Posts Tagged ‘Golf Swing’
Prepare Your Golf Game for Spring!
I’m sorry to say it appears that the Farmers Almanac’s prediction for a harsh and snowy winter was on the money. This winter was not at all conducive for all of us die hard golfers to keep our games in shape for the coming golf season. Now is the time to start to exercise and preparing to allow yourself to play your best once the season arrives, which will hopefully be in a couple of weeks.
Some suggestions to help shake the winter rust off are as follows: 1) Take about ten to fifteen minutes each day and stretch. This will loosen the muscles and allow for a better fluidity in the swing and help avoid injury once the golf season arrives. 2) If weather permits take a few clubs or a weighted club and swing in the backyard which will also promote a better golf swing as the season is quickly approaching. 3) Get out the putting cup and practice rolling those putts whether in your living room, bedroom, den or any other available space in your home. Though not the same as putting on the golf green, you can still practice your set up, lining up your putt, your grip on the putter, keeping your head down, and your putting stroke, etc. 4)If you have an area in your backyard to actually hit golf balls then take advantage of this opportunity. If the golf range is open in your area this is another opportunity to check out your full swing and get the kinks out prior to the season arriving.
Have fun and Happy Golfing to all!
You have scheduled your tee time, arrived at the golf course, checked in with the Pro Shop and starter and are heading to the first tee, Congratulations! You are ready for the game of a lifetime. Once you are at the first tee there are some rules of Etiquette that should be addressed here. There are varied locations of teeing areas, usually between 2 and 5 placements, so check the score card for distances of the different tee areas and total yardages that are set up for players of different skill levels and abilities. Make sure to hit your golf balls from the tee location that is right for you.
The back tees are meant for the advanced player usually with an established handicap of between scratch and 7 and the total yardage is usually between approximately 6500 and 7400 yards.
The next forward tee box is normally for the experienced player who is between an 8 and 14 handicap and the total yardage is normally between 6200 and 6700 yards.
The next tee location is for the average golfer and can range from 5800 to 6300 yards and the markers are normally white.
Some courses have tee boxes for senior players and are usually gold or green.
Then lastly, the women’s tee location, whose markers are normally red in color and are usually the shortest on the course.
If a senior or female player is an experienced golfer they can choose any tee area that is appropriate for their skill level. For a new player or beginner I would strongly recommend the white or senior tees for the men and the red tees for the women. It would allow you to play from a tee location that is reasonable for the beginning golfer. Most of all have fun and Happy Golfing to All!
What is a Waggle? About thirty something years ago I may have asked myself that same question. Please note that “The Waggle” is by all means not a necessity to a good or correct golf swing. It is an important option that many golfers employ to help start or “Trigger” the backswing. It is a method to promote “Relaxation” and to initiate the swing and correct “Tempo” that will be employed for the entire golf swing. The Waggle, or any other method you would like to use that works for you, whether it is a deep breath to clear your mind of any interfering thoughts or you can do absolutely nothing, if that is so your desire.
We have been discussing the waggle but in actuality, what is it? There are a number of different ways that the waggle can be performed and don’t be afraid to invent and utilize any method that works for you. As noted earlier, it is a trigger that will promote relaxation and help you to initiate the proper golf swing. A technique I use that works best for me is to actually rehearse the entire swing. I take my grip, set up to the ball and actually preview the swing path and moves that I will be performing during my swing. Many times I note that I have taken the club back on an improper swing path or maybe my wrists did not set the club properly. This rehearsal allows me to correct the mistakes prior to my actual swing. Other golfers may just break the wrists off the ball, then return the club to the ball position or maybe take a half or three quarter swing to check if they feel the tempo for the desired swing. You may also choose to rehearse the entire swing as I do and any of these techniques are optional. Whatever your Waggle method may be, make it part of your swing routine. It may take some experimenting to see what is most comfortable and what works for you but you will realize the results with practice! When at the driving range hitting golf balls make sure you use the waggle with each swing. Have patience and fun as you learn to play. Happy Golfing to All!
I would like to add one very important and often overlooked part of the golf swing, be sure to “RELAX”. Do not let tension creep into any part of your swing, especially your grip. The club should be cradled gently in your hands with about as much pressure as if you were holding a babies hand or a small bird in your hand, an analogy I think used by Sam Snead, one of the all time golfing greats.
