Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 5 – How Far From The Ball?
photo credit: D.HilgartTips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 5 - How Far from the Ball?
Next comes the question of how far to stand from the ball. There is general agreement we should not reach for it. It is easy to stand too far away but impossible to stand too close. This is an exaggeration.
If we stand very close to the ball the proximity cramps our swing and forces it to too upright a plane. A flatter plane is more desirable, and we will not get it if we crowd the ball. If we stand very close we get the feeling that there is not room for our hands to go through. This tends to throw us outside, where there is plenty of room but also ruination.
It is very easy, though, to stand too far away. In fact the tendency is to do exactly this. The average player, once he gets the idea that he must hit the ball from the inside out, promptly moves farther from the ball so he’ll make it easier to come from the inside. This is a fallacy, of course, but that’s what he does.
For the average player it is a fact that standing an abnormal distance from the ball makes him bend and reach to hit it. He bends at the waist and he gets his hands too far from his body. He will also invariably move his weight forward onto the balls of his feet.
All this is wrong. He thinks he is giving himself plenty of room to bring the club head to the ball from the inside. Actually, every move he has made is one that tends to make him throw the club from the top and hit the ball from the outside. The pronounced bend at the waist, the distance of the hands from the body, and the weight pitched forward —each alone is an invitation to throw from the top. All three put together make such a disastrous move almost a certainty. Read More…
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 4 – Your Stance
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 4 – Your Stance
The feet, quite naturally, come in for plenty of attention. How far apart should they be? What is their position in relation to the direction line? Which way should they point? And should the weight be forward, on the balls of the feet, or backward, on the heels?
It is generally agreed now that the feet should be about as far apart as the width of the shoulders—the feet at the instep, that is. This is wide enough for good balance, and balance is important in getting ready to swing the club. Bob Jones used an abnormally narrow stance. He liked it because with it he could get the full hip turn that he wanted on the backswing.
Jones had a bigger hip turn than most of the good golfers of his day, or since. There were others in the Jones and pre-Jones eras, though, who took very wide stances, particularly some of the early British stars.
In fact, at that time, stances and swings generally varied a great deal more than they do now.
As to the feet in relation to the direction line, use the square stance. That is, have the feet an equal distance from the line, especially for any full shot with a No.5 iron up to a driver. With a square stance the average person will have enough freedom for a backswing which is full, and for a forward swing that is free.
The closed stance, with the right foot withdrawn a couple of inches farther from the direction line than the left, makes it easier to get the full backswing, probably with a flattened plane, but tends to restrict the forward swing. Read More…
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 3 – Holding Your Club
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 3 - Hold It Tight.
The next question is how tight to take this grip. Let it be known here and now that we do not go along with the knife-and-fork school of gripping—unless it should be a very dull knife operating on a tough piece of meat. In other words, we do not want a loose grip. Not even a firm grip. We want a tight grip.
We do not mean so tight that the muscles of the upper arms and shoulders are tied up with tension. By no means. But we do want those hands tight on the club. What, you will ask, about the wrists? If they are tight, won’t the swing be stiff and wooden? And how will I get my wrist break? Never mind about the wrists.
We have rarely seen anybody too stiff or too tight in swinging a golf club (except perhaps for frightened beginners), but we have seen thousands too loose.
The whole tendency in pupils is to take too light a grip. The loose grip leads into faults opening the hands at the top, collapsing the left wrist, over swinging, and so on. Read More…
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 2 -Grip
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 2 – Grip
Such a grip calls for the hands to be in practically direct opposition as they grasp the club—that is, with the palms facing each other squarely. The (left) hand is placed against the shaft in such a manner that the shaft makes a diagonal contact from the crook of the index finger across the palm.
It is, with this left hand, a combination palm and finger grip. When this hand is closed the club should be held in the first two fingers and the palm. There should be a fold of flesh between the club and the little finger.
This, as a matter of fact, is a check point by which you can tell whether you have the palm-and-finger grip. Now we also want nay, demand—that only two knuckles of this left hand be visible when the hand is closed tightly on the club. As you address the ball and look down at your hands, you must see no more than two knuckles, those at the base of the index finger and the big finger. Not four knuckles, not three knuckles, not one knuckle. Two knuckles!
