unimportant thoughts. Once you understand the true secrets to achieving the swing you can begin to perfect. Getting the correct information on how the swing works and is learned is paramount to success. Skill, strength, and talent are very much secondary. Anyone can definitely be successful at golf.

7- What advice would you give to people who are just getting started in golf?

Please study laws of circular motion, read Percy Boomers’ golf Book “On Learning Golf’. Find a teacher that keeps it simple, fun, and cares about your success.

8-Could you comment on your thoughts of the recent headlines of steroids being in professional golf?

The interesting thing about the golf swing is to be successful you need lightness and quickness to transmit velocity from the body to the golf club, not big muscles or bulk. Slight of hand and dexterity is a plus and feel of the club head as well. I don’t see any benefit that steroids could give to a professional golfer. Power is generated through a pivot, not a forced hitting motion. Like a figure skater performing a pirouette. The great golfers in the past have lengthy and quick muscles. Steroids if used by golf professionals could prove more of a detriment than advantage.

Steve Stricker picked a good tournament to capture his first win in 6 years, winning the first tournament of the Fedex Cup series: The Barclays. At times it looked as though Rory Sabbatini or especially K.J. Choi were going to come away with the title, but Stricker reeled off three consecutive birdies on the last 3 holes to come away with a two stroke victory over K.J. Choi at a 16-under par 268. Rory Sabbatini finished third behind Stricker and Choi at 13-under par.

Steve Stricker was an up and coming golfer several years ago, until his play slowly began to plummet, with Stricker eventually losing his PGA card two years ago. Stricker had several opportunities to win this year, including a solid round in the British Open to put him into contention but was yet to win an event until today.

The Barclays began with a disappointment for many when Tiger Woods decided to skip the tournament to rest his body, but ended with several players battling for the title and a storybook finish for Steve Stricker.

Check back later for current Fedex Cup Rankings.

The Tiger-less Barclays, which is the first tournament of the Fedex Cup has concluded it’s third round of action. Steve Stricker has followed up a solid performance in the British Open with his first place 14-under par at the Barclays. Stricker started out the day in third place, but shot an impressive 6-under par 65 to take a one shot lead. K.J. Choi began the day in first, but had a couple bogeys on the back nine to finish with a 1-under 70 and one stroke behind Stricker. The biggest surprise is surging golfer Hunter Mahan, who shot a bogey free round in route to a 9-under par 62 to jump from 31st place to tied for third. He is tied for third with Rich Beem at 12-under par.

Keep an eye out for K.J. Choi and Rory Sabbatini. Choi and Sabbatini are ranked 5th and 6th respectively in the Fedex Cup Rankings. Both players are near the top of the leaderboard, Choi is in second and Sabbatini tied for fifth.

The PGA introduced the Fedex Cup this year as a year long points race culminating at the end of the year, in hopes of bringing more interest to golf at the end of the season after the majors have concluded. They’ll have their first opportunity to judge it’s success this weekend with the first of four tournaments that lead up to crowning a winner. The Barclays at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, NY kicks off on Thursday as Vijay Singh tries to defend his title there, as well as tries to gain ground on Tiger Woods on the Money List. Vijay is currently second on the Money List.

Elsewhere, the LPGA tour will be heading to Portland, Oregon for the Safeway Classic. Pat Hurst is the defending champion. And the Champion’s Tour will be heading to Seattle for the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic. Check back over the weekend for updates.

Sony Open Hawaii 2007

Originally uploaded by 808Talk

The opening tournament of the PGA Fedex Cup will be opening up this weekend without it’s feature attraction: Tiger Woods. Tiger announced that he’ll miss the opening tournament of the Fedex Cup at The Barclays this weekend. After winning back to back tournaments, Tiger said that his body needs rest.

The Fedex Cup was introduced in the last year by the PGA as a points race throughout the season that concludes at the end of the season with 4 tournaments. The first begins this weekend at The Barclays Classic and concludes with the Tour Championship. Only the top 30 on the points list advance to the Tour Championship, with the points winner going home with a $10 million bonus.

Tiger’s abscence from this weekend’s tournament will be a disappointment to many, especially advocates of the Fedex Cup who were hoping that it would draw more interest to the end of the PGA season with the majors having concluded. Tiger will now have a much harder task ahead of him in order to win the Fedex Cup.

With or without Tiger, it should be interesting to see the response and outcome to the inaugural Fedex Cup.

With the PGA Championship concluding last Sunday, there wasn’t quite as much excitement this weekend, yet there was still much golf being played. For the PGA Tour, we head over to Greensboro, North Carolina for the Wyndham Championship where scores were extremely low. Rookie 26-year-old Brandt Snedeke won the tournament, coming from behind to win by two strokes with a 22-under par 266 for the tournament. He put in an impressive 9-under 63 for the final round. He was followed closely by Jeff Overton, Tim Petrovic, and Billy Mayfair, who had started the day at first place (Overton) and tied for second (Petrovic and Mayfair). They all finished at 20-under par.

At the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open, Lorena Ochoa followed up her solid victory at the British Open with her 5th win of the season. Ochoa shot well enough on Sunday with a 2-under 69 to give her a 3 shot victory over Paula Creamer. Ochoa finished with a 16-under par.

Finally on the Champions Tour, Mark McNulty easily won his first major at The Tradition, despite finishing the 18th with a double bogey. McNulty finished with a 16-under 272, winning by 5 strokes over David Edwards.

It is no surprise that Tiger Woods has entered his 456th week at number one in the World Golf Rankings at 22.10. Tiger significantly added to his total points after winning the PGA Championship this past weekend, by gaining 529.23 points. Jim Furyk is quite a distance behind Tiger at 8.69. Furyk has struggled to gain points the last couple weeks after a back injury caused him to withdraw from the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and miss the cut of the PGA Championship. Phil Mickelson is close behind Furyk at 8.44.

The World Golf Rankings are issued every week. Point are issue based on what place the golfer finishes a tournament and the strength of the field. It could be comparable to college football’s BCS. The four majors of course allocate higher point because of the status of the tournament. For more information or current standings you can visit the World Golf Ranking website.

Of course after winning the PGA Championship, Tiger also increased his lead on the money list. Tiger is now at $7,824,385. Vijay Singh is second at $4,467,416. Vijay has played in 23 tournaments compared to Tiger’s 13. Coming in at third is Phil Mickelson at $4,199,838. For the full money list, go to the PGA’s website.

Going into the final major this weekend at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa Oklahoma. He was coming off the WGC Bridgestone Invitational where he destroyed the field on the final day. As the PGA Championship moved forward, things just seemed to keep going Tiger’s way. Tiger was leading by the end of Round 2. Tiger all-time is 7-0 when leading after 36 holes. Tiger had increased his lead by one stroke after round 3. Tiger all-time is 12-0 when leading after 54 holes. Well you can now add another notch to Tiger’s belt as he shot a 1-under par 69 to win the PGA Championship by 2 strokes. Tiger just had to fend off those who were close behind to win another major.

Tiger finished the tournament with an 8-under par 272. Playing partner Stephen Ames never had a chance today, shooting a 6+over par 76. It seemed that Woody Austin had the best chance to compete with Tiger, and shot an impressive round at 3-under par 67. Yet neither his or Ernie Els solid 4-under par were enough to beat Tiger.

Tiger is in form now, after winning 2 tournaments in a row. By the way, last year at this time Tiger was also in form, having won 2 tournaments in a row in route to winning 7 tournaments in a row to finish the season.