EQUIPMENT REVIEW – ORLIMAR GOLF

As a golf professional I have had the pleasure of playing (and/or hitting) just about every brand of club that’s ever come down the pike over the past 20 + years. Like a kid in a candy store some you really like and want more of and others are just ahh…..

Orlimar, although not the first name that comes to mind when contemplating new clubs has re-entered the market with some great offerings across the board; from irons to woods to balls with something for everyone regardless of your skill level.

•        Tour 2 Irons: Great looking set of irons! Forged, with a traditional look that better players want. Thin top line, uncluttered and classic. Performance is outstanding with a feel as good as anything on the market today!

•        OMax Driver: Has an adjustable loft, lie and face angle to meet the needs of any golfer. Comes standard with a True Temper Project X shaft in both 9.5* and 10.5* lofts. This driver is a pleasure to hit! Nice sound off the face, great feel and a very responsive Project X shaft. It’s a gamer!

•        Tour Groove Wedges:  Comes in traditional lofts of 52 /8 bounce; 56/12 bounce, 60/6 bounce. With standard True Temper Dynamic Golf shafts. These clubs provide pin point accuracy like throwing darts at a dart board. Solid spin off the face and very responsive to a variety of shots around the green!

•        Golf Ball – 318UC: The only ball Orlimar currently produces but is certainly well worth a look. It’s a 3 piece ball designed to provide optimal spin without compromising distance. As a long time player of both Srixon and Titleist I would like to see this ball tested side by side with both as I believe it would measure up nicely!

•        Tad Moore TadPole Putter: Mallet putter, center shafted with a T shaped aluminum head. Nice feel with ball coming off the face both smooth and true. If you use a mallet putter and/or like center shafted styles give this one a look!

Orlimar has both caught my attention and gained my trust as a viable player in the world of golf equipment that is dominated heavily by a few.

If you’re not one of the millions sucked in by name to keep up with the Jones’s give Orlimar a look, better yet get one in your hands, let the clubs do the talking or should I say selling. For more on the entire line of Orlimar products visit http://orlimar.com

Have a golf product you’d like reviewed, contact VJF Golf and we’d be happy to provide an honest and unbiased review of your product. We can even field test your product at our Golf Academy should you so desire. For further info or to contact us visit our website @ vjfgolf.yolasite.com

Blog written by Vince Fratercangelo-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Tigers Return…With or Without a Drummer?

The latest buzz over the last couple of days regarding Tiger Woods has been two fold; His return to golf in December for the Hero World Challenge and the current situation with not having a coach. Since the split with his now former coach Sean Foley, it appears as though Woods is giving serious consideration to going it alone, being his own coach if you will….good idea? Maybe, it all depends on what Tiger needs to get him back to his once dominating form and the only person who knows what he needs is TW himself.

In a recent article I read, Woods stated that although a coach can be beneficial, what a coach can’t know is “Feel” when making the turn at Augusta on Sunday leading by 1. True statement? Yes, valid…. not so sure. There aren’t too many coaches that can lay claim to such a feeling. So, if that be the criteria by which to find a new swing guru, Tiger may indeed need to go it solo.

As a coach and teaching professional, my gut feeling tells me that TW will be doing himself a disservice by not bringing a swing coach into his camp. Sure I’m a bit partial, but there are reasons and benefits that I believe go beyond the swing itself. Let’s face it, players on the PGA Tour are there because they know how to swing a golf club pretty consistently, I think anyone would agree. But there is a reason why the best “swingers” in the world use swing coaches.

Having been in the golf industry for over 22 years, I can tell you that the best players I work with need more that just swing advice. It’s kind of cliché but we wear many hat and the better the player the more demanding and the more hats one must wear; Advisor, strategist, psychologist, listener, mentor and motivator. In my opinion swing guru is just a part of the whole. If it were just a matter of managing his swing, maybe.

If I were advising Tiger, first I would tell him to look for a coach that is a good listener. One who can create a strategy for success based on Tigers needs. Second, is the obvious, someone who has an inside-out understanding of the golf swing but not someone with the latest FAD flavor of the month new tour swing (I will refrain from diverting and getting on my soap box) but rather someone who will diagnose and advise objectively rather than for the betterment of pushing an agenda. And thirdly I would advise TW to find someone with the capabilities to be the advisor, strategist, psychologist, listener, mentor and motivator as previously mentioned.

