Control The Ball/Punch Shot

The last couple of weeks have noticeably got that little colder and the wind has picked up also. The golf course here has really transformed with the rain that has fallen and the game has changed from the run that was on the ball previously. What I have noticed is that there is a large variety of the shot selections that you have to hit depending on the conditions. I was asked by one of my lessons recently how to play a shot into the wind. He found that he had very little control of the ball and they would rarely hit the green.

grip down the club

sternum ahead of the ball

  Picture this you are playing a par 3 into a strong wind with a small green as your target, not the most inviting shot in the world. Say for arguments sake that the distance is normally a 6 iron on a normal calm day, but because of the strength of the breeze I will take a 5 iron. Secondly I will position my hands further down the grip. This will allow you to have more control and help keep the swing shorter. I am looking for a lower flight, keeping the ball under the breeze with less spin. Secondly ensure that your ball position is correct for this shot, check that your sternum ( the centre line of your chest) is slightly ahead of the ball. By doing this you will have more weight on your left foot. The idea for this swing is if you can imagine the starting position of the club at address  as 6 o´clock, the swing for this shot will be at 10 o´clock on the way back and finish at 2 o´clock on the way through. You will see when you practice this shot that you will hit a lower flight with a more controlled flight which is called a punch shot. Try this when you are out practicing the next time you are out and have the confidence to use it when necessary on the course.

Cure Your Slice

Cure Your Slice

Slices and pulls are very different results on the golf course but they both come from the same place. Think about the times you are on the course and have sliced the first few tee shots the obvious cure is to aim more to the left but this only exaggerates the fault. The further left you aim for a right handed golfer the more you attack the ball from the outside (photo 1). If you release your  club well you will hit a pull and in the other case a poor release will lead to a big slice. It is so important and many golfers have a very poor alignment. You must improve your direction and get your body square to the ball to target line. Think of it as a train track, the outside line is the ball to target and your body (feet, hips and shoulders) is the inside line both  pointing parallel to the target (photo 2). Pick a target in the distance and work on getting your alignment aiming at that target. Try then at the top of your backswing to hit the ball from inside the target line and you should start to see that perfect draw we all dream about.

1.Feet & Body aiming left

2.Body square to Target Line

Add Some Length & Finish in Style

Add Some Length & Finish in Style

It is quite common when teaching that I see many of my lessons overswinging the golf club, This is a major problem for many amateur golfers. As a result you lack power in the your swing and you will strike the golf ball inconsistently. It is very important that you make a full upper body turn and complete your backswing.  The problem is that your swing and club tends to move a little further away from the ball. The feeling is that this is the correct position on your backswing, but all you are doing is making it more difficult  to swing back down on the correct line on your follow through. Shortening your swing believe it or not will actually increase your distance and accuracy. If you think about it, you are giving yourself a better opportunity to attack the golf ball on a better line and improve your striking. This results in a big improvement on the flight of the ball and as result your distance will increase. Give it a go the next time you are practicing, remember to commit to the shot and you will have a more improved swing.

Test yourself the next time you are doing a bit of practice. In the picture above you will see my finishing position for a full swing. See if you can finish your swing in a balanced finishing position and try and hold this finish until your ball lands as a drill. So many golfers fail to hold their balance which leads too erratic shots. Commit yourself and make a better finish.

Practice Makes Perfect

 Last month I spoke of the importance of using your practice time effectively on your short game. This month we will have a look at ways to improve your practice session on the range. There is a saying in golf  " If you practice without pressure, you better play without pressure". The best way to practice is with consequences, just like you would have when your on the course. You need to put yourself in that pressure situation as often as possible so you will be more comfortable handling it when it occurs. The main reason why so many golfers  fail to progress is because their practice routine is poor. If you want to improve as a golfer you need to have a look at what you are trying to achieve when your practicing.
  Time and time again you hear golfers saying " I can´t bring my range game to the golf course". When you hit a shot on the range the score is not noted but on the course its different. Your practice should simulate this as best as possible. Hitting a basket of balls on the range with the same club, no specific target, and the same lie, your not benefiting much at all from this. Obviously it is important to work on your technique, but too maximize your practicing time you should involve a certain amount of games to create a situation like you would have on the course.
    The range here at Santo da Serra offers a host of targets and games for you to create and play. These are some of things that I like to do myself and have taught my pupils.

