The Malay Golfer

Spot something new with me at the range!

If there's something strange in the neighbourhood, who you're gonna call?

Added a new assistant to my coaching and practice! Quite a big investment for me to be honest. However, moving from into an outdoor range, I really wanted something that could measure club data because it helps me to coach you guys better, help you guys understand what causes the ball to fly that way with numbers to prove it and more effective practice for myself. I've been able to create interesting lesson plan focusing on certain aspects of the club data!

I was looking into a few launch monitors primarily GC3 from Foresight Sports, FlightScope Mevo+ and ofcourse . It took me awhile to save it up and to commit to it but here I am, ! Committed to being a better player and serving my students better!

Last but not least, numbers don't lie!

This new carousel post is making it difficult to post using the Meta Business Suite, or am I just a noob!

Anyway here's a quick rundown of how many range balls you can get with $10. Just to paint a clearer picture, 100 balls can take you any where between 40-60mins to finish. Really depends how fast you hit. Do take note that you may not get bays during peak hours in a lot of places so your best bet would be larger driving ranges like Punggol or Orchid Country Club because they have more bays during those hours.

I know it's always syiok to hit it hard and see the ball fly so far. However that wouldn't be good for you when you're still learning the golf swing. Take your time to feel the "feels" of the swing. Figure out what and how you're feeling with the correct swing positions. Focus on how you're swinging, the impact location and the feels. Not on how far the ball flies or where the ball is flying.

If you're not hitting it, at least, close to the center of the clubface, direction and distance wouldn't even matter. So swing it slow, take it easy and grind on the fundamentals of the swing.

Like my friend told me, "I feel more impressive to hit 100 balls consistently than to hit a few long and far while the rest hancur (gone case)". What a model student this guy.

In the end, if you can execute the ideal movements with a slow swing, you can eventually get the speed up to get the ball flying further.

PS, a slow swing with a good contact might even be further than when you manage to hit a ball with your all-out just whack swing.

2 Things I've learnt after caddying for the HSBC Women's Championship National Qualifier.

1. It ain't over till it actually is
So many things can happen in golf. Your competitor could just screw up big time the next few holes or you can just be lucky the next few holes. Honestly, anything can happen. Aloysa was 2 strokes behind going into the 16th Hole. Typically I would think that's gameover because the skill level between the leader and the 2nd position players are usually very close. This means they're probably going to score the same result. But no lah gang, Aloysa missed the birdie on hole 16, while the leader bogeyed. So now, 1 stroke behind going into hole 17. Aloysa birdies, the leader par. So boom and just like that, they were all tied going into the last hole. So all down to the last hole. Unfortunately, a bogey for Aloysa cost her the playoff. The fight isn't over until it actually is.

Ofcourse if you're 10 strokes behind the leader going into the last hole then it's gameover lah. Main point is weird stuff happens in golf. Keep fighting until you are very certain it's over. It affects your mental game

2. Golf is really a competition with yourself
You don't actually go head to head with someone. All you need to do is execute what you need to execute. Ultimately you have no control over your opponent's action. Whatever they do doesn't actually matter because golf is just about you and your own golf. And if you fail to achieve the result you wanted, you can only blame yourself. And that is why Golf is tough.

PS, if you can't execute what you have to, just means it's back to the drawing block and practice!

I've seen many beginners who do not have their alignment correct causing them to start too outside or inside on their takeaway. For some, fixing your alignment may just be something you need to change to get you to swing more on the plane.

First Golf fitness certification. Next up, when I can afford it, TPI certification?

Golf Fitness Specialization (GFS) • Syafiq Bin Rahiman • NASM Badges Show colleagues and clients you're certified by the most respected name in fitness with an NASM badge. Add to your resume, LinkedIn profile, Twitter and more.

Understanding what an impact position is important!

If you know how it looks like you are then able to start your golf swing journey on the correct foot. Remember, you're not trying to scoop the ball when you're swinging the club, especially not with the irons.

Here's a quick run through!
1. More weight distributed to the lead side
2. Shaft Lean towards target
3. Hips rotated towards target
4. Shoulders rotated towards target

If you need help understanding it, dm me!

Over my time working in The Golf Lab @ MST as well as SingaGolf Academy, i've came across comments like "launch monitor not accurate", "need launch monitor for what" or "for what train indoors, see the ball fly can already". The most laughable comment has always been the this launch monitor not accurate leh, outside I hit way further.

So let's explore what a launch monitor can do for your swing and your game together!

If you don't believe me that changing your grip will feel awkward, here are some other people who feel the same too. OH AND said it too! So if you're going to change your grip, stick to it because it will be hard and uncomfortable!

Ps, this goes for other changes you do with your swing too!

Stop overlooking the grip! How you grip is very important in the swing! It has a lot of impact if done wrongly. For example, holding in the palm. That's a no-no! The grip can also affect how and where your ball flies. So pay close attention to how you grip at the start.

PS, if you skim through how you grip and you become comfortable with it. The next time you actually try to change it, it's going to be a very challenging and awkward feeling that you will have to put yourself through.

To sway or not to sway? Let's look at 2 pros and see if they sway. More of it coming in part 2 video! If it's all a blur to you, what's more obvious is that they never cross that left diagonal lines along their trail foot.

A quick summary of some possibilities of swing issues you may get with swaying too much!

Quick rundown on What is sway? Is Sway all that bad?

Sway do exist in a swing and even for the pros. However, too much sway will set you in some kind of trouble. Stay tuned as we explore more about swaying!

Beginner Golf Lesson! An all inclusive affordable package! Just bring yourself and enjoy the process! Equipment will be provided too! Free trial available too! DM me for any enquiries!

For my beginner/novice friends out there that wants to buy golf clubs but not a beginner package set :

The first and easiest thing would be to look for the widest iron sole available. Some examples are G430 irons, JPX Hot metal series or Qi10 irons. Stock Graphite or Steel, honestly if you're just starting out graphite would feel better when you're hitting it.

If you need more help, feel free to DM me and I can recommend you some guys and places that can help you select the right irons or golf set for your needs 😉

Frequently Asked Questions Series!

QN: How many times a week should you practice?
ANS: Ideally as much as you can but as a coach I do understand that we are always busy so minimally, practice once a week that's outside your lesson. Lessons do not count as practice. Practice helps to enforce certain movements and drills that you've learnt during the lesson.

The golf swing is in fact very technical and requires to practice certain movements that some of us don't know how to perform effectively. Like any new skill you want to learn, practice makes perfect. So remember practice as much as you can and you'll see that your improvement would be slightly quicker than those that don't have any practice sessions between their weekly lessons.