Wednesday, May 28, 2014

3Jack Golf's 2014 PGA Tour Rundown - Week 22

Adam Scott wins at Colonial:



Here's how my Colonial picks fared:

Zach Johnson: 12/1 (73rd)
Jim Furyk: 14/1 (t-51st)
Matt Kuchar: 14/1 (MC)
Paul Casey: 40/1 (MC)
Jason Dufner: 40/1  (2nd)
Kevin Na: 50/1 (MC)
Louis Oosthuizen: 50/1 (t-38th)
Daniel Summerhays: 66/1 (t-51st)
Russell Knox: 80/1 (t-21st)

VALUE PICK: James Hahn 100/1 (MC)


Here are my picks for the Memorial:

Bubba Watson: 25/1
Phil Mickelson: 25/1
Gary Woodland: 33/1
Keegan Bradley: 40/1
Ryan Moore: 50/1
Kevin Chappell: 50/1
Charles Howell III: 66/1
Hideki Matsuyama: 66/1
Billy Horschel: 100/1

Value Pick: Kevin Streelman 150/1


DRIVING EFFECTIVENESS



1. Francesco Molinari
2. Bubba Watson
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Kevin Streelman
5. Justin Hicks
6. Ryan Moore
7. Martin Kaymer
8. Louis Oosthuizen
9. Derek Ernst
10. Kevin Stadler


189. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
190. Johnson Wagner
191. Chad Collins
192. Paul Casey
193. James Driscoll
194. Aaron Baddeley
195. Tyrone Van Aswegen
196. Alex Aragon
197. Mike Weir
198. Bobby Gates


GREEN ZONE (75-125 YARDS)
 


1. Ryo Ishikawa
2. Hideki Matsuyama
3. Adam Scott
4. Chesson Hadley
5. Brian Stuard
6. Zach Johnson
7. Michael Putnam
8. Jim Furyk
9. Brian Harman
10. Jonathan Byrd


189. Andres Romero
190. Patrick Reed
191. Aaron Baddeley
192. Jamie Lovemark
193. Jhonattan Vegas
194. Derek Ernst
195. Paul Casey
196. Will Wilcox
197. Martin Kaymer
198. Henrik Stenson
 

YELLOW ZONE (125-175 YARDS)



1. Graeme McDowell
2. Marc Leishman
3. Ryan Moore
4. Ken Duke
5. Kevin Na
6. K.J. Choi
7. Rory McIlroy
8. Spencer Levin
9. Hideki Matsuyama
10. Graham DeLaet


189. Scott Piercy
190. Andres Romero
191. Louis Oosthuizen
192. Angel Cabrera
193. Ben Curtis
194. Kevin Tway
195. Patrick Reed
196. Troy Matteson
197. Edward Loar
198. Jhonattan Vegas


RED ZONE (175-225 YARDS)
 


1. Sergio Garcia
2. Graham DeLaet
3. Martin Kaymer
4. Chad Campbell
5. Paul Casey
6. Brooks Koepka
7. Kevin Chappell
8. Robert Streb
9. Kevin Stadler
10. Russell Knox


189. James Driscoll
190. Andrew Loupe
191. Richard Lee
192. Justin Leonard
193. John Rollins
194. Peter Malnati
195. Tim Wilkinson
196. Greg Chalmers
197. Tim Herron
198. Bobby Gates


SHORT GAME PLAY

1. Jim Furyk
2. Bud Cauley
3. Lee Westwood
4. John Mallinger
5. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
6. Kevin Na
7. Zach Johnson
8. Justin Rose
9. Tim Wilkinson
10. Francesco Molinari


189. Chad Campbell
190. Alex Aragon
191. Brad Fritsch
192. J.J. Henry
193. Tommy Gainey
194. John Peterson
195. Graeme McDowell
196. Bobby Gates
197. Will Wilcox
198. Hudson Swafford

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

John Graham on Milled Wedges

Here's a Facebook post that golf instructor and AimPoint teacher John Graham made about milled wedges:

 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

GEARS Golf Video

Here is a video on the GEARS golf measuring system that is becoming very popular with instructors and Tour players:







3JACK

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

3Jack Golf's 2014 PGA Tour Rundown - Week 21

Brendon Todd wins the Byron Nelson Championship:

:

Here is how my picks finished at Las Colinas:

Jordan Spieth: 11/1 (t-37th)
Matt Kuchar: 12/1 (t-7th)
Jimmy Walker: 16/1 (t-37th)
Martin Kaymer: 18/1 (t-29th)
Dustin Johnson: 22/1 (t-7th)
Gary Woodland: 28/1 (t-7th)
Jason Dufner: 33/1 (t-48th)
Robert Streb: 66/1 (MC)
Heath Slocum: 200/1 (MC)


