Golf Swing Technique

Golf, it's probably one of the most difficult sports to play, and there are more people trying to peddle solutions for your problems then you can shake a stick at. If you don't believe me flick on the golf channel for an hour and see how many commercials you see for the next greatest training aid.

Some of these training aids work, I can't argue that how ever I've often wondered if we need to have this perfect swing in order to enjoy the game and shoot a half decent score.

Golf Swing Realities

While we all want to critique everyones golf swing, or at least I do, the reality is all the little things we talk about in not lifting our head, turn our hips, keep your arms straight are all to ensure one thing occurs. When our golf club comes through the down swing to make impact with the ball, that club face is perfectly square so that the ball goes straight.

Now I'm not suggesting that you don't need to pay attention to keeping your head down, feet straight and all those other finer points of the swing. How ever what I am saying is that you don't always need the perfect swing to play a half decent round of golf. So with that being said what does it take to develop a good swing?

Facts about the Swing

Okay so it's not so much facts plural as it is a fact. While your buddies on the course will be very quick to tell you that you lifted your head or you're not aimed correctly there is really only one key thing that must happen to make that ball go straight. You must have the face of the club square to the ball at time of impact.

Of course all those other points your buddies continually bug you about are important but they are all spin offs of that one key point we must ensure the club face is connecting with the ball square on to make sure it goes straight, and as far as possible. So if all of those points we scrutinize over about the golf swing aren't as important as we thought what does it take to develop a good swing?

The Bare Minimum to make it go Straight

There are five points I am going to mention that I think are the “lazy” way to hitting the ball straight.

Knees: This might not seem all that important but when you're addressing the ball you should have your knees slightly bent. No so much that your knees are interfering with your swing, but ever so slightly to give you perfect balance.

Back: I see a lot of golfers when I'm out on the course hunched over the ball and trying to whack away at it with no success. With your knees being slightly bent as mentioned in the previous point bind at the hips and keep your back straight. The pivot point should be your hips and you should maintain approximately the same height through your back swing, and down swing until you've completed your follow through.

Arms: This is another difficult one, many of us want to swing the club like a base ball bat or a hockey stick depending on the other sports we play. Golf is a game of finesse no powering through the ball. As you take your club up in the back swing try to think about keeping your front arm (left for right handed golfers) straight. This will help keep the club head on the same plane as it comes through the down swing to impact.

Head: We already touch on this, but keeping an eye on the ball is important. One point to note here is that you shouldn't have your head turned down so much that your face is parallel to the ground. Tilt the head forwards and look downwards at the ball, but keep your chin up enough so that your arms and shoulders can come through as you swing.

Hips: This is where you're going to generate the power in your swing. You don't want to lean forward during the swing, you can to tray and maintain no movement below the waist until you're making contact with the ball. At this point you should make a twisting motion at the hips so that your trailing hip turns through the swing and once completed your belt buckle is pointing at your target.

So, these are the “finer” points we'll say about helping to achieve a consistent golf swing. You're not going to be swinging the club like Tiger anytime soon, but as this article has tried to get across do you really have to? As you improve your game, you'll enjoy it more.

Putting Tips

Putting is one of the most important aspects of golf and it is also the part of the game that can make the biggest difference to your scores regardless of whether you are a high or low or even scratch golfer. Here are a few tips to help you on your endeavor to make more putts and lower your handicap.

Tip 1: Do not get obsessed with putting mechanics

Putting is an interesting part of golf because it really is primarily a mental game. Putting mechanics are important so do not ignore them. Pick a putting style you feel comfortable with and then stick with it. Practice your mechanics regularly but do not spend hours on it thinking that developing perfect mechanics is the solution to making more putts.

Remember that putting is also more of an art than a science. You need to trust your feelings and intuitions about the reads on a green and many times you will make a good stroke and the ball will not go in for any number of factors you have no control over. If you get obsessed with the idea of developing the perfect roll or if you are always getting the latest putter in an effort to putt better then you risk developing the putting yips.

The putting yips usually results from thinking too much about mechanics and also caring too much about the result of a putt. You become obsessed with trying to make every putt and lose your ability to forget the misses. The best way to cure the yips is to simply get back the confidence you naturally have about putting. You need to think of yourself as a great putter and replay all the great putts you have made in the past and forget the misses.

