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Keep It Simple - Six Habits That Will Help Your Handicap
Keep It Simple - Six Habits That Will Help Your Handicap
Sometimes the simplest advice pays the greatest dividends. Usually people see a pro hoping for a magic tip, or to be enlightened on the intricacies of grip, stance, and posture-when all they really need are some good golf habits!
So here it is: Our list of the six top ways to lower your scores and your handicap.
1. Move Up
Having trouble achieving a mental breakthrough?
Try playing from the forward tees, in order to alter your comfort zone and lower your scores. Playing a shorter course will instill a "go-for-par" or birdie mindset that will stick with you when you return to your accustomed tees.
If you can't score any better from the forward tees, consider it a message that you need extra work on your short game!
2. Do it Daily
Try playing from the forward tees, in order to alter your comfort zone and lower your scores. Playing a shorter course will instill a "go-for-par" or birdie mindset that will stick with you when you return to your accustomed tees.
If you can't score any better from the forward tees, consider it a message that you need extra work on your short game!
2. Do it Daily
Ben Hogan once said he hated to miss a day of practice because this meant it was one more day before he could get better.
While you may not be able to keep this regimen, you should keep in mind that you get out what you put into the game.
While you may not be able to keep this regimen, you should keep in mind that you get out what you put into the game.
Time pressed? No problem.
Just taking a club out in the backyard and swinging for 15 minutes will aid the cause.
3. When You Play Golf, Play Golf
If you're going to take the time to play, do it seriously and focus on each shot. Never make a careless swing during a serious round!
Of course, this doesn't mean you can't have fun--it just means you should turn up the focus a notch. Use the driving range for working on technical skills, and the golf course for focusing on the real target: lowering your score.
4. Get Better Gear
I'm not saying you should spend thousands of dollars on equipment. But if you're using an older set that isn't fitted properly, you may be needlessly holding yourself back.
Many recent technical advances such as perimeter weighting to produce a larger sweet spot and larger clubhead volumes -- will make a difference in the consistency and distance of your shots.
Why not take advantage of them?
5. Don't Shortchange Your Short Game
5. Don't Shortchange Your Short Game
Chipping and putting account for more than half the strokes in a typical golfer's game. Consequently, you should devote most of your practice to your short game.
I like to use a football analogy here: It's great to be able to advance to the two-yard line, but it won't mean a thing if you can't make it into the end zone!
I like to use a football analogy here: It's great to be able to advance to the two-yard line, but it won't mean a thing if you can't make it into the end zone!
6. Write it Down!
It's easier to improve if you can document your hits and misses.
Where do you hit good shots, and where do you hit poor ones?
Did you hit right, left, or on top?
How many putts of less than five feet do you miss?
Keep a journal and consult itperiodically to unearth patterns and discover areas that need work.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Why You Should Waggle - How to Develop the Perfect Pre-Shot Routine
Most good golfers have a pre-shot routine--rituals that include everything from the way they approach the ball to how they waggle.
These routines serve a good purpose. When you approach your shots the same way each time, you train your subconscious to be less affected by outside influences (pressure, wind, spectators, jibes from your foursome, etc.). Fewer variables in the moments leading up to your swing will mean fewer variables during your swing.
How should you develop your personal pre-shot routine?
Here are some guidelines.
1. Do what works for you
Things such as how you arrive at your grip and stance, looking at the target, waggling the club, and taking practice swings are personal preferences. The exact details are less important than doing the same thing each time. Many pros even time themselves from start to finish to get within seconds on each swing-- and you might want to do the same. A good routine shouldn't take a lot of time.
Quickly but methodically go through the checklist, think positive, and hit the ball. Your ritual should give you a positive feeling about the shot. Once you've completed the routine you must trust it, be target oriented, and let it go.
You don't want to get stuck in the middle of your backswing, wondering if your grip is right or how deep the water is!
2. Get lined upTry this in practice:
Put a golf club on the ground next to the ball and aim it toward the target.
Next, take a look at the club from behind and make sure it's positioned just right.
Put another club parallel to it near where your feet would be. For your shot to go straight, this "foot line" should face slightly left of the target.
Also, ensure that your knees, hips, and shoulders are in the same line.
Practice this a few times, then do it without the clubs on the ground.
Alignment is one of the simplest mistakes to correct--and poor alignment can be one of the most destructive, because you must compensate for it in your swing.
3. See it happen
Good players talk about "feeling" a good shot before it occurs. You can develop this feeling by creating a positive image of the ball's flight before you hit it. This"visualization" helps keep negative thoughts at bay.
Stand behind the ball, and imagine the ball going straight toward the target and landing on the green softly. Or picture a great shot from the past that mimics the one you are about to make. For beginners, a realistic goal might be just to "see" the ball getting up in the air.
As studies have shown, you'll tend to achieve the result you envision. The mind has enormous control over the body, so use your mind to see what you want --not what you don't want!
As studies have shown, you'll tend to achieve the result you envision. The mind has enormous control over the body, so use your mind to see what you want --not what you don't want!
Be target-oriented rather than trouble-oriented.
4. Reflect on your successes
When you hit a good shot, soak it in! Watch the ball's flight and how it lands and rolls. Hold your finish and try to mentally reinforce what the swing felt like.
Giving yourself this positive feedback will make it much easier to recall these images and feelings during your pre-shot routine.
When poor shots occur (asthey do for all of us), don't spend too much time thinking about them. Devote your mental energy to producing good shots!
Plain and Simple Putting - Five Steps to Develop the Perfect Putt
Putting is often called a game within a game, because many of the skills you need to be a good putter are different from those required for the rest of the game.
What's more, studies show that putting accounts for 43% of the shots among better players.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a great golfer who wasn't a good putter!
1. PositionGiven these facts, it makes sense for time-pressed golfers to invest time in their putting. Yet in my experience, most students ask for tips on everything but putting.
If you're serious about lowering your scores, try following these five simple steps to putting perfection.
Position yourself so your eyes are over the intended line of the putt (ball line).
To do this, hold your putter loosely and directly under your eyes as you add ress the putt and let gravity take it straight down.
Now, make sure that when you look down at the putter, that it covers the ball. If not, move forward or back until it does. Ball position should be slightly forward (toward the left foot).
Hands should also be forward. Align the putter shaft with the left forearm. This position promotes a good roll as the ball leaves the putter face.
2. Grip
Your hands should work as a unit and not be spread apart. The farther apart your hands are, the more likely you are to use your wrists, which is not desired. (The putting stroke originates in the shoulders and arms.)
Use a normal grip, with three fingers of each hand on the club and the others just along for the ride.
3. Aim
Find a target and imagine a straight line through the center of your putter. Don't get too caught up in the line that your feet make, but do be sure the putter face is square to the target. This is also the line your stroke should follow. Don't tilt your head, or you'll distort the perspective.
4. Stroke
Your putting stroke should be dominated by the shoulders and arms and involve as little wrist movement as possible. Minimize body movement, and try not to shift weight or turn the hips. (In other words, forget much of what you've learned about the body's role in a full swing!)
5. Acceleration
Successful putters have a backswing and follow-through of equal length. This promotes acceleration and aids distance control.
One of the most common faults I see is a player taking the club way back and then stopping at the ball onthe down stroke, anticipating the hit.
Remember to stroke through the ball, not at it!
Driving Like Crazy - Mastering the Second Most Important Club
It's been said that the driver is the second most important club in your bag--next to your putter. A good drive sets the tone for the rest of the hole. Will you be scrambling just to get back on the fairway, hoping for pars and bogeys--or will you be aggressively going for the green and for birdies?By squeezing a few extra yards out of those drives, the subsequent iron shot will be that much easier, as will your chips, putts, and so on.
1. Body Coil
Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, and other greats generate tremendous power by coiling the upper body with a big shoulder turn. The hips, however, don't turn nearly as much. This creates tension and torque, not unlike a rubber band being stretched before it's let go. How do you accomplish it?
Try to keep the right leg and knee bent but solid as you take the club away and fully rotate your shoulders.
On the downswing, unwind and rotate through the ball with your hips. Make sure your navel is facing the target at the end of the swing to ensure a full turn.
2. Developing a "Lag"
Successful drivers all have a "lag" in their swing. On the downswing, the wrists must release their energy at some point. When this happens is key.
The closer to impact with the ball, the more stored power there will be.
Many golfers deliver this source of power near the top of the swing or early on the way down, and end up swinging with just arms at contact. This is commonly called "casting"-- the opposite of lag.
One drill to improve this is to cock your wrists at the top of the backswing so that there's a right angle between your arm and club. Pull the the backswing so that there's a right angle between your arm and club. Pull the club down in slow motion, while doing your best to retain this angle.
Try to incorporate this into your full swings, and remember to release those wriststhrough the ball!
Try to incorporate this into your full swings, and remember to release those wriststhrough the ball!
3. Swinging with the Whole Body
Some of the biggest muscles in your body are the upper legs and trunk, and you should use them to put power in your swing.
On the downswing, your legs should begin the drive and the trunk begins the turn. Also, the bigger muscles have much less chance to twitch under pressure than do the smaller ones.
This is why good swingers seem to move effortlessly--the small muscles are being led by the larger ones. I call this "swinging with the whole body."
Try it!
4. Left Arm Straight at the Top
Make sure your left arm is kept relatively straight on the backswing to ensure a wide swing arc.
Keep some distance between the hands at the top of the swing and your shoulders and head. This produces more clubhead speed without swinging any harder.
Davis Love III and Vijay Singh are great examples of this. Watch them, and internalize what you see!
Davis Love III and Vijay Singh are great examples of this. Watch them, and internalize what you see!
Learning to Love the Wind - Four Tips for Playing Golf in a Gale
When the wind blows, some players' games get blown away with it.
Don't let this happen to you. Instead, practice the techniques here, and do what the very best golfers do: Use these adverse conditions to your advantage.
In other words, learn to love the wind!
1. Playing in a Crosswind
Crosswinds are the most difficult situation to play in. These winds will magnify any spin on the ball, and greatly reduce distance.
If you slice or hook the ball, a crosswind will magnify the effect.
Therefore, it's important to use these winds to your advantage.
Therefore, it's important to use these winds to your advantage.
If you want the ball to land softly, such as on a green, try to curve the shot into the crosswind. If you want more distance, or to have the ball roll when it lands, "ride" the wind by curving it in the same direction as the crosswind.
In general, play the ball low.
2. The Knockdown Shot
The "knockdown" shot can be used in many situations, but is especially useful in the wind. The key points are to not swing at full speed, and to keep the hands in front of the ball. This hand position should be there at address and through impact.
Many knockdown shots finish with the forward swing low and only half completed, with the wrists not fully released and definitely not cupped as in a normal shot.
The main goal here is to keep the ball low and under control.
3. Playing in a Headwind
This is where the knockdown shot really comes in handy.
Play the ball back in the stance (toward the right foot).
Select more club to decrease trajectory. It's important not to swing as hard as on a regular swing (about 80% of normal).
Remember what Greg Norman said on his way to winning the 1996 British Open:
"Swing with ease intothe breeze."
This helps in two ways:
It keeps the ball from having as much spin,and it won't fly as high, where it's especially susceptible to wind.
4. Playing in a Tailwind
Playing with a tailwind is great for your ego. Use less club and count on the ball flying and rolling longer. The wind also makes your shots travel straighter, even when mis-hit.
If distance and carry are the goal, play the ball forward in the stance and hit it higher.
Playing the ball back in the stance (as in the other wind situations) will make it a little easier to control--but remember to plan for the longer roll.
The most important thing in any windy situation is to hit the ball solidly.
A well-struck ball will be much less affected than a mis-hit shot with sidespin. Spins in the wind get exaggerated, so watch out!!
Finding the Fairway - Ways to Help You Land on the Short Grass
How often have you birdied or even been able to par a hole after finding trouble off the tee?
Hitting the fairway consistently is vital to playing well. However, it's no easy task, especially in a pressure situation such as a tournament.
The following are a few ideas to help you drive your ball in the fairway more often.
Visualize the Shot
Creating a positive visual image is critical in any sport but it's even more important in golf--a very mental game.
The next time you're in the tee box, stand behind the ball and pick a target. Be very specific about your target rather than just aiming out there somewhere.
As you stand behind the ball, picture yourself addressing the ball with the proper posture and alignment. Now, focus in on the desired ball flight. See the ball launching off the clubface--high in the air and heading right toward the target.
Draw back on a positive drive from another day in the same situation.
Finally, step into the address position and let it happen.
Remember, "seeing" what you want gives you a much greater ratio of success.
Swing within Yourself
Many good drivers will tell you they have a "bread and butter" shot and an all-out shot. When the fairway is wide and the situation allows, it's fine to grip it and rip it.
But when you really need to be in the fairway, go to a swing you can trust. Use the swing that gives you the highest percentage of accuracy.
This swing is usually an 80% swing speed accompanied by good rhythm and tempo.
In addition, reducing the hip turn on the backswing is helpful.
Remember, the key with this type of shot is to get the ball on line and rolling.
Tiger Woods used this tee shot often during the U.S. and British Opens this year. When executed correctly, your ball will fly low, straight, and roll a lot--almost knuckle down the fairway.
Stay Balanced
As I've mentioned in other lessons, balance is critical in achieving consistent results with the driver and all other parts of the game.
After you've swung, you should be able to stand tall with your body fully turned toward the target for afew seconds without losing your footing. If you're at all shaky, it's time for somework.
After you've swung, you should be able to stand tall with your body fully turned toward the target for afew seconds without losing your footing. If you're at all shaky, it's time for somework.
A good drill is to make a slow and complete practice swing. This slower motion will help to train your muscles and makes it easier to keep your balance. Eventually, you'll be able to increase your practice swing speed while retainingthe balance at the end of the follow-through.
Use the Right Tools
This is the hard part and can take some time if you're just randomly trying clubs. This is where club fitting can really speed up the process of improving your game.
No two golf swings are alike. The best club for you might be the worst for someone else.
Having the perfect fit is very important in helping you find the fairway.
Sand Man! - How to Turn Bunker Play into a Day at the Beach
Face it: Everyone has to dig themselves out of the sand sooner or later.
Fortunately, there are simple, reliable techniques for blasting out of bunkers. And good sand play doesn't just involve technique--equipment is also crucial, so I've covered the essential aspects of a good sand wedge here, too.
Read on for everything you need to know to enjoy your next day at the beach.
1. My Favorite Tips
Use swing speed to alter distance. Practice until you can gauge distance by your personal swing speeds.
Make the clubface enter behind the ball at a steep angle to hit shorter, and a shallower angle to hit longer. A steeper angle allows the clubhead to get under the ball and lift it.
Take 2-3 inches of sand with each shot (see photo). Less sand will spin the ball more, but is risky.
Practice by drawing a line in the sand behind the ball and hit that spot. Establish firm footing by digging the feet in slightly. Use an open stance (left foot spread to the left) to restrict backswing length and steepen the swing. Open the clubface slightly to offset the open stance. Open it more if you want a higher, softer shot.
Keep your wrists firm through impact and don't release your hands until well after impact.
Visualize a steep, "U-shaped" swing.
2. Beach Clubs
It's important to understand sand wedge design and how it can work for you. A well-designed wedge has three important characteristics:
"Bounce" describes the rounded sole of the clubhead. Sand wedges have this to allow the club to glide, skid, or bounce rather than dig into the sand.
"Loft" (angle of the clubface) is crucial for getting the ball in the air, over the edges of bunkers, and to ensure that it lands softly. Sand wedges generally have a loft of 56-60 degrees (by comparison, a pitching wedge is 48-52 degrees).
"Toe-heel camber" is what gives sand wedges an oval-shaped look on the bottom of the face, to prevent the toe or heel from catching. (Think of the club "splashing" through the sand rather than digging.)
Remember, you're making things unnecessarily difficult if you're using a pitchingwedge to get out of the sand!
3. Make it Happen in the Mind's Eye
Tension can ruin your sand shot faster than anything else. When tension occurs, the swing is inhibited and so is the chance for a good shot. Try to visualize a good shot.
Stay muscularly light and mentally positive.
Gary Player, one of the worlds' best bunker players, once said, "If I am one of the greats, it'sfor one simple reason: no bunker shot has ever scared me and none ever will.
Approach every bunker shot with the feeling you are going to hole it."
Our Six Best Tips for Hitting from the Rough and Other Tough Lies
I don't care how good a golfer you are--at some point you'll be stuck in a bad lie. It happens to all of us! Getting the ball out of the rough can be quite a challenge- -especially if you don't have a strategy. Here are some tips to help bail you out of a bad situation, and just maybe have some fun doing it!
1. Stand Closer at Address
Standing slightly closer to the ball will create a more upright swing plane, which means the club will encounter less grass on the downswing.
2. Open the Clubface
Opening the clubface (clockwise at address) helps in two ways: First, it gives the shot more loft, which helps it get airborne. Second, the rough often grabs the clubface and pulls it left, so opening it helps keep the shot on line.
3. Move Your Stance Forward
When using the short irons, moving forward over the ball will promote a steeper swing and help "punch" the ball out without catching too much grass.
4. Adjust Your Distance
Rough tends to take backspin off the ball and create a "flier" that goes farther and takes longer to stop.
Adjust your target to allow for the added roll.
5. Use a Steeper Approach
On the downswing you should feel as though you are hitting "down and through" with a sharper swing. Don't be afraid to move some grass and take a divot. This is one time to be aggressive!
6. Adjust Your Grip
I normally recommend light grip pressure. However, when hitting in the rough, the left hand should be slightly tighter so the club doesn't turn over when it hits the grass and pull the shot to the left.
Our Best Tips for Hitting Out of a Sidehill Lie
In an ideal world, we wouldn't hit balls into embarrassing lies in the first place. But the fact is, we do it, no matter how good or well-practiced we are. And consequently, it pays to know how to get out of these situations!
One of the most difficult is the sidehill lie, where the ball is above or below your feet.
Here are some tips that will improve your chances of a successful escape.
