SPECIAL REPORT
by Darren deMaille, PGA
I was very fortunate to have been a teaching professional in the Golden Bear (Jack Nicklaus) organization. It gave me a front row seat into Jack’s mind and methods for success.
Yes, Jack is the only golfer with 18 majors to his credit, but the methods he used, would benefit any golfer as it has me. I am now going to pass along to you the five (5) Secrets I learned after spending seven (7) years with Jack Nicklaus. Priceless information I will share with you because my mission in life is to help as many golfers as I can improve their enjoyment of the game of golf. That’s why I joined hands with Quick Fix Golf and their motto, Play Better Golf, NOW!
Secret Number 1: Jack Never Practiced his Putting!
Arguably Jack was the best clutch putter in history, and I never saw Jack practice his putting. Jack described putting as all feel. Before a round of golf, he would roll some balls to get a feel for the speed of the greens, but that was about it. Occasionally Jack would check to make sure he was aiming the putter properly, but never practiced.
Secret Number 2: Lose the Lag
Jack’s back swing was a long wide arc with a very late hinge of the wrists. Equally, he felt that the downswing should be a mirror imagine on the backswing. Most amateurs are trying to maintain lag in their downswing, while Jack was trying to get rid of it. The longer you maintain your angles in the downswing, the more offline your ball will go… especially if you are a slicer of the golf ball. Want to learn to hook the ball, get rid of your lag. Many golfers try holding the angle with their wrist which could potentially block the ball out and away from you and possibly cause the dreaded, (dare I say it) the shanks! Yuk!
Secret Number 3: Control Pitch Shots with Height, NOT Spin
I participated in dozens of clinics that Jack would conduct for guests and sponsors and it was like clockwork someone would ask, “how do you create backspin?” The golf staff knew what was coming, we all new Jack’s response, “why would you want to do that?” There are two ways to stop a golf ball, one is with spin and the other was with height or trajectory. Jack did not want to stop a ball with spin as he thought it was too unpredictable. Jack preferred to stop it with trajectory. You could argue that this is one of the reasons he won so many green jackets. Too bad Sergio wasn’t at the clinic. It would have saved him five golf balls and another weekend at the Masters!
Secret 4 – Spend Your Time Practicing the Right Things
One day around the lunch table, Jack’s son Michael announced he was going to work on his short game. Immediately Jack made a profound statement, “why would you want to do that?” Hit more greens”, Jack said. At the time, I thought it was Jack being Jack until a few years ago when I read the book, Every Stroke Counts, where I learned the idea of strokes gained. Mark Broadie the author prolifically provides years of data using shot link technology proving that players who are winning every week are the players who are hitting their irons the closest; not the ones who putt the best. Moreover putting usually accounts for the least amount of shots gained. A concept Jack knew well before the data was collected.
Secret #5: Jack is Human Just Like the Rest of Us
When Jack was in town, he was at the club everyday. It allowed me to spend a huge amount of time around him and get to know him intimately. There are many occasions where Jack would lose touch with his swing. Times where he had no clue what was going on, just like the rest of us. However, regardless of what was out of touch the cure was always the same. Loosen up the paws. The Golden Bear would always rely on tension to be the biggest killer of a golf swing. Most of us grip the golf club like we are riding a Harley
Yes I’ve been teaching golf for over 20 years and have surrounded myself with people who have done it the best, including Jack Nicklaus, Jim Flick, Martin Hall, Michael Breed, and Jack Druga, to name a few. But, I can still relate to the average golfer and the frustration that this game of golf can create”.
I’m sure some of these insider secrets into the best golfer in history to date surprised you. Welcome to the inner circle and truth. That’s what we’re all about for your golf game.
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