Tip 2: Develop a selective memory

In putting learning to forget is very important in order to maintain confidence and be the best putter you can be. Every time you miss a putt you must simply shrug it off and believe the next putt will go in the hole.

If you misread a green then you again need to shrug that off and believe that the next time you will make a perfect read. Putting really is a game of confidence and your ability to maintain confidence will determine how well you putt and how good you can become as a putter.

Tip 3: Practice short putts

Short putts are critical to any round of golf as they can save you a significant number of shots so spend more time practicing them. Also by hitting a lot of short putts you will be boosting your confidence levels too since your eyes will see a lot putts going in the hole. This will program your subconscious mind for greater confidence each time you step on the green.

Tip 4: Focus on the target

At the moment of truth when you are about to hit the putt it is important to avoid mechanical thoughts. At this point your mind needs to be sharply focused on the target. This focus on the target will allow your body and mind to make the best stroke possible that will send the ball to the hole at the right speed. Trust that you have good touch and do not think about green speed when you are putting.

If you want to get used to speed of the greens then hit some long practice putts before the round until you feel you know the speeds and then when you are on the course trust your feel on each putt. Also when you are reading greens trust your first impression because it is usually right. Remember that even the pros misread greens so be gentle on yourself. Take action and apply some of these tips to help you become a better putter.

Getting Out Of The Rough

During the 1972 British Open at Muirfield, Scotland, Tony Jacklin and Lee Trevino attacked the 9th hole from the tee. Jacklin went for the carry over the left-hand fairway bunker, while Trevino played more conservatively down the right side. Both finished in the rough, but within iron distance of the green. Two amazing shots followed, both landing about 20 yards (18 m) short of but running onto the green. Both players then holed their putts for eagles.

Hitting into the rough is the most common problem a golfer faces. Even golfing legends like Trevino and Jacklin find themselves in the rough more often than they’d like. But by making a few adjustments you can get yourself out of trouble and back onto the fairway without costing yourself strokes.

When a recreational golfer finds himself in the rough, he often lets the situation intimidate him. Instead of assessing the lie, like many golf instruction manuals suggest, he grabs a club and slashes away, hitting into the rough again or into more trouble. By the time he finishes, he’s hacked out an 8 on the scorecard.

Hitting from the rough—whether heavy and thick or light and fluffy—trips up many golfers—even those who’ve taken golf lessons. But learning how to can get out of the rough doesn’t take a lot of instruction. It just takes a bit of discretion and knowing what adjustments to make.

Thick Rough

Hitting into the thick rough is the more common scenario. The problem is the thickness of the grass. It grabs the hosel of your club and closes the clubface at impact, causing you to pull the ball left (for right handers). The grass also reduces club head speed and takes backspin off the ball. Heavy clumps of grass require almost brute force to get out of.

Choosing the right club is crucial, as most golf tips point out. You need a club with a sharp leading edge, like the shorter irons. The edge cuts through the thick grass, giving the best chance of catching the ball squarely. Try a lofted wood (5,7,9) or lofted iron (9 iron, pitching wedge). The loft gets you airborne quicker. If the ball is buried, try the 6 iron. And don’t try to hit a big hook or big slice. The deeper, thicker grass makes the ball go straight.

Ball position is also crucial: Too far forward means there’s too much grass to get through. Too far back means there’s not enough loft to get the ball airborne. Position the ball left of center (for right handers) with the longer clubs, and right of center with the shorter clubs.

In addition, do the following:

• Take a steeper angle of attack
• Keep your hands ahead of the club.
• Lean your weight forward
• Take a normal stance
• Aim your body slightly left
• Open your clubface
• Take a divot after the ball

Two other adjustments: set your wrists a fraction earlier than normal during takeaway and center your weight over the ball at the top of your back swing.

Light Fluffy Rough

Hitting from a light fluffy lie requires different adjustments, but it’s no less challenging. Like the thick rough, the real culprit is the grass.