Make use of the old expression to “Let the club do the work”. You will be amazed at how swing speed and technique, together with a tension free body and mind, produce so much greater results when hitting golf balls. Also try to think of calming thoughts and nothing like a Hawaiian sunset to provide the right atmosphere to relax. Enjoy and Happy Golfing to All!
Tempo is not a single part of the swing but it is an integral and important part of your entire swing. It is the smooth rhythmic method of timing your pace of swing so that your body works in concert with the club to achieve the most distance, control and accuracy that your ability will allow. Good Tempo will also help promote a consistency in your swing which will in turn result in consistently better ball striking thus greater scoring capabilities. As in Music, Tempo is the beat, the speed and timing whereby your instrument is in sync with the other instruments. Also, as required in music, you have to acquire a feel for the rhythm of your swing. It can be as simple as counting one on the back swing and two for the downswing and follow thru, to create the right beat for you. I can tell you from experience that some days my swing Tempo is working better than others and the results on those days can be dramatic. Tempo requires a feel that you must experience before you can really understand the greater potential for a consistently more accurate and powerful all around golf swing.
One important swing key with all steps of the golf swing and an integral part of a good Tempo is to relax. A good Tempo may be difficult to achieve at first but it will come with practice. There are some excellent golf training aids that can help a golfer to learn Tempo. If you are having problems achieving that key ingredient in your swing one of these devices should help. Make sure to practice this important and integral component of the golf swing for a truly better game. Happy Golfing to All!
In order to overcome an obstacle in the way of your approach, such as a sand trap, tree or water hazard the shot will require a different strategy. This will also depend on the amount of distance to the obstacle, the trajectory required to clear it and still reach the flag location. The most important thing is to concentrate on is the shot at hand and follow thru to a finished position. The strategy I use to get over an obstacle quickly is to set up with a higher lofted club such as the sand or lob wedge with the ball position nearer left foot, similar to when using the driver. I then lay the club face open so the ball pops up faster than normal and open my shoulders slightly when I position myself for the shot. The term lay open means the clubface is approaching a flat position with the blade pointing upward and a bit right in relation to your stance and the ground.
{Fore: See Photo on left – In my opinion the best choice of the golf clubs available for this type of shot is the lob wedge. It will provide the greatest angle trajectory to allow the player to clear the obstacle while also giving them the best stop action when the ball lands on the green. If you do not carry a lob wedge select the most lofted club in your bag, such as the sand wedge instead.}
I also break my wrists back sharply and quickly, which also promotes height and less distance, which is your goal for this type of shot. Remember to follow through to a finished position or there is a good chance you will leave the shot short of your intended landing area. You can try this shot even if there is no obstacle in your way to get a feel for the line of ball flight you will achieve for future reference under actual playing conditions. How close you get to your target will be determined by the following:
- The distance away,
- Your set up and grip techniques,
- The amount of follow thru combined with the speed of your swing thru the ball at impact.
Accuracy and touch for distance will come with practice but the main goal is to get over the obstacle and onto the green and not land in a sand trap, tree, water or other hazard that may lie in front of you. This is one of the tougher shots required in golf so if you master this one it will help your game and score tremendously. Practice is the Key. Happy Golfing to All!
There are varied methods as to how to hold a golf club and each serves a specific purpose. Most golf professionals have command of different grips for a variety of shots, whereby they would expect different results depending on how they held the club in their hands. The pros can adjust their grip to alter the ball flight specific to the layout of the golf hole. For a right to left ball flight, also known as a draw, for a right handed golfer, the professional would take a stronger grip, which means their hands would be adjusted to the right of a neutral grip. If the pro would like the ball to do the opposite, then they would adjust their grip in the opposite direction and turn their hands to the left for a left to right ball flight, which is also called a fade. The position of the feet in relation to parallel to the target line may also be adjusted but let’s concentrate on the grip for now.
The grip shown on the left is a relatively neutral grip and would be most effective for a golf hole layout whic
h is relatively straight ahead. The right hand should also grip the club neutrally and the grip method shown in the photo left is known as the the interlocking grip method which is the preferred method of many of the top golf professionals, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and also my personal grip preference. It is quite obvious from viewing the photo on the left that the pinky finger of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the right hand which is why it is known as the interlocking grip. The golf grip and method a golfer uses to hold a golf club is an important step by the golfer in preparation to address the golf ball. This is a fundamental of golf and well worth the time and effort to practice for a more consistent golf swing.
