Edel Wedge Fittings (and Innovative Full Bag Practice) now Available - Weekends in Pleasanton
I was inspired last Sunday. I visited Eric Jones at the Pleasanton Golf Center Driving Range on Valley Ave. That’s where he holds his supervised practice sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10-12.
John Ruark and I were there to demonstrate the Focus Band to Eric’s “Lab Rats” as he so fondly calls his students.
Eric is an Old Friend, Stanford Golfer, Assistant Coach, Tournament Player, World Long Drive Champion (2003), Husband, Seaver Golf Academy Founder, PGA Member, Father, Masters in Sports Psychology, Author, Internet Entrepreneur, Competitor and Teacher.
Long-time Golf Equipment Chronicles readers know Eric from eight years ago – when he was developing his theories and testing his ideas teaching every Thursday at the Golf Lab. Eric is on the “cutting edge” of golf instruction – worldwide.
If you’re working on a more consistent golf game, there is no better way to combine intellectual and physical workouts than Eric’s “supervised practice”. Eric’s ultimate goal to help his students learn how to play the GAME OF GOLF as quickly as possible.
Seaver Golf Academy at Pleasanton Golf Center and The Bridges
Eric’s Coaching Program at the Pleasanton Golf Center Driving Range is the best value in golf if hitting practice balls is part of your practice routine and you’re not in a club where practice balls are “free”.
Supervised practice is held at the back end of the Pleasanton Golf Center range on Valley Ave. at 10:00 AM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Eric is there, on the tee line – watching for the little things that make a difference. This is not a makeover project. It’s an insurance policy for players who know they’re pretty good but don’t want to fall into mistakes. Get your work done by noon.
It is a private environment. Back end of the range (Gate 12 on Valley Ave.). Eric is there with a few of his clients. People come and go. There might be three, maybe thirteen. There is no pressure. You’re there to wrap some myelin on your nerves with repetitive motion.
Finding a place where you can hit a lot of balls to targets you can see from a natural grass surface is not that easy to find in the Bay Area.
I signed up for a one month program. $256. (Half month is available if you want a “taste”). The 45 minute drive from San Carlos is a daunting hurdle but If I only trek to Pleasanton one day a week and hit 500 balls per session – 10 cents per ball = $200 cost of balls – you get the idea. I’ll meet you at the Pleasanton Golf Center starting next week.
I’m hoping Eric will be kind with his advice.
For the truly motivated: 12 sessions, 500 balls per session. $600 in balls alone. If you’re thinking about “deep practice” you get the idea.
The Setting
You’re facing west. The sun is behind you in the morning. You can see ball flight like an eagle sees a mouse.
The key to making time for training and practice is to make your practice as meaningful as possible. An important aspect of practice is knowing how far you hit each club. The Pleasanton Golf Center is flat with plenty of targets.
One of the services that we promised – just waiting for the right location – is “bag gapping” with the Flightscope. Pleasanton is the perfect location to spend three productive hours one morning in the near future. The first hour should be devoted to letting radar tell you how far you hit every club in your bag.
Spend your second hour in an Edel wedge fitting. It is possible that your wedge is causing your short game problems. Find out for sure.
Another hour can be spent Edel wedge against your own wedges down “wedge street”. Do you know how far you hit every wedge in your bag?
Here’s a very interesting blog post by Eric on the importance of mapping every club in your bag for maximum, minimum and average distances.
http://targetcenteredgolf.com/newsletter-how-to-improve-your-golf-game-part-3-iron-distance-control/
Sunday is for Golf
If this all sounds interesting and you’d like to check it out THIS SUNDAY – I’ll be in Pleasanton from 10 until 12 Sunday morning. I want to get my 500 wedge shots in but I’ll bring the Edel fitting system if anyone would like to schedule a fitting for Sunday morning. Call Bob to schedule. 650-654-1770.
Last Sunday we picked up a couple of players – Mike Kelly and Heather Hughes and met up at the Palo Alto Muni. Sunday afternoon is a great time for golf. You can use your imagination – “Sunday afternoon at a Major” is always a great fantasy. That’s the time of day drama happens.
Next Sunday we’ll head from Pleasanton up the road a couple of stops to The Bridges. That will be an interesting test for anyone working on their game. I have still never finished a round on that course with the same ball – a pet peeve – and now also a challenge.
If you want to join Heather, Mike and me – give Bob a call.