Swinging the Club

photo credit: Justin Tallaksen   Choose any club in your bag and make a full swing using a very firm grip.  Now use the same club and hold it very gently and take the same swing.  Did you notice how much heavier the club felt when you used a grip with very little grip pressure?

Try pounding a nail with a hammer using a firm grip – now pound another nail using very light grip pressure.  You will drive the nail quicker using the light pressure on the handle, why?  Because a lighter grip will generate more head speed which will create more force when the nail is struck.  The same holds true for a golf club.

The only way you can actually feel your club and the clubhead is to maintain very light grip pressure.  TIP:  If your club feels heavy to you during the swing you are most likely using the correct grip pressure.

Do’s and Don’ts on the Range

photo credit: rioncm     1)   Quality not quantity is important.   Make each practice shot to a specific target.   Start with the wedge/s and work your way to the driver, don't start with the driver.   2)   Don't modify your swing on the range, leave that to your golf instructor.   3) When implementing changes in your swing, use only one club such as a 7 iron.   4)   Place your practice balls on the ground far enough apart to encourage “fresh starts” between strikes.   5)   Simulate a few tough golf holes; imagine   hitting to a very difficult par 3 on you home course.   6)   Work through the bag hitting different shots;   fade, draw etc.   7)   Hit half shots, punch-shots and knock-down shots.   8)    Allow for  more time chipping and putting.

Golf Bag Paraphernalia

photo credit: _rockinfree     It's probably safe to say that more players are   under-equipped than over-equipped when it comes to bag contents.   Every golfer should settle on what they really need for a day on the links, and nothing more.    

Clubs > be sure  to take a full set.   Balls > usually  six or eight balls  are sufficient for a full round.   Gloves >  one pair of  regular gloves and one pair of all-weather gloves.   Tees > a bag of tees and perhaps two ball markers.   Refreshments > liquids, food, snacks.   Clothing > cold/wet weather gear, over-trousers,  windbreaker, sweater.   Umbrella > bag  cover to keep your clubs dry.   Extras > Sunscreen lotion, lip  creams, sunglasses, extra towel.    First-Aid > band-aids, aspirin, cell phone for emergency.

Topping the Ball

photo credit: danperry.com     Even though this is the  shot of beginners, topping the ball can happen to the best of players, even professionals.   It is one of the most embarrassing shots in golf, especially off the first tee  with everyone watching.   It's a demoralizing shot, to say the least.

There are two basic reasons for hitting topped shots: 1)   Bad Posture.   2)   Teeing the ball too low.

Bad Posture – Fix:   Maintain your address posture through impact, do not raise-up (otherwise called lifting your head).    When your body raises-up so does your clubface.  

Teeing the ball too low – Fix:   Simply tee the ball up higher.    When  using a driver,  half of the ball should show above the top edge of the clubface.

When you are Losing

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf     If you are on hole 14 and losing  a  huge Nassau bet you made with your opponent, you should:   1)   start complaining about how your wife's BMW was stolen the  night before.   2)    tell your opponent you are waiting to hear  the test results from your proctologist.   3)    inadvertently  mention that you are suicidal.    4)   ask your opponent if he's ever played Russian Roulette with  five bullets in a six shot revolver.    5)   take the turban from your golf bag, put it on your head  and yell, “God is Great.”    6)    pretend you  are having chest pains and ask your opponent to call an ambulance.   7)    tell your opponent he looks a little  on the yellow-side, then proceed to ask him if  he has seen a doctor lately?

Fairway Sand Wedge?

photo credit: GregHickman     Using a sand wedge in the fairway is not such a good idea for most amateur players.  

Sand wedges have a good amount of bounce under the sole of the club.   The bounce (depending on how severe),  can hit  the ground too soon.   This means that the clubface will bounce into the ball instead of making clean contact.

The sand wedge is used to get out of sand bunkers through the use of it's flange.   The club is bounced into and off-of the sand which explodes the ball out of the trap.  

On  the fairway, caution must be used when playing off of a clean lie.   The ball must be hit  precisely in order to execute a good shot.   I always advise my students not to use a sand wedge off of a fairway.

Elevated Greens

photo credit: danperry.com     Playing to an elevated green is  a lot less complicated  if some basic rules are followed.    A shot to an elevated green should be viewed with caution, however.   The tendency is to try to  hit the ball higher than normal, trying to do so can lead to trouble.  

A shot to an elevated green, with the flag partially hidden,  always requires the use of one extra club  (instead of a 6 iron, use a 5 iron).   Do not try to   position the ball forward in your stance, play the ball as you would if you were hitting  a normal shot.   Do not try to draw the ball because a draw  shot will fly considerably lower than normal.   Make your typical swing and don't go ballistic if you don't hit the green.

How to Give Instructions

photo credit: mahalie     If a beginner asks you for your help, there are a few specifics that you should know.   Anyone who is anxious to learn,  is usually open to all suggestions, so make sure your instructions are accurate.   First and foremost, however, do your friend a favor and suggest a  PGA  Professional instructor if you don't feel qualified to help.   Otherwise:

(A)   To start, don't go into too much detail.   The game is hard enough, so keep it simple.   (B)    Gauge your instructions according to the individual in front of you.   No two  people, or golf swings,  are alike.   (C)    Above all, be patient.   (D)   Set up  a  weekly schedule.   Golf  is all about discipline.   (E)   Keep your expectations low.   Remember  how difficult it was when you began to play.   (F)   Inspire.   In most cases inspiration means more than the instructions themselves.

Clubface Grooves

photo credit: Zunami      Grooves on the upper section of the clubface are primarily used for alignment, they do not play a role in achieving backspin.   The cut-off point is the 5th groove from the bottom.   If the ball is struck any higher than the 5th groove, the shot is futile.   The upper half of the clubface does not play a role in the shot.

If you use a tee on par three holes, do not tee the ball any higher than 1/2 inch above the ground (1/4 inch is ideal).   Tee the ball higher and it will be struck with the upper half of the clubface.

When in deep rough, with the ball sitting up, grip down on the handle, this  will shorten the club's length so the ball can be hit with the lower half of the clubface.

Pick up Your Pace

photo credit: mandj98     Some golfers think that playing slower means playing better, wrong!   The following are tips for faster play:

(1)   Check your shot yardage immediately.   (2)   Know how far you hit each club.   Attach your yardage chart (club distance) to your golf bag.   (3)   Take one practice swing,  many golfers take none and play just as well.   (4)   Keep your eye on your shot and use a landmark to mark its position.   (5)   Don't waste time telling stories about the good shot you made last week, just play golf.   (6)   Don't mark your ball on short putts, putt out.   (6)   If you are off the green carry two clubs from your cart, the putter and wedge.

PGA Tour Pro, Riuji Imada, in the 2006 Verizon Heritage, played a round in 1 hour and fifty-one minutes and shot a 2-under 69!

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