Hi everyone, 

First things first - we have a new Facebook page! You'll find lots of additional information and we'll be posting regular results including 2s sweep winners. You'll also be the first to hear about special offers and new products. Just click on the link above the go through to the page - oh, and don't forget to 'like' it!


 

Today is the launch today of Nike's new Vapor Fly range of clubs - click the link to view. We have both Vapor Fly heads and Vapor Fly Pro heads in the driver to demonstrate and fit as well as fairways and hybrids in stock. As I've already said, this is the best range, in my opinion, that Nike have had for some time. I have now been able to test both heads and I can now confirm exactly what I thought:

• Vapor Fly - This head gives a higher launch with a very similar spin rate to the Vapor Pro - a big improvement to last year's Speed head. That gave me more carry from the same speed even though I had it set one degree lower at 9.5! I can only try to tell you how much more confidence that gave me and I am certain it will show you similar results.
• Vapor Pro - The Pro head will be ideal for the hard-hitting lower handicaps out there. It looks beautiful and gives a lower boring flight so it is definitely for you if that suits.

We also have the best new iron that Nike have offered for a long time coming. The Vapor Fly Pro iron incorporates variable face thickness technology which gives you the maximum ball speed even with off-centre hits. The black finish with Vapor Fly photo blue highlights give a very distinctive look - maybe not for all but I personally have been using raw wedges that turn darker for many years, and you might also have seen Rickie Fowler with his new Cobra set in black as well. So the colour is not unusual and I'm pretty certain you won't mind it when you see them and, more importantly, try them!

We also have the new range of RZN balls from Nike which are much softer than previous examples. Testing with them proves they are perform fantastically so bear them in mind. We are very competitive again with a sleeve of the top ball in Platinum or Black at just £9.50!

This is the perfect time to be looking at new clubs so as we also have the new PING G series coming which we can custom fit you for - read more on this driver in my article below. Now is the moment to book a fitting with us on the SkyTrak system. Incidentally, I was able to compare the SkyTrak system next to TrackMan a few days ago and the results and readings were almost identical!


 

Don't ever accuse me of not being honest

I have to own up to breaking my own rules that I have been talking to you about in my last few newsletters. The last two Sundays have seen Captain/Pro matches take place. I shot two-under-par in the first and four-over-par in the second, which we won thanks to our Captain playing extremely well. The scores are secondary as I'm more concerned with how I played. Two-under-par sounds good but in all honesty if I go through the round (I am one of those who can remember every shot from previous rounds - some from years ago!), I hardly hit a well struck shot all day! As those who've played with me know, I tend to be very straight even if I mis-hit shots and I then get out of trouble with a very good short game.

So why was that?

Well, what have I been saying to you all? I was basically pre-occupied with my backswing and, I think, it has spoiled my timing for quite a while. Again, the premise is that no matter how you swing the club you will hit the ball well if your rhythm and timing is good. If you are working on a movement then it cannot be at the expense of this, and I believe that is what I had allowed to happen.

How do I know?

Earlier this week, in a small gale, I did two hours' practice concentrating on my backswing as usual but with the SkyTrak system giving me feedback with ball speeds, launch angles and spin rates. They weren't good! I got pretty frustrated, especially with my driver stats. At one point my launch angle was down to 9 degrees and as I was using a 10.5 degree loft that underlines an issue - I had to be ahead of the club to de-loft it and steepen my attack angle. So it dawned on me that I was starting down too early. In short, I'd lost the timing of my swing - think of a pendulum where the backswing would come to a natural stop before starting down.

Interestingly, Butch Harmon used to make a young Tiger Woods stop at the top of his backswing for a second before starting his downswing as he had a tendency to rush things. Watch him swing the club from the last few years and compare it to 2000 and you can see that he hasn't practised this for a long time!

So I started again, thinking of the pendulum and feeling like I was waiting for my backswing to finish before hitting down. Instant change! Firstly, I started striking the ball better; secondly the flight was different and the spin rates said why. They had increased with my shorter clubs so the flight was higher and carry had increased. But the driver was the big one. Launch angle up to 13 degrees, ball speed up on average by 6 mph and carry up by 15 yards - and I'm pretty certain that although I was trying to use my new thoughts my backswing would not have been perfect!

All this actually proves is that timing is everything. You can have perfect lines and positions but if you miss-time your strike you can still hit the ball badly, hence why great players still hit bad shots! Start practise sessions by thinking of a pendulum and get that lovely 'released' feeling going before worrying about other issues. When you play you need to concentrate on that especially. The other work will undoubtedly help to make you even more reliable and possibly change your shot shape and flight but none of that matters if you're not hitting it well.

I will report back next week with how my game goes this weekend. Remember, if you want some help with your own game this is the sort of thing we can do so come and see myself or Simon. Get in touch here.


 

Around this time of year, with just a few months to go until The Masters (I'm literally counting the seconds!), we start to take note of who is playing well on Tour. And you can't really miss the fact that Rickie Fowler has started the year tremendously well. Yes he lost in a play-off last weekend but it's very clear he's in great form having won just a few weeks ago as well. Rory McIlroy finished decently and that was seemingly in only first gear while Danny Willett seems to be becoming an extremely good player and one to watch this year. We will, as usual, be running a sweepstake for The Masters so watch this space!