With fluffy grass the ball sits up high, almost as if it were on a tee, so don’t take your normal swing. You need to avoid undercutting the ball, which prevents solid contact. Instead, try sweeping it off the “tee,” with the blade of your club barely touching the tips of the grass.

In addition, do the following:

• Choke down on the club
• Play the ball father forward
• Hover the club at address
• Restrict your back swing
• End with a balanced finish

Move your hands about an inch (2.5 cm) down the grip and position the ball farther forward in your stance, which encourages more of a sweeping motion through the swing.

Hovering the club permits you to catch the ball flush and guards against the ball moving at address. Choking down on the club restricts your backswing, but also hinge your wrists just a little earlier in your takeaway. Also, stop the club short of the horizontal position at the top of the backswing. Try to end with a balanced finish.

Hitting into the rough—whether it’s deep and thick or light and fluffy—doesn’t have to intimidate you. Just gather yourself and make the right adjustments and you’ll overcome the challenge. Also, stay within yourself. Don’t try to do too much. If the rough looks really challenging, punch it out onto the fairway.

The idea is to put yourself in position to hit the next shot, not cost yourself more strokes by hacking away. You may not land on the green with your next swing, but like Trevino and Jacklin, you might just hit a shot that leads to a surprising finish—and maybe a lower handicap.

Caddie Tips

Caddying for a golfer is not a lot of work, and could be quite enjoyable, especially if you hook up with a good golfer. Like the old saying goes. Watch and learn. There are 8 main job tasks that a caddie must do. We will try and take a look at them briefly.

Carrying golf clubs

This task could very well be the toughest of the eight, especially if the golf bag is heavy. Knowledge is not a factor hears, but carrying them properly is. Try resting the golf bag on the small of your back, may be the most comfortable position. Adjust the strap of the bag to accomplish this position. When you carry a golfer’s clubs, you should hold the irons steady with your hand. Try to prevent them from clanging together by placing your wrist at the edge top of the bag and reaching over them with the palm of your hand.

Placing the golf bag down around greens, fairways, and tee boxes, should be done gently. By doing this routinely, will prevent noise of the clubs around golf greens, tee boxes, and other players. Do not drop clubs.

Washing players golf clubs

This is a fairly simple task, but you have to stay on top of it. Keep a wet towel with you at all times. You may want to keep half of it dry, if you want to carry it with you. Make sure the golfer’s clubs are clean and dry at all times. Do not hand your golfer a dirty club. Keep a tee in your pocket to clean the grooves of the clubface and wipe clean with the towel. Make sure golf clubs are dry and clean before every hole. When the golfer is finished with the club. Clean them right away and place in golf bag gently. If you do not put them back in the bag right away, you may forget them on the ground, and find out later the golfer may need that particular club. When you happen to remember leaving one behind. Mention it to your golfer immediately. He or She will give you instructions on what to do.


Washing players golf ball

Ask the golfer well in advance, if he or she would like their golf ball cleaned. Do not wait until the last minute before their shot. Have other golf balls clean and ready, just in case they decide to change golf balls. Do not pick up your golfer’s ball, when on the tee box, fairway, bunker, rough, and green to clean it. The ball must be cleaned before the tee shot, and after the ball is marked on the green. The golfer will know the playing rules. Let them give it to you to clean.

Replace golfer’s divot

Typically you will find divots on fairway shots. That is not always the case. Sometimes they will have to be replaced on tee boxes. Wait for all golfers to finish their shot, if they are behind you. When everyone starts to march out to his or her next shot. Simply run out and pick up the turf and place back in divot hole, and pack down with foot. Replace a couple of divots, if you have time.

Repair ball marks on green

The golfer should do this task. The golfer may ask you to repair the ball mark, if he or she is lining up their putt. Simply prop up the grass around the hole with a tee and pack down with a flat surface, such as a putter or sole of foot.

Tending the flagstick

Wait for the golfer to ask you to either pull the pin, or tend it. Be nearby to keep play up to speed. Stay off of all golfers’ lines to the hole, and keep the flag from waving in the wind if holding the flagstick for the golfer. Also keep your shadow away from golfers's line. Make sure the flagstick is pulled when the ball is rolling towards the hole. The golfer may occur a penalty stroke, if they hit the pin when putting. The golfer has the option to leave the flagstick in when off the green. Some golfers like it out. Wait for instructions when another player is off the green. Try to stand still when a golfer is putting. After all golfers are finished putting, replace the flagstick and check for golf clubs left behind.