So it remains to be seen in the coming weeks and months just what direction Tigers career will take. Certainly Tiger is good for the game and the fans love to watch great players play great! The question is can Tiger return to greatness solo or will he need a drummer to keep the beat? Time will tell and only TW holds the answer.

 Blog written by Vince Fratercangelo-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

A Changing of The Guard??

I thought I would devote this latest entry to examining what some believe is a changing of the guard given the recent performances of Tiger Woods coming off his back surgery.  This is certainly a hot topic these days and it seems everyone has an opinion one way or another. I have also found that those opinions tend to coincide with whether people are or are not Tiger fans. Let’s make no mistake about it… most of us who live and breathe golf have our opinion about Tiger Woods and I think it is fair to say there isn’t a lot of middle ground…you either really like him or you really don’t and with that said I am going to try my best not to turn this entry into an “I love him or hat him” article because that’s not what this is about. Personal feelings aside, I’d like to focus more on the title of this blog which is about whether Tiger will continue to stand tall as the current guard or are we bearing witness to a change that will inevitably come, it’s just a matter of when.

Many are quick to write Tiger off based on the performances we have seen since his recent return from back surgery. My first question would be, is that fair or accurate? Any golfer who plays at that level and is forced to take time off to recover from a surgery is entitled to a grace period upon his/her return which is why I believe it is too early to determine the future of TW and his impact on tour week in and week out.

With all that said the current young talent that is out there every week, guys like Jordan Speith, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Rory Mcllroy etc. are not going to make it easy, that’s for sure. But as we know golf is about battling the golf course and yourself, after all you can’t control what the other guys are doing. So I believe part of the question will be answered by how Tiger handles this adversity. I think another question that could be asked is…what (if any) changes are being made to his swing as a result of his surgery? Swing changes take some time before they truly take hold especially under tournament condition and pressure, so again another missing piece to this story.

I believe the answer to the title of this blog entry will be answered sooner rather than later. If TW wins a tournament between now and the first quarter of the 2015 season the guard will be unchanged for a few more years. However, if Tiger fails to win at least one event prior to that same time frame, then yes the days of Tiger domination will slowly fade into history. That’s not to say he will never win again, we are talking about a changing of the Golf Guard, a shift in power. If I were a betting man (or a weather man) here would be my 5 year outlook in percentages:

                                                                                             YES                  NO

• Win another tournament                                                99%                 1%
• Win another major                                                        50%                 50%
• Break Jack’s record                                                     15%                 85%
• Win 2 or more tournaments in a season                         45%                 55% 

So there you have it, just another point of view regarding the Tiger saga. One thing is for certain people tune in to see what will happen. If you’re a TW fan you watch in hopes that he wins. If not a fan you watch in hopes that he falters. When viewership is up that’s good for the game!

 Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

New Junior Golfers: Getting Started On The Right Path

Well, It’s official the golf season is in full swing (pun intended), school is out and golfers are out playing their favorite courses. Junior golfers are no exception as they are the future of golf and its growth. As golf professionals we strive to develop golfers that will hopefully be a lifetime player of the game. Studies have shown that a new golfer is more likely to remain a long term golfer if he/she is exposed to playing on a course in the early stages of development, juniors included. Practice and hitting balls at your local range is no doubt important for swing development but getting out on the course is vital to an overall introduction to the game.

I encourage my junior golfers to play, but along with playing comes having to know proper etiquette which is what I would like to discuss further in this article. I have played all over the country and have found that some courses are more “junior” friendly than others. This in part is due to the fact that many junior players hit the links without knowing proper etiquette which can leave a less than favorable image on others players and personnel of any given golf course in America. However, as parents, and teachers of the game it is our responsibility to make sure that our junior players know the rules before stepping on to the course. If you are the parent(s) of a junior player but you do not play yourself, then it is important that your child receive some form of rules etiquette training from one of your local golf professionals. This is something that can be covered (and should be covered) during a series of lessons. How else can our juniors become educated if we don’t teach them? Following proper etiquette will enhance your child’s enjoyment of the game, and they will be looked upon in a much more favorable light when on the course. Now, I will be the first to tell you, there are plenty of rules in golf, certainly too many to mention, however I would like to pass along a few tips that are sure to help your junior become a more educated and favorably looked upon golfer.

