To develop a way to spot check alignment problems. Make sure your shoulders are properly aligned. Your shoulders are the most important element because your swing path will follow the alignment of your shoulders at impact. Subtle compensations can creep into your swing if you are not properly aligned. Without help even the best golfers can have trouble recognizing this. You must constantly check your alignment to be consistent. Poor alignment is a major problem for golfers who slice. Align the clubface squarely then align your body. Check the position of the ball by using alignment clubs also. Most golfers think they play the ball further back than they really do.
To start your practice sessions properly aligned. Don.t assume you are lined up correctly. Remember practice makes permanent, so make sure you are starting off positioned correctly. Learn the square stance first. Later, as the need arises, you can experiment with other stances.
To double check your target line. If you don.t accurately know your target line, you cannot easily tell if you are making swing path errors. Before each shot approach the ball from behind and pick your target line. Then when taking your stance align yourself toward your target. Better players align themselves much more consistently than poor players. Hitting balls without aiming at a target is an invitation for swing problems. Tape, clubs on the ground, or and "practice partners" are all good ways to check alignment. Learn to identify the different between a poor shot and an error in alignment.
Do's and Don'ts
Don't leave the club between your feet longer than needed to check proper ball position. Many good players leave one club on the ground parallel to the target line whenever they hit practice balls. This "drill" is a good way to begin every practice session.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Proper Golf Setup - The Stance
To reduce the problems caused by a poor setup. Many swing faults occur from an improper setup. This can cause unnecessary adjustments during the swing. Taking care to position the ball, feet, hips and shoulders properly ensures building a good swing foundation. Testing has shown golfers with open stances show no more tendency to slice than golfers with closed stances. The open stance may give the golfers a little more opportunity to slice, because it allows a little more freedom in the downswing and follow-though. The square stance is used by most successful golfers. Beginners should start with a square stance. As you advance, you can experiment with the advantages of other stances. Avoid extreme stances. Experiment to find the stance that works best for you. Take care to set up consistently on all normal shots.
To start with a proven ball position. Moving a golf ball even two inches forward or back in your stance can make a great deal of difference in shot consistency. Start with the ball a couple of inches inside the left heel. After you master this consistent ball position, you can experiment with other ball positions. However, a ball too far to the front of your stance will increase the chances of a slice by encouraging an outside-to-inside swing. A ball too far back in the stance will make it difficult to get the clubface closed by impact and may cause a push or a push slice.
To achieve the goal of hitting the ball at the bottom of the swing arc. Your drives should be hit slightly on the upswing, iron shots are struck slightly on the downswing. Fairway woods are hit at the bottom of the swing arc.
Do's and Don'ts Be sure to check the location of the ball with clubs aligned on the ground. Step away to check that you are positioning the ball properly. Ask someone to double-check your positioning. It is hard, without alignment tape or clubs, to visually gauge the proper placement of the ball.
To start with a proven ball position. Moving a golf ball even two inches forward or back in your stance can make a great deal of difference in shot consistency. Start with the ball a couple of inches inside the left heel. After you master this consistent ball position, you can experiment with other ball positions. However, a ball too far to the front of your stance will increase the chances of a slice by encouraging an outside-to-inside swing. A ball too far back in the stance will make it difficult to get the clubface closed by impact and may cause a push or a push slice.
To achieve the goal of hitting the ball at the bottom of the swing arc. Your drives should be hit slightly on the upswing, iron shots are struck slightly on the downswing. Fairway woods are hit at the bottom of the swing arc.
Do's and Don'ts Be sure to check the location of the ball with clubs aligned on the ground. Step away to check that you are positioning the ball properly. Ask someone to double-check your positioning. It is hard, without alignment tape or clubs, to visually gauge the proper placement of the ball.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Do you have Good Golf Grip Sense?
All great players have good hands, and that's why it's so crucial to develop a proper grip. First, should you use an interlocking or overlapping grip? Someone with large hands probably should use an overlapping grip. Small hands, an interlocking grip. Next, comes grip balance within the confines of each hand. The weight of the shaft should be balanced so you always have control throughout the swing.
