MISCELLANEOUS
(162).."QUICK TIPS"
Wedges - Make a Mini-Swing
In an effort to gain feel and control, many golfers become far too armsy when hitting partial wedge shots. All of your wedges should be hit as though they are miniature swings. Make certain that you turn away "in one piece". This means that your torso and arms must turn away united. Don't let your arms act independently. Then make certain that the arms and body come back through in concert as well. A great increase in feel and control will be noticed immediately.
Trouble with Long Irons?
You hit your short and mid irons very well, but the long irons let you down. A key swingthought that works for many people is to imagine hitting your 8-iron while you are actually swinging a 3 or 4 iron. Most amateurs try too hard to "hit" their longer irons. Learning to "swing" them as they do their short irons will produce the desired long, straight shots. Try alternating between an 8 or 9-iron and a 3-iron at the range. Do this until you become deeply convinced that the same swing works for both extremes. If you never get the hang of it, then switch to lofted fairway woods.
Grip Check
After you have hit the ball can you bring your club back down from your follow-through position and address another ball without readjusting your grip? If you can't hit the next ball without resetting your hands then your grip is less than it could be. Ben Hogan could hit dozens of successful shots in a row without ever regripping or even readjusting his fingers. A good grip ideally provides a constant and stable connection to the golf club without the golfer ever feeling the need to consciously grip down tightly. Genuine accuracy and consistency are not possible with a fluid, flimsy grip.
A Relaxed Body
One famous, old quarterback/golfer has made a statement that relates to all sports: "If you are relaxed, your body will do pretty much anything you ask it to do. Staying relaxed is the problem." When relaxed, muscles work better. The ball goes farther. The ball goes straighter. Tension is the enemy of good golf.
Wiggle Your Toes
Weight should be distributed evenly on your feet. Many golfers have a tendency to stretch out towards the ball too much. This causes their weight to be too far forward. If weight distribution is proper, a golfer should be able to wiggle his toe freely.
Can You Hum?
Can you maintain a constant humming sound throughout your entire swing? If you can't keep an even pitch through impact your are probably tensing up and succumbing to a "hit impulse" during which your muscles tense up and your tempo is unintentionally accelerated. A smooth and fluid swing can support that even humming sound from start to finish. P.S. This terribly difficult to do for most amateur golfers.
Memorize Your Ball Position
A simple way to take a variable out of the complex formula of what can go wrong with a shot is to memorize your ball position for each club - or more correctly the progression of ball positions as you go from club to club. Then, before every shot check your distance out from the ball and the balls' position front and back in your stance. Don't rely on "feel" or guesswork as so many amateurs do. If you use your standard swing and the ball is just 1/2 inch farther forward than usual you will not hit it purely. Some players have three or four basic positions - driver - long clubs - mid irons - short irons. Others have a gradual system that goes from off the left toe for drivers all the way back to the right toe for short wedges. Whatever system use choose stick by it constantly or you will never realized any real shotmaking consistency.
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(163).."GOOD HANDS"
Good Grip (hands) leads to good wrist action.
Wrist action accounts for 90 percent of bad shots. Why is this so common? The natural way to control the club is with the hands and any attempt to use the hands encourages breaking of the wrists. To explain wrist action: There are two directions the wrists can move in the golf swing. That is the forward/backward or up and down. I am going to refer to the forward/backward action as the breaking of the wrists. The up/down as the hinging of the wrists. Some refer to the up/down movements as cocking the wrists.
This is one reason that the grip is so important. A faulty grip encourages breaking. One does not have to learn this up/down (hinging) if the grip is correct, and the left arm is in the correct position the hinging will be automatic. . The legs moving forward while the club is still traveling back wards forces the wrists to hinge.
