Tension Can Ruin Your Swing

photo credit: B_cool   Tension produces the worst kind of missed shots.  Every golfer should realize and accept, that every shot during a round is not going to be perfect.  Ben Hogan, one of the greats in the game, said  that even in his best rounds, he hit only four or five shots ”just right.”  The fact is that the better the golfer, the better the miss-hits; they end up closer to the target. 

Many people mistake tension for a feeling of power and control.  True strength and control is derived from good coordination.  Real power comes from good timing and the ability to create maximum torque with a fluid swing.  Trying to “kill” the ball never, ever works.  Rely on your ability to swing the club smoothly, rather than trying to “hit at the ball.”  You’ll see immediate results.

Hands Low-Toe High

photo credit: jayniebell   “The address position is 80 percent of any golf shot”, so said Jack Nicklaus in his book GOLF MY WAY.  Much is made of maintaining a correct grip, aim, stance and posture (rightfully so), however, what is almost never talked about is the position of the arms and hands.

Unlike the golfer in the photo (left), set the hands low by pushing the heel of the hands slightly downward which forces the arms to hang straight down.  You will notice that there will be a slight cupping of the wrists, the toe of the clubface will be slightly raised, hence, “hands low toe high.”

On the downswing the shaft bows downward.  The down-bowing brings the sole of the club flush with the ground at impact which self-corrects the high toe at address.

Proper Preperation

photo credit: Okinawa Steve   Look in your golf bag and what do you find besides golf balls and tees?  Chances are you won’t find the important items that are really needed.  Not being properly prepared is a bad habit that can make for a miserable day on the golf course.

The following are some essentials:  sweater, windbreaker, rain gear, extra golf glove, pair of socks, extra towel, umbrella, sunscreen, band-aids, toilet paper (you read it right), kleenex, meds for headache, water, and snacks (candy, apple, granola).  Unless you use a “Sunday Bag,” these items will fit very nicely with room to spare.  It’s also a good idea to carry an old toothbruch to clean your club grooves.  With proper preperation there will never be a need to burrow.

Playing Unlevel Lies

photo credit: foxypar4Balance is an important concern when playing from unlevel lies.  Use a three-quarter swing in order to maintain good weight distribution.  It is critical that the angle of your body conforms with the slope angle.  Doing so, in effect, will put you level with the ball as if you were playing from a level lie.

If you are uphill your lead shoulder should be much higher to conform with the slope, on the contrary, if your lie is downhill your lead shoulder should be much lower.  The majority of your weight should remain on the low side.  For uphill lies use more club (instead of a 7 use a 6 iron) which will compensate for the shorter swing and lie angle.  Maintain balance at all costs.

Manicured Golf Courses

photo credit: danperry.com Some say that championship golf tournaments are played on courses that are much too perfect. With finely cut fairways, silky sand bunkers and marble-like greens, these conditions invariably make it too easy for the average Tour Pro. Statiticians generally contribute the lower scoring of today’s Pro’s to better equipment. I contend that the playing conditions play a much bigger role in lower scores.

In the 1960s and 70s when Tour Pro’s like Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino were at the top of the leaderboards, course conditions were nowhere near what they are today. No wonder why today’s players win with a 15-20 under par total. Less manicured courses will make the game more competitive, interesting and fun to watch. John Deere beware!

Golf Swing Gone “Wild”

photo credit: diluviTry using more hip and shoulder turn to increase your shot distance. Many amateurs make the mistake of swinging primarily with their arms. Power is generated from the proper shoulder and hip turn away from the golf ball.

Too many amateurs think that “strong arming” the ball is the way to more distance but nothing could be farther from the truth. During the backswing the shoulders should make a full turn and face away from the target. The hips also make the turn away from the target although not nearly as far as the shoulders. In order to achieve clubhead speed you need leverage which can only be created from a good body turn.

During the swing your arms should remain passive for much greater shot distance.

Backswing: Low and Slow

photo credit: pocketwiley Starting the club back low and slow allows you to increase the arc of your swing and achieve proper club position at the top of your backswing. One of the biggest mistakes that many amateurs consistently make is that they take the club back too steeply which usually occurs when there is an immediate wrist break at the beginning of the backswing.

By increasing the arc of your swing (low takeaway) you will gain greater clubhead speed for more distance. Keeping your backswing slow allows you to get into the proper position at the top so that you can set your club and swing from inside the target line. If you have a habit of
jerking the club back try the “low and slow” approach. You will immediately notice a difference with greater balance, shot distance and accuracy.

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