Another important element is the position of your left thumb on the shaft. Players who extend their thumbs hit the ball high and straight. Those who shorten the length of the thumb are likely to hit the ball low and left. Grip pressure is another checkpoint. Try holding the club as tightly as you can, then hold it loosely. The correct pressure is somewhere in between. See how many knuckles are showing on your left hand. If you see most of them, you'll likely hit a hook or draw. Fewer, and the ball will go high and right. Experiment with these basics and you'll find a grip that's best for your hands.
Worn Grip? If your grip is worn a bit you may find yourself squeezing the club a bit too hard. This can ruin a good setup and cause a poor swing. Grip too thin? You may be inclined to grip harder then necessary, causing the ball to hook, or clubhead to release early. Grip too Big ? This may make it difficult to square up the clubhead, causing pushes and slices. Find the correct, comfortable grip size for your game. It will help you make a more consistent and athletic golf swing.
Another important element is the position of your left thumb on the shaft. Players who extend their thumbs hit the ball high and straight. Those who shorten the length of the thumb are likely to hit the ball low and left. Grip pressure is another checkpoint. Try holding the club as tightly as you can, then hold it loosely. The correct pressure is somewhere in between. See how many knuckles are showing on your left hand. If you see most of them, you'll likely hit a hook or draw. Fewer, and the ball will go high and right. Experiment with these basics and you'll find a grip that's best for your hands.
Worn Grip? If your grip is worn a bit you may find yourself squeezing the club a bit too hard. This can ruin a good setup and cause a poor swing. Grip too thin? You may be inclined to grip harder then necessary, causing the ball to hook, or clubhead to release early. Grip too Big ? This may make it difficult to square up the clubhead, causing pushes and slices. Find the correct, comfortable grip size for your game. It will help you make a more consistent and athletic golf swing.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Special Golf Shots - The Short Game - Ball Against the Collar By Tom Wilson
By now you know the way to shave strokes from your golf game is to improve your short game. Driving the ball is essential to playing well but even the pros only hit about 65 to 70 percent of the fairways when they tee it up. The best way to lower your scores is to focus on the short game.
Understanding that golf is comprised of many different types of shots will help you to categorize and understand the shot that you need to hit when you need to hit it. One of the golf shots that can come in handy is when golf ball rolls off the green and winds up against the collar. When the golfball is against the collar you have two options. Either use the putter or your wedge. You can use the leading edge of your wedgee to try to hit the equator ( ie the middle ) of the golfball.
Alternatively, you can you use the putter by placing the ball back in your stance ( ie back of the center - between your ankles closer to the right ankle ) so that the face of the putter strikes the golfball with a descending below causing the ball to pop up slightly and begin its roll towards cup. The advantage of moving the golfball back in your stance comes from the fact that there are fewer blades of grass between the putter face and the golfball enabling you to provide a much more accurate stroke on the ball. Do not forget when putting with the ball back in your stance up against the collar if you're on the first cut you need to strike the ball slightly firmer then if you were on the putting surface. This is because the higher grass provides more friction and slows the ball down so you will not get an even pace on the ball from start to finish.
Practice this shot in your local practice area. Statistics show that this shot is needed about once per round. Knowing how to knock it close or into the hole will save you strokes.
Understanding that golf is comprised of many different types of shots will help you to categorize and understand the shot that you need to hit when you need to hit it. One of the golf shots that can come in handy is when golf ball rolls off the green and winds up against the collar. When the golfball is against the collar you have two options. Either use the putter or your wedge. You can use the leading edge of your wedgee to try to hit the equator ( ie the middle ) of the golfball.
Alternatively, you can you use the putter by placing the ball back in your stance ( ie back of the center - between your ankles closer to the right ankle ) so that the face of the putter strikes the golfball with a descending below causing the ball to pop up slightly and begin its roll towards cup. The advantage of moving the golfball back in your stance comes from the fact that there are fewer blades of grass between the putter face and the golfball enabling you to provide a much more accurate stroke on the ball. Do not forget when putting with the ball back in your stance up against the collar if you're on the first cut you need to strike the ball slightly firmer then if you were on the putting surface. This is because the higher grass provides more friction and slows the ball down so you will not get an even pace on the ball from start to finish.
Practice this shot in your local practice area. Statistics show that this shot is needed about once per round. Knowing how to knock it close or into the hole will save you strokes.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Coil For More Consistency By Matt Holin, Teaching Professional
The primary benefit of having the proper amount of hip bend in your swing is that it allows your body to coil effectively to create an efficient source of power.