Club selection advice

This particular task is for the experienced caddie, and or caddie that has been with the same golfer for a while. Try to memorize the distance of your golfer’s shots and what club he or she used. They may ask you for advice on what club to use on any given hole. You may surprise them with your choice of clubs. Let’s hope it’s a good surprise. If your not sure, do not guess. Just remember. It’s only advice. When your not sure of the distance and club selection, encourage them on making the right decision.

Keep sight of golfer’s ball

When your golfer and other golfers are taking a golf shot, always watch where the ball lands. Always keep a marker, like a bush or particular size tree when it lands. This particular task is very important. Your responsibility is for the golfer you are caddying for. Try to look out for other players as well. This could be the single most important task. No golfer wants to lose a golf ball. When you can always find the golf ball, the golfer will almost always want you to caddie for them again.

Essential Golf Ball Control

Golf is one of the misunderstood sports out there in the land of the competitive. Despite the opinions of non golfers whose greatest exposure to golf is during a rousing hour of channel surfing, golf is a sport of grace, quiet competition, respect, honor, and of course, well honed skill.

Whether you are just beginning your golfing career or have been hauling all over the back nine since I was knee high to a grasshopper, there is always room for improvement in a round of golf.

There isn’t a golfer alive who doesn’t want a straighter, longer drive or a more precise putt. Even the best of the best in all their grace and skill perpetually strive for the better game, the game where control is paramount.

Control of the golf ball of course begins with control of the body. When first learning to play golf, and for some of us years into our learning curve, despite what our better judgment tells us we step up to the tee with tight muscles determined to whack the dimples off the ball. Inevitably, we resemble displaced baseball players rather than graceful golfers as we pull back and swing with all our might. Despite our best efforts we slice and hook and no matter how many dimples we whack away from the ball it still won’t sail over the horizon for us. How frustrating.

What we fail to either realize or practice is that out tense muscles are causing the problem. Golf can not be played with tight muscles because inevitably, our heads are going to insist on following our bodies and we will lose sight of the ball right at the last moment. In order for us to really make that contact with the golf ball that we are truly seeking, we have to keep our eye on the ball. Ironically, this is also true in baseball and some of us do have a tendency to bring our baseball skills onto the golf course with us.

When we lose sight of the golf ball at the last moment our body shifts just enough to keep our golf club from making good contact with the ball. Our hands lose their follow through and our golf ball goes flying off into the rough. We stand there seriously contemplating wrapping our clubs around the trunk of a tree wondering what it is that we’re doing wrong. After all, we couldn’t be trying harder to hit our golf ball straight and far.

Sometimes, that’s the exact problem. Trying too hard to hit the ball in a round of golf can actually backfire and create the opposite of the desired effect. Our body is tense, our mood is tense, and of course our ball ends up tensely leaving the tee. However, a relaxed body has a greater chance of keeping the eye on the ball and making the appropriate contact with the golf ball and sending it much farther and straighter than the baseball bat swing.

THE PRACTICE SWING

Luckily, golf has become a fairly affordable sport as of late and we have plenty of time to perfect our golf game before our next round with the guys from the office. So we approach the task of perfecting the golf swing over a series of rounds over a few weeks. After all, there is room for improvement regardless how good of a golf swing you may have. For some of us, however, there is only room for improvement.

Before heading out to the fairway, I sat down like so many other individuals like myself to search out the internet for a little golf swing guidance. A few words across my browser and a click of the search button and I found one of the best sites around for some golf swing guidance. Keeping in mind that not all of us are retired and we have jobs and families to keep us quite busy, I wanted to read the information that I needed without being glued in front of the computer screen for hours on end. The goal is to find the assistance and then actually take it out to the fairway and practice it.

HELP AT LAST

I clicked on bestprogolfguide and I had a plethora of information right at my fingertips. The best part was, it was valuable information. I didn’t have to weed through tons of useless clippings to come across handy, factual information that is easy to understand and implement.

