For most of the golfers in the U.S. it is finally time to get out and play some golf again. The beginning of another golf season will bring the same old challenges as every year. Rusty swings, chunky chip shots, and terrible putts are awaiting us all. Chances are that it will take a dozen rounds or so before the swing and short game come back but there are some steps that can minimize the damage.
Average golfers tend to favor one club at the range, the driver. This is the exact opposite of any decent players. If the entire game of golf is analyzed, it is easy to see that the driver is rarely hit. The majority of shots are played from 100 yards and in. Given this information it does not make much sense to sit on the range and hit drives all day.
Start of the season at the short game practice area. The first trip to the range should consist completely of putts, chips, and pitch shots. Going to the range and shanking a bucket of drivers is not going start the season off in the correct fashion. Practicing the short game for the majority of the range session will improve your game.
In the early season, concentrate on tempo and solid contact. Find drills that address a specific problem in your swing and work on them as much as possible. If help is needed finding drills please comment with the swing or flight path problem and a recommended drill will be given.
Make the most of this season and start it out the right way. Get the short game in order straight away and your golfing buddies will be paying out all the skins.
Source: blog.americangolf.com
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Golf Swing Drill: Learn Power and Consistency from the Stack and Tilt
Symptom: Can't seem to hit long irons, knockdown shots, or get yourself to deliver a descending blow to the ball. Or, maybe you can do these things sometimes but not always, and you are not sure how to improve your consistency.
Description: The central tenet of the Stack and Tilt swing is that you "tilt" your spine TOWARDS the target on the backswing, such that you feel almost as if your head is moving AHEAD of the ball. From this position at the top, your downswing will naturally come on an inside path, with a descending blow. Your head will also stay more still, giving you more consistency.
Why it Works: The Stack and Tilt golf swing has been described many times, with much hype, on TV, magazines, with DVDs and training programs you can buy, and so on. The Stack and Tilt Swing doesn't look too different from a regular golf swing, at first glance. There is one key philosophical difference, though, that does distinguish the "Stack and Tilt" philosophy from a more conventional or traditional golf swing.
In the Stack and Tilt is that you try to tilt your spine TOWARD the target on the backswing. This keeps more weight on your front foot than you would otherwise have, prevents you from swaying to the left on the backswing, and perhaps most importantly, ensures that your head stays VERY STILL on the backswing and the downswing.
From this position at the top, you will need to clear your hips very fast, allowing for an inside path on the downswing, giving you that coveted descending blow, and good lag that are mandatory for power and consistency.
Whether you adopt the Stack and Tilt swing for all your shots is up to you. I have found it to be a useful swing thought and practice drill for longer clubs, because it does tend to shorten the backswing and thus prevent over-swinging. This swing thought is also very useful for hitting knockdown or three-quarter shots (as in the five-iron backoff drill). Perhaps most importantly, I have found that the "spine angle towards target" swing was very easy to do -- a couple practice swings and a few shots was all it took for me to start hitting good quality shots in this style.
So give it a try next time you are on the range. You might just find something new and exciting for your game in the Stack and Tilt philosophy.
Posted by GolfTipEditor
Description: The central tenet of the Stack and Tilt swing is that you "tilt" your spine TOWARDS the target on the backswing, such that you feel almost as if your head is moving AHEAD of the ball. From this position at the top, your downswing will naturally come on an inside path, with a descending blow. Your head will also stay more still, giving you more consistency.
Why it Works: The Stack and Tilt golf swing has been described many times, with much hype, on TV, magazines, with DVDs and training programs you can buy, and so on. The Stack and Tilt Swing doesn't look too different from a regular golf swing, at first glance. There is one key philosophical difference, though, that does distinguish the "Stack and Tilt" philosophy from a more conventional or traditional golf swing.
In the Stack and Tilt is that you try to tilt your spine TOWARD the target on the backswing. This keeps more weight on your front foot than you would otherwise have, prevents you from swaying to the left on the backswing, and perhaps most importantly, ensures that your head stays VERY STILL on the backswing and the downswing.