While testing the PGA and Champions Tour players' golf swings, we discovered that a proper coil of the body is a simple way of achieving a repeatable power source. Average touring professionals turn their shoulders 41 degrees further on the back swing than their hips. This coiling action allows for a proper weight shift to occur, while maintaining a solid base, by keeping the hip motion in the golf swing to a minimum.
Typically we see most amateurs have two flaws with the coiling action in the golf swing. The first flaw is when a student's hips and shoulders turn together to create a long backswing with no coiling action. This swing usually produces action that takes the club significantly past parallel and is very difficult to repeat from swing to swing. The second flaw is the opposite. A student will not rotate their shoulders at all, leading to a lifting of the club with their arms. This invariably produces a reverse weight shift, which robs power and produces inconsistencies.
Test Your Coil
1. A simple way to test your coil is to set up in proper posture.
2. Now place a golf club in front of your shoulders.
3. Your goal is to turn the club across your shoulders over to your right foot. When you have done that you have created a sufficiently long turn with the shoulders.
4. Now comes the tricky part. Look and see where your belt buckle is facing.
If it is facing inside your right toe, you have a fantastic coil and are ready to hit long consistent golf shots. If your belt buckle is facing right of that point, your hips have rotated too far and you are losing power in you golf swing. By improving your coil you can maximize the efficiency of your swing and improve your ball striking.
While testing the PGA and Champions Tour players' golf swings, we discovered that a proper coil of the body is a simple way of achieving a repeatable power source. Average touring professionals turn their shoulders 41 degrees further on the back swing than their hips. This coiling action allows for a proper weight shift to occur, while maintaining a solid base, by keeping the hip motion in the golf swing to a minimum.
Typically we see most amateurs have two flaws with the coiling action in the golf swing. The first flaw is when a student's hips and shoulders turn together to create a long backswing with no coiling action. This swing usually produces action that takes the club significantly past parallel and is very difficult to repeat from swing to swing. The second flaw is the opposite. A student will not rotate their shoulders at all, leading to a lifting of the club with their arms. This invariably produces a reverse weight shift, which robs power and produces inconsistencies.
Test Your Coil
1. A simple way to test your coil is to set up in proper posture.
2. Now place a golf club in front of your shoulders.
3. Your goal is to turn the club across your shoulders over to your right foot. When you have done that you have created a sufficiently long turn with the shoulders.
4. Now comes the tricky part. Look and see where your belt buckle is facing.
If it is facing inside your right toe, you have a fantastic coil and are ready to hit long consistent golf shots. If your belt buckle is facing right of that point, your hips have rotated too far and you are losing power in you golf swing. By improving your coil you can maximize the efficiency of your swing and improve your ball striking.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Driving Range Mentality, Fairway Focus by Steve Atherton, PGA Member
In order to begin hitting it on the course like you do on the range, you need to start convincing yourself that each shot you hit on the golf course is exactly the same as the shots you hit on the driving range.
This is easier said than done, but it is really the only way to create that good mindset that you have on the range. You need to focus entirely on where you want the ball to go, not on where you don't want the ball to go. It is very easy to step up on a hole that has OB right and water left and say, "Don't go right, there's Out of Bounds!"
The way your brain works, it typically thinks in images. If you are thinking about not hitting it right, your brain is focused on RIGHT, and it will actually manipulate your body to help the ball go in that direction. So you need to focus intently on the fairway (an extremely small piece of the fairway, like a small mower cut or a distant tree branch) to help your body perform the way you want it to. Next time you go out to play, pretend that each shot you hit is being hit on the driving range. And when you come to a hole that has trouble, focus only on where you want the ball to go without any thoughts of where it can't go.
This is easier said than done, but it is really the only way to create that good mindset that you have on the range. You need to focus entirely on where you want the ball to go, not on where you don't want the ball to go. It is very easy to step up on a hole that has OB right and water left and say, "Don't go right, there's Out of Bounds!"
