B.O.S.U. Ball
 

As per Yoda's recommendation in another thread, I purchased one of these, and it arrived today. If this thing can't stop my ugly sway, than nothing can. My calves are already trembling from just trying to stand on the thing!

The Beginner Jedi Test
 

Like I mentioned in a prior thread, Yoda gave me the real test. First go to Yodas house (it's the one under the big Redwood tree) and within 30 minutes after arrival, you get the test.

• Step one - Yoda liquors you up with two martini's.
• Step two - He takes you to the gameroom and has you get on the BOSU ball, no, don't bother taking off your cowboy boots.
• Step three - He hands you a weighted club while you are standing on it.
• Step four - He puts the impact bag at low point
• Step five - look in the mirror(s) to check your alignments
• Step six - Make 3 or 4 full swings, and keep your wedges intact, bring the entire clubshaft into the bag, no falling off.

I didn't get any special Jedi rankings, but he didn't boot me out of the house. So there you go, practice up and you may get a free stay with the Master!:D

Sheesh!
 

Hit the impact bag? That ought to be fun! Guess I'll give it a try....

The next step, there is.
 

You must stay on the BOSU the entire time until The Master says you have completed the test.

It goes something like this.

"Completed the first test you have. A Jedi you will become. Move the impact bag beyond low point and hit it again you will. Do or do not, there is no try. Truth the Bosu will tell."

Balance Training With the BOSU Ball
 

The theme of this week's (March 4) issue of Golfweek magazine is fitness for golfers. The cover story -- Love the Burn -- features Davis Love and his trainer Randy Myers of the Titleist Performance Institute.

After years at PGA National in south Florida, Myers began his program at Sea Island last June. It focuses on maintaining the heart rate through a series of exercises that are designed to increase balance and core stability first and build muscle almost as an afterthought. The highlight of the workout is what Myers calls the "Big 60." The program features six exercises with 10 reps per position performed while standing on a BOSU ball. The article is illustrated with a photo of Love standing one-legged on a BOSU ball with dumbells.

"The new age of training is to position yourself in balanced patterns and work that into the golf swing."

-- Randy Myers

It sure is nice to see folks stressing the importance of balance!

Not too many years ago, the main stream instructors and texts treated balance as an afterthought.

Hogan knew it wasn't and helped Knudson 'get it'.

Homer knew - it was ESSENTIAL

Almost 'imperative', I would argue ;)

A stable machine. An efficient machine.

Machine's don't fall over people do.

Sorting Through the Duffer's Bible.

B-Ray

Homer Kelley On Balance
 

In 1-L, Homer Kelley tells us that "In every athletic activity, success seems to be unquestionably proportional to the player's sense of balance and force -- whether inate or acquired. Off-balance force is notoriously erratic. The mechanical device has no balance problem but the human machine does, and mastery of the Pivot (Zone #1) is so essential for good Golf." [Bold and bold italics by Yoda.]

And he defined Zone #1 -- that would be Zone #1 -- as Body Control - Balance.

His Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3) lists 45 mission-critical alignments. The first item is "Stance-Balance" and the last is "Balance-Body Position."

Guess we know his feelings on the subject. :cool:

In Byron Nelson's book, "Shape Your Swing the Modern Way", Horton Smith is quoted as saying:

"I never saw Byron hit a shot on which he lost his balance. Regardless of the terrain, I never once saw him off balance"

This under the heading of 'Balance Marks a Good Player'.

Byron's comment to the quote:

"That was a great compliment"

This combined with Byron stressing the importance of a steady head, and a pivot center tripod.

No doubt as to why he still hold the record for most wins in a single season, and most wins in a row.