Golf Swing Book

Lag Your Putts

Admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:36:24 +0000

photo credit: Steve & Jemma Copley According to the USGA regulations, the golf cup should be 4.25 inches in diameter. Now, lets add approximately 1 more inch in diameter to make it a total of 5.25 inches. Where did the extra 1 inch arise from? If your ball is approaching the hole and half of the ball catches the hole, it will drop. That means you have an extra 1/2 inch, basically, around the edge of the entire hole to use.

The whole idea is to control the speed of your putts. If the ball is moving too fast, there is no way it can “catch” the cup. By lagging your putts so that they die in or near the hole, you will take full advantage of the extra 1 inch of leeway you have.

Cure the Inglorious Shank

Admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:02:29 +0000

photo credit: USACE Europe District Nothing is more damaging to a golfers psyche than the shank shot. A shanked shot can destroy your confidence, in fact, it can act like a virus that destroys a computer. There grows an inherent fear that it will happen again and again. If you shank more than a couple of shots in any one round seek an experienced instructor immediately.

To avoid a shank, it seems natural to stand farther away from the ball which is the opposite of what you should do. Stand closer to the ball and make sure that you keep both elbows close to the body. Shanking is the result of hitting the ball with the housel of the club which makes the ball squirt right (right handers).

Unplayable lie

Admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:01:53 +0000

photo credit: mhofstrand There are three options when you have an unplayable lie: A. Take a one stroke penalty and play from where you hit your previous shot. B. Take a one stroke penalty and drop within two club-lengths but no closer to the hole. C. Take a one stroke penalty and drop behind the point where the ball lay (no limit to distance) keeping that point between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped. If the ball is sitting in a bunker, it must be dropped in the bunker.

An unplayable lie can be called at any time by the player. It can even be called when a player’s ball is on the green. It is the choice of the player when and where to call an “unplayable lie.”

Glove Survey Results

Admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:46:52 +0000

photo credit: klavr Based on performance, innovation, feel and demand, the following are GOLF DIGESTS picks for the best golf gloves of 2o1o:

Gloves Over $15 > Callaway TOUR AUTHENTIC $17, Footjoy SCIFLEX $16, Footjoy STAYSOF $19, Nike DRI-FIT TOUR $20, Titleist PLAYERS-FLEX $21.

Honorable Mention: Bionic PERFORMANCE SERIES $30, Mizuno SKINTITE $19, Taylormade TOUR PREFERRED $22.

Gloves Under $15 > Etonic G>SOK $14, Footjoy SOFJOY $13, Footjoy SPIDR2 $13, Wilson Staff CONFORM $15,

Honorable Mention: Footjoy WEATHERSOF $10, Nike TECHXTREME III $13.

Glove Care > A glove must receive the proper care after it’s use. Store the glove in it’s original package or in a ziplock bag allowing the gloves natural oils to rise to the surface.

Fit > Most players use gloves that are too large. The glove should fit tightly and taut across the back of the hand and the palm.

Proper Club Selection

Admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:55:52 +0000

photo credit: nsaplayer Going over your past approach shots you will find that most come up short. Do you know that the majority of amateurs, if not scratch players, land short of the pin? The real question is what causes this problem.

The problem is by ”wishful thinking.” If you are 130 to 150 yards from the pin, do you go with a 7-iron or a 6-iron? Most golfers would use a 7 and come up short. Using a 6-iron may put you on the back fringe but that’s not all bad, there’s usually minimal trouble on the back side of most greens. The trouble on most greens is on the front side. Remember, it’s better to over-club than under-club in almost every situation.

Not so new Grip

Admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:09 +0000

photo credit: mahalie Hank Haney, on the Golf Channel’s Haney Project, explained the grip he taught Tiger Woods. This manner of gripping the club (with the left hand) is not so new since it was discovered by Ben Hogan after his near fatal car accident.

The standard left hand grip puts the club across the lower part of your fingers which is used by most golfers worldwide. The Hogan grip, however, places the handle across the center part of the palm. This grip is very similar to the putting grip.

Woods refused to try the new grip when Haney showed it to him. After prodding from Haney, Woods hit the shot and then exclaimed that it was the best shot he’s ever hit. He’s used the grip ever since. Try it, you’ll be amazed.

Keep Your Head Down?

Admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:21:17 +0000

photo credit: akeg How many times, after you have made a bad shot, have you heard someone say “you need to keep your head down.” It’s one of the most common phrases in golf. If you listen to this advice, you will never make a good swing. Keeping your head down prevents a full shoulder turn by blocking your shoulder as it moves back. It also creates more tension in your upper body. Your chin must not impede the movement of your shoulders or upper body during the swing.

At address, simply raise your chin to allow your shoulders ample room to move under it. Doing so, allows your body to rotate fully around it’s center axis which your head is the top of (head to bottom of spine).

The Ugliest Shot in Golf

Admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:12:43 +0000

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

Admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:01:40 +0000

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.

The First Foot Back

Admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:16:20 +0000

photo credit: stanik2007 The first 12 inches of your backswing can determine the outcome of your swing. Drag the clubhead back, keeping it low to the ground. Once it’s back approximately one foot it will automatically rise. The whole process is started by your shoulders, not your arms as some believe. Tip: place a tee about about eighteen inches behind the ball. Hit the tee on the way back.

Drag the club back on the inside of the target line to promote an inside-out swing-path.

The takeaway should be a smooth, one piece motion. Some players find that hovering the clubhead above the ground is an ideal way to achieve good tempo and promote good timing. It can also prevent the club from snagging on the grass.