The way your brain works, it typically thinks in images. If you are thinking about not hitting it right, your brain is focused on RIGHT, and it will actually manipulate your body to help the ball go in that direction. So you need to focus intently on the fairway (an extremely small piece of the fairway, like a small mower cut or a distant tree branch) to help your body perform the way you want it to. Next time you go out to play, pretend that each shot you hit is being hit on the driving range. And when you come to a hole that has trouble, focus only on where you want the ball to go without any thoughts of where it can't go.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Weight Transfer During the Backswing by Scott M. Akers, PGA Teaching Professional
A number of students have a difficult time getting their weight to the right leg at the top of the backswing. Most of the time it is because they do not understand what the lower body should do as they take the club to the top position. As a result we need to determine what is too much lower body movement.
There are two major flaws of the lower body in the backswing. The first of the two is a lateral sway of the hips moving to the right. This restricts the body from allowing the weight to go to the instep of the right foot. If the lower body is moving to the right the upper body will counter balance itself and keep weight to the left side.
The second flaw is over-rotation of the lower body or hips. When you start to turn your belt buckle to the right of the right toes then you have generally turned too far. This makes it difficult to load the weight properly to the right leg. Notice whether or not you are straightening your right leg as you make a backswing, because it can allow for too much rotation in the hips. The term weight shift can be very misleading.
The action that occurs is actually a weight transfer. Weight will transfer from the middle of the body to the instep of the right leg. If you want to create the weight transfer you can get a chair and place it next to your right leg. Try to keep your belt buckle in front of you as you turn your shoulders. About 75 percent of your body weight should be to the instep of the right foot. By keeping your lower body still you can increase you weight transfer by turning or rotating you shoulders about 90 degrees.
There are two major flaws of the lower body in the backswing. The first of the two is a lateral sway of the hips moving to the right. This restricts the body from allowing the weight to go to the instep of the right foot. If the lower body is moving to the right the upper body will counter balance itself and keep weight to the left side.
The second flaw is over-rotation of the lower body or hips. When you start to turn your belt buckle to the right of the right toes then you have generally turned too far. This makes it difficult to load the weight properly to the right leg. Notice whether or not you are straightening your right leg as you make a backswing, because it can allow for too much rotation in the hips. The term weight shift can be very misleading.
The action that occurs is actually a weight transfer. Weight will transfer from the middle of the body to the instep of the right leg. If you want to create the weight transfer you can get a chair and place it next to your right leg. Try to keep your belt buckle in front of you as you turn your shoulders. About 75 percent of your body weight should be to the instep of the right foot. By keeping your lower body still you can increase you weight transfer by turning or rotating you shoulders about 90 degrees.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Better Balance Promotes Consistency by Tracy Reed
Have you ever shot a great round one day and a horrible round the next day?
Although I don't give out "tips" in the classic sense, this one will make your rounds more consistent right away.
When you set up for your shot, place the club head behind the ball and allow your arms to hang straight down from your shoulders. Look at your target and keep looking at it while you make the next adjustment. Feel where the weight pressure is under the bottoms of your feet. It should be in the arches of your feet, evenly centered between your heels and toes.
Next move your feet in lots of tiny steps ......all the while still looking at your target.....until you feel the weight has settled in your arches and your leg muscles feel comfortable. Next, look down at the ball......BUT DO NOT readjust your position. Go ahead and swing from that setup. You may be amazed at how you hit the ball. Here's why it works.
To stay in balance during the swing, you must start in balance. If you are not in balance, your body will try to balance itself, throwing off your golf swing. This little balance secret gets you in balance every time because it uses your body's automatic balance mechanism to start you out in balance. The biggest mistake many amateurs make is to stare at the ball while they set up. That causes tension and an unbalanced setup....both are swing killers.
Watch the pros on TV when they set up. You'll see them look down range. They are checking their balance.....so should you.
Although I don't give out "tips" in the classic sense, this one will make your rounds more consistent right away.
When you set up for your shot, place the club head behind the ball and allow your arms to hang straight down from your shoulders. Look at your target and keep looking at it while you make the next adjustment. Feel where the weight pressure is under the bottoms of your feet. It should be in the arches of your feet, evenly centered between your heels and toes.
Next move your feet in lots of tiny steps ......all the while still looking at your target.....until you feel the weight has settled in your arches and your leg muscles feel comfortable. Next, look down at the ball......BUT DO NOT readjust your position. Go ahead and swing from that setup. You may be amazed at how you hit the ball. Here's why it works.