•  Start by pitching, pick a target that is within a 1/2 pitch shot. Hit 10 balls and take your score of many you land for example to 15ft or within. Then try the same thing hitting a 3/4 pitch shot. It is the not the importance of which club you use or the distance you are hitting. It is the fact that you are putting yourself under some form of pressure.
• Try and hit 10 shots with your 6 iron for example with a low ball flight for into the wind, we have all been in this position where there is a strong wind into you, and you are never quiet sure how to play the shot. 
• Hit to all the various targets around the range. The conditions are different every time you come to the range. See what club it is to each one this week compared to the next time you are there. 
• Hit a shot that starts at a target and finishes at another. This is great for shaping a ball on the course. Try hitting it from left to right and right to left. There is many times when need these shots on the course.
• Imagine two targets on the range as a fairway, left of one of the targets is water and right of the target is out of bounds. Try and hit 10 drives in between these targets. You will see a big difference the next time you are on the course.

If you start to make your practice more difficult and have bigger consequences for off-line shots, your confidence, concentration levels, and your score on the course will improve. Play well!

PETER MITCHELL'S COURSE SECRETS

PETER MITCHELL’S COURSE SECRETS

When the Madeira Open took place in May I was lucky enough to catch up with former Madeira Open winner, Peter Mitchell, before he started his tour season and asked him how he tackled a course and what preparation tips he could give the amateur competitor.

HIS APPROACH

 The first thing I do is to see how the course fits my strengths in all areas – driving, long, middle and short irons and putting.  I really look at the course and work out how it fits my game and then assess my game plan with my strengths in mind i.e par 5’s.  I then play the game plan on the practice days on the course keeping it in mind so that I deliver a consistent performance on the course during the competition.

Although I try and stick to my game plan as much as possible conditions can change, such as wind and rain, and you then have to reassess what you are going to do.  But at the end of the day whatever the conditions I aim to place the ball where I want it to be.

UNDER PRESSURE

My way of dealing with pressure is through routine.  Without it I might as well go home.  Sticking to my routine allows me to disassociate myself from what’s going on around me.  Routine builds trust, trust builds confidence and confidence makes winners. These are the key factors. 

The most important thing is to stay in the moment you are playing the shot.  Trust yourself and your routine and really focus on every shot because it is the only one you have to set yourself up for the next one.

ATTITUDE ON THE GREENS

I always hope I’ve read them right and again it is all to do with confidence.  If you are confident about reading the greens you can play an attacking game without being over aggressive.

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT YARDAGES

I try to avoid them where ever possible and personally I like to leave myself a 100 yard shot onto the green.

PICKING TARGETS

Another must. You have to aim towards a specific target and by doing this it means you are concentrating on where you want the ball to go. 

TOUGH TEE SHOTS

If I know there is going to be a tough tee shot I practice the shot several times on the practice ground.  It’s a bit like make believe, you have to pretend that you are under the same conditions but by playing the shot several times you stop it from becoming a ‘player frightener’.

PREPARATION FOR A TOURNAMENT

It’s not just about turning up on the day, or the hours spent on the practice ground, you have to prepare for the day.  Always make sure that you carrying a couple of spare gloves including both left and right all weather gloves in your golf bag, just in case it rains.  Keep a couple of towels handy especially if the weather looks inclement and keep them dry even if it means hanging them to dry on the inside of your umbrella.  If you wear glasses make sure you carry tissues or clothes to dry them.

Always make sure that you pack a set of waterproofs, head covers for your bag as the last thing you want is to get your clubs soaking wet. Also pack a spare pair of socks as there is nothing worse than feeling wet and cold and then having to squelch around in soggy socks.  And most importantly make sure you carry water and if it’s hot a fizzy drink which you can mix with water to keep you going and always make sure you have something to snack on.  My favourite is dried fruit but take whatever you need to keep you fuelled for the day.

Lastly always make sure you carry spare balls and tees – you never know what is going to happen on the day.

TOP TIPS

 Always look where you want the ball to go.

 On wet days always make sure you dry your ball and club before teeing off.

Remember you brain is like a muscle and when it becomes stressed it gets tense which in turn makes you tighten your grip and create tension. Tense muscles are less effective then relaxed ones.

AND FINALLY

 There is a saying:-

      -         Careless

-         Care free

-         Careful

Most amateurs are a mixture of the first and third saying.  Golf professionals play with the second and by creating a sound routine, thinking and planning your game you will hopefully start to play with a more ‘carefree’ attitude.

Good luck….

Ready for the Weekend

It is important for all golfers that you bring good practice to the course. To help you understand a little bit more about your own swing it is vital that you check your swing plane. In this months article I will help understand a little bit more about the movement of the club on the downswing. For example you can imagine yourself in a typical position on the course, you have a longer shot on a par 3, the last few times you played the hole you hit it well right and that thought is still in your head over the ball. If you don´t get a chance to practice try putting your right foot back a little (pic 1) or widen your stance (pic 2) and make a few swings. By doing this you will began to feel your swing becoming rounder and that your release of the clubhead will be square through impact avoiding the dreaded slice.