If you straighten your fingers after gripping the club your hands should be palm to palm. (neutral grip) I know you have seen golfers with "one" of their hands rotated on the shaft. This is one way to kill the natural action of the wrists during the swing. If you wish a strong or weak grip...Rotate both hands the same and maintain the neutral grip. (palm to palm)
In order for this action to happen keep the left wrist flat in relation to the back of the left forearm and the back of the left hand. It's as simple as that. If the left arm is in the correct position the wrists will hinge, if not there will be a breaking motion and you will drop out of th swing plane. Don't try to cultivate an independent wrist motion. Let it be natural. Swinging the club back farther than the shoulder turn also forces the wrists into a cupping (breaking) position. Result: A throwing motion and inconsistent shots.
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(164).."THE SAND BOX"
In Hard-Packed Sand, Lose the SW
The modern sand wedge has a great deal of bounce (the leading edge is much higher than the bottom of the sole) built into the head of the club. This is engineered to prevent the club from digging too deeply into the sandand promote a bounce out of the sand. It works well. A problem arises when the sand wedge is used from thin, hard-packed sand or firm, dirt-like sand. The very aspect of the sole that prevents it from digging into soft sand now prevents it from getting under the ball on hard-pack. Bladed and thin shots result. These shots will either catch the wall of the trap or will fly low and hot over the green. Go back to the cart and get your gap, lob or pitching wedge. Open your stance and your clubface and hit a cut shot. The percentages will be a lot higher than if you try to force your sand wedge into doing something it is not designed to do.
Putt and Chip from Sand
There is no rule saying that you can't use a putter or a chipper from a sand trap. If the sand is hard and smooth and there is no lip or greenside rough a putter is often a sound choice. Chipping is an option as well, but unless the sand is very hard is actually more dangerous a selection.
Play Thick Grass as Though it Were Sand
When a ball is nestled down in thick, lush grass it should not be treated as a regular shot. Your normal swing will be twisted and distorted by interaction with the grass. Clean contact will not be made with the ball. The grass will interfere. With your wedges and short irons it is often best to approach such shots as though you were hitting from a bunker. Open your stance a bit and hit down just behind the ball with a sharp, descending blow - down and through. You are not going to be hitting the ball itself. Instead of a spray of sand going up, you'll have a spray of grass.
Woods From Traps
If you have access to a range with a practice trap experiment with your woods. They can be highly effective. Lofted woods such as a 7 or 9, especially the low profile style, can be extremely good, long-range choices - for most, much easier than long irons. Learn to hit them with an open stance.
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(165).."PRACTICE YOUR ALIGNMENT"
When you're practicing your short game, you've got to setup properly. Don't be a bad practicer by just beating a bunch of balls. If you don't know where your aiming, you won't know when you're making a good swing. You've got to setup properly.
Here's a simple device you can take to the range to help. It's called a T-Square. At your local hardware buy a 4' piece of 3/4" PVC pipe and a 3/4" "T" connector. Cut pipe into 2, 1 foot and 1, 2 foot lengths. You now have a portable T-square that fits in your bag and can be put together anywhere.
Take the T-Square to the practice range. Aim it so that your toe line is parallel to the arm leg of the "T", which is aimed just to the left of the target. If your toes are 15 inches from my ball, the T-Square should be aimed 15 inches left of the hole. (right handers)
You must check to see exactly where the T-Square is aimed. You should always stand behind it before you start practicing. Hold a shaft up, right over the T-Square. Close one eye and look down the shaft to see exactly
where it's aiming.
Now place you're toes on the pipe. They should be just parallel so that the shoulders are aimed exactly down the target line When you practice, use whatever will help you aim and align your toe line perfectly parallel with the target line. Then all you have to do is take one last look at your target and just swing the club. It makes chipping easy and your balls will go right at the target. This is a great tool to see were the ball sets in your stance. Use it to fine tune working the ball, by seeing the exact amount to open or close your stance to move the ball "x" yards.
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(166).."MAGIC LEFT FOOT"
Everyone knows that to be a good ballstriker, you must have controlled lower body action through impact. But did you know that the left foot plays a vital role in allowing this to happen in the correct fashion? As you watch the professionals on TV, you'll notice that their left foot positions can and sometimes will change from swing to swing, depending on the type of lower body action that's necessary for the shot at hand. The relative positioning of the left foot can control backswing length, the pelvic slide through impact and the torso's rotational speed through the ball, as well.