Ball Above the Feet
In this situation, the most common mistake is hitting behind the ball and making it go too far left. To fix these problems you should:
Choke down on the club. The amount depends on the severity of the slope.
Aim to the right and open the clubface slightly (turn it clockwise). (The ball tends to go left from this type of lie because the slope pulls it that way.)
Reduce knee flex. It's less likely that you will hit the ball "fat" or behind this way.
Ball Below the Feet
In this situation, the most common mistake is hitting the ball too far right and topping it. To fix these problems, you should:
Grip near the end of the shaft to help avoid hitting it "thin" or on top.
Aim slightly left. (The ball tends to go right from this type of lie.)
Use more knee flex. This helps avoid hitting the ball "thin" or on top.
How to Be at Your Best in the Rain and the Cold
A strong mental attitude is critical when nature's forces are trying to knock you off your game. Try putting these counter measures in place and you may just learn to love winter!
Rain
Keeping clubs and grips dry is critical when it starts to come down. Once grips get wet, your performance (and desire) will decrease dramatically.
Professionals have caddies to take care of this. The rest of us need to take the time to place a cover or towel over the opening of the bag.
If you have an umbrella, hang a couple of dry towels on the spokes. This way you'll always be able to dry off the grips and your hands, no matter how wet every thing else gets.
If you wear a glove, remove it after each shot and keep it in a dry place--under the umbrella is a good spot.
Invest in some high-quality rain gear. There are many new, high-tech fabrics that really work, keeping you dry without causing you to sweat or get soaked from the inside out.
Also, remember that the ball won't travel as far in the rain and the ground will be wet, decreasing roll. This seems obvious, but I'm amazed to see how many players fail to use enough club in wet conditions.
Also, remember that the ball won't travel as far in the rain and the ground will be wet, decreasing roll. This seems obvious, but I'm amazed to see how many players fail to use enough club in wet conditions.
Cold
When the air is cold, the ball won't travel as far, so you should choose more club here as well. Good chipping and putting can make up for other mistakes in cold conditions, but you must have good feel, and this means keeping your hands warm.
When U.S. pros play in icy weather at the Dunhill cup in Scotland, they're prepared with warm gloves to put on between shots and hand warmers in their pockets.
Make sure you have a way to keep your hands warm before you tee off!
Also, choose a softer compression golf ball. This will help you keep a sense of feel around the greens and elsewhere.
Wind is also a major factor in winter
For tips on how to hit when it starts to blow, see our previous lesson on the topic.
And have fun out there!
Our Five Best Tips to Help You Hit Your Fairway Woods with Confidence
Are you having trouble getting the ball up in the air with your long irons?
If so, hit your fairway woods. Golfers tend to shy away from them just because they're longer. Don't let the added shaft length scare you!
In fact, there's an upside to fairway woods. They have larger heads and wider sole plates than long irons, making them much more forgiving. It's very smart to put fairway woods in your bag.
In fact, there's an upside to fairway woods. They have larger heads and wider sole plates than long irons, making them much more forgiving. It's very smart to put fairway woods in your bag.
Here are a few thoughts to take with you to the range.
1. Make a Full Turn
As your body ages, flexibility diminishes. (Don't feel bad, it happens to everyone.) So does your ability to make a full turn.
If you're serious about improving, you must stay flexible. Fairway woods require a full turn of the torso and upper body without overturning the hips, to maximize distance.
There are many good stretches you can do to slow down the aging process and increase flexibility!
Try sitting down and resting a wood behind your neck with your hands holding the club lightly above your shoulders. Now, slowly stretch and rotate from side-to-side, turning your shoulders as close to 90 degrees as possible in relation to your hips.
(For more good stretches, see our "Golf Fitness" section.)
2. Take a Proper Stance
Longer clubs will change your swing plane, usually making it flatter as you stand farther away from the ball. So when hitting longer clubs, particularly woods, there are several things you must focus on.
Make sure you retain good posture.
At address, flex your knees and feel as though your behind is sticking out.
A good drill for this is to have someone hold a club along your spine. Bend forward by tilting your pelvis, and keep your back flat, not arched.
This also allows your hands and arms to fall naturally from the shoulders without reaching too much for the ball.
A good visual thought is to keep the spine perpendicular to the shaft for the ball address.
3. Watch Your Ball Position
Normally, your short irons are played from the middle area of the stance. With fairway woods, it's a different story.
Move your stance so the ball is off of the leftheel (right heel for left-handed players).
This allows for a greater sweeping motion as you swing through.
Having the ball too far back in the stance will make your approach too steep and cause you to take a divot. If you make a deep divot with a wood, generally it's because your swing is too steep.
Having the ball too far back in the stance will make your approach too steep and cause you to take a divot. If you make a deep divot with a wood, generally it's because your swing is too steep.
4. "Sweep" the Ball
The proper swing arc with woods is long, wide and smooth-- contrary to a short iron's arc.
When hitting woods, you should feel like you are sweeping the ball from the turf and extending through the ball.
The backswing should also be deeper and the follow-through extended, meaning that the swing arc is wider.
One of the best tips to encourage this movement is to imagine striking through a ball a few inches in front of the one you are hitting. Eventually, you'll learn to hitthrough it--not at it!
5. Do the Waggle
A low ball flight is often caused by a closed clubface. Although this gives your shot plenty of roll, it will also hamper your ability to get the ball airborne as well as affect distance control.
Often, this closed-clubface problem starts with the takeaway.
Practice the waggle drill in which you fan the clubface open during the first foot or two of the backswing. This puts your hands in a good position at the top of the swing and ensures a proper wrist cock.
Know Your Faults and How to Fix Them
When you get the urge to get your game in shape, make a plan and stick to it. As with golf, and anything else in life, a little planning goes a long way toward success.
Work on One Drill
If you're swaying for instance, only work on that. A common mistake many of us make is that we lose our focus. If you hit a bad shot because you lifted your head too soon, don't change your practice thoughts. Remain focused on how to avoid swaying. Otherwise, you'll go around in circles and never accomplishing anything!
Continue working on one swing thought until you've perfected it-- then move on to another area such as lifting the head too soon.
Practice Like You're Playing
If you're at the range hitting balls, don't smash them recklessly. Practice each shot with a purpose. Remember, your time on the range should be constructive. The more real you can make it, the more valuable it becomes when you're on the course.
This doesn't mean you always have to be ultra-serious. Just approach each shot as though there is a goal. This creates muscle memory andis the way all good players approach practice!
Breakdown Your Game
It is important to break down your game before every practice session. Golf can be broken down into four main areas:
ball striking
short game
mental game
course management
How do you rate your game in each of these areas?
When you know, devote the majority of your practice time to the weaker areas. This will benefit you in the long run.
What follows is a list of points to work on when you're practicing golf's essentials:
1. Ball Striking
Most golfers spend their time working in this area. The fact of the matter is that ball striking tends to be a more important area for beginners than accomplished players.
You should practice this-- but not only this!
2.Short game
The short game is comprised of chipping, pitching, and putting. This is the one area where you'll be able to shave a few strokes, if you devote enough time to it.
If you don't agree, just add up the strokes in an average round. Often, you'll find that more than half are spent here.
3.Mental Game
In no other sport is the mental game more important. In golf, it's just you against the course. Therefore, it's critical to learn how to deal with emotions and create positive images.
Whether you're shooting your best score or your worst, emotions can affect any round.
Anger can be good if you channel it into positive action.
Unfortunately, most people are affected negatively by it and lose concentration.
Unfortunately, most people are affected negatively by it and lose concentration.
How do you hold up under pressure?
Find a way to approach each shot the same. This will help you to be more consistent.
This is what sports psychology is all about.
4. Course Management
Jack Nicklaus was never known for his ball-striking ability but was able to win as a result of his golf course management.
Playing smart means that you know your game's limitations and can manage them.
Play to your strengths not your weaknesses!
Do you know when to go for a green and when to lay up?
Understanding this facet of your game is important.
Practice a Pre-Shot Routine
The more consistent your routine is before you hit a shot, the more steady your play will be. Take some time to develop a checklist or routine and keep it simple!
In a short time, it will become habit-- steering you toward better all-around golf.
5 Ways to 10 More Yards
Learn How You Can Have a Power Game
How would you like to reach each par 5 on your home course in just two shots?
What if you could hit a 5 iron instead of a 3-iron into a long par 4?
Odds are, your game would improve.
Here is a list of what I consider the five essentials to focus on if you want to hit the ball farther.
1. Widen Your Swing Arc
Tiger Woods and Davis Love are good models of long hitters with wide take- aways and big arcs.
To achieve this, extend your arms as much as possible on the backswing. If you can keep your arc wide, you'll be able to create good clubhead speed without swinging any harder.
2. Lighten Your Grip Pressure
You don't have to swing hard to hit the ball a long way. In fact, this is often counter productive and causes muscle tension, ultimately leading to less clubhead speed.
After relaxing your upper body, the next key in attaining additional power is proper grip pressure. Think of your grip pressure as about a 7 on a scale from 1 to 10.
Maintain this pressure throughout the swing to create good clubhead speed and still maintain control. If you have access to a clubhead speed analyzer, put your swing on it. While using it, note the differences in your clubhead speed when applying tight- and relaxed-grip pressure.
You'll quickly discover that the less tension you have in your body and grip pressure, the more your clubhead speed increases.
3. Make a Big Shoulder Turn
Jim McLean, one of the PGA' s best teachers, calls shoulder turn the "X" factor.
He took scientific measurements of many long hitters and found that they all have a greater shoulder than hip turn.
This means that a big hip turn can actually diminish your ability to create power and clubhead speed, because there is less torque created.
4. Tuck Your Elbow
The best way to feel the proper position is to keep the right elbow tucked against your side on the downswing (left elbow for left-handed players). By doing this, you'll avoid the common error of swinging across the ball, which diminishes power.
Also, when the right elbow stays in, it delays the hit with your hands--an essential in creating power and a properly timed release. When you do the tuck correctly, the right arm (for right-handed players) is straight and your hands are not behind the ball.
5. Keep Your Knees Firm and Flexed
Think of your legs as the foundation of your swing. If your foundation is shaky and moving around too much, you'll have a power leak and less ability to coil properly.
Keep a firm feeling with the right knee at the top of the backswing (left knee for left-handed players) and a feeling of your weight staying on the inside of the foot. If the knee and weight move outside the foot, a sway can occur, resulting in numerous mechanical problems.
The left knee should stay fairly quiet as well and not move laterally too much so that you maintain some width between the knees.
A tip we published earlier suggested that you imagine keeping a basketball between your knees.
Seven Drills to Help You Put Consistently
A one-foot putt is just as important as a 300-yard drive. It's also interesting to think that you can hit every green in regulation and not score well--if your putts aren't dropping.
Putting is perhaps the most important ingredient to scoring well.
On the PGA Tour, everyone hits the ball virtually the same, but it is the player who putts the best each week who wins the tournament.
Here is a list of drills to help you sink a few more putts and, in the process, shave a few strokes off your score: Good luck!
Use the Flagstick
Most golfers have trouble keeping their putter on the proper line during the stroke. Try using a flagstick to help define the path of your putting stroke. Simply lay a flagstick flat on the putting surface and line it up with the hole.
Now, set the heel of your putter against the flagstick. This works as a guide when you stroke the putt.
Next, pay close attention to the putter, and maintain smooth contact with the flag on both the forward and backstrokes. By doing this, you'll be able to see exactly where your stroke goes off line and correct it.
Start with a Roll
Putting a perfect, true roll on the ball starts with ball position.
The mistake many players make is that they play the ball too far back in the stance. This causes a descending stroke and can make the ball bounce initially--rather than roll.
To get the ball rolling smoothly, play the ball further up in the stance--off the inside of your front foot.
You 'll also notice that the proper position is under the left eye (right eye for left-handed players). Close an Eye Lifting the head not only hurts the full swing, but the putting stroke as well. Close the left eye (right eye for left-handed players), take a few practice strokes, then head and body still throughout the stroke.
Force a Bigger Follow-Through
Under pressure, short putts cause tension in a golfer's stroke. To maintain a good stroke, accelerate through the putt. Often times, the backstroke becomes too big, causing deceleration on the forward stroke.
To cure this, place a second ball about six inches behind the ball you are going to hit. Then, on the backstroke, try not to strike the second ball. By restricting the backstroke, you'll force a bigger, more accelerated follow-through.
Don't Break Your Wrists
Stick a tee into the end of your putter grip. As you take your stroke, make sure that the tee stays even or slightly ahead of the putter head throughout the stroke. If the head passes the tee, chances are you've broken your wrists and opened the door for inconsistency.
On long putts, this is more difficult to do as they can require some wrist break. Therefore, use this drill for shorter, mid-range putts.
On long putts, this is more difficult to do as they can require some wrist break. Therefore, use this drill for shorter, mid-range putts.
Surround the Hole
Find a hole on the practice green that has some slope to it. Place several balls around the hole, approximately two feet away. Now go around the circle, concentrating on making each putt and noticing how each putt breaks a little differently depending on its position.
Challenge yourself to make each putt before graduating to moving the balls to three feet away. If you miss one, start again. Remember, the more times you see yourself knock in these four-footers in practice, the stronger your confidence will become.
Putt to a Quarter
Place a quarter on the putting green and practice putting to it. By using a smaller target, you will refine your ability to aim for and find the center of the cup. This is also a good drill for developing the feel of speed on longer putts.
Place a quarter on the putting green and practice putting to it. By using a smaller target, you will refine your ability to aim for and find the center of the cup. This is also a good drill for developing the feel of speed on longer putts.
Putting is extremely important to lowering your scores. The next time you work on your game, devote as much time to putting as you do hitting balls. You'll be happy with the results.
Learn to Eliminate Your Slice - Our Six Ways to Help You
2. Strengthen Your Grip
Ball Below Feet: Use Less Lower Body
Downhill Lies: Set Your Weight Gravity forces most of your weight on the downhill or lower leg. Make sure to set your weight on the inside of the forward foot for more stability.
I also recommend that you turn out your toe slightly to help absorb the extra weight transfer caused by gravity. Normally, you would open your stance considerably in the sand. But, on these shots, you have to be careful.
If you open the stance, your right leg is in the way of your swing. To avoid this, pull your back foot away a few inches.
Uphill Lies: Brace Yourself With gravity working to keep your weight on the downhill leg, it's important to brace it firmly into the sand. Angle your leg into the slope so that the weight is on the inside of the downhill leg.
Ball Above Feet: Adjust Your Aim
Buried Lie: Use the Right Twist
Playing golf with a slice, an uncontrollable shot that curves left to right, is something many golfers think they have to live with and accept.
This is not true--even if you've been a chronic slicer for years. In fact with a little time, dedication, and effort, you can learn to stop hitting stray, bending shots.
Once you do, you'll start hitting the ball more consistently, have added distance, and achieve better control. Before long, the game will be more enjoyable.
The following is a list of quick fixes to help you hit straighter, more consistent shots:
1.Think "Topspin" and "Thumbs Up"
Watching tennis can help your golf game. All good tennis players apply topspin to their shots by releasing or turning over their racket when they hit the ball. In golf, the move is similar only it's made with a club in your hand. Allowing for the release of the hands is critical to maximizing your potential and reducing slices.
The next time you're practicing, take a club and swing it. As you pass the impact position, think of the right hand reaching out in front on the follow through with your thumps pointing upward. This shows that the wrists rolled properly and that the club was released.
2. Strengthen Your Grip
Chronic slicers have trouble getting their hands rotated through impact. Start by gripping the club in the fingers rather than the palm of your hand. At address, make sure you are able to see two or three knuckles of the left hand. This "strengthening" of the grip allows the hands to work actively.
3. Pull the Rope
Most slicers cut across the ball on the downswing--they take the club back to the outside on the backswing and cross their plane (imaginary line) to the inside on the downswing. This is what produces a slice.
To understand the correct swing path or downswing motion, picture a rope attached to a tree above you.
To understand the correct swing path or downswing motion, picture a rope attached to a tree above you.
Now, imagine yourself pulling that rope straight down. Take that thought with not crossing the line. Doing this gives you the correct inside path and a better ability to swing out toward the target.
4. Start Back to the Inside
Imagine the line of your swing on the ground as it goes back and through toward the target. Place a range basket, or something else you don't want to break, on the ground a couple of feet behind the ball and slightly inside the intended target line.
Using this drill forces you to swing from the inside out toward the target--the proper way!
Using this drill forces you to swing from the inside out toward the target--the proper way!
5. Shoulders Right to Hit Left
Most players aim farther and farther to the left to accommodate their slice. This only makes matters worse by opening the shoulders. Your swing plane tends to follow your shoulders. I f they are open, your odds of cutting across the ball increase.
Try just the opposite. Aim the shoulders as far to the right as possible at address. This forces the swing to stay on the proper path.
Try just the opposite. Aim the shoulders as far to the right as possible at address. This forces the swing to stay on the proper path.
6. Swing around Your Spine
The best way to eliminate the typical slice, one that is caused by a reverse pivotor sway motion, is to swing around your spine and finish around and to the left. Use "x-ray vision," meaning to picture your spine staying in a near-perpendicularangle to the ground at all times during the swing. Now, just swing around the center of it!
These tips work best if they're combined with each other.
For instance, achieving the proper swing path won't stop you from hitting to the right if you don't use your hands properly as well.
Practice each strategy separately in the beginning and then combine them.
You'll soon be saying goodbye to your slice--forever!
Playing from Various Bunker Lies
When attempting a bunker shot, most amateurs know to twist their feet into the sand. This is a good idea, but how you should do this varies depending on the lie.
Ignoring different types of lies and ball positions in the sand sets you up for poor balance, slipping, and an inability to control ball flight--not to mention higher scores!
Consistently practice these footwork basics and watch your sand play become more predictable.
Ball Below Feet: Use Less Lower Body
This is perhaps the toughest position, because there is a tendency to fall forward during the swing and change your spine angle. Dig your heels into the slope here and try to feel as though the weight is on the balls of your feet.
