Insight from John Hughes on Backswing.com:
Drag and Release
Posted on: 10 Apr 2024
Release of the club is after you hit the golf ball, not before. If you release the club before, yes, you will scoop or flip the shot, causing bad shots to happen. Feeling the proper release is key to your improvement. You can definitely feel a proper release with my drag and release drill.
Set Up to Extend
Posted on: 22 Mar 2024
Most “Chicken Wings” are caused by 2 main reasons. The first is a closed alignment to the target, forcing your front arm to collapse before, during, and impact to get the club and its face redirected to your target. The second reason is your in ability to feel your arms “extend” through and past the […]
Find the Center of Your Club Face
Posted on: 08 Dec 2023
Winter indoors is a perfect time to find the center of your club face. While working indoors, work, half-swings to groove a rhythm and tempo that allows the ball to hit the center of the face. As well as learn to square the face more consistently with less effort. A great way to do this […]
Know Your Carry Distances
Posted on: 10 Jul 2023
The single biggest mistake ALL golfers make is using the wrong club for a yardage. Statistical data supports this claim, of you making a club selection that almost guarantees you come up short of your intended target. One of the reasons why you do this is you don’t know the “Carry” distance of each of […]
The Difference between Aim and Alignment
Posted on: 17 Jun 2023
There are several things most amateur golfers do when aiming and aligning that create a situation where they are not aimed from “Point A” to “Point B”. They create a “Point C”, causing inconsistency within their entire set up and in turn, continual compensation within their swings. This is all caused by their failure to […]
Hitch Hike Your Way to a Better Swing Plane
Posted on: 12 May 2023
Your wrists in the golf swing work the best when you’re grip is correct. But if you have a great grip, now what do you do? Hitch hike to the top and down for a better plane and impact position. Hope you enjoy this video from 2015 that shows you how to make that happen.
Hitch Hike Your Way to a Better Swing Plane
Posted on: 03 May 2023
If you swing the club steeply on the way down to the golf ball, chances are your thumbs are pointing straight to the sky. Try my “Hitch Hiking Drill”, which focuses on pointing your thumbs at the top of your swing, behind you. As if you’re hitch hiking your way to a better swing plane.
Are You Warming Up?
Posted on: 03 May 2023
I’m willing to bet you think the swings you make before going out to play is practice. WRONG! It’s very simple. Warm up is what you do before you play. Practicing is time spent working on your game when you do not plan to play golf. Check out the video to learn more.
Ball Position Does Influence Ball Flight
Posted on: 06 Apr 2023
Ball position. It does influence how the ball flies. And it’s critical for you to understand how it does if you plan to become a better golfer. Ball position directly effects trajectory, spin, height, and how long the shot will travel. Not to mention the curvature of the shot. This video about ball position shows […]
Imagine Windows
Posted on: 14 Feb 2023
There are 2 “Windows” of trajectory you should imagine as you determine and envision what shot to hit. In all conditions! But you have to start controlling trajectory if you want to sustain your ability to post low scores. Within the video, you’ll see my trajectory ladder, featured within the September/October 2022 edition of Golf […]
Simple and Fits in Your Golf Bag
Posted on: 16 Jan 2023
I’m an absolute believer that a swing aid must be simple to use and fit in your golf bag. If it is not, the odds of your continued use of that swing aid is slim to not at all. Swing aids must also be versatile. Meaning, you can use the aid for more than just […]
Count to 2
Posted on: 09 Dec 2022
Getting the eyes over the ball is one thing. Keeping them there is another. Moving your eyes as you putt, and in turn your head, can later the path and face of the putter at impact. Causing errant putts. The count to 2 drill is easy to execute and remember.
FlightScope Mevo+
Posted on: 28 Nov 2022
The absolute best launch monitor any amateur can purchase! Doubles as a simulator. And easy to use on the golf course. My academy features Mevo+ for its academy members, allowing them to use Mevo+ during practice sessions. And as accurate as my FlightScope X3. Watch my good friend, Alex Trujillo demonstrate its capabilities!
Hit the Tee!
