Golf Instruction Blog http://golfinstructionblog.com Golf Instruction Blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:48:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Feel the Clubhead http://golfinstructionblog.com/address-positioin/feel-the-clubhead http://golfinstructionblog.com/address-positioin/feel-the-clubhead#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:42:07 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1987 Challenge Cup 2008
Creative Commons License photo credit: petersbar   In order to play good golf you must develop a sensitivity or “feel” for the clubhead.  This is necessary for judging distance and hitting the ball crisp and clean.

Developing the proper feel for any given club is very elusive for most players but being able to do so, enables you to hit crisper shots in the center of the clubface.  It’s also extremely important in judging how hard to hit any golf shot, especially those shots where a full swing is not required.

A Helpful Test:  Grip your 5-iron firmly and wobble it in front of you.  You will tend to feel just the shaft.  Now grip it very loosely and repeat the wobble.  Now you can actually feel the clubhead at the end of the shaft.  Lesson:  maintain a very relaxed grip on the club.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/address-positioin/feel-the-clubhead/feed 0 Crisp Approaches http://golfinstructionblog.com/short-game/crisp-approaches http://golfinstructionblog.com/short-game/crisp-approaches#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:57:08 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1983 Approach shot
Creative Commons License photo credit: eMaringolo   To hit it crisp from tight lies and dry conditions it’s imperative not to let the club bounce off the turf before it makes contact with the ball.  Blading is the biggest reason why fat or topped shots occur. 

For short chip/pitch shots stand with a narrow stance, closer to the ball.  In order to eliminate the likelihood of blading the ball, play the ball off of the toe of the club.  Standing closer  to the ball automatically raises the toe so that during the swing the sole of the club will not make full contact with the ground.

For better control, grip down on the handle which will make the shaft shorter.  Hold the club in a delicate manner using light grip pressure.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/short-game/crisp-approaches/feed 0 Water Hazards http://golfinstructionblog.com/trouble-shots/water-hazards http://golfinstructionblog.com/trouble-shots/water-hazards#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:25:11 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1978 The_Players_2009B_004
Creative Commons License photo credit: nsaplayer   WATER HAZARDS > Yellow stakes/lines represent a water hazard.  Red stakes/lines represent a lateral water hazard.  In both cases you can (1)  play the ball as it lies with no penalty.  (2) take a one stroke penalty and play the shot again from where the original shot was last played or drop behind the water hazard with no limit to distance.  Keep the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot where the drop is made.  Lateral Water Hazard  > (1)  Drop within 2 club-lengths of the spot where your ball last crossed the hazard and no closer to the hole.  (2)  drop within two club-lengths of a spot on the opposite margin of the hazard, equidistant from and no nearer the hole.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/trouble-shots/water-hazards/feed 0 Play Bogey Golf http://golfinstructionblog.com/did-you-know/play-bogey-golf http://golfinstructionblog.com/did-you-know/play-bogey-golf#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:50:39 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1976 Player Golf Course, Geneva National Golf Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Creative Commons License photo credit: danperry.com   The trouble with most players is that they judge their game in relation to par.  It’s safe to assume that most players will never shoot 72 (par) no matter how much they practice, unfortunate but true.  The trouble is that they judge how well they play on how high they are above par.  If a scratch player shoots 79 he has reason to complain.

I contend that playing bogey golf should be the goal of the majority of players.  Every bogey made would be compared to a par for a scratch player.  Every par that’s made is comparable to a birdie for a scratch player.  The score to shoot for is 90 or, 18 over par (a bogey per hole).  Try this method during your next round, the lack of pressure will actually improve your game.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/did-you-know/play-bogey-golf/feed 0 The Resurrection of Woods http://golfinstructionblog.com/tiger-woods/the-resurrection-of-woods http://golfinstructionblog.com/tiger-woods/the-resurrection-of-woods#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:17:42 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1974 Calvin and Hobbes Relaxing in a Tree - Wallpaper
Creative Commons License photo credit: Thoth, God of Knowledge   Tiger Woods has made his announcement that he will soon be returning to the game of golf.  He wants to do it “quietly” without large throngs of reporters asking all kinds of embarrassing questions.

What he won’t tell everyone, however, is that he is a control freak, still up to his old tricks as usual.  Everything is done on “his terms.”  The April, 2010 edition of Golf Digest played right into his hands because their latest article makes Woods into “the victim,” instead of the perpetrator.  Of coarse, Golf Digest could care less about the signal their pathetic article would send to kids.