You'll need a little more knee flex, as well, to keep you from topping the ball. Try to maintain the same amount of flex throughout the swing. Remember less is better when it comes to using leg and lower-body action--especially on this difficult shot!
You'll need a little more knee flex, as well, to keep you from topping the ball. Try to maintain the same amount of flex throughout the swing. Remember less is better when it comes to using leg and lower-body action--especially on this difficult shot!
Downhill Lies: Set Your Weight Gravity forces most of your weight on the downhill or lower leg. Make sure to set your weight on the inside of the forward foot for more stability.
I also recommend that you turn out your toe slightly to help absorb the extra weight transfer caused by gravity. Normally, you would open your stance considerably in the sand. But, on these shots, you have to be careful.
If you open the stance, your right leg is in the way of your swing. To avoid this, pull your back foot away a few inches.
Uphill Lies: Brace Yourself With gravity working to keep your weight on the downhill leg, it's important to brace it firmly into the sand. Angle your leg into the slope so that the weight is on the inside of the downhill leg.
Ball Above Feet: Adjust Your Aim
The first adjustment to make is to dig your toes in deeper than your heels. This helps keep you level and makes it easier to stay balanced.
Keep the legs flexed. Aiming a bit to the right and using a slightly open stance is also recommended--as uphill lies tend to promote a hook or pulled shot.
Keep the legs flexed. Aiming a bit to the right and using a slightly open stance is also recommended--as uphill lies tend to promote a hook or pulled shot.
Buried Lie: Use the Right Twist
The deeper you submerge your feet into the sand, the deeper the club enters the sand. So if the ball is only slightly buried, you needn't twist in too deep. For a severely buried lie, it helps you get under the ball if you twist in to the approximate depth of the buried lie. For this type of shot, you'll need to pick up the club steeply and hit down and through on a sharp U-like swing plane.
Obviously, the best advice is to stay out of these tough lies but we all know that's easier said than done. Besides, this game wouldn't be any fun if it weren't challenging?
Learning to Properly Release the Club
Many of the players I've taught over the years have shared common problems--the inability to generate power and slicing the ball. In most instances, both of these problems stem from having a poor or improper release. This lesson lists ways to help you release, or turn the club over. Whether you are getting older and want to gain a few extra yards or are just beginning and want to ingrain proper habits, put these tips to work for better all-around ball striking.
Try a Split Grip Perhaps the best drill to emphasize proper hand release is to grip the club so that you have a few inches of space between your hands. Next, make a few swings with the club going only half way back and through. Doing this drill helps exaggerate the feeling of the right hand crossing over the left. When you do this properly, you'll see the toe of the club is facing upward both at hip height on the backswing and at hip height on the follow-through.
Don't Hold On "Holding on" means that instead of being relaxed through impact there is a tendency to grip too tightly and hold on--not releasing the full potential of the swing. When you anticipate the hit rather than swinging through the ball, there is inevitably a tendency to tighten and hold on too much. The most fluid way to swing is as though you aren 't hitting the ball at all, but rather are swinging through it.
Improve Your Posture Ben Hogan once said, "Ninety percent of a golf shot--good or bad--occurs before the swing." Start by standing very erect with your back flat. Flex the knees and push your behind out so that your knees are roughly above the balls of the feet. Try to maintain this position as you bend over from the waist.
Think of the arms and hands being low and relaxed as though gravity is pulling them straight down. Now stand at address with a club. Make straight down. Now stand at address with a club. Make sure that an angle is established with the wrists. This angle is important because, in essence, you are lessening the moving parts of your swing by setting the wrist cock in advance. This allows for a hinging action of the wrists and makes it much easier to release the club on the follow-through.
Quite often, my students reach too much for the ball, causing the wrists to roll in the swingrather than hinge and unhinge.
Relax Your Grip Pressure Start by determining your grip pressure.
How tight are you gripping the club on ascale of 1-10, with 10 being as tight as you can squeeze it and 1 being notholding on at all?
Generally, the best players grip about a 6 on this scale. Any
tighter and tension gets in the way, going all the way up the arms and into theupper body. Too much grip tension inhibits the lag (delayed hit) and release motions that are critical to extension and a full release of the hands and arms. After you have set a light but firm pressure, monitor the consistency of thisthroughout the swing.
Is it the same throughout, or does it tighten or even loosen somewhere during the swing? Keeping a light pressure consistently allows you the freedom to make the correct move.
Remember, the tighter yougrip the club the less your hands work in unison and the more they inhibit your release.
Develop a Pre-Shot Routine
Being tight in the body and with the grip aren't the only things that affects yourgame and release. Your mind must also be clear and focused. Start by using aconsistent pre-shot routine.
This routine should allow you to relax and visualizepositive results. Developing a pre-shot routine can clear the mind so you're freeto go ahead and give the ball your best shot.
Drop the Right Foot Back
Dropping the right foot back as you take some swings helps you to swing alonga path that allows for a full hand release. Drop the right foot back about one footat address and try to swing across your body with easy swings.
After you get the at address and try to swing across your body with easy swings. After you get thefeeling of your hands being able to release, trick yourself and retain the motionwhile slowly moving the foot back into the normal position.
Use the Big Muscles
To generate your full power potential, you must use your trunk andmidsection. Any athlete, from boxer to baseball pitcher, will agree that their power starts from the legs, trunk, and midsection. This is where the big muscles are and where you must rely for a smoother motion.
Practice feeling that the belly button is facing the target at the end of the swing and that you finish theswing balanced on the right toe. To fully release the hips, the weight must getoff the left foot and up onto the toe. If you make a good body release combinedwith the hand release, you'll wonder where all that power came from.
One of the biggest breakthroughs you will feel in golf is when your body and hands release their energy at the same time. When this is happening, the right elbow stays close to the right side--almost touching the hip as both it and the hips move or release through that poor golf ball.
This is what I call efficient useof energy, and it comes only through practice.
Learn to Transfer Your Weight
It seems like it should be easy: Start the swing with the weight evenly distributed on both feet and finish with it on the left foot and right toe. After all, we do this every time we take a step and in any sport I can think of. Proper weight transfer is necessary to powerfully propel an object. Yet, for some reason, many golfers can't seem to resist helping the ball get up in the air by hitting up or at it.
This lesson will help you understand some of the ways to hit through the ball with a correct weight shift.
Understand Weight Shift
So often, it's hard for students to understand and feel their weight shift. A good way to begin is to close your eyes and take a few practice swings. Afterwards, give each foot a percentage weighting for the beginning (at address), middle, and end of the swing.
If you're swinging properly, the beginning or address position should feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your left and right feet on a flat lie.
At the top of the backswing, if you've made a good turn without swaying, it should feel like 80% of your weight is on the inside of your right foot and 20% is on the inside of your left foot. The follow-through should feel like the opposite of this.
If these closed- eye swings are opposite or way off these numbers, try the following drills: Walk through the Shot Take your normal address position and swing a club to the top of the backswing. As you come down and through the ball, make an effort to step forward after you've made contact--just as though you are walking.
Gary Player made this move famous and still does it on many shots. This drill and position emphasizes that you've made a good weight shift.
You "Can" Do It
Place an object such as a soda can about a foot behind your ball. Now, using a short-iron, try to hit your ball without hitting the can.
You'll notice that you're forced to come down at a steeper angle. By swinging with this steeper angle, you're also forced to shift properly off the right foot and take a divot in front of the ball. When you don't, you'll find yourself hitting behind the ball or topping it, which is often the result of hanging back on the right foot.
After a few swings, try putting that same object in front of the ball about 2 feet. The goal here is to swing out over the can as low as possible on the follow-through without actually hitting it.
This extension drill promotes a strong weight shift to theleft leg and gets you to hit through rather than at your ball. This is great for thosewho have a problem topping the ball.
Swing on a Slope
To feel the weight shift happening naturally, try swinging while standing on adownhill or uphill slope. On a downhill slope, for example, gravity pushes yourweight toward the front foot, making it easier to finish the swing with the weightfully transferred. When doing this, be sure to keep your shoulder line fairlyparallel with the slope of the ground to avoid hitting behind the ball.
Keep Your Weight InsideKeeping your weight on the inside of the right foot during the backswing iscritical to shifting properly.
Allowing the weight to get to the outside of the footdoesn't give you a strong base to push off from when "springing" over to the leftside. This can also lead to the dreaded sway, which results in a lot of wasted movement and is corrosive to good swing mechanics. To find a proper position,keep the right knee over the inside of the foot at address and throughout the backswing.
Obviously, it's not good medicine to think about this during theswing, but stop at the top of the swing occasionally and check your position.
In time, this will pay off in added power and more solid hits.
There are many more ways to drill the concept of weight shifting inside, but first you must learn how it feels and start noticing what's going on throughout your swing.
After you can do that, you will see the correlation between solid shotsand good shifting. This is how the pros make it look so easy yet hit it so far. Also, try getting that right toe of your golf shoe dirty, which is a good sign of fully shifting and turning.
As always, don't forget to have some fun.
After seeing numerous putting styles over the years, I've come to the conclusion that the majority of great golfers use the same putting fundamentals. Some of these are physical and some mental.
Very little of the so-called "magic" actually comes from a putter design, but rather from the confidence within the player.
Think Positive
It's arguable that positive thinking is the doorway to good putting. Remember a time when you were putting well. It probably felt as though you couldn't miss and you had a greater belief that the ball would go in. Positive feelings and visualization are the keys.
This belief comes from prior success; success comes from solid fundamentals and practice.
Grip for Success
Hold the hands close enough together so that they work as a unit, rather than independently. When they're separate, there's a much greater likelihood of the wrists breaking down, which leads to inconsistency.
A popular grip used by many tour players is a reverse overlap that takes the forefinger of the left hand off the putter and rests it on the little finger of the right hand. A cross-handed grip is also worth trying if you tend to break the wrists during the stroke.
Equally important is grip pressure. I like to see light pressure rather than tight pressure, because tightness diminishes feel.
Consider Ball Position
The left eye should be directly over the ball at address. This means that the ball is placed forward in the stance--off the inside of the left foot.
This also gives you a much better perspective of your putt's intended line of travel.
Keep the Putter Moving
Accelerate the putter toward the hole. Practice some short putts (about one foot from the hole) and try rolling the ball and putter right over the hole.
Remember, the follow-through should exceed the backstroke. You can ensure this by placing another ball behind the ball you're hitting on the practice green.
As you placing another ball behind the ball you're hitting on the practice green. As youmake the backstroke, stop when you hit the second ball.
Have the Right Distance
If you stand too far from the ball, it causes an improper stroke path--one thatmakes too much of an arc from the inside so that it's difficult for the face to besquare to the target.
Conversely, if you stand too close you tend to force thebackstroke outside of the target line. When making these mistakes, it forces youto manipulate the putter to square it at impact.
Locate the Hands Ahead
Locating your hands forward is another fundamental common to good putting technique. If your hands are behind the ball, there's a tendency to add loft to the putt and break your wrists. By keeping your hands up front and even with theball or slightly ahead, you'll ensure a better roll.
Lock the Body
Keep body movement minimal. Good players putt while keeping their bodieslocked in position for the entire stroke. Doing this allows the shoulders, rather than the hips, to dominate the movement. A great way to check how solid you are is to use the sun's shadow.
Putt with the shadow facing in front of you so you can see any lateral movement. Place a ball or club on the green at the outer edges of the shadow of your hips.
As you take some practice strokes, pay attention and see if you can detect any movement. You can also do this shadow trick to ensure your head and shoulders are staying in place and not swaying.
Now, if you can blend these key fundamental with your own style, you'll find that your putts will start to fall more frequently.
During the course of a round, you'll often find yourself in spots that require specialty shots to get out of trouble. Most of the time, a hook or slice can be the worst thing in your world.
However, sometimes you might need to deliberately hit such shots. In fact, the ability to choose your type of shot as the situation requires is what transforms average golfers into great players.
This article describes different types of shots and the simplest ways to hit them.
Hook For right-handed golfers, a hook curves from right to left.
This type of shot tends to roll farther than a sliced shot.
To hit a hook, the clubface must be closed in relation to the target line at impact. The simplest way to hit this shot is to start with a normal stance and grip, and direct the clubface toward the target.
Next, pull back the right or back foot a few inches--so that the line of your feet is aiming to the right of the target 10-15 yards.
When you align your feet this way, it forces you to swing on an inside-to-outside plane. At impact, this swing path puts a counterclockwise spin on the ball and makes it hook.
This technique coupled with a closed clubface produces an even bigger hook. If you're having trouble, make sure there's a feeling of the hands rolling over through impact.
For a more pronounced hook, you can also manipulate your grip. Simply rotate your hands to the right more at address.
Slice
You can hit a slicing shot many ways. The simplest way to slice on purpose is to reverse the procedure you followed for the hook. Pull the left foot back so your stance points to the left.
Leave the clubface pointed toward the target and swing across on the new feet line. You can add more slice by "weakening" the grip-- rotating the hands and grip position to the left.
When you hit a slice, there's less Fade and Draw. A fade is a mild version of a slice and a draw is a mild version of a hook. Because hitting the ball dead straight every time is so difficult, good players incorporate slight nuances of the hook or slice, and they attempt to make one of these ball flights their "bread and butter" shot. This way, they'll at least know the direction the ball is curving, allowing for greater control and course management.
Jack Nicklaus has always said that the best way to hit a fade is to slightly open your clubface ataddress and take a normal swing. To hit a draw, slightly close the clubface at address and take your usual swing.
High Shot
Hitting high shots can be valuable in situations where the greens are very firmor you need to get the ball over some high object, such as a tree. This type of shot lands softer, allowing golfers to carry over bunkers and still keep the ball close to the flag.
Start by placing the ball slightly more forward in the stance than you're used to. Next, visualize your spine angle being vertical to the ground at address. When you get near impact on the swing, your spine angle can be ata slightly upward or "launch" angle. You achieve this best by making sure that your head stays back through the shot.
It's OK to shift the weight of your lower body, but force your upper body to stay back. A more upright swing planepromotes a higher ball flight.
Low Shot
Low shots are fun to hit especially into wind or under trees. Place the ball farther back in the stance, compared to your normal ball position. As you come through impact, there are two positions to feel.
First, make sure that the hands have stayed in front of the ball, keeping the loft of the club low.
Second, ensure the spine angle is still vertical and not at a typical launch angle. Often times, ashorter backswing helps here as well.
This position gives you a nice controlledlow shot. The shot also tends to roll more, so plan accordingly.
These are just a few of the many creative types of shots you can learn to produce in an imaginative round of golf.
Keep an eye out for future lessons about specialty shots.
Playing good golf is a lot more than just beating countless balls on the driving range. If you really want to get the most from the sport, you must concentrate your efforts on several key areas that help make your game complete and keep you on track. Let's exlore the areas that have the biggest impact on you.
Practice Makes Perfect
There is no sense investing in swing instruction if you can't learn to repeat it. Remember, a golf teacher is only responsible for part of the picture. Repetition breeds confidence and confidence breeds success. There's really no substitute for practice, and it must be with purpose and then complemented with play.
Get Professional Instruction
Professional instruction, on a regular basis, is vital to keeping your game on track. So often, we think we can solve our game problems without help. Sometimes, this results in making what was a simple problem worse. A check up by a golf instructor can make a huge difference. Remember, a well-trained professional eye can see things you can't.
Get out There and Do It
Playing the game of golf is what it's all about. It's hard to perfect your technique and implement all the advice you read about unless you get on the course often. Practice and play with purpose, and measure the results.
Think Positive
This is often an overlooked part of the game but it accounts for so much. Listen to the self-talk in your head. Are you hard on yourself? Do you take a "poor me" attitude?
When you really listen to your inner self, you'll be amazed at what you hear. Try to keep a positive outlook on the course. The more confident your thoughts, the more confident your play and, before long, your scores will drop.
Golf may be one of the greatest games ever devised, because it combines all the elements of balance and strength with both body and mind.
The Right Stuff
Who needs custom clubs? An easy response would be, "everyone."
However, certain players tend to reap greater rewards than others from custom clubs. These players commonly have unique body features. For example, they might have short or long fingers, be tall with relatively short arms, or be short with relatively long arms.
Everyone is unique. Remember, don't adjust your game to some set of clubs--adjust your clubs to your game.
Perfect Fit system can help you choose the best clubs for your game.
Fit Your Game Compose your set of the clubs you are most efficient at using. For instance, there's no point carrying a 2-iron if you can't get it up in the air and you don'thave confidence using it.
Instead, opt for a 5- or 7-wood.
Many Senior Tour and women professionals have been doing this.
Even players such as Nick Faldohave been seen carrying high-lofted fairway woods in their bags. Because the rules allow for 14 clubs only, fill your bag with the ones you use most often and most efficiently.
If taking your game up a notch is important to you, go back over this short listand make sure you give each area its appropriate attention. The results couldjust take you up to the next level.
BEST TIP:
Hit with the force necessary to throw a handful of sand onto the green.
With an open stance, keep weight evenly distributed and play ball one inch forward of center, with club face slightly open.
Make smooth three-quarter swing, letting chest turn away from target on backswing.
For plugged lies, keep more weight on left foot to let the club dig into the sand. Play the ball in the middle with a square club face and shaft leaning toward target. You don't have to swing hard.
To avoid leaving the ball in the sand, keep weight on front foot and rotate chest throughout swing.
Angle shaft away from hole.
To avoid blading ball in sand, don't let left arm break down in downswing.
Try to take a shallow cut of sand -- about 10 inches long.
Dig in with toes of shoes more than heels to set bottom of swing below surface of sand.
Hit with the same force you would use if you were throwing a handful of sand to the hole.
For uphill sand shots, play the ball forward, keep more weight on the right foot, don't open the club face and swing along slope.
For downhill sand shots, keep your head steady with more weight on left foot. Play the ball back, open the club face, make a steep backswing, full wrist hinge and swing along the slope.
For long bunker shots, make a relaxed pivot and full follow-through. Take alonger club, say a nine-iron, to get the right distance.
When hitting from hard sand, use a pitching wedge and play a normal pitchshot.
For fairway bunkers:
Do you want to lower your scores? Silly question isn't it?