Posted on: 26 Aug 2022
When you focus upon an object in front of the golf ball, you’re more likely to make a divot in front of the ball. Why? Because you swung through the ball, not at it. To avoid making your divots behind the ball, think of hitting a tee directly in front of the golf ball. As […]
Throw the Bag
Posted on: 29 Apr 2022
Most golfers have a hard time finishing their swing because they’re too worried about hitting the ball and not concerned about getting through the ball. Teach your body first, your swing second, what a full turn is all about. The “throw the Bag” drill is a simple way to teach your body first. Hope you […]
Bump and Run to Make the Shot
Posted on: 11 Apr 2022
The bump and run chip shot should be your “go to” shot when you’re around the green and can’t putt the ball. And it is a very make-able shot if you set up correctly and pick a landing area that allows the ball to release to the hole. Check out this video from 2019 where […]
Learn to Throw
Posted on: 01 Apr 2022
A golf swing is no different than throwing a ball. Rotation and transfer of your weight from your back foot to your forward foot is what make the ball go. And it works for the golf swing too. Within this video I published 3 years ago, I use an impact bag as a weighted ball, […]
Set Up Adjustments to Shape Your Shots
Posted on: 02 Feb 2022
Most amateurs have a hard enough time making the same swing twice. So why ask yourself to change your swing to shape a shot? With driver, you can shape your shot by adjusting your tee height. Check out this video about how a lower tee height can create a fade and a higher tee height […]
A Small Task that Makes a Huge Difference
Posted on: 29 Jan 2022
Clean grooves make huge differences in every aspect of iron ball striking. Trajectory and dispersion are two big items effected by dirty grooves. But the most influenced aspect of iron ball striking effected by dirty grooves is spin. And without being able to control the spin of your iron shots, your dead meat trying to […]
Aim the Putter to Where You're Starting Your Putt
Posted on: 03 Sep 2021
Aligning is the process after you aim the golf club’s leading edge. Most golfers get aim and alignment confused. You must aim the golf club first. Then align yourself to how the golf club is aimed. The same applies to putting. The difference between putting and all other shots is putting you’re rolling the ball. […]
Yes and No
Posted on: 16 Aug 2021
You are just one golfer, with one swing. And believe it or not, your swing repeats. Now think about this. How many items are you trying to remember when you make a swing? If you’re like most amateur golfers, you have too many thoughts as you swing. So why would you want to produce a […]
Priority #1
Posted on: 07 Jul 2021
Without good alignment to your target, you can not expect to play great golf. Golf’s a target game, requiring your aim, then alignment, is spot on each and every shot. To align properly, you must understand that you have to aim something first. That something is the leading edge of your golf club. No matter […]
Golf's a Target Game
Posted on: 12 Apr 2021
The biggest issue I am asking most all my clients to work on and make as perfect as possible is their aim and alignment to their intended target. With all shots! Golf is a game of targets. And if you’re not aimed properly to your target, you significantly reduce your ability to hit your target. […]
Look to the Top 10
Posted on: 06 Apr 2021
Any one in the field could win this year’s Masters Tournament. But look to the Top 10 ranked in the world as your favorites. Because of either personal or professional connections, I’ll be hoping either Bryson DeChambeau or Colin Morikawa dawns the Green Jacket Sunday evening as either wins their 2nd major. Justin Thomas and […]
Rubber Bands and Yard Sticks
Posted on: 05 Feb 2021
Being able to control the face of the putter through impact is priority #1. This enables you to hit the sweet spot of your putter consistently with a consistent face position that allows the ball to start on and stay on the start line of any putt. Use rubber bands to highlight the sweet spot […]
Relax
Posted on: 27 Jan 2021
Fairway Bunker Shots can be intimidating at first glance. Especially if you’re facing a high front lip of the bunker between you and your intended target. The best thing to do before even thinking about what you’re going to do is take a deep breath and relax. This is not as difficult a shot as […]
Alignment Sticks
Posted on: 09 Dec 2020
No better and more versatile swing aid you can purchase than alignment sticks. But using them properly is the key. Here are 2 of my earlier videos I created to assist you with using Alignment Sticks properly.
NOW!
Posted on: 28 Oct 2020
I’ve been fitting golf clubs for over 25 years. My experience has shown that anytime you are investing in 1 club, or a set of clubs, it’s absolutely in your best interest to be fit for the club your purchasing. Hey, I get it, fitting is more time and possibly more investment into just 1 […]
What's in Front of Your Golf Ball?
Posted on: 08 Oct 2020
All too often higher handicap golfers are overly consumed with actually making contact with the golf ball. This interferes with your natural ability to strike the ball with speed at the correct attack angle. Unlike other sports where you are “reacting” to the moving object, golf forces you to “act’ on a stationary object. What […]
The Go To Shot
Posted on: 05 Oct 2020
Learn to hit a chip shot and you can hit any shot, any where! You can hit chip shots from the fairway, the rough, around the green, under trees, over bunkers, and the list goes on. Chip shots can also be hit with almost any club in the bag, making it that much more versatile.
Simple - Stroke a Great 1st Putt
Posted on: 20 Aug 2020
All 3-putts, ALL, are created by a poor first putt. In 99% of the cases of a first putt being poor is directly related to controlling the distance a putt travels. Want to avoid 3 putting, learn to control your distances! Contact me directly to learn how you can eliminate 3-putting.
Prepared
Posted on: 15 May 2020
Being prepared is the best and easiest way to calm your nerves so you feel good about your first swing of the day. Having a little bit of nerves is a good thing; it means you care and you’re wanting to play well. But being too nervous or having no nervousness at all is a […]
Adapt and Evolve
Posted on: 10 Apr 2020
Any business or personal plan must be able to adapt and evolve with the changing circumstances that surround you. Golf presents the same, changing circumstances with each round, with each shot. Knowing that I wanted to reduce the actual time I spend on the tee or on the course coaching, I began a new program […]
The Alignment Stick
Posted on: 16 Jul 2019
The most versatile and under appreciated swing aid any golfer can implement is the alignment stick. It fits in the bag easily, its lightweight, and can assist with more than just your alignment. There are probably over 100 uses for the alignment stick, other than laying on the ground. Using your creativity, the alignment stick […]