Golf course management for your golf game? What the heck is that, you are asking? Well, it could be the difference between cutting strokes off your golf round or continuing to shoot the score you always shoot. It could be the difference between consistency and playing army golf - left, right, left, right.
Golf course management is playing a golf course and managing that play so that you have the best opportunity to score well. Golf course management provides a consistent way to attack a golf course given your golf playing strengths and weaknesses. Most amateur golfers want to pull out the driver on every hole and hit it as hard as they can. This might be impressive and showy, but probably gets them into more trouble than anything. Following a different style will help keep them out of trouble and lower their golf scores on the very first round.
Before you can utilize golf course management to your best advantage, there has to be some truthful self-assessment of your golf game. This truthful self-assessment can be from your history on the golf course or taken from shots on the driving range. You will need to know how far you can hit each of your clubs. You will also need to know which shot is your "money" shot. This shot determines how far out you are most comfortable hitting into the green with the most confidence. For most amateurs, this is around 100 yards out and a short iron.
This also requires that you do a little home work on the golf course that you will be playing. Some questions you will need to be able to answer for each hole are:
- How far to trouble on each hole. Trouble may be a bunker, deep rough, dog leg right or left, trees, etc.
- What the yardage markers are and where they are located on each hole. Some courses use markers on sprinkler heads, others use markers on the cart path, and others use bushes or trees at strategic locations. This is sometimes noted on the score card for the golf course.
- Hole locations on the green and how they are designated. Some courses use different colors to indicate the general location of the pin and hole. For instance, red is the front area of the green, yellow is the middle area of the green, and blue is the back area of the green.
- Wind direction and velocity.
- Any other factors on the golf course that will have an effect on your swing or golf ball flight.
As you can see, this will require more than a little work on your part and you will also need to keep your focus during your golf round. It would be best to have a little notebook that will fit in your back pocket to keep notes about your golf game.
You have warmed up on the practice range and putting green. You have assessed the conditions for the day and the golf course. You are finally ready to attack the golf course with your new found course management style.
At the tee box on any hole, you will need to assess the yardage to trouble. To manage that trouble, the best thing to do is take a golf club that will avoid the trouble. This can be done in many ways. Some are to drive short of the trouble or past the trouble. Remember that a golf driver will slice easier than any other golf club. If there is trouble on your slice side, take a different club to take that trouble out of play.
If it is a dog leg left, and the dog leg corner is 180 to 200 yards out, there is no need to take a driver and try to land it in a small area. It would be better course management to take a shorter wood or an iron that you know will go 180 to 200 yards and aim for the corner.
On long holes where you have a choice of taking a risk of hitting a long iron, fairway wood, or some hybrid club to maybe reach the green, why not lay up to a manageable distance. That distance should allow you to use a golf club that you have very high confidence you can get the golf ball very close to the pin. This may be a pitching wedge from 100 yards or an 8 iron from 150 yards. You should know this from your practicing and experience from previous rounds and on the range.
If you try to take a risky shot that will probably miss the green and put you in trouble, you risk taking a bogey or worse on the hole. If you manage the hole, your worst score should be a bogey and the best is par or better!
If you have watched Tiger Woods in recent tournaments, you will have noticed that this is how he manages his golf game. If it is good enough for the best golf player in the world, don't you think it should be good enough for you?
Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.
http://www.GolfClubsHome.com
http://collectiblesport.com/golfmemorabilia
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Monday, August 22, 2011
Getting the Correct Golf Club: A Beginner's Frequently Asked Questions
Getting a good score in golf partly depends on several factors. One of them is the golf ball. Unfortunately, except for private games, you normally cannot control what ball you use. Two factors which you can control are your golf club and your swing. If you know how to choose the right club for the right situation and know how to use that club well enough, then it becomes easier to do well. The following is a list of 9 questions and answers to help a new golfer choose the correct club:
1) What are the correct golf clubs I need for a game?
Firstly, you are allowed up to 14 golf clubs. For their full set of golf clubs, many players choose a driver (1-wood), two fairway woods (generally 3- and 5-woods), a set of irons from 3 to 9, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, a putter, and one more club of the player's choice. A common variation is to replace the 3- and 4- irons with modern easier-to-hit modern "hybrid" clubs.
2) The hole is nearby. What is the correct golf club to use?
The putter. This club is specially designed to keep the ball on the ground and rolling on the grass after you hit it.