Everyone wants to lower his or her scores. High handicappers and low handicappers alike want to shoot lower scores and it's the lifelong quest golfers search for.
The search goes on to develop the ideal swing and lower scores.
Below are 3 Keys to shooting lower scores and they are keys you can use to shoot lowerscores NOW!
Here are the 3 Steps:
1. PLAY THE SHOT THAT NEEDS TO BE PLAYED, NOT THE ONE YOU WANT TO PLAY
The first way to lower your scores is to be honest with yourself. You need to know your game; wherever it is right now; you need to know what clubs to hit and when.
There is no point inusing what other golfers are using. If they hit an 8-iron from 155 and you should hit a 6...hit the 6-iron. More scores balloon because players are playing what I call "EGO Golf" instead of "Scoring Golf".
If you want to score well, you must put yourself into the best position to do that. Hitting an 8-iron because someone else is doing it won't get you what you want.
You will lower your scores when you begin playing the BEST shot instead of the shot you want to hit. Hitting the shot you want to hit is not always the BEST shot to hit at the time.
Play the percentages. Play the correct shot even if you want to go for the risky or low percentage shot. Take a look at how many times playing the shot YOU wanted to hit has gotten you in trouble. Each time it has, you've added strokes to your round. Play the shot that needs to be played in every situation, not the one you want to play.
If you don't have the distance then lay-up and take a bogey if that's what it means. How many times have you "gone for it' only to add 2 or more strokes to the hole?
You must play the game you know how to play and play within that game. Take an honest look at how far you hit each club right now.
As you improve your game, this will change but you must play the game you have RIGHT NOW!
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE: PROCESS VS. OUTCOME
Simplify your round of golf. Each hole is presenting you with the exact information you need to make the right choices...for your game!
The architect has laid out all the obstructions for you so make the right choices...for your game! So you know exactly where NOT to go and where TO go.
Focus on WHERE to go.. Simplify your round by thinking simple.
"Fairways and greens" is such a simple idea that players tend to either forget it or get TOO caught up in it trying to be too perfect. Simplify your round by thinking fairways and greens. It doesn't matter whether you are a 30, 15 or 5 handicap.
Hit the shots you are capable of hitting and no more! When you try to "outwit" or "outplay" the course or other golfers, you will get into trouble.
How can you simplify your round? Easy.
Focus on process versus outcome. Process thinking is focusing on what you have 100% control over; at all times.
Focus on your routines, your breathing, your pace between shots, visualization, rhythm and balance in your set up and swing.
You have complete control over ALL of these things. You don't have control over things like conditions, course layout, playing partners attitudes, score or any other outcome or result type of thought.
You'll find that when you focused on outcomes in the past, you probably didn't play as well and your scores reflected that.
Keep it simple. Focus ONLY on what you have control over. These are PROCESS THOUGHTS.
3. PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME!
It's important to spend time on your short game skills. The tendency is to go to the range, hit the driver and other irons, and then call it a day.
Take a close look and you might find that chipping, pitching and putting is where your strokes add up during a round.
Imagine what your scores would be like if you learned to chip and pitch the ball closer to the hole?
You can lower your scores by taking the time to practice chipping and pitching the ball closer to the hole. The more you do it, the more confidence you gain as well.
In addition, your putting can improve because of the confidence gained by getting closer to the hole more often. Great players spend a lot of time on this part of their game because they understand that this is where their strokes can add up.
There are professional golfers on the developmental tours who still don't work on their "weaknesses" in practice and it costs them dearly when they compete.
While the long balllooks beautiful, it's the short ball that brings the numbers down on your scorecard.You can lower your scores by acting on these 3 Steps right away.
Do You Have A One-Plane or Two-Plane Swing?
The concept of plane confuses some players. It also confuses some players that come to me for golf lessons. Many are unclear about what it is and what its impact is on your golf swing. Whether you understand the concept of plane or not, swinging off plane is never good.
Focusing on two points--spine angle at address and the position of the left arm on the downswing--clears up the confusion about swing plane and explains its effect on your golf swing and your golf handicap.
Several reasons exist for swinging off plane. Picking the club up with your hands or rolling the clubface open during the swing are two.
The most common reason for swinging off plane is adopting the wrong spine angle at address, as I've often pointed out in my golf tips.
Spine angle forms the natural axis around which your shoulders should turn at a 90-degree angle. The spine angle you set at address is critical because it decides the shape and plane of your swing. It's the reason why I focus on adopting the proper spine angle in my golf instruction sessions.
If a player tilts too far over at address, the flatter spine angle causes the shoulders to "tilt" during the swing. As a result, your left arm comes off your chest during your swing, your backswing becomes upright, and your swing plane too steep.
Fat shots, deep divots, and pulls and slices are symptoms of a steep plane.
If a player leans too far back at address, the more erect spine angle causes the shoulders to flatten during the swing. As a result, your left arm squeezes too tightly against your chest, your backswing becomes flatter, and your swing plane too shallow.
Hitting behind the ball, thin shots, and loss of power are symptoms of a shallow plane.
Keep in mind that a taller player has a naturally steeper swing plane than a shorter person does, and a shorter player has a naturally flatter swing plane than a taller person does.
While your shoulder turn and arm swing are related, a good backswing requires a left arm swing that's on a slightly higher plane than your shoulders. This arm angle allows your shoulders to have more of a free passage to the ball on the downswing. If your left arm shoulders to have more of a free passage to the ball on the downswing. If your left armswing is off, you'll automatically be on the wrong plane with your swing will be off.
Here's a test I use in my golf lessons to tell if a player is on plane with his/her swing.
Take a club, assume your normal posture, and swing to the top.
Hold that position for a second. Now, loosen your grip and let the shaft fall.
If the shaft hits you on the top of the right shoulder, your swing is on plane.
If it hits you on the head or neck, your swing plane is too steep.
Conversely, if it falls behind your backwithout hitting your body, your swing plane is too shallow.
Employing a simple move at the top of your backswing ensures that you're taking the right swing plane as you start into the downswing.
As you begin your downswing shift your weight onto your left foot while, at the same time, bringing your right elbow back down to your body. Remember to retain the angle of your wrist as you complete this move.
It's the seat of power and the key to maximum distance.
As the weight shifts to the left and the elbow drops down, the club falls automatically into the right slot for the correct swing plane.
This movement flattens the swing ever so slightly. It's the ideal position from which to swing the club down at the ball, delivering the clubhead squarely to the ball.
In essence you're actually employing two swing planes to hit the ball correctly, one slightly different than the other.
The first comes from executing the correct take away.
The second from dropping down your right elbow just before the downswing.
That slightly different swing plane is crucial. It runs right through the correct angle of your spine, the natural axis around which your shoulders should turn, enabling you to deliver a clean crisp blow to the ball with a square clubhead and good power. And that's the goal of all golf instruction on swing plane.
I hope this article clears up the confusion about swing planes. If you work on taking the clubback on the right plane and on dropping your right elbow down during your swing, you'll see results.
That, in turn, will help you lower both your individual golf scores and your golf handicap.
Hold Up the Ball
Many golfers let the left knee collapse toward the right on the backswing. This causes your shoulder to drop, and makes your hips sway and overturn.
To fix this, imagine your left knee going out toward the target on the backswing. You should feel tension and stability in both knees.
Can't quite get it?
Try this: Imagine that you're holding a basketball between your knees. Give it a try, you'll be amazed!
Be a Hitchhiker
Here's a good image to keep in mind during your backswing: Think of placing your right hand in a "hitchhiker" position. This means that when the club is at waist height, you should be able to look back and see your thumb pointing to the sky.
Here's another trick: Imagine that your hand is in a handshake position,with the palm facing neither up nor down.
These simple thoughts will ensure the beginning of your swing is correct! The best way to accomplish this is to imagine a slight pause at the top of your backswing before changing direction and beginning the downswing.
Do this and you'll find your ball in the middle of the fairway more often!
Rock-Solid Right Knee
On the backswing, it's crucial to keep weight on the inside of the right foot, and maintain a slight bend in the knee.
Failure to do this can mean poor contact and a loss of power. As you take the club back, imagine that the right knee is braced and solid like a wall. This helps your upper body coil behind the ball, so you can make an aggressive move through it--and really send it flying!
Muscle It!
Golf isn't a wrist game. To achieve a powerful swing, you need to employ the big muscles of the legs and trunk. The common instinct of many amateurs is to hit at the ball with only the arms and wrists.
Every once in a while this may connect, but for real consistency and power, use the whole body, not just part of it. Muscle it!
Hit Low Into the Wind
Many players feel that they need to hit it harder into a breeze, but this causes them to put more spin on the ball and hit it higher. To hit it lower and more controlled, put the ball back in your stance a few inches and keep your hands forward. Use a longer club than you would otherwise, and swing easy.
Remember the old saying, "Swing with ease into the breeze."
Use Club Loft to Your Advantage
When trying to get the ball airborne, hit down and through it. By allowing the club's loft to do the work, you'll achieve good contact, resulting in a natural flightpath.
Remember, golf clubs have loft for a reason--use it to your advantage!
Swing Easy When It's Breezy
When you're playing in the wind, a simple but very good thought is "swing with ease into the breeze." This thought helps keep you from over swinging in the wind and, in turn, prevent your ball from sailing too high.
Greg Norman said he used this one on his way to winning the 1994 British Open.
Solidify Your Swing's Foundation
A consistent golf swing requires a smooth tempo and good balance. Just as a house needs a solid foundation, so does your golf swing.
Practice hitting some shots with your feet close together (about six inches apart). This forces you to maintain better balance, tempo, and rhythm and will prove effective when you go back to hitting from your normal stance.
Swing through the Ball, Not at It
Consistent, powerful swings usually have one thing in common--extension through the ball after hitting it.
Being successful out of the sand depends on three things: correct setup, proper technique and consistent point of entry.
You should use a sand wedge when playing short sand shots around the green. A sand wedge may vary from 55 to 58 degrees of loft with 8 to 12 degrees of bounce. I personally prefer a 58-degree sand wedge with 8 degrees of bounce.
For the correct setup, I like to draw or visualize three lines in the sand, as shown in the photos above. Each line has a specific purpose. The line going from the target to the ball and then extending beyond the ball is called the target line.
The line that is about 10 degrees open to the target line is the angle of our feet or toes. Then I draw a line perpendicular to the target line originating at the ball. This represents ball position, which should be off the left heel for righthanded golfers (photo below).
Once you have the correct setup with the same amount of weight on each foot, the face of the club should be slightly open (photo at right). This puts loft on the ball and allows the back portion of the bottom of the club to bounce off the sand, as opposed to having the leading edge dig into the sand.
The start of the backswing (see Swing Sequence photos below) should be straight back or slightly outside the target line. There is an immediate breaking of the hands as you start this motion, producing a more vertical swing which encourages the club to enter the sand about two inches behind the ball (this is the point of entry).
What you are actually trying to do is to take as little sand as possible without contacting the ball. Allow the sand to lift the ball from the bunker. (You can work on getting a consistent point of entry with the Point of Entry Drill described here.)
As you make contact with the sand there should be a cupping of the left wrist.
Let me explain "cupping." Assume you are wearing a watch on your left wrist and the face, as usual, is pointing outward. When contacting the sand on the forward swing, you should try to take the back of your left hand and move it towards your watch face, thereby creating wrinkles underneath your left wrist.
This action is called "cupping of the wrist" and it is very necessary in producing quality sand shots. Since this motion prevents the club from closing, the ball is lifted in the air with backspin.
These are the three most important things regarding sand play around the greens. You don't have to be perfect to get out of a sand bunker, but you have enough of the basic principles to get started.
These photos illustrate the swing sequence on greenside sand shots, incorporating acorrect setup, proper technique and consistent point of entry. Tips to cure your slicing, shanking etc.
Pull the Rope! I've found that most people with a slice problem cut across the ball on the downswing. To learn the correct path for the clubhead to follow, think of a rope attached to a tree above you.
From the top of the backswing, you should feel that you're pulling the rope straight down. This forces the right elbow to stay close to your side. It also gives your stroke the correct inside path, and improves your ability to swing out toward the target rather than across the ball.
Check Your Vs!
Many things can cause a slice, but most often the grip is the source of the trouble. Here's how to fix it: Make sure that when looking down at address, you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand and a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward your right shoulder.
With the right hand, have the "V" pointing toward your chin or slightly to the right shoulder.
It works!
Common Mistake of Shanking
Shanking is hitting the ball toward the back of the club face (at the hozel) usually begins with too much of the body's weight on the toes. This causes the club head to move from the outside to the inside in the swing. Such cutting across the ball, or worse, can send it off erratically.
Shanking also comes from shoving the ball, or worse, can send it off erratically. Shanking also comes from shoving the right hand forward to form trying to dig a divot by hitting behind the ball withthe 1, 2, or 3 iron. Shanking occurs mostly with the long irons, which seem to give golfers the most trouble.
Starting with the mental picture of standing on one railroad track and setting up to swing at a ball placed on the other, the ideal anti-shank golf swing would swing would have the club head move toward the ball from a slightly inside position and strike the ball at the very moment the club face is in line with the target.
In this example, the club head curves back, away from the track the ball is on. If you are teeing up for a long iron shot and are having shanking problems, tee the ball up as high as you can. However, the only long term solution for shanking is to develop a coordinated, well-grooved swing.
Swing Tempo
A driver takes the same swing tempo as a pitching wedge, and the same is true for all the clubs when taking a full swing.
The consistency in tempo will lead to consistency in contact (and thus accuracy). For a proper swing let your arms lead and smoothly draw the club away with your arms, and let your body follow. Your left shoulder and hips will turn obediently, naturally transferring weight to your right side (about 90% on the back foot at the top of your swing).
For greater accuracy try pulling with your left arm from the top of your swing. And don't do like the pros and lead the downswing.
Yes, this gives them power, but, for most golfers, it results in sliding ahead of the ball and causes weak, slicing shots. Low and left causes topped shots.
Keep the club face square for several inches after impact. Transfer your weight to your front left side (about 90% on the front foot on your follow through). Let your right knee rotate to face the target with your right foot up so the bottom is visible. Your hands should be high and close to your left ear.
Shoulder Under Chin--You Won't Hit it Thin!
Do you suffer from topping the ball or "hitting it thin?"
Try to get in the habit of placing your right shoulder under your chin before looking for where the ball goes. This doesn't mean to keep your head down forever. Let your head move, but let your shoulder be what brings it up after contact.
Do this properly and you'll almost see the club hit the ball. Try it!
Step on It!
The best way to practice a good weight shift is to step with your right foot over the left after you hit the ball. You should feel as if you're walking right after contact. After each swing, ask yourself: "Where is the weight?" Is it on the right foot, or the left?
A proper, balanced position should be 90% on the left foot, and 10% on the right toe. From there, your momentum will naturally carry you to the walking position with right over left, as shown here.
Hit Far with the Ball Forward
Your position over the ball should vary according to the club you're using. For instance, the ball should be in the instance, the ball should be in the middle of your stance with the shorter irons (7, 8, 9, PW). As the loft of the club decreases, the ball should be incrementally farther toward the front foot, until it's just inside the left heel when hitting the woods.
Also, remember that if you want to purposely hit lower shots, the ball should be back in the stance. For higher shots, it should be forward.
Muscle It!
Golf isn't a wrist game. To achieve a powerful swing, you need to employ the big muscles of the legs and trunk. The common instinct of many amateurs is to hit at the ball with only the arms and wrists.
Every once in a while this may connect, but for real consistency and power, use the whole body, not just part of it. Muscle it!
Wiggle Your Toes
Over time, many golfers move farther from the ball at address. Be sure that you're not reaching for the ball or putting too much weight on the balls of your feet.
Here's a test for this, that many pros are fond of: Wiggle your toes at address! This ensures that you aren't placing too much weight on the forward part of the foot.
Improve Your Balance and Game
When you're having problems making good contact, it's often because you start to sway, lose balance, and stop turning. One of the best drills to help cure this problem is to hit balls with your feet about six inches apart.
Start out by hitting shots with short swings. You'll notice that in order to do this, your balance must be good. This drill promotes good footwork, balance, and a free swing with the arms. Also, it forces you to turn more; otherwise, you'll fall over!
When you feel as though you're making good contact, increase the length of your swings. Eventually, you'll feel confident enough to hit from a normal stance again.
Learn to Stay Flexible
One of the most common complaints I hear about is a loss of flexibility and are sulting poor turn (photo). My favorite drill for this is what I call the hip blocker. When you fix the knees, it forces the upper body to turn much more correctly and slowly increases flexibility. As you swing, remember to turn the shoulders as far back as you can until the left shoulder is under your chin. In doing this, you'll feel a greater stretch along your left side.
Finish by doing the same thing on the follow-through, but with the right shoulder under the chin. In time, you'll increase your ability to coil fully without using the hips. Remember, power is stored in the swing as a result of a big shoulder turn combined with a minimal hip turn.
Act Like a Baseball Player
A golf swing requires a controlled but aggressive weight shift. Still, some players get stuck on the right foot and never fully shift, causing many of the typical bad-shot blues.
Try teeing a ball and taking your normal address position.
Now,bring the left foot back so the feet are about 6 inches apart. Take a normal backswing, but just as you begin down, step forward as though you are a home run hitter stepping into a pitch. To hit the ball solidly, you might need to tone down the swing a bit.
This not only gives you a real feeling of shifting, but it also trains you to repeat it.
Turn and Burn
There's a simple way to give you the feeling of a proper shoulder turn without the hips getting too involved, as they often do. Sit on the edge of a golf cart (or in a similar position). Put a club on the line of your shoulders as if you're simulating address.
Now, simply turn back and try to get the shaft pointing straight in front of you. You'll find quite a stretch in the left side, which is good. This helps you get behind the ball better and results in a few more yards.
Dirty Those Shoes
I can often size up a student by looking at shoes. If the shoes have been around a while and the right toe is totally clean, there's a problem. When the weight shifts properly, you'll end up balanced on the right toe. Over time, this wears down that toe. Make an effort to get that right toe dirty and beat up!