The organization of the site made for quick browsing so that I could find exactly the golf help that I needed, read it, learn it, and be on my way to go put it into practice. Right there in front of me was an article describing exactly what I knew to be my problem in detail and tips to help me correct it.

Golf is a game of patience, and for most a very relaxing activity that encourages physical exercise. A relaxing game of golf. I truly couldn’t remember the last time I was relaxed when I played golf. Because I tend to be quite competitive, I also put a lot of pressure on myself to play golf at very high standards. A self taught golfer, I never took a lesson or really had any assistance in learning the game and how most people play it. Rather I came onto the fairway with my clubs and sheer determination.

Right there in front of me was an article explaining how my baseball approach to golf was exactly what was killing my ball before it had a chance to soar. I buckled down and went through the basic steps that were kindly outlined for me and then I headed off to the driving range for a practice round.

Don’t get me wrong, one article didn’t fix ten long years of hacking and whacking my golf ball into various bushes. What it did do was make me aware of exactly what I was doing wrong. It allowed me to adjust my focus and relax and within just the first ten swings I began to notice a difference. Of course then I got giddy with excitement and blew the next ten swings, but then I returned to the basics and got my rhythm back.

As I focused on improving my swing and cleaning up my nasty slice, I hadn’t forgotten that this site had helpful tips on everything golf, even things I didn’t know I wanted to know. And over time, I knew that I would improve my game to the degree that it wouldn’t even really be my game any more. My game involved fishing golf balls out of some pretty interesting places.

I am now learning the mental game of golf as I accomplish more of the physical game of golf. I always knew that golf was a game of grace and quiet dignity, but I truly didn’t realize just how much of this sport is played in your head. I have learned different concentration techniques to improve my putting, driving, and of course, lower my score. I feel more confident and I certainly play with more patience and grace than I ever had before.

The driving range has become a hot spot for me since that first day when I showed up to practice those first tidbits of knowledge that were kindly shared with me on my new favorite website. My constant improvements have people approaching me for advice. It wasn’t that long ago that some of these same people were approaching me to offer me a new golf ball so I wouldn’t have to go dig mine out of its landing place.

Anyone who really wants to learn about golf needs to check out this site. It has every slice of information a person needs to begin understanding the game a bit better and improving what once may have been a round of embarrassment. The golf instruction offered is as valuable as several private lessons down at the club. Beginners and pros alike can find just about anything they need to know to lower their golf score and have more fun playing the game. After all, this is supposed to be fun. I was especially pleased to find an article that thoroughly explained some golf rules that apparently I had misinterpreted. I’m sure the guys from the office were pleased when I started adhering to the rules of the game without the argument I used to put up. It’s been so exciting to improve my golf technique.

Since then I have visited bestprogolfguide daily, sometimes a few times a day to learn and improve upon the steps I’ve made thus far. And the last round of golf I played with the guys from the office they didn’t know quite what to make of the improvement. I even received a few of those backhanded compliments of how nice my swing was, for a girl.

Ball Position For Different Clubs

Ball position is a critical component that’s often overlooked by players with high golf handicaps. Ball position decides a shot’s initial direction. While theories on ball position abound, you need to find one that’s right for you.

Ball position affects a clubhead’s swing path, as I explain in my golf lessons. If the ball is too far back, the clubhead moves on an in-to-out swing path at impact, sending the ball to the target’s right. If the ball is too far forward, the clubhead moves on an out-to-in swing path at impact, sending the ball to the target’s left.

Correctly positioning the ball increases the clubhead’s chances of meeting the ball at the correct angle of attack and on the right target path. It also helps eliminate a fade or hook, along with other swing adjustments.

Most teaching pros subscribe to the standard ball position theory as do most players and most professional golfers. This theory advocates changing the ball’s position depending on the club used. If you’ve taken golf lessons or read my golf tips, you’re probably familiar with this theory.

For example, the ideal ball position for the driver is just inside the heel of your front foot. Placing the ball there ensures that the clubhead makes impact just beyond the swing’s lowest point, with an upward, sweeping motion of the club—the perfect swing for the being used.