From this position at the top, you will need to clear your hips very fast, allowing for an inside path on the downswing, giving you that coveted descending blow, and good lag that are mandatory for power and consistency.
Whether you adopt the Stack and Tilt swing for all your shots is up to you. I have found it to be a useful swing thought and practice drill for longer clubs, because it does tend to shorten the backswing and thus prevent over-swinging. This swing thought is also very useful for hitting knockdown or three-quarter shots (as in the five-iron backoff drill). Perhaps most importantly, I have found that the "spine angle towards target" swing was very easy to do -- a couple practice swings and a few shots was all it took for me to start hitting good quality shots in this style.
So give it a try next time you are on the range. You might just find something new and exciting for your game in the Stack and Tilt philosophy.
Posted by GolfTipEditor
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Product Review: TaylorMade Super Drivers .
The TaylorMade R9 driver featured a 420cc head, three movable weights and a system that allowed golfers to unscrew the clubhead and re-attach it to the shaft in one of eight different positions. Next came the bigger and more powerful R9 460, which also featured the adjustable head but lacked the movable weights.
Players who wanted a TaylorMade driver that combined a 460cc head with three movable weights and an adjustable face were out of luck ... until now. TaylorMade is set to release the R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP drivers on Feb. 19.
The all-black head of the SuperTri is reminiscent of the r7 SuperQuad, which TaylorMade says was one of its most-popular clubs.
From a performance standpoint, the 460cc head of the SuperTri is more forgiving that the original R9. Because the center of gravity has been moved lower and 2 millimeters back in the head, drives should launch higher with slightly more spin for greater carry distance. In fact, the center of gravity in the SuperTri is even slightly lower and farther back than the R9 460's. The face is also the deepest TaylorMade has ever produced.
According to TaylorMade, the eight different face-angle settings combine with the three adjustable weights (two 1-gram weights and one 16-gram weight) to give the SuperTri up to 75 yards of left-or-right adjustability. In addition, as golfers adjust the face to be more closed, effective loft is added, which increases the launch angle. Adjusting the face to be more open decreases effective loft for a lower trajectory.
The R9 SuperTri will be available in four lofts (8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 11.5°) and come standard with a Fujikura Motore 60-gram shaft in one of five flexes (L, M, R, S, X) for $399. The R9 SuperTri TP features the same head with a choice of 10 premium shafts, including the Aldila Voodoo and Matrix Ozik, for $499.
Article by David Dusek
Golf.com
Players who wanted a TaylorMade driver that combined a 460cc head with three movable weights and an adjustable face were out of luck ... until now. TaylorMade is set to release the R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP drivers on Feb. 19.
The all-black head of the SuperTri is reminiscent of the r7 SuperQuad, which TaylorMade says was one of its most-popular clubs.
From a performance standpoint, the 460cc head of the SuperTri is more forgiving that the original R9. Because the center of gravity has been moved lower and 2 millimeters back in the head, drives should launch higher with slightly more spin for greater carry distance. In fact, the center of gravity in the SuperTri is even slightly lower and farther back than the R9 460's. The face is also the deepest TaylorMade has ever produced.
The R9 SuperTri will be available in four lofts (8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 11.5°) and come standard with a Fujikura Motore 60-gram shaft in one of five flexes (L, M, R, S, X) for $399. The R9 SuperTri TP features the same head with a choice of 10 premium shafts, including the Aldila Voodoo and Matrix Ozik, for $499.
Article by David Dusek
Golf.com
How to Beat the Breaks.
This story is for you if...
1. You always read your putts from behind the ball...
2. ...even on severely sloping greens
The Fault
You're missing badly on breaking putts, which leads to fewer birdies and pars and more bogeys. The simple reason for your struggle is poor green-reading technique and alignment.
The Fix
If you want to get a proper read, you need to look at the putt from behind the line you plan to start the ball on, rather than the one that runs directly from the ball to the hole. To do so, pick a spot where you think the apex of the putt (maximum break) will be and examine the putt by looking from behind your ball to that spot. Set the putterhead square to the chosen target line and then walk into your setup, always keeping in mind that your actual target is the apex of the break, not the hole. Stroke the putt to this spot without being distracted by the actual hole. Use this technique consistently, and your green-reading — as well as your results on breaking putts — will improve dramatically.