What you must learn to do is:
1) understand how the positioning of your left foot will affect your shots.
2) examine your own swing for the flaws that these foot positions can cure. I'm sure you'll notice a better ballflight after you experiment with the following left foot positions.
90 Degrees To The Target Line
If you position your left foot at 90 degrees to your target line (or at a right angle to your stance line), it will allow several things to happen. First, it will allow you to make a better and longer backswing turn by freeing up your hips on the way to the top. Golfer beware: You can also suffer a loss of distance because you'll lose the torque or tension you create in your backswing by overturning your hips. This foot position is good for players who have limited flexibility.
The second thing this foot position does is allow for a full pelvic slide through impact. In other words, it makes it easier for you to slide your hips targetward faster during the downswing, allowing the club to fall to the inside more easily. Thus, it keeps those short irons on-line better by helping your body "get out of the way" on the downswing so the club can work down the line longer.
The only negative aspect of the 90-degree foot position is that it inhibits the torso's rotation through impact. Remember, a square left foot promotes a pelvic slide, not a pelvic turn. This foot position, therefore, should be used mostly for maximizing distance in the shorter irons where a steeper downswing path-and a path that stays down the target line longer-is required. However, if you have problems starting your downswing with too much lower body action, this foot position will exacerbate the problem.
45 Degrees To The Target Line:
If you turn your left foot out about three or four inches (or 45 degrees) from perpendicular, you'll discover the foot position most professionals use. It's the most common left foot position by far since it allows a full turn of the torso and balances the amount of pelvic sliding and turning. I recommend you play 70 percent of your full-swing shots from this position.
The 45-degree position is used mostly for swings with the mid-irons. Swings with these clubs require a certain amount of pelvic sliding. Just the right amount of pelvic slide toward the target will clear the body and give the club freedom to work down the line through the impact zone. These swings also need enough torso rotation to pull the club back to the inside on the followthrough.
If you slide too much, then you'll turn too little. And if you rotate too much, you won't slide enough. The 45-degree foot position allows for the correct ratio of turn vs. slide.
20 Degrees To The Target Line:
This foot position is about the maximum amount you can comfortably turn out your left foot (about six to eight inches from 90 degrees) and still hit a golf ball. This is one of my favorite foot positions because it does many different things. First, by pointing your left foot out, you'll greatly inhibit your hip rotation and minimize your upper body turn to the top, resulting in a shorter, more controlled backswing. This is good for golfers who can't seem to control their hip or shoulder rotation to the top and who typically overswing.
Second, by moving to the 20-degree left foot position, you'll guarantee virtually no pelvic sliding on the downswing and a ton of rotation through the ball. Thus, you'll maximize your rotation and centrifugal force production through the ball, allowing you to hit the ball farther with less effort! I recommend this foot position for every type of shot for all senior players, the majority of whom are limited by normal flexibility degeneration, and who need that extra little bit of rotation to maximize their clubhead speed. Try it, and you'll be amazed how easy you can turn through the ball.
The 20-degree position is used by many Tour professionals when swinging the long irons and woods. The increased torso rotation can counteract the tendency to "throw out" the club (moving it severely from inside to outside through impact). This extra rotation keeps the club moving on-line as long as possible, and keeps the club from ever moving to the outside and the golfer from blocking the shot to the right.
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(167).."THE TEXAS WEDGE"
The "Texas Wedge" is the common expression given to using a putter from off the putting surface. These are several instances when the use of the Texas wedge will outperform chipping:
When the fairway is mowed fairly tight and the ball is sitting down slightly.
When you are lacking confidence in your chipping stroke.
When you have a sandy lie.
Let's address these individual situations.
