Nancy Quarcelino School of Golf - Blog

Beginning this Friday, April 29, 2011 you will have the opportunity to purchase the new revolutionary Nike 20XI golf ball. You may have already read about it in golf magazines or heard about it on the Golf Channel.

Make a comment »

Every year over 40,000 golf professionals, buyers, and others converge in Orlando, FL to attend the PGA Merchandise Show.  As I walked through the PGA show this year I had all you golfers in mind. 

I was on a mission to discover the best training aids and products available to help you improve your game and your practice.  So here is my list of favorites for 2011.

These are no particular order and all good for your game:

1. Swiftwick socks. Socks? Yes, the next technology that the golf industry will look at is what actually connects golfers to the ground; your feet, shoes and your socks.  Swiftwick delivers a competitive advantage through their technology.  I have tried them out and they are great! www.swiftwick.com

2. Pivot Pro. This training aid helps you with many parts of your game.  It helps you with your sway or reverse pivot, weight shift, transfer of energy and power on the downswing and also ideal for helping you with your short game.  www.pivotpro.net

3. Power Lag Pro. This is probably the hardest thing to teach in golf, how to lag the club for more distance.  Many of you release your hands too soon on the downswing losing your power source and distance.  This simple device helps to create the feel you are looking for to get distance back into your game.  www.powerlagpro.com

4. Flat Wrist Pro. Everyone wants to hit down on the ball at impact.  Hitting the ball more solid and with a flat left wrist at impact will help you create more distance you are looking for.  Again, a very simple training aid that packs a powerful punch.  www.flatwristpro.com

5. Golf Stretching Pole. I have had this training aid on my lesson tee for many years.   Flexibility is the most important aspect in making a correct and full golf swing. www.golfstretchingpole.com

6. Speed Whoosh. More club head speed gives you more distance.  This product helps you get more distance and improves the timing of your golf swing.  I am really excited about using this product on the lesson tee.  www.speedwhoosh.com

7. Orange Whip. This product has been around for several years. Consistent use of the Orange Whip will improve your golf swing and provide an essential core-muscle workout.  Again with better strength and flexibility, you will hit the ball farther.  www.orangewhiptrainer.com

8. Orange Peel. Balance is the primary element of an athletic motion.  Using the Orange Peel along with the Orange Whip helps you improve your balance and improve your swing plane.  www.orangewhiptrainer.com

9. The Swinkey. This product does virtually everything.  It protects your driver when you travel, it serves as a fitness bar/stretching pole, is serves as a weighted swing trainer increasing your speed, it monitors your set up position for full swing, it is a putting stroke trainer keeping the shaft on plane, and I am sure many more functions I have not yet seen.  www.swinkeygolf.com

10. Bushnell Golf. The new hybrid laser rangefinder/GPS is the latest and greatest rangefinder on the market.  I can’t wait for mine to arrive and start using on the golf course.  www.bushnell.com

Make a comment »

Why do women buy men’s equipment?  I wish I knew.  Is the perception that men’s equipment is better than lades?  Do you think a men’s 7 iron goes farther than a ladies 7 iron just because it is longer?  I wish that I could teach every golfer the importance of having properly fitted clubs, but it all falls into deaf ears when you go to purchase golf clubs off the rack.

Today, I had a lesson with a woman who specifically asked about the length of her driver.  She thought her club was too long and I agreed.  But what I showed her was that the driver length made her posture too tall.  She was too close to the ball and too tall just because she had a men’s length club in her hand.

When I got her into a more athletic position at set up, she had to grip down on the driver and shorten the club naturally.  From that position she could then hit the ball and not change her posture.

When we sell golf clubs to our customers we will ultimately give you what you want.  If you want the longer clubs because of the perception you will hit the ball longer, then we are obligated to sell you that longer club. But, I promise you I will make a suggestion that you may lose your athletic posture and then change your swing shape to accommodate that added length you may not need.  That too is my responsibility.

I had that same mentality.  I am 5 foot 2 inches tall and was fitted for men’s length clubs.  But when I was fit properly for my driver (43 inches long), I hit the ball farther and more consistent than I ever did.

When I got my first set of clubs, 42 inches was the standard ladies length driver and 43 inches was standard men’s length driver.  Now a 46 inch driver is the norm which means 45 is normal for women.  I know Tiger Woods hits with a 44 inch driver.  The lady I had today on the lesson tee plays with a longer driver than Tiger.  That is just wrong!  But that is the industry standard. It still doesn’t make it right.    

Make a comment »