Align Design
Finding your ball-to-apex line is only half the battle — you must also be able to align your putterface square to it. Any good putter will feature effective aiming lines. If yours doesn't, consider purchasing a new model. I designed a line of Coutour putters with a large arrow on the back end to help you point your putter easily and consistently. For more info, visit coutourgolf.com.
Post by Todd Sones
GolfMagazine.com
1. You always read your putts from behind the ball...
2. ...even on severely sloping greens
The Fault
You're missing badly on breaking putts, which leads to fewer birdies and pars and more bogeys. The simple reason for your struggle is poor green-reading technique and alignment.
The Fix
If you want to get a proper read, you need to look at the putt from behind the line you plan to start the ball on, rather than the one that runs directly from the ball to the hole. To do so, pick a spot where you think the apex of the putt (maximum break) will be and examine the putt by looking from behind your ball to that spot. Set the putterhead square to the chosen target line and then walk into your setup, always keeping in mind that your actual target is the apex of the break, not the hole. Stroke the putt to this spot without being distracted by the actual hole. Use this technique consistently, and your green-reading — as well as your results on breaking putts — will improve dramatically.
Align Design
Finding your ball-to-apex line is only half the battle — you must also be able to align your putterface square to it. Any good putter will feature effective aiming lines. If yours doesn't, consider purchasing a new model. I designed a line of Coutour putters with a large arrow on the back end to help you point your putter easily and consistently. For more info, visit coutourgolf.com.
Post by Todd Sones
GolfMagazine.com
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Golf Training Aids -- How to Choose the Right Ones.
Deciding which golf instruction book to buy can be very challenging. All seem pricey and you start to see the same material over and over. Some have many pictures, some are all words, some even have diagrams and formulas that you have to figure out. The goal in buying a golf instruction book is to help your game. You must find one that fits your personal needs and reflects directly on your own problems.
I have been around the game of golf for nearly 20 years. Being that I am only 24 this seems like a lifetime of knowledge for me. I have read many instruction books and visited many teachers. I want to help people locate the right books for their needs. Your first step will be to identify the need your golf game has. For example, if you tend to blow up on one or two holes a round maybe you need a mental game book. Or if you seem to three putt every hole maybe you need a book with tips on putting. Trust me whatever your need is, there has been a book written on it.
Your next step, after you have determined which section of books to look in, will be to find one that you understand. If you learn best by seeing then find some that have instructional videos or maybe you learn better by mimicking. If you learn better by mimicking try to find one with lots of pictures. If you have pictures you can use a mirror to copy their moves and feel what it is like to be in the right positions. If you learn by hearing then find some that have audio tapes. These come in handy if you travel a distance to the course, you can pop in the tape on the way to play. I have had great success with these. Whatever the case is for your personal learning experience make sure you get what will work for you!
Finally, do not be fooled by great advertising. Make sure what you buy meets the qualifications you need. If your left handed make sure it has a section dedicated to lefty's. Always make sure what you buy addresses your needs. This way no money spent will be wasted.
These are a few rules that I go by when purchasing a new instructional book. As stated before the market is full of books, videos, and gadgets to help your golf game. Everyone needs help every now and then so make sure when you are in a time of need that you purchase a product that will really help you and your golf game.
Pure Point Golf Book $47.00
I have been around the game of golf for nearly 20 years. Being that I am only 24 this seems like a lifetime of knowledge for me. I have read many instruction books and visited many teachers. I want to help people locate the right books for their needs. Your first step will be to identify the need your golf game has. For example, if you tend to blow up on one or two holes a round maybe you need a mental game book. Or if you seem to three putt every hole maybe you need a book with tips on putting. Trust me whatever your need is, there has been a book written on it.