Value Pick: Jhonattan Vegas: 250/1 (t-78th)


Here are my picks for Colonial:

Zach Johnson: 12/1
Jim Furyk: 14/1
Matt Kuchar: 14/1
Paul Casey: 40/1
Jason Dufner: 40/1
Kevin Na: 50/1
Louis Oosthuizen: 50/1
Daniel Summerhays: 66/1
Russell Knox: 80/1

VALUE PICK: James Hahn 100/1


DRIVING EFFECTIVENESS



1. Francesco Molinari
2. Bubba Watson
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Kevin Streelman
5. Justin Hicks
6. Ryan Moore
7. Heath Slocum
8. Derek Ernst
9. Martin Kaymer
10. Louis Oosthuizen


192. Bud Cauley
193. Paul Casey
194. Chad Collins
195. James Driscoll
196. Tim Herron
197. Aaron Baddeley
198. Tyrone Van Aswegen
199. Alex Aragon
200. Mike Weir
201. Bobby Gates


GREEN ZONE (75-125 YARDS)



1. Ryo Ishikawa
2. Hideki Matsuyama
3. Chesson Hadley
4. Brian Stuard
5. Zach Johnson
6. Adam Scott
7. Michael Putnam
8. Padraig Harrington
9. Brian Harman
10. Jonathan Byrd


192. Richard Lee
193. Patrick Reed
194. Aaron Baddeley
195. Jamie Lovemark
196. Jhonattan Vegas
197. Derek Ernst
198. Will Wilcox
199. Paul Casey
200. Martin Kaymer
201. Henrik Stenson


YELLOW ZONE (125-175 YARDS)



1. Victor Dubuisson
2. Graeme McDowell
3. Ryan Moore
4. Ken Duke
5. Marc Leishman
6. K.J. Choi
7. Rory McIlroy
8. Spencer Levin
9. Kevin Na
10. Hideki Matsuyama


192. Andrew Loupe
193. Scott Piercy
194. Andres Romero
195. Angel Cabrera
196. Ben Curtis
197. Kevin Tway
198. Troy Matteson
199. Patrick Reed
200. Edward Loar
201. Jhonattan Vegas


RED ZONE (175-225 YARDS)



1. Sergio Garcia
2. Graham DeLaet
3. Martin Kaymer
4. Paul Casey
5. Chad Campbell
6. Robert Streb
7. Kyle Stanley
8. Kevin Stadler
9. Russell Knox
10. Brooks Koepka


192. Johnson Wagner
193. James Driscoll
194. Richard Lee
195. Justin Leonard
196. Tim Wilkinson
197. John Rollins
198. Greg Chalmers
199. Peter Malnati
200. Bobby Gates
201. Tim Herron


SHORT GAME PLAY

1. Jim Furyk
2. Lee Westwood
3. Bud Cauley
4. Zach Johnson
5. Kevin Na
6. John Mallinger
7. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
8. Justin Rose
9. Kevin Stadler
10. Jason Dufner


192. Jim Renner
193. Alex Aragon
194. Brad Fritsch
195. J.J. Henry
196. Tommy Gainey
197. John Peterson
198. Graeme McDowell
199. Bobby Gates
200. Will Wilcox
201. Hudson Swafford

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

3Jack Golf's 2014 PGA Tour Rundown - Week 20

Martin Kaymer wins the Players.



Here are how my picks at the Players finished:

Rory McIlroy: 14/1 (t-6th)
Henrik Stenson: 25/1 (t-34th)
Zach Johnson: 33/1 (t-26th)
Jim Furyk: 50/1 (2nd)
Jason Dufner: 66/1 (t-48th)
Kevin Na: 66/1 (t-38th)
Kevin Streelman: 80/1 (MC)
Matt Every: 100/1 (MC)
Kevin Chappell: 150/1 (t-26th)

Value Pick: Tim Clark 200/1 (MC)

Here are my picks for the Byron Nelson:

Jordan Spieth: 11/1
Matt Kuchar: 12/1
Jimmy Walker: 16/1
Martin Kaymer: 18/1
Dustin Johnson: 22/1
Gary Woodland: 28/1
Jason Dufner: 33/1
Robert Streb: 66/1
Heath Slocum: 200/1

Value Pick: Jhonattan Vegas: 250/1


DRIVING EFFECTIVENESS



1. Francesco Molinari
2. Bubba Watson
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Kevin Streelman
5. Justin Hicks
6. Ryan Moore
7. Heath Slocum
8. Derek Ernst
9. Martin Kaymer
10. Hunter Mahan


191. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
192. Johnson Wagner
193. Bud Cauley
194. Chad Collins
195. James Driscoll
196. Aaron Baddeley
197. Alex Aragon
198. Tyrone VanAswegen
199. Mike Weir
200. Bobby Gates


GREEN ZONE (75-125 YARDS)
 


1. Ryo Ishikawa
2. Hideki Matsuyama
3. Brian Stuard
4. Chesson Hadley
5. Michael Putnam
6. Zach Johnson
7. Adam Scott
8. Ben Curtis
9. Padraig Harrington
10. Brian Harman


191. Andres Romero
192. Richard Lee
193. Patrick Reed
194. Jamie Lovemark
195. Aaron Baddeley
196. Jhonattan Vegas
197. Derek Ernst
198. Martin Kaymer
199. Henrik Stenson
200. Paul Casey

 
YELLOW ZONE (125-175 YARDS)



1. Victor Dubuisson
2. Matteo Manassero
3. Graeme McDowell
4. Ryan Moore
5. Peter Hanson
6. Lee Williams
7. Ken Duke
8. K.J. Choi
9. Rory McIlroy
10. Dustin Johnson


191. D.A. Points
192. Angel Cabrera
193. Johnson Wagner
194. Chad Campbell
195. Kevin Tway
196. Troy Matteson
197. Ben Curtis
198. Edward Loar
199. Patrick Reed
200. Jhonattan Vegas


RED ZONE (175-225 YARDS)



1. Sergio Garcia
2. Chad Campbell
3. Graham DeLaet
4. Paul Casey
5. Brooks Koepka
6. Robert Streb
7. Kyle Stanley
8. Martin Kaymer
9. Kevin Stadler
10. Russell Knox


191. Johnson Wagner
192. Justin Leonard
193. Tim Wilkinson
194. Bud Cauley
195. Richard Lee
196. Bobby Gates
197. John Rollins
198. James Driscoll
199. Greg Chalmers
200. Peter Malnati







3JACK

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Moe Norman Mental Game Approach

Over the weekend I was watching a bunch of Moe Norman videos. While Moe does talk about the mechanics of the golf swing, he would usually revert back to the mental game of golf. I thought this video was his most informative piece of work towards the game:



I've mentioned this before...mechanics are very important. But, in order to strike the ball at Moe's level and to shoot the scores he did (and being a lousy putter), one must have the mental makeup for it. The game has a very small margin for error. 2-3 degrees off can be disastrous. It also tends to work against you because your brain finds a way to adjust around your mechanics. If a piece of your mechanics may cause you to hit the ball low, you can bet that you'll likely incorporate some type of compensatory mechanical piece to try and get the ball higher in the air.

So Moe has a lot of key phrases and words like 'don't be afraid of yourself' and 'winners see what they want and losers see what they don't want.' Some of this may come off like psychobabble, but in the end I feel Moe was saying that he focused on the shot he wanted to hit along with the swing thoughts that would produce that shot. That was his sole focus.

Instead, most golfers start thinking about what they are afraid they are capable of doing....hitting a poor shot. That divides their attention. They start thinking about possibly hitting a poor shot and the swing mechanics that go into a poor shot and they start losing focus on the shot they want to hit and the swing thoughts that go into that shot they want to hit.

Over a week ago I wrote on my Twitter that between the statistics and science behind the brain...it shows that playing defensive golf is pissing away the opportunity to be great.

From a statistical standpoint, we see performance typically goes downward when the golfer starts playing more defensively. They end up having more difficult shots to hit. As I wrote in 2014 Pro Golf Synopsis, golfers are better off having to hit a tee shot with a higher level of difficulty than an approach shot with a higher level of difficulty. If you hit a poor drive on a par-4 because it has a high level of difficulty, you now have 3 more shots to 'make up for it' and save par. But, if you hit a poor approach shot because it had a high degree of difficulty, now you have only 2 more shot to make up for it and save par. And we also see that laying up with a 3-wood off the tee presents its own problems in terms of finding the fairway. Lastly, if you're playing for the 'worst case scenario' and are afraid that a bad swing with the driver will result in a very bad shot; there is ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE that you would not have taken a poor swing with whatever club you are laying up with and end up in a worse position.

And if you talk to Dr. Bhrett McCabe (www.bhrettmccabe.com), people perform better when they are in an 'aggressive' mindset versus a passive mindset. Think about the person who drives a car very casually versus the person that tries to be 'careful' driving the car. The casual driver will likely reach their destination quicker with no problems versus the careful driver.

