Glen's golf research

Glen's golf research
Glen Osborne

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Martial Arts in Your Golf Swing

I have taught a minimum of 5 lessons (on average) to about 400 people (mostly beginners). Three students had an unusual background that enabled them to hit a golf ball the farthest with the least effort.

  • One has a Black Belt 6th degree in Tae Kwondo.
  • Another has a Black Belt 3rd degree in Karate.
  • Still another had a few years of Boxing years ago.
Being able to use little effort to swing a golf club gives you a better chance to be accurate with your golf shots.

I would like you to comment (or pose questions) as to why these three people could show such dramatic results with easy swings.

Note: The 2 martial arts athletes were beginners to golf when I taught them.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Do you pull or hook your golf shot?

What is the difference between the pull and the hook?

My golf friends have offered various views to this question. This has left me more confused than ever. I am looking for more answers from world-wide golfers. You can comment below and I will also try to comment in return.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Kayaking is good for Golf

Yet another sport is called on to show movements that can be helpful to your golf swing.

A few years ago a lady golfer came for some lessons so she could golf with her husband. As I showed her my introductory exercises she said that they were similar to her movements for kayaking. She described her movements while demonstrating her paddling strokes. We used her paddling movements to build her golf swing.

There was a problem which got in the way of 2 of the lessons. She is ambi-dextrous. She did not know which way she should swing a golf club - left or right. I bring left and right hand clubs to my lessons. She tried swinging both ways. The result was more confusing than before. The solution turned out to be verrry unusual. Her putting, chipping, easy pitching shots were done from her right side. Here, she had gentle control of her movements which had great precision. Her full swings were done from her left side. Here, she could control her power movements.

Her kayaking experience prepared her for playing certain golf skills from either side of the ball. If you have kayaking experience, can you offer some thoughts or ideas how this might be possible?

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Golf & Volleyball - Any Similarities

Years ago I was a physical education teacher from Grades 1 to 9. I loved volleyball. I loved teaching it to Grades 4 to 9. Whoops! This is blog about golf! What has volleyball got to do with trying to hit a golf ball?

There is a critical skill in volleyball that a golfer can relate to. I would like some comments from those of you who played volleyball. Do you know the skill I am referring to? Can you offer some comments about the connection to golf? I will comment as well to help you get a better understanding of this concept. At some time in the future I will tell you my idea of how the two sports have a significant connection.