To stay in balance during the swing, you must start in balance. If you are not in balance, your body will try to balance itself, throwing off your golf swing. This little balance secret gets you in balance every time because it uses your body's automatic balance mechanism to start you out in balance. The biggest mistake many amateurs make is to stare at the ball while they set up. That causes tension and an unbalanced setup....both are swing killers.
Watch the pros on TV when they set up. You'll see them look down range. They are checking their balance.....so should you.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
5 Keys to Mental Toughness for Golfers by Susan Hill
If you have any interest in seeing first hand the impact that mental toughness has on sport performance, go no further than the PGA or LPGA Qualifying tournaments or .Q-School.. Each year for the past several years, I have worked with players on site during this event. A great many of the conversations that the players have are a rehashing of their performance this past year on the PGA, LPGA, Nationwide, or mini-tour circuits.
What I have heard frequently are things that could help the junior golfer get a head start in his or her career. In attempting to describe why they hadn.t reached their outcome goals for the season I hear these professional players repeatedly talk to one another about .trying too hard., .not letting it happen out there., .playing tentative. and many other frequently used mental game phrases. The challenge for many of these professionals is not only to sharpen their swings and putting strokes for this critical week, but to sharpen their mental games as well.
The players who do well in Q-School are the ones that will follow some basic rules about the mental game. Each of these also has application for the junior golfer:
1. Keep each shot in perspective. This is especially true in a 108-hole tournament. Q-School, of all tournaments, is understood to be a marathon and not a sprint. There is no rational reason to be unnerved by a bad hole or two. Similarly, the junior golfer has years and years of opportunities ahead. There is no particular shot in any tournament that is .life or death..
2. Focus on the task rather than the outcome. This is probably the most difficult of the basics for players to follow. It is natural to think about the result and then the consequences of the result. This thinking will not help get the job done. Whenever these thoughts come to mind, replace them with thoughts of the immediate task at hand.
3. Breathe. Even the best in the world get tense in this type of situation. That tension can increase a player's tendency to hold his breath in anticipation of a shot or a putt. This then impacts muscle tension even more, and potentially affects his ability to swing the club smoothly. Deep breaths = slower heart rate and less physiological tension. Creating a habit of doing this as a junior player will be invaluable as your golf career progresses.
4. Remember that you cannot control things. Anyone who plays this game knows that something unexpected happens in nearly every round. A great tee shot lands in a divot, a club you.ve been hitting well all week suddenly starts getting shaky, or a two-foot putt is missed. The successful players in Q-School and elsewhere will recognize that they have control only over their preparation and reactions, and not over anything else. If they know they.ve prepared the best they could for each shot, and know that they are capable of controlling their reaction after each shot, they.ve done all they can possibly do to achieve their goals. Move on to the next one.
5. Play to succeed. Nearly every year there is a player or two held up at the end of Q-School as an example of a late tournament collapse. In nearly all of those instances, the player interviewed will speak of having thoughts of trying to hold on or trying not to make a big number. Many players will have a tendency to play to avoid mistakes and/or prevent something bad from happening.The players who are successful are those who are confident in their abilities to go out and get the job done, and will be playing to succeed rather than to avert failure.
What I have heard frequently are things that could help the junior golfer get a head start in his or her career. In attempting to describe why they hadn.t reached their outcome goals for the season I hear these professional players repeatedly talk to one another about .trying too hard., .not letting it happen out there., .playing tentative. and many other frequently used mental game phrases. The challenge for many of these professionals is not only to sharpen their swings and putting strokes for this critical week, but to sharpen their mental games as well.
The players who do well in Q-School are the ones that will follow some basic rules about the mental game. Each of these also has application for the junior golfer:
1. Keep each shot in perspective. This is especially true in a 108-hole tournament. Q-School, of all tournaments, is understood to be a marathon and not a sprint. There is no rational reason to be unnerved by a bad hole or two. Similarly, the junior golfer has years and years of opportunities ahead. There is no particular shot in any tournament that is .life or death..
2. Focus on the task rather than the outcome. This is probably the most difficult of the basics for players to follow. It is natural to think about the result and then the consequences of the result. This thinking will not help get the job done. Whenever these thoughts come to mind, replace them with thoughts of the immediate task at hand.