1. When the fairway is mowed very short and the ball is sitting down slightly your tendency is to try to "scoop" the ball allowing the lower hand to "flip" forward causing you to scuff behind the ball. Retief Goosen found himself in this very situation on the 18th hole in the playoff for the US Open against Mark Brooks. Johnny Miller said "Retief could very easily "chili dip" that chip from there." Retief then calmly took out his putter, and proceeded to two-putt for the victory. With such a lot of pressure on the shot, this was the perfect club selection.
2. Some golfers lose confidence in their chipping stroke from time to time. If you are playing an important match and have a key chip, the putter is a safer bet to get the ball onto the putting surface, and near the hole.
3. Sandy Lie. This is a particularly tough shot when you are close to the putting surface, and using the putter is much safer than trying to chip the ball with a lofted club, where you could hit the shot fat. (or skull it trying not to hit it fat!)
In order to judge the speed correctly, calculate the distance from your ball to the edge of the green, and add that distance onto the putt.
Try the putter next time you find yourself in one of these situations, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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(168).."FIX IT #1"
Using the four uneven lies....ball below the feet, ball above the feet, uphill and downhill can help you develop the feel of a particular swing change to correct a particular swing problem. Using uneven lies to demonstrate a change provides a practical way to practice the change and, in the process, develop a better golf swing.
Following are two (I will do two more next week) swing flaws from which most golfers suffer. For each, I've presented a practice drill incorporating one of the four uneven lies to help you fix your problem, ingrain the proper feel and make the corresponding changes permanent.
Note: When practicing from these uneven lies, don't expect the ball to travel as it normally would. The inherent slope for each lie creates natural trajectories that are far from perfectly straight. Don't concern yourself with ball flight. The goal of this tip is to help you fix your swing flaws, not to hit perfect golf shots.
Slicing
Practicing hitting balls that lie above the feet will help a player who struggles with the swing errors associated with slicing. Players who slice the golf ball typically have too steep a downswing plane and swing from outside the target line to the inside through impact.
The first and most important adjustment you must make when hitting balls that are above your feet is to stand taller. Also, you need to swing on a flatter plane or you'll inevitably hit the ball fat. The angle or axis of your spine is what controls your natural swing plane. In order to swing the club more horizontally, you must stand taller.
When a player stands taller to the ball, it makes it easier to turn the shoulders fully. As a player stands taller and turns the shoulders deeper, he or she effectively shallows the golf swing, enabling him or her to swing from the inside on the approach to the ball. A steep golf swing goes hand-in-hand with a poor shoulder turn.
As a by-product of a good shoulder turn, a player will also notice a better weight transfer. The shoulder turn has two responsibilities in the golf swing. One is to swing the club on an arc to the inside of the golf ball. The other is to transfer the weight to strike the ball powerfully.
Hooking
Hitting balls that lie below the feet is excellent practice for players who block the ball to the right or struggle with duck-hooking. Shots that are blocked to the right or duck-hooked result from the club being trapped too far to the inside (behind the body) in the downswing. This is a swing tendency common to many better players.
By practicing hitting balls below the feet, you'll learn to maintain correct posture and keep the club out in front of your body, from takeaway through impact. You'll also ingrain the feeling of swinging the club underneath the body. Keeping the club in front of the body is a trait most great players strive to develop. Not only does it reduce the chance of trapping the club behind the body and forcing a hook or block, but it creates a swing that's less dependent on perfect timing, as well.
When practicing from this lie, you'll need to bend more from the hips in order to get down to the ball. Note that as you bend more from the hips, you'll also need to increase your knee flex to maintain balance. Your primary focus when hitting this shot is to stay down and maintain your setup posture throughout the swing. Realize that this bent-over posture will create a swing plane that's steeper than normal. Don't fight it. The tendency for most players is to come out of the shot and top the ball or catch it thin. To hit the ball solidly, shorten the swing and stay down.
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(169).."FIX IT #2"
Useing the four uneven lies....ball below the feet, ball above the feet, uphill and downhill can help you develope the feel of a particular swing change to correct a particular swing problem. Using uneven lies to demonstrate a change provides a practical way to practice the change and, in the process, develop a better golf swing.