3) What do I use for my first shot?
You use the driver, also known as the 1-wood. This is your longest-ranged club. Normally, this will be only time you use this club. Modern 1-woods are designed to hit off the tee, and difficult for beginners to use elsewhere. They have the longest shaft and the biggest head.
4) My ball keeps on hitting the hills. What is wrong?
Generally, this means the number of your club is too low. A club with a higher number is designed to hit your ball higher into the air. The downside is that you trade distance for height.
5) I swing my woods the same way, but I cannot get a consistent distance. Sometimes the ball goes farther, sometimes nearer. What should I do?
Try a wood with a stiffer shaft. A stiffer shaft gives you more consistent distance, but reduces your maximum distance. This is probably your best choice if you are a weekend golfer without very much practice time.
6) Oops! My ball is in the sand trap...
Sigh... Step 1) Pray. Step 2) Grab your sand wedge.
7) There are so many irons. How do I know which one to use?
For a beginner, let me suggest the 1-Iron Golf System. Firstly, all the irons in your set of golf clubs have the same length, so you only need to learn one swing and one ball position. With a normal set of irons, you may need to learn up to 10 different swings and 10 different ball positions. While a pro may lose out in flexibility, a weekend player gains in simplicity and consistent performance.
Generally speaking, you use the high-numbered irons for more height, more control and less distance. You reserve the low-numbered irons when you need more distance, but not the height. Typically, the rougher the terrain, the higher the iron.
8) I'm in the rough. What is the correct golf club?
Normally, you would use the irons. They are designed to punch or cut through the grass and hit the golf ball. The heads of your woods, in contrast, are designed to skim on top of the grass.
9) I am facing a hole with a hazard right in front of the green. Which club do I use?
This is one reason why even beginners should try to develop a swing which delivers the ball a consistent distance. With just the right hybrid club, you can hit a shot to carry the full distance to the green in the air, but then "stick" on the green relatively close to its impact point. This is due to the design of many hybrid clubs, which prevents the ball from rolling very far at the end of the shot.
Do you have these 3 problems with your golf swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance? Click here to find out how to improve your golf swing.
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The Proper Way to Use Hybrid Golf Clubs
Hybrid golf clubs are the most recent trend being used by numerous expert golfers these days. Nearly every golf magazine and journal has been giving excellent reviews about these clubs. A hybrid golf club is in essence a “best of both worlds†of features that are part utility wood and part long iron. These clubs can do the job of a driver for the lengthy shots but can easily also be used to increase your short game in the fairway.These kind of clubs can be custom made to their owner, and this is very recommended. Since just about every golfer has his own swing and play type, customizing the clubs will help a great deal in improving upon their performance in swing energy and speed. Sometimes golfers with peculiar heights have difficulties using the standard Golf clubs since they have to alter their swing accordingly. Utilizing hybrid golf clubs can fix this obstacle as they can customize them to fit the player’s size. Today, many golfers are shifting to the hybrid golf clubs after experiencing the benefits they can provide.Hybrid golf clubs are assembled so they have a incredibly low center of gravity, located almost below the head of the club. The typical long irons cannot manage to have such a low center of gravity and consequently the balance as well. These clubs will aid the player to hit the ball longer and higher in range.The launch angle of these kinds of golf clubs is a good deal greater than standard clubs and they possess a flat face hitting area associated with it. This significantly helps in maximizing the spin rate of the golf ball while also offering a significantly improved accuracy to it and also there will certainly be less rolling of the ball immediately after it lands.What hybrid golf clubs may do for you:1. Any time you are performing a long par 3 or short par 4 shots, these clubs are very beneficial as they increase the ball extremely high.2. While they possess a great control on the accuracy and range, anyone can easily use these for shots having long approach to the greens.3. It is quick to use these types of hybrid clubs for shots wherever you will have to drive by way of the roughs. With greater size and weight of the hybrid, it’s considerably easier than using an iron.
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Steel vs Graphite Golf Clubs
A choice of golf club is an essential part of improving your golf game. If you'll be able to get golf clubs that work extremely well for a golfing style, you will observe a sudden improvement in your game. Usually beginner golfers don't put much thought on the clubs they choose. Maybe you have just been using your grandfather's old clubs that you simply dug up out of your attic, or even you bought some cheap clubs at a yard sale. In the event you ever wish to be a serious golfer, you need to buy clubs on your own and choose some that could compliment your playing style. You could accomplish this by changing the shaft length, the top size, and many other details. One of many choices you will need to make is between graphite and steel, the two most widely used materials. One you choose can greatly affect your swing (or help that which you have already learned).