The ideal position for long irons, on the other hand, is slightly back from the driver’s position. The ideal position for mid-irons is one or two balls back from this position. And the ideal position for short irons is in the middle of your stance.

These positions place the ball at the lowest point in your swing, given the length of the club used and the type of swing taken. In addition, placing the ball at these positions enable the golfer to make clean contact with a crisp descending blow—the key to hitting iron shots well.

Much golf instruction is built around the standard theory. But not every teaching pro advocates it. David Leadbetter, who’s taught numerous pro golfers, like Nick Price, and written several books, offers another approach. It’s one he stresses in his golf instruction books. Like the standard theory, it makes sense.

Leadbetter suggests that players with lower golf handicaps position the ball (1) just inside the left heel for woods and (2) two balls back for irons. For players with high golf handicaps, he suggests positioning the ball (1) in the middle of their stances for irons and (2) a ball or two forward from that position for woods.

His reasoning is logical. Players with low golf handicaps use their lower bodies more aggressively than players with high handicaps. Players with low golf handicaps are capable of taking advantage of a forward ball position. Players with high handicaps are not.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus also offers a ball position theory, which he explains in his golf instruction books. It, too, make sense.

Nicklaus advocates a constant ball position, regardless of the club used. He believes that the ball opposite the left heel is the only spot where the club ever travels parallel to the target line. Any other position towards the back foot means the ball is struck too early in the downswing.

Instead of re-positioning the ball, Nicholas favors changing your stance, depending on the club. Open your stance for the shorter irons, and pull the right foot back, to make the stance wider and squarer, as the club’s shaft length increases. Winner of 18 majors, Nicholas has a theory that seems to work for him at least.

Another consideration with ball position is tee height. I tell players taking my golf lessons that the ball’s equator should be even with the top of the driver when the ball is on the tee. Placing the ball higher enables the player to hit the ball on the upward arc of his/her swing. Players with oversize clubheads, then, need longer tees to reach the right height.

A third consideration with ball position is weather. If it’s windy, tee the ball higher if you’re hitting with the wind to generate loft. The added loft enables the wind can carry the ball farther. Tee the ball lower if you’re hitting against the wind to produce a low shot, like a line drive in baseball. This type of shot cuts through the wind and rolls farther than a shot with loft.

Regardless of which theory it is, find one that’s right for you, just like Jack Nicklaus did. Test each theory out while on the practice range and under game conditions. Work on it until you find the ball position that’s right for you. Then, use it every time you play.

Back Exercise For Golf

Back exercise and golf. Doesn’t that sound like a common denominator? Of all the injuries in golf, the low back is by far the highest one.

To explain why doing back exercise for golf is important, a golfer needs to understand why.

The golf swing is one of the most (if not the most) stressful movements on the lower back. Picture this. You’re in a static position at the start; then you try to rotate your upper body as far as you can go, while keeping the lower body as stable as you can.

This movement all by itself puts tremendous stress on the lower back. If you have a lower level of rotational flexibility, you are at HIGH RISK for low back injuries. You many have one as we speak.

Now picture having the strength to ‘uncoil’ that backswing, maintaining your golf posture at between 80-100 mph. If you have not participated in a back exercise for golf, you will not be able to generate any power at impact, therefore your driving distance is inadequate.

Does this sound familiar?

It should. I see this all the time on the golf course. Especially with the senior golfers. They have physically declined over the years and have not done any back exercise for golf and can’t generate and clubhead speed.

There is hope!

To remove the threat of low back injury and improve your ability to turn back and turn through with power, you just need to do a couple of simple back exercises for golf.

One example of a back exercise for golf that you should be doing several times a day is what I call the Lying Leg Crossover, which is incorporated in all my products.

Here’s what you do:

Lie on your back with your legs extended.
Raise one leg and bend at the knee to 90 degrees and the hip to 90 degrees.
Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground.
Go until slight pull in butt and lower back.
Hold and repeat once more.
Switch legs and do opposite side.
This is a very simple back exercise for golf and no equipment is required.

Just do this back exercise for golf religiously and you’ll see a HUGE improvement!