This is your second and last check point for the position of this hand. So much emphasis has been put on the left hand over the years that many people believe the right doesn’t amount to much in the grip. They couldn’t be more wrong. The right hand is very important, both in the way it grasps the club and in the way it fits against the left. Let’s take the club first. Read More…
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 1 – Grip And Stance
Tips To Improve Your Golf Swing – Part 1 – Grip And Stance
There can be no doubt whatever that the first mistakes a golfer can make when preparing to make his golf swing, are to hold the club with a defective grip and to stand up to the ball the wrong way. Either puts a heavy impost on a player before he makes a move to swing the club. Together they make a good golf swing almost impossible.
Any golf swing , of course, is measured by two standards. One is direction, the other is distance. Direction is governed partly by the position of the club face at impact and partly by the path the club head is following.
Distance, on the other hand, is the product of club-head speed and the accuracy with which the head makes contact with the ball. These, in turn, are produced by body, arm, and hand action during the swing. But the position of the club face is largely determined by the grip, and the path of the club head is influenced considerably by the stance.
So to get these aspects wrong will result in a bad golf swing.
The grip, to a very large degree, determines whether the face will be square to the direction line, open, closed, or even hooded, therefore whether the ball flies straight, is sliced, hooked, smothered, or even skied. Any one of these golf swings brings trouble, and with trouble the strokes begin to mount up. Read More…
Women Golfers
Hot Tips For Women Golfers
Thirty years ago, there were almost no women golfers; and the women golfers around didn’t compete in tournaments. But a lot has changed in thirty years. We are living in the 21st century of equal opportunity for all. Women golfers now compete in the same tournaments as men and often win.
If you are one of those women looking to compete in tournaments or even if you are just a woman looking to beat your friends, there are a number of tips and techniques that many golfers have yet to master. Some are common sense and others are tricky. But
if you apply them to your game, they will give you aclear advantage over the competition. Read More…
The Perfect Golf Swing
Finding That Perfect Golf Swing
So you’re having trouble getting that golf swing into action and you don’t want to spend a fortune on a instructor who will teach you what you already know. Keep reading and we’ll see if this guide can help you learn how to improve your golf swing.
First of all, to get any good golf swing in motion, you will need to relax. You may already have the best motion, but you still need to brush it up slightly and be more relaxed. Just pretend no one else is there. Only you are there and no one is judging your game.
Or maybe your golf grip is giving you some trouble. There are different variations of golfing grips and you should choose one that feels right for you and stick with it. Finding grips can be a simple case of trial and error, but you will find the ones that best complement your golf swing. It may take longer, but it will be worth it in the long run. Read More…
The DownSwing
How To Use The Downswing
The downswing in golf is undoubtedly one of the most critical parts of your game.
The downswing has been the subject of a lot of misleading advice, leaving a golfers worried about their backswing and always trying to improve the backswing, even when it is the single best part of their game.
Most golfers start their downswing by turning their shoulders, which often causes them to end up swinging their clubs across the intended line of flight from out-to-in– with their shoulders open on impact.
You must follow a straight line when making the impact with the ball and then follow through without deviating; if your club curves off, so will the golf ball–and it will more than likely end up in the woods, rather than on the rough. Read More…
Stop Hooking The Ball
Tips to Help You Stop Hooking The Ball From The Tee
If you are having troubles hooking the ball–especially from the tee–then you should spend some time to analyze what is causing this problem. It could be the result of a number of different things.
A lot of golfers believe that the equipment could be to blame for a lack of central flight on the golf ball, allowing the ball to fly wildly onto the heavy rough or into the sand and water hazards.
But what if your equipment is fine? — What could be the problem?
When you are truly hooking the ball, it is generally caused when your swing comes too far from the inside out. This causes excessive spin or “hook” spin. However, this is becoming less common as most players now swing from the outside to the inside to affect a pull slice. Read More…
Stance Importance
The Importance Of A Good Stance
No two golfers are ever the same; everyone is different and that’s what makes golf what it is. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses–styles and techniques. Some are better at putting and others have a great stance.
Although the stance is effective in the same way, some people will prefer their stance to be different from others, so they can play with more power or more control to give them a specific advantage over other golfers.
If you want to further your golfing career and improve your game, you should spend some time perfecting your stance. Not only will this maximize the efficiency of every swing you make on the course, but it will also increase your overall enjoyment of the game.
You should first get the grip you prefer and then set yourself up with a stance that feels comfortable; if you are uncomfortable, then chances are your shot is going to make you even more uncomfortable. Read More…
PuttingTips
Essential Putting Tips
Putting is a very important moment on every golf hole. It signals the end of the hole and subsequently it will signal whether it was a good hole or a hole to forget.
Some people prefer a smaller green when putting , but others like the longer greens so that they can really try their luck at putting a twenty-five yard ball.