Steel would be the cheapest choice of both. Due to its lower price, many view it as inferior to graphite. However, this is simply not true by any means. If you have a golfing style that works well well with steel clubs, there isn't reason to go to the more expensive graphite. Steel will be much more durable, and so you'll be able to expect steel clubs of having an extended lifespan than graphite clubs. Steel is heavier than graphite; some view this for a negative point, but some love to really feel the weight of this club as they swing it. Steel is usually quite a bit stiffer than graphite (with a higher flexibility). This is partially your personal preference, but your pre-developed swinging style may also inform you something that you simply wouldn't otherwise know. If you tend to own rather fast swings, you'll want to keep with clubs that are stiffer. Steel offers this, but fast swings coupled with heavy clubs might bepotentially dangerous, so you must have always a tight grip.
Graphite may be the other choice, in fact it is most common for being a lighter and much more flexible material. Again, this may possibly not convert it into a better choice, since it all depends on what type of golfing you choose to do. If your strokes can be a bit slower than average, a flexible graphite club will be best choice. The flex of a club may be classified into 4 different ratings: Ladies, Regular, Senior, and Extra Stiff. Graphite clubs rarely fall under the Extra Stiff rating. If you really feel that you need the extra stiff clubs, you should probably be fitting using a steel club. The good thing you are able to do could be to simply provide a few test swings at the club store, and find out what feels the best like what you purchase previously. Be certain it truly is something you can use for an entire game, and won't be come uncomfortable.
It's likely that you simply are feeling a bit more overwhelmed at making these important choices about your future clubs. This really is normal for a beginner, especially since each in the materials has a lot to consider. For those who wish to make sure that that you simply make the right choice, you'll be able to contact someone who is more experienced in selecting clubs. This may be a seasoned golfer or just a club store employee. Either way, they will be able to give you helpful advice by just watching you swing at the ball several times. The rate of your swing and several other things about your method will give them hints about that which you need to choose. Test all the golf clubs available and you buy the clubs that fully feel the right for you out on the golf course.
For more information click here
Steel would be the cheapest choice of both. Due to its lower price, many view it as inferior to graphite. However, this is simply not true by any means. If you have a golfing style that works well well with steel clubs, there isn't reason to go to the more expensive graphite. Steel will be much more durable, and so you'll be able to expect steel clubs of having an extended lifespan than graphite clubs. Steel is heavier than graphite; some view this for a negative point, but some love to really feel the weight of this club as they swing it. Steel is usually quite a bit stiffer than graphite (with a higher flexibility). This is partially your personal preference, but your pre-developed swinging style may also inform you something that you simply wouldn't otherwise know. If you tend to own rather fast swings, you'll want to keep with clubs that are stiffer. Steel offers this, but fast swings coupled with heavy clubs might bepotentially dangerous, so you must have always a tight grip.
Graphite may be the other choice, in fact it is most common for being a lighter and much more flexible material. Again, this may possibly not convert it into a better choice, since it all depends on what type of golfing you choose to do. If your strokes can be a bit slower than average, a flexible graphite club will be best choice. The flex of a club may be classified into 4 different ratings: Ladies, Regular, Senior, and Extra Stiff. Graphite clubs rarely fall under the Extra Stiff rating. If you really feel that you need the extra stiff clubs, you should probably be fitting using a steel club. The good thing you are able to do could be to simply provide a few test swings at the club store, and find out what feels the best like what you purchase previously. Be certain it truly is something you can use for an entire game, and won't be come uncomfortable.
It's likely that you simply are feeling a bit more overwhelmed at making these important choices about your future clubs. This really is normal for a beginner, especially since each in the materials has a lot to consider. For those who wish to make sure that that you simply make the right choice, you'll be able to contact someone who is more experienced in selecting clubs. This may be a seasoned golfer or just a club store employee. Either way, they will be able to give you helpful advice by just watching you swing at the ball several times. The rate of your swing and several other things about your method will give them hints about that which you need to choose. Test all the golf clubs available and you buy the clubs that fully feel the right for you out on the golf course.