3. Breathe. Even the best in the world get tense in this type of situation. That tension can increase a player's tendency to hold his breath in anticipation of a shot or a putt. This then impacts muscle tension even more, and potentially affects his ability to swing the club smoothly. Deep breaths = slower heart rate and less physiological tension. Creating a habit of doing this as a junior player will be invaluable as your golf career progresses.
4. Remember that you cannot control things. Anyone who plays this game knows that something unexpected happens in nearly every round. A great tee shot lands in a divot, a club you.ve been hitting well all week suddenly starts getting shaky, or a two-foot putt is missed. The successful players in Q-School and elsewhere will recognize that they have control only over their preparation and reactions, and not over anything else. If they know they.ve prepared the best they could for each shot, and know that they are capable of controlling their reaction after each shot, they.ve done all they can possibly do to achieve their goals. Move on to the next one.
5. Play to succeed. Nearly every year there is a player or two held up at the end of Q-School as an example of a late tournament collapse. In nearly all of those instances, the player interviewed will speak of having thoughts of trying to hold on or trying not to make a big number. Many players will have a tendency to play to avoid mistakes and/or prevent something bad from happening.The players who are successful are those who are confident in their abilities to go out and get the job done, and will be playing to succeed rather than to avert failure.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Short Game Golf Tips - Chipping Tips, Practice Tips
Todays message starts your series of drills covering the area of chipping and pitching and focuses on a technique called the Under Reach Technique which was invented by short game expert Paul Runyan. I had never heard of this before and asked a pro at my local course whether he knew of it. He said that it is a drill that he uses all the time to help higher handicappers get some consistency in their chipping.
So I asked him to show me how it worked. It only cost me a couple of beers, well maybe four or five. It really is a simple and effective way of stopping you duff those short little chip shots which most of us either hit fat or thin. This drill is entitled...... The Under Reach Technique by Paul Runyon Regardless of ability , we all have good days and bad days when it comes to hitting greens in regulation. On the bad days, it's important that you have the method and means to get up and down with some regularity; otherwise, your scores will be much higher than you'd like. A Pro I asked about the drill said: This is where a strong mental thought should be used. In getting up and down, the getting up part is the most important. If you can chip the ball ON THE GREEN and relatively close, you won't have to worry about making those tough 20 to 30 footers.
Unfortunately, most high handicap players short games aren't up to snuff (well mine certainly wasn't). If there's one mistake that I made on a regular basis that caused me and my overall score the most damage, it was hitting the chip fat and not even Getting Up. I've learned this great technique to ensure that you never hit a short shot short again (well most of the time), and you can use it too. This method is a method which was used by short-game master Paul Runyan, he called this technique "under-reaching the ball." It's quite interesting and easy to apply in the short game. The biggest problem amateur golfers like me and you have when it comes to the short game is chunked shots.
To help prevent fat chips, try the under-reach technique. Begin by assuming your address position, with your arms hanging to their natural length. Choke down on the club about an inch (i go even shorter, about two inches), and hover the club just off the ground as you get ready to execute the shot. The combination of choking the grip and hovering the club will help you guard against hitting the shot fat.
When you finally make a swing, simply concentrate on contacting the bottom half of the ball. How to set up for the Under Reach Start with the posture. With the ball positioned in the middle of your stance, assume your normal setup and allow your arms to fall downward in front of you as far as they can. Allow gravity to stretch them fully. Then, take your standard grip on the club. As you grip the club, allow the sole to rest gently on the ground. Now, grip down on the club approximately one inch. If you choke down appropriately, the clubhead should hover just above the grass. (Try this out on the carpet at home, it will give you the right visual of how the club will hover off of the ground)This is the under-reach to which Paul Runyan referred. With the club just above ground level, the leading edge of the club is now located at the bottom of the golf ball. Note: The longer the grass from which you're playing, the more effective this technique becomes. In long grass, the ball will often sit up, making it easy to slide the clubhead underneath the ball. By hovering the club, you'll ensure crisper, squarer contact.
Why does it Work? For you to get the ball up in the air, the leading edge of the club must pass under the equator (the middle of the ball). In this new address position, the leading edge of the club is well below the middle of the ball, making a square strike easier to attain. The only way to hit the shot fat is by changing your posture as you swing the club. If you remain in the same posture you established at address and maintain your spine angle, you'll strike the ball squarely every time and Not Leave it Short. The only thing that might cause you a problem with this technique is keeping your posture. A good way to ensure that you keep your posture intact is to keep your chin up and stand tall as you execute your swing. This will also better allow your arms to swing freely and stretch out through the shot, so the club can reach the bottom of the golf ball.