That tells me your weight is shifting properly.
Use Both Sides
For many players, the left arm and side are weak and dominated by the rightside on the downswing and through impact. This right-side dominance leads to poor extension and many other swing flaws.
To ingrain a proper feel, swing lightly with the left arm only. As you do this, check how the arm extends freely through the impact zone.
Now, add the right arm with a light grip and try to maintain the extended feeling you just had. You'll immediately feel it getting more restricted, but let it go and keep using that left arm and side along with the right.
You've got two sides--use them both!
Lining Up the Face
As a rule, golfers don't pay enough attention to the face of the club. The face of the golf club is so small that few golfers realize how important it is in correct shot-makingf or that face to be square to the ball throughout the swing. A surprisingly large number of golfers don't even start their swing with the face square. They think they do, but somewhere these golfers have picked up the erroneous notion that it is the top line of the club face that one should refer to determine if the face is square at address--that is, resting so that it is perpendicular to the intended line of flight.
Now, that's not right. It's the bottomline of the face that determines whether the club is square or not.
One other thought on this matter. If the player rushes his backswing, the club will change position in his hands. It's bound to--just the way a pitcher in baseball would lose control of the ball if he would up like lighting. You must start square and control your swing so that you stay square.
Tips to improve your distance
Pass the Pole for More Distance
If you want maximum distance and consistency, use a proper weight shift. Imagine a pole coming vertically out of the ground where the ball is resting at address. Make it your goal to get your left shoulder behind the ball and the imaginary pole on the takeaway--without swaying the hips.
This ensures a good position to initiate your downswing. On the follow-through, your right shoulder should move past the ball and imaginary pole. When you do this correctly, you not only make a good turn, but a good weight shift as well.
Start at the Top
The real secret to hitting straighter, more-consistent shots is to have a square clubface at impact. If your clubface connects squarely with the ball, your shots fly straight. It's that simple!
One way to promote a square clubface at impact is to have one at the top of the backswing. If you're not square at the top, you have to manipulate the club in some way to make it square at impact. This can lead to all kinds of timing problems.
Here's a good drill that teaches you how to play from a square position. With a club in hand, lift your arms just up to the forehead, and then rotate the shoulders as far as possible, allowing a full backswing. This sets your hands in a square position at the top and encourages a full turn. If you can hold this position for a few seconds, it helps ingrain the proper feeling that you should have at the top of the swing.
Stabilize Your Left Knee
Longer hitters have a significant discrepancy between hip turn and shoulder turn. The place for a big hip turnis on the follow-through, not the backswing! One important body part that affects what the hips do is the left knee. When it collapses or bends inward, the hips are able to turn too much, making it impossible to create the necessary torque required to build clubhead speed.
To improve this, simply feel the left knee staying out toward the target at the top of the backswing. This keeps some distance between the knees.
Turn Your Way to More Distance
The key to hitting a golf ball a long way is minimizing your hip turn and maximizing your shoulder turn. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make sure that your left knee doesn't slide to the right on the backswing and that the right knee stays firm and flexed throughout. (Opposite knee for left-handedplayers.)
Also, get your shoulder behind the ball at thetop of the backswing. This ensures good weight shift and allows for a longerswing.
Release is the Key to Distance
To improve distance, you must have a proper hand release in the swing. Take a short backswing and stop when your club and hands are about waist high. Look as though you are shaking hands with your thumb pointing up in the air. As you swing down into the follow through, make sure your hands are doing the same thing that they did on the backswing (thumb up).
This technique ensures that you use your hands properly.
Tips to improve your grip
Grip it Light on the Right
In general, you need to keep the right side solid for as trong shot. But don't let this carry through to your grip. Many golfers tend to grip the club too tightly with the right hand, which leads to unnecessary tension. It can also make you swing "over the top" and cut across the ball.
Here's the fix: Check your right-side grip, arm, and shoulder tension before each swing. You should sense that have muscle tension corresponding to a "6" or "7" on a scale of 1-10. And remember: Light muscles are better than tight muscles!
Go Crosshand
One common error in putting is a breakdown of the wrists--they should work as a unit! If this problem applies to you, try using a "crosshand" grip. To do this,place the left hand down the grip where the right hand place the left hand down the grip where the right hand would normally be, and put the right hand atop the grip.
This may feel odd at first, but it forces the hands to work as a unit, which is one of the fundamentals of good putting. And remember: Always keep the hands in front of the ball during the stroke, and the left wrist flat!
Don't Choke it to Death!
Many golfers think they have to grip it hard to hit it hard. Actually, a tense muscle is a slow muscle! Clubhead speed is crucial for distance, and light muscles can work faster. On a scale of 1-10, try to attain a grip pressure of 5 or 6.
Grip it light to hit it far!
Increase Your Forearm Strength
Left wrist and forearm strength are critical to golf success. So often I see the left wrist breaking downthrough impact, being dominated by the right arm. This causes many ills including topping, loss of distance,and pulling shots to the left.
One great strengthening drill for this problem requires you to hold the club straight out in front of you using the last three fingers of the left hand. Next, using your wrists, move the club up and down 10-12 times. Three slow controlled sets without bending the arm will train the proper motion into your muscle memory.
Point Your Way to Consistency
What the hands do directly affects the clubface position, which affects the ball's flight. With a normal stance, take your grip but point your finger down the shaft so it's pointing at the ball at address. Check the club when it's parallel to the ground on both the backswing and follow-through. The finger should point down the target line on the way back and at the target on the way through.
This is also a great tip if you're confused about how it should feel to release your hands properly.
Checking the Grip with the Clubhead
If your hands are improperly aligned with the clubhead, you will hit only a few isolated accurate shots. What I check before address is the alignment of the grip with the face of the club. They go together.
Most golfers know of this relationship between the hands and the clubface--at least, they know it theoretically--but the ordinary golfer rarely puts it into practice.
Very often, while he is fiddling with his grip, he inadvertently rotates the shaft and twists the clubface out of alignment. Most pros, on the other hand, knowing that the grip is correct only when it is correctly aligned with the clubface, take pains to check this fundamental of good golf.
Tips to use for bunker shots
See Yourself in the Clubface
One of the keys to getting out of greenside bunkers is to keep the clubface"open." When you close the face, you get a lower trajectory and the Golf Club tends to dig in the sand.
Here's a trick to help you achieve this:
Imagine that the clubface is a mirror, and that you're going to see your reflection in it at the finish of your sand shot. This will ensure that you take the club all the way to eye level and that you've kept it open all the way to the finish. Goodluck!
"Splash" Some Sand
Next time you're in a bunker, focus on sliding a thin "divot" of sand from under the ball and onto the green. Open the clubface a few degrees (clockwise) and lineup slightly to the left. "Splash" the sand toward the target and the ball will follow!
Make a Steep Swing in the Sand
This drill helps you get a feel for taking the Golf Clubback in a more upright plane out of the bunker. By taking the club back more abruptly, you increase your chances of getting under the ball properly and impacting the sand more precisely. Have a friend stand behind you in the sand and place a rake about two feet behind your ball--holding it in approximately a 45-degree angle. The goal here is to get you to swing up the rake handle and feel as though your plane is steeper than that of a normal swing.
Take several swings like this and soon you'll hit high, soft shots from the bunker.
Chipping from Traps
Many golfers make the sand trap shot more difficult than it has to be. This is because they were taught that the only way to come out of a trap is with an explosion shot, a rather unnatural stroke for the beginner since the club head has to strike the sand behind the ball and does not strike the ball itself. There are a number of occasions when the lie of the ball and the lay of the land make playing an explosion shot unnecessary and even unwise.
Whenever the bank of the trap is low and there is enough putting surface between the trap and the hole, a golfer would be more sensible to play a variation on a chip shot--with the club head contacting the ball cleanly and lofting it onto the green.
Allow for some roll. A chip from the sand is played the same as a chip from any other lie, with two modifications.
First, you grip the club low on the shaft, as far down as the bottom of the leather if this is comfortable.
Secondly, glue your eyes on the left half of the ball rather than on the right half as you do on ordinary shots. This enables you to deliver a clean, descending blow, and that is the essence of all chip shots.
Fairway Bunker Shot
When taking on this shot be sure the club you are using has sufficient loft to get the ball over the front lip of the bunker. You do not want to strike the ball perfectly only to see it smash into the face of the bunker and dribble back to your feet. If you are to hit your ball 150 yards out of a bunker towards the green you must catch it cleanly, that means removing as little sand as possible. In order to catch the ball cleanly just below its equator, you should stand tall and grip a couple of inches down the handle.
Also, don't shuffle your feet down into the sand as you would for greenside bunker shots where you are trying to hit the sand before the ball. Try to remain on the surface. Play the ball an inch further back in your stance than normal to help guarantee you catch the ball, not the sand. Keep the swing short and quiet-that means a smooth takeaway and no lunges from the top of thebackswing-and pick the ball off the top.
Tips to improve your chipping
Weight Distribution is Vital When Chipping
One key to consistently getting the ball up and down isproper weight distribution. Keep at least 60% of your weight on the front foot at address (left foot for right-handed golfers). Think of hitting slightly down and through the ball. This will encourage a good weight transfer and, in turn, help complete the follow-through.
Keep the back of the left wrist facing the target and don't let it break down. That's crucial. Otherwise, your shots will break down as well!
Chipping from Traps
Many golfers make the sand trap shot more difficult than it has to be. This is because they were taught that the only way to come out of a trap is with an explosion shot, a rather unnatural stroke for the beginner since the club head has to strike the sand behind the ball and does not strike the ball itself. There are a number of occasions when the lie of the ball and the lay of the land make playing an explosion shot unnecessary and even unwise.
Whenever the bank of the trap is low and there is enough putting surface between the trap and the hole, a golfer would be more sensible to play a variation on a chip shot--with the club head contacting the ball cleanly and lofting it onto the green. Allow for some roll.A chip from the sand is played the same as a chip from any other lie, with two modifications.
First, you grip the club low on the shaft, as far down as the bottom of the leather if this is comfortable.
Secondly, glue your eyes on the left half of the ball rather than on the right half as you do on ordinary shots. This enables you to deliver a clean, descending blow, and that is the essence of all chip shots.
Accuracy in Chipping
When you are playing a chip shot from off the edge of the green, I think it is a sensible practice to visualize this kind of stroke as a close cousin to the putting stroke. In chipping from the apron, just as in putting, the club head should follow a straight line from the top of the backswing through impact with the ball and on top of the follow-through.
Imagine that your ball is lying a top a yardstick that is pointing toward the hole. Your club head should stay directly above the yardstick during all phases of the chip shot. Your stance will be open with your left foot at approximately a 45-degree angle to the pin, in order to facilitate the proper movement of the club head. This open stance and the over-the-yard-stick stroke--these are the fundamentals that will make it easy for you to keep your chip right on the line to the pin.
Many golfers make the mistake on their short chips of assuming a square stance, keeping both feet perpendicular to the line to the target. The result is that the club head deviates from the straight line during the swing, and an inaccurate shot is the consequence.
When you arrange a day out for some golf, you would usually select your normal golf center to enjoy 18 holes of golfing heaven. But when you get tired of the local golf center, you will want to try somewhere pleasant and enjoyable.
There are many courses you can golf across the globe; and some of these places have been given seals of approval by some of today's leading golfers.
Some have even been given the legendary seal of approval by the PGA.
That in itself isa great achievement.
Every golf center is designed to help you have a good time out by setting up your event and helping you plan a great day on the course. The professional staff at the golf centers are there to help you whenever you desire. The golf centers are always different. They are designed to be fun and also challenging--to test your skills and to teach you how to use a driver, iron, and putter.
If you are a golfer who only visits the local small golf center, these places will blow you away; these centers will provide you with everything you need to feel like you are playing against pros--to feel like there is real money to be won at the end of the day. These centers offer their customers carts, rule sheets, tee packs, a score sheet, and even a boxed lunch.
Even the boxed lunches cater to your individual tastes, whether you want a burger, a hotdog, or even some fruit and granola. Of course, once you find a place that makes you want to take up permanent residence, you may be reluctant to go anywhere else. But there are other places to explore and other 18 hole courses to conquer; never restrict yourself to one.
Almost every one of my students asks for help in aiming their putts. That's good advice to seek, because improving your aim is the key to making more putts. We've been testing how people aim putts for years at the Pelz Golf Institute and we've learned a few things that will get your putts on the right track.
Based on these test results, here's what I suggest:
Draw two parallel red lines around your ball, then two curved, converging red lines on the top of your putter (see photobelow). (These would look similar to the Pelz O-balls we use in our golf schools.)
Make sure the lines on your ball match up with the lines on your putter and that they are perpendicular to the clubface. Practice for at least 10 minutes before you try it on the course.
The modifications should help improve your aim--and they conform to USGA rules.
It's important to keep working on your aim even after you see initial improvement. Some of the best putters I know--Tiger, Phil and Justin Leonard among them--continually check their Drawing two red lines on your putter is the putting aim to make sure they're not falling into bad habits. You should do the same.
Aim High!
Avoid the common fault of aiming too low and missing your putt below the hole. Go to a practice green and pick out a left-to-right-breaking 15-foot putt. Once you take your initial read, pick out a spot even with the hole that is twice as high as the apex (highest point) of the break (see photo).
Aim at a spot even with the hole and twice as high as the apex of the break.
How to Square the Face
For perfect impact, try this split grip
What it is: Pre-swing drill
What it's for: Straight solid drives
The principle you use to square the clubface at impact is the same as the one hockey players use to hit a slap shot. In hockey, the shooter's hands are separated as he winds up.
Borrow that move while you're waiting on the tee box to free up your hinging action and release. You'll hit a more accurate drive when it's your turn to play.
Those are important fundamentals, but they're nearly impossible to groove in your stroke unless you accelerate through the ball.
How do you know if you are or are not accelerating your putter?
Set up for a flat 10-foot putt, then take the putter-head back for that distance and stop: The club shouldn't be more than seven or eight inches from the ball before you stroke through. If it is, you're preventing the putter from swinging through as fast as it naturally should. That's deceleration.
In an accelerating putting stroke, you take the putterhead back a short distance, then swing it smoothly through the ball. There's less time and space to make mistakes, making it easier to keep the putterhead square.
To help you groove an accelerated stroke, try these three drills:
Drill 1: The Backstop
Find a level 15-foot putt and stick a tee six inches behind your ball, directly on line with the hole. Stroke some putts, taking the putter back until it hits the tee. You must work to accelerate the putter through to get the ball to the cup. Six inches may not be enough of a backswing when you're on the course, but on the putting green it will give you a good feeling of acceleration.
Drill 2: The Axe
Stick four tees in a straight line, spaced two inches apart and address the end tee as if itwere a ball. Take the putterhead back three inches and swing through, knocking over allfour tees. You'll be forced keep accelerating past initial impact to hit the fourth tee. Toensure taking the putterhead back three inches, use a fifth tee as a backstop.
Drill 3: Full Finish
As you practice on the putting green, follow through on each putt until your putter is atwaist level, then hold it. It's impossible to decelerate when you're striving for a full follow-through. You may hit a few putts past the hole initially, but you'll soon get the feel for anaccurate, accelerated stroke.
Becoming a Better Lag Putter
How many putts do you have in a round of golf? Can you accurately tell yourself? Most players don't realize that the fastest way to reduce your score is to take fewer putts. Approximately 40 percent or sometimes more of the strokes are made on the putting green. The fastest way to take fewer putts is to get your first putt closer to the hole to make that second putt a tap-in.
Lag putting is a skill that can greatly benefit many aspects of your game. For example, Jack Nicklaus was an exceptional lag putter. Being a phenomenal lag putter allowed Jack's course management to put him head and shoulders above the field when it came to very difficult major championship-type courses.
Jack would play to the center of the green and away from any deep bunkers or hazards that could potentially produce a big number, setting up an easy two-putt for par. As you know, par is a great number when playing in major championships like the U.S. Open.
With exceptional ability to lag the ball to the hole he was always confident that no matter how far from the hole he would still two-putt for his par.
Most amateurs are typically poor at both lag putting and course management. The first of which is caused most commonly by poor technique and a lack of proper practice. The latter caused by trying to play very low percentage shots. Let's work on the lag putting first and we can come back to course management later.
Body Control and Length
When it comes to technique there are two things we want to focus on. No. 1 is using the correct body parts and No. 2 being the length of the putting stroke.
These two have a direct correlation. Most amateurs use their hands during their putting stroke. When using their hands they often times take the putter back way too far and stop their follow-through just after impact. This makes it incredibly difficult to maintain a consistent pace of the putter head during impact. That is vital when it comes to controlling the distance you are going to lag the ball.
In the full swing the hands provide a great deal of power. In the putting stroke our goal is not power. Our goal becomes control of power. Power is much easier to control by eliminating extra lever systems (Lever systems being the hands, elbows and any other extra body motion). The most consistent way to do that is by utilizing the bigger muscles of the body, in particular, the shoulders.
If we use the big muscles of our shoulders to rock back and forth to create a pendulum motion, we eliminate inefficient motions.
Once we have developed the proper mechanics we can now begin to control the length of the putting stroke. This is secondary only because the length of the stroke is difficult to be consistent with if we use our hands. Now we can effectively learn how to lag the ball with more accuracy. The best way to practice lag putting is to groove the proper lengthstroke with training aids.
Putting Track
One of the better aids is a putting track. This can be purchased or made with paralle l2x4s. Each board must have perpendicular lines drawn and inch apart. This is a great reference point to check and see how far you are taking the putter head back and through. Quite simply the length of the stroke will determine the length of the putt.
The greater the distance you take the putter back and through, the further the ball will travel. The lines will help to calibrate how far each putt will go. Obviously speed of the greens may vary from course to course. This will require some adjusting of stroke length, but with some practice the adjustments necessary will become second nature.
Once your mechanics are in order, there are some great drills to help you get away from being a mechanical putter. One of my favorites is the "Look at the Hole Drill".