For more information click here
Customized Golf Clubs
Every golfer's physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today's best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become more than a fad that even not so professional golfers test its waters.
Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing.
Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.
Custom Golf Club How To's:
To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.
Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.
Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 1/2-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 1/2-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.
Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club's shaft flex that is appropriate for you.
Custom fitting can fix your slice. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing fault, but it could be because the club is too flat. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.
There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then you will take a club and hit some balls. One method is to place impact tape on the bottom of the custom golf club and an impact board on the floor.
As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. Then things get a bit more advanced. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can also measure the launch angle of the ball, how much backspin you generate and impact efficiency - all which affect distance. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.
Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It's a big misconception that custom fitting is only for good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.
Custom fitting won't cure all your bad shots. Coaching will sort that out. But if you do make a good swing, then the custom golf club will arrive correctly at impact and should produce a straight shot at your target. That alone will save shots during a round.
Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you've been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you're prepared to buy a new set of clubs it's definitely worth getting fitted.
To learn about cat facts, angry cats and other information, visit the Knowledge Bin website.
Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing.
Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.
Custom Golf Club How To's:
To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.
Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.
Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 1/2-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 1/2-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.
Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club's shaft flex that is appropriate for you.
Custom fitting can fix your slice. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing fault, but it could be because the club is too flat. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.
There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then you will take a club and hit some balls. One method is to place impact tape on the bottom of the custom golf club and an impact board on the floor.
As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. Then things get a bit more advanced. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can also measure the launch angle of the ball, how much backspin you generate and impact efficiency - all which affect distance. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.
Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It's a big misconception that custom fitting is only for good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.
Custom fitting won't cure all your bad shots. Coaching will sort that out. But if you do make a good swing, then the custom golf club will arrive correctly at impact and should produce a straight shot at your target. That alone will save shots during a round.
Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you've been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you're prepared to buy a new set of clubs it's definitely worth getting fitted.
To learn about cat facts, angry cats and other information, visit the Knowledge Bin website.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Short Game Secrets That Will Change the Way You Score from Inside 50 Yards
By: David Nevogt
In the next 15 minutes, I am going to change the way you play your shots from inside 50 yards. If you spend 15 minutes before every round of golf on these four tips, I guarantee you the strokes will fall off your scorecard.
We are going to cover putting, chipping, pitching and bunker shots. Before I get to my four short-game secrets I need to lay a little groundwork first.
From the putting green in front of the clubhouse at Ft. Myers Country Club, where I grew up playing, to the practice putting green at Starfire Golf Club, and all points in between, for 35 years, I have heard the same problem. “I putted so poorly today. If I had putted halfway decent I would have shot my best round ever!”
But…every time I pass the practice putting green where I teach, ALMOST NOBODY is practicing before they tee off. But here’s the thing- every single professional golfer spends at least 15 minutes - 1 hour on the practice putting green before they tee off. That’s not the tip. I just wanted you to get an idea of the time that it takes to get better.
IMPORTANT TIP: 90% of all putting greens in the world are built low in the front and high in the back. There are two reasons, in case you are wondering.
First, it holds the shots that are coming onto the green and secondly for drainage purposes. The reason I am telling you the greens are built low in the front and high in the back is for you to understand the idea that the majority of putts hit from the front of the green going to the back are going to be slower than putts hit from the back of the green going towards the front.
Since this is true, when you are facing the green, putts from the right side of the green will have a tendency to break to the left and putts from the left side of the green will have a tendency to break right. With this idea in mind lets move on to my TOP FOUR SHORT GAME SECRETS!
Secret #1: Putting – Focus on Distance not Direction
Do you know why most amateurs three-putt more times on their first nine holes than their last nine holes? By the time they get to the last nine they have the feel of the greens! My colleagues have always agreed that in order to become a great putter you must have the ability to read greens. However, I have always believed you must also have GREAT TOUCH.
I have just given you an incredible tip. You have to develop your touch in order to control your speed. I can not tell you how many times I have asked an amateur golfer after they hit their putt if they thought the putt was going uphill or downhill. Most amateurs reply with, “I completely forgot about the speed!” Most of them struggle more with speed more than direction. So how do you apply this advice?
