Synthetic Putting Green

photo credit: VividImageInc     The synthetic putting green craze is stronger than ever.   In the sun-belt,  sales of these wonderful  practice aids are booming.   The manufacturers of these greens can install very sophisticated greens with breaks and contours and  with grass texture  that mimics the real thing.  

Most golfers cannot afford the installation and up-keep of a real green and that makes a synthetic putting green ideal.   They require practically no maintenance other than a once-over with a vacum cleaner.  

Also available are synthetic practice putting mats.   They come in various lengths from 6 to 20 feet.   They are especially suitable for indoor use in the home or office.   Considering that nearly half of all strokes are putts,  Synthetic putting greens  are a must.   Kids love them too!

Three Shots With One Club

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf     By manipulating the clubface and adjusting your stance accordingly, it is possible to vary the trajectory and length of your pitch shots using   just one club.   Try the following drill:

1)   Hit a few standard pitch shots and note the trajectory and distance of each shot.   2)   With the same club hit some low-flying shots by placing the ball back in your stance with your hands pressed forward.   Keep your hands and wrists firm during your swing by gripping the club a bit more firmly.   This is a shoulders/arms/ swing.   Keep your hands low at the finish.   3)   Now try hitting much higher shots  by moving the ball forward in your stance,  intersecting your left heel.    Hold the club  very lightly and finish with your hands high.

Use the “Tunnel”

The short game is where you make your “saves.”   Unfortunately, many players ignore the importance of practicing the short game.   What follows is a great method to practice short game accuracy and to compete against yourself.

Use four golf clubs and lay them about two feet apart running parallel to each other, funneling them  toward the hole (it will be four clubs on each side of the imaginary tunnel, end to end).   Your target (the cup), should be centered at the end of the tunnel.   Make sure one pair of clubs are close to the ideal landing spot.  

Play your shots toward the hole,  adjusting the positions of the clubs as you go along.   Try both  pitch  and chips  shots with several different clubs from  your  hitting  location.

Play Golf on the Range

photo credit: Hawaiiwave19     Once on the practice range, start by imagining you are on the first hole of your favorite golf course.    Begin  with your driver while visualizing the first tee of hole number 1.   Once you hit your drive, estimate where your ball would be if it had landed on the first fairway.   Play your next shot with the same club that you would typically use on your home course.   Putting strokes are not played, however, you can calculate what your average putts would be and add them in after you complete the “practice round.”

This method of practice teaches you to focus and prevents you from hitting one shot after another in quick succession.   The fact that you have to change clubs, slows your pace nicely.

Work on Your Release

photo credit: nsaplayer     When executing a short approach shot, there is always a tendency to try to guide the ball towards the target.   This is usually non-productive because it's very difficult to strike the ball with confidence  if you are trying to “guide” the ball to the cup.   A preoccupation with accuracy usually creates inaccuracy which stems from a bad “release.”

Try this drill:  > For Right-Handers    <   (A)   Place your right hand half way down the grip and your left hand behind your back.   (B)   Do not use a ball and make a 3/4 backswing allowing your right elbow to fold naturally.   (C)   Swish the club through the impact area, lightly touching the grass.   (D)   Now try it with a ball while  still maintaining a one handed grip.

Practice With one Hand

If you want to sharpen-up your  pitching and chipping game, the next time you go to the practice range, try hitting these shots with just one hand.   Take your normal grip using both hands.   Now, release your right hand from the club.   Pick a target and chip/pitch about 15 balls.   Keep your left wrist perfectly straight all through the impact zone and beyond.   This drill is perfect for the golfer that tends to drag their hands behind the ball as the shot progresses.

Now grip the club with your right hand and do the same thing, hit about 15 shots with each club.   Notice how much heavier the clubhead feels just using the right hand.   These two exercises teaches perfect control and acceleration.

Rule for Practice

photo credit: matsubokkuri     It's never a good idea to practice in windy conditions, especially when the wind is blowing at your back.  

For right-handers, when the wind is blowing at your back from left to right, the tendency is to swing over the top of the ball (outside in).   This is to compensate for the wind direction, however, it creates a slice/pull swing.   When the wind is blowing from right to left just opposite is true.   The golfer will swing too much on the inside created  a hook/push swing path (inside out).

Practicing with the wind in your face isn't helpful either because  of the tendency  to punch the ball without taking a full swing.    The best rule of thumb is to  practice on windless days.

Point of Impact

Do you know exactly where your your clubface is striking the ball?   Many players are happy just to make good contact but in order to be consistent, you need to strike the ball in the same spot on the clubface.

You can purchase  impact tape that is placed on the clubface.   When the ball is struck  a mark will be left where the contact with the ball  was made.  

If you cannot find the tape you can purchase talcum powder.   Powder the golf ball with the Talcum.   When the ball is struck there will be a distinct mark left on the place of impact.   Once you locate the impact point you can make the necessary adjustments.   Solid shots come from hitting the clubface directly in the center.

Slow Motion Drill

photo credit: rioncm     The slow motion drill can be done in your own home.   It requires patience but it's worth the effort.

The drill should be done  in super slow motion.   1)   Swing the club very slowly to the top of the backswing while keeping your eye on a target (blade of grass or pattern on a carpet) which represents the ball.   As you reach the top, your left heel should be off the ground.   2)   Replace your left heel on the ground, at the same time bring your right elbow in close to your body.   Do this in super slow motion.   3)   Bring the club 1/3 the way down and stop and just hold the club, feel it.   4)   Now start from your holding position and go to the top.   Do four repetitions per day.

Pre-round Warm-up

photo credit: shibuya246     Every golfer should try to warm up prior to their round.   Use the following method on the practice range:

Arrive  at least one hour before your round and begin by spending about 5 minutes  hitting 30 to 100  yard shots with your sand/pitching wedge.   Move to your 7-iron and then to a 5-iron, hitting at least 10 balls with each club.   Practice draws and fades towards the end of your practice with the 5 and 7 irons.   Next,  with your 3-wood, hit about 10 shots directly off the turf.   Now move to the driver and hit at least 10 shots.   Lastly, go back to your pitching wedge and hit a few more  shots.   In the final segment, spend about twenty minutes chipping and putting.

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