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.
Showing posts with label Golf Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf Tips. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ben Hogan's Real Golf Secret......It is in the Feet
Ben Hogan did have a secret, but it wasn't in his golf swing....at least not the swing itself. It's not possible to gain Hogan's accuracy from just a single golf tip because Hogan's secret was in the process he used to control his golf swing to become one of the most accurate golfers of all time. This is also the very reason his secret has been an enigma for over 40 years.
Ben Hogan's secret was his extraordinary ability to focus. This was not a gift from heaven. No, Hogan spent long hours perfecting his focus technique. Hogan would take hours to hit just forty balls. He would hit a ball and spend a few minutes to rewind the shot in his mind and go over every aspect of it. Before he hit the next ball he knew everything he did right and wrong with that shot and was ready to hit the next one even better. Hogan fine tuned every swing until it was perfect. He didn't want any bad swings to creep into his system and create any bad habits. His swing is not one to emulate unless you are built like him, but his methods will make any golfer strike the ball well.
If you read very carefully, you can see in Hogan's books just what he did. The problem is that you must understand the swing and his process before you can properly interpret what he wrote. It was only after discovering and perfecting Hogan's system that I re-read his books for probably the tenth time, and realized that he did share his secret, but that he was looking at it from a stand point of someone who already understood. Hogan's swing secret was not just the balance and setup...it's about how he achieved and controlled balance during his swing and how you can get similar results using his control methods. The key phrase is how he controlled his swing movement.
Anyone can make a great swing once in a while, but Hogan was known for doing it almost every time. Hogan said that the game is played keeping the weight on the inside halves of the feet, but that is as far as he went. It's too bad because this statement is the key and the starting point for understanding Hogan's secret of control. His secret? The swing is controlled from the feet. I have taken pros and blindfolded them, leaving them to monitor their swing completely by feel and been able to get them to not only to strike the ball purely, but to shape their shots accurately using only feedback from their feet. Most of the pros on tour use his methods, except they use them subconsciously. Hogan took the process to the conscious level so he could monitor and correct his swing in motion. Today's pros have been convinced that they shouldn't think about anything during the swing, but it has been proven that the mind will not think about nothing. Like it or not, your mind works all of the time, as shown in your dreams. The trick with the golf swing is to focus in such a way so that those thoughts are completely visual, thereby never bothering the brain with any distracting conscious thoughts.
Do you wonder why Tiger no longer uses a guru? It's because he is working on the same process. When he perfects it, and he is close, he'll be unstoppable. Anyone who wants to give Tiger a game in the future will have to know this information or fall by the wayside. How fast does it work? I have shown high handicap golfers the very first balance routine right on the golf course and watched as most of them immediately started hitting their shots more accurately.
Ben Hogan's secret was his extraordinary ability to focus. This was not a gift from heaven. No, Hogan spent long hours perfecting his focus technique. Hogan would take hours to hit just forty balls. He would hit a ball and spend a few minutes to rewind the shot in his mind and go over every aspect of it. Before he hit the next ball he knew everything he did right and wrong with that shot and was ready to hit the next one even better. Hogan fine tuned every swing until it was perfect. He didn't want any bad swings to creep into his system and create any bad habits. His swing is not one to emulate unless you are built like him, but his methods will make any golfer strike the ball well.
If you read very carefully, you can see in Hogan's books just what he did. The problem is that you must understand the swing and his process before you can properly interpret what he wrote. It was only after discovering and perfecting Hogan's system that I re-read his books for probably the tenth time, and realized that he did share his secret, but that he was looking at it from a stand point of someone who already understood. Hogan's swing secret was not just the balance and setup...it's about how he achieved and controlled balance during his swing and how you can get similar results using his control methods. The key phrase is how he controlled his swing movement.
Anyone can make a great swing once in a while, but Hogan was known for doing it almost every time. Hogan said that the game is played keeping the weight on the inside halves of the feet, but that is as far as he went. It's too bad because this statement is the key and the starting point for understanding Hogan's secret of control. His secret? The swing is controlled from the feet. I have taken pros and blindfolded them, leaving them to monitor their swing completely by feel and been able to get them to not only to strike the ball purely, but to shape their shots accurately using only feedback from their feet. Most of the pros on tour use his methods, except they use them subconsciously. Hogan took the process to the conscious level so he could monitor and correct his swing in motion. Today's pros have been convinced that they shouldn't think about anything during the swing, but it has been proven that the mind will not think about nothing. Like it or not, your mind works all of the time, as shown in your dreams. The trick with the golf swing is to focus in such a way so that those thoughts are completely visual, thereby never bothering the brain with any distracting conscious thoughts.
Do you wonder why Tiger no longer uses a guru? It's because he is working on the same process. When he perfects it, and he is close, he'll be unstoppable. Anyone who wants to give Tiger a game in the future will have to know this information or fall by the wayside. How fast does it work? I have shown high handicap golfers the very first balance routine right on the golf course and watched as most of them immediately started hitting their shots more accurately.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Seven Technology Factors to Improve Your Golf Game
We are all looking for that little extra something that is going to make this wonderful game a little bit more forgiving. Here are a few suggestions:
Technology Factor #1 . Shorter Driver Length and More Loft Today.s drivers that are sold .off the rack. are made in lofts from 8-11 degrees, and in lengths of 45. to 45 1/2.. However, only 10% of all golfers have the required swing mechanics and athletic ability to warrant playing such equipment. If you swing over the top or have an inconsistent tempo, and your wrist to floor measurement is less than 40., then a 45. driver is probably too long for you. If you.re swing speed is less than 95 mph and you are using a driver with a loft of 9-11 degrees, then you are probably not maximizing your distance off the tee. If you hit a 3 wood better and more consistent than a driver, you can definitely take advantage of higher lofted drivers.
Technology Factor #2 . Closed Wood Face Angle Wood face angle is the BEST equipment correction device for driver accuracy. Face angle is the direction the face points when the head is placed in playing position or soled. It is a design factor that helps correct minor swing path faults or the inability of the golfer to square the clubface at impact. How many golfers do you think have that problem? Most golfers with driver problems either push or slice the ball off the tee. Yet, when you purchase .off the rack. drivers you have very little opportunity to alter the face angle. They just don.t offer that as an option. Most drivers will only have a closed face angle of 1 degree. A face angle with a 2-4 degree closed face angle will cut down a slice from 5-15 yards.
Technology Factor #3 . Set Make-Up Today.s 7 iron has the same loft as a 5 iron of 15 years ago. Ever wonder why it is so difficult to hit today.s 3 and 4 irons? With today.s stronger lofted long irons, many golfers are going to higher lofted woods or hybrids. Which one is best for you? That depends. If you are currently having success with higher lofted woods, then staying with woods makes perfect sense. However, if you are not consistent with the fairway woods, then the shorter lengths of the .hybrid. clubs may make you more consistent. Each option has its pros and cons. The lower and deeper center of gravity of the wood heads will tend to hit the ball higher and are easier to hit. But the shorter lengths of the hybrids should be easier to hit on center and with more control. Either way it is probably time to get rid of your 3 and 4 irons and take a serious look at higher lofted fairway woods or hybrids.
Technology Factor #4 . Use the Most Flexible Shaft You Can Control. By using a more flexible shaft, you will probably hit the ball a little higher, the shot will feel a little bit more solid, and the face might close a little more at impact. These are all things that will allow you to score better. By using a stiffer shaft you will probably hit the ball a little lower and with less distance, and the impact will be slightly harsher while the clubface may remain slightly open. Therefore, consider dropping down a flex and you might just be rewarded with a tighter shot dispersion and lower scores.
Technology Factor #5 . Use Cavity Backed Irons Cavity backed irons truly are more forgiving on off center hits. You have probably heard this before, but take a cavity-backed iron and muscle-backed iron to the course and take a 10 shots with each and plot the results (when the greens keeper is not around). Plotting these shots will show you which type of iron performs best for you. I.m sure you will see better results with the cavity-backed iron.
Technology Factor #6 . Go With a Wider Sole on the Sand Wedge If you tend to leave the ball in the sand from digging too deep under the ball, look for a sand wedge with a much wider (thicker) sole than on your current sand wedge. Also, if you tend to have a very steep downward swing plane, look for a wide sole angle and more bounce to get out of the sand more consistently. Sole angle will allow the club head to create lift as it travels through the sand to get the ball out. Bounce allows the leading edge of the head to glide through the sand because the trailing edge is actually lower than the leading edge. Having a wider sole angel and more bounce together creates favorable conditions to get out of the sand consistently.
Technology Factor #7 . Add weight to your Putter . In the Grip More golfers are starting to notice a more consistent stroke with a heavier putter. But not just by adding weight to the head. I.m talking about counterbalancing your putter by adding weight to the grip end. I will be talking more about this in future articles, but many of my customers are noticing huge performance gains by adding weight to the butt end of the putter. The method is called .Balance-Certified Golf. and Custom Clubs of Frederick is one of only a few shops in the area that can perform this service
Technology Factor #1 . Shorter Driver Length and More Loft Today.s drivers that are sold .off the rack. are made in lofts from 8-11 degrees, and in lengths of 45. to 45 1/2.. However, only 10% of all golfers have the required swing mechanics and athletic ability to warrant playing such equipment. If you swing over the top or have an inconsistent tempo, and your wrist to floor measurement is less than 40., then a 45. driver is probably too long for you. If you.re swing speed is less than 95 mph and you are using a driver with a loft of 9-11 degrees, then you are probably not maximizing your distance off the tee. If you hit a 3 wood better and more consistent than a driver, you can definitely take advantage of higher lofted drivers.
Technology Factor #2 . Closed Wood Face Angle Wood face angle is the BEST equipment correction device for driver accuracy. Face angle is the direction the face points when the head is placed in playing position or soled. It is a design factor that helps correct minor swing path faults or the inability of the golfer to square the clubface at impact. How many golfers do you think have that problem? Most golfers with driver problems either push or slice the ball off the tee. Yet, when you purchase .off the rack. drivers you have very little opportunity to alter the face angle. They just don.t offer that as an option. Most drivers will only have a closed face angle of 1 degree. A face angle with a 2-4 degree closed face angle will cut down a slice from 5-15 yards.
Technology Factor #3 . Set Make-Up Today.s 7 iron has the same loft as a 5 iron of 15 years ago. Ever wonder why it is so difficult to hit today.s 3 and 4 irons? With today.s stronger lofted long irons, many golfers are going to higher lofted woods or hybrids. Which one is best for you? That depends. If you are currently having success with higher lofted woods, then staying with woods makes perfect sense. However, if you are not consistent with the fairway woods, then the shorter lengths of the .hybrid. clubs may make you more consistent. Each option has its pros and cons. The lower and deeper center of gravity of the wood heads will tend to hit the ball higher and are easier to hit. But the shorter lengths of the hybrids should be easier to hit on center and with more control. Either way it is probably time to get rid of your 3 and 4 irons and take a serious look at higher lofted fairway woods or hybrids.
Technology Factor #4 . Use the Most Flexible Shaft You Can Control. By using a more flexible shaft, you will probably hit the ball a little higher, the shot will feel a little bit more solid, and the face might close a little more at impact. These are all things that will allow you to score better. By using a stiffer shaft you will probably hit the ball a little lower and with less distance, and the impact will be slightly harsher while the clubface may remain slightly open. Therefore, consider dropping down a flex and you might just be rewarded with a tighter shot dispersion and lower scores.
Technology Factor #5 . Use Cavity Backed Irons Cavity backed irons truly are more forgiving on off center hits. You have probably heard this before, but take a cavity-backed iron and muscle-backed iron to the course and take a 10 shots with each and plot the results (when the greens keeper is not around). Plotting these shots will show you which type of iron performs best for you. I.m sure you will see better results with the cavity-backed iron.
Technology Factor #6 . Go With a Wider Sole on the Sand Wedge If you tend to leave the ball in the sand from digging too deep under the ball, look for a sand wedge with a much wider (thicker) sole than on your current sand wedge. Also, if you tend to have a very steep downward swing plane, look for a wide sole angle and more bounce to get out of the sand more consistently. Sole angle will allow the club head to create lift as it travels through the sand to get the ball out. Bounce allows the leading edge of the head to glide through the sand because the trailing edge is actually lower than the leading edge. Having a wider sole angel and more bounce together creates favorable conditions to get out of the sand consistently.
Technology Factor #7 . Add weight to your Putter . In the Grip More golfers are starting to notice a more consistent stroke with a heavier putter. But not just by adding weight to the head. I.m talking about counterbalancing your putter by adding weight to the grip end. I will be talking more about this in future articles, but many of my customers are noticing huge performance gains by adding weight to the butt end of the putter. The method is called .Balance-Certified Golf. and Custom Clubs of Frederick is one of only a few shops in the area that can perform this service
Monday, July 20, 2009
Golf Driving Range Tips for Play and Practice
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.
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.
Solving Golf Swing Problems
Identify the (slicing, hooking, lack of distance, etc.) problem. Verify the problem by videotaping yourself or asking a knowledgeable golfer to watch you hit a few balls. Find the cause of the problem. Start by reviewing your fundamentals of grip, stance, balance, alignment, etc.
Do some diagnostic drills to help you pinpoint the cause. Plan your course of action. Commit to implementing your plan. Repetition will help you build confidence. Give it time to work, but, if it is not going well, seek additional help.
Purpose: To have a reliable system to identify your golfing problems. The first step, no matter what the problem, is always to REVIEW YOUR FUNDAMENTALS (Grip, Stance, Alignment, Swing Path, etc.) Also, the diagnostic drills can help you pinpoint your problems. You must know the problem and its cause to effectively correct it. Use a video tape recorder or a knowledgeable practice partner to help you correctly diagnose the problem.
To provide the means to restore your confidence. Many problems will stem from loss of confidence. Doing repetitions of the drills will give you the needed confidence in your swing to overcome your problems. Solving problems and developing confidence takes time. Do not expect instantaneous results. After you identify the problem, find the cause and learn the cure, you will still need time and practice to integrate your new skills into your "old game".
Do some diagnostic drills to help you pinpoint the cause. Plan your course of action. Commit to implementing your plan. Repetition will help you build confidence. Give it time to work, but, if it is not going well, seek additional help.
Purpose: To have a reliable system to identify your golfing problems. The first step, no matter what the problem, is always to REVIEW YOUR FUNDAMENTALS (Grip, Stance, Alignment, Swing Path, etc.) Also, the diagnostic drills can help you pinpoint your problems. You must know the problem and its cause to effectively correct it. Use a video tape recorder or a knowledgeable practice partner to help you correctly diagnose the problem.
To provide the means to restore your confidence. Many problems will stem from loss of confidence. Doing repetitions of the drills will give you the needed confidence in your swing to overcome your problems. Solving problems and developing confidence takes time. Do not expect instantaneous results. After you identify the problem, find the cause and learn the cure, you will still need time and practice to integrate your new skills into your "old game".
Friday, July 17, 2009
Hitting out of Fairway Bunkers
Let me cut right to the gist of this tip. To get out of a bunker in the fairway you should hit the ball not the sand first. If you hit the ball cleanly and pick it, it will fly far, if you hit the ball and pinch it against the sand, the golfball will come out and fly lower than normal. If you should hit the sand and then the ball, you have played a greenside bunker shot.
Pot bunkers are the name of the game in Scotland, and they are not easy to get the ball out. Imagine staring at a wall of sand or railroads ties 8 feet high, and a pin 150 yards away! How in the @$%@$% are you going to get out of that one? Quite often players will have to reverse course and pitch the ball out either sideways or back towards the tee. A guaranteed lost stroke on the hole, and quite often the majors are won or lost by a single stroke. Fortunately for us state side, pot bunkers are uncommon hazards, especially when it comes to fairways bunkers. Occasionally you will see pot bunkers around the greens, and if you ever have played PGA West Stadium course you know what I am talking about. Fairway bunkers tend not to be to deep and have a small lip if any. But what is the best way to advance the ball forward? It actually is quite easy. Phil, Corey, and a few other pros have told me how and it works!
First off, a fairway bunker is completely different than a green side bunker. Green side bunker shots require you to open the clubface, open and place the ball forward in your stance. You will "bounce" the club and hit sand before the ball. This is not the case in fairway bunkers. A fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball and not the sand. Here is an easy way to set up properly for a great fairway bunker shot. Select the normal club for the distance of the shot you are hitting. I would suggest staying away from fairway woods unless you are a very low handicapper. Place the ball in the middle of your stance. Plant your feet firmly in the sand. Thick sand will require you to choke down on the club slightly to compensate for your feet digging in the sand. Align your clubface, feet, and shoulders towards your target. You are now in the proper position to hit a fairway bunker shot.
At this point take your normal swing path and attempt to hit the ball only. The key to the swing is hitting the ball first and not the sand. Jack was a great fairway bunker player and quite often he would be able to hit the same shot from a good lie in a bunker as from the fairway.
Pot bunkers are the name of the game in Scotland, and they are not easy to get the ball out. Imagine staring at a wall of sand or railroads ties 8 feet high, and a pin 150 yards away! How in the @$%@$% are you going to get out of that one? Quite often players will have to reverse course and pitch the ball out either sideways or back towards the tee. A guaranteed lost stroke on the hole, and quite often the majors are won or lost by a single stroke. Fortunately for us state side, pot bunkers are uncommon hazards, especially when it comes to fairways bunkers. Occasionally you will see pot bunkers around the greens, and if you ever have played PGA West Stadium course you know what I am talking about. Fairway bunkers tend not to be to deep and have a small lip if any. But what is the best way to advance the ball forward? It actually is quite easy. Phil, Corey, and a few other pros have told me how and it works!
First off, a fairway bunker is completely different than a green side bunker. Green side bunker shots require you to open the clubface, open and place the ball forward in your stance. You will "bounce" the club and hit sand before the ball. This is not the case in fairway bunkers. A fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball and not the sand. Here is an easy way to set up properly for a great fairway bunker shot. Select the normal club for the distance of the shot you are hitting. I would suggest staying away from fairway woods unless you are a very low handicapper. Place the ball in the middle of your stance. Plant your feet firmly in the sand. Thick sand will require you to choke down on the club slightly to compensate for your feet digging in the sand. Align your clubface, feet, and shoulders towards your target. You are now in the proper position to hit a fairway bunker shot.
At this point take your normal swing path and attempt to hit the ball only. The key to the swing is hitting the ball first and not the sand. Jack was a great fairway bunker player and quite often he would be able to hit the same shot from a good lie in a bunker as from the fairway.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Great PreShot Routine for Putting
Watch many of the worlds best putters and you will notice they all have in common a definable, repeatable pre-putting routine. This routine has been practiced thousands or perhaps even a hundred thousand times by these golfers. They will practice it every day to ingrain the process and the mechanics and to make it second nature. The preshot putting routine takes the focus off mechanics and enables their body to become target focused. The best putters know that if they are putting poorly one day then they simply need to return to their basic pre putting routine and practice until they discover the putting fault from their previous round of golf. That is, they will practice their routine to discover the fault that was the cause of there poor putting. Most of the time it is very simple to reveal - just by practicing their preshot routine, they discover something small in their putting process, an event out of sequence that they forgot to execute.
Different Strokes Putting Keys for Different Folks
This putting tip works only if you are using a conventional putter. ( 34-35 inches or so ).
The preshot putting routine is different ( or slightly different ) for every golfer. Why ? - because each person has a slightly different and unique physiology. This difference means that each persons shoulders, arms, hips, knees, hands, and neck all make up a different set of size and mass. No two wrists are exactly the same size. The process that will square one persons shoulders will open anothers, and close yet another persons shoulders.
Try this routine to see if it helps you putt better. You may find that some or all of the components of this routine may be incorporated into your routine to assist you in putting better. First Get into an Athletic Golf Setup to Putt the GolfBall into the Hole. How? You have heard this many times. Do not bend forward from the waist!
You get into an athletic golf position by bending forward from the hips. Grip the putter in your left hand to start while standing behind the ball. Pass the putter back and forth between the left and right hands two times finally stopping with the putter in your right hand. Then, take your left arm and push it straight out from your body and let it drop comforably to your side. This has the effect of "tightening the rope" ie the muscles in the lead arm. Watch the pro's - most all of the good putters do this including Vijay and Tiger. Next, keep your left hand in front of your body and push the putter with the right hand into the left hand. Do not move the left hand to the right hand, move the right to the left. When you grip the putter handle grip first with the top of the palm pad nearest the pointer or index finger, then the rest of the fingers. This is an important setup key as there is a direct relationship between this grip position and the rocking of the shoulders up and down on the spine.
What you have done is activate the large golf muscles in your shoulders, neck, lats, arms, triceps, and biceps. This as we know is important because in golf we want to use the bigger muscles for consistency and repeatability. In addition, you have enabled the right side of your body ( for right handed players ) to control the putt. This is important because it enables the shoulders to stay square and your head to stay back behind the ball resulting in the proper release of the putterhead down the target line. If you do not stay back on the ball you will most likely lunge a bit forward and push the putt to the right of your target.
Lastly, while staying in your current posture, walk to the golfball, address it and putt it to the hole. If you follow this preshot putting routine you will put the golfball in the hole more often. Less three putts and more one putts. That is the way to score. Practice this technique to build confidence in your putting stroke.
Different Strokes Putting Keys for Different Folks
This putting tip works only if you are using a conventional putter. ( 34-35 inches or so ).
The preshot putting routine is different ( or slightly different ) for every golfer. Why ? - because each person has a slightly different and unique physiology. This difference means that each persons shoulders, arms, hips, knees, hands, and neck all make up a different set of size and mass. No two wrists are exactly the same size. The process that will square one persons shoulders will open anothers, and close yet another persons shoulders.
Try this routine to see if it helps you putt better. You may find that some or all of the components of this routine may be incorporated into your routine to assist you in putting better. First Get into an Athletic Golf Setup to Putt the GolfBall into the Hole. How? You have heard this many times. Do not bend forward from the waist!
You get into an athletic golf position by bending forward from the hips. Grip the putter in your left hand to start while standing behind the ball. Pass the putter back and forth between the left and right hands two times finally stopping with the putter in your right hand. Then, take your left arm and push it straight out from your body and let it drop comforably to your side. This has the effect of "tightening the rope" ie the muscles in the lead arm. Watch the pro's - most all of the good putters do this including Vijay and Tiger. Next, keep your left hand in front of your body and push the putter with the right hand into the left hand. Do not move the left hand to the right hand, move the right to the left. When you grip the putter handle grip first with the top of the palm pad nearest the pointer or index finger, then the rest of the fingers. This is an important setup key as there is a direct relationship between this grip position and the rocking of the shoulders up and down on the spine.
What you have done is activate the large golf muscles in your shoulders, neck, lats, arms, triceps, and biceps. This as we know is important because in golf we want to use the bigger muscles for consistency and repeatability. In addition, you have enabled the right side of your body ( for right handed players ) to control the putt. This is important because it enables the shoulders to stay square and your head to stay back behind the ball resulting in the proper release of the putterhead down the target line. If you do not stay back on the ball you will most likely lunge a bit forward and push the putt to the right of your target.
Lastly, while staying in your current posture, walk to the golfball, address it and putt it to the hole. If you follow this preshot putting routine you will put the golfball in the hole more often. Less three putts and more one putts. That is the way to score. Practice this technique to build confidence in your putting stroke.
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