Uploaded videos (playlist)

Bounce You Way to a Better Wedge Game!

By Bernard Sheridan

One of the best things you can do for your short game is to learn more about bounce.

Bounce is the depth of the trailing edge of the sole of your wedge. If the bounce is high( represented by a number- higher 12- lower - 8) the leading edge of the club will sit off of the ground at address if you set the club up on the bounce. This high number is the club to hit when you are in soft sand or a fluffy lie in deep rough. The lower the bounce the better it is off of tight lies and firm conditions in the bunker.

Let's say you hit your approach shot into the bunker on a rainy day. When you get in you can feel the sand under your feet is wet and firm. This is when you pull out your wedge with a bounce of 8. Now the leading edge can dig in shallow and pick the sand and the ball out. The reverse would be true if you where in a bunker with soft sand and lots of it. If your feet were to dig down deep you would use more bounce like a 10 or 12. This would take more sand and make the shot easier to get up and out landing softly. You should have at least two different types of wedges in your bag to vary the bounce on different lies that you might face during your round. So stop by your local ProShop and check out some different wedges. Hit a few of each bounce and see how it will help your game.

2013 US Open Merion Golf Club Returns

By Bernard Sheridan
CEO/Founder/Director of Instruction
Par Breakers Golf Academy


This June the U.S. Open returns to Merion Golf Club in Haverford Pa. This historic return of the biggest golf event of the year has the Philadelphia area a buzz with anticipation. Many of my students come into Par Breakers and a main topic is this years Open Championship. Even though the layout is short (under 7000 yards) by U.S. Open standards Merion will prove a hard test to the players of today as it's did to past champions. With high rough and blind shots into tucked pins and around dog legs the last five holes will be a stern test. We will see lots of irons off the tee and players will have to carve their shots carefully. Favorites will be Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley. All of these players have the game to shape their shots into and around corners. Tiger's game is spot on going into this event and now that things are falling in place so will the putts on the fast small greens of this iconic site. Many past champions of old claimed their place in golfing history at Merion. Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam here and Ben Hogan made his remarkable comeback form being close to the grave in a car crash. Lee Trevino carved his spot in a playoff to Jack Nicklaus in 1971. Who do you think will make their mark in the golfing history books this year? Leave you comment below and let us know your pick.
Mine is Tiger! From Par Breakers Golf Academy, I'll see you at the U.S.Open at Merion 2013!

To play the best golf of your live and "Take Control of Your Game"!  Come to Par Breakers Golf Academy in Limerick Pa. or call 215-518-0435.

Par Breakers tests 3D Swing program in May-June 2013

Par Breakers will be testing a new 3D swing program to add to it's lesson program. Swing Guru is a 3D swing analysis program that shows the students swing from several angles along with weight shift plate to see everything about your swing. it can also be used as a practice program so Par Breakers students can work on staying on plane and get instant feedback as to where their swing is at any point of the swing arc. This is cutting edge and Par breakers will be testing this product for the next 30 days starting May 21st, 2013. For more information check out this link Swing Guru. If you would like to be a part of testing this new software at Par Breakers give us a call at 215-518-0435 and sent up your appointment to "Take Control of your Game!"

Find your personal tempo to improve your putting

• By Bernard Sheridan, SwingFix instructor
• May 1, 2013 10:00 AM ET

Tempo is something that is built into us as human beings.
When we walk our arms go back and forth at the same pace. This is because we live on a gravity driven planet.
We need to use this natural tempo that evolution has built into us to control our distance on both long and short putts.
Let’s do a little test so you can check your personal tempo.
Let your arms hang by your side and throw away your arm like you were throwing a ball to someone next to you. Then just let your arm fall back. Don’t hold it back or force it back. Just let it fall.
Now, do the same with a putter in your hands.
Just throw the putter back and let it fall. Let it hit the ball as it falls and check the distance the ball travels. Now throw it back the same distance again with another ball and let it fall and hit the ball.
Did that ball travel the same distance as the first one?
It did if you threw back the putter the same distance on the backstroke, and now you are finding your own tempo to control distance.
The longer your backstroke the longer the putt will roll. The putter’s tempo as it falls will always be the same. The force of impact will change only with the length of your backstroke.
Give this a try on the putting green and see how much better your own tempo will help you control distance on the greens.
Take an online lesson with Bernard Sheridan.

• Tags: SwingFix, Putting, practice, tempo

C.J. Bell Wins match at Philly Pub Links Team Match Play at Jeffersonville

By Bernard Sheridan

Par Breakers Golf Academy student C.J. Bell ( Photo left ) competed in The Philly Pub Links match play Championship at Jeffersonvile Golf Course a Donald Ross layout this past weekend 04/28/13. C.J. has been a student since the Fall of 2012. he has taken six one hour lessons and his game is progressing nicely. Here is a look at a few word CJ wrote me in an an email 04/29/2013.

 Hi Bernie,

Just wanted to let you know our club at Cobbs Creek won the Philly Publinks Match Play Championship this weekend against other local clubs:

http://www.phillypublinks.com/teamchampscoresheet13

I swept my matches (we play 3 6-hole matches for a pt each, then another pt for the full 18 hole match) with my low score of the season at Jeffersonville. Shot 76, have never shot lower than 85 at that course from the back tees. Finished it off in style with a 280 yard drive down the middle and wedge to 6 feet for birdie on my last hole.

Thanks again for the help with the swing, cya on Thursday.

Congratulations C.J. on your win and here's to many more to come for you and all of the students who compete in events around the Philly section.

Par Breakers Golf Academy Joins The Putting Zone Team

Par Breakers Golf Academy Director of Instruction had three days of training with Geoff Mangum Founder of The Putting Zone at Spring Hollow Golf Course. The Putting Zone is the most
scientific method to putting to date. This method allows the player to swing freely to their natural tempo. Find their own distance control with touch and understand how to read greens along with aim. Once the player understands these perimeters a smooth fluid stroke will appear and putts will begin to drop from any distance. The Putting Zone is by far the only way to putt lights out on a regular basis. So if you want to drop more putts and shots off your score make sure you contact Par Breakers Golf Academy in Limerick PA. 215-518-0535. You are guaranteed to drop more putts or your money back!