Always look towards the front of the green so you can decide if you are going uphill or downhill. Empty your mind of every mechanical thought you have and just stroke the ball. FORGET the mechanics when putting. Don’t ever hit a putt until you have visualized your golf ball going into the hole first. Make it in your mind before you hit it. Secret #2: Chipping – Keep Your Weight on your Front Foot in the Backswing
A chip shot is a short shot around the green that has minimum airtime and maximum roll time. Another way to describe it is 1/3 air, 2/3 roll. You can use one of the following clubs when chipping: 5-iron, 7-iron or 9-iron. Common complaints that I receive from amateurs about chipping are that they top the ball, hit the ball thin, hit the ground behind the ball, blade the ball over the green or completely shank the ball.
The mis-played shots I just described to you are usually the result of an incorrect set-up. There are three positions in chipping that are the foundation of a successful chip shot. Let’s review them:
The golf ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance Place 75% of your weight on your left foot (right-handed golfers) The grip end of the golf club points to the middle of your left leg. Grip down on the golf club to the END of the grip. The reason you want the golf ball in the middle of your stance is for a more consistent impact. If you place the golf ball too far forward in your stance, you will have a tendency to hit the ball thin, or top the ball and you will pull the ball to the left. If you play the ball too far back in your stance, you will have a tendency to top or shank the ball and push it to the right.
When you place 75% of your weight on your left foot, you are ensuring yourself that you will hit down on the ball and not up. Make sure you keep the weight on your front foot in the back swing.
Gripping down on the golf club will ensure a cleaner more controlled hit at impact. If you are struggling with hitting thin shots or topping your chips, when you move your handle further to the left (across from you left leg), you will allow the clubhead to hit the ball on a descending blow and not ascending.
Secret #3: Pitching – The Clubhead must Stay Low to the Ground After Impact
Choose one of the following clubs when you attempt a pitch shot: pitching wedge, sand wedge or a lob wedge. A pitch shot has maximum air time and minimum roll time. In other words, the golf ball has 2/3 air time and 1/3 roll on its journey to the hole. Just the opposite of a chip shot.
Airtime is very difficult to create if your technique is off even in the slightest. So, if you are tired of topping, sculling, and hitting the ground behind the golf ball when you pitch, this is the pearl for you.
Low Follow-Through = Maximum Airtime
If I had a dollar for every amateur that told me that they are trying to follow-through high after impact so that their pitch shots will go up in the air, I would be set for life.
Most of the time, a high follow-through after impact will force the ball to be hit on the upswing which results in a top, scull or ground-behind shot. If you setup to the golf ball just like you were going to chip, you are halfway there. Remember:
The golf ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance Place 75% of your weight on your front foot The grip end of the golf club points to the middle of your front leg. Place your grip HALFWAY down the grip of the club The back swing is usually longer than your chip shots. If you keep your weight on your left leg - you DO NOT need to transfer your weight. As the golf club begins to swing down into the ground, make sure you follow thru LOW to the ground after impact. You want to feel as though you chopped the back of the ball with the club head.
Secret #4: Bunker Play – The Backswing is a Full Swing Just Like Your Driver
This tip will help you sleep well the night before a big golf tournament. Your ability to play successfully from the sand weighs heavily on technique and a small amount on strength. If your technique is correct, you do not need to have a lot of strength. The two mistakes that hold amateurs back in the bunker are a line drive hit or leaving the ball in the bunker.
Most of the time they are afraid to swing too hard because they are afraid of the line drive shot. So, you end up swinging so slow that the ball only moves two feet. First and foremost, set up correctly.
The golf ball should be positioned across from you left heel Place 75% of your weight on your front foot The grip-end of the golf club points to your BELT BUCKLE. Do not transfer any weight. Stay on your front leg. What you are trying to do in the bunker is hit the sand not the ball. This setup will ensure that this happens.
The reason you play the ball across from your left heal is so the clubhead will swing DOWN into the sand at impact and not up.
Placing weight on your left foot ensures the clubhead swings down at the bottom of the swing. Placing the handle of the club across from your belt buckle allows the bounce on the bottom of the clubhead to impact the sand at the correct angle.
I promised you in the first sentence, these four short game tips that would change the way you played from inside 50 yards. Make yourself a promise to spend 15 minutes before every round this year practicing your short game and you WILL watch your scores fall.
If you have been struggling with your game and you would like to improve, our unique system can help you. We are so confident that it will help, we GUARANTEE that you will Drop 7 Strokes From Your Average Round of Golf.
