Pro Golf 101
(you can ask Tina a question and read past answers at the end of this intro. or by clicking here!)
The Mini Tour Lingo
By Tina Miller, Touring Pro/TV Personality
Hello ISAG readers! I would like to take the time to introduce myself. My name is Tina Miller and I am a professional golfer playing on a variety of mini-tours. For those of you who have never seen or heard of me before, I am currently on the Golf Channel’s hit reality TV Show, The Big Break Ka’anapali, which can be viewed Tuesday nights at 10PM ET only on the Golf Channel. I am honored to be writing a column of golf tips for the ISAG readers and I truly hope that you enjoy them.
For this introductory article, I am actually not going to give you golf tips but going to tell you a little bit of background information about myself and what it is like to be a professional golfer, not at the highest level, but rather on the smaller scale.
When I tell most people that I am a professional golfer they either get jealous or think it is much more glamorous than reality. Truth is, I have been fortunate enough, in my three years of professional golf, to actually participate in many extra curricular activities with the sport such as modeling and becoming a TV personality. This has given me added exposure, but I am no Cindy Crawford so they do not pay me the big bucks…yet! Before all the modeling and TV appearances kicked off last year, I was what you would call a struggling mini-tour pro…actually I still am.
For the last two years I played on the Duramed Futures Tour, which is the official developmental tour to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). There were 18 events, from March till September, most of which I drove to, in my car. The drive from McAllen, TX to El Paso, TX was by far one of the longest and most draining car rides I have ever experienced. Most girls on the Futures Tour travel in their cars. Some have the great fortune to travel with family, swing coaches, and trainers, however, my financial situation does not allow for that! My XM satellite radio and I hit the road and went all around the US together.
A typical week on tour consists of Monday is travel day. Tuesday and Wednesday are practice rounds. Thursday is a Pro-Am. This gives amateurs an opportunity to mingle and play golf with a professional female golfer, but for the pros it is hard work because we want to entertain you! Friday thru Sunday is tournament “game” time and then you repeat this every week for about 5 weeks straight. You also try to fit in your exercise routine at least three times a week. The off weeks are nice, but mainly it is traveling to the next state and working even more on our swings and games.
My rookie year, on the Duramed Futures Tour (2006) went well and I finished top 50 on the money list, however, the money was not good. My only hope in making it to the LPGA was paying the 5k for LPGA Qualifying School, which was my entire earnings for the year, not including all the money I spent on expenses (typical expenses on the Duramed Futures Tour are about $30k). For the women, Qualifying School consists of local and sectional stages. At the local stage, four rounds tare played and at the final stage you play five rounds, with a four-round-cut to the top 65 players. Out of those girls, only between 5-15 girls, get full LPGA Tour status. In short, it is hard to make it out on the LPGA.
I missed getting my LPGA card by just 1 shot in 2006. It was huge let down and I ended up having my worst year of golf the following year, 2007. I missed keeping my Futures Tour card and ended up signing up for a mini-tour that shut down two months ago, the Victory Tour.
But the light at the end of my tunnel in 2007, was being selected to be on the Golf Channel’s hit show, The Big Break as well as Golf Channel’s Golf With Style. I have also been able to model for Sunice golf clothing catalogs and website, Play Golf Designs.com, Athlete Web Services.com and Binders.com.
This year I plan on playing the Canadian Tour and Cactus Tour (which is based out of Phoenix, AZ, in August). From there I plan to head over to Palm Springs for LPGA Q-school and possibly go over to Europe for Ladies European Tour qualifying in September.
While the money is not great out on the mini tours, I still love the game and I still love to compete that is why I am going to continue to roll along and hold my head up high. I know that I will one day be out on the LPGA, it is just taking me longer than I expected, and all these little road blocks will make victory taste even sweeter once I am there!
I just want to say thank you to Ken Tonks with ISUCKATGOLF.NET for selecting me to do these articles. I look forward to helping your games both in the gym and on the links!
Thank you for reading my column and thank you for your support.
Click here to ASK TINA a question!
VIDEO SWING ANALYSIS
(August 08)
How to sleep/relax before big match?
Young golfer shouldn't get too technical
Tina's Tips of the Month:
(JULY 08) 4 Putting Tips..
