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
Thursday, May 05, 2011
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
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