The Golf Swing Golf in many ways is a game of opposites. For example, in order to make the ball go up, you have to hit down on it. Most players try to "lift" the ball in the air instead of striking downward and pinching the ball against the turf. These players should look at the basic design of a golf club, which typically places the hands slightly ahead of the leading edge of the clubface. This is done in order to help create the perfect impact position, one defined by the hands leading the club into the back of the golf ball. In so doing, the loft that's built into the club lifts the ball into the air, not the hands. The under-reach technique helps you to take advantage of just that.
Of course, the club can't do all the work, you have to put it into motion. Now, before you think about swinging the club, think about the pace. The right pace is the true key to short shots around the green. You don't see a Tour pro strike a chip with a herky-jerky motion. Most of the top short-game players allow the club to move in response to gravity, not to muscular effort. When golfers overuse their muscles, their grip on the club usually tightens, which can affect the position of the clubface at the all-important moment of impact. When trying to gain a nice free flowing rhythmical short-game swing, why not try the following two drills. They're easy to execute and do the best job of ingraining the sensation of the club responding to gravity while the body and hands function solely to support the clubhead.
Give this pair of drills a go the next time you practice your chipping technique. Coupled with the under-reach technique, I'm sure you'll keep those chunked chips at bay and give yourself more opportunities to get up and down and save par. It's absolutely critical that you slide the leading edge of the club under the ball when executing short-game shots. The only way to effectively slide the club under the golf ball is to give your arms plenty of room to swing (Under Reach). To do this, you must stand tall and keep your head up; otherwise, it's easy to skull the shot over the green or chunk it short of the target. Brush The Grass Drill Make three continuous practice swings back and through while eyeing your target. Making rehearsal swings while looking at the target will help you instinctively determine the length and pace necessary to hit the shot the appropriate distance.
Then, step up to the ball and duplicate your rehearsal swing over the golf ball. Finally, hit the chip. I think you'll be surprised how well you'll strike the ball and how much more fluid your swing will feel. The Name Game Think of the name of a star or celebrity who has two syllables in the first name and two syllables in the last name. (i.e., John-ny Mill-er, Fred-dy Coup-les, By-ron Nel-son). As you make your swing, say the first name on the backswing and the last name on the forwardswing. Since the first and last names feature the same number of syllables, using them in time with your swing will ensure that the length and pace of your backswing matches the length and pace of your forward swing, a critical element of sound chipping. In the short game, too much speed and not enough rhythm can be even more detrimental. Shots around the green are all about distance control and touch. A good, relaxed tempo is crucial to achieving the desired results.
Good luck with your short-game practice. With a little work, you'll soon strike those scary chips with more confidence and freedom and with better results.
So I asked him to show me how it worked. It only cost me a couple of beers, well maybe four or five. It really is a simple and effective way of stopping you duff those short little chip shots which most of us either hit fat or thin. This drill is entitled...... The Under Reach Technique by Paul Runyon Regardless of ability , we all have good days and bad days when it comes to hitting greens in regulation. On the bad days, it's important that you have the method and means to get up and down with some regularity; otherwise, your scores will be much higher than you'd like. A Pro I asked about the drill said: This is where a strong mental thought should be used. In getting up and down, the getting up part is the most important. If you can chip the ball ON THE GREEN and relatively close, you won't have to worry about making those tough 20 to 30 footers.
Unfortunately, most high handicap players short games aren't up to snuff (well mine certainly wasn't). If there's one mistake that I made on a regular basis that caused me and my overall score the most damage, it was hitting the chip fat and not even Getting Up. I've learned this great technique to ensure that you never hit a short shot short again (well most of the time), and you can use it too. This method is a method which was used by short-game master Paul Runyan, he called this technique "under-reaching the ball." It's quite interesting and easy to apply in the short game. The biggest problem amateur golfers like me and you have when it comes to the short game is chunked shots.
To help prevent fat chips, try the under-reach technique. Begin by assuming your address position, with your arms hanging to their natural length. Choke down on the club about an inch (i go even shorter, about two inches), and hover the club just off the ground as you get ready to execute the shot. The combination of choking the grip and hovering the club will help you guard against hitting the shot fat.
