photo credit: thefixer

Opening the clubface means rotating the face of the club away from the target (for right-handers, rotate the club clockwise, to the right).  When this is done, the loft (angle) of the clubface is lowered.  The more you lower the loft of the clubface the higher the ball will travel but the harder you will have to swing.  Do not hit down on the ball, sweep it off the turf.

Let’s presume your ball is 4 ft. behind a large bush and the green starts 10 ft. on the other side of the bush.  You need to quickly elevate your ball to get over the bush, yet, the ball needs to land softly without rolling too far.  Simply de-loft your pitching or sand wedge by turning it away from the ball.  Keep in mind that your swing should be from the outside in, cutting across the ball ever so slightly.  This shot requires plenty of practice.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: Secret in the Dirt Penalties for slow play are extremely rare on the PGA Tour simply because most tour players are extremely slow to begin with.  Furthermore, in order to enforce the rule the PGA would need an official timing every player on every golf hole which is just not feasible.

Today, PGA Officials gave Guan Tianlang a 1 stroke penalty on the 17th hole.  The question is why Tianlang and why was it given on the 17th hole?  Why the penalty with one golf hole to play?  Is this reasonable or logical or fair?

It makes one wonder whether the decision was made to unnerve Tianlang  so that he would miss the cut in order to prevent the 14 year old from competing in the final two days of play.  Could it have been that they didn’t want this 14 yr. old kid from China stealing the thunder of the likes of Tiger Woods or some of the other PGA Tour “money machines?”  Could the PGA Tour sponsors have had something to do with the decision to try to knock the 14 year old out of the running?  Would they want this 14 year old to upstage their big guns?  You be the judge.  If the penalty really was because of slow play what about Jim Furyk, week after week, the slowest player in the field?

The reason for the penalty may never fully be known but considering the past reputation of the Augusta National Golf Club it leaves one wondering.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: Ed (supergolfdude)

Woods needs only 5 more Major wins to beat Nicklaus who holds the record at 18 Major victories.  Woods’ last Major title was the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines way back in 2008.

Will Tiger Woods surpass the Nicklaus record?  Perhaps, however, this writer is betting against it happening.  Since Woods self destructed in his personal life he went through many changes in his game including the firing of his long time caddie, Steve Williams.  It has been one struggle after another to get his game back in order.

Woods has stiffer competition in the Majors today than he did 5 yrs. ago.  Furthermore, Woods has completely lost the “intimidation factor,” which was held over the heads of all of his competitors.  He is no longer the Knight in shinning armor who walks on to the field, clean cut and gleaming with victorious pride.  Now, he’s just a “money machine” for the business magnets and media moguls.

Many golf enthusiasts will be hoping Nicklaus’ record remains unbroken, count me as one of them.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: corkboardmedia

Most will agree that it is more interesting to watch players on a course that truly tests their abilities.  Drives that fly 350 yards are commonplace on the PGA Tour and can be contributed to new improvements in clubs and golf balls.  Have these improvements made golf less interesting?  Is it time for the PGA to establish guidelines for the set up of Tournament courses?  The excitement from watching a tournament comes from watching good players struggling to play well on a difficult layout.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: USACE Europe District

# 1)  Improve Weight Shift – Just as the club reaches the top of the backswing, distribute your weight to your left foot.  This move, if timed correctly, will generate tremendous torque which will increase your clubhead speed dramatically.

# 2)  Close Your Stance – Once into the address position, move your right foot slightly back (closed stance).  This position will allow you to make a full body turn and contribute to a more powerful swing.

# 3)  Tuck Your Right Elbow – As the downswing begins, the right elbow should be tucked to your right side.  Kick your right knee in towards the target at the same time.  These two moves will create the proper weight shift to your left side.

# 4)  Delay Your Release – One of the best ways for more distance is when there is a delay in un-cocking the wrists. Shifting your weight properly to your left will automatically create a delayed release of your wrists.

# 5)  Lengthen Your Clubs – Make all of your clubs at least 1/2 in. longer.  A longer club means a wider swing arc which means more swing speed, resulting in greater distance.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: dennisborn

In a head-wind, always go with an extra club (if you would normally hit a 6 Iron go with a 5 or even 4 Iron).  Play the ball towards the rear of your stance, the position of the ball is critical.  What you are trying to accomplish is a low shot with over-spin for more roll.  This is especially true when using your driver or fairway metals.  Keep in mind that we are not talking about relatively short approach shots but any shot where much distance is required, after all, it’s pretty difficult to hit a low 100 yd. wedge show with any sort of accuracy whatsoever.

In many cases, a “knock-down” shot can be used.  This type of shot is required when you want to keep the ball very, very low and out of the wind.  Play the ball far back in your stance and take a three-quarter swing at the ball with a 3,4 or 5 Iron.  Use a stronger grip ( right hand turned towards the left on the grip, just the opposite for lefties).

Playing in a head-wind can be problematic if you don’t follow a few simple rules:  1)  Play the ball back in your stance, 2)  Select one extra club (instead of a 5, use a 4 Iron).  3)  Use a knockdown shot.  4)  Turn right hand slightly to the left on the grip.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: Jenn Durfey

You gain good timing by keeping the movements in your swing smooth.  It”s exactly like being a good dancer.  Dancers move in a graceful and elegant manner, no stutters, no jerks, just a smooth flow.  That’s exactly how your golf swing should be.  It’s not as difficult to accomplish as you may think.

On the practice range, break your swing down in sections, for instance:  # 1  The first section would be your takeaway to the top.  # 2  The second part would be from the top to the ball (contact).  # 3 The last section would be the follow through to the top.

You can break it down any way you like but practice each section individually and make sure you work on keeping the flow nice and smooth.  Don’t worry about distance because when your swing is smooth, your timing will improve and your distance and accuracy will automatically get better.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: Aaron_S.

There was one surprises in this year’s PGA event.  Adam Scott once again crashed and burned as he did in The Open Championship only a few short weeks ago.  Everyone expected that Scott would have learned a lesson not to play in a tentative fashion when in the lead.  Apparently he could not overcome the jitters and fell back in the field.

Mcllroy topped his nearest opponent David Lynn  by 8 shots finishing at -13 on the tough Kiawah Island, S.C., Ocean Course.  In so doing, he beat Jack Nicklaus’ old record which proves once again that Mcllroy is bound for stardom in the world of golf.

My view that Mcllroy’s career will be stellar is based on the fundamentals of his excellent golf swing and of course, his mental attitude.  He’s amiable, humble, appreciative, friendly to the spectators and will be a perfect ambassador for the game of golf.  Add it all up and you get superstar!

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: TourProGolfClubs

Pressure is almost always the cause for choking.  Sometimes your own mind can be your worst enemy.  It could be a huge bet you’re thinking about, maybe you hold the lead and you don’t want to lose.  Perhaps you are in a grudge match with a friend or playing in an important tournament at your local golf club.  It could be any number of factors that cause your knees to weaken and beads of sweat to pour down your brow.

You choke because your mind is obsessed with the consequences of losing as in Furk’s case.  How could one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour crash and burn as he did in the U.S. Open?  In his case the entire world was watching, he had millions of dollars at stake and you can bet he was thinking about that beautiful silver Open trophy.  His mind got the best of him because he could not control the pressure.

Learning to control pressure means the difference between winning and losing in almost every case.”

Related Posts

• No Related Post

photo credit: USACE Europe District

Think of the people who you generally play with and notice that, no matter what their level of play, they invariably have one club that they use really well.  Figure out what your club is and turn it into your moneymaker.

Related Posts

• No Related Post