I think Moe's mindset had more to do with his ability to strike the ball than his purported autism or mechanics. As he states in the video, he was able to aim and fire instead of aiming and directing. He knew what shot he wanted to hit and focused solely on that and believed there was no reason why he could not do it. And if he mis-fired, it was no big deal. As he said 'a bad shot only hurts my vanity. And vanity is the luxury of fools.' Working on you mechanics is an imperative to good golf. But all that work is for nothing if you don't have the mental approach to trust your talent to hit those shots.







3JACK

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

3Jack Golf's 2014 PGA Tour Rundown - Week 19

After a long comeback, JB Holmes win the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte:



Here are how my picks did at Charlotte:

Here are my picks for Quail Hollow:

Phil Mickelson: 14/1 (t-11th)
Justin Rose: 18/1 (5th)
Zach Johnson: 33/1 (t-14th)
Jonas Blixt: 50/1 (MC)
Kevin Na: 66/1 (t-18th)
Cameron Tringale: 80/1 (t-60th)
Jeff Overton: 80/1 (MC)
Kevin Streelman: 80/1 (t-14th)
Kevin Chappell: 150/1 (t-11th)

Value Pick: Vijay Singh 200/1


Here are my picks for Sawgrass:

Rory McIlroy: 14/1
Henrik Stenson: 25/1
Zach Johnson: 33/1
Graham DeLaet: 50/1
Jason Dufner: 66/1
Kevin Na: 66/1
Kevin Streelman: 80/1
Matt Every: 100/1
Kevin Chappell: 150/1

Value Pick: Tim Clark 200/1


I will be at Sawgrass for the Wednesday practice round. If anybody wishes to meet up and discuss the advanced statistics of the game, shoot me an e-mail at ProGolfSynopsis@yahoo.com and we can get together.


Here are my updated rankings:


DRIVING EFFECTIVENESS



1. Francesco Molinari
2. Bubba Watson
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Fred Funk
5. Kevin Streelman
6. Ryan Moore
7. Heath Slocum
8. Justin Hicks
9. Martin Kaymer
10. Louis Oosthuizen


193. Johnson Wagner
194. Bud Cauley
195. Chad Collins
196. James Driscoll
197. Aaron Baddeley
198. Joe Ogilvie
199. Alex Aragon
200. Tyrone VanAswegen
201. Mike Weir
202. Bobby Gates



GREEN ZONE (75-125 YARDS)



1. Ryo Ishikawa
2. Hideki Matsuyama
3. Brian Stuard
4. Michael Putnam
5. Chesson Hadley
6. Jim Furyk
7. Zach Johnson
8. Adam Scott
9. Ben Curtis
10. Brian Harman


193. Angel Cabrera
194. Jamie Lovemark
195. Richard Lee
196. Derek Ernst
197. Aaron Baddeley
198. Jhonattan Vegas
199. Martin Kaymer
200. Paul Casey
201. Henrik Stenson
202. Graeme McDowell


YELLOW ZONE (125-175 YARDS)



1. Victor Dubuisson
2. Matteo Manassero
3. Marc Leishman
4. Graeme McDowell
5. Dustin Johnson
6. Ken Duke
7. Peter Hanson
8. K.J. Choi
9. Henrik Stenson
10. Lee Williams


193. Andrew Loupe
194. D.A. Points
195. Patrick Reed
196. Chad Campbell
197. Kevin Tway
198. Johnson Wagner
199. Troy Matteson
200. Ben Curtis
201. Edward Loar
202. Jhonattan Vegas


RED ZONE (175-225 YARDS)



1. Sergio Garcia
2. Chad Campbell
3. Graham DeLaet
4. Paul Casey
5. Brooks Koepka
6. Martin Kaymer
7. Robert Streb
8. Jason Dufner
9. Kevin Stadler
10. Dustin Johnson


193. Johnson Wagner
194. Tim Wilkinson
195. Bud Cauley
196. John Rollins
197. Bobby Gates
198. James Driscoll
199. Richard Lee
200. Justin Leonard
201. Greg Chalmers
202. Peter Malnati


SHORT GAME PLAY

1. Tim Clark
2. Kevin Na
3. Jim Furyk
4. Jason Dufner
5. Stuart Appleby
6. John Mallinger
7. Rickie Fowler
8. Ken Duke
9. Bryce Molder
10. Paul Casey


193. Scott Piercy
194. Troy Matteson
195. Martin Kaymer
196. Robert Allenby
197. Harrison Frazar
198. Will Wilcox
199. Peter Hanson
200. J.J. Henry
201. Victor Dubuisson
202. Hudson Swafford





3JACK