Putting balls that are between 4 and 6 feet in length are the ones that we expect to sink all the time. But even pros can miss putting those putts before, which means the average golfer shouldn’t be bothered if he misses that 5 foot putt. But of course your success rate will increase with practice–and with it, your score for each hole will shrink, making more and more competitive as you train. Read More…
Pitch Shots
Pitch Shot For Any Golfer
Many golfers confuse pitching and chipping as the same thing. Making this mistake can be detrimental to your game. A pitch shot will let the golf ball have more air time than a chip shot. Golfers generally take a pitch shot when they want to shoot over a bunker or when the grass is too deep to chip out.
The pitch shot is not hard to master; once you have practiced the basics, your pitch shot will separate itself from your chip shot.
Many golfers have a tendency to avoid the pitch shot because they don’t know the basics. Read More…
PGA Pro Tips
PGA Pro Tips
So you’ve either mastered the game of golf and need some more advanced tips to add to your game or you’re a novice player and you want to be taught by the pros of the game. Well, there are some websites that cater to players like you and will show you how to remove strokes from your game with such efficiency that you will go directly to your friends and tell them you were taught by
the best in the business. These websites are run by PGA Pro tips and will enable you to improve your game.
These websites are full of tips for every single type of golf player. The PGA Pro tips get their tips from golf players who play golf for a living: they eat, sleep and breath golf –and the amazing content on these websites verify that.
They have videos that show you how to improve your game and they have the rules of the game incase you have developed a bad reputation at the club house for not raking the sand bunker. Read More…
Mental Game of Golf
The Mental Game of Golf
There are golfers out there who execute every movement right and have a flawless swing. But they seem to be lacking something. Usually this “little something” actually has to do with their mental game of golf, rather than physical.
First, there is the teeing up error: some golfers will not give themselves as much room as they need. If you are playing a slice, then you should tee the ball on the right side so that you can start it left without the fear of clipping branches.
Next there is the teeing problem: sometimes the teeing ground will be uneven due to erosion. Try to locate a level spot as you are approaching the tee. It can be tough to tell if the surface is even once you are standing over the ball. If you are unsure, then you
should consider re-teeing your golf ball. Read More…
Left Handed Golfers
Left Handed Golfers – Tips to Succeed
There are many left-handed golfers who have serious problems playing the game. Whether it’s because they are using a club that doesn’t feel right or because they just can’t seem to figure out how to golf left-handed, when nearly all tips and equipment out there cater to right-handed players.
This happens to a lot of new golfers who haven’t yet learned that they are left-handed: there are a lot of people who use their right hand for everything else, but when it comes to golf, they automatically seem to change hands; and they need to use their left hand to golf.
Mastering golf is hard enough without any extra complications. Read More…
Improve Your Golf Grip
How To Improve Your Golf Grip
Like every golfer, you probably have a very particular way in which you hold your club. And if it works well for you, you should keep it–and possibly consider how you can improve it. If, however, you are struggling with your golf grip or would like to learn how to improve it, continue reading –this guide on golf grips could greatly improve your game.
Many things can cause a slice in the world of golf. But nine times out of ten, it is caused by a poor golf grip. One way to fix this is to make sure that when you are looking down, you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand and a ‘V’ shape between your thumb and forefinger.
Many golfers have a habit of gripping the club too tightly, which often causes unnecessary tension. It can also make you hit the top of the ball. To prevent this, you should check your right side grip; and your arm and shoulder tension before each swing. You should sense some mild tension. Remember that light muscles are better than tight muscles. Read More…
Improve Your Chip Shots
How To Improve Your Chip Shots
When setting up for your chip shots, there are a few important things you should keep in mind.
To begin with, you should always keep your feet fairly close together. By keeping your legs open less than one foot, you will better distribute your weight between legs.
Once you have settled into a proper stance, remember to keep your hands ahead of the ball and make a short back stroke to allow for the follow through. Also make sure you do not decrease the tightness of your wrists.
In addition, you should keep your legs and upper body perfectly still. Only your arms and shoulders should move during your chip shot. If you do lose the tightness in your grips and try to use it to gain some extra loft during the stroke, you will more than likely de-loft your club and miss, hitting the ball, but not gaining extra height. Read More…
Golf Warm Up
Golf Warm Up Tips
Before you start a round of golf, it is important that you remember some golf warm up tips before the match. People warm up for their chosen sports all the time, as it reduces the risk of injury; golf is no different. By the time professionals step up to the first tee, they are fully prepared to give their best from the first swing onward.