TIP – Make sure to allow the top of the top of the golf club to protrude appoximately 1- 1/2 ” past the top of the left hand when the grip is taken. (See photo left) This will prevent the top of the grip from rubbing the glove and prevent excessive wear out of the glove in the meaty part of the glove hand. It will also allow more control of the golf club during the swing which will promote consistently better results from your shots.
So Get A Grip and Happy Golfing to All!
A good workout at the driving range is a usually a good idea especially if you want to progress with your golf game. It is a place where you can work on your swing faults, or a particular problem with your game without penalty. Going to the range can also be detrimental to your game if you do not have a game plan in mind when hitting golf balls there. When I have the time I always try to work on my game and hit golf balls to strengthen the golf muscles and promote muscle memory to hone a repetitive swing. But I always have an agenda of what I would like to accomplish with my time there. Whether it be to work on my driving, woods, irons or pitch shots I try to focus on the particular shot that provides the greatest obstacle to my scoring well.
Driving the golf ball well is a must for a good scoring game. It doesn’t do you much good to hit great iron shots or putt well if your tee shot with the driver is short, in the trees or out of bounds. I spend the most time on mastering a good drive because I feel it sets the tone for how you will play the rest of the hole. Pitch shots to various targets from distances of 50 to 120 yards is also another valuable shot to have in your bag. I can spend an entire session at the range working on either one of these important aspects of a golfers game. Another important stroke, which is critical to master, if you want to score well is putting. More than half the strokes of a golfers score are taken on the green with the putter, which I will discuss further in a future post. But being a good putter does not help a golfers score if he already lies 5 or 6 by the time he reaches the green so, as noted previously, it is important to spend the time honing the various aspects of your game at the range whenever possible.
Summary
1) It is always a good idea to loosen up before hitting golf balls by stretching the legs, back and arms so to prevent injury. Take a club or two and slowly simulate the motion of the swing for a few minutes before actually swinging at full speed. There are also weighted clubs sold in most golf sporting goods stores which can be purchased specifically for this purpose.
2) Try to schedule a session at the driving range whenever possible to work on the various shots which you may be having the most difficulty with or just to keep the golf muscles loose and strong.
3) Have a game plan and concentrate on the aspect of your game that needs the most work, whether it be the drive, long irons, woods, pitching or lob wedge shots, etc.
4) Take the time to line yourself up to your intended target and try to get as close as possible to that spot.
5) Make sure to rehearse proper grip, set up and pre-shot routine for each shot to simulate the conditions on the course as closely as possible.
6) Try to locate a real grass driving range as this will better simulate actual course conditions.
Make sure to have fun and Happy Golfing to All!
The grip on the golf club is the first step taken during the set up for the golfer as he prepares to swing. If this key element is not performed correctly it can greatly affect the outcome of the shot. That being said, it is important to rehearse how to hold a golf club as you prepare to swing. There are diffferent methods for gripping the club and the three most common are the Vardon Grip, named after the great golfer, Harry Vardon from the early 20th century. It is a grip method whereby the pinky finger of the right hand overlaps between the index and middle finger of the left but does NOT interlock, the Baseball grip, which is pretty much as it sounds and is taken by butting the hands together similarly to holding a baseball bat and the Interlocking Grip, which is the grip preference of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and my also personal favorite.
The Interlocking Grip is performed by taking the left hand, laying it open and cradling the top part of the shaft of the club in the crease of the two middle fingers of the hand not counting the thumb. The club should protrude approximately 1 1/2 “ below the bottom part of your left hand as illustrated in the photo on the left. This is primarily to allow the golfer to maintain better control throughout the swing and also not to cause the golf glove to wear excessively from the friction between the hand and the top of the golf club rubbing together. As the right hand holds the club the grip is also set lightly in the crease of the fingers while the pinky of the right hand interlocks the index finger of the left hand to allow both hands to work together while swinging the golf club. See Illustration above. The grip on the club should be relaxed and tension free at all times to allow for greater accuracy and speed as you swing. Practicing how to hold the golf club will increase your chances for a successful result so don’t neglect this important part of the swing. Happy Golfing to All!
Interlocking Grip