That is completely possible if you let us help you. We hope that you will learn more about our unique way of swinging the club, and we look forward to hearing your success story.
Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com
David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. Go here to find more of his golf instruction.
In the next 15 minutes, I am going to change the way you play your shots from inside 50 yards. If you spend 15 minutes before every round of golf on these four tips, I guarantee you the strokes will fall off your scorecard.
We are going to cover putting, chipping, pitching and bunker shots. Before I get to my four short-game secrets I need to lay a little groundwork first.
From the putting green in front of the clubhouse at Ft. Myers Country Club, where I grew up playing, to the practice putting green at Starfire Golf Club, and all points in between, for 35 years, I have heard the same problem. “I putted so poorly today. If I had putted halfway decent I would have shot my best round ever!”
But…every time I pass the practice putting green where I teach, ALMOST NOBODY is practicing before they tee off. But here’s the thing- every single professional golfer spends at least 15 minutes - 1 hour on the practice putting green before they tee off. That’s not the tip. I just wanted you to get an idea of the time that it takes to get better.
IMPORTANT TIP: 90% of all putting greens in the world are built low in the front and high in the back. There are two reasons, in case you are wondering.
First, it holds the shots that are coming onto the green and secondly for drainage purposes. The reason I am telling you the greens are built low in the front and high in the back is for you to understand the idea that the majority of putts hit from the front of the green going to the back are going to be slower than putts hit from the back of the green going towards the front.
Since this is true, when you are facing the green, putts from the right side of the green will have a tendency to break to the left and putts from the left side of the green will have a tendency to break right. With this idea in mind lets move on to my TOP FOUR SHORT GAME SECRETS!
Secret #1: Putting – Focus on Distance not Direction
Do you know why most amateurs three-putt more times on their first nine holes than their last nine holes? By the time they get to the last nine they have the feel of the greens! My colleagues have always agreed that in order to become a great putter you must have the ability to read greens. However, I have always believed you must also have GREAT TOUCH.
I have just given you an incredible tip. You have to develop your touch in order to control your speed. I can not tell you how many times I have asked an amateur golfer after they hit their putt if they thought the putt was going uphill or downhill. Most amateurs reply with, “I completely forgot about the speed!” Most of them struggle more with speed more than direction. So how do you apply this advice?
Always look towards the front of the green so you can decide if you are going uphill or downhill. Empty your mind of every mechanical thought you have and just stroke the ball. FORGET the mechanics when putting. Don’t ever hit a putt until you have visualized your golf ball going into the hole first. Make it in your mind before you hit it. Secret #2: Chipping – Keep Your Weight on your Front Foot in the Backswing
A chip shot is a short shot around the green that has minimum airtime and maximum roll time. Another way to describe it is 1/3 air, 2/3 roll. You can use one of the following clubs when chipping: 5-iron, 7-iron or 9-iron. Common complaints that I receive from amateurs about chipping are that they top the ball, hit the ball thin, hit the ground behind the ball, blade the ball over the green or completely shank the ball.
The mis-played shots I just described to you are usually the result of an incorrect set-up. There are three positions in chipping that are the foundation of a successful chip shot. Let’s review them:
The golf ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance Place 75% of your weight on your left foot (right-handed golfers) The grip end of the golf club points to the middle of your left leg. Grip down on the golf club to the END of the grip. The reason you want the golf ball in the middle of your stance is for a more consistent impact. If you place the golf ball too far forward in your stance, you will have a tendency to hit the ball thin, or top the ball and you will pull the ball to the left. If you play the ball too far back in your stance, you will have a tendency to top or shank the ball and push it to the right.
When you place 75% of your weight on your left foot, you are ensuring yourself that you will hit down on the ball and not up. Make sure you keep the weight on your front foot in the back swing.
Gripping down on the golf club will ensure a cleaner more controlled hit at impact. If you are struggling with hitting thin shots or topping your chips, when you move your handle further to the left (across from you left leg), you will allow the clubhead to hit the ball on a descending blow and not ascending.
Secret #3: Pitching – The Clubhead must Stay Low to the Ground After Impact
Choose one of the following clubs when you attempt a pitch shot: pitching wedge, sand wedge or a lob wedge. A pitch shot has maximum air time and minimum roll time. In other words, the golf ball has 2/3 air time and 1/3 roll on its journey to the hole. Just the opposite of a chip shot.