1. Always rake the bunkers.
2. Replace and/or sand your divots whenever possible.
3. Repair your ball mark on the green and look for another to fix as well.
4. Let faster players play through.
5. Never lay your golf bag on the green.
6. Try to refrain from throwing your clubs farther than the ball after you’ve hit a bad shot.
7. Try to refrain from shouting obscenities after hitting another bad shot.
8. Dress appropriately. 

Although these few things mentioned seem rather basic, you can visit any given golf course on any given day and witness these simple etiquette guidelines/rules being violated…… and it is not just the junior players. Just these few simple reminders will make a day on the links more enjoyable for everyone. As professionals and parents we need to set good examples for our juniors to follow!

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

One of the toughest things to do in golf is break the cycle you’re in and permanently enter a new cycle or players bracket i.e. a 100’s shooter becomes a 90’s shooter or a 90’s shooter becomes an 80’s shooter or an 80’s shooter becomes 70’s shooter. Sure, anyone can catch fire one day and break out of their “Norm Zone” to have that career day. But the question is how do you take that “career day” and make that your new “Norm”.

It starts by making up your mind that the process is not going to be instantaneous; there is some work to be done to attain such goals. Like most, wanting to get better is what keeps us coming back, the carrot dangling in front of us that many never actually get to eat.

If you’re like most, you eventually want to take a bite of that carrot but in order to do so you need a plan. But where to start……First give yourself about a month (give or take depending on how often you play) to gather data on your game, you need to hone in on exactly what is holding you back but to do so you need to chart your consistent weaknesses. In that first month try not keeping score because at this point it’s irrelevant. Instead use your scorecard to track key areas of your game. Here’s what I suggest you chart; 1. Number of putts taken on each hole 2. Fairways hit on each hole 3. GIR (greens in regulation) 4. Number of up & downs. These categories will help you truly see where you deficiencies are and help determine where your practice time should be spent.  

During your “data gathering” phase, it’s also good to get in some range practice time. However, utilize this range time to re-calibrate your club distances and really get to know your distances for each and every club; right it down and keep it in your bag…nothing should be left to guesswork or chance.

Once you feel you have gathered enough data (a month or so give or take) take the time to compile it all into one big spread sheet which will include the 4 areas you have charted PLUS the number of holes played during that time. Convert your data into percentages and this will then let you know what your next course of action should be. Rank your 4 charted areas weakest to strongest and let that dictate your practice regimen in the coming weeks. It’s kind of like radiation treatment for a tumor; you don’t shoot radiation all throughout the body typically. Instead, if the tumor is identified to be in a specific location you deliver heavy doses of treatment to that specific location. Your golf game is very similar in that if you want to rid your game of the things that weaken it, you need to concentrate heavily on removing those weak areas. Remember, permanently improving your game is a process and a time consuming one at that. If you’ve been stuck in the 100’s, 90’s, 80’s or even the 70’s give this system a try. It’s both time tested and proven and if executed properly will help you take your game to the next level.

ADDITIONAL GAME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS TO BREAK THE BARRIERS

-        From time to time play 9 holes with a putter and one other club. You will soon learn to hit a variety of shots that you otherwise probably wouldn’t hit. The more varying kinds of shots you are capable of hitting, the better golfer you will become.

-        When practicing, challenge yourself. Any pressure you can put on yourself will pay off in the long run. Putting against your buddy for a quarter a hole adds purpose to your practice. That type of practice is 10 times better than a practice that is just “going through the motions.”

-        Have your clubs checked to see if they “fit” you. The old adage is true “It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.” However, if the arrow is crooked even the most skilled Indian will be at a disadvantage.

Now it should go without saying that once you have identified your weaknesses it might not be a bad idea to schedule a lesson or two with your local professional. After all, there’s a reason why your weaknesses are actually your “weaknesses.” If you have the patience to stay the course you will soon be in a new “players bracket.”

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Tee to Green: A Guide For The Journey

I figured with a new golf season on our door step, everyone wants to get their game going on the right track. Certainly there are may sources out there that can help you do just that, whether it be a golf publication, shows on the Golf Channel, YouTube videos, golf pros….not to mention there is no shortage of “experts” at your local club more than willing to give you their 2 cents on how to fix that big banana ball. So the good news is there are a lot of sources to gain valuable and useful information; the bad news… there are a lot of sources to gain valuable and useful information. What I mean is, if you have been playing golf for any length of time much of the stuff you read, see or hear can be contradicting and conflicting information. My students tell me all the time how they read this or that but it conflicts with something else they heard or read. And like I always tell them “stick with one source you trust and shut everything else out” because too much of something is, well…too much.