Look at the Hole Drill
1. Place five balls 25 feet from the hole.
2. Stroke each of the five balls while looking at the hole. You are trying to get a feel forthe proper distance with a smooth stroke.
3. If you get all five within 2 1/2 feet of the hole, move back 10 feet.
Repeat the process.This will really help develop the proper feel on long putts.
Try a Split Grip Perhaps the best drill to emphasize proper hand release is to grip the club so that you have a few inches of space between your hands. Next, make a few swings with the club going only half way back and through. Doing this drill helps exaggerate the feeling of the right hand crossing over the left. When you do this properly, you'll see the toe of the club is facing upward both at hip height on the backswing and at hip height on the follow-through.
Don't Hold On "Holding on" means that instead of being relaxed through impact there is a tendency to grip too tightly and hold on--not releasing the full potential of the swing. When you anticipate the hit rather than swinging through the ball, there is inevitably a tendency to tighten and hold on too much. The most fluid way to swing is as though you aren 't hitting the ball at all, but rather are swinging through it.
Improve Your Posture Ben Hogan once said, "Ninety percent of a golf shot--good or bad--occurs before the swing." Start by standing very erect with your back flat. Flex the knees and push your behind out so that your knees are roughly above the balls of the feet. Try to maintain this position as you bend over from the waist.
Think of the arms and hands being low and relaxed as though gravity is pulling them straight down. Now stand at address with a club. Make straight down. Now stand at address with a club. Make sure that an angle is established with the wrists. This angle is important because, in essence, you are lessening the moving parts of your swing by setting the wrist cock in advance. This allows for a hinging action of the wrists and makes it much easier to release the club on the follow-through.
Quite often, my students reach too much for the ball, causing the wrists to roll in the swingrather than hinge and unhinge.
Relax Your Grip Pressure Start by determining your grip pressure.
How tight are you gripping the club on ascale of 1-10, with 10 being as tight as you can squeeze it and 1 being notholding on at all?
Generally, the best players grip about a 6 on this scale. Any
tighter and tension gets in the way, going all the way up the arms and into theupper body. Too much grip tension inhibits the lag (delayed hit) and release motions that are critical to extension and a full release of the hands and arms. After you have set a light but firm pressure, monitor the consistency of thisthroughout the swing.
Is it the same throughout, or does it tighten or even loosen somewhere during the swing? Keeping a light pressure consistently allows you the freedom to make the correct move.
Remember, the tighter yougrip the club the less your hands work in unison and the more they inhibit your release.
Develop a Pre-Shot Routine
Being tight in the body and with the grip aren't the only things that affects yourgame and release. Your mind must also be clear and focused. Start by using aconsistent pre-shot routine.
This routine should allow you to relax and visualizepositive results. Developing a pre-shot routine can clear the mind so you're freeto go ahead and give the ball your best shot.
Drop the Right Foot Back
Dropping the right foot back as you take some swings helps you to swing alonga path that allows for a full hand release. Drop the right foot back about one footat address and try to swing across your body with easy swings.
After you get the at address and try to swing across your body with easy swings. After you get thefeeling of your hands being able to release, trick yourself and retain the motionwhile slowly moving the foot back into the normal position.
Use the Big Muscles
To generate your full power potential, you must use your trunk andmidsection. Any athlete, from boxer to baseball pitcher, will agree that their power starts from the legs, trunk, and midsection. This is where the big muscles are and where you must rely for a smoother motion.
Practice feeling that the belly button is facing the target at the end of the swing and that you finish theswing balanced on the right toe. To fully release the hips, the weight must getoff the left foot and up onto the toe. If you make a good body release combinedwith the hand release, you'll wonder where all that power came from.
One of the biggest breakthroughs you will feel in golf is when your body and hands release their energy at the same time. When this is happening, the right elbow stays close to the right side--almost touching the hip as both it and the hips move or release through that poor golf ball.
This is what I call efficient useof energy, and it comes only through practice.
Learn to Transfer Your Weight
It seems like it should be easy: Start the swing with the weight evenly distributed on both feet and finish with it on the left foot and right toe. After all, we do this every time we take a step and in any sport I can think of. Proper weight transfer is necessary to powerfully propel an object. Yet, for some reason, many golfers can't seem to resist helping the ball get up in the air by hitting up or at it.
This lesson will help you understand some of the ways to hit through the ball with a correct weight shift.
Understand Weight Shift
So often, it's hard for students to understand and feel their weight shift. A good way to begin is to close your eyes and take a few practice swings. Afterwards, give each foot a percentage weighting for the beginning (at address), middle, and end of the swing.
If you're swinging properly, the beginning or address position should feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your left and right feet on a flat lie.
At the top of the backswing, if you've made a good turn without swaying, it should feel like 80% of your weight is on the inside of your right foot and 20% is on the inside of your left foot. The follow-through should feel like the opposite of this.
If these closed- eye swings are opposite or way off these numbers, try the following drills: Walk through the Shot Take your normal address position and swing a club to the top of the backswing. As you come down and through the ball, make an effort to step forward after you've made contact--just as though you are walking.
Gary Player made this move famous and still does it on many shots. This drill and position emphasizes that you've made a good weight shift.
You "Can" Do It
Place an object such as a soda can about a foot behind your ball. Now, using a short-iron, try to hit your ball without hitting the can.
You'll notice that you're forced to come down at a steeper angle. By swinging with this steeper angle, you're also forced to shift properly off the right foot and take a divot in front of the ball. When you don't, you'll find yourself hitting behind the ball or topping it, which is often the result of hanging back on the right foot.
After a few swings, try putting that same object in front of the ball about 2 feet. The goal here is to swing out over the can as low as possible on the follow-through without actually hitting it.
This extension drill promotes a strong weight shift to theleft leg and gets you to hit through rather than at your ball. This is great for thosewho have a problem topping the ball.
Swing on a Slope
To feel the weight shift happening naturally, try swinging while standing on adownhill or uphill slope. On a downhill slope, for example, gravity pushes yourweight toward the front foot, making it easier to finish the swing with the weightfully transferred. When doing this, be sure to keep your shoulder line fairlyparallel with the slope of the ground to avoid hitting behind the ball.
Keep Your Weight InsideKeeping your weight on the inside of the right foot during the backswing iscritical to shifting properly.
Allowing the weight to get to the outside of the footdoesn't give you a strong base to push off from when "springing" over to the leftside. This can also lead to the dreaded sway, which results in a lot of wasted movement and is corrosive to good swing mechanics. To find a proper position,keep the right knee over the inside of the foot at address and throughout the backswing.
Obviously, it's not good medicine to think about this during theswing, but stop at the top of the swing occasionally and check your position.
In time, this will pay off in added power and more solid hits.
There are many more ways to drill the concept of weight shifting inside, but first you must learn how it feels and start noticing what's going on throughout your swing.
After you can do that, you will see the correlation between solid shotsand good shifting. This is how the pros make it look so easy yet hit it so far. Also, try getting that right toe of your golf shoe dirty, which is a good sign of fully shifting and turning.
As always, don't forget to have some fun.
Get that Ball in the Hole
Adopting Proper Putting Fundamentals
After seeing numerous putting styles over the years, I've come to the conclusion that the majority of great golfers use the same putting fundamentals. Some of these are physical and some mental.
Very little of the so-called "magic" actually comes from a putter design, but rather from the confidence within the player.
Think Positive
It's arguable that positive thinking is the doorway to good putting. Remember a time when you were putting well. It probably felt as though you couldn't miss and you had a greater belief that the ball would go in. Positive feelings and visualization are the keys.
This belief comes from prior success; success comes from solid fundamentals and practice.
Grip for Success
Hold the hands close enough together so that they work as a unit, rather than independently. When they're separate, there's a much greater likelihood of the wrists breaking down, which leads to inconsistency.
A popular grip used by many tour players is a reverse overlap that takes the forefinger of the left hand off the putter and rests it on the little finger of the right hand. A cross-handed grip is also worth trying if you tend to break the wrists during the stroke.
Equally important is grip pressure. I like to see light pressure rather than tight pressure, because tightness diminishes feel.
Consider Ball Position
The left eye should be directly over the ball at address. This means that the ball is placed forward in the stance--off the inside of the left foot.
This also gives you a much better perspective of your putt's intended line of travel.
Keep the Putter Moving
Accelerate the putter toward the hole. Practice some short putts (about one foot from the hole) and try rolling the ball and putter right over the hole.
Remember, the follow-through should exceed the backstroke. You can ensure this by placing another ball behind the ball you're hitting on the practice green.
As you placing another ball behind the ball you're hitting on the practice green. As youmake the backstroke, stop when you hit the second ball.
Have the Right Distance
If you stand too far from the ball, it causes an improper stroke path--one thatmakes too much of an arc from the inside so that it's difficult for the face to besquare to the target.
Conversely, if you stand too close you tend to force thebackstroke outside of the target line. When making these mistakes, it forces youto manipulate the putter to square it at impact.
Locate the Hands Ahead
Locating your hands forward is another fundamental common to good putting technique. If your hands are behind the ball, there's a tendency to add loft to the putt and break your wrists. By keeping your hands up front and even with theball or slightly ahead, you'll ensure a better roll.
Lock the Body
Keep body movement minimal. Good players putt while keeping their bodieslocked in position for the entire stroke. Doing this allows the shoulders, rather than the hips, to dominate the movement. A great way to check how solid you are is to use the sun's shadow.
Putt with the shadow facing in front of you so you can see any lateral movement. Place a ball or club on the green at the outer edges of the shadow of your hips.
As you take some practice strokes, pay attention and see if you can detect any movement. You can also do this shadow trick to ensure your head and shoulders are staying in place and not swaying.
Now, if you can blend these key fundamental with your own style, you'll find that your putts will start to fall more frequently.
Getting out of Trouble Spots - Perfect Your Specialty Shots
During the course of a round, you'll often find yourself in spots that require specialty shots to get out of trouble. Most of the time, a hook or slice can be the worst thing in your world.
However, sometimes you might need to deliberately hit such shots. In fact, the ability to choose your type of shot as the situation requires is what transforms average golfers into great players.
This article describes different types of shots and the simplest ways to hit them.
Hook For right-handed golfers, a hook curves from right to left.
This type of shot tends to roll farther than a sliced shot.
To hit a hook, the clubface must be closed in relation to the target line at impact. The simplest way to hit this shot is to start with a normal stance and grip, and direct the clubface toward the target.
Next, pull back the right or back foot a few inches--so that the line of your feet is aiming to the right of the target 10-15 yards.
When you align your feet this way, it forces you to swing on an inside-to-outside plane. At impact, this swing path puts a counterclockwise spin on the ball and makes it hook.
This technique coupled with a closed clubface produces an even bigger hook. If you're having trouble, make sure there's a feeling of the hands rolling over through impact.
For a more pronounced hook, you can also manipulate your grip. Simply rotate your hands to the right more at address.
Slice
You can hit a slicing shot many ways. The simplest way to slice on purpose is to reverse the procedure you followed for the hook. Pull the left foot back so your stance points to the left.
Leave the clubface pointed toward the target and swing across on the new feet line. You can add more slice by "weakening" the grip-- rotating the hands and grip position to the left.
When you hit a slice, there's less Fade and Draw. A fade is a mild version of a slice and a draw is a mild version of a hook. Because hitting the ball dead straight every time is so difficult, good players incorporate slight nuances of the hook or slice, and they attempt to make one of these ball flights their "bread and butter" shot. This way, they'll at least know the direction the ball is curving, allowing for greater control and course management.
Jack Nicklaus has always said that the best way to hit a fade is to slightly open your clubface ataddress and take a normal swing. To hit a draw, slightly close the clubface at address and take your usual swing.
High Shot
Hitting high shots can be valuable in situations where the greens are very firmor you need to get the ball over some high object, such as a tree. This type of shot lands softer, allowing golfers to carry over bunkers and still keep the ball close to the flag.
Start by placing the ball slightly more forward in the stance than you're used to. Next, visualize your spine angle being vertical to the ground at address. When you get near impact on the swing, your spine angle can be ata slightly upward or "launch" angle. You achieve this best by making sure that your head stays back through the shot.
It's OK to shift the weight of your lower body, but force your upper body to stay back. A more upright swing planepromotes a higher ball flight.
Low Shot
Low shots are fun to hit especially into wind or under trees. Place the ball farther back in the stance, compared to your normal ball position. As you come through impact, there are two positions to feel.
First, make sure that the hands have stayed in front of the ball, keeping the loft of the club low.
Second, ensure the spine angle is still vertical and not at a typical launch angle. Often times, ashorter backswing helps here as well.
This position gives you a nice controlledlow shot. The shot also tends to roll more, so plan accordingly.
These are just a few of the many creative types of shots you can learn to produce in an imaginative round of golf.
Keep an eye out for future lessons about specialty shots.
A Few Key Points - Getting Your Total Game in Shape
Playing good golf is a lot more than just beating countless balls on the driving range. If you really want to get the most from the sport, you must concentrate your efforts on several key areas that help make your game complete and keep you on track. Let's exlore the areas that have the biggest impact on you.
Practice Makes Perfect
There is no sense investing in swing instruction if you can't learn to repeat it. Remember, a golf teacher is only responsible for part of the picture. Repetition breeds confidence and confidence breeds success. There's really no substitute for practice, and it must be with purpose and then complemented with play.
Get Professional Instruction
Professional instruction, on a regular basis, is vital to keeping your game on track. So often, we think we can solve our game problems without help. Sometimes, this results in making what was a simple problem worse. A check up by a golf instructor can make a huge difference. Remember, a well-trained professional eye can see things you can't.
Get out There and Do It
Playing the game of golf is what it's all about. It's hard to perfect your technique and implement all the advice you read about unless you get on the course often. Practice and play with purpose, and measure the results.
Think Positive
This is often an overlooked part of the game but it accounts for so much. Listen to the self-talk in your head. Are you hard on yourself? Do you take a "poor me" attitude?
When you really listen to your inner self, you'll be amazed at what you hear. Try to keep a positive outlook on the course. The more confident your thoughts, the more confident your play and, before long, your scores will drop.
Golf may be one of the greatest games ever devised, because it combines all the elements of balance and strength with both body and mind.
The Right Stuff
Who needs custom clubs? An easy response would be, "everyone."
However, certain players tend to reap greater rewards than others from custom clubs. These players commonly have unique body features. For example, they might have short or long fingers, be tall with relatively short arms, or be short with relatively long arms.
Everyone is unique. Remember, don't adjust your game to some set of clubs--adjust your clubs to your game.
Perfect Fit system can help you choose the best clubs for your game.
Fit Your Game Compose your set of the clubs you are most efficient at using. For instance, there's no point carrying a 2-iron if you can't get it up in the air and you don'thave confidence using it.
Instead, opt for a 5- or 7-wood.
Many Senior Tour and women professionals have been doing this.
Even players such as Nick Faldohave been seen carrying high-lofted fairway woods in their bags. Because the rules allow for 14 clubs only, fill your bag with the ones you use most often and most efficiently.
If taking your game up a notch is important to you, go back over this short listand make sure you give each area its appropriate attention. The results couldjust take you up to the next level.
Sand Shots From Tom's Golf Tips
BEST TIP:
Hit with the force necessary to throw a handful of sand onto the green.
With an open stance, keep weight evenly distributed and play ball one inch forward of center, with club face slightly open.
Make smooth three-quarter swing, letting chest turn away from target on backswing.
For plugged lies, keep more weight on left foot to let the club dig into the sand. Play the ball in the middle with a square club face and shaft leaning toward target. You don't have to swing hard.
To avoid leaving the ball in the sand, keep weight on front foot and rotate chest throughout swing.
Angle shaft away from hole.
To avoid blading ball in sand, don't let left arm break down in downswing.
Try to take a shallow cut of sand -- about 10 inches long.
Dig in with toes of shoes more than heels to set bottom of swing below surface of sand.
Hit with the same force you would use if you were throwing a handful of sand to the hole.
For uphill sand shots, play the ball forward, keep more weight on the right foot, don't open the club face and swing along slope.
For downhill sand shots, keep your head steady with more weight on left foot. Play the ball back, open the club face, make a steep backswing, full wrist hinge and swing along the slope.
For long bunker shots, make a relaxed pivot and full follow-through. Take alonger club, say a nine-iron, to get the right distance.
When hitting from hard sand, use a pitching wedge and play a normal pitchshot.
For fairway bunkers:
- take two clubs more than normal
- dig in with your feet and keep your weight on the inside of both feet
- choke down one inch with a light grip
- play ball in the middle with weight evenly distributed
- keep lower body quiet
- use a three-quarter swing
- make a full, relaxed pivot and try to clip the ball off the sand
- swing at 70% of normal speed
- you'll have better luck with a lofted wood than an iron
3 Steps To Lower Scores
Do you want to lower your scores? Silly question isn't it?
Everyone wants to lower his or her scores. High handicappers and low handicappers alike want to shoot lower scores and it's the lifelong quest golfers search for.
The search goes on to develop the ideal swing and lower scores.
Below are 3 Keys to shooting lower scores and they are keys you can use to shoot lowerscores NOW!
Here are the 3 Steps:
1. PLAY THE SHOT THAT NEEDS TO BE PLAYED, NOT THE ONE YOU WANT TO PLAY
The first way to lower your scores is to be honest with yourself. You need to know your game; wherever it is right now; you need to know what clubs to hit and when.
There is no point inusing what other golfers are using. If they hit an 8-iron from 155 and you should hit a 6...hit the 6-iron. More scores balloon because players are playing what I call "EGO Golf" instead of "Scoring Golf".
If you want to score well, you must put yourself into the best position to do that. Hitting an 8-iron because someone else is doing it won't get you what you want.
You will lower your scores when you begin playing the BEST shot instead of the shot you want to hit. Hitting the shot you want to hit is not always the BEST shot to hit at the time.
Play the percentages. Play the correct shot even if you want to go for the risky or low percentage shot. Take a look at how many times playing the shot YOU wanted to hit has gotten you in trouble. Each time it has, you've added strokes to your round. Play the shot that needs to be played in every situation, not the one you want to play.