(May,08)
Hi Tina,
I just took up the game last year and found out it's much harder than it looks on TV! Do you have any suggestions for someone starting out in the game? I'd like to get good enough to play competitively one day. I'm already breaking 100 and have shot 88 once last year. I can hit the ball pretty far compared to most girls I've played with, and I've been taking lessons. Wanted to know how long it took you to start shooting "low" scores and if you have any exercise routine you follow that might help my game. I'm in pretty good shape and tall. (5-11) I think that's an advantage. I wish I would have gotten into golf sooner, as I love the game now but feel I'm a little behind. )I'm 16)
Thanks very much,
Linda
Tempe Arizona
Linda:
Great to hear from you! Thank you for your question and a good one at that! Thank you for pointing out that the game of golf is much harder than it looks on TV, it indeed is. First, it is never too late to get involved in the game and the best in women's golf, Annika Sorenstam, picked up the game at 14 so you are not too far off. I started when I was 7 and started shooting in the 70s by 11. You are more mature than me because you are older and you can do anything that you put your mind to. Set small immediate goals now like: I want to hit 14 out of 14 fairways or I want to hit 12 greens. I think if you find you can do those things, your scores will be lower. Remember to try and stay in the present and focus only at the task at hand, so if you are on the tee, just pick your target and focus solely on that.
In terms of fitness, since you are only 16, your body will change. You are tall, which is a huge help for a great arch in your golf swing. I would work on flexibility. Do yoga if you can because it is a great way to maintain your youthful flexibility. Also try to work on your core with crunches and try and do at least 20 minutes of cardio, like bike riding, 3-4 days a week. Biking is a great way to keep the legs in shape while getting your cardio for the week. Cardio is necessary so you do not feel weak before you finish your 18th hole and to help you maintain endurance.
I hope my answer has helped you. Thank you for your interest in the game. I wish you the best of luck in your future!
Tina
(June 08)
CLUB |
NAME |
| Driver | Adams Insight Tour 4350 8.5 degree |
| Woods | 3WD Adams Insight 14.5 degree Prototype |
| Hybrids | 19 degree Rescue Hybrid(mid) & 22 degree Rescue Hybrid(mid) |
| Irons | 4 & 5 iron Taylor Made RAC OS, Taylor Made R7 irons 6-PW |
| Wedges | Taylor Made Black, 54 & 60 degree |
| Putter | Heavy Putter B1-M 32" |
| Ball | Taylor Made Red Ball |
How To sleep/relax before a big match?
(July 08)
Hi Tina,
Love your pictures on the web site by the way! If you ever need a 4th keep me in mind! My question is do you have trouble relaxing and falling asleep the night before a tournament or any important match? If so do you have any tips on what to do? I always can't sleep before any kind of tournament and my legs are dead the next day, which means I'm fighting a hook all day!
Thanks,
Mike M. (N. J.)
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the compliments. If you would like to play with me you can contact my friend, Nisha Sadekar with Playgolfdesigns.com and set up a personalized round! That would be fun!!!
As per your question...that is a tough one! It depends on what tournament and where I stand. I try to do things in the evening of tournaments to get my mind off the golf. Working out in the early evening, for me, is a great way to feel relaxed afterward. I will usually hit up the gym, go ge! t dinner and then hit the hotel room and just RELAX...If I am in the lead of a tournament that means a LOT to me (ie. my sophomore year at Miami, the Big East Championships) I have no problem falling asleep, I have a problem eating breakfast! I am not saying to do drugs or anything but maybe take a NyQuil? LOL...but the best way I look at it is...OK I have shot 94 in a US OPEN, it cannot get much worse than that and what is the worse thing I can do? CHOKE, shoot a high score? Big deal because the only person I need to go out there and play for, is myself! I hope that this helps and thanks again for your questions...keep them coming!
Tina
(July 08)
4 Putting Tips So You Do NOT 4 Putt!
I play golf with many amateur golfers in outings and Pro-Am's around the country. From the 20 handicapper, to the scratch golfer- it is always funny to hear them give me their take on reading the greens and how to putt, but I am quite happy with my putting and love to offer advice to those that need it. This month my putting tips are quite simple and can easily be implemented into your practice and on-course play. If your course has a little golf cup cut into the green and you wonder what that is- it is by far the best thing to putt to. Putt to that cup from about 3 ft, no further. Then go and look at a regulation size cup, it looks like a basketball net! Those are the best way to build confidence. If your course does not have those, here are some tips for you.
First, when you line up your putt- line it up with the Pro V1x or Black TP line going at your intended line. This is an easy way to get your putter lined up and to get your ball headed in the right direction. It helps for visual purposes while setting up to it as well.
Secondly, this tip is something that even Tiger Woods does. When you are on the putting green, to get your putter head square, place two tees in the ground on either side of your putter head. For example: place your putter on the ground and then place a tee at the toe of the putter and one at the heel. Give yourself a bit of room and start out putting short putts (i.e... 3 feet) and work your way back. This gets your putter head square at impact.
My third tip is to listen to the ball go in the hole. Do not lift your head until you hear the ball drop in the hole. When amateurs and pros lift their heads before the ball goes in the hole (or peek) this causes a "yip" and that is not a word we want in our vocabulary. This also promotes you to hold the line of your putting stroke. It is weird at first, but trust me, this works.