Airtime is very difficult to create if your technique is off even in the slightest. So, if you are tired of topping, sculling, and hitting the ground behind the golf ball when you pitch, this is the pearl for you.
Low Follow-Through = Maximum Airtime
If I had a dollar for every amateur that told me that they are trying to follow-through high after impact so that their pitch shots will go up in the air, I would be set for life.
Most of the time, a high follow-through after impact will force the ball to be hit on the upswing which results in a top, scull or ground-behind shot. If you setup to the golf ball just like you were going to chip, you are halfway there. Remember:
The golf ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance Place 75% of your weight on your front foot The grip end of the golf club points to the middle of your front leg. Place your grip HALFWAY down the grip of the club The back swing is usually longer than your chip shots. If you keep your weight on your left leg - you DO NOT need to transfer your weight. As the golf club begins to swing down into the ground, make sure you follow thru LOW to the ground after impact. You want to feel as though you chopped the back of the ball with the club head.
Secret #4: Bunker Play – The Backswing is a Full Swing Just Like Your Driver
This tip will help you sleep well the night before a big golf tournament. Your ability to play successfully from the sand weighs heavily on technique and a small amount on strength. If your technique is correct, you do not need to have a lot of strength. The two mistakes that hold amateurs back in the bunker are a line drive hit or leaving the ball in the bunker.
Most of the time they are afraid to swing too hard because they are afraid of the line drive shot. So, you end up swinging so slow that the ball only moves two feet. First and foremost, set up correctly.
The golf ball should be positioned across from you left heel Place 75% of your weight on your front foot The grip-end of the golf club points to your BELT BUCKLE. Do not transfer any weight. Stay on your front leg. What you are trying to do in the bunker is hit the sand not the ball. This setup will ensure that this happens.
The reason you play the ball across from your left heal is so the clubhead will swing DOWN into the sand at impact and not up.
Placing weight on your left foot ensures the clubhead swings down at the bottom of the swing. Placing the handle of the club across from your belt buckle allows the bounce on the bottom of the clubhead to impact the sand at the correct angle.
I promised you in the first sentence, these four short game tips that would change the way you played from inside 50 yards. Make yourself a promise to spend 15 minutes before every round this year practicing your short game and you WILL watch your scores fall.
If you have been struggling with your game and you would like to improve, our unique system can help you. We are so confident that it will help, we GUARANTEE that you will Drop 7 Strokes From Your Average Round of Golf.
That is completely possible if you let us help you. We hope that you will learn more about our unique way of swinging the club, and we look forward to hearing your success story.
Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com
David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. Go here to find more of his golf instruction.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Choosing Your Golf Clubs
By: Jimmy Cox
Selecting the proper equipment is a big step toward playing better golf. This phase of golf is so often overlooked that I feel impelled to point out how important it is to have clubs that fit you and your swing.
There Is A Difference In Clubs
To the layman, a golf club is a golf club. They all look alike to him. This is true to a point, but don't let this similarity of appearance fool you. As any experienced golfer will tell you, there is a difference in golf clubs, just as there is a physical difference in the individuals who swing them.
Since no two golfers swing alike, it might seem that almost all players would require clubs made to order, to compensate for these individual differences. This, of course, is not true. What is necessary is a good, balanced set of clubs that have been selected by the golfer with the help and counsel of an experienced professional.
Always remember, it is entirely possible to have good equipment and still not have a correct, fitting set of clubs. You must fit the golf clubs to you and your swing, not yourself to the clubs.
So many golfers in their haste to get out and play make a hasty purchase and then, upon learning more about the game and the importance of having properly fitted clubs, find they must buy another set.
Find A Set To Fit You
MEASURING UP. The golf clubs of today are far different from what they were some 30 years ago. The transition from wooden shafts to steel shafts, and improved club design, which have given clubs better balance and feel, are among the major reasons for the improved play of all golfers, particularly the professsionals.
Factory-made clubs are now fairly standardized and are designed to fit almost every golfer. Unless you are extremely tall or short, a factory set should suit your needs, for clubs don't vary too much from standard specifications. In any case, don't purchase a new set of clubs haphazardly.
SHAFT FLEXIBILITY AND SWING WEIGHT. The speed of your swing will determine the flexibility of your shaft and the swing weight of the clubhead.
If you are rather strong, the shaft should be on the stiff side with the swing weight a little heavier than medium. Conversely, if you are not so strong, it would be best to use a more flexible shaft with a lighter swing weight. Shafts come in several different flexes and different weights.