To get a good round of golf in, you will need to warm up; that will mean getting to the course early. You may need to take care of things in the golf shop or anything else that you have planned, but you must not feel rushed to get all these things done just so you can get a good warm up in. Get there early and get everything done so that you can get a nice exercise session done in time. It’s essential that you prepare yourself with a good golf warm up. Read More…
Golf VideoTips
Golf Video Tips
There are many places to view golf video tips on the Internet. Whether you’re looking for the best swing motion or the best way to play yourself out of the bunkers, the Internet is a great place to view these particular golf videos tips.
Videos can provide you with special ways to improve your golfing techniques. You may even find your score card showing fewer numbers at the end of each round.
Most golf videos tips are designed more as “tip” videos than tutorials; they will help the average golfer, but will also cater to the pros, who are looking for more advanced ways to swing the ball around a draw- biased course. Read More…
Golf Lessons
What You Should Know Before You Pay For Golf Lessons
Taking up golf can be an expensive hobby. In addition to purchasing clubs, you must also have golf lessons. This can often be the most expensive part of golfing. This is why you should take time to shop around and find a teacher who comes highly-recommended.
You should pick a reasonable a price limit for what you are willing to spend on your golf lessons. As a rule of thumb, the more expensive a golf instructor is, the more awards he has and the better he will be at teaching you; however, this is not always necessarily true.
This is why you should keep an eye out for that bargain. There are pros out there who may be just as good as the best instructor, but they are willing to give you golf lessons for a lower price. Read More…
Golf Beginners
Golf Beginners
When you first take up golf, there is always the question of where do golf beginners go to practice?
The best place for golf beginners to refine their golfing skills is at a driving range. This is an easy place to examine your swing and begin your golfing career. At a driving range, you can hit a load of golf balls anywhere within reason and nobody around will mind if your shots are totally wild. They will normally have some tolerance for golf beginners.
Many driving ranges also have practice putting greens, chipping areas, and sand bunkers. These are great practice areas for golf beginners. This is also a great way to brush up on nearly every aspect of your game. Read More…
Golf Ball Sweet Spot
Hitting The Golf Ball In The Sweet Spot
You should always hit a golf ball on the sweet spot. You want that golf ball to fly straight without going off course.
Here are a few tips to help you develop a powerful, straight shot.
Aim and alignment are important factors that you can control before you swing. Even though you won’t hit the sweet spot every time, you can greatly increase your chances if you improve your aim and alignment.
A good shot routine will help you to fine-tune these crucial skills by forcing you to follow a procedure. Read More…
Golf Tips
Golf Tips Available on the Internet
It’s always a blessing to get free golf tips, whether you are a beginner or a pro. But the only free golf tips you can usually get are from a friend. So you may–in affect–turn into that friend, rather than improving your game overall. This is a frightening thought for any golfer.
What if you could learn something new and pass it on to other golfers who need to know it? Would you do it? May golfers do and use the Internet to help them with the dissemination and retrieval of this information.
When searching for golf tips on the Internet, it is easy to find little bits of information that can improve your game drastically. The tips you will find can solve any problem you have. You may even find out new information for something you previously thought you needed no advice on. Read More…
Chip And Run
How To Use The Chip And Run Shot
Many golfers use the “chip and run” as regular part of their game; and those who don’t have at least seen others do it. The chip and run shot is very similar to a putt, but you play the shot from just off the green. Club selection is vital for this shot, just like any other; in this case, you will want to use irons.
The shot should be played with your legs close together and the golf ball in line with your back foot. The club should be held firmly in your hands ahead of the ball, which will make the shot fly flatter through the air.
You should use only your arms to play the shot–just as you would when you take a strong putt on the green. Read More…
Before You Purchase Used Golf Clubs
What You Must Know Before You Purchase Used Golf Clubs
Before you purchase a set of used golf clubs, you must remember to check the quality of the clubs and consider how often you will use them.
Buying used golf clubs is an excellent option for golfers who don’t intend to play that much, as well as totally new golfers who want to give golf a shot.
The first thing to look for on a set of used golf clubs is the club heads. Clubs that have been used a lot will have a shiny worn spot in the center. This is a problem that can affect the flight of the golf ball.
The next item to check is the grip. Keep an eye out for cracks and splits. Worn areas in the grip are also tell- tale signs of a heavy club use. You won’t want to have to re-grip the clubs; re-gripping can easily set you back another $5 to $15. Read More…
