2009 Solheim Cup

photo credit: Ted Van Pelt   The 2009 Solheim cup was like a breath of fresh air.  Unlike the PGA Tour robots that are seen weekly in PGA events, the lady golfers behaved like real human beings.  There was jumping, yelling, screaming, crying and everything else that denotes live human behavior (please excuse my facetiousness).  They weren’t afraid just to be themselves.

There was plenty of interaction with the crowd which was also refreshing to see.  Besides all the hoopla they showed golf fans everywhere  that, yes, they really were terrific shot-makers.  They made it exciting and a joy to watch.  Perhaps PGA Tour players will take note and come out from behind all the foolish fist pumps and facial contortions.  When did just “being yourself” go out of style?

Winter Rules

photo credit: SubZeroConsciousness   According to the USGA. Rules of Golf, there is no such thing as winter rules.  What are winter rules?  Winter rules are when conditions severely affect play in which case, you can “lift, clean and place” your golf ball.  You may pick up your ball, clean it and replace it on the spot where it came to rest, without incurring a penalty. 

A tournament committee or course manager can enact winter rules if the conditions require.  Most of the time in extremely wet conditions, where there are very wet and low lying areas on the course, winter rules are applied.  Winter rules are more common in the eastern section of the US. because of the dramatic changes in weather conditions that frequently occur.

Ball Movement

photo credit: tienvijftien   If you are on the green in the address position and your club has been grounded (resting on the putting surface), you can suffer a one stroke penalty if the wind moves your ball.  The key here is grounding your club. 

In windy conditions, the typical PGA Tour player will get into the address position without grounding their putter, if the ball moves, they will not be penalized.  Padraig Harrington found this out in the 2009 Masters when his ball was moved by the wind after his club was grounded.

Once you’ve grounded your club, even if you step away and the ball moves, it is still a penalty.  Another way to avert this problem is to remark your ball and start the sequence over.

Shoulder to Shoulder

photo credit: endbradley  
photo credit: endbradley   The lack of shot distance is of major concern for most high handicappers.  In trying to “control” their shots, they swing with their arms, which actually creates less control and loss of clubhead speed.

To achieve greater power and more shot distance, make the proper shoulder turn.  As the backswing begins, the shoulders start to turn away from the target.  At the top, the upper chest and shoulders are facing away from the target (right shoulder up – left shoulder down).  When the swing is completed, the shoulders should be facing the target. 

Torque is generated by the coiling action of the shoulders which results in more clubhead speed.   A good shoulder turn allows the clubhead to release automatically, resulting in more shot distance.

Explosive Power off the Tee

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf   Five ways to improve your Distance off the tee:  1)  Improve Your Weight Shift -  shift your weight to your lead leg during the downswing for maximum clubhead speed (distance).  2)  Delay Your Release – shifting your weight to your lead foot at the beginning of the downswing will automatically delay your release.  3)  Close Your Stance –  pull your back foot slightly rearward for a full body turn on the backswing.  4)  Tuck Your Right Elbow – (Right Handers) tuck your right elbow to your side on the downswing and kick your right knee toward the target, this will improve your weight shift.  5)  Lengthen Your Clubs – make your clubs 1/2 inch longer.  Longer clubs mean a longer swing arc which results in greater distance.

Fire the Right Hip

photo credit: spaceamoeba   A powerful golf swing is based on torque.  The greater the torque the farther the ball travels.  Winding up a spring is a good example of the correct golf swing.  The spring is coiled slowly until it reaches it’s apex (stopping point).  Once released the spring uncoils at lightning speed.  The golf swing operates under the same principle.

Once you are at the top of your backswing your hips should begin the downswing.  Many, think in terms of their lead hip pulling towards the target.  My suggestion is to fire the right hip (right handers) towards the target, doing so will automatically move the left hip out of the way.  This move will generate tremendous clubhead speed which leads to much greater distance.

The Right Elbow

photo credit: Lisa Sanderson   The right elbow (right handers) plays a big role in the golf swing.  Keeping the right elbow too far from the body during the swing,  results in a slice.  The right elbow must stay close to the right hip on the downswing, if it does not, an outside to inside swing results.  All players that swing from the outside to the inside, slice the ball.  Another symptom is when the left arm transverses (cuts across) the chest.

THE FIX:  Swing to the top and bring the club down into the delivery position, the shaft should be parallel to, or slightly inside the target line as it gets to the 3 o’clock position.  Keep the right elbow close to, and in front of the right hip.

Improve Your Swing Path

photo credit: tnarik   In order to get the best results from your iron shots, the clubhead should be swung into the ball on the same low angle that it took on it’s way back at the start of the backswing.  The idea is to take a shallow divot in front of the ball’s position.

Many golfers try to accomplish taking the proper divot by swinging down at the ball with too much of a steep angle.  The swing is abrupt and the result is a mishit. 

Allow the clubhead to follow a low angle into the impact zone in order to make good contact with the ball.  At impact, the back of your lead hand should be square with and facing the target.  Make sure to make a good full finish on this type of shot.

Golf Channel Bias

photo credit: linein   I’m tired of the hoopla about Tiger Woods on the Golf Channel?  I’m worn-out watching Tiger re-runs, Tiger interviews, Tiger commercials.  I’ve had it with the commentators on the Golf Channel making excuses for a man they hardly know.  I’m exhausted hearing about Tiger being the “greatest of all time.” 

During the recent PGA Championship, Y.E. Yang, 110th in the world standings, beat Woods.  A Golf Channel commentator stated ”was it that Tiger lost it himself or did Yang actually beat him?”  I had a need to destroy my TV.

Yang used the same psychology against Woods, that Woods uses against his opponents:  Unshakable confidence, along with a calm demeanor which would not allow intimidation by Woods.  In the end, it wasn’t the physical that beat Woods, it was the mental.  I was spared from another Tiger Woods fist pumping demonstration !

The Half-Wedge Shot

photo credit: Mdrewe   There is nothing that will send chill’s down a Tour Player’s spine quicker than a half-wedge shot to a small green.  Tournament competitors almost always plan their round, so they will have “full swing” approach shots.  The difficulty with hitting a half wedge shot,  lies in deciding the  shot distance correctly.  More strokes are lost because of half-wedge shots than just about any other shot.

The segments to the half-wedge shot are: 1)  At address, open your stance and play the ball slightly left of center while aiming the clubface at the target.  2)  Limit your arm swing and be sure to hinge your wrists fully.  3)  Swing down and through without allowing your club to go past waist level on the follow-through.  4)  Be aggressive.

Next Page »