Poor Tiger Woods, he just couldn’t help himself, he just didn’t know what he was doing!  Now lets all have a good laugh!

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/tiger-woods/the-resurrection-of-woods/feed 0 Thin or Fat? http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction-tips/thin-or-fat http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction-tips/thin-or-fat#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:04:38 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1971 The Test Shot
Creative Commons License photo credit: inottawa   A fat shot is when the clubhead hits the ground behind the ball.  A thin shot is when the sole of the club hits the top half of the ball.  Both shots are “dribblers.”

Thin shots are caused by:  A)  Helping the ball in the air (scooping).  B)  Bending over too much during address (during the swing the body usually rises, therefore, if your address posture is too low your swing-arc will be raised causing a topped shot).

Fat shots are caused by: A)  playing the ball too far forward – at address, play the ball back farther.  B)  Picking up the club to quickly.  Turn your upper body going back, don’t tilt it.  C)  Reverse pivot = body moves away from, rather than towards the target on the downswing.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction-tips/thin-or-fat/feed 0 Be Your Own Teacher http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/be-your-own-teacher http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/be-your-own-teacher#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:46:07 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1969 Not daisies!
Creative Commons License photo credit: DavidHBolton   By studying your shot pattern you can self-correct your swing faults. 

With the correct swing (righ handers), the clubface approaches the ball from inside the target line, is square at impact and moves back inside on the follow-through (inside-square-inside).  A common fault is to keep the club moving outside the target line after impact (inside-out).  A square clubface to the inside-out path is a push.  Open clubface > a slice.  Closed clubface > a hook.

An outside-in swing brings the club from outside to inside the line.  Square clubface at impact > pull.  Open clubface = a slice.  Closed clubface > a very huge slice.

To correct the inside-out swing, simply bring the club straight back along the target line as long as possible.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/be-your-own-teacher/feed 0 Mastering the Long Irons http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/mastering-the-long-irons http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/mastering-the-long-irons#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:28:09 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1964 Good Form
Creative Commons License photo credit: D.Hilgart   If you prefer long irons, opposed to hybrids, keep reading.  Did you know that the 1 iron (now an obsolete club) has more loft than the average 3 metal-wood?  Yet long irons can terrorize the average golfer.  To hit long irons you must alter your setup.

The ball must be swept off the ground, shaving a very shallow divot.  Experiment by playing the ball in proximity to your lead heel.  Keep your hands in line with the ball or just slightly ahead of it.  Keep your head behind the ball at address.  Make a one piece takeaway keeping the clubhead low to the ground. 

With long irons, tee the ball up about a half an inch for use on long par three golf holes.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/mastering-the-long-irons/feed 0 Sweep the Ball http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/sweep-the-ball http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/sweep-the-ball#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:35:04 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1962 In The Grand Scheme Of Things
Creative Commons License photo credit: D.Hilgart   For most golfers, the fairway metal-wood is the hardest club to hit.  Do you hit up or hit down on the ball?  The answer:  you hit the ball at the bottom of your swing-arc and sweep the ball off the ground. 

Check Points:  1)  Be sure to set the clubhead flat on the ground at address.  2)  Play the ball left of center towards lead heel.  3)  Low sweeping takeaway.  3)  Use your entire body in the swing, do not make an arms-only swing which will tend to give you a more descending blow to the ball.  4)  From a good lie in a bunker, play the ball back, widen your stance and keep your legs “quiet” during the swing.

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]]> http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-instruction/sweep-the-ball/feed 0 Tension Trouble http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-swing-instruction/tension-trouble http://golfinstructionblog.com/golf-swing-instruction/tension-trouble#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:02:02 +0000 Admin http://golfinstructionblog.com/?p=1959 Scott Verplank - Royal Dornoch Golf Club, 10 July 2008
Creative Commons License photo credit: foxypar4   When some golfers want to hit the ball farther they tend to tense up and swing harder.  Nothing could be more injurious for more shot distance.  Tension is the root of all bad golf shots.

It starts with the grip.  You should hold the club lightly enough so that someone can gradually pull it from your grasp.  Your upper body must also remain relaxed.  Prior to your shot, inhale deeply, taking four or five deep breaths to relax your upper body.  To relax your legs try bouncing slightly up and down by flexing your knees.  This will keep them relaxed and useful during the swing.  For maximum swing results you must remain relaxed over the ball and during your swing at all times.

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