Generally, the dividing point for swing weight is D-3. Anything under that is getting on the light side, and anything over D-3 becomes correspondingly heavier as the number increases. In other words, a driver that has a swing weight of D-7 would be too heavy for the average golfer. It would be better for him to use a medium-stiff shaft with a swing weight between DO and D-4.
Women's clubs are usually swing-weighted from C-5 to D-0. The shafts in their clubs are more flexible than men's, and they are also lighter. The medium swing weight for them would be C-7 to C-8.
LENGTH AND LIE OF CLUBS. Golf clubs are usually made up in three different lies: flat, medium, and upright. The standard-length driver is 43 inches, and the two-iron, the longest iron club, is 382 inches long. The length and lie of clubs are determined by the distance the hands are from the ground.
This hands-to-ground measurement will usually not vary more than 2 or 3 inches from a tall to a short person. Thus, it is not uncommon to have a golfer of medium height using the same length and lie as a taller player because their hands-to-ground measurements are the same.
Generally speaking, the great majority of golfers can use standard-length clubs with a medium lie. If you are a rather short or tall person, you may require a special set. Here again, it would be wise to consult an experienced professional. You will find it to be time well spent in the long run.
Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com
Selecting the proper equipment is a big step toward playing better golf. This phase of golf is so often overlooked that I feel impelled to point out how important it is to have clubs that fit you and your swing.
There Is A Difference In Clubs
To the layman, a golf club is a golf club. They all look alike to him. This is true to a point, but don't let this similarity of appearance fool you. As any experienced golfer will tell you, there is a difference in golf clubs, just as there is a physical difference in the individuals who swing them.
Since no two golfers swing alike, it might seem that almost all players would require clubs made to order, to compensate for these individual differences. This, of course, is not true. What is necessary is a good, balanced set of clubs that have been selected by the golfer with the help and counsel of an experienced professional.
Always remember, it is entirely possible to have good equipment and still not have a correct, fitting set of clubs. You must fit the golf clubs to you and your swing, not yourself to the clubs.
So many golfers in their haste to get out and play make a hasty purchase and then, upon learning more about the game and the importance of having properly fitted clubs, find they must buy another set.
Find A Set To Fit You
MEASURING UP. The golf clubs of today are far different from what they were some 30 years ago. The transition from wooden shafts to steel shafts, and improved club design, which have given clubs better balance and feel, are among the major reasons for the improved play of all golfers, particularly the professsionals.
Factory-made clubs are now fairly standardized and are designed to fit almost every golfer. Unless you are extremely tall or short, a factory set should suit your needs, for clubs don't vary too much from standard specifications. In any case, don't purchase a new set of clubs haphazardly.
SHAFT FLEXIBILITY AND SWING WEIGHT. The speed of your swing will determine the flexibility of your shaft and the swing weight of the clubhead.
If you are rather strong, the shaft should be on the stiff side with the swing weight a little heavier than medium. Conversely, if you are not so strong, it would be best to use a more flexible shaft with a lighter swing weight. Shafts come in several different flexes and different weights.
Generally, the dividing point for swing weight is D-3. Anything under that is getting on the light side, and anything over D-3 becomes correspondingly heavier as the number increases. In other words, a driver that has a swing weight of D-7 would be too heavy for the average golfer. It would be better for him to use a medium-stiff shaft with a swing weight between DO and D-4.
Women's clubs are usually swing-weighted from C-5 to D-0. The shafts in their clubs are more flexible than men's, and they are also lighter. The medium swing weight for them would be C-7 to C-8.
LENGTH AND LIE OF CLUBS. Golf clubs are usually made up in three different lies: flat, medium, and upright. The standard-length driver is 43 inches, and the two-iron, the longest iron club, is 382 inches long. The length and lie of clubs are determined by the distance the hands are from the ground.
This hands-to-ground measurement will usually not vary more than 2 or 3 inches from a tall to a short person. Thus, it is not uncommon to have a golfer of medium height using the same length and lie as a taller player because their hands-to-ground measurements are the same.
Generally speaking, the great majority of golfers can use standard-length clubs with a medium lie. If you are a rather short or tall person, you may require a special set. Here again, it would be wise to consult an experienced professional. You will find it to be time well spent in the long run.
Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com
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