Funny Jokes I couldn't resist to share...

+Chuck Norris and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.

Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.

Chuck Norris doesn't call the wrong number. You answer the wrong phone.

Chuck Norris was in all 6 star wars films as THE FORCE.

Thanks +Andrew Pike for the chuckles. 

Parent Student Meeting This Saturday for USA Junior Golf Training Program

The Pluth Golf Group is excited to announce a Parent-Student Open House 

and information morning at the +Minnesota Golf Academy 

this Saturday, January 4th from 9-10am.

Inviting parents AND students interested in joining competitive golf team to a morning of 

information and discussion about the USA Junior National Golf Team Program.

USA Junior Regional Golf Team Director, +Chris Foley and Local Director +Brad Pluth will be on 

hand along with other USA Junior National Golf Team coaches to present the program 

and to answer any questions.  They will discuss college golf, and what parents and their junior 

golfers need to know to help improve their exposure to colleges around the country. 

Minnesota Golf Academy Owner, +Doug Tenpas, will also be providing information and 

taking questions.

Complimentary bagels and coffee will be served.  

There is no fee for the session.

  

We look forward to seeing you there for a great morning of Junior Golf discussion.

Contact Brad Pluth to register at 952/401-4653.  

PGA V. NBA

After attending the Timberwolves game and PGA Tour events this year, there are a lot of differences. It could be interesting if NBA players only got paid to play compared to the lackadaisical performance that most of the athletes on the court loligag around. Yes they are highly skilled athletes, and basketball remains one of my favorite sports, but the professional game lacks hustle. The Timberwolves do a great job of selling a product and entertaining their fans during and in between the game. I'm a huge fan of their marketing department and love the fan appreciation aspect of the Timberwolves game. Their promotions are usually quite creative and do engage the fans. My favorite tonight was the dancing dad, even though another hip-hop star should've really stole the show… I digress…

Maybe the PGA needs to have Kesler back on the radio or announcing alongside Jim Nance. 

What's with this cold spell, two streaks as double-digit below zero temperatures and it's not even January… I'm going to go Bury myself in my covers.

Putter fittings and theories

I've been fortunate lately to do quite a few SeeMore putter fittings. Today I had a gentleman who is 6'4 and a very successful businessman come to the Minnesota Golf Academy to go through a putter fitting. We started off with the Coutour length tool and found that he was 35.25" length. He already knew the head typed that he wanted which was M1 black series. We found his natural tempo at 80 beats per minute. We next went to the putting green and laiddown a string and rolled different putts from 15 to 20 feet away until we found the right head wait. This is where my theory comes in, I've been finding people with tempos over 78 are better suited for a 365g head, which is something SeeMore and few other companies can build.  The normal putter actually is only 350g. When we tested the 350g head the gentleman was very erratic in his delivery speed and distance control and couldn't quite get the feel for the greens. When we added weight into the housel of the shaft he began to roll pots very consistently to the line and noted a better feel in touch. Lastly we picked out a grip that he felt comfortable with which was a finger lock grip, not quite a super stroke but close, to minimize his wrist action.

Time will tell for this customer, but for me the SeeMore putter fitting process has really helped me develop better putters, more confident putters, and more magicians around the green… Making a little white ball disappear!

Guarenteed Results with this 10 Step Goal Setting Process

10 step goal setting process from +Shawn Humphries and +Lanny Basham
1. Is the goal worth trading your time for?
2.	Goal has to be attainable and probable… worth the time putting the plan together?
3. List pay value- why do you want this? What are you going to get out of this?
4. What are the obstacles in the way that are in the way to reach your goal?
Develop the plan to reach the goal, time, money, effort, people?
	Build a team- physical, mental team, golf swing, short game, equipment
	Analyze stats… up and down, # of putts, fairways etc.
5. Evaluate the plan- need to assess our strengths and weaknesses
	Need a coach… you only have three strengths and a lot of weaknesses.
	Design plan around strengths and weakness. Believe and commit to it. If I do all this, and accomplish this, is the prize worth the price?
6.Schedule a plan with key dates for each step of the plan
7. Stay focused
	Keep your nose down. Don't confuse routine with commitment.
8. Work the plan to the end or commit to a different goal.
	9. Trade up in the goals when necessary for a higher goal.
10. Never achieve a goal without setting another goal.

Winter golf swing training

While Minnesota's a great place to live, well maybe seven months a year I f your golfer, I think many golfers have it backwards. They train in the spring and summer and then stop playing in the fall. Why not train in the winter and enjoy playing in the spring and summer and also playing the fall! 

Many facilities like Minnesota Golf Academy make it possible to train year-round and develop skills to make a consistent powerful and repetitive golf swing. If you haven't checked it out yet visit MinnesotaGolfAcademy.com. 

Minnesota golf Academy has three Trackman launch monitor units, 10 hitting stations, 60 yard wedge range, two putting greens, fitness facility, and a couple teaching bays complete with clubfitting and repair station to help you work on all parts of the golf game

Mention you read this blog and receive your first half hour free just tell Doug Tenpas before December 31st. 

Golf Swing Styles: Should you match Tiger's golf swing?

The simple answer to should you match Tiger's golf swing is NO! Unless you can move like Tiger, are flexible like Tiger, and are strong like Tiger, you should NOT try to emulate his golf swing.

What should you do? Learn your natural movement patterns and develop a swing that is natural, powerful and repeatable.

There are two swing centers your body rotates around during your golf swing, one is between your shoulders and the other between your hips. Let's first talk about your lower pivot point.

So where does your golf swing pivot around? Some golfers swing around their front hip, some their trail hip and some around their center. To identify your golf swing pivot, start with your feet together and make three consecutive golf swings at 80-90% speed in balance. Next, drop your rear foot three golf balls back and repeat the three golf swings. Note the sound of the whoosh and your balance. Repeat again dropping your lead foot. This influences how you set up your lower body or sacrum/tailbone.

If you are better off your front foot, place your tailbone four inches to the target side of your swing center and keep the top of your sternum in the middle. Remember your trail hand rides lower than you lead hand so you need some tilt in your spine. Feel 60% of your weight on your forward foot at address and into the top of your back swing.

If you're a center post, place your tailbone two inches forward of center and your chin two inches back of center. Feel the weight evenly distributed across your feet.

If you're a rear post, place your tailbone in the middle of your feet, and your chin over your right thigh at address. Feel the weight 60-40% rearward.

Back to Tiger, when he first came out on Tour, he was a rear post player and struggled with distance control. From what I see now from Sean Foley, he's definitely a front post player. That transition takes time to trust and is why I believe he is struggling right now. I'm also not convinced that he is a front post golfer and will continue to struggle with his driver especially playing from a front post.

If you think about it, there are four swings in golf, a power swing for your driver, a distance control swing with your irons, short game pitch and chip shots and putting. More on that in blogs to come.

Feedback always appreciated and if you want to learn your natural swing, call me at 952/401-4653 to schedule your golf lessons.

Here's to more fairways and greens, and fewer putts,

Brad Pluth