Tai Chi 4 Golfers is a structured set of exercises and movements combined into a 15 to 30 minute workout routine golfers can utilize prior to a round of golf. The benefits of tc4golfers are:
- increased flexibility, stamina and endurance
- improved swing tempo and balance
- better ball striking
- enhanced clarity and focus on the golf course.
The overall result for the serious golfer is better course management and improved scoring ability. The general program is intended for golfers of all ages and lower to intermediate skill levels, both male and female. There are also customized workouts designed for higher skill levels and tournament players. For beginning and intermediate level golfers, emphasis is on techniques that improve balance, control, tempo and ball striking.
Young golfers will greatly benefit from understanding techniques for correct breathing, posture and lower body movement. During his early, formative years, Tiger Woods was coached by his father, who had spent a number of years in Asia and was familiar with many of the techniques for movement and breathing that form the basis of the tc4golfers program.
Young golfers will greatly benefit from understanding techniques for correct breathing, posture and lower body movement. During his early, formative years, Tiger Woods was coached by his father, who had spent a number of years in Asia and was familiar with many of the techniques for movement and breathing that form the basis of the tc4golfers program.
For the professional/tournament level player, tc4golfers provides the important bridge between swing coaching on one hand, and sports psychology on the other. Advanced techniques are presented that help improve the player's feel on the course, enhance the player's capacity to "see the shot; hit the shot," and as a result can improve the pace of play, and lower scores. Short game techniques are emphasized.
tc4golfers is especially beneficial for seniors. The physical aspects of the program improve leg strength, and flexibility, increase lung capacity, and improve balance and movement on the golf course. All these things make for a more enjoyable golfing experience. In addition, tc4golfers is a perfect solution for indoor practice when weather conditions don't permit course play.
tc4golfers is especially beneficial for seniors. The physical aspects of the program improve leg strength, and flexibility, increase lung capacity, and improve balance and movement on the golf course. All these things make for a more enjoyable golfing experience. In addition, tc4golfers is a perfect solution for indoor practice when weather conditions don't permit course play.
Hogan
Drills and exercises in tc4golfers are based on the swing principles presented in Ben Hogan's classic instruction manual FIVE LESSONS. The timeless beauty and grace of Hogan's swing are shown in the videos above.
His nine career professional major championships tie him (with Gary Player) for fourth all-time, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Furthermore, he remains one of only five golfers to have won all four major championships; (the Masters Tournament, the British Open, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship), the other four being Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
This is all the more incredible when you consider that just 4 years earlier he was in a disastrous auto accident that left him with:
- a hip broken in two places
- a broken collarbone
- fractured rib cage
- broken ankle
- severe blood clots that threatened his life
There were no hip or joint replacements during Hogan's years. Moreover, he had never played the British Open before winning there in 1953. Hogan played and practiced golf with only bare-hands. Moe Norman also did the same, playing and practicing without wearing any golf gloves. Both these players are/were arguably the greatest ball strikers golf has ever known; even Tiger Woods quoted them as the only players ever to have "owned their swings" in that they had total control of it and, as a result, the ball's flight.
His nine career professional major championships tie him (with Gary Player) for fourth all-time, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Furthermore, he remains one of only five golfers to have won all four major championships; (the Masters Tournament, the British Open, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship), the other four being Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
This is all the more incredible when you consider that just 4 years earlier he was in a disastrous auto accident that left him with:
- a hip broken in two places
- a broken collarbone
- fractured rib cage
- broken ankle
- severe blood clots that threatened his life
There were no hip or joint replacements during Hogan's years. Moreover, he had never played the British Open before winning there in 1953. Hogan played and practiced golf with only bare-hands. Moe Norman also did the same, playing and practicing without wearing any golf gloves. Both these players are/were arguably the greatest ball strikers golf has ever known; even Tiger Woods quoted them as the only players ever to have "owned their swings" in that they had total control of it and, as a result, the ball's flight.
Besides the seeming effortless power of his stroke, Hogan's swing is most notable for it's lack of 'moving parts.' Because there are very few 'moving parts', there is no wasted energy in the stroke. tc4golfers, in combination with Hogan's swing methodology, is designed to optimize the energy that goes into the golf swing, making the transfer of the 'programming' in the golfers' mind when conceiving the shot as efficient as possible.
This 'programming' transfer occurs at the time the club face strikes the golf ball. Hogan's fundamentals insure the club face meets the ball squarely behind it and stays in contact with the ball as long as possible. Another great thing about Hogan's principles is that they are scalable to any size or stature of golfer. Hogan himself was not a big man, yet he powered golf shots from the tee and off the fairways. As he himself said, "Anybody can do it."
You don't have to be big, or male, to swing like Hogan. Watch golfers like Yani Tseng, (who may just be the best golfer on the planet right now). She drives the ball over three hundred yards, yet is only 5' 4". Professional golfer Kendra Vallone demonstrates how she has applied Hogan's FIVE LESSONS to her swing. Click her photo above to see the video. Listen to the sound of her shots! Click your browser back button to return.
About Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese form of martial arts that emphasizes slow and deliberate movements, rhythmic breathing, correct posture and rotation of the torso. In many ways, Tai Chi is similar to Yoga, in that both disciplines emphasize controlled breathing, postures and flexibility.
Yoga, however is a static form of meditation. Tai Chi is meditation in motion; the tremendous health benefits gained from Tai Chi derive from the fact that Tai Chi exercises the body from the inside out. The movements in combination with controlled breathing stimulate all the internal organs, revitalizing and energizing the body. Tai Chi can improve the immune system, relieve symptoms of arthritis, reduce stress levels, improve digestion, and increase clarity and focus.
My expertise is in what is known as the Yang long form and consists of a total of 124 movements, separated into three sections or sets. The tc4golfers program is a distillation of specific breathing techniques, postures, and movements applied to the fundamentals of the golf swing. Most golfers are familiar with the term 'muscle memory.' tc4golfers expands that concept to include lung memory, circulation memory, nervous system memory and tactile memory so that all the body's relevant internal systems are focused on properly executing the golf shot.
If you are interested in getting more from your golf game, you will find that tc4golfers is the absolute best 30 minutes of preparation you can have for your next round. Post your comments, experiences, reactions to this blog below. Demonstrations, individual instruction and/or group lessons are available. You're invited to learn the principles of tc4golfers...and enjoy every swing!