If you don't have the distance then lay-up and take a bogey if that's what it means. How many times have you "gone for it' only to add 2 or more strokes to the hole?
You must play the game you know how to play and play within that game. Take an honest look at how far you hit each club right now.
As you improve your game, this will change but you must play the game you have RIGHT NOW!
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE: PROCESS VS. OUTCOME
Simplify your round of golf. Each hole is presenting you with the exact information you need to make the right choices...for your game!
The architect has laid out all the obstructions for you so make the right choices...for your game! So you know exactly where NOT to go and where TO go.
Focus on WHERE to go.. Simplify your round by thinking simple.
"Fairways and greens" is such a simple idea that players tend to either forget it or get TOO caught up in it trying to be too perfect. Simplify your round by thinking fairways and greens. It doesn't matter whether you are a 30, 15 or 5 handicap.
Hit the shots you are capable of hitting and no more! When you try to "outwit" or "outplay" the course or other golfers, you will get into trouble.
How can you simplify your round? Easy.
Focus on process versus outcome. Process thinking is focusing on what you have 100% control over; at all times.
Focus on your routines, your breathing, your pace between shots, visualization, rhythm and balance in your set up and swing.
You have complete control over ALL of these things. You don't have control over things like conditions, course layout, playing partners attitudes, score or any other outcome or result type of thought.
You'll find that when you focused on outcomes in the past, you probably didn't play as well and your scores reflected that.
Keep it simple. Focus ONLY on what you have control over. These are PROCESS THOUGHTS.
3. PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME!
It's important to spend time on your short game skills. The tendency is to go to the range, hit the driver and other irons, and then call it a day.
Take a close look and you might find that chipping, pitching and putting is where your strokes add up during a round.
Imagine what your scores would be like if you learned to chip and pitch the ball closer to the hole?
You can lower your scores by taking the time to practice chipping and pitching the ball closer to the hole. The more you do it, the more confidence you gain as well.
In addition, your putting can improve because of the confidence gained by getting closer to the hole more often. Great players spend a lot of time on this part of their game because they understand that this is where their strokes can add up.
There are professional golfers on the developmental tours who still don't work on their "weaknesses" in practice and it costs them dearly when they compete.
While the long balllooks beautiful, it's the short ball that brings the numbers down on your scorecard.You can lower your scores by acting on these 3 Steps right away.
Do You Have A One-Plane or Two-Plane Swing?
The concept of plane confuses some players. It also confuses some players that come to me for golf lessons. Many are unclear about what it is and what its impact is on your golf swing. Whether you understand the concept of plane or not, swinging off plane is never good.
Focusing on two points--spine angle at address and the position of the left arm on the downswing--clears up the confusion about swing plane and explains its effect on your golf swing and your golf handicap.
Several reasons exist for swinging off plane. Picking the club up with your hands or rolling the clubface open during the swing are two.
The most common reason for swinging off plane is adopting the wrong spine angle at address, as I've often pointed out in my golf tips.
Spine angle forms the natural axis around which your shoulders should turn at a 90-degree angle. The spine angle you set at address is critical because it decides the shape and plane of your swing. It's the reason why I focus on adopting the proper spine angle in my golf instruction sessions.
If a player tilts too far over at address, the flatter spine angle causes the shoulders to "tilt" during the swing. As a result, your left arm comes off your chest during your swing, your backswing becomes upright, and your swing plane too steep.
Fat shots, deep divots, and pulls and slices are symptoms of a steep plane.
If a player leans too far back at address, the more erect spine angle causes the shoulders to flatten during the swing. As a result, your left arm squeezes too tightly against your chest, your backswing becomes flatter, and your swing plane too shallow.
Hitting behind the ball, thin shots, and loss of power are symptoms of a shallow plane.
Keep in mind that a taller player has a naturally steeper swing plane than a shorter person does, and a shorter player has a naturally flatter swing plane than a taller person does.
While your shoulder turn and arm swing are related, a good backswing requires a left arm swing that's on a slightly higher plane than your shoulders. This arm angle allows your shoulders to have more of a free passage to the ball on the downswing. If your left arm shoulders to have more of a free passage to the ball on the downswing. If your left armswing is off, you'll automatically be on the wrong plane with your swing will be off.
Here's a test I use in my golf lessons to tell if a player is on plane with his/her swing.
Take a club, assume your normal posture, and swing to the top.
Hold that position for a second. Now, loosen your grip and let the shaft fall.
If the shaft hits you on the top of the right shoulder, your swing is on plane.
If it hits you on the head or neck, your swing plane is too steep.
Conversely, if it falls behind your backwithout hitting your body, your swing plane is too shallow.
Employing a simple move at the top of your backswing ensures that you're taking the right swing plane as you start into the downswing.
As you begin your downswing shift your weight onto your left foot while, at the same time, bringing your right elbow back down to your body. Remember to retain the angle of your wrist as you complete this move.
It's the seat of power and the key to maximum distance.
As the weight shifts to the left and the elbow drops down, the club falls automatically into the right slot for the correct swing plane.
This movement flattens the swing ever so slightly. It's the ideal position from which to swing the club down at the ball, delivering the clubhead squarely to the ball.
In essence you're actually employing two swing planes to hit the ball correctly, one slightly different than the other.
The first comes from executing the correct take away.
The second from dropping down your right elbow just before the downswing.
That slightly different swing plane is crucial. It runs right through the correct angle of your spine, the natural axis around which your shoulders should turn, enabling you to deliver a clean crisp blow to the ball with a square clubhead and good power. And that's the goal of all golf instruction on swing plane.
I hope this article clears up the confusion about swing planes. If you work on taking the clubback on the right plane and on dropping your right elbow down during your swing, you'll see results.
That, in turn, will help you lower both your individual golf scores and your golf handicap.
Tips to Improve your Swing
Hold Up the Ball
Many golfers let the left knee collapse toward the right on the backswing. This causes your shoulder to drop, and makes your hips sway and overturn.
To fix this, imagine your left knee going out toward the target on the backswing. You should feel tension and stability in both knees.
Can't quite get it?
Try this: Imagine that you're holding a basketball between your knees. Give it a try, you'll be amazed!
Be a Hitchhiker
Here's a good image to keep in mind during your backswing: Think of placing your right hand in a "hitchhiker" position. This means that when the club is at waist height, you should be able to look back and see your thumb pointing to the sky.
Here's another trick: Imagine that your hand is in a handshake position,with the palm facing neither up nor down.
These simple thoughts will ensure the beginning of your swing is correct! The best way to accomplish this is to imagine a slight pause at the top of your backswing before changing direction and beginning the downswing.
Do this and you'll find your ball in the middle of the fairway more often!
Rock-Solid Right Knee
On the backswing, it's crucial to keep weight on the inside of the right foot, and maintain a slight bend in the knee.
Failure to do this can mean poor contact and a loss of power. As you take the club back, imagine that the right knee is braced and solid like a wall. This helps your upper body coil behind the ball, so you can make an aggressive move through it--and really send it flying!
Muscle It!
Golf isn't a wrist game. To achieve a powerful swing, you need to employ the big muscles of the legs and trunk. The common instinct of many amateurs is to hit at the ball with only the arms and wrists.
Every once in a while this may connect, but for real consistency and power, use the whole body, not just part of it. Muscle it!
Hit Low Into the Wind
Many players feel that they need to hit it harder into a breeze, but this causes them to put more spin on the ball and hit it higher. To hit it lower and more controlled, put the ball back in your stance a few inches and keep your hands forward. Use a longer club than you would otherwise, and swing easy.
Remember the old saying, "Swing with ease into the breeze."
Use Club Loft to Your Advantage
When trying to get the ball airborne, hit down and through it. By allowing the club's loft to do the work, you'll achieve good contact, resulting in a natural flightpath.
Remember, golf clubs have loft for a reason--use it to your advantage!
Swing Easy When It's Breezy
When you're playing in the wind, a simple but very good thought is "swing with ease into the breeze." This thought helps keep you from over swinging in the wind and, in turn, prevent your ball from sailing too high.
Greg Norman said he used this one on his way to winning the 1994 British Open.
Solidify Your Swing's Foundation
A consistent golf swing requires a smooth tempo and good balance. Just as a house needs a solid foundation, so does your golf swing.
Practice hitting some shots with your feet close together (about six inches apart). This forces you to maintain better balance, tempo, and rhythm and will prove effective when you go back to hitting from your normal stance.
Swing through the Ball, Not at It
Consistent, powerful swings usually have one thing in common--extension through the ball after hitting it.
The Fundamentals for Getting Out of Greenside Bunkers
Being successful out of the sand depends on three things: correct setup, proper technique and consistent point of entry.
You should use a sand wedge when playing short sand shots around the green. A sand wedge may vary from 55 to 58 degrees of loft with 8 to 12 degrees of bounce. I personally prefer a 58-degree sand wedge with 8 degrees of bounce.
For the correct setup, I like to draw or visualize three lines in the sand, as shown in the photos above. Each line has a specific purpose. The line going from the target to the ball and then extending beyond the ball is called the target line.
The line that is about 10 degrees open to the target line is the angle of our feet or toes. Then I draw a line perpendicular to the target line originating at the ball. This represents ball position, which should be off the left heel for righthanded golfers (photo below).
Once you have the correct setup with the same amount of weight on each foot, the face of the club should be slightly open (photo at right). This puts loft on the ball and allows the back portion of the bottom of the club to bounce off the sand, as opposed to having the leading edge dig into the sand.
The start of the backswing (see Swing Sequence photos below) should be straight back or slightly outside the target line. There is an immediate breaking of the hands as you start this motion, producing a more vertical swing which encourages the club to enter the sand about two inches behind the ball (this is the point of entry).
What you are actually trying to do is to take as little sand as possible without contacting the ball. Allow the sand to lift the ball from the bunker. (You can work on getting a consistent point of entry with the Point of Entry Drill described here.)
As you make contact with the sand there should be a cupping of the left wrist.
Let me explain "cupping." Assume you are wearing a watch on your left wrist and the face, as usual, is pointing outward. When contacting the sand on the forward swing, you should try to take the back of your left hand and move it towards your watch face, thereby creating wrinkles underneath your left wrist.
This action is called "cupping of the wrist" and it is very necessary in producing quality sand shots. Since this motion prevents the club from closing, the ball is lifted in the air with backspin.
These are the three most important things regarding sand play around the greens. You don't have to be perfect to get out of a sand bunker, but you have enough of the basic principles to get started.
The Swing Sequence
These photos illustrate the swing sequence on greenside sand shots, incorporating acorrect setup, proper technique and consistent point of entry. Tips to cure your slicing, shanking etc.
Pull the Rope! I've found that most people with a slice problem cut across the ball on the downswing. To learn the correct path for the clubhead to follow, think of a rope attached to a tree above you.
From the top of the backswing, you should feel that you're pulling the rope straight down. This forces the right elbow to stay close to your side. It also gives your stroke the correct inside path, and improves your ability to swing out toward the target rather than across the ball.
Check Your Vs!
Many things can cause a slice, but most often the grip is the source of the trouble. Here's how to fix it: Make sure that when looking down at address, you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand and a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward your right shoulder.
With the right hand, have the "V" pointing toward your chin or slightly to the right shoulder.
It works!
Common Mistake of Shanking
Shanking is hitting the ball toward the back of the club face (at the hozel) usually begins with too much of the body's weight on the toes. This causes the club head to move from the outside to the inside in the swing. Such cutting across the ball, or worse, can send it off erratically.
Shanking also comes from shoving the ball, or worse, can send it off erratically. Shanking also comes from shoving the right hand forward to form trying to dig a divot by hitting behind the ball withthe 1, 2, or 3 iron. Shanking occurs mostly with the long irons, which seem to give golfers the most trouble.
Starting with the mental picture of standing on one railroad track and setting up to swing at a ball placed on the other, the ideal anti-shank golf swing would swing would have the club head move toward the ball from a slightly inside position and strike the ball at the very moment the club face is in line with the target.
In this example, the club head curves back, away from the track the ball is on. If you are teeing up for a long iron shot and are having shanking problems, tee the ball up as high as you can. However, the only long term solution for shanking is to develop a coordinated, well-grooved swing.
Swing Tempo
A driver takes the same swing tempo as a pitching wedge, and the same is true for all the clubs when taking a full swing.
The consistency in tempo will lead to consistency in contact (and thus accuracy). For a proper swing let your arms lead and smoothly draw the club away with your arms, and let your body follow. Your left shoulder and hips will turn obediently, naturally transferring weight to your right side (about 90% on the back foot at the top of your swing).
For greater accuracy try pulling with your left arm from the top of your swing. And don't do like the pros and lead the downswing.
Yes, this gives them power, but, for most golfers, it results in sliding ahead of the ball and causes weak, slicing shots. Low and left causes topped shots.
Keep the club face square for several inches after impact. Transfer your weight to your front left side (about 90% on the front foot on your follow through). Let your right knee rotate to face the target with your right foot up so the bottom is visible. Your hands should be high and close to your left ear.
Tips to Improve your Stance and Position
Shoulder Under Chin--You Won't Hit it Thin!
Do you suffer from topping the ball or "hitting it thin?"
Try to get in the habit of placing your right shoulder under your chin before looking for where the ball goes. This doesn't mean to keep your head down forever. Let your head move, but let your shoulder be what brings it up after contact.
Do this properly and you'll almost see the club hit the ball. Try it!
Step on It!
The best way to practice a good weight shift is to step with your right foot over the left after you hit the ball. You should feel as if you're walking right after contact. After each swing, ask yourself: "Where is the weight?" Is it on the right foot, or the left?
A proper, balanced position should be 90% on the left foot, and 10% on the right toe. From there, your momentum will naturally carry you to the walking position with right over left, as shown here.
Hit Far with the Ball Forward
Your position over the ball should vary according to the club you're using. For instance, the ball should be in the instance, the ball should be in the middle of your stance with the shorter irons (7, 8, 9, PW). As the loft of the club decreases, the ball should be incrementally farther toward the front foot, until it's just inside the left heel when hitting the woods.
Also, remember that if you want to purposely hit lower shots, the ball should be back in the stance. For higher shots, it should be forward.
Muscle It!
Golf isn't a wrist game. To achieve a powerful swing, you need to employ the big muscles of the legs and trunk. The common instinct of many amateurs is to hit at the ball with only the arms and wrists.
Every once in a while this may connect, but for real consistency and power, use the whole body, not just part of it. Muscle it!
Wiggle Your Toes
Over time, many golfers move farther from the ball at address. Be sure that you're not reaching for the ball or putting too much weight on the balls of your feet.
Here's a test for this, that many pros are fond of: Wiggle your toes at address! This ensures that you aren't placing too much weight on the forward part of the foot.
Improve Your Balance and Game
When you're having problems making good contact, it's often because you start to sway, lose balance, and stop turning. One of the best drills to help cure this problem is to hit balls with your feet about six inches apart.
Start out by hitting shots with short swings. You'll notice that in order to do this, your balance must be good. This drill promotes good footwork, balance, and a free swing with the arms. Also, it forces you to turn more; otherwise, you'll fall over!
When you feel as though you're making good contact, increase the length of your swings. Eventually, you'll feel confident enough to hit from a normal stance again.
Learn to Stay Flexible
One of the most common complaints I hear about is a loss of flexibility and are sulting poor turn (photo). My favorite drill for this is what I call the hip blocker. When you fix the knees, it forces the upper body to turn much more correctly and slowly increases flexibility. As you swing, remember to turn the shoulders as far back as you can until the left shoulder is under your chin. In doing this, you'll feel a greater stretch along your left side.
Finish by doing the same thing on the follow-through, but with the right shoulder under the chin. In time, you'll increase your ability to coil fully without using the hips. Remember, power is stored in the swing as a result of a big shoulder turn combined with a minimal hip turn.
Act Like a Baseball Player
A golf swing requires a controlled but aggressive weight shift. Still, some players get stuck on the right foot and never fully shift, causing many of the typical bad-shot blues.
Try teeing a ball and taking your normal address position.
Now,bring the left foot back so the feet are about 6 inches apart. Take a normal backswing, but just as you begin down, step forward as though you are a home run hitter stepping into a pitch. To hit the ball solidly, you might need to tone down the swing a bit.
This not only gives you a real feeling of shifting, but it also trains you to repeat it.
Turn and Burn
There's a simple way to give you the feeling of a proper shoulder turn without the hips getting too involved, as they often do. Sit on the edge of a golf cart (or in a similar position). Put a club on the line of your shoulders as if you're simulating address.
Now, simply turn back and try to get the shaft pointing straight in front of you. You'll find quite a stretch in the left side, which is good. This helps you get behind the ball better and results in a few more yards.
Dirty Those Shoes
I can often size up a student by looking at shoes. If the shoes have been around a while and the right toe is totally clean, there's a problem. When the weight shifts properly, you'll end up balanced on the right toe. Over time, this wears down that toe. Make an effort to get that right toe dirty and beat up!
That tells me your weight is shifting properly.
Use Both Sides
For many players, the left arm and side are weak and dominated by the rightside on the downswing and through impact. This right-side dominance leads to poor extension and many other swing flaws.
To ingrain a proper feel, swing lightly with the left arm only. As you do this, check how the arm extends freely through the impact zone.
Now, add the right arm with a light grip and try to maintain the extended feeling you just had. You'll immediately feel it getting more restricted, but let it go and keep using that left arm and side along with the right.
You've got two sides--use them both!
Lining Up the Face
As a rule, golfers don't pay enough attention to the face of the club. The face of the golf club is so small that few golfers realize how important it is in correct shot-makingf or that face to be square to the ball throughout the swing. A surprisingly large number of golfers don't even start their swing with the face square. They think they do, but somewhere these golfers have picked up the erroneous notion that it is the top line of the club face that one should refer to determine if the face is square at address--that is, resting so that it is perpendicular to the intended line of flight.
Now, that's not right. It's the bottomline of the face that determines whether the club is square or not.