My fourth and final tip is one that my longtime friend Cristie Kerr gave to me when I was 16 years old. Take 4 tees. Make a cross (put 1 tee at 12 o'clock, another at 3, 6 and 9) around the hole from about 3 feet. You take 3 balls and have to make all 3 from each spot. Once you do a full rotation, you move back another 3 ! feet. If you miss, you go back to the position you started from and start over again. You do this till you sink all of them from 12 feet. Good luck- it is harder than it sounds and once you do this, it builds your confidence when out on the course, because you know you have done it in practice and you might as well practice how you play!
Hope these little tips help!
Tina
PS: I improved my putting strokes average by 3 putts per round when I switched to my Heavy Putter B1-M. I had a 35'' putter and switched to a 32'' putter. It got my eyes and head over the ball more and I can see the line better when I am at address. Sometimes new magic helps too ;)
(August 08)
Tina,
My daughter is 11 and has a handicap of 25. She's got real promise but one thing is letting her down. Every so often, usually with her 7 wood or occasionally her driver, she'll pull the ball way left or even 'top' it.It's usually with the 7 wood that she'll cold top-it a few yards when it ought to be going about 160! I've been advised that her right elbow might be flying a bit so we've tried many times to practice swing with a small towel under her arm and keeping hold of it. This has worked to a certain extent but today nothing would go right and she feels as though things are never going to improve.
Thanks,
H
Dear H,
That is amazing that your daughter is 11 years old and already is being told that she has a flying elbow. I don't think I knew what that was at that age...ha!
Which arm is she putting a towel under? This could be part of the reason she is coming over the top. Many instructors believe to eliminate a flying elbow that they should stick a towel or headcover underneath the right arm- not always the case. I would honestly have to take a look at your daughter's swing to give an accurate assessment,but what I have been taught is to stick a playing card or credit card (one obviously that you do not want to lose!) or even an old golf glove under her left arm ( I am assuming she is right handed). Try that a few times.
Another thing is since she is only 11 years old, allow her to build some raw natural talent and not to be too technical. If she becomes technical at a young age, she will be for the rest of her career and I have seen many "Leadbetter" students quit golf after high school because of this. There has to be a happy medium for the two.
When I was 11, I did not understand the swing much but I was shooting in the high 30s for nine holes just by getting it done. Granted, I wanted to kill the ball and hit it close, but most times it worked. I would say an important time for her to be more technical would be in her early years of high school.
Thanks for the question, if you have video of her swing maybe I can take a look and try and help her out ...I bet she is slightly having a flying elbow but it is probably not as bad as you think...if her timing is right then she should be able to hit the ball OK anyway most of the time. It's all about timing!
Tina
11 year old girl with flying right elbow, or something else?
(August 08)
Tina,
My daughter is 11 and has a handicap of 25. She's got real promise but one thing is letting her down. Every so often, usually with her 7 wood or occasionally her driver, she'll pull the ball way left or even 'top' it.It's usually with the 7 wood that she'll cold top-it a few yards when it ought to be going about 160! I've been advised that her right elbow might be flying a bit so we've tried many times to practice swing with a small towel under her arm and keeping hold of it. This has worked to a certain extent but today nothing would go right and she feels as though things ain't never going to improve.
Thanks,
Heath
Dear Heath,
That is amazing that your daughter is 11 years old and already is being told that she has a flying elbow. I don't think I knew what that was at that age...ha! Which arm is she putting a towel under? This could be keep the reason she is coming over the top. Many instructors believe to eliminate a flying elbow that they should stick a towel or headcover underneath their arm- not always the case. I would honestly have to take a look at your daughter's swing to give an accurate reasoning but what I have been taught is to stick a playing card or credit card (one obviously that you do not want to loose) or even an old golf glove under her left arm ( I am assu! ming she is right handed). Try that a few times. Another thing is, she is 11 years old, allow her to build some raw natural talent and not to be too technical. If she becomes technical at a young age, she will be for the rest of her career and I have seen many "Leadbetter" students quit golf after high school because of this. There has to be a happy medium for the two.
When I was 11, I did not understand the swing much but I was shooting in the high 30s for nine holes just by getting it done. Granted, I wanted to kill the ball and hit it close, but most times it worked. I would say an important time for her to be more technical would be in her early years of high school.
Thanks for the question, if you have video of her swing maybe I can take a look and try and help her out...I bet she has a slight flying elbow, but probably not as bad as you think...if her timing is right then she should be able to hit the ball OK anyway. Most of the time it is all about timing.
Tina
Tina's analysis of Rhiannon's swing |
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Visit www.tinamillergolf.com and www.myspace.com/ROXYGOLFGIRL for bio, pictures and much more! Support Tina by visiting and responding on the Golf Channel Discussion boards
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Professional golfer/celebrity Tina Miller |
