Posted to this web page will be a new tip or drill to improve your game. These tips will be for golfers of all skill levels.
READING GREENS
1. As you approach the green, determine the slope of the surrounding terrain; the green usually will slope in the same general direction.
2. Envision water being poured over the green and visualize where it will run off; putts will break in those directions.
3. Check grain by looking for color – a light sheen down-grain, darker and coarser up-grain. Bent grass grows with the slope or the way water runs off, whereas Bermuda grass grows towards the setting sun.
4. Look at your putt from behind the hole and then from behind the ball. The look from behind the hole should be done while other players are putting. Trust your first impression; it is usually the best one.
5. Slope comes into play more as the putt slows down, so the area around the hole is the most important.
6. Trust your instincts and ability; let it happen.
SHOT MAKING: A GAME PLAN FOR PLAYING GOLF
All great players possess a number of shot making qualities as common denominators. Such great players as Jones, Hogan, and Nicklaus have demonstrated an ability to plan and picture the shot at hand, establish an effective pre-shot routine prior to the golf swing, and execute the swing free from negative mental interference.
The ability to let it happen subconsciously is fundamental to maximizing the performance level of athletes and is built in large part upon the confidence level of the player. Jack Nicklaus wrote in his Playing Lesson series with Ken Bowden, “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to attain and sustain it: work.”
The advance player wants to work on a “blueprint” for shot making and playing the game of golf. Plan your shot from behind the ball by determining how to best play the shot. Picture what kind of shot you would like to play while still behind the ball. Prepare to play the shot by developing a pre-shot routine. Pause for a moment to set before the motion of the golf swing. This pause signals the end of the pre-shot routine and the start of the actual swing. Then pull the trigger and let your swing happen.
An unrestricted, subconscious automatic golf swing can only happen when we allow our body and mind to react to shaping the shot towards the target, simply and naturally.
ON-COURSE MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION
Now that the player is prepared to take his practice skills onto the course, course management becomes an important element to their game. On-course evaluation begins with Hole Analysis, and then moves to a Pre-Shot Routine, Visualization, Club Selection, and then Shot Selection. Actual course management is the decision-making process that follow all of these thought processes.
Hole Analysis is where the player identifies the hole being played, how the hole should be played, and then maps out a mental picture of the plan to play the hole. This process should include where the player wants to drive the ball on the hole and what features the hole presents that plays to the player’s strengths and weakness.
After the player has mapped out the plan for the hole, he begins his Pre-Shot Routine. There are a number of Pre-Shot Routines that are acceptable in preparing to play out the plan. You’re PGA Professional can assist you in developing a Pre-Shot Routine.
Visualizing the shot also is a chance for the student to become focused on the shot to be played. Students should take a second before each shot to get mentally prepared to play the shot. The quality of their golf shots will improve as will the management of their overall game.
After the player has prepared to play the shot, Club Selection becomes the next important sequence. Though choosing a club seems rather obvious: evaluate how far to hit it, then chose the club for that distance
The Shot Selection of each player will be different. Remember, when choosing a shot to hit, the player should make sure it is a shot he has hit before.
On-course management requires intelligent thinking and an attitude that outs ego in the bag and reason on the course. Know your game and think around the course. And most importantly, play within yourself.
STATE OF MIND
Not only do I enjoy making players better golfers, I enjoy playing competitive golf. If you really know me, you know that I have dealt with my inner demons throughout the years on the course. Writing these golf tips not only help the players that read them, they are very therapeutic by reminding me what I should be doing on the course in my own game.
Golf has a way of making a player feel at the verge of panic and under pressure, especially when there are people watching or in a highly competitive situation. Players tend to feel vulnerable, exposed, and self-conscious. What I want to discuss is how to reach a state of MENTAL CALMNESS.
When you are addressing the ball you should feel a sense of quiet and calm inside. You want to combat the nervousness that breeds a frantic mental state. You want to relish the opportunity to display your skill. Don’t think each shot is a onetime do or die opportunity. You will have many opportunities to succeed. Ask yourself, what is the worst thing that can happen? With every shot the consequences of an embarrassing shot aren’t that severe. Most situation players are more concerned about their own shot then watching you. Now, shut out everything around you and think only about the shot you are playing. Getting ahead of yourself breeds too much excitement if things are going well, too much anxiety if they are going poorly. To reach the state of MENTAL CALMNESS players should establish a repetitive, rhythmic, systematic procedure of approaching the ball. A solid pre-shot routine establishes rhythm, trust, and confidence in your swing.