So I thought I would provide an abbreviated look to some of the things I teach (and use as a player) on a daily basis with my students and clients. If you are a student of mine or a follower of my blog, feel free to print these out and carry them in your bag. If you are hearing some of this for the first time, then consider me just another source muddying up the waters and adding to the confusion that already exists. Remember, pick a source you trust and stick with it. Let’s get started……

Alignment: When lining up there are 2 important lines pointing down the fairway, think railroad tracks, 2 parallel lines. Line one is set by the club face (that’s the target line) and the second set by the feet (that’s the body line). The target line should point at the target and the body line should run parallel to the target line which means just to the left side of your target (for righties or the right side for lefties). Poor alignment is one of the biggest reasons for bad shots and poor swings.

Driver: When hitting a driver remember these few key points for better success. Tee the ball up so that 1/3 of the ball is below the face and 2/3 above the face. Second, ball position should be off the inside of your left heal (righties) and third, tilt your shoulders so that your trailing shoulder (right shoulder for righties) is lower than your left shoulder. This creates a proper attack point at impact.

Fairway Woods/Hybrids: Ball position should be about 2 inches in (moving toward center) from where you play your driver. From there swing the club with the intentions of trying to make a divot, reason being, golfers tend to swing up on these clubs (especially FW woods) and by trying to create a divot it helps keep you down a bit longer through impact.

Irons: By now you probably know that taking a divot is a good thing and where your divot starts is the difference between a good iron shot and a so-so iron shot. A solid iron shot is going to produce a divot just in front of the ball. You should always hit ball first, ground second. A great drill is to draw a small line on the ground with spray paint and set your ball on the line. This gives great feedback as to where your divot starts in relation to the ball. When the divot start on the front side of the line you know you are doing

something right.

Pitch Shots: The art of getting up and down can make or break a round. When hitting pitch shots keep these key factors in mind. Tempo! Your follow through shouldn’t be much faster than your back swing. For example, hypothetically if your back swing is moving at 30 mph your downswing/follow through should be about 40 mph. Also you can place a little bit more weight on your lead leg (left leg for righties) at address. This promotes a slightly steeper swing path which can lead to better contact at impact. And finally learn your distances for a ¼ swing, ½ swing and ¾ swing. This will better help you with touch and feel and also give you confidence in your pitch swing and should help with eliminating the dreaded deceleration.

Chip Shots: Whether you are a one club user around the green or a multiple club user technique shouldn’t change much. Set up with feet rather close together. Place about 70% of your weight on your lead leg (left leg for righties) and place the ball in the back of your stance. Hands should position the club so that the shaft is leaning at the same angle as your spine. From there it becomes more of a putting stroke, very little (if any) wrist motion. Distance control is king when chipping so try and keep your back swing and follow through equidistant, this will help you develop solid distance control.

Putting: I consider putting to be a first cousin to chipping because some of the same rules apply. Ball position and weight distribution can vary but keeping the wrists quiet and balancing out the back swing and follow through are keys to becoming a great putter. And to help better develop distance control try my “No Look” drill. Hit putts from varying lengths while looking at the hole not the ball. You’ll get so good you might never want to look at the ball again when you putt. And although that sounds a bit far fetched. One of my students from years ago adopted that exact philosophy, stopped looking at the ball all together when putting and has become a very solid putter.

Green-side Bunker: A dreaded place on the golf course but really it doesn’t have to be. Hitting out of a bunker, when executed properly can be one of the easier shots in golf. On a typical bunker shot (ball on the surface) set up with ball position being just forward of center, stance slightly open and club face slightly open as well.  When the swing is in motion remember two things; aim for 2 inches behind the ball and FOLLOW THROUGH! Even if your set up is off a bit, hitting properly behind the ball and following through will most always get you out on the first try.

So there you have it, some of the ideas, tips and philosophies I use both as a teacher and as a player. I was a bit reluctant to write a blog such as this because reading from a book or blog is so one dimensional and without pictures, it can create a head scratching confusion. Hopefully that's not the case. So if you’re looking to improve in an area of your game maybe some of the things mentioned will help you save a stroke or two.

