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
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6173586
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
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
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