Your next step, after you have determined which section of books to look in, will be to find one that you understand. If you learn best by seeing then find some that have instructional videos or maybe you learn better by mimicking. If you learn better by mimicking try to find one with lots of pictures. If you have pictures you can use a mirror to copy their moves and feel what it is like to be in the right positions. If you learn by hearing then find some that have audio tapes. These come in handy if you travel a distance to the course, you can pop in the tape on the way to play. I have had great success with these. Whatever the case is for your personal learning experience make sure you get what will work for you!
Finally, do not be fooled by great advertising. Make sure what you buy meets the qualifications you need. If your left handed make sure it has a section dedicated to lefty's. Always make sure what you buy addresses your needs. This way no money spent will be wasted.
These are a few rules that I go by when purchasing a new instructional book. As stated before the market is full of books, videos, and gadgets to help your golf game. Everyone needs help every now and then so make sure when you are in a time of need that you purchase a product that will really help you and your golf game.
Pure Point Golf Book $47.00
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
If You Want to Improve Your Golf Game Then Stop Watching the Professionals.
We would all like to be able to play like Tiger Woods and many of the other top professionals and millions of golfers around the world watch television, dvds and videos or read magazine articles every day looking for ways in which they can copy the success of their chosen role model. Unfortunately however this simply doesn't work.
Unlike most of us, Tiger Woods does not fit in a quick round of golf on his way home from work or on a Saturday morning before taking the family out to do the weekly shop. For him golf is a job to which he devotes 8 to 10 hours every day either on the golf course, at the driving range or on the practice ground. He has spent years perfecting his art full time and even though he is at the top of the game he still spends countless hours continuing to improve his technique and lift his game.
So, if copying the professionals is not the answer, how can you lift your game to become the best golfer you can be?
The answer to this question is very simple and can be summed up in one word - practice.
The secret to improving your skill level in just about any walk of life is practice but most golfers fail not because they do not already know this, but because they do not really understand just what is required when it comes to practice.
If you watch most novice and intermediate golfers you will find that about 90% to 95% of their practice time is spent on the driving range where they are mainly concerned with improving distance on their long game. However, if you watch the professionals you will find that they spend a lot less time practicing their long game and a lot more time working on their short game and putting skills. Indeed, you will find that many professional golfers spend as much as 80% of their time off the course concentrating on their short game.
Yes, you do of course need to work on your long game and to improve your distance and accuracy off the tee and on the longer holes. However, you also need to spend time working on your chipping, pitching, bunker shots and putting and this means scheduling in less time on the driving range and more time on the practice ground.
Think about it for a moment. If you analyze your score card you will find that about half of your score comes from shots which are made within 75 yards of the hole so doesn't it make sense to spend half of your practice time on improving these shots?
The secret to improving your game and reaching your full potential as a golfer lies in devoting sufficient time to practicing and, more importantly, to practicing all aspect of your game and not simply your driving ability.
"It's So Easy,
A Monkey Can Do It!"
Donald Saunders has been writing articles on a range of topics for many years now. Come and visit his latest website which provides information about Club Car golf carts and Club Car accessories as well as a great deal more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Saunders
Unlike most of us, Tiger Woods does not fit in a quick round of golf on his way home from work or on a Saturday morning before taking the family out to do the weekly shop. For him golf is a job to which he devotes 8 to 10 hours every day either on the golf course, at the driving range or on the practice ground. He has spent years perfecting his art full time and even though he is at the top of the game he still spends countless hours continuing to improve his technique and lift his game.
So, if copying the professionals is not the answer, how can you lift your game to become the best golfer you can be?
The answer to this question is very simple and can be summed up in one word - practice.
The secret to improving your skill level in just about any walk of life is practice but most golfers fail not because they do not already know this, but because they do not really understand just what is required when it comes to practice.
If you watch most novice and intermediate golfers you will find that about 90% to 95% of their practice time is spent on the driving range where they are mainly concerned with improving distance on their long game. However, if you watch the professionals you will find that they spend a lot less time practicing their long game and a lot more time working on their short game and putting skills. Indeed, you will find that many professional golfers spend as much as 80% of their time off the course concentrating on their short game.
Yes, you do of course need to work on your long game and to improve your distance and accuracy off the tee and on the longer holes. However, you also need to spend time working on your chipping, pitching, bunker shots and putting and this means scheduling in less time on the driving range and more time on the practice ground.