Best of Luck to everyone for a successful and prosperous 2014 golfing season!

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

The State of Golf

Over the last few years I think it is safe to say that golf has been on the decline or at the very least stagnant in terms of rounds played, dollars spent on equipment, new golfers taking up the game, past golfers dropping off etc. The reasons for this trend can certainly be argued and debated but what we do know is there are a number of initiatives aimed at growing the game of golf.

As a golf professional who has been around the game some 40 years (21 yrs in the business) I have seen many trends come and go as well as the growth and decline of the sport, and like many I have an opinion on why this great game we love has been on its heels as of late.

I think we first have to look at the state of where we are as a country, economy still trying to recover, less disposable income and a variety of outlets trying to capture a piece of our disposable income, busy lifestyles going in 10 different directions and a mindset that wants instant gratification. If I could only add a drive up window to my golf academy I could start a revolution!

Certainly too many areas to cover in one blog, but speaking from personal experience I think a good starting point would be first; A golfing experience that is affordable, doesn’t take 5 or 6 hours out of your day and something the whole family can enjoy and second; Setting realistic expectations in a fun environment for those that seek instruction to help improve their game and the enjoyment of it. There’s a double edged sword at play that I think directly relates to golf’s current state.

So to implement my master plan to get golf back on the rise we need to start refocusing on the executive, par 3 and pitch & putt courses. Think about it, 2 ½ hours of your time you can get the family together for a morning or afternoon on the links, spend time being active outdoors all at a cost equivalent to an evening at the movies (and in some cases maybe less).  These courses have never received the value they deserve and yet they offer so much to the game. A place to hone your short game skills (where a majority of you shots are made; 70% within 100 yds or less and 40% of all shots are putts), learn (or teach your kids) about rules and etiquette in a rather laid back atmosphere all before lunch time. As a child my father would take me after dinner EVERY night to the local par 3 course and we would play until dark. When I got a bit older he then brought me to the BIG course a local 9 holer. To me that is the idea sequence. But in a land of $400 drivers and a mentality of wanting to hit it 400 yards, the forgotten “short” courses don’t stand much of a chance. I guess in a sense I should be grateful to the manufacturing giants who tag their latest offerings with promises of solving world peace and better golf games. They set the bar high and when things don’t go quite as advertised, my phone rings, otherwise I might be forced to get a real job..Yikes!

I also believe for golf to take a turn for the better, FUN needs to be injected for growth. Think of “fun” as a growth hormone. Nobody wants to spend their hard earned cash on doing something that isn’t fun. With that said, we all enjoy the game much more when we are playing well, hence another pitfall. I see golfers every day coming to me because they want to improve their game, that’s what the tell me but is it what they actually want to do? To truly improve takes hour and hours of boring practice and practicing correctly, most folks don’t have the time nor desire to truly devote what it takes to reach their desired goals. This leads to frustration which leads to playing less which leads to rounds per year being down. It is a trickle down or domino effect so to speak. Golf has no short cuts, I repeat no short cuts! Here’s an example, someone comes to me for a lesson and as I always do with first timers, there is a brief Q & A regarding strengths, weaknesses, etc. I then finish by asking the student what is their desired goal or expectation for the lesson(s) and almost 75% of the time the answer is “consistency” which by the way is a great goal. When I get the “C” word as a goal the next question is ALWAYS how often do you play and/or practice? The answers vary of course but many times it’s in the neighborhood of a couple times a month. Well there in lies the problem; consistency doesn’t hang out much with twice a month so it becomes a vicious cycle. Unattainable expectations = frustration + 5 ½ hour rounds + less disposable income = rounds per year down. So how do we put FUN back in this great game? For those who focus on teaching the game, lessons need to be fun and exciting! If a lesson with me or at my academy isn’t fun, then we have failed as professionals. For those who run courses and clubs, have “fun” days. A “Beat the Pro” day once a month, or periodically hold a putting tournaments on the practice green. At one of my former clubs I held a putting tournament inside the clubhouse! As professionals we need to start thinking “outside the white stakes” in a manner of speaking.

And when the day comes that you can pull up to the golf academy drive thru window and say “I’d like to order a slight draw and 3 knockdown shots” you’ll know where the idea first originated.

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy