When you are learning how to hit a draw it might seem an impossible feat - to control what is essentially a hook shot. Hitting a draw shot is easier than it may seem. These golf tips will show you that determining your flight path is an important step for decreasing your own scores along with mastering your game and the golf courses you play on.
Hitting a draw means the ball goes from right to left, comparable to hook shot though with some control and deliberate intent. A lot of pro golfers invest a lot of time learning and perfecting how to hit a draw shot, as it can certainly add significant distance on their drives. When executed appropriately, hitting a draw allows your ball to be able to travel lower and spin more on the fairway. This spinning on the fairway is what increases the distance of the shot and is often why a golfer will learn how to hit a draw. While you perfect this shot, you can expect to see a noticeable improvement with your game.
To master this very useful golfing shot, you'll want to make certain a couple of things are taking place with your swing action.
The first step when learning how to hit a draw shot is always to attain a strong hold by turning your hands a bit to the right on the actual club shaft. Don't spin the shaft of the club, merely your hands. The spinning of the club through the hands will defeat the whole motion while and can become very frustrating while you are trying to understand how to hit a draw shot.
Next, narrow your address stance a bit - the way you approach the ball. This gives one's body the room it requires to spin completely and also achieve the suitable inside to outside swing route.
As the club face makes contact with the actual ball, allow the hands to do the work. Your right hand will move back to the basic position, allowing the golf club face to shut a bit. This is how your solid grip will come in handy. And as mentioned above, when learning how to hit a draw you need to focus on maintaining a solid grip.
Whenever you are hitting the draw, keep your head down while finishing your follow-through. When proper form is used, the golf ball can naturally commence a path to the right; when it reaches its apex, it's going to start to return to your left, stopping the curve round the middle line. This is how hitting a draw is essentially a hook shot.
While learning how to hit a draw, if you notice your ball is curving quickly left, you're conducting a shot that's closer to a hook, and you'll want to continue practicing.
A great golf tip would be to look down on the divot you leave. While shooting with the irons, the divot should be a little to the left of the goal line or perhaps directly in-line with the goal line. It should not end up being aiming to the right. If it is aiming to the right, then your actual address to the golf ball is incorrect, and while it may be curving back to the left, all you have done is hit an actual hook shot but adjusting your aim for the hook shot.
Learning how to hit a draw effectively requires lots of training, and another golf tip I might add is that the best golf club to utilize when beginning is a mid-range iron. Your 6 iron is a great option for most golf players. If you're even now having a difficult time perfecting the shot, take a look at the golfing grip. Larger, softer golf grips could make it harder to have the wanted activity on your ball. I have mentioned this again due to the importance the golf grip has when learning how to hit a draw.
Don't become disappointed if you see a great deal of hook shots to start with. That is to be expected. The technique associated with spinning both hands to the right when you make the golf shot requires steady, sustained practice. It is advisable to make small alterations, hit a number of golf balls, observe what the results are, and make additional adjustments when needed.
While you begin to perfect your shot using your mid range irons, move upward towards the driver. This could be probably the most difficult golf club to learn how to hit a draw, however learning using the simpler clubs first is likely to make it significantly simpler to master your driver. Don't give up. Once you have the mechanics down, you can actually control this kind of shot along with your golf game far better. I look forward to seeing more players on the golf course successfully hitting their draw shots.
Are you interested in learning more than just how to hit a draw? Follow me to a site where you can not only become a better golfer in 30 days but you will learn all the golf tips you will need.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_K_Martin
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6279572
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
5 Steps to Properly Analyze Your Golf Swing
Analyzing Your Golf Swing - How to do it Right!
Quite often, becoming a really exceptional golfer requires nothing more than learning how to analyze your golf swing techniques the right way. While this certainly isn't the easiest thing to do, once you learn the little things to look for, the process gets easier and your game gets much better. If you can have someone video tape your swing or snap an abundance of pictures in a row, this is ideal so you can actually see what your entire body looks like throughout the whole swing.
Address
If your head is positioned toward the right, your weight will follow, which will promote a high trajectory. The inside of your feet and the outside of your shoulders will ideally be in line. If they are wider, you will slide at impact, if they are narrower, you're probably a turner. Also, the ball should be lined up with your left shoulder.
It is important to understand that if you have a wide arc too early in your backswing, you're making it harder on yourself when it comes time to transition into your downswing. If your left knee moves out, you have an overly long backswing which could cause you a few problems.
The Transition
Analyzing the transition where you go from your backswing to a downswing is important and you could find all the answers that you're looking for to improve your game. If you're right arm happens to be too close to your side, your left arm will likely bend at the elbow. Also, if the face of your club is open, you need to rotate your hands to square it (correct this before you swing).
Referencing your elbows once again, you will notice that your body turns excessively if you're right elbow is too tucked into your side. Lastly, if your left heel is up at the transition point, this also indicates a large turn and that your power is more reliant on speed rather than control. If that heel remains down, you create your power from leverage coming from your hips, not your feet, which is ideal.
Downswing
If your club directly covers your right arm on the way down, you are more likely to push the ball. Alternatively, if it's shadowing your left arm, you will pull or fade. Ideally, you will show a bit of a lift in your right heel because at this point, your weight should have shifted to your left foot.
Making Impact
If the shaft of your club is at 90 degrees, there is a very good chance you had a great shot. Your shoulders should be open at impact to cause less strain on your back. If you show an obvious shoulder tilt you probably had to actually try to correct something to keep the face of your club square.
Follow Through
Don't stop analyzing quite yet! The follow through is just as important as any other part of your swing. If your shaft is vertical, you likely hit a draw but if it's too horizontal, you are probably what they refer to as a fader. If your hands end high, they should have been equally high on your backswing. You should be creating a perfect arc from your two highest points which means they should be even at both ends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Penske
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6272827
Quite often, becoming a really exceptional golfer requires nothing more than learning how to analyze your golf swing techniques the right way. While this certainly isn't the easiest thing to do, once you learn the little things to look for, the process gets easier and your game gets much better. If you can have someone video tape your swing or snap an abundance of pictures in a row, this is ideal so you can actually see what your entire body looks like throughout the whole swing.
Address
If your head is positioned toward the right, your weight will follow, which will promote a high trajectory. The inside of your feet and the outside of your shoulders will ideally be in line. If they are wider, you will slide at impact, if they are narrower, you're probably a turner. Also, the ball should be lined up with your left shoulder.
It is important to understand that if you have a wide arc too early in your backswing, you're making it harder on yourself when it comes time to transition into your downswing. If your left knee moves out, you have an overly long backswing which could cause you a few problems.
The Transition
Analyzing the transition where you go from your backswing to a downswing is important and you could find all the answers that you're looking for to improve your game. If you're right arm happens to be too close to your side, your left arm will likely bend at the elbow. Also, if the face of your club is open, you need to rotate your hands to square it (correct this before you swing).
Referencing your elbows once again, you will notice that your body turns excessively if you're right elbow is too tucked into your side. Lastly, if your left heel is up at the transition point, this also indicates a large turn and that your power is more reliant on speed rather than control. If that heel remains down, you create your power from leverage coming from your hips, not your feet, which is ideal.
Downswing
If your club directly covers your right arm on the way down, you are more likely to push the ball. Alternatively, if it's shadowing your left arm, you will pull or fade. Ideally, you will show a bit of a lift in your right heel because at this point, your weight should have shifted to your left foot.
Making Impact
If the shaft of your club is at 90 degrees, there is a very good chance you had a great shot. Your shoulders should be open at impact to cause less strain on your back. If you show an obvious shoulder tilt you probably had to actually try to correct something to keep the face of your club square.
Follow Through
Don't stop analyzing quite yet! The follow through is just as important as any other part of your swing. If your shaft is vertical, you likely hit a draw but if it's too horizontal, you are probably what they refer to as a fader. If your hands end high, they should have been equally high on your backswing. You should be creating a perfect arc from your two highest points which means they should be even at both ends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Penske
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6272827
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Three Drills To Hit Your Irons Straighter
What is the scoring shot in golf? Many recreational golfers would say driving, or putting. The pros advise us that we should become good chippers. But for the pros themselves, the shot that makes the difference is the iron into the green. They win more tournaments by putting for birdies than by chipping for pars. Here are three ways to make your irons your scoring shot, too.
1. Make good contact. That means ball first, ground second. The divot mark should start in front of the ball, not underneath it, and definitely not behind it. Here's one way to train yourself to do that. Put a tee in the ground, lined up with the leading edge of the ball, but far enough away so you can hit the ball without hitting the tee.
When you hit the ball with, say, a 7-iron, the start of the divot mark should be in front of the tee. If the divot mark starts behind the tee, that is a sign of swing errors, to numerous to mention here, that contribute to hitting the ball off line. Get this part right, and your shots will straighten out. [Note: you can only do this drill on a grassy area, not on mats.]
2. Build your iron swing around your wedge swing. The wedge swing is compact and precise. It's the swing with which your tempo and rhythm are the best, and where you're thinking only about hitting the ball straight, not far.
Hit three balls with your pitching wedge, using a full swing. Then hit one ball with an iron, copying the unforced feeling of your wedge swing. This will teach you to associate an easy, smooth swing with your irons, and that is how you hit them straighter.
3. Work on your setup. Yes, turn setting up into a drill, starting with the placement of your hands. Grip down so about an inch of the butt end of the shaft sticks out. This will give you more control of the clubhead.
Put the ball in the center of your stance, in this fashion. Stand with your heels together, the ball centered between your feet. Move your left foot to the left, and your right foot to the right by an equal amount, so that your feet are now as far apart as they should be for the shot, and the ball has remained in the center.
Aim yourself at the target. Many golfers hit beautiful shots, but miss to the right because that is exactly where they were aimed. Put a golf club on the ground, pointed at a marker in the distance. Put another club on the ground about two feet away and parallel to the first one.
Take your stance with the club in your hands resting on the shaft of the first club, and your heels resting against the shaft of the second club. Turn your head to look at the marker. Study where it is in your field of vision. On the course, where you cannot use alignment clubs, this picture is what you will rely on to know that you are properly aligned.
Now, practice these three aspects of your setup over an over. Place your hands right, place the ball right, aim yourself right. Then step away and start again. The more times you repeat this drill, the farther you go to making these three things automatic.
Good contact, easy swing, good setup. These are three steps that will have you hitting more greens and putting for more birdies.
At last! A golf instruction book for the 15-handicapper and above. Better Recreational Golf shows you how to play consistently, starting from where you are. Weekend golfers, this is the book you've been looking for. Get started right now by reading this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6260833
1. Make good contact. That means ball first, ground second. The divot mark should start in front of the ball, not underneath it, and definitely not behind it. Here's one way to train yourself to do that. Put a tee in the ground, lined up with the leading edge of the ball, but far enough away so you can hit the ball without hitting the tee.
When you hit the ball with, say, a 7-iron, the start of the divot mark should be in front of the tee. If the divot mark starts behind the tee, that is a sign of swing errors, to numerous to mention here, that contribute to hitting the ball off line. Get this part right, and your shots will straighten out. [Note: you can only do this drill on a grassy area, not on mats.]
2. Build your iron swing around your wedge swing. The wedge swing is compact and precise. It's the swing with which your tempo and rhythm are the best, and where you're thinking only about hitting the ball straight, not far.
Hit three balls with your pitching wedge, using a full swing. Then hit one ball with an iron, copying the unforced feeling of your wedge swing. This will teach you to associate an easy, smooth swing with your irons, and that is how you hit them straighter.
3. Work on your setup. Yes, turn setting up into a drill, starting with the placement of your hands. Grip down so about an inch of the butt end of the shaft sticks out. This will give you more control of the clubhead.
Put the ball in the center of your stance, in this fashion. Stand with your heels together, the ball centered between your feet. Move your left foot to the left, and your right foot to the right by an equal amount, so that your feet are now as far apart as they should be for the shot, and the ball has remained in the center.
Aim yourself at the target. Many golfers hit beautiful shots, but miss to the right because that is exactly where they were aimed. Put a golf club on the ground, pointed at a marker in the distance. Put another club on the ground about two feet away and parallel to the first one.
Take your stance with the club in your hands resting on the shaft of the first club, and your heels resting against the shaft of the second club. Turn your head to look at the marker. Study where it is in your field of vision. On the course, where you cannot use alignment clubs, this picture is what you will rely on to know that you are properly aligned.
Now, practice these three aspects of your setup over an over. Place your hands right, place the ball right, aim yourself right. Then step away and start again. The more times you repeat this drill, the farther you go to making these three things automatic.
Good contact, easy swing, good setup. These are three steps that will have you hitting more greens and putting for more birdies.
At last! A golf instruction book for the 15-handicapper and above. Better Recreational Golf shows you how to play consistently, starting from where you are. Weekend golfers, this is the book you've been looking for. Get started right now by reading this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6260833
Monday, May 09, 2011
Drive Your Ball Into the Fairway With a Safety Shot
Probably the hardest thing to do in golf, and yet the most important, is to get your drive in the fairway. Recreational golfers have a love-hate relationship with their driver. They can't hit it that well, yet they can't stop pulling it out of the bag. It's time for you to get this most difficult golf club under control, and you do it by thinking of the drive as a safety shot.
In general, a safety shot is one you fall back on when your swing starts acting up and you have no idea where the ball will go. It might be a half-swing with a 7-iron or maybe one of your hybrid irons. It's a shot you rely on to go straight and eat up enough yards that good scores are still possible.
To hit this shot, you slow down your swing, shorten your backswing, and concentrate solely on making clean contact with the ball. That is the way you should hit your driver, too, all the time.
Go to the range with your driver, just like everyone else does, only instead of trying to knock the ball over the boundary fence 300 yards away, try to hit your driver 125 yards, dead straight. As I said before, slow down your pace, shorten the swing, and concentrate on clean contact. Make sure the left hand leads the club through the ball.
After you get the hang of hitting a soft, graceful shot with the Big Dog right to the 125 flag, you're all set. You have figured out what it feels like to swing so that you make centered contact with your driver. From there, all you have to do is speed up your swing enough to get playable distance out of the shot.
Speed it up to the point where the swing feels "polite," that is, you feel no effort at all at any time. You never have the feeling of HIT in your swing. That's your safety shot with the driver. Use it for tight driving holes on par 4s, and on all par 5s.
There will be a few holes on which you need to hit the ball farther than this wing will let you. These are the long par 4s with a wide fairway, where you switch from the Safety Drive to the Bomb It Safely Drive. To make the switch, use a moderately faster version of your safety swing. You're still focusing on square, centered contact.
It's still an effortless swing, grip pressure is light, your backswing is still short, your rhythm is still flawless, but your sense of propriety is gone. Bang the ball. You should be good for another 15-20 yards, and still straight.
Let the pros flail away on the tee. If you swing the driver only so fast as you can make perfect contact, you'll hit the ball straighter than you ever imagined, and hit more fairways than you can count.
At last! A golf instruction book for the 15-handicapper and above. Better Recreational Golf shows you how to play consistently, starting from where you are. Weekend golfers, this is the book you've been looking for. Get started right now by reading this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6248489
In general, a safety shot is one you fall back on when your swing starts acting up and you have no idea where the ball will go. It might be a half-swing with a 7-iron or maybe one of your hybrid irons. It's a shot you rely on to go straight and eat up enough yards that good scores are still possible.
To hit this shot, you slow down your swing, shorten your backswing, and concentrate solely on making clean contact with the ball. That is the way you should hit your driver, too, all the time.
Go to the range with your driver, just like everyone else does, only instead of trying to knock the ball over the boundary fence 300 yards away, try to hit your driver 125 yards, dead straight. As I said before, slow down your pace, shorten the swing, and concentrate on clean contact. Make sure the left hand leads the club through the ball.
After you get the hang of hitting a soft, graceful shot with the Big Dog right to the 125 flag, you're all set. You have figured out what it feels like to swing so that you make centered contact with your driver. From there, all you have to do is speed up your swing enough to get playable distance out of the shot.
Speed it up to the point where the swing feels "polite," that is, you feel no effort at all at any time. You never have the feeling of HIT in your swing. That's your safety shot with the driver. Use it for tight driving holes on par 4s, and on all par 5s.
There will be a few holes on which you need to hit the ball farther than this wing will let you. These are the long par 4s with a wide fairway, where you switch from the Safety Drive to the Bomb It Safely Drive. To make the switch, use a moderately faster version of your safety swing. You're still focusing on square, centered contact.
It's still an effortless swing, grip pressure is light, your backswing is still short, your rhythm is still flawless, but your sense of propriety is gone. Bang the ball. You should be good for another 15-20 yards, and still straight.
Let the pros flail away on the tee. If you swing the driver only so fast as you can make perfect contact, you'll hit the ball straighter than you ever imagined, and hit more fairways than you can count.
At last! A golf instruction book for the 15-handicapper and above. Better Recreational Golf shows you how to play consistently, starting from where you are. Weekend golfers, this is the book you've been looking for. Get started right now by reading this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6248489
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Play a Draw With the Driver
Learning to play a variety of shots in golf is a great advantage. One of the best shots to learn is a draw and a big advantage on any hole is hitting good drive. So if you can play a draw with a drive you have a great advantage.
In this article I am going to describe how to play a draw and why it gives you an advantage.
To play a draw you need to have an inside-out swing and a square club-face through impact. For me one of the easiest clubs to do it with is the driver.
An inside-out golf swing sounds easy enough but so many players struggle to get it right. From my experience this is from trying to hit the ball too hard by swing with the arms. It is far easier to control the swing path if you simply let your body rotate and keep the connection between your arms and torso intact.
Firstly the "how" to play a draw with the driver.
Here are a couple of things that should help:
Place the ball on the inside of your target foot toe - that is the left foot for a right-handed golfer.
Ensure that the club face is square to the target at this point. To do this imagine two parallel lines - one running along your toe line and the other from the ball to the target. Set you club face square to the ball to target line.
Now move your non-target (back) foot two inches back. creating a slightly closed stance but keeping that club-face square to the imaginary line.
Cock your head so that it is behind the ball and not directly over it.
Move your hands back so that the shaft is in line with your spine and your hands are not ahead of the ball as would be the case with your irons. This is to get you to strike the ball on the correct launch angle which, with the driver, is on the up. This slight hand movement should mean you have to drop your non target shoulder slightly. This is perfect.
Start your backswing by turning your target shoulder away from the target concentrating on keeping the connection between your arms and torso the same throughout the swing.
Take the club back along your toe line. Remember that you have moved the non-target foot back slightly so it should be a slight inside take away.
Start your down-swing by turning your hips back towards the target until your belt buckle is facing directly to the target.
Keep the club on the toe line on the down-swing and follow through making sure that you finish with high hands.
If you do everything correctly you will have a nice draw.
Now for the "benefits" of playing a draw with the driver.
First and foremost is distance. The inside-out swing (going across the ball) with the square club face creates top-spin and top-spin creates roll which will give you more distance. That's what we want with a driver - maximum distance. The closer you can get to the green the shorter your approach shot will be. Unless you are very different (I nearly said a freak!) playing a 9 iron is far easier and more accurate than playing a 5 iron.
Secondly is you have a bigger target if you can hit a particular shot such as a draw with the drive. Knowing the ball will curve from right to left (again for the right-handed golfer) means you can safely aim for the right hand side of the fairway. You have the entire width of the fairway - left of where you are aiming - as a landing area. Aiming for the middle would mean you only have the left half of the fairway to play with. I hope that makes sense!
So there you have how and why you should play a draw with a drive whenever possible. Sometimes though you will get holes that are not set up for the draw which is why you should learn to play a variety of shots.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Bredenkamp
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6232248
In this article I am going to describe how to play a draw and why it gives you an advantage.
To play a draw you need to have an inside-out swing and a square club-face through impact. For me one of the easiest clubs to do it with is the driver.
An inside-out golf swing sounds easy enough but so many players struggle to get it right. From my experience this is from trying to hit the ball too hard by swing with the arms. It is far easier to control the swing path if you simply let your body rotate and keep the connection between your arms and torso intact.
Firstly the "how" to play a draw with the driver.
Here are a couple of things that should help:
Place the ball on the inside of your target foot toe - that is the left foot for a right-handed golfer.
Ensure that the club face is square to the target at this point. To do this imagine two parallel lines - one running along your toe line and the other from the ball to the target. Set you club face square to the ball to target line.
Now move your non-target (back) foot two inches back. creating a slightly closed stance but keeping that club-face square to the imaginary line.
Cock your head so that it is behind the ball and not directly over it.
Move your hands back so that the shaft is in line with your spine and your hands are not ahead of the ball as would be the case with your irons. This is to get you to strike the ball on the correct launch angle which, with the driver, is on the up. This slight hand movement should mean you have to drop your non target shoulder slightly. This is perfect.
Start your backswing by turning your target shoulder away from the target concentrating on keeping the connection between your arms and torso the same throughout the swing.
Take the club back along your toe line. Remember that you have moved the non-target foot back slightly so it should be a slight inside take away.
Start your down-swing by turning your hips back towards the target until your belt buckle is facing directly to the target.
Keep the club on the toe line on the down-swing and follow through making sure that you finish with high hands.
If you do everything correctly you will have a nice draw.
Now for the "benefits" of playing a draw with the driver.
First and foremost is distance. The inside-out swing (going across the ball) with the square club face creates top-spin and top-spin creates roll which will give you more distance. That's what we want with a driver - maximum distance. The closer you can get to the green the shorter your approach shot will be. Unless you are very different (I nearly said a freak!) playing a 9 iron is far easier and more accurate than playing a 5 iron.
Secondly is you have a bigger target if you can hit a particular shot such as a draw with the drive. Knowing the ball will curve from right to left (again for the right-handed golfer) means you can safely aim for the right hand side of the fairway. You have the entire width of the fairway - left of where you are aiming - as a landing area. Aiming for the middle would mean you only have the left half of the fairway to play with. I hope that makes sense!
So there you have how and why you should play a draw with a drive whenever possible. Sometimes though you will get holes that are not set up for the draw which is why you should learn to play a variety of shots.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Bredenkamp
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6232248
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Proper Golf Club Grip Means a Lot to Your Perfect Golf Swing
It is on this ground that I establish the assertion that a good hold or proper golf club grip means a lot to your golf swing.
Golf is a recreational game that requires a lot of dedication with consistent practice. At any point in training a firm club grip is often emphasized. The major reason for this is to help channel concentrated efforts from the brain directly to the club and then to the ball to ensure that the accurate message is sent and determined by the brain is not lost due to an "inefficient" club grip. In other words, if the club is not held properly, the resistance generated from the teeing points will make the ball head to an unintended direction which will invariably increase the number of times the ball will be played. And as such, one is on his way of losing the game.
The proper golf club grip is not only advantageous in the winning aspect alone; it also helps in reducing the stress and tension that could ensue from playing golf. As a matter of fact, when the club is loosely held, a strike at the ball from a particular teeing spot is likely to cause pain to the player if a forceful shot is taken. So, when a shot is taken and it causes inconvenience to the player, there is a high possibility in reducing the accuracy of a shot. In cases of emotional balance and where the shot went wrong or in the wrong direction, the player might lose confidence and his swing will be further affected adversely.
Finally, a good club grip will help the psychological perception and performance of a player. Here is the argument, when a player holds the club wrongly or improperly, he is likely to elicit some scornful reactions from the spectators and the professionals around him. This in turn is interpreted to mean his acceptance. They consequently fear further actions or mistakes (as the case may be) that could elicit more unnerving reactions from the crowd. Ultimately then, his concentration shifts away from the game to the audience reaction and will have a great chance of performing woefully. But, the person will learn to hold the club properly. Their swing will not be affected by the factors mentioned previously.
Improve your golf score you will need to learn the proper golf club grip. With proper training you can get a grip on the game.
As a golf player, you should always put in mind that the grip should be strong enough instead of tightening to adequately hold the club.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Grimes
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6113541
Golf is a recreational game that requires a lot of dedication with consistent practice. At any point in training a firm club grip is often emphasized. The major reason for this is to help channel concentrated efforts from the brain directly to the club and then to the ball to ensure that the accurate message is sent and determined by the brain is not lost due to an "inefficient" club grip. In other words, if the club is not held properly, the resistance generated from the teeing points will make the ball head to an unintended direction which will invariably increase the number of times the ball will be played. And as such, one is on his way of losing the game.
The proper golf club grip is not only advantageous in the winning aspect alone; it also helps in reducing the stress and tension that could ensue from playing golf. As a matter of fact, when the club is loosely held, a strike at the ball from a particular teeing spot is likely to cause pain to the player if a forceful shot is taken. So, when a shot is taken and it causes inconvenience to the player, there is a high possibility in reducing the accuracy of a shot. In cases of emotional balance and where the shot went wrong or in the wrong direction, the player might lose confidence and his swing will be further affected adversely.
Finally, a good club grip will help the psychological perception and performance of a player. Here is the argument, when a player holds the club wrongly or improperly, he is likely to elicit some scornful reactions from the spectators and the professionals around him. This in turn is interpreted to mean his acceptance. They consequently fear further actions or mistakes (as the case may be) that could elicit more unnerving reactions from the crowd. Ultimately then, his concentration shifts away from the game to the audience reaction and will have a great chance of performing woefully. But, the person will learn to hold the club properly. Their swing will not be affected by the factors mentioned previously.
Improve your golf score you will need to learn the proper golf club grip. With proper training you can get a grip on the game.
As a golf player, you should always put in mind that the grip should be strong enough instead of tightening to adequately hold the club.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Grimes
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6113541
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Golf Chipping Tips for Your Short Game
Chipping, or the chip shot, if you prefer, is likely the second most needed golf shot in the short game, behind only the putt.
You are probably, like most of us, an average golfer, more or less. Being such we tend to leave our second shot shy of the green, needing some type of chip to get on the putting surface.
There are 3 basic types of chip shots. I say basic because there are so many variables when you get close to the green. Variables include your lie, if you are just off the green 50-60 yards out, in the short rough, longer grass, in the fairway, uphill lie, downhill lie, etc. You get the picture.
The three basic chip types are the standard chip, the soft chip, and the low chip.
The Standard Chip:
We will discuss the standard chip first. This would be the shot used when close to the green, 10-15 yards out possibly. Use your 9 iron or wedge. In fact it is good to practice with both.
Mentally divide the distance to the pin into thirds. Try to fly the ball the first 3rd and roll the rest. Your ball should land on the green.
Address the ball with a narrowed stance, the club face square to the target and the ball in center or slightly back. Use a short backswing and limit your wrist break. Keep your hands in front of the club head so as to strike down on the ball.
The Soft Chip:
The soft chip setup has the ball forward some and the hands behind the club head. Open the clubs face a bit. Be sure to accelerate the club head through the ball. You are trying for minimum roll on the green.
The Low Chip:
The low chip is similar to a pitch and run.That is because the aim is to keep the shot low and roll the ball most of the distance to the pin. The low chip would best be used when there is a lot of green in front of the pin.
This shot is set up with the ball toward the rear of your stance, while keeping your hands ahead of the club head. Keep the clubs face square to the target. Adjust your backswing for the distance needed.
Use your 7 iron here and try to think of this shot as like a long lag putt. Not much distance in the air but a long roll toward the cup.
You likely will not use the low chip as much as the standard chip or the soft chip. Although it is somewhat harder to master it is very useful and powerful when done correctly
As always, practice is the best way to improve your game. Some of these chips could be practiced in a moderately large yard. I would suggest a piece of old carpet or mat so as not to tear up your yard.
I encourage you to practice as much as possible.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Leeward
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6212947
You are probably, like most of us, an average golfer, more or less. Being such we tend to leave our second shot shy of the green, needing some type of chip to get on the putting surface.
There are 3 basic types of chip shots. I say basic because there are so many variables when you get close to the green. Variables include your lie, if you are just off the green 50-60 yards out, in the short rough, longer grass, in the fairway, uphill lie, downhill lie, etc. You get the picture.
The three basic chip types are the standard chip, the soft chip, and the low chip.
The Standard Chip:
We will discuss the standard chip first. This would be the shot used when close to the green, 10-15 yards out possibly. Use your 9 iron or wedge. In fact it is good to practice with both.
Mentally divide the distance to the pin into thirds. Try to fly the ball the first 3rd and roll the rest. Your ball should land on the green.
Address the ball with a narrowed stance, the club face square to the target and the ball in center or slightly back. Use a short backswing and limit your wrist break. Keep your hands in front of the club head so as to strike down on the ball.
The Soft Chip:
The soft chip setup has the ball forward some and the hands behind the club head. Open the clubs face a bit. Be sure to accelerate the club head through the ball. You are trying for minimum roll on the green.
The Low Chip:
The low chip is similar to a pitch and run.That is because the aim is to keep the shot low and roll the ball most of the distance to the pin. The low chip would best be used when there is a lot of green in front of the pin.
This shot is set up with the ball toward the rear of your stance, while keeping your hands ahead of the club head. Keep the clubs face square to the target. Adjust your backswing for the distance needed.
Use your 7 iron here and try to think of this shot as like a long lag putt. Not much distance in the air but a long roll toward the cup.
You likely will not use the low chip as much as the standard chip or the soft chip. Although it is somewhat harder to master it is very useful and powerful when done correctly
As always, practice is the best way to improve your game. Some of these chips could be practiced in a moderately large yard. I would suggest a piece of old carpet or mat so as not to tear up your yard.
I encourage you to practice as much as possible.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Leeward
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6212947
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Fix Your Banana Slice
So you slice nearly every time you hit driver. What do you need to do to stop that?
Though what follows isn't a cure-all, it may help you during your next round. As always, you're encouraged to get expert, professional advice and lessons.
I'm willing to bet that the reason you slice is due to several issues but an outside-in swing path is probably the biggest problem. A bad set-up hurts you immediately because the angle of the club-face at impact is open - facing slightly right - or out. It's also possible your swing path is outside-in - a hacking motion that creates a slicing flight (not unlike a pool player adding English to his shot). Logic dictates that you have to make sure the club-face is square at impact. But how do you do it?
A Strong Set-Up
While addressing the ball, toe your club in slightly. Keeping your hands on the club, rotate both hands - as a unit - to the right (if you're a lefty, rotate them to the left). Not too much - just enough to get your right hand (left hand for lefties) in a more powerful placement. This makes a stronger grip. Your left arm (right arm for lefties) should be above your right arm (left arm for southpaws).
Create An Inside-Out Swing Path
Now drop your back foot back by 8-10 inches. So now instead of having both feet parallel to the ball and in line with your knees, waist and shoulders, your back foot is offset by almost a foot (no pun intended!). It's basically referred to as a "closed stance" in baseball (a righty should be set up to hit the ball over second base into right field vs a lefty who should feel as if he's hitting over shortstop and into left field).
Focus on the inside bottom of the ball - about 4:00 for righties and 8:00 for lefties. THAT's where you want the club to hit the ball.
Sweep the grass in your back swing as far as you can before the club naturally moves up - don't pick it up immediately - bring it straight back on a parallel line. Let your back elbow bend naturally into your side above your hip.Pause a second at the top and reverse your takeaway path down to the ball to strike it. Try and keep your back elbow close to your trailing hip/waist on the way down. As you hit the ball and proceed with your follow-through your lead arm will collapse and bend as your back arm straightens and turns over your front.
My guess is your ball will fly a lot straighter than your typical shot. What you've done is essentially created an inside-out path which is optimum for better ball flight. Toeing in the club has allowed the club-face to square up at impact - essential for straight shots.
As awkward as it feels to begin with, after a few shots it'll become apparent if adjustments are still needed to gain consistency in keeping your ball flying straight and true.
You may even begin to see a draw develop. While a draw is a more powerful shot than a slice, it can cause it's own problems. Just back off some of the radical moves as detailed above - move your back foot closer to parallel; rotate your hands slightly back to neutral; don't toe the club as much - and you'll see your ball flight start to straighten out.
Keep in mind this is a quick fix and at some point it will probably break down and possibly create more problems. As always, try it on the range before using it while playing.
And of course, always get LESSONS!
I'm just an average Joe golfer passing along information I've received over the years that has always helped me at some point and for some time. I still yell "FORE!" though.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Spackler_II
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6211835
Though what follows isn't a cure-all, it may help you during your next round. As always, you're encouraged to get expert, professional advice and lessons.
I'm willing to bet that the reason you slice is due to several issues but an outside-in swing path is probably the biggest problem. A bad set-up hurts you immediately because the angle of the club-face at impact is open - facing slightly right - or out. It's also possible your swing path is outside-in - a hacking motion that creates a slicing flight (not unlike a pool player adding English to his shot). Logic dictates that you have to make sure the club-face is square at impact. But how do you do it?
A Strong Set-Up
While addressing the ball, toe your club in slightly. Keeping your hands on the club, rotate both hands - as a unit - to the right (if you're a lefty, rotate them to the left). Not too much - just enough to get your right hand (left hand for lefties) in a more powerful placement. This makes a stronger grip. Your left arm (right arm for lefties) should be above your right arm (left arm for southpaws).
Create An Inside-Out Swing Path
Now drop your back foot back by 8-10 inches. So now instead of having both feet parallel to the ball and in line with your knees, waist and shoulders, your back foot is offset by almost a foot (no pun intended!). It's basically referred to as a "closed stance" in baseball (a righty should be set up to hit the ball over second base into right field vs a lefty who should feel as if he's hitting over shortstop and into left field).
Focus on the inside bottom of the ball - about 4:00 for righties and 8:00 for lefties. THAT's where you want the club to hit the ball.
Sweep the grass in your back swing as far as you can before the club naturally moves up - don't pick it up immediately - bring it straight back on a parallel line. Let your back elbow bend naturally into your side above your hip.Pause a second at the top and reverse your takeaway path down to the ball to strike it. Try and keep your back elbow close to your trailing hip/waist on the way down. As you hit the ball and proceed with your follow-through your lead arm will collapse and bend as your back arm straightens and turns over your front.
My guess is your ball will fly a lot straighter than your typical shot. What you've done is essentially created an inside-out path which is optimum for better ball flight. Toeing in the club has allowed the club-face to square up at impact - essential for straight shots.
As awkward as it feels to begin with, after a few shots it'll become apparent if adjustments are still needed to gain consistency in keeping your ball flying straight and true.
You may even begin to see a draw develop. While a draw is a more powerful shot than a slice, it can cause it's own problems. Just back off some of the radical moves as detailed above - move your back foot closer to parallel; rotate your hands slightly back to neutral; don't toe the club as much - and you'll see your ball flight start to straighten out.
Keep in mind this is a quick fix and at some point it will probably break down and possibly create more problems. As always, try it on the range before using it while playing.
And of course, always get LESSONS!
I'm just an average Joe golfer passing along information I've received over the years that has always helped me at some point and for some time. I still yell "FORE!" though.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Spackler_II
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6211835
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
5 Rules to Hit Better Irons
Your golf swing should never change from club to club, but the difference between hitting an iron and a driver is you need more precise distance control.
Your first rule is to slow down. Every amateur player tends to try to put all their power into a golf swing. If you could lower your swing speed and not try to crush the ball, you will find your iron shots way more consistent. Proper rhythm and tempo is key to success with your irons.
Identify the sweet spot on your irons. If you ask most amateurs they would say the sweet spot on the club is somewhere in the middle of the face. That is where they are wrong almost all clubs today have the weight so it's at the bottom, allowing the ball to jump up in the air. Clubs these days have the sweet spot very low to the bottom of the club face and closer to the heel.
Another rule is do not go out and buy the brand new technology club just because it is new or someone else told you its a great iron. Every iron works for some people and not for others. If you can find an iron set you can hit consistently with decent distance than stick with that set until you wear them right out. The one thing about golf is it is all based around consistency and anything that can help you do that is vital to your success.
Make sure you keep that angle in your wrists for as long as possible. Even at impact you should have some bend in your wrist and a forward shaft lean. If your wrists and club are straight down at impact than you have lost a great deal of power because you released the club way to early. I talked about this in one of my previous articles.
Listen to the shots you are making. You can tell a lot just from hearing the sound your shot makes. You can hear when you catch the ball fat or thin. You can hear when your club face was too far open or too far closed. If you can put together what you hear and what you see, you will be able to get a better understanding of where you club face is always. If you know where you club face is than you are on the right path to becoming an amazing golfer.
Iron shots are my favorite shots to play. They require a little bit more thinking of what shot you want to play. There are way more options then for a wedge or a driver. It keeps things more interesting!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyson_Schmitt
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6181305
Your first rule is to slow down. Every amateur player tends to try to put all their power into a golf swing. If you could lower your swing speed and not try to crush the ball, you will find your iron shots way more consistent. Proper rhythm and tempo is key to success with your irons.
Identify the sweet spot on your irons. If you ask most amateurs they would say the sweet spot on the club is somewhere in the middle of the face. That is where they are wrong almost all clubs today have the weight so it's at the bottom, allowing the ball to jump up in the air. Clubs these days have the sweet spot very low to the bottom of the club face and closer to the heel.
Another rule is do not go out and buy the brand new technology club just because it is new or someone else told you its a great iron. Every iron works for some people and not for others. If you can find an iron set you can hit consistently with decent distance than stick with that set until you wear them right out. The one thing about golf is it is all based around consistency and anything that can help you do that is vital to your success.
Make sure you keep that angle in your wrists for as long as possible. Even at impact you should have some bend in your wrist and a forward shaft lean. If your wrists and club are straight down at impact than you have lost a great deal of power because you released the club way to early. I talked about this in one of my previous articles.
Listen to the shots you are making. You can tell a lot just from hearing the sound your shot makes. You can hear when you catch the ball fat or thin. You can hear when your club face was too far open or too far closed. If you can put together what you hear and what you see, you will be able to get a better understanding of where you club face is always. If you know where you club face is than you are on the right path to becoming an amazing golfer.
Iron shots are my favorite shots to play. They require a little bit more thinking of what shot you want to play. There are way more options then for a wedge or a driver. It keeps things more interesting!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyson_Schmitt
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6181305
Monday, April 25, 2011
How to Fix Golf Slice Shots Fast
Do you hit slice shots? I have worked with many golfers at my golf school who do, and it could be argued that the golf slice is the Achilles heel of the average golfer. I don't think there is anything worse than standing over a ball knowing that your golf ball will curve off to right field with the vengeance of a swarm of angry hornets.
I bet that you sometimes wish that there was anti-slicing golf swing software that you could install that was guaranteed to straighten the worst golf slice you could hit? Well, I have not invented the golf swing software yet, but I do have a simple anti-slicing golf swing system that will straighten the most vicious slice shot you have.
In this article I will explain to you step by step procedure that you need to fix golf slice shots fast, which will lead to lot more golf confidence and lower golf scores. But first, I need to explain a couple of simple to understand concepts that will get us off on the right foot.
Concept 1 – There are no straight lines in a golf swing
I have read in golf instruction books where they suggested that you should move the golf club in a straight line towards the target for an extended period after the golf ball is struck. If you have read this, or believe this, then you need to rethink this one. If you swing the golf club towards the target after your golf ball has departed from the club face you will more than likely hit the ground behind the ball, greatly reduce the distance of your shot, and hit your shots with a big slice.
The golf club moves in an arc, and your job is to make sure that it remains so. Any attempt to straighten the golf club heads course leads to disaster. Golf clubs don't behave like crochet mallets, where the objective is to swing it back and forward in a straight line.
Concept 2 – Keep your head still as you hit your shot
Think about it, how difficult do you think it is to keep your head still when your shoulders are rotating around your spine at about thirty miles per hour and your arms are moving at about fifty miles per hour? Your head is designed to rotate on top of your spine easily and frequently so you should allow it to move in harmony with your shoulders and arms.
I know what you're probably thinking that you have been told more than once to keep your head down, and still, so you can hit a good golf shot. How's that going for you? I have seen many golfers trying to keep their head down and hit the worst golf slices or bad golf shots that you could imagine. Let your head rotate freely with your shoulders and arms and this will reduce the excessive tension in your shoulders and neck that leads to slicing swings, and a high probability of an injury to your neck, shoulders or back.
The correct right shoulder angle to fix golf slice shots
Ok, now we are going to do just three things that will reduce your slice shot curvature by at least half. The first is to make sure that in the address position your right shoulder is lower and behind your left shoulder.
What do I mean by lower and behind?
Your right shoulder has a big responsibility in the back swing and down swing by providing your arms and hands with their direction. You want your right shoulder to be tilted a lot lower than your left so your shoulders can turn on a flatter arc on the back swing. Your shoulders and feet ideally will be pointing to the right of your target in the address position. This will help you to turn a little more on the back swing and also slow down their acceleration (particularly the right shoulder) in the down swing so your arms and hands can catch up to the shoulders a little earlier.
The correct golf grip to fix golf slice shots
When you place your hands on the golf grip you need to place them more clockwise on the grip. The thumb of your left hand should be placed on the side of the handle at about 2 o'clock so that the back of your hand is facing upwards towards the sky, not towards the target. When your place your right hand on the golf grip fit your right hand over your left hand thumb and make sure that it is predominantly held in the lower joints of the fingers of the right hand.
The right hand should be aligned on the grip so that if you opened the hand completely it would be facing directly towards the target. It is not advisable to interlock your right and left hand grip, just place both hands comfortably together with the feeling that the bottom of the right hand is a long way from the top of the grip. Overlapping or interlocking the fingers of the grip reduces rotational functionality of the wrists which will make it more difficult to close the club face through the impact zone.
The Swing path and club face angle to fix golf slice shots
Finally the path of your arms and hands must travel through the ball on the correct path in the back swing and down swing. When you stand over the ball in the address position, you can imagine splitting your golf ball into quarters, the inside quarter as you look at it (between 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock) is the quarter your strike with the club head on the down swing. The force of your arm swing should move your golf swing through this location towards the top left quarter.
Now, not more than twelve inches through this top left quadrant your club face will have roll closed enough that the toe of your golf club is pointing directly down your target line towards your target. Your right arm will be straight at the same time and the combination of the swing path and closed club face angle will strike the golf ball in such a way the resultant ball flight will be a lot straighter.
These three steps are the key to fixing your golf slice shots fast. By setting your right shoulder angles down and behind correctly, you will guide the path of your arms through the golf ball on the correct path and trajectory.
Placing your hands on the grip correctly will give you the rotational control you need to facilitate the closing of the toe of your club face so that it is pointing towards the target which I guarantee will cut your slice spin in half.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/how-to-fix-golf-slice-shots-fast-2653043.html
About the Author
"Lawrence Montague an expert Australian PGA golf instructor has worked with thousands of golfers from novice to tour level over the past twenty five years. Owner of one of the top golf schools in the Asia/Pacific region, Lawrence teaches golfers how to reduce their golf scores faster, develop their golf confidence, more accuracy and distance. Lawrence can teach you exactly how to spend less time practicing and more time improving through his unique online golf coaching programs. These programs will show you exactly how to take your current game and with his unique coaching knowledge, resources and support, dramatically improve your results on and off the golf course."
I bet that you sometimes wish that there was anti-slicing golf swing software that you could install that was guaranteed to straighten the worst golf slice you could hit? Well, I have not invented the golf swing software yet, but I do have a simple anti-slicing golf swing system that will straighten the most vicious slice shot you have.
In this article I will explain to you step by step procedure that you need to fix golf slice shots fast, which will lead to lot more golf confidence and lower golf scores. But first, I need to explain a couple of simple to understand concepts that will get us off on the right foot.
Concept 1 – There are no straight lines in a golf swing
I have read in golf instruction books where they suggested that you should move the golf club in a straight line towards the target for an extended period after the golf ball is struck. If you have read this, or believe this, then you need to rethink this one. If you swing the golf club towards the target after your golf ball has departed from the club face you will more than likely hit the ground behind the ball, greatly reduce the distance of your shot, and hit your shots with a big slice.
The golf club moves in an arc, and your job is to make sure that it remains so. Any attempt to straighten the golf club heads course leads to disaster. Golf clubs don't behave like crochet mallets, where the objective is to swing it back and forward in a straight line.
Concept 2 – Keep your head still as you hit your shot
Think about it, how difficult do you think it is to keep your head still when your shoulders are rotating around your spine at about thirty miles per hour and your arms are moving at about fifty miles per hour? Your head is designed to rotate on top of your spine easily and frequently so you should allow it to move in harmony with your shoulders and arms.
I know what you're probably thinking that you have been told more than once to keep your head down, and still, so you can hit a good golf shot. How's that going for you? I have seen many golfers trying to keep their head down and hit the worst golf slices or bad golf shots that you could imagine. Let your head rotate freely with your shoulders and arms and this will reduce the excessive tension in your shoulders and neck that leads to slicing swings, and a high probability of an injury to your neck, shoulders or back.
The correct right shoulder angle to fix golf slice shots
Ok, now we are going to do just three things that will reduce your slice shot curvature by at least half. The first is to make sure that in the address position your right shoulder is lower and behind your left shoulder.
What do I mean by lower and behind?
Your right shoulder has a big responsibility in the back swing and down swing by providing your arms and hands with their direction. You want your right shoulder to be tilted a lot lower than your left so your shoulders can turn on a flatter arc on the back swing. Your shoulders and feet ideally will be pointing to the right of your target in the address position. This will help you to turn a little more on the back swing and also slow down their acceleration (particularly the right shoulder) in the down swing so your arms and hands can catch up to the shoulders a little earlier.
The correct golf grip to fix golf slice shots
When you place your hands on the golf grip you need to place them more clockwise on the grip. The thumb of your left hand should be placed on the side of the handle at about 2 o'clock so that the back of your hand is facing upwards towards the sky, not towards the target. When your place your right hand on the golf grip fit your right hand over your left hand thumb and make sure that it is predominantly held in the lower joints of the fingers of the right hand.
The right hand should be aligned on the grip so that if you opened the hand completely it would be facing directly towards the target. It is not advisable to interlock your right and left hand grip, just place both hands comfortably together with the feeling that the bottom of the right hand is a long way from the top of the grip. Overlapping or interlocking the fingers of the grip reduces rotational functionality of the wrists which will make it more difficult to close the club face through the impact zone.
The Swing path and club face angle to fix golf slice shots
Finally the path of your arms and hands must travel through the ball on the correct path in the back swing and down swing. When you stand over the ball in the address position, you can imagine splitting your golf ball into quarters, the inside quarter as you look at it (between 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock) is the quarter your strike with the club head on the down swing. The force of your arm swing should move your golf swing through this location towards the top left quarter.
Now, not more than twelve inches through this top left quadrant your club face will have roll closed enough that the toe of your golf club is pointing directly down your target line towards your target. Your right arm will be straight at the same time and the combination of the swing path and closed club face angle will strike the golf ball in such a way the resultant ball flight will be a lot straighter.
These three steps are the key to fixing your golf slice shots fast. By setting your right shoulder angles down and behind correctly, you will guide the path of your arms through the golf ball on the correct path and trajectory.
Placing your hands on the grip correctly will give you the rotational control you need to facilitate the closing of the toe of your club face so that it is pointing towards the target which I guarantee will cut your slice spin in half.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/how-to-fix-golf-slice-shots-fast-2653043.html
About the Author
"Lawrence Montague an expert Australian PGA golf instructor has worked with thousands of golfers from novice to tour level over the past twenty five years. Owner of one of the top golf schools in the Asia/Pacific region, Lawrence teaches golfers how to reduce their golf scores faster, develop their golf confidence, more accuracy and distance. Lawrence can teach you exactly how to spend less time practicing and more time improving through his unique online golf coaching programs. These programs will show you exactly how to take your current game and with his unique coaching knowledge, resources and support, dramatically improve your results on and off the golf course."
Friday, April 22, 2011
Swinging on the Proper Plane
What would you say is the most important element of a solid and effective golf swing? For me, seeing as many amateur and professional golfers as I do, the answer is not in doubt. It's the ability to have their golf club stay consistently on the proper swing plane.
That's not to say that there aren't several other facets of the golf swing that are of great importance. But as I see it, the only component of a fine swing that you simply cannot do without, is the golf swing plane. Why is that?
Well simply put, the swing path and swing plane that your golf club travels upon, determines how squarely your club will eventually contact the golf ball. Your grip could be weak or strong. Your posture may be hunched or tall. Your swing tempo perhaps is too quick or too slow. And your club face may be wide open or closed shut. But if the club head is traveling on the proper swing plane, no matter how poorly your mechanics are, you will still strike the ball squarely.
Conversely, if your grip is perfect and your posture correct, and your tempo is impeccable and your club face square, they won't matter much if your swing path and swing plane are off a degree or two. It will be anybody's guess where your shot will end up.
As a reminder, the golf swing plane is an imaginary line running from the golf ball at address up through the golfer's shoulders, and another imaginary line drawn up the golf shaft of the club, through their right hip area. It is very difficult for most of us to stay within the proper golf swing plane. We so often concentrate on the other mechanical parts of the swing such as the grip, shoulder and hip turn, hands position, arms, and so on, that we seldom focus on the swing path that the golf club travels on and the swing plane that it must stay within.
So what do I suggest you do to hone in a fine, on plane golf swing?
Practice on a few golf swing drills is my first answer. There are a few sound drills that you can work on that will give you a feel for swinging on the proper plane. Check out You Tube for helpful instructional videos on the subject, there are tons of them to choose from.
Secondly, and the best way to develop a proper on plane golf swing in my opinion, is to get hold of a quality golf swing trainer to practice on. Your local club or certified professional may have one that you can use or rent. Or better yet, consider buying your own swing plane trainer that you can set up at home.
These swing trainers are easy to install and like nothing else you have tried, they guide your club along the proper path. At first you might be surprised to see how far off of a correct swing plane your swing is. That's because you might not even be able to keep the golf club in contact with the golf swing trainer at first. But the ultimate beauty of these devices, is that they will teach you the correct path in a matter of minutes! For they give you the feedback and feel for how to, and not to swing the golf club. Something that, if left to your own sleuthing, you might never discover.
The more diligently that you practice on a swing trainer, the more muscle memory you will build. This will ensure that you'll be embedding these solid fundamentals into your technique. The beneficial results will be manifested in the confident golf swing that you will take with you to the golf course.
There are a number of fine swing plane trainers o the market and the good news is that they are at price points from as little as $ 30+ to well over $ 1,000. So there is certain to be a good one to match your needs and your budget.
On the golf course too many thoughts on swing mechanics and techniques can kill any hope of executing a desirable golf swing. The next time you tee off, just take your normal address and set your fine fundamentals in place. Then the only thing for you to concentrate on, is returning the club head to exactly where it began at address, squarely at the back of the golf ball. Swinging on the correct golf swing plane will aid you in accomplishing just that.
Jack McDermott. Improve golf by implementing the correct golf swing plane with a quality swing plane trainer. http://www.golfshoppronews.com/
copyright 2011 jack mcdermott
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_McDemott
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6194360
That's not to say that there aren't several other facets of the golf swing that are of great importance. But as I see it, the only component of a fine swing that you simply cannot do without, is the golf swing plane. Why is that?
Well simply put, the swing path and swing plane that your golf club travels upon, determines how squarely your club will eventually contact the golf ball. Your grip could be weak or strong. Your posture may be hunched or tall. Your swing tempo perhaps is too quick or too slow. And your club face may be wide open or closed shut. But if the club head is traveling on the proper swing plane, no matter how poorly your mechanics are, you will still strike the ball squarely.
Conversely, if your grip is perfect and your posture correct, and your tempo is impeccable and your club face square, they won't matter much if your swing path and swing plane are off a degree or two. It will be anybody's guess where your shot will end up.
As a reminder, the golf swing plane is an imaginary line running from the golf ball at address up through the golfer's shoulders, and another imaginary line drawn up the golf shaft of the club, through their right hip area. It is very difficult for most of us to stay within the proper golf swing plane. We so often concentrate on the other mechanical parts of the swing such as the grip, shoulder and hip turn, hands position, arms, and so on, that we seldom focus on the swing path that the golf club travels on and the swing plane that it must stay within.
So what do I suggest you do to hone in a fine, on plane golf swing?
Practice on a few golf swing drills is my first answer. There are a few sound drills that you can work on that will give you a feel for swinging on the proper plane. Check out You Tube for helpful instructional videos on the subject, there are tons of them to choose from.
Secondly, and the best way to develop a proper on plane golf swing in my opinion, is to get hold of a quality golf swing trainer to practice on. Your local club or certified professional may have one that you can use or rent. Or better yet, consider buying your own swing plane trainer that you can set up at home.
These swing trainers are easy to install and like nothing else you have tried, they guide your club along the proper path. At first you might be surprised to see how far off of a correct swing plane your swing is. That's because you might not even be able to keep the golf club in contact with the golf swing trainer at first. But the ultimate beauty of these devices, is that they will teach you the correct path in a matter of minutes! For they give you the feedback and feel for how to, and not to swing the golf club. Something that, if left to your own sleuthing, you might never discover.
The more diligently that you practice on a swing trainer, the more muscle memory you will build. This will ensure that you'll be embedding these solid fundamentals into your technique. The beneficial results will be manifested in the confident golf swing that you will take with you to the golf course.
There are a number of fine swing plane trainers o the market and the good news is that they are at price points from as little as $ 30+ to well over $ 1,000. So there is certain to be a good one to match your needs and your budget.
On the golf course too many thoughts on swing mechanics and techniques can kill any hope of executing a desirable golf swing. The next time you tee off, just take your normal address and set your fine fundamentals in place. Then the only thing for you to concentrate on, is returning the club head to exactly where it began at address, squarely at the back of the golf ball. Swinging on the correct golf swing plane will aid you in accomplishing just that.
Jack McDermott. Improve golf by implementing the correct golf swing plane with a quality swing plane trainer. http://www.golfshoppronews.com/
copyright 2011 jack mcdermott
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Golf Backswing - Some Important Info
A lot of golfers prefer to go "low and slow" when it comes to swinging their clubs. This can be viable if you happen to be prone to very quick swings. However, there are those who won't do well using this tactic. This is because they tend to sway and not rotate on their golf back swing when the focus is on keeping clubs low or near to the ground. Also, a very slow back swing can be the cause of an over swing, which can lead to you lunging into your downswing. As such, both swings achieve bad results. Take note thought that each golfer differs when it comes to the speed of their swings.
The best way is to then keep your back swing as simple as it can be. Instead of concentrating on the position you think you ought to be in during your back swing, you should try to focus on some basic swinging methods.
The first of these methods is to try not to emulate what the pros do. Most people aren't at all that flexible and they probably haven't spent any time on any muscle strengthening when it comes to golf. This means that reaching a position that's parallel to the club at the back swing's apex isn't practical. An average golfer has to make different adjustments in his or her back swing for him or her to have a good position. This means that adjustments will also have to be made for the downswing if one wants to hit that ball square on the mark.
The second method is to imagine your chest, shoulders as well as your arms moving as one. Doing so while you stay centered over the golf ball while maintaining good balance will mean that you won't be doing any over swinging. What's key here is to prevent any movement that your arms might make when the chest and the shoulders have reached maximum rotation.
By doing so, the apex of your golf back swing is going to be at either a nine or 10 o'clock position. Either way, these are good positions. In case you're thinking of the lack of power in your swing, you can make up for it by hitting the ball squarely on the mark. One drill that is going to help prevent you from over swinging is placing a golf glove underneath your right armpit and making certain that it won't fall off when you're practicing your back swing. Working on this will embed in you a more constant golf back swing that sets you up for a more successful downswing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mattie_Taylo=
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6185629
The best way is to then keep your back swing as simple as it can be. Instead of concentrating on the position you think you ought to be in during your back swing, you should try to focus on some basic swinging methods.
The first of these methods is to try not to emulate what the pros do. Most people aren't at all that flexible and they probably haven't spent any time on any muscle strengthening when it comes to golf. This means that reaching a position that's parallel to the club at the back swing's apex isn't practical. An average golfer has to make different adjustments in his or her back swing for him or her to have a good position. This means that adjustments will also have to be made for the downswing if one wants to hit that ball square on the mark.
The second method is to imagine your chest, shoulders as well as your arms moving as one. Doing so while you stay centered over the golf ball while maintaining good balance will mean that you won't be doing any over swinging. What's key here is to prevent any movement that your arms might make when the chest and the shoulders have reached maximum rotation.
By doing so, the apex of your golf back swing is going to be at either a nine or 10 o'clock position. Either way, these are good positions. In case you're thinking of the lack of power in your swing, you can make up for it by hitting the ball squarely on the mark. One drill that is going to help prevent you from over swinging is placing a golf glove underneath your right armpit and making certain that it won't fall off when you're practicing your back swing. Working on this will embed in you a more constant golf back swing that sets you up for a more successful downswing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mattie_Taylo=
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6185629
Friday, April 15, 2011
Effective Practice Before A Round of Golf
There are two ways that we should practice our golf swing, and they are distinctly different..
One is when we practice prior to playing a round of Golf, and the other is when we plan a thorough practice session on the driving range on those days we are not scheduled to play.This post will focus on an effective strategy for practicing before a round of golf.
Your primary goal when practicing before going out on the golf course should be to loosen up and gain flexibility. If you can achieve these you'll get quite a jump on your competitors.
But please do yourself a big favor and get to the range early so that you aren't too rushed and stressed. These are definite killers of a fine round of golf.
Here's my advice:
- First start by stretching or doing Yoga for a couple of minutes at least. No need to lie down on the wet turf, it can all be accomplished standing up. If you are taking a golf cart, you can utilize it as a stationary structure to stretch your legs and arms from. Be sure to concentrate on stretching your upper lats, as they can take a pounding in the process of swinging the golf club. Use a long iron and grab it on either end and gradually turn back and through with it, ensuring not to bend your wrists or arms. This will give you a long arc type motion and will limber up your shoulders and upper back.
Finally, while standing erect, bend gently from the waist, attempting to touch your toes and stretch your lower back. You now should be quite limber.
-Grab two of your wedges together for extra weight and slowly begin to swing them back and forth, all the while gathering more speed and lengthening your swing.You are now ready to bang some balls.
-If you've played enough golf, you are acutely aware that your body and swing seldom feel the same two days in a row.Start with a lower iron,( nine would be fine), and always with a "target" in mind, begin to hit four or five shots. Concentrate on swinging at a relaxed tempo, and take an extra few seconds between each shot, so that you can strategize on what shot you will be trying to perform.
Tip: If you are still stiff and can't get down to the ball with your swing,( topping out ground balls), don't panic. Consider teeing up the golf ball until you are feeling flexible. Again the goal here is to get loose.
-Depending on the time you have, next hit another four or five balls with your seven iron, then five iron, three iron or hybrid, always focusing on a target, and, advisably, visualizing a circumstance that you're likely to encounter out on the golf course.
-You are now ready for the "big sticks", the metal woods and driver. Notice these clubs aren't brought out of your bag until near the end of the session, not in the beginning as most amateurs do. Again stick with the routine of having a target and a particular shot in mind, and only hit four or five golf shots no matter the results.
-Finally, end the session with the scoring clubs and get a "feel" for your golf swing this particular day. Preferably find a patch of grass and with a specific target in mind, hit four or five wedges and sand wedges. You should have a good feel for tempo and accuracy as you end the practice.
Tip: Whatever your first shot will be out on the course, make your final practice shot with the club you'll be using and then put all your clubs back in your golf bag and head directly over to the most important part of your pre-game warm up, the practice putting green.
- On the putting green it is important for you to get a sense of speed and distance. From ten or more feet away, use only one golf ball,( but two will suffice), and aim to a specific hole or spot on the green, and concentrate solely on getting a "feel " for the speed of the green. (Hopefully, like most golf courses, the practice green will closely mimic the on course putting green conditions). Stroke as many balls as necessary until you feel confident that you have the speed of the greens down pat.
Do this same drill ten feet from all sides of your target hole or spot, being extra observant, noticing how the speed changes when going with the grain or against it.This will be extremely valuable out on the course.
Finally, move to within three feet of your target hole and practice a smooth stroke, concentrating on sinking each putt. Be extra aware of the tightness in your grip and consciously loosen your golf grip for the remainder of the session. After sinking a few in a row, walk away with confidence, knowing that you are in for a fine putting day.
We love this game and so often approach the first tee in awe, not knowing what tricks the golf gods, or our own mental state, will rain upon on us this day.But if you have had an effective and confident practice session before the round, there will be nothing that the game or your mind, can throw at you that you aren't prepared to take on with genuine confidence. And that's really the battle that we all want to win..
Regards,
Jack
Jack McDermott. The surest way to improve your game is by implementing an on plane golf swing. http://www.golfshoppronews.com Copyright 2011 Jack@ http://www.golfshoppronews.com. All rights reserved
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_McDemott
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6015435
One is when we practice prior to playing a round of Golf, and the other is when we plan a thorough practice session on the driving range on those days we are not scheduled to play.This post will focus on an effective strategy for practicing before a round of golf.
Your primary goal when practicing before going out on the golf course should be to loosen up and gain flexibility. If you can achieve these you'll get quite a jump on your competitors.
But please do yourself a big favor and get to the range early so that you aren't too rushed and stressed. These are definite killers of a fine round of golf.
Here's my advice:
- First start by stretching or doing Yoga for a couple of minutes at least. No need to lie down on the wet turf, it can all be accomplished standing up. If you are taking a golf cart, you can utilize it as a stationary structure to stretch your legs and arms from. Be sure to concentrate on stretching your upper lats, as they can take a pounding in the process of swinging the golf club. Use a long iron and grab it on either end and gradually turn back and through with it, ensuring not to bend your wrists or arms. This will give you a long arc type motion and will limber up your shoulders and upper back.
Finally, while standing erect, bend gently from the waist, attempting to touch your toes and stretch your lower back. You now should be quite limber.
-Grab two of your wedges together for extra weight and slowly begin to swing them back and forth, all the while gathering more speed and lengthening your swing.You are now ready to bang some balls.
-If you've played enough golf, you are acutely aware that your body and swing seldom feel the same two days in a row.Start with a lower iron,( nine would be fine), and always with a "target" in mind, begin to hit four or five shots. Concentrate on swinging at a relaxed tempo, and take an extra few seconds between each shot, so that you can strategize on what shot you will be trying to perform.
Tip: If you are still stiff and can't get down to the ball with your swing,( topping out ground balls), don't panic. Consider teeing up the golf ball until you are feeling flexible. Again the goal here is to get loose.
-Depending on the time you have, next hit another four or five balls with your seven iron, then five iron, three iron or hybrid, always focusing on a target, and, advisably, visualizing a circumstance that you're likely to encounter out on the golf course.
-You are now ready for the "big sticks", the metal woods and driver. Notice these clubs aren't brought out of your bag until near the end of the session, not in the beginning as most amateurs do. Again stick with the routine of having a target and a particular shot in mind, and only hit four or five golf shots no matter the results.
-Finally, end the session with the scoring clubs and get a "feel" for your golf swing this particular day. Preferably find a patch of grass and with a specific target in mind, hit four or five wedges and sand wedges. You should have a good feel for tempo and accuracy as you end the practice.
Tip: Whatever your first shot will be out on the course, make your final practice shot with the club you'll be using and then put all your clubs back in your golf bag and head directly over to the most important part of your pre-game warm up, the practice putting green.
- On the putting green it is important for you to get a sense of speed and distance. From ten or more feet away, use only one golf ball,( but two will suffice), and aim to a specific hole or spot on the green, and concentrate solely on getting a "feel " for the speed of the green. (Hopefully, like most golf courses, the practice green will closely mimic the on course putting green conditions). Stroke as many balls as necessary until you feel confident that you have the speed of the greens down pat.
Do this same drill ten feet from all sides of your target hole or spot, being extra observant, noticing how the speed changes when going with the grain or against it.This will be extremely valuable out on the course.
Finally, move to within three feet of your target hole and practice a smooth stroke, concentrating on sinking each putt. Be extra aware of the tightness in your grip and consciously loosen your golf grip for the remainder of the session. After sinking a few in a row, walk away with confidence, knowing that you are in for a fine putting day.
We love this game and so often approach the first tee in awe, not knowing what tricks the golf gods, or our own mental state, will rain upon on us this day.But if you have had an effective and confident practice session before the round, there will be nothing that the game or your mind, can throw at you that you aren't prepared to take on with genuine confidence. And that's really the battle that we all want to win..
Regards,
Jack
Jack McDermott. The surest way to improve your game is by implementing an on plane golf swing. http://www.golfshoppronews.com Copyright 2011 Jack@ http://www.golfshoppronews.com. All rights reserved
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_McDemott
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6015435
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Importance of Speed in Putting - Pure Greens - What Can You Learn
Pure Greens are seldom, if ever, attainable on the golf courses that most golfers play. Because of the high level of traffic the surface is typically damaged by footprints, poorly repaired pitch marks and other signs of daily wear. Look at any green as the sun sets low in the sky and you will realise how pitted and uneven the surface is.
Every year at the US Masters TV viewers can see the way a golf ball rolls on immaculate greens and how the speed of the ball at the hole is critical to the outcome of each putt. There are no bumps to deviate the path the ball follows and every putt is a true reflection of the player's skill. The event is a great opportunity to benefit from a free putting lesson.
The greens at Augusta National are anything but flat. Whereas the average golfer is happy to hit anywhere on the green, placement of the ball on the greens at Augusta play a big part in the number of putts taken. Uphill putts are more makeable while downhill putts become scary fast.
Tests show that the faster the ball approaches the hole, the less of the hole is available to capture it. For a ball to drop it must have time to fall more than half its diameter before hitting the back wall of the hole. A ball travelling too fast will lip out and any side action from the rim can sling the ball away. The skill of judging the correct speed on fast greens is magnified, and any error of judgement is punished.
When you putt on slow greens the break caused by the slope is considerably reduced. As the pace on the greens speeds up, the calculation of the break is more difficult. Now you have to judge more carefully the strength of your putting stroke.
There is a range of speeds that can be used successfully. Too fast and the ball may catch the hole, but not drop. Too slow and the ball may not reach the hole or may be knocked off line by any unevenness on the surface.
Speed is everything when putting, direction comes in second. Pick the wrong speed for the line you have chosen and you will be putting again. The golden rule is that for every speed there is only one correct read.
The way most good golfers address speed is to have one consistent arrival pace for the ball at the hole. They either prefer to die their ball into the hole giving it the best chance to fall if their aim is slightly off, or they prefer to putt more boldly to lessen the effect of any surface irregularities.
Understanding the importance of speed and learning how to control the pace of your ball will see you holing more putts. There is no better event to watch that demonstrates how speed affects the roll of the ball and the eventual outcome of the putt than to watch putting at the US Masters.
Pure Greens make the Science of Speed and Break easy to see.
To learn more about breaking putts and the importance of speed control visit my web site now.
Neville Walker has a passion for golf and is actively involved in researching information on all aspects of Putting and Putter Technology. His dedicated web site http://www.better-golf-by-putting-better.com is written specifically to help fellow golfers achieve greater success on the green with the flat stick.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neville_Walker
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Every year at the US Masters TV viewers can see the way a golf ball rolls on immaculate greens and how the speed of the ball at the hole is critical to the outcome of each putt. There are no bumps to deviate the path the ball follows and every putt is a true reflection of the player's skill. The event is a great opportunity to benefit from a free putting lesson.
The greens at Augusta National are anything but flat. Whereas the average golfer is happy to hit anywhere on the green, placement of the ball on the greens at Augusta play a big part in the number of putts taken. Uphill putts are more makeable while downhill putts become scary fast.
Tests show that the faster the ball approaches the hole, the less of the hole is available to capture it. For a ball to drop it must have time to fall more than half its diameter before hitting the back wall of the hole. A ball travelling too fast will lip out and any side action from the rim can sling the ball away. The skill of judging the correct speed on fast greens is magnified, and any error of judgement is punished.
When you putt on slow greens the break caused by the slope is considerably reduced. As the pace on the greens speeds up, the calculation of the break is more difficult. Now you have to judge more carefully the strength of your putting stroke.
There is a range of speeds that can be used successfully. Too fast and the ball may catch the hole, but not drop. Too slow and the ball may not reach the hole or may be knocked off line by any unevenness on the surface.
Speed is everything when putting, direction comes in second. Pick the wrong speed for the line you have chosen and you will be putting again. The golden rule is that for every speed there is only one correct read.
The way most good golfers address speed is to have one consistent arrival pace for the ball at the hole. They either prefer to die their ball into the hole giving it the best chance to fall if their aim is slightly off, or they prefer to putt more boldly to lessen the effect of any surface irregularities.
Understanding the importance of speed and learning how to control the pace of your ball will see you holing more putts. There is no better event to watch that demonstrates how speed affects the roll of the ball and the eventual outcome of the putt than to watch putting at the US Masters.
Pure Greens make the Science of Speed and Break easy to see.
To learn more about breaking putts and the importance of speed control visit my web site now.
Neville Walker has a passion for golf and is actively involved in researching information on all aspects of Putting and Putter Technology. His dedicated web site http://www.better-golf-by-putting-better.com is written specifically to help fellow golfers achieve greater success on the green with the flat stick.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neville_Walker
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6173586
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Frustrating Slice Demystified!
A golf slice is probably the most frustrating fault you'll see on tee.
Swinging at the ball forcefully, with the aim to make it go 240, 250 yards or longer, only to see it curve into the rough is frustrating, to say the least.
So how to avoid slicing?
There is - your goal is to get a small draw instead - to hit the ball just a little bit to the left. Doing this will actually make your shots go further by up to 27 yards!
Here's how to make you stop slicing from tee:
Check that your set-up is perfect to begin with:
Ensure that you are parallel to the target line. Your back should be slightly tilted to the right. Also check that your hands are ahead of the ball, the opposite is a recipe for disaster! And look at how your grip is. It should be strong, without being tense. A soft grip will make your hands "flop" around themselves, and the release of your hands won't happen.
A simple tip: wear a wristwatch on the inside of your left wrist! On the follow - up the watch face should be visible.
This ensures your arms and hands "roll over" the correct way.
A couple of easy exercises can be helpful too.
Practise shots with your feet together - sounds funny, but the logic of it is that you simply have to release your hands, otherwise the ball will definitely go to the right.
Another easy drill - go swing on an uphill slope, where you stand below the ball. This makes your swing so the club head automatically comes inside out, giving you the draw you want.
If you consistently slice your shots, then the easiest way to start curving the ball the other way is to actively try to over correct by actually setting up your stance to the right, and then closing the club face to compensate.
Keep practicing this and you'll find you soon will stop slicing.
But remember this is a drill to change your brain and muscle memory, so your old habits get weakened!
Please don't do this in the future - you will be sorely disappointed if you do...
To change a golf swing is not easy, because it is a complicated maneuver and you can't do it right if you think too much about it!
It has to become automatic. To summarize:: check the points mentioned above, swing until it feels natural and then let go and enjoy the game.
Your swing will improve!
The author, Gustaf Eriksson, loves this wonderful and challenging game! That's why he has collected tips on how to stop slicing! It is a simple, easy and fast way to lower scores. You can also find many simple drills to improve your short game on my website, go check it out!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gustaf_Eriksson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6166864
Swinging at the ball forcefully, with the aim to make it go 240, 250 yards or longer, only to see it curve into the rough is frustrating, to say the least.
So how to avoid slicing?
There is - your goal is to get a small draw instead - to hit the ball just a little bit to the left. Doing this will actually make your shots go further by up to 27 yards!
Here's how to make you stop slicing from tee:
Check that your set-up is perfect to begin with:
Ensure that you are parallel to the target line. Your back should be slightly tilted to the right. Also check that your hands are ahead of the ball, the opposite is a recipe for disaster! And look at how your grip is. It should be strong, without being tense. A soft grip will make your hands "flop" around themselves, and the release of your hands won't happen.
A simple tip: wear a wristwatch on the inside of your left wrist! On the follow - up the watch face should be visible.
This ensures your arms and hands "roll over" the correct way.
A couple of easy exercises can be helpful too.
Practise shots with your feet together - sounds funny, but the logic of it is that you simply have to release your hands, otherwise the ball will definitely go to the right.
Another easy drill - go swing on an uphill slope, where you stand below the ball. This makes your swing so the club head automatically comes inside out, giving you the draw you want.
If you consistently slice your shots, then the easiest way to start curving the ball the other way is to actively try to over correct by actually setting up your stance to the right, and then closing the club face to compensate.
Keep practicing this and you'll find you soon will stop slicing.
But remember this is a drill to change your brain and muscle memory, so your old habits get weakened!
Please don't do this in the future - you will be sorely disappointed if you do...
To change a golf swing is not easy, because it is a complicated maneuver and you can't do it right if you think too much about it!
It has to become automatic. To summarize:: check the points mentioned above, swing until it feels natural and then let go and enjoy the game.
Your swing will improve!
The author, Gustaf Eriksson, loves this wonderful and challenging game! That's why he has collected tips on how to stop slicing! It is a simple, easy and fast way to lower scores. You can also find many simple drills to improve your short game on my website, go check it out!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gustaf_Eriksson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6166864
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hit the Golf Ball Straight By Having a Sound Grip
Hitting the golf ball straight is the key to playing good golf. Recreational golfers try to emulate professional golfers by building a swing that enables straight ball flight. There's a place, though, that you have to look at before you consider the swing if you want to hit a ball that heads for the fairway or flies into the green. That's your grip.
The point many amateurs miss is that the greatest determinant of straight ball flight is not the swing, but a correct grip, something pros have already mastered, giving them freedom to make adjustments to their swing. Not until you have a grip that's right for you will swing changes be beneficial.
The first issue is the orientation of your hands. This isn't about whether your grip is strong, neutral, or weak, though it's related. It's about whether your grip fits in with how your body moves, given the particular way it is put together.
Your body makes a golf swing in a way your body shape, bone structure, and muscular development allow. How you put your hands on the club affects whether movements that are natural for you can occur, or whether you have to make compensations during the swing to correct for the improper orientation of your hands on the club.
A good grip makes your swing flow like water, and the wrong grip makes it feel like you have to get out of your own way. I can't offer clear advice on how to determine this, other than to suggest you try turning your grip around the handle to the right or left by measured degrees until you find the orientation that makes your swing flow the smoothest.
Second, your hands must operate as a unit during the swing. If they become disconnected at some point, the clubface can turn and accuracy becomes subject to chance.
The place I'm talking about is where the right hand fits over the left thumb (left hand over the right thumb, for left-handed golfers). Even though this connection is secure at address, if it comes apart during the swing, the clubface can become disoriented. Even worse, the top hand can overpower the bottom hand on the downswing because it now has space it can rotate into.
Try this. Grip the club with a light connection between the one hand on top and the thumb it covers. You will find that you can rotate that top hand easily, without moving the bottom hand, and when you do, the clubface closes.
To fix this, put a blade of grass between your top hand and the thumb underneath. You should be able to complete your swing without the grass falling out.
Finally, grip pressure. Overall, pressure must be light. Hold the handle just tightly enough so overall it feels that your hands mold in with the grip material, but no tighter. Pressure on the last three fingers of the bottom hand needs to be a little greater than that to ensure clubhead control during the swing.
From time to time, review your grip carefully. Getting it right is more complicated than you might think, and getting it right is the foundation of a good golf swing.
Bob Jones is internationally recognized instructor of personal development who has been playing golf for over 50 years and is the author of Better Recreational Golf. He'll show you how to play consistently good golf by practicing at home just minutes a day. Get started right now with this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
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Bob E. Jones - EzineArticles Expert Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6160999
The point many amateurs miss is that the greatest determinant of straight ball flight is not the swing, but a correct grip, something pros have already mastered, giving them freedom to make adjustments to their swing. Not until you have a grip that's right for you will swing changes be beneficial.
The first issue is the orientation of your hands. This isn't about whether your grip is strong, neutral, or weak, though it's related. It's about whether your grip fits in with how your body moves, given the particular way it is put together.
Your body makes a golf swing in a way your body shape, bone structure, and muscular development allow. How you put your hands on the club affects whether movements that are natural for you can occur, or whether you have to make compensations during the swing to correct for the improper orientation of your hands on the club.
A good grip makes your swing flow like water, and the wrong grip makes it feel like you have to get out of your own way. I can't offer clear advice on how to determine this, other than to suggest you try turning your grip around the handle to the right or left by measured degrees until you find the orientation that makes your swing flow the smoothest.
Second, your hands must operate as a unit during the swing. If they become disconnected at some point, the clubface can turn and accuracy becomes subject to chance.
The place I'm talking about is where the right hand fits over the left thumb (left hand over the right thumb, for left-handed golfers). Even though this connection is secure at address, if it comes apart during the swing, the clubface can become disoriented. Even worse, the top hand can overpower the bottom hand on the downswing because it now has space it can rotate into.
Try this. Grip the club with a light connection between the one hand on top and the thumb it covers. You will find that you can rotate that top hand easily, without moving the bottom hand, and when you do, the clubface closes.
To fix this, put a blade of grass between your top hand and the thumb underneath. You should be able to complete your swing without the grass falling out.
Finally, grip pressure. Overall, pressure must be light. Hold the handle just tightly enough so overall it feels that your hands mold in with the grip material, but no tighter. Pressure on the last three fingers of the bottom hand needs to be a little greater than that to ensure clubhead control during the swing.
From time to time, review your grip carefully. Getting it right is more complicated than you might think, and getting it right is the foundation of a good golf swing.
Bob Jones is internationally recognized instructor of personal development who has been playing golf for over 50 years and is the author of Better Recreational Golf. He'll show you how to play consistently good golf by practicing at home just minutes a day. Get started right now with this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Bob E. Jones - EzineArticles Expert Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6160999
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Does Golf Grip Pressure Impact Your Shots?
When you think about the game of golf, one of the most over-looked aspects is how to grip the club correctly and what golf grip pressure to use. Most people will just grab the club and are more concerned with what club to use, how to line up to make the ball go where you want it to and exactly how to hit the ball.
However, if you make the mistake, which many people do, of gripping the club incorrectly or using the wrong golf grip pressure you will struggle to succeed at the rest of the game.
There are three major types of grips you should consider and depending on your game, your experience and some physical considerations, one of these grips is the correct one for you.
Before we start talking about the different types of grips, let's spend some time on golf grip pressure. If you grip the golf club too tightly, you will likely end up with a lot of blisters and you will also see your ball consistently go past the hole because golf grip pressure which is too tight will cause over-swinging.
If you end up with golf grip pressure that is too light and you risk losing control of the club which can cause you to come up short of the green on a regular basis or, even worse, it can cause your slice to become worse.
The easiest way to think about golf grip pressure is on a 1-10 scale. A golf grip pressure of 3-4 on this scale is perfect.
The Overlapping Grip
The golf grip we will talk about first is the overlapping grip. The overlapping grip was made famous by Harry Vardon and is the grip most golfers will, and should use. Also, this particular golf grip is the grip you will see used and taught by most professionals.
The Interlocking Grip
The Interlocking Grip, or the Interlock as it is most-commonly referred to, is another favorite grip used and taught today. In this type of grip, both of your hands are actually locking together on the club. While this grip is not as popular with teaching pros, you will see it as the preferred golf grip by almost all of the professionals playing on the tours today.
Just like everything else, there is a risk with using this type of golf grip. Many people who try this grip for the first time find themselves struggling with keeping the club stable in their hands and can find their palms "straying" from contact with the club. It's almost a necessity, to use this specific golf grip, to have strong hands and forearms. Also, if your hands are smaller than average, then this isn't the golf grip for you.
You can always change your grip to the Interlock as you mature as a golfer and become stronger.
To become a user of the Interlock grip, place the little finger on the trailing hand (the trailing hand for right-handed golfers is the right hand) and wrap it with the index finger on the lead hand. The lead hand thumb should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand.
To become a user of the Interlock grip, place the little finger on the trailing hand (the trailing hand for right-handed golfers is the right hand) and wrap it with the index finger on the lead hand. The lead hand thumb should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand.
The Ten Finger Grip
The baseball grip. That is what this grip is referred to by most teaching pros as well as most beginning players; simply because it looks like how someone would grip a baseball bat. You will find this type of golf grip as the least-likely to be taught by most teaching pros but, it could be the right one for you and shouldn't be automatically disregarded without at least considering it.
As this is the easiest grip to teach, you will find a lot of teaching pros using this with true beginners so they can get them familiar with all aspects of the game while not spending an entire hour lesson on just how to handle the club.
Two of the most-important things to consider when determining if this is the right grip for you; your joint health and hand size. If you experience any type of joint pain or arthritis then you will want to use this golf grip as your chosen grip. Also, if your hands are on the smaller size, this will be the right grip for you as well. Surprising, many of the smaller women on the tour today use this type of grip simply because their hands aren't big enough to manage the club correctly when using the other types of grip.
So, if you determine this is the right grip for you, there is nothing to worry about. If the right grip for you allows you to play the best golf, then it really doesn't matter which grip you use.
When learning how to correctly put your hands on the club and use the Ten Finger grip, follow the picture below. It's really not difficult to do. The biggest error beginners tend to make with this type of golf grip is they allow a space to come between their hands on the club. This is a major error and will allow for weakness in your swing. Also, be sure to cover the lead hand thumb with the lifeline of your trailing hand.
If you follow these recommendations you'll be on the correct path to hitting the golf ball straighter and more consistent.
Steve Kilberg is a former Division 1 College Golfer and student of the game. For more information on Golf Grip Pressure and the proper way to grip the club visit Great Golf Solutions today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Kilber |
Friday, April 08, 2011
Putting tips and drills for golf beginners
Putting the golf ball well is critical for a low golf score. In fact, putting can account for 40 percent or more of your overall golf score. The keys to become an effective putter include accuracy, consistency and mastering distance and speed control. Here are some quick golf putting tips and golf putting drills that can help you improve you golf putting fundamentals.
Distance and Speed Control Golf Putting Drills
PUTTING LADDER GOLF PUTTING DRILL
This golf putting drill will help you develop a controllable putting stroke.
HIT THE BOARD GOLF PUTTING DRILL
This golf putting drill will assist you to stop hitting your putts "short" of the cup.
Accuracy and Consistency Golf Putting Drills
"Push" Golf Putting Drill
This golf putting drill will help you develop a repeatable golf putting stroke.
Circle Golf Putting Drill
This golf putting drill helps promote accuracy and short putt confidence.
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/putting-tips-and-drills-for-golf-beginners-4554750.html
Author: Nicolus Cage
Distance and Speed Control Golf Putting Drills
PUTTING LADDER GOLF PUTTING DRILL
This golf putting drill will help you develop a controllable putting stroke.
- On the putting green, place line of tees at regular intervals up to cup.
- Putt to first tee, then putt to each subsequent tee.
- If putt too far or short of target, start over.
HIT THE BOARD GOLF PUTTING DRILL
This golf putting drill will assist you to stop hitting your putts "short" of the cup.
- Place a sturdy board or brick 9 to 18 inches past your target cup.
- Align to putt toward the cup, but aim and putt to the board
- Vary your putts from 3 to 18 feet from cup.
- Remove the board or brick. Ingrain "feeling" of putting toward the board into your regular putting stroke.
Accuracy and Consistency Golf Putting Drills
"Push" Golf Putting Drill
This golf putting drill will help you develop a repeatable golf putting stroke.
- Set up about 3 to 5 feet from cup
- Place a yardstick along your putting target line.
- Place toe of your putter along the yardstick as a stroke guide.
- Place putter directly behind ball.
- Without taking putter back, simply push the golf ball to the cup.
- Repeat this drill for ten straight "pushes," then putt normally.
Circle Golf Putting Drill
This golf putting drill helps promote accuracy and short putt confidence.
- Set 8 golf balls in a circle around the cup with each golf ball about 3 feet from the cup.
- Moving fairly rapidly, attempt to sink each of your putts. If you make each of your putts without missing one, move the golf balls further and restart the putting drill.
- If you miss a putt, start the drill over.
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/putting-tips-and-drills-for-golf-beginners-4554750.html
Author: Nicolus Cage
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Golf Driving Range Drills to Play the Perfect Shot
Golf driving range drills are a great way to instill good golf swing basics and fundamentals into your golf game. Here are some of our favorite golf driving range drills that focus on key aspects of the full swing including the backswing and downswing.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Backswing: Backswing Takeaway Drill
BENEFITS: This golf driving range drill encourages proper body turn during the takeaway and establishes good backswing rhythm.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Backswing: Top of Backswing Drill
BENEFITS: Ensures correct position at the top of the backswing. Encourages full body turn in backswing.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Downswing: Pause and Go Drill
BENEFITS: Encourages complete backswing and aids transition from backswing to downswing while establishing good impact position, weight transfer and follow-through.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Downswing: Shake Hands with the Target Drill
BENEFITS: Encourages proper release, arm extension and weight transfer.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-driving-range-drills-to-play-the-perfect-shot-4553242.html
Author: Nicolus Cage
About the Author
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Backswing: Backswing Takeaway Drill
BENEFITS: This golf driving range drill encourages proper body turn during the takeaway and establishes good backswing rhythm.
- Place a ball behind club head at address and in line with instep of back foot.
- Slowly begin backswing takeaway and roll ball backward with club head until ball is behind back foot. Repeat drill until takeaway feels natural.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Backswing: Top of Backswing Drill
BENEFITS: Ensures correct position at the top of the backswing. Encourages full body turn in backswing.
- Assume normal address position and hinge wrists so that club is pointing up.
- Keep wrists hinged and place club on right shoulder.
- Rotate fully—shoulders 90°; hips 30 to 45°.
- Extend arms fully ensuring that hands are in front of chest. Check that club face is square and that back of left hand and club face are parallel (in line).
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Downswing: Pause and Go Drill
BENEFITS: Encourages complete backswing and aids transition from backswing to downswing while establishing good impact position, weight transfer and follow-through.
- Perform drill at half-speed pausing at key checkpoints. Tee up ball, make full backswing and pause at top of backswing for 2 seconds. Check that full shoulder turn 90°; hip turn 30 to 45°; left arm straight; 80% of weight is on inside of right foot; right knee flexed.
- Initiate downswing by shifting weight left which leads the hips, arms and shoulders to unwind through impact.
- Swing to finish position.
Golf Driving Range Drills for the Downswing: Shake Hands with the Target Drill
BENEFITS: Encourages proper release, arm extension and weight transfer.
- Take normal backswing.
- In downswing, just after impact, ingrain sensation of "shaking hands with the target" to promote good arm extension down target line and encourage proper release.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-driving-range-drills-to-play-the-perfect-shot-4553242.html
Author: Nicolus Cage
About the Author
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Golf Course 101 For Beginners
If you are a new beginning golfer there are a couple of things you should be aware of so you have a good experience. In this article, we will talk about tee times, dress codes and tipping at the golf course.
What are tee times? A tee time or also known as a starting time is when you are expected to arrive at the first tee. Tee times or a tee time can be made in person in the golf shop, you may call the golf shop and some courses will allow you to make a tee time on the internet. Once you have a scheduled tee time, you are responsible for arriving at the course at a time which allows you to visit the golf shop to pay your proper fees, warm up on the practice tee and practice putting green as well as eat in the restaurant or snack bar if needed. Clubs and courses vary on how far in advance you are able to make a starting time. Call the club or course to find out what their rules are. Understand, if a tee time is missed you may be charged a "no-show" fee. Again this is different from golf course to golf course.
When making your starting reservation, also learn the dress code of the facility. Clubs have a wide variety of rules when it comes to their individual dress code. Denim may be clear to wear at one club and prohibited by dress code at another club. Fashion has actually gotten into golf and wearing a Tiger-like fancy mock t-shirt could be accepted at one course and not another. In addition, most clubs only allow soft spikes on your golf shoes. It is the player.s responsibility to be aware of and know the dress code policies of a club.
What about tipping while at the golf course? Again, first check with the club or course because there are some clubs that do not allow tipping. Most do. It is common to tip one to two dollars per bag upon arrival or leaving after your round, if you receive proper assistance with your bag or bags. The restaurant and the beverage cart are typically tipped on basic restaurant guidelines.
Once on the golf course there are some common rules that should be followed. The rules of golf state that there is no limit on how few clubs you can carry in your bag however you are limited to fourteen clubs in your golf bag. In a competitive situation you will be assessed extra strokes for this type of infraction.
Before going onto the golf course, you need to understand how to repair a divot in the fairway or rough. This is important to insure proper maintenance of the golf course. On the green you need to know how to properly repair a ball mark made on the putting green. If repaired properly the turf can repair itself in a few days. If the ball mark on the putting green is not repaired properly, it could take weeks for the turf to repair itself.
Before venturing out to the golf course, use these how-to and rules to make sure it is a great experience.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/golf-course-101-for-beginners-1316663.html
Author: Max Johnson
About the Author
Max Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for info on how to Learn How To Play Golf. Click for more Golf Tips.
What are tee times? A tee time or also known as a starting time is when you are expected to arrive at the first tee. Tee times or a tee time can be made in person in the golf shop, you may call the golf shop and some courses will allow you to make a tee time on the internet. Once you have a scheduled tee time, you are responsible for arriving at the course at a time which allows you to visit the golf shop to pay your proper fees, warm up on the practice tee and practice putting green as well as eat in the restaurant or snack bar if needed. Clubs and courses vary on how far in advance you are able to make a starting time. Call the club or course to find out what their rules are. Understand, if a tee time is missed you may be charged a "no-show" fee. Again this is different from golf course to golf course.
When making your starting reservation, also learn the dress code of the facility. Clubs have a wide variety of rules when it comes to their individual dress code. Denim may be clear to wear at one club and prohibited by dress code at another club. Fashion has actually gotten into golf and wearing a Tiger-like fancy mock t-shirt could be accepted at one course and not another. In addition, most clubs only allow soft spikes on your golf shoes. It is the player.s responsibility to be aware of and know the dress code policies of a club.
What about tipping while at the golf course? Again, first check with the club or course because there are some clubs that do not allow tipping. Most do. It is common to tip one to two dollars per bag upon arrival or leaving after your round, if you receive proper assistance with your bag or bags. The restaurant and the beverage cart are typically tipped on basic restaurant guidelines.
Once on the golf course there are some common rules that should be followed. The rules of golf state that there is no limit on how few clubs you can carry in your bag however you are limited to fourteen clubs in your golf bag. In a competitive situation you will be assessed extra strokes for this type of infraction.
Before going onto the golf course, you need to understand how to repair a divot in the fairway or rough. This is important to insure proper maintenance of the golf course. On the green you need to know how to properly repair a ball mark made on the putting green. If repaired properly the turf can repair itself in a few days. If the ball mark on the putting green is not repaired properly, it could take weeks for the turf to repair itself.
Before venturing out to the golf course, use these how-to and rules to make sure it is a great experience.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/golf-course-101-for-beginners-1316663.html
Author: Max Johnson
About the Author
Max Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for info on how to Learn How To Play Golf. Click for more Golf Tips.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Secrets of Hitting it Close out of the Sand Trap
Skull the ball over the Green? Chunk it short still in the sand? Can't get it close?
Well, I hear your pain. After playing and working with dozens of golfers, the sand game is an area where lots of strokes are lost!
SO, I have broken down the secrets to hitting it close out of the sand/bunker below, which will improve your consistency and lower your score immediately:
- Club Face Position: The Club Face should be in an open position (for right-handers this means it will be aimed to the right of your target) as this helps elevate the ball out of the bunker. You should take the same grip as you have on your full-swing.
- Feet & Shoulders: Your feet and shoulders should be in an open position to allow you to swing along your feet line (across and down on the ball). This is a very important factor to having a consistent bunker game - all the great bunker players swing outside to in, along the path of their feet. To ensure proper balance, stabilize yourself in the sand by digging your feet in an inch or two.
- Legs: KEEP YOUR LOWER BODY STILL when hitting from the sand. Having a strong leg drive or weight transfer will create inconsistent contact and result in the problems mentioned at the beginning of this article. Your focus should be on hitting the sand a few inches behind the ball.
- Splash the Sand: Focus on taking a thin divot of sand that starts behind the ball (unlike a shot from the fairway or rough where you hit the golf ball first and the divot follows). You want to imagine "splashing" through the sand with your club.
- Backswing: On a bunker shot, you should take the club back more abruptly than on a full swing. This allows you to generate a steeper angle down through the sand, which will result in the ball flying higher out of the bunker.
- Follow Through: Decelerating and an unfinished swing are the biggest contributors to poor bunker shots. Because you are hitting behind the ball, you need to accelerate through the shot and finish high!
- Practice: There are short-cuts around some parts of the golf game, but bunker play relies on feel and touch. You must practice it to improve, however, it doesn't have to be hours on end. Here's what you should focus on if you have 30 minutes in the practice bunker:
1. Take the time to get the proper setup (mentioned above) and ingrain that into your mind.
2. Draw a line in the sand behind the ball and focus on hitting that line (if it's a shorter bunker shot, open your club face slightly more and hit less sand before the ball – about 1 inch; for longer shots, hit 2-3 inches behind the ball).
3. Accelerate through the shot every time.
4. Practice hitting to different distances so you can get the feel of how hard you need to swing, how much sand you take before the ball, and how big your backswing is.
Now go out there and get to work! You WILL see a difference if you follow the above tips.
Sean Dainty
Quick-Fix Golf
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/the-secrets-of-hitting-it-close-out-of-the-sand-trap-4534173.html
Author: Sean D
Well, I hear your pain. After playing and working with dozens of golfers, the sand game is an area where lots of strokes are lost!
SO, I have broken down the secrets to hitting it close out of the sand/bunker below, which will improve your consistency and lower your score immediately:
- Club Face Position: The Club Face should be in an open position (for right-handers this means it will be aimed to the right of your target) as this helps elevate the ball out of the bunker. You should take the same grip as you have on your full-swing.
- Feet & Shoulders: Your feet and shoulders should be in an open position to allow you to swing along your feet line (across and down on the ball). This is a very important factor to having a consistent bunker game - all the great bunker players swing outside to in, along the path of their feet. To ensure proper balance, stabilize yourself in the sand by digging your feet in an inch or two.
- Legs: KEEP YOUR LOWER BODY STILL when hitting from the sand. Having a strong leg drive or weight transfer will create inconsistent contact and result in the problems mentioned at the beginning of this article. Your focus should be on hitting the sand a few inches behind the ball.
- Splash the Sand: Focus on taking a thin divot of sand that starts behind the ball (unlike a shot from the fairway or rough where you hit the golf ball first and the divot follows). You want to imagine "splashing" through the sand with your club.
- Backswing: On a bunker shot, you should take the club back more abruptly than on a full swing. This allows you to generate a steeper angle down through the sand, which will result in the ball flying higher out of the bunker.
- Follow Through: Decelerating and an unfinished swing are the biggest contributors to poor bunker shots. Because you are hitting behind the ball, you need to accelerate through the shot and finish high!
- Practice: There are short-cuts around some parts of the golf game, but bunker play relies on feel and touch. You must practice it to improve, however, it doesn't have to be hours on end. Here's what you should focus on if you have 30 minutes in the practice bunker:
1. Take the time to get the proper setup (mentioned above) and ingrain that into your mind.
2. Draw a line in the sand behind the ball and focus on hitting that line (if it's a shorter bunker shot, open your club face slightly more and hit less sand before the ball – about 1 inch; for longer shots, hit 2-3 inches behind the ball).
3. Accelerate through the shot every time.
4. Practice hitting to different distances so you can get the feel of how hard you need to swing, how much sand you take before the ball, and how big your backswing is.
Now go out there and get to work! You WILL see a difference if you follow the above tips.
Sean Dainty
Quick-Fix Golf
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/the-secrets-of-hitting-it-close-out-of-the-sand-trap-4534173.html
Author: Sean D
Monday, April 04, 2011
Play Your Best Golf - Finding Your Comfort Zone
Author: David Wakeman
Discovering how to uncover your comfort zone when enjoying a round of golf can lead to self-confidence, perseverance and lowered scores.
All players in addition to professional golfers encounter those first hole jitters. The big difference is in fact professional golfers can still perform at a advanced level under stress simply because have learned to unearth their comfort zone.
This is the exact converse for many amateurs. You may visit the first hole confidently and have it all slide to the wayside to not ever regain merely by hitting an errant drive.
Then there are occasions when you can approach the first golf tee feeling anxious. However you struck a picture perfect drive which will arrives safely in the center of the fairway. When this occurs you head down the first fairway with a spring in your stride feeling invigorated and ready to take on the golf course.
At that time you will have arrived within your comfort zone without even be aware of it.
So you really have to ask, "How can I find my comfort zone when playing a round of golf?"
Disregard About Your Score - As long as golf has been played, how well you score has long been the main focus. The problem is that worrying about your score has a tendency to create hesitation and also a concern about making a slip-up.
If you want to defeat this it's important to change your focus away from your score and set directly on the steps involved in playing the game. Focus on each and every golf shot and the results you want.
Pro golfers have developed the capacity to imagine each golf shot for what it is but not for how it influences their overall score.
Be Well Prepared In advance of Your Round - One of the biggest factors amateurs find it difficult finding his or her comfort zone is due to the lack of necessary preparing. All too often I see a golfer scrambling and rushing at the last minute to make their tee time.
It is an absolute show stopper. Oh there are some that can change from that very last minute rush to utter calm, but it is not normal.
To enable the average player to have any chance to find their comfort zone at the beginning of a round, you will need to prepare yourself by coming with plenty of additional time in order to get your thoughts focused upon golf.
Reach the golf course with sufficient time to loosen up, take some practice swings and a few putts. Get your head thinking about the game and not about the outside world. Whatever you put aside are going to be there when you step from all the closing hole.
Selective Short-term Memory - Disregard a bad shot you experienced and move on. There is absolutely nothing you could do concerning it after the fact. You need to build a discerning short-term memory. Leave the lousy shots in your dust and remember the best golf shots.
Ben Hogan once declared he anticipated having at least 3 or 4 poor golf shots in each round he completed. Hogan understood beforehand there would be a some cases when he'd be experiencing a recovery shot and readied himself emotionally.
You should expect similar. Provided you have prepared yourself to expect two or three errant shots, you're going to be less inclined of having them affect your round of golf. You are likely to remain in your comfort zone regardless that every golf shot isn't exactly what you wanted them to be.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/play-your-best-golf-finding-your-comfort-zone-4529106.html
About the Author
Golf 80% mental and the other 20% is in your head.
David Wakeman
WorldGolfEmporium.com
Discovering how to uncover your comfort zone when enjoying a round of golf can lead to self-confidence, perseverance and lowered scores.
All players in addition to professional golfers encounter those first hole jitters. The big difference is in fact professional golfers can still perform at a advanced level under stress simply because have learned to unearth their comfort zone.
This is the exact converse for many amateurs. You may visit the first hole confidently and have it all slide to the wayside to not ever regain merely by hitting an errant drive.
Then there are occasions when you can approach the first golf tee feeling anxious. However you struck a picture perfect drive which will arrives safely in the center of the fairway. When this occurs you head down the first fairway with a spring in your stride feeling invigorated and ready to take on the golf course.
At that time you will have arrived within your comfort zone without even be aware of it.
So you really have to ask, "How can I find my comfort zone when playing a round of golf?"
Disregard About Your Score - As long as golf has been played, how well you score has long been the main focus. The problem is that worrying about your score has a tendency to create hesitation and also a concern about making a slip-up.
If you want to defeat this it's important to change your focus away from your score and set directly on the steps involved in playing the game. Focus on each and every golf shot and the results you want.
Pro golfers have developed the capacity to imagine each golf shot for what it is but not for how it influences their overall score.
Be Well Prepared In advance of Your Round - One of the biggest factors amateurs find it difficult finding his or her comfort zone is due to the lack of necessary preparing. All too often I see a golfer scrambling and rushing at the last minute to make their tee time.
It is an absolute show stopper. Oh there are some that can change from that very last minute rush to utter calm, but it is not normal.
To enable the average player to have any chance to find their comfort zone at the beginning of a round, you will need to prepare yourself by coming with plenty of additional time in order to get your thoughts focused upon golf.
Reach the golf course with sufficient time to loosen up, take some practice swings and a few putts. Get your head thinking about the game and not about the outside world. Whatever you put aside are going to be there when you step from all the closing hole.
Selective Short-term Memory - Disregard a bad shot you experienced and move on. There is absolutely nothing you could do concerning it after the fact. You need to build a discerning short-term memory. Leave the lousy shots in your dust and remember the best golf shots.
Ben Hogan once declared he anticipated having at least 3 or 4 poor golf shots in each round he completed. Hogan understood beforehand there would be a some cases when he'd be experiencing a recovery shot and readied himself emotionally.
You should expect similar. Provided you have prepared yourself to expect two or three errant shots, you're going to be less inclined of having them affect your round of golf. You are likely to remain in your comfort zone regardless that every golf shot isn't exactly what you wanted them to be.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/play-your-best-golf-finding-your-comfort-zone-4529106.html
About the Author
Golf 80% mental and the other 20% is in your head.
David Wakeman
WorldGolfEmporium.com
Thursday, March 31, 2011
How to Improve Your Golf Grip
In this video learn tips to improve you golf grip such as getting the club more on your fingers. If you are a slicer which most people are, put the heel pad on top. This will give you much more wrist action anspring loads the club for more release.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Golf Tips The Wooden Spoon Impact Drill
A great trick to gain feedback within your golf swing, This will really help you to get into the perfect position at impact which in turn will increase accuracy and power.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Golf Practice Tips to Apply Every Time
Author: Nicolus Cage
Any golf pro will tell you that you should incorporate a regular, but flexible set of golf practice routines into your golf practice sessions. Here are a few golf practice tips and golf practice advice you can apply every time you hit the range!
Golf Practice Routines Mindset
1. Practice with focus—define exactly what you want to get out of your practice routines before you practice.
2. To lower your golf scores, devote half or more of practice routine time to short game (pitching, bunkers, chipping and putting).
3. Have a different mindset when you play vs. when you practice. When you practice, focus on golf fundamentals and ingraining the proper golf swing movements in all phases of your game, when you play the game, resist analysis and focus only on the target of your next shot.
Develop Consistent Practice Routines Plan
To develop consistency in your golf swing, you should also be consistent with your golf practice routines and stick to a consistent overall golf practice routine plan with flexibility built into the routine to accommodate problem areas or other targeted areas of your golf game. Here is a sample golf practice routine:
1. Start with a pre-swing warm up including light stretching and tempo drills.
2. Spend a few minutes to rehearse and instill the key positions of your full golf swing in slow motion from backswing and top of backswing to impact, release and finish positions. Practice these golf swing positions at various speeds until you have a nice fluid swing that feels natural.
3. Set up an alignment station to ensure your golf shots are on target.
4. Loosen up by performing short pitch golf shots and chip golf shots.
5. Practice your full swing mechanics with select golf practice drills for four shots to help install the fundamentals of the golf swing.
6. Then, for the next four shots, carry out your normal golf swing emphasizing a smooth, fluid motion.
7. Continue alternating between four practice shots (with focus on drills and mechanics) and four shots for the fluid swing.
Proper mindset and consistent golf practice plan will boost your golf skills and help you to become expert golfer in the practice range.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-practice-tips-to-apply-every-time-4487978.html
Any golf pro will tell you that you should incorporate a regular, but flexible set of golf practice routines into your golf practice sessions. Here are a few golf practice tips and golf practice advice you can apply every time you hit the range!
Golf Practice Routines Mindset
1. Practice with focus—define exactly what you want to get out of your practice routines before you practice.
2. To lower your golf scores, devote half or more of practice routine time to short game (pitching, bunkers, chipping and putting).
3. Have a different mindset when you play vs. when you practice. When you practice, focus on golf fundamentals and ingraining the proper golf swing movements in all phases of your game, when you play the game, resist analysis and focus only on the target of your next shot.
Develop Consistent Practice Routines Plan
To develop consistency in your golf swing, you should also be consistent with your golf practice routines and stick to a consistent overall golf practice routine plan with flexibility built into the routine to accommodate problem areas or other targeted areas of your golf game. Here is a sample golf practice routine:
1. Start with a pre-swing warm up including light stretching and tempo drills.
2. Spend a few minutes to rehearse and instill the key positions of your full golf swing in slow motion from backswing and top of backswing to impact, release and finish positions. Practice these golf swing positions at various speeds until you have a nice fluid swing that feels natural.
3. Set up an alignment station to ensure your golf shots are on target.
4. Loosen up by performing short pitch golf shots and chip golf shots.
5. Practice your full swing mechanics with select golf practice drills for four shots to help install the fundamentals of the golf swing.
6. Then, for the next four shots, carry out your normal golf swing emphasizing a smooth, fluid motion.
7. Continue alternating between four practice shots (with focus on drills and mechanics) and four shots for the fluid swing.
Proper mindset and consistent golf practice plan will boost your golf skills and help you to become expert golfer in the practice range.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-practice-tips-to-apply-every-time-4487978.html
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Golf Swing Lessons to Improve your Golf Game
Author: Nicolus Cage
How should beginner golfers choose and participate in golf lessons to develop solid golf fundamentals? This article focuses on how beginner golfers should find and participate in golf lessons including getting ready for golf lessons, choosing the right golf instructor and getting the most out of your golf lessons.
1.First, identify your golf goals. Do you simply want to want to be a "decent" golfer and have fun outdoors? Or do you want to develop a solid golf game and shoot in the 80's on a consistent basis? Do you anticipate playing only a few times per year? Or do you see yourself adopting golf as a lifestyle and playing every weekend?
2.Second, what is your time availability to participate in golf lessons? Can you commit 5 hours per week to your game or only a few hours per month?
3.Third, once you have identified your golf goals, you should find the right golf teaching professional that can help you achieve your goals. A good golf pro should offer golf lessons tailored to your goals considering your time and budget. The internet is a wonderful tool to find a good golf teaching professional. Or you can simply talk to your friends or local golf course and seek their recommendations. When evaluating golf pro teaching professionals, ask them about their teaching style and approach. Start out with a few lessons to gauge the degree of fit between the teaching pro's style and your goals before signing up for a package of golf lessons.
4. Fourth, Once you have found a teaching pro you are comfortable with, become a good student and focus on only one or two areas of development at a time. Between golf lessons, it is critical that you practice those one or two areas, improve them and work on the next stage of development in future golf lessons.
Remember, that golf takes a little time to learn and you need to be patient to develop the fundamentals one step at a time. Over time, the golf lessons you have applied will all work and flow together seamlessly!
Use these lessons in your daily practice routine and then see how soon you can improve your golf swing.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-swing-lessons-to-improve-your-golf-game-4472511.html
How should beginner golfers choose and participate in golf lessons to develop solid golf fundamentals? This article focuses on how beginner golfers should find and participate in golf lessons including getting ready for golf lessons, choosing the right golf instructor and getting the most out of your golf lessons.
1.First, identify your golf goals. Do you simply want to want to be a "decent" golfer and have fun outdoors? Or do you want to develop a solid golf game and shoot in the 80's on a consistent basis? Do you anticipate playing only a few times per year? Or do you see yourself adopting golf as a lifestyle and playing every weekend?
2.Second, what is your time availability to participate in golf lessons? Can you commit 5 hours per week to your game or only a few hours per month?
3.Third, once you have identified your golf goals, you should find the right golf teaching professional that can help you achieve your goals. A good golf pro should offer golf lessons tailored to your goals considering your time and budget. The internet is a wonderful tool to find a good golf teaching professional. Or you can simply talk to your friends or local golf course and seek their recommendations. When evaluating golf pro teaching professionals, ask them about their teaching style and approach. Start out with a few lessons to gauge the degree of fit between the teaching pro's style and your goals before signing up for a package of golf lessons.
4. Fourth, Once you have found a teaching pro you are comfortable with, become a good student and focus on only one or two areas of development at a time. Between golf lessons, it is critical that you practice those one or two areas, improve them and work on the next stage of development in future golf lessons.
Remember, that golf takes a little time to learn and you need to be patient to develop the fundamentals one step at a time. Over time, the golf lessons you have applied will all work and flow together seamlessly!
Use these lessons in your daily practice routine and then see how soon you can improve your golf swing.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-swing-lessons-to-improve-your-golf-game-4472511.html
Thursday, March 24, 2011
How to choose golf training aids to fit your needs and budget
Author: Nicolus Cage
Golf training aids can help you accelerate your development. To choose the right golf training aids to help you more rapidly address any golf swing issues, you should first speak to your golf teaching pro and receive his or her thoughts on the best golf training aids to fit your needs and budget. There are literally thousands of golf training aids available on the market, so choose a relatively simple, but highly regarded golf training aid that fits your budget. To also help you find the right golf training aids for your budget, here is a quick golf training aid checklist. Working with your golf professional, use this golf training aid checklist to help identify the right golf training aids for your needs.
Golf Training Aid Checklist
1. It is critical to understand your most pressing needs and areas of improvement. Don't try to fix too many issues at the same time, but concentrate on your top issue. Is it your slice, short game or driving accuracy? What issue is causing the most problems with your game and your score?
2. It is also helpful to look at the patterns of your golf swing faults. Do you always have a tendency to hit the golf ball left but cannot figure out why? Perhaps your fundamentals are sound, but your golf grip is too strong.
3. We also recommend you video tape your swing and actually compare it to a "model" golf swing. This will give you great insights into what is causing your golf swing issues.
4. Before purchasing a golf training aid, research "free" ways to address the problem area such as adjusting your grip and/or performing different practice drills with tees and clubs.
5. If you decide that purchasing golf training aids is the answer, do some Internet research and check out the reviews of various golf training aids you are evaluating. Finally, talk to your teaching Pro and see if he or she is familiar with the golf training aid you are considering or would recommend an alternative golf training aid. I hope above mention checklist to select most effective training aids will help you to resolve your golf problems.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/how-to-choose-golf-training-aids-to-fit-your-needs-and-budget-4464188.html
Golf training aids can help you accelerate your development. To choose the right golf training aids to help you more rapidly address any golf swing issues, you should first speak to your golf teaching pro and receive his or her thoughts on the best golf training aids to fit your needs and budget. There are literally thousands of golf training aids available on the market, so choose a relatively simple, but highly regarded golf training aid that fits your budget. To also help you find the right golf training aids for your budget, here is a quick golf training aid checklist. Working with your golf professional, use this golf training aid checklist to help identify the right golf training aids for your needs.
Golf Training Aid Checklist
1. It is critical to understand your most pressing needs and areas of improvement. Don't try to fix too many issues at the same time, but concentrate on your top issue. Is it your slice, short game or driving accuracy? What issue is causing the most problems with your game and your score?
2. It is also helpful to look at the patterns of your golf swing faults. Do you always have a tendency to hit the golf ball left but cannot figure out why? Perhaps your fundamentals are sound, but your golf grip is too strong.
3. We also recommend you video tape your swing and actually compare it to a "model" golf swing. This will give you great insights into what is causing your golf swing issues.
4. Before purchasing a golf training aid, research "free" ways to address the problem area such as adjusting your grip and/or performing different practice drills with tees and clubs.
5. If you decide that purchasing golf training aids is the answer, do some Internet research and check out the reviews of various golf training aids you are evaluating. Finally, talk to your teaching Pro and see if he or she is familiar with the golf training aid you are considering or would recommend an alternative golf training aid. I hope above mention checklist to select most effective training aids will help you to resolve your golf problems.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/how-to-choose-golf-training-aids-to-fit-your-needs-and-budget-4464188.html
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