More Swing Thoughts

photo credit: OCVA   1)  What you would find out in sixth months of tedious practice, you can learn from a PGA Professional golf instructor in only one lesson.  2)  Let the right hip start the swing going back and then allow the left hip to start the downswing and follow-through.  3)  During the downswing, try holding the right shoulder back as long as possible in order to give your left side an opportunity to get through the shot.  4)  If you suffer from a good deal of muscle tension, don’t ground the club in the address position, hover it behind the ball.  5)  Let the hands start slightly ahead of the ball when beginning the backswing (Bobby Jones perfected this particular swing method).

Swing Thoughts

photo credit: Rob Poetsch   Swing Thoughts:  1)  During the downswing, the crossing of the forearms puts the snap into the golf ball, not the wrists.  2)  The majority of poor shots are created by a misaligned clubface.  3)  Make a good backswing and reduce greatly the chances of a bad shot.  4)  Learn to pick the ball cleanly.  5)  Imagine your shot following a straight line to the target.  6)  Create a relaxed grip by joining the hands.  7)  Clip off the top of the tee with your drives.  8)  Don’t think of “hitting” the ball, just let it get in the way of your swing.  9)  Don’t try to pick the ball up, that’s what the club is for.  10)  Hit behind the ball when weight is too far on back foot.  11)  Picture the shot as you would like to see it.

Quick Cures

photo credit: Edd Morgan   A shot that starts left and hooks sharply in the same direction is called a “pulled hook.”  Usually this requires the attention of a professional golf instructor. 

A hook, on the other hand, is not so serious and can be easily corrected.  When gripping the club make sure that both V’s of either hand are pointing directly at your chin.  Be sure to concentrate on just brushing the club to the top of the grass or just clipping the tee.  Doing so will take the club straight through the impact zone.

For the slicer, point the V’s of either or both hands towards your right shoulder and be sure to clip the top of the grass.  Don’t swing from the outside-in, swing from the inside-out.

The Correct Stance

photo credit: D.Hilgart   Try This Method: (for right handers)  1)  Stand as if you are going to shake hands with someone.  2)  Point your toes the way you walk, otherwise, maintain a square right foot to the target line.  3)  Toe of left foot turned slightly toward the target.

If your backswing is slightly restricted, try opening (turn to the right) the right foot slightly.  This allows for more flexibility and a greater body turn going back.  Squaring the right foot tends to restrict the backswing especially where amateur golfers are concerned.

In order to open your stance bring the left foot back.  To close your stance, bring the right foot back.  If you tend to swing from the outside in (slice), try closing your stance to encourage an inside to outside swing-path.

A Very bad Habit

photo credit: kulicki   There is a very bad habit that receives little attention amongst players, students and teachers alike.  The habit being referred to is when a golfer actually watches their club move backward as the backswing begins.  It is one of the most popular faults that occur. 

Usually, a player develops this habit for a number of reasons.  Perhaps they have become self-conscious about correcting a swing flaw that their instructor has pointed out to them or maybe it’s because of a lack of concentration on their part.  Whatever the reason, it’s about the worst habit a golfer can have.

I just don’t think looking at the ball is enough.  I suggest looking at the back of the ball (which concentrates your eyesight even more) until impact occurs.

Aim Past the Pin

photo credit: D.Hilgart   How many approach shots do you hit past the pin during a typical round of golf ?  If your answer is “not many,”  consider yourself average.  The next question is, why are most of your approach shots short of the pin ?

There are two good answers: 1) poor club selection.  2)  you are “letting up” on the shot.  Most of the time you just don’t swing as hard as you normally would.  If the shot is between an 8 iron and a 7-iron (distance-wise), always choose the higher numbered club and don’t baby the shot.  Doing so will increase your chances of ending up pin high  If you are between clubs, and need 5 yards less, simply choke-up on the club you choose.

The Aim Test

photo credit: USACE Europe District   Most amateur golfers have difficulty with their aim.  The next time you play, pay special attention to where the members in your group are aiming.  Many golfers, other than professionals, just don’t’ take where they are aiming serious enough.  They line the tips of their shoes with the target line, which really isn’t wrong, it’s just not totally right !

To make sure you are aimed properly, once you are solidly in the address position and stationary, take a club and place it across your thighs to check your correct aim.  You see, even though your toes are lined up with the target line, your hips may be open which aligns your thighs differently.  The thighs are a true measurement of the true aim point.

Looking Up

photo credit: rioncm   Looking up is one of the biggest excuses ever invented to describe a poor shot.  By the time you look up, the shot has already been executed (the mistake has been made). 

The best way to concentrate on any shot is by looking at the ball at all times, in fact,  it’s wise to look at just the back of the ball which creates even more shot concentration. 

Ben Hogan, when asked what he looks at during his swing, said that he loses “sight of the ball somewhere in his downswing.”  Very few of the top players admit to actually seeing the ball as it leaves the face of their club.  Keeping your eye on the ball allows you to take your mind off of other swing issues you may already have.

Knee Action

photo credit: Brian J. McDermott   Using the proper knee action during the swing insures solid contact and encourages coordination between the body, arms and hands.  If the knees are not used correctly the result is a flat-footed swing that lacks real power.  A classic case of good footwork is that of Jack Nicklaus.

Right Knee:  Keep the right knee pointed slightly towards the ball at address.  At the top of the backswing, the right knee comes in fast towards the ball and begins the downswing.

Left Knee:  As the backswing begins, the left knee moves behind the ball and the left heel rises slightly off the ground.  At the top of the backswing the left knee begins it’s move along the target line towards the target.  The right heel is raised off the ground as the downswing unfolds.

Weight Distribution for Drives

photo credit: Claus Rebler   One of the biggest driving errors is improper weight distribution.  The ball should be played off the left heel (for right handers).  Many amateurs address the ball incorrectly with their weight evenly distributed or even favoring their left side, as they would with iron shots. 

When setting up for the drive, the ball should be played off the left heel with about 60-70% of your weight on the right side (leg).  Since the drive is a sweeping action, as opposed to iron shots, it is necessary to keep the weight on the right side in order to increase the upward angle of the clubface when making contact with the ball.  Keeping weight on the right side will also keep you “behind” the ball throughout the swing.

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