Following are last two (First two last week) swing flaws from which most golfers suffer. For each, I've presented a practice drill incorporating one of the four uneven lies to help you fix your problem, ingrain the proper feel and make the corresponding changes permanent.
Note: When practicing from these uneven lies, don't expect the ball to travel as it normally would. The inherent slope for each lie creates natural trajectories that are far from perfectly straight. Don't concern yourself with ballflight. The goal of this tip is to help you fix your swing flaws, not to hit perfect golf shots.
Scooping
If you find that you lift or "scoop" most of your shots rather than hitting down on the ball, try practicing from a downhill lie. Doing so will teach you to stay behind the ball and keep your lead wrist firm through impact and use the loft of the club-not your hands-to elevate the ball. (Practicing these shots will also improve your chipping around the greens, as the key to these short shots is hitting down and through the ball, as well.)
When the ball is on a downhill lie, the tendency is for gravity to pull the player past the ball, making solid contact almost impossible. The setup key to a downhill lie is to set the shoulders with the slope, but also to play the ball back with a narrow stance.
Once you're set up correctly, the most important key for solid contact is to stay centered through impact. The back swing should be shorter than normal and the follow through should be low. If you pull all of these elements together in your practice, you'll ingrain the sensation of hitting down on the ball and quickly erase your tendency to scoop.
Thin
We've all hit it "thin to win," but there's nothing more aggravating than the feel of a thinned shot. Thinning your iron shots typically results from executing a poor weight shift from the top. If you strand your weight on your right side, you'll never get back to the ball and deliver the club at the proper angle. Practicing hitting balls off an uphill lie provides the feel of establishing a good back swing coil and weight transfer to your forward foot at impact.
The key is to make a good turn and keep your weight centered or even slightly toward your front foot. The slope of the lie and the corresponding gravitational force will naturally pull your body backward, making it easy to hit the ball thin. Focus on your weight shift.
Like all shots from uneven lies, you need to adjust your setup. To set up correctly to a ball that's on an uphill lie, set your shoulders parallel to the slope. Position your body weight more toward the left leg. It helps to narrow the stance and forward-press the knees toward the target to counteract the tendency to fall back during the swing.
There are two big pluses to understanding the setup and swing mechanics of uneven lie shots (ball above, ball below, downhill and uphill). One is to be able to execute them on the course when you're playing. The second, and possibly the more valuable of the two, is that by practicing from the appropriate uneven lie for your swing flaw, you can both learn and improve. Question? How many of you have really practiced hitting the balls from uneven lies? Give it a try, it will improve your game.
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(170).."PUTTING RX"
Toms Trivia....In a 18 hole round, 40 plus percent of the strokes you aquire are on the putting surface.
Find The Perfect Putter
In finding the perfect putter, you've got to make sure that the putter, specifically the length and lie, match your setup. A putter that's too long will force you to stand too far away from the ball, which can cause pushes. A putter that's too short will cause you to hunch over too much, aiding a pull. Upright lies and flat lies will also affect your setup, or cause you to manipulate the putterhead in order to put a consistent stroke on the ball.
Understand Grain
Most golfers can gauge the slope and speed of a green, but typically fail to determine grain. Check for grain at the cup. Usually, one side of the cup will be ruffled and the other, smooth. Toward the smooth side is the direction of the grain. Play for more break if the grain is with the slope. Uphill putts into the grain will have to be struck more firmly; downhill putts with the grain need a softer touch.
Take Some Time
Watch the great putters on Tour, like Brad Faxon and Jim Furyk. Their strokes are smooth and effortless. Their tempo is perfect, and it's the same for every putt. Build that type of consistency into your stroke with the help of a metronome or similar timing device. Your backstroke length should match your forward stroke length. One, two, back and through.
Perfect Your Posture
While putting postures lack conformity, there are standards to which every golfer should comply. Number one: eyes over the ball. Number two: hands directly underneath the shoulders. Number three: hips positioned over the balls of your feet. Number four: weight distributed evenly over your soles.
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