When you finally make a swing, simply concentrate on contacting the bottom half of the ball. How to set up for the Under Reach Start with the posture. With the ball positioned in the middle of your stance, assume your normal setup and allow your arms to fall downward in front of you as far as they can. Allow gravity to stretch them fully. Then, take your standard grip on the club. As you grip the club, allow the sole to rest gently on the ground. Now, grip down on the club approximately one inch. If you choke down appropriately, the clubhead should hover just above the grass. (Try this out on the carpet at home, it will give you the right visual of how the club will hover off of the ground)This is the under-reach to which Paul Runyan referred. With the club just above ground level, the leading edge of the club is now located at the bottom of the golf ball. Note: The longer the grass from which you're playing, the more effective this technique becomes. In long grass, the ball will often sit up, making it easy to slide the clubhead underneath the ball. By hovering the club, you'll ensure crisper, squarer contact.
Why does it Work? For you to get the ball up in the air, the leading edge of the club must pass under the equator (the middle of the ball). In this new address position, the leading edge of the club is well below the middle of the ball, making a square strike easier to attain. The only way to hit the shot fat is by changing your posture as you swing the club. If you remain in the same posture you established at address and maintain your spine angle, you'll strike the ball squarely every time and Not Leave it Short. The only thing that might cause you a problem with this technique is keeping your posture. A good way to ensure that you keep your posture intact is to keep your chin up and stand tall as you execute your swing. This will also better allow your arms to swing freely and stretch out through the shot, so the club can reach the bottom of the golf ball.
The Golf Swing Golf in many ways is a game of opposites. For example, in order to make the ball go up, you have to hit down on it. Most players try to "lift" the ball in the air instead of striking downward and pinching the ball against the turf. These players should look at the basic design of a golf club, which typically places the hands slightly ahead of the leading edge of the clubface. This is done in order to help create the perfect impact position, one defined by the hands leading the club into the back of the golf ball. In so doing, the loft that's built into the club lifts the ball into the air, not the hands. The under-reach technique helps you to take advantage of just that.
Of course, the club can't do all the work, you have to put it into motion. Now, before you think about swinging the club, think about the pace. The right pace is the true key to short shots around the green. You don't see a Tour pro strike a chip with a herky-jerky motion. Most of the top short-game players allow the club to move in response to gravity, not to muscular effort. When golfers overuse their muscles, their grip on the club usually tightens, which can affect the position of the clubface at the all-important moment of impact. When trying to gain a nice free flowing rhythmical short-game swing, why not try the following two drills. They're easy to execute and do the best job of ingraining the sensation of the club responding to gravity while the body and hands function solely to support the clubhead.
Give this pair of drills a go the next time you practice your chipping technique. Coupled with the under-reach technique, I'm sure you'll keep those chunked chips at bay and give yourself more opportunities to get up and down and save par. It's absolutely critical that you slide the leading edge of the club under the ball when executing short-game shots. The only way to effectively slide the club under the golf ball is to give your arms plenty of room to swing (Under Reach). To do this, you must stand tall and keep your head up; otherwise, it's easy to skull the shot over the green or chunk it short of the target. Brush The Grass Drill Make three continuous practice swings back and through while eyeing your target. Making rehearsal swings while looking at the target will help you instinctively determine the length and pace necessary to hit the shot the appropriate distance.
Then, step up to the ball and duplicate your rehearsal swing over the golf ball. Finally, hit the chip. I think you'll be surprised how well you'll strike the ball and how much more fluid your swing will feel. The Name Game Think of the name of a star or celebrity who has two syllables in the first name and two syllables in the last name. (i.e., John-ny Mill-er, Fred-dy Coup-les, By-ron Nel-son). As you make your swing, say the first name on the backswing and the last name on the forwardswing. Since the first and last names feature the same number of syllables, using them in time with your swing will ensure that the length and pace of your backswing matches the length and pace of your forward swing, a critical element of sound chipping. In the short game, too much speed and not enough rhythm can be even more detrimental. Shots around the green are all about distance control and touch. A good, relaxed tempo is crucial to achieving the desired results.
Good luck with your short-game practice. With a little work, you'll soon strike those scary chips with more confidence and freedom and with better results.
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