Becoming a Mentor

photo credit: The-Lane-Team   The old saying “it’s better to give, than to receive” is very true when it comes to the game of golf.  Becoming a mentor is a high calling that can be extremely rewarding for both teacher and student.

Conveying your knowledge of the game to a youngster who has a sincere desire to learn, can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  A mentor not only teaches but also influences.  Most kids need direction, something they may not be getting from their own parents.  Most of the time, you can leave a lasting impression by what you say and/or do.  Patience is the key to any lasting friendship and it is a prerequisite to being a good mentor and friend.

If you ever get the opportunity to become a mentor, take it, you won’t be sorry.

Colored Balls

photo credit: Bob B. Brown   Recently, during the 2010 U.S. Open, there were several players using colored golf balls.  Could it be that colored balls are making a comeback?  Many newcomers to the game of golf do not realize that during the mid to late 1980s, colored balls were the rage.

There were orange, red, pink, green, lime and several shades of yellow balls.  The two most popular colors, during that time, were lime green and orange.  Colored balls were great in the fall when a white ball could be lost amongst the leaves but with a bright color, it was nearly impossible to do so.  Colored balls are a must if you ever play in snowy conditions. 

Colored balls are simply more fun to use. . . I prefer lime green !

Find Your Putter’s Sweetspot

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf   The line running across the top of your putter may not be where the sweetspot is.  Finding your putter’s sweet spot will properly transmit the energy of each stroke and definitely improve your putting.  Try the following to find the sweet spot:

Hold the grip of your putter lightly between the thumb and forefinger of one hand.  With the other hand, tap the face of the putter using a coin or the eraser end of a pencil.  Hit the face of the putter so that the putter blade doesn’t twist when it’s hit.  The sweet spot is found when the putter blade moves straight back.

Once the sweetspot it found, mark the spot and begin to notice how solid your putts begin to feel.

The Ugliest Shot in Golf

photo credit: flurdy   The ugliest shot in golf is the banana ball, a huge bending slice.  Follow these steps for the cure: 

A)  Set up square to the target.  Shoulders, hips knees and feet should be square to the target line.  B)  Grip the club light enough so someone can pull the club from your hands with very little effort.  C)  Strengthen your grip, turn both hands away from the target when gripping the club (”V”s point towards rear shoulder).  D)  Keep hands ahead of the ball at address.  At address, there should be a striaght line between the clubface and the lead shoulder.  E)  Keep head behind the ball at address.  F)  Start the club back with your shoulders (one-piece takeaway).  G  Maintain a solid back leg during the backswing.

Balance & Tempo

photo credit: rioncm   Balance and tempo go hand in hand in a good golf swing.  Balance >body weight must be properly distributed throughout the swing sequence.  Tempo > speed of the swing from the takeaway to the finish.

Your best tempo is the speed at which you allow yourself to stay in perfect balance at all times during the swing.  Too fast and you destroy balance, too slow and you lose clubhead speed and shot distance.  Try swinging at 80% to gauge shot distance, tempo and balance.  Perhaps using a count may work best:  The count of  “one” - start back, ”two” – reach the top,  ”three” - start the downswing.

If you exhibit good balance, you will be facing the target with weight on left side and stable at the finish.

Special Shots

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf   There are times during a round of golf when special shots are required.  Here are some situations where ball placement can be a critical element:

Example A:  downhill lie, ball resting in divot, ball against back lip of bunker > Play the ball in back of center (distance depends on type of shot) of stance and use a sharply descending swing path.  Example B:  chip shot, buried lie in bunker, punch shots, pitch & run, shot from a rough that runs after landing, shots under branches or in wind > ball in middle of stance with slightly descending path.  Example C:  for drives, bunker shots, against front lip of bunker, uphill lie, lob shots and putts > ball forward with upswing at impact.

Get Behind the Ball

photo credit: nsaplayer   A nagging problem for many players is not staying behind the ball during their swing.  Jack Nicklaus was the most notable example of staying behind the ball.  As soon as Nicklaus started his backswing,  his head would turn to the right.  Doing so, would immediately put him in a good position behind the ball where he would remain throughout his swing.  At the time, he was one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour.

Moving your head in front of the ball at anytime during the swing is courting disaster.  It usually results in a “topped” golf shot; a grass cutter as they are sometimes called. 

Set up with your head slightly behind the ball and keep it there throughout your golf swing.  Doing so will generate maximum power for greater shot distance.

A Little Means a Lot

photo credit: Saginaw Future   If your clubface is not square when contact is made with the ball,  it will amount to a large error by the time the ball reaches your target area.  If the clubface is a mere two or three degrees off at impact, the ball will be 20 to 30 yards off  at a distance of 150 – 200 yards.

Every golfer has a different swing, in fact, some golfers have what might be called a ”bad swing.”  If your swing is not Ernie Els-like,  it doesn’t mean you can’t hit good shots.  If your clubface meets the ball perfectly square at the point of impact, all of your shots will be accurate.  A square clubface at impact will also increase your shot distance.

Long Ball Competitor

photo credit: USACE Europe District   For many golfers, playing against a long ball hitter can be very intimidating.  Seeing your opponent’s tee shot land 40 yards past yours can be discouraging even for the best of players.  Use the following strategy when playing a long-ball hitter:

A)  Be determined to keep any mistakes to an absolute minimum.  B)  Don’t compliment his distance ability.  C)  Show a lot of perseverance in your behavior when making a shot or otherwise.  D)  Don’t show your emotions on good shots, or bad shots.  E)  Always maintain a “can do” attitude.

Although it is not recommended, some players will use gamesmanship, on an opponent with a stronger game, in order to equal out the playing field so to speak.  That would be an individual decision, however.

The Great Equalizer

photo credit: rioncm   It’s hard to compete in a golf match with a long ball hitter, but it’s not impossible.  Many long ball hitters don’t excel at their approach game.  Long ball hitters are concerned about power, so when it comes to short approach shots (within 100 yards), they lack finesse.

To equalize the playing field, sharpen-up on your approach shots.  Your accuracy will more than make up for your lack of distance.  After you’ve beaten your opponent, to their amazement, they will wonder “how it happened.”

Instead of spending hours on the practice range trying to improve your length, take that time to practice shots of 100 yards or less.  Doing so will level the playing field and allow you to compete fairly with “King Kong.”

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