One other thought on this matter. If the player rushes his backswing, the club will change position in his hands. It's bound to--just the way a pitcher in baseball would lose control of the ball if he would up like lighting. You must start square and control your swing so that you stay square.
Tips to improve your distance
Pass the Pole for More Distance
If you want maximum distance and consistency, use a proper weight shift. Imagine a pole coming vertically out of the ground where the ball is resting at address. Make it your goal to get your left shoulder behind the ball and the imaginary pole on the takeaway--without swaying the hips.
This ensures a good position to initiate your downswing. On the follow-through, your right shoulder should move past the ball and imaginary pole. When you do this correctly, you not only make a good turn, but a good weight shift as well.
Start at the Top
The real secret to hitting straighter, more-consistent shots is to have a square clubface at impact. If your clubface connects squarely with the ball, your shots fly straight. It's that simple!
One way to promote a square clubface at impact is to have one at the top of the backswing. If you're not square at the top, you have to manipulate the club in some way to make it square at impact. This can lead to all kinds of timing problems.
Here's a good drill that teaches you how to play from a square position. With a club in hand, lift your arms just up to the forehead, and then rotate the shoulders as far as possible, allowing a full backswing. This sets your hands in a square position at the top and encourages a full turn. If you can hold this position for a few seconds, it helps ingrain the proper feeling that you should have at the top of the swing.
Stabilize Your Left Knee
Longer hitters have a significant discrepancy between hip turn and shoulder turn. The place for a big hip turnis on the follow-through, not the backswing! One important body part that affects what the hips do is the left knee. When it collapses or bends inward, the hips are able to turn too much, making it impossible to create the necessary torque required to build clubhead speed.
To improve this, simply feel the left knee staying out toward the target at the top of the backswing. This keeps some distance between the knees.
Turn Your Way to More Distance
The key to hitting a golf ball a long way is minimizing your hip turn and maximizing your shoulder turn. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make sure that your left knee doesn't slide to the right on the backswing and that the right knee stays firm and flexed throughout. (Opposite knee for left-handedplayers.)
Also, get your shoulder behind the ball at thetop of the backswing. This ensures good weight shift and allows for a longerswing.
Release is the Key to Distance
To improve distance, you must have a proper hand release in the swing. Take a short backswing and stop when your club and hands are about waist high. Look as though you are shaking hands with your thumb pointing up in the air. As you swing down into the follow through, make sure your hands are doing the same thing that they did on the backswing (thumb up).
This technique ensures that you use your hands properly.
Tips to improve your grip
Grip it Light on the Right
In general, you need to keep the right side solid for as trong shot. But don't let this carry through to your grip. Many golfers tend to grip the club too tightly with the right hand, which leads to unnecessary tension. It can also make you swing "over the top" and cut across the ball.
Here's the fix: Check your right-side grip, arm, and shoulder tension before each swing. You should sense that have muscle tension corresponding to a "6" or "7" on a scale of 1-10. And remember: Light muscles are better than tight muscles!
Go Crosshand
One common error in putting is a breakdown of the wrists--they should work as a unit! If this problem applies to you, try using a "crosshand" grip. To do this,place the left hand down the grip where the right hand place the left hand down the grip where the right hand would normally be, and put the right hand atop the grip.
This may feel odd at first, but it forces the hands to work as a unit, which is one of the fundamentals of good putting. And remember: Always keep the hands in front of the ball during the stroke, and the left wrist flat!
Don't Choke it to Death!
Many golfers think they have to grip it hard to hit it hard. Actually, a tense muscle is a slow muscle! Clubhead speed is crucial for distance, and light muscles can work faster. On a scale of 1-10, try to attain a grip pressure of 5 or 6.
Grip it light to hit it far!
Increase Your Forearm Strength
Left wrist and forearm strength are critical to golf success. So often I see the left wrist breaking downthrough impact, being dominated by the right arm. This causes many ills including topping, loss of distance,and pulling shots to the left.
One great strengthening drill for this problem requires you to hold the club straight out in front of you using the last three fingers of the left hand. Next, using your wrists, move the club up and down 10-12 times. Three slow controlled sets without bending the arm will train the proper motion into your muscle memory.
Point Your Way to Consistency
What the hands do directly affects the clubface position, which affects the ball's flight. With a normal stance, take your grip but point your finger down the shaft so it's pointing at the ball at address. Check the club when it's parallel to the ground on both the backswing and follow-through. The finger should point down the target line on the way back and at the target on the way through.
This is also a great tip if you're confused about how it should feel to release your hands properly.
Checking the Grip with the Clubhead
If your hands are improperly aligned with the clubhead, you will hit only a few isolated accurate shots. What I check before address is the alignment of the grip with the face of the club. They go together.
Most golfers know of this relationship between the hands and the clubface--at least, they know it theoretically--but the ordinary golfer rarely puts it into practice.
Very often, while he is fiddling with his grip, he inadvertently rotates the shaft and twists the clubface out of alignment. Most pros, on the other hand, knowing that the grip is correct only when it is correctly aligned with the clubface, take pains to check this fundamental of good golf.
Tips to use for bunker shots
See Yourself in the Clubface
One of the keys to getting out of greenside bunkers is to keep the clubface"open." When you close the face, you get a lower trajectory and the Golf Club tends to dig in the sand.
Here's a trick to help you achieve this:
Imagine that the clubface is a mirror, and that you're going to see your reflection in it at the finish of your sand shot. This will ensure that you take the club all the way to eye level and that you've kept it open all the way to the finish. Goodluck!
"Splash" Some Sand
Next time you're in a bunker, focus on sliding a thin "divot" of sand from under the ball and onto the green. Open the clubface a few degrees (clockwise) and lineup slightly to the left. "Splash" the sand toward the target and the ball will follow!
Make a Steep Swing in the Sand
This drill helps you get a feel for taking the Golf Clubback in a more upright plane out of the bunker. By taking the club back more abruptly, you increase your chances of getting under the ball properly and impacting the sand more precisely. Have a friend stand behind you in the sand and place a rake about two feet behind your ball--holding it in approximately a 45-degree angle. The goal here is to get you to swing up the rake handle and feel as though your plane is steeper than that of a normal swing.
Take several swings like this and soon you'll hit high, soft shots from the bunker.
Chipping from Traps
Many golfers make the sand trap shot more difficult than it has to be. This is because they were taught that the only way to come out of a trap is with an explosion shot, a rather unnatural stroke for the beginner since the club head has to strike the sand behind the ball and does not strike the ball itself. There are a number of occasions when the lie of the ball and the lay of the land make playing an explosion shot unnecessary and even unwise.
Whenever the bank of the trap is low and there is enough putting surface between the trap and the hole, a golfer would be more sensible to play a variation on a chip shot--with the club head contacting the ball cleanly and lofting it onto the green.
Allow for some roll. A chip from the sand is played the same as a chip from any other lie, with two modifications.
First, you grip the club low on the shaft, as far down as the bottom of the leather if this is comfortable.
Secondly, glue your eyes on the left half of the ball rather than on the right half as you do on ordinary shots. This enables you to deliver a clean, descending blow, and that is the essence of all chip shots.
Fairway Bunker Shot
When taking on this shot be sure the club you are using has sufficient loft to get the ball over the front lip of the bunker. You do not want to strike the ball perfectly only to see it smash into the face of the bunker and dribble back to your feet. If you are to hit your ball 150 yards out of a bunker towards the green you must catch it cleanly, that means removing as little sand as possible. In order to catch the ball cleanly just below its equator, you should stand tall and grip a couple of inches down the handle.
Also, don't shuffle your feet down into the sand as you would for greenside bunker shots where you are trying to hit the sand before the ball. Try to remain on the surface. Play the ball an inch further back in your stance than normal to help guarantee you catch the ball, not the sand. Keep the swing short and quiet-that means a smooth takeaway and no lunges from the top of thebackswing-and pick the ball off the top.
Tips to improve your chipping
Weight Distribution is Vital When Chipping
One key to consistently getting the ball up and down isproper weight distribution. Keep at least 60% of your weight on the front foot at address (left foot for right-handed golfers). Think of hitting slightly down and through the ball. This will encourage a good weight transfer and, in turn, help complete the follow-through.
Keep the back of the left wrist facing the target and don't let it break down. That's crucial. Otherwise, your shots will break down as well!
Chipping from Traps
Many golfers make the sand trap shot more difficult than it has to be. This is because they were taught that the only way to come out of a trap is with an explosion shot, a rather unnatural stroke for the beginner since the club head has to strike the sand behind the ball and does not strike the ball itself. There are a number of occasions when the lie of the ball and the lay of the land make playing an explosion shot unnecessary and even unwise.
Whenever the bank of the trap is low and there is enough putting surface between the trap and the hole, a golfer would be more sensible to play a variation on a chip shot--with the club head contacting the ball cleanly and lofting it onto the green. Allow for some roll.A chip from the sand is played the same as a chip from any other lie, with two modifications.
First, you grip the club low on the shaft, as far down as the bottom of the leather if this is comfortable.
Secondly, glue your eyes on the left half of the ball rather than on the right half as you do on ordinary shots. This enables you to deliver a clean, descending blow, and that is the essence of all chip shots.
Accuracy in Chipping
When you are playing a chip shot from off the edge of the green, I think it is a sensible practice to visualize this kind of stroke as a close cousin to the putting stroke. In chipping from the apron, just as in putting, the club head should follow a straight line from the top of the backswing through impact with the ball and on top of the follow-through.
Imagine that your ball is lying a top a yardstick that is pointing toward the hole. Your club head should stay directly above the yardstick during all phases of the chip shot. Your stance will be open with your left foot at approximately a 45-degree angle to the pin, in order to facilitate the proper movement of the club head. This open stance and the over-the-yard-stick stroke--these are the fundamentals that will make it easy for you to keep your chip right on the line to the pin.
Many golfers make the mistake on their short chips of assuming a square stance, keeping both feet perpendicular to the line to the target. The result is that the club head deviates from the straight line during the swing, and an inaccurate shot is the consequence.
What You Should Consider On A Golf Outing
When you arrange a day out for some golf, you would usually select your normal golf center to enjoy 18 holes of golfing heaven. But when you get tired of the local golf center, you will want to try somewhere pleasant and enjoyable.
There are many courses you can golf across the globe; and some of these places have been given seals of approval by some of today's leading golfers.
Some have even been given the legendary seal of approval by the PGA.
That in itself isa great achievement.
Every golf center is designed to help you have a good time out by setting up your event and helping you plan a great day on the course. The professional staff at the golf centers are there to help you whenever you desire. The golf centers are always different. They are designed to be fun and also challenging--to test your skills and to teach you how to use a driver, iron, and putter.
If you are a golfer who only visits the local small golf center, these places will blow you away; these centers will provide you with everything you need to feel like you are playing against pros--to feel like there is real money to be won at the end of the day. These centers offer their customers carts, rule sheets, tee packs, a score sheet, and even a boxed lunch.
Even the boxed lunches cater to your individual tastes, whether you want a burger, a hotdog, or even some fruit and granola. Of course, once you find a place that makes you want to take up permanent residence, you may be reluctant to go anywhere else. But there are other places to explore and other 18 hole courses to conquer; never restrict yourself to one.
How to Improve Your Putting Aim
Almost every one of my students asks for help in aiming their putts. That's good advice to seek, because improving your aim is the key to making more putts. We've been testing how people aim putts for years at the Pelz Golf Institute and we've learned a few things that will get your putts on the right track.
- Focus on the starting line of the putt. In test after test, we found that the better your initial aim, the less you will have to compensate in your stroke to pull or push your putts on-line. Fewer compensations lead to better contact and more made putts.
- Draw two lines on your ball to help your aim. Draw long lines rather than short ones, and use red marker rather than black because red is easier to see. Drawing two lines rather than one helps to form a wider alignment aid. We tested various combinations, and two long red lines led to the best performance.
- Think hard about getting a new putter.
Based on these test results, here's what I suggest:
Draw two parallel red lines around your ball, then two curved, converging red lines on the top of your putter (see photobelow). (These would look similar to the Pelz O-balls we use in our golf schools.)
Make sure the lines on your ball match up with the lines on your putter and that they are perpendicular to the clubface. Practice for at least 10 minutes before you try it on the course.
The modifications should help improve your aim--and they conform to USGA rules.
It's important to keep working on your aim even after you see initial improvement. Some of the best putters I know--Tiger, Phil and Justin Leonard among them--continually check their Drawing two red lines on your putter is the putting aim to make sure they're not falling into bad habits. You should do the same.
Aim High!
Avoid the common fault of aiming too low and missing your putt below the hole. Go to a practice green and pick out a left-to-right-breaking 15-foot putt. Once you take your initial read, pick out a spot even with the hole that is twice as high as the apex (highest point) of the break (see photo).
Aim at a spot even with the hole and twice as high as the apex of the break.
How to Square the Face
For perfect impact, try this split grip
What it is: Pre-swing drill
What it's for: Straight solid drives
The principle you use to square the clubface at impact is the same as the one hockey players use to hit a slap shot. In hockey, the shooter's hands are separated as he winds up.
Borrow that move while you're waiting on the tee box to free up your hinging action and release. You'll hit a more accurate drive when it's your turn to play.
- Stand on the side of a tee box and take your normal driver address, but to the side of the ball (photo at right).
- Slide your right hand to the bottom of the grip so it is separated from your left hand.
- Swing back and through, feeling how your left hand controls the top of the club and your right hand guides the clubhead.
- Re-create that feeling when you're ready to hit. Accelerated Putting
Those are important fundamentals, but they're nearly impossible to groove in your stroke unless you accelerate through the ball.
How do you know if you are or are not accelerating your putter?
Set up for a flat 10-foot putt, then take the putter-head back for that distance and stop: The club shouldn't be more than seven or eight inches from the ball before you stroke through. If it is, you're preventing the putter from swinging through as fast as it naturally should. That's deceleration.
In an accelerating putting stroke, you take the putterhead back a short distance, then swing it smoothly through the ball. There's less time and space to make mistakes, making it easier to keep the putterhead square.
To help you groove an accelerated stroke, try these three drills:
Drill 1: The Backstop
Find a level 15-foot putt and stick a tee six inches behind your ball, directly on line with the hole. Stroke some putts, taking the putter back until it hits the tee. You must work to accelerate the putter through to get the ball to the cup. Six inches may not be enough of a backswing when you're on the course, but on the putting green it will give you a good feeling of acceleration.
Drill 2: The Axe
Stick four tees in a straight line, spaced two inches apart and address the end tee as if itwere a ball. Take the putterhead back three inches and swing through, knocking over allfour tees. You'll be forced keep accelerating past initial impact to hit the fourth tee. Toensure taking the putterhead back three inches, use a fifth tee as a backstop.
Drill 3: Full Finish
As you practice on the putting green, follow through on each putt until your putter is atwaist level, then hold it. It's impossible to decelerate when you're striving for a full follow-through. You may hit a few putts past the hole initially, but you'll soon get the feel for anaccurate, accelerated stroke.
Becoming a Better Lag Putter
How many putts do you have in a round of golf? Can you accurately tell yourself? Most players don't realize that the fastest way to reduce your score is to take fewer putts. Approximately 40 percent or sometimes more of the strokes are made on the putting green. The fastest way to take fewer putts is to get your first putt closer to the hole to make that second putt a tap-in.
Lag putting is a skill that can greatly benefit many aspects of your game. For example, Jack Nicklaus was an exceptional lag putter. Being a phenomenal lag putter allowed Jack's course management to put him head and shoulders above the field when it came to very difficult major championship-type courses.
Jack would play to the center of the green and away from any deep bunkers or hazards that could potentially produce a big number, setting up an easy two-putt for par. As you know, par is a great number when playing in major championships like the U.S. Open.
With exceptional ability to lag the ball to the hole he was always confident that no matter how far from the hole he would still two-putt for his par.
Most amateurs are typically poor at both lag putting and course management. The first of which is caused most commonly by poor technique and a lack of proper practice. The latter caused by trying to play very low percentage shots. Let's work on the lag putting first and we can come back to course management later.
Body Control and Length
When it comes to technique there are two things we want to focus on. No. 1 is using the correct body parts and No. 2 being the length of the putting stroke.
These two have a direct correlation. Most amateurs use their hands during their putting stroke. When using their hands they often times take the putter back way too far and stop their follow-through just after impact. This makes it incredibly difficult to maintain a consistent pace of the putter head during impact. That is vital when it comes to controlling the distance you are going to lag the ball.
In the full swing the hands provide a great deal of power. In the putting stroke our goal is not power. Our goal becomes control of power. Power is much easier to control by eliminating extra lever systems (Lever systems being the hands, elbows and any other extra body motion). The most consistent way to do that is by utilizing the bigger muscles of the body, in particular, the shoulders.
If we use the big muscles of our shoulders to rock back and forth to create a pendulum motion, we eliminate inefficient motions.
Once we have developed the proper mechanics we can now begin to control the length of the putting stroke. This is secondary only because the length of the stroke is difficult to be consistent with if we use our hands. Now we can effectively learn how to lag the ball with more accuracy. The best way to practice lag putting is to groove the proper lengthstroke with training aids.
Putting Track
One of the better aids is a putting track. This can be purchased or made with paralle l2x4s. Each board must have perpendicular lines drawn and inch apart. This is a great reference point to check and see how far you are taking the putter head back and through. Quite simply the length of the stroke will determine the length of the putt.
The greater the distance you take the putter back and through, the further the ball will travel. The lines will help to calibrate how far each putt will go. Obviously speed of the greens may vary from course to course. This will require some adjusting of stroke length, but with some practice the adjustments necessary will become second nature.
Once your mechanics are in order, there are some great drills to help you get away from being a mechanical putter. One of my favorites is the "Look at the Hole Drill".
Look at the Hole Drill
1. Place five balls 25 feet from the hole.
2. Stroke each of the five balls while looking at the hole. You are trying to get a feel forthe proper distance with a smooth stroke.
3. If you get all five within 2 1/2 feet of the hole, move back 10 feet.
Repeat the process.This will really help develop the proper feel on long putts.