Using this thought process may not stop the adrenaline from pumping, but it will help you control it.
PITCHING BASICS
When I was in Florida at the Jim McLean Learning Center they taught us a lot of things. The one thing that I thought was the most important was the short game techniques. These are the same basics that I employ when teaching pitching, chipping and putting.
The key to any shot in golf is the set-up, creating the right positions at address. Nothing rings more true then in the short game.
Set-up Steps
1. Club set-up: Ensure your club face is square to the target. Now raise the heel of the club off the ground. This will give you a more upright position of the shaft.
2. Grip: Take the same grip you putt with.
3. Stance: you want your stance now more than 12 inches heel to heel, now open your stance by pulling back your front foot back about 4-6 inches. Then place about 85% of your weight on to your front foot.
4. Ball position: This is based on high you want the trajectory of the ball to travel during your shot. If you want to hit a low pitch, place in the ball towards the back of your stance. You want to hit a high pitch shot, place the ball towards the front of your stance.
5. Swing: Make a putting stroke keeping your front wrist flat throughout the swing and follow-through.
For more advance techniques call me and schedule a Short Game Lesson.
BETTER PRACTICE, BETTER RESULTS
Putting is the great equalizer and a good way to trim a few strokes off the ol’handicap. Everyone has heard that “practice makes perfect”. The quote I like better is “perfect practice, makes perfect”.
I have three drills that I like to use when I am practicing my putting…The lag drill, the line drill, and the 50 x 3 footer.
The lag drill: You need three tees and 10 golf balls. Set-up the tees 10 feet apart on a portion of the green that you will have a relatively straight putt uphill, then downhill. You will putt all ten balls at the 10 foot marker, then the 20 foot mark, followed by the 30 foot mark uphill and then reverse the direction and putt downhill. The benefit of this drill will be a lower 3 putt average.
The line drill: You will need a chalk line and 5 golf balls. Find a straight uphill putt and snap an 8 foot chalk line. You will then measure 6 feet from the cup and putt down the line at the hole. When practicing this drill, keep your putter blade moving back and forth on the line. By using the chalk line you will be able to visualize the line of the putt. It will also train you to have a better follow through to the cup. The benefits of this drill will be better visualization and a more complete putting stroke.
The 50 x 3 footer drill: This has been my go to drill that I learned while working at the University of Maryland. The story was that Fred Funk would not leave the putting green until he completed two sets of 50, 3 foot putts. What you need is 5 golf balls and a tee. Measure 3 feet from the hole on a straight uphill putt and mark it with a tee. Proceed to putt 5 balls into the hole from the 3 foot distance, retrieve the balls and putt again until you make 50 in row. If you miss the 47th putt, guess what? Start all over and continue to putt until you make all 50 in a row. The benefits of this drill are to improved your technique and increase your concentration.
A few things you should do while practicing these drills:
Ensure you are setting up the same way with each putt. To include your grip, stance and posture.
Focus on the tempo of your stroke.
Keep your eye on the ball while making your stroke.
Do not follow your ball to the cup (keep head still), listen for the ball to fall in the cup.
GETTING READY TO PLAY
In all sports it is very important to be properly warmed-up and ready to play when the flag goes up. Whether it is a casual round or tournament round I want you to get the most out of your performance on the golf course.
• Arrive at the course one hour ahead of your tee time. Get checked-in at the Pro Shop or Tournament Registration Table.
• Begin your full swing warm-up with stretching. Stretching can improve your range of motion and helps you avoid injury.
• Start your practice session by hitting 15-20 balls with a 9iron with feet 8 inches apart and making a full swing at about 75% Tempo.
• Work through your bag hitting 5 balls with your 5iron, Driver, Fairway Wood, 7iron, Wedge in that order. Concentrate on tempo and ball contact.
• Now make your way to the putting green.
• Putt 5 balls the full length of the putting green in all four directions. Trying to lag the balls to the edge of the green. Then hit 5 putts from 20 feet, 10 feet, 3 feet.
• Time your routine so you can arrive at the first tee just in time for your assigned tee time.
If time permits double the number of shots hit during your warm-up.
If you fail to warm up properly you are setting yourself up to fail. Use the preparation methods of a professional; make the time to warm-up for peak performance.