Gray Cook is a world leader on human movement and performance. If you are looking to improve your fitness during the off-season, please check out this video on the Chop and Lift!!

Last night I helped my mom put our family Christmas tree up in the house. We did a nice job getting it trimmed properly and set up nice and straight. As it is always unavoidable, needles were everywhere on the floor from the trip from garage to family room.

Being the good son that I am, I quickly grabbed a broom and helped tidy up. It reminded me of one of my favorite golf images that helps build good impact angles.

When we use a broom or paintbrush properly, we press down and forward, and the shaft or handle leads the bristles in the direction that we are sweeping. There is no flipping or flopping at any point, otherwise the Fir tree needles would fly everywhere!

Keep this in mind when you work on your chips and pitches. I like to hit lots of short shots in the basement, where I just chip into a camp chair. The feeling is that the handle of the golf club pulls the head end through the impact area, fairly slowly and deliberately, as though I were sweeping. I'll even attach a medium-sized paintbrush to the bottom of the club to really get the image.

I hope this is a good way to enjoy the busy holiday season and still get some practice in!! Grab a broom after family dinner and work on your game!!

So I've been spending some time in the simulators at Braeben the past couple weeks, which is a total blast. It's fun to play all the different courses, and hit balls on a range and see my ball dispertion.

However, I'm going to resist the urge to keep smashing away all winter, because the best thing I can do over the off-season is get my body moving better come spring time. Just like our boys Sydney Crosby and Steven Stamkos, and all other great athletes, they take the off-season to get healthy and stronger.

I will do some fine skills training, however. I had a lot of success last year just working on hitting some pitches into a net. I feel that impact is fairly similar for all shots off the ground, whether it is a small chip or full 3-iron. By working on my impact fundamentals at slow speed, it isn't taxing on my body physically, but is a nice reminder for my brain of how I want the club to be aligned as it strikes the ball.

Come up to Braeben and see us, or give me a shout if you would rather do some learning in the Hamilton or Burlington area!!

Stay tuned for more...

I've been thinking about Sydeny Crosby, specifically his domination of the NHL so far this season. He has been one of the top players in the league since he was a rookie, but he seems to continue to progress and get better than everyone else each year. How does he do it?

A common explanation keeps coming up: His hard work in the off-season. Other great athletes also have this habit that seems to set them apart. Jerry Rice, the best wide receiver all time in the NFL was famous for his off-season conditioning program, even into his early 40's. Michael Jordan was almost always the last one in the gym, even when he was winning multiple championships and MVPs. Syd apparently has taken a page from their books and trains substantially harder than anyone else in the summer time.

This is something that is not as common in golf, even at the top level. However, it is something that you can do this year to make a change for 2011. Become a different golfer, not overnight, but over an off-season. You can start by doing some movement drills that will help put your body in better balance, both for golf, and for better quality of life.

Email me for details, or check back in. I'll try to get a video up soon...

JZ