Think about it for a moment. If you analyze your score card you will find that about half of your score comes from shots which are made within 75 yards of the hole so doesn't it make sense to spend half of your practice time on improving these shots?
The secret to improving your game and reaching your full potential as a golfer lies in devoting sufficient time to practicing and, more importantly, to practicing all aspect of your game and not simply your driving ability.
"It's So Easy,
A Monkey Can Do It!"
Donald Saunders has been writing articles on a range of topics for many years now. Come and visit his latest website which provides information about Club Car golf carts and Club Car accessories as well as a great deal more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Saunders
Perfecting the Pitch and Run Or Bump and Run Golf Shot in Your Golf Game.
One technique which you need to include in your short game arsenal is the 'pitch and run' or 'bump and run' which is designed to keep your ball low and run in onto the green in windy conditions.
As with all shots the first thing you need to do is to select the right club and most golfers will tell you that the ideal club for the 'pitch and run' is a 7 iron or, if you need a little less loft and more distance because you are still a long way from the green (say more than 150 feet), a 5 iron.
Now the choice of clubs is always something of a thorny subject so here is my advice. Do not worry about what the experts say and, whatever shot you are trying to make, take the club which you are most comfortable with and in which you have the most confidence. Practice with all of the clubs in your bag in a wide variety of different situations and then choose whichever club works best for you in each case.
Once you have chosen your club position yourself to take your shot just as you would for any normal pitch shot. Remember that you want to address the ball so that your front foot is at a 45 degree angle to the target line and your shoulders and body are open and almost facing the target. The ball should also be positioned in the middle of your stance.
When it comes to taking your swing imagine that you are looking at a large clock face straight in front of you. Now the arc of your swing will depend upon the distance you want your ball to fly, remembering that you want your ball to land in front of the green so that it can then run up onto the putting surface.
To begin practicing this shot you should aim to take your club back to no farther than 4 o'clock on your imaginary clock face and then follow through to no more than 7 o'clock. You can then adjust this arc to suit your own style of play and will find that the farther back you take the club the farther your ball will fly. The secret however is to keep the arc as small as possible.
Two other things to remember. First, you must ensure that the arc of your swing, on the back swing, down swing and follow through, remains on your target line throughout. Second, your swing must be relaxed and fluid and you must not slow the club head as it strikes through the ball.
As with all golf shots the 'pitch and run' is something which you must practice over a range of distances and in differing wind conditions. The secret however is to choose the right club for you, stick to the simple rules of the shot and, above all, relax, swing naturally and let your club do the work.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Saunders
Now the choice of clubs is always something of a thorny subject so here is my advice. Do not worry about what the experts say and, whatever shot you are trying to make, take the club which you are most comfortable with and in which you have the most confidence. Practice with all of the clubs in your bag in a wide variety of different situations and then choose whichever club works best for you in each case.
Once you have chosen your club position yourself to take your shot just as you would for any normal pitch shot. Remember that you want to address the ball so that your front foot is at a 45 degree angle to the target line and your shoulders and body are open and almost facing the target. The ball should also be positioned in the middle of your stance.
When it comes to taking your swing imagine that you are looking at a large clock face straight in front of you. Now the arc of your swing will depend upon the distance you want your ball to fly, remembering that you want your ball to land in front of the green so that it can then run up onto the putting surface.
To begin practicing this shot you should aim to take your club back to no farther than 4 o'clock on your imaginary clock face and then follow through to no more than 7 o'clock. You can then adjust this arc to suit your own style of play and will find that the farther back you take the club the farther your ball will fly. The secret however is to keep the arc as small as possible.
Two other things to remember. First, you must ensure that the arc of your swing, on the back swing, down swing and follow through, remains on your target line throughout. Second, your swing must be relaxed and fluid and you must not slow the club head as it strikes through the ball.
As with all golf shots the 'pitch and run' is something which you must practice over a range of distances and in differing wind conditions. The secret however is to choose the right club for you, stick to the simple rules of the shot and, above all, relax, swing naturally and let your club do the work.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Saunders
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