Pic 1

Pic 2

Another drill when you get a chance on the practice ground is to use an alignment stick as shown in the pictures below. This is a great drill to feel the the club coming more from the inside on the downswing. The first thing to do pull your right foot back a little and make a few swings. You will begin to feel your right shoulder staying in place on the downswing instead of coming out and over the top resulting in the all too familiar slice or pull. Next put an alignment stick (pic 3) at the same angle of the club at address. If you do not have a set of alignment sticks I recommend that you purchase them, they are a great tool for practicing. Try and make a few practice swings and then hit some balls avoiding hitting the alignment stick on the downswing, if you can do this you are beginning to re-route the club on the downswing and more from the inside. If you improve the path of the club you will see the results with straighter longer shots.

Pic 3 

         

Pic 4

                                   

Pic 5

The Right Grip

Check your Grip

Step 1

I hope from last months article that your putting has improved and you are scoring better on the course. In this months article I will  show you a very useful tip to ensure that you are maintaining the correct grip throughout your swing. If you feel that you are lacking power and distance off the tee, and you feel that you have no control of your long game, it might not be a bad idea to have a look to see if you are securing your grip.

If you are struggling off the tee a loose left hand could be the problem. This is a simple way to check if you are keeping your grip in place during your swing. Many golfers who are loosing their grip tend to over-swing which causes you to loose power and accuracy. An excellent way to check your left hand grip ( vice versa for left handed golfer) is to place a golf tee between the top of your grip and the base of your palm on your left hand as in the pictures above. Try and make some practice swings and see if you can keep the tee in the same position throughout the swing, if the tee pops out it will show you that your grip has moved during the swing. Put this drill into your practice routine and see if it will help you gain a few more yards off the tee.

Risk & Reward

Course management is a vital ingredient for shooting a good round of golf. During your next round if you decide that their is a particular hole on the course where the reward outweighs the risk. It is important that you make your decision correctly on what your going to do. If you have decided  that you need a few extra yards on a tee shot for a better scoring position don´t be afraid to grip up to the top of the grip, moving your hands up to the top of the grip will give extra distance of the tee. Try and put a good swing on the shot it is so important not to "jump at it" or throw your body at the ball, try and hit it sweet with a good swing for the best result.

If you are faced with a tight tee shot or the wind is blowing into your face try gripping down the grip a little more. You will find with a good swing that your ball flight will be a little lower not reaching its full flight and you will have more control of the ball. If there is a tee shot on the course that has become your nemesis, try picking a really good target that gives you a visual aid to aim at. Mentally visualizing a certain target will give your brain great feedback to block all the trouble that is on that tee shot around you.

DRIVE FOR SHOW: PUTT FOR DOUGH

I hope last months article helped you improve your consistency with your ball striking. This month I will show you a useful tip for your setup when driving and also a game to help you when you’re practicing your putting; which will make it more interesting. There’s a saying in golf "Drive for show: Putt for dough". You have probably heard a colleague say this at some stage but it’s very true. Having recently watched Phil Mickelson win at Pebble Beach, I have to say he was very impressive off the tee but his putting was awesome. It is great to be good off the tee but if you’re making a lot of three putts you will not shoot a good score.

I hope that this months tips combined with good tee shots and more consistent putting will allow you to better your handicap with great scores.


LONG DISTANCE PUTTING

Are three putts costing you a lot of strokes? It is important when you finish a game of golf that you work out your statistics. If you think back about your round add up all the putts you took whether it was 9 or 18 holes. 36 putts would be the equivalent of 2 putts every hole for 18 holes for example. The best putter on the European Tour is Jamie Elson who finished 2nd in the Madeira Island Open last year. His average so far this season is 26.5 putts per round. This is a very impressive stat but if you’re averaging 36 or more putts you will only shoot an average score and rarely beat your handicap.

But continual putting practice can become a bit monotonous and this is a good game for you to play when you’re practicing your long distance putting on the putting green. If you can consistently get down in two putts from outside 25 feet you will see a massive improvement in your putting stats. To become a proficient long distance putter you need to create a pressure situation like you would have on the course. Pick a hole on the putting green put a tee in the ground measuring out 25ft, 30ft, 35ft & 40ft. The idea is to try and get every putt rolling past the hole. Create a system for scoring by awarding yourself two points for every ball that is within one putter length past the hole, a single point for a putt that is within a putter length short of the hole, and a luxury award of 3 points for every putt you hole. A score of 8 would be average, 10 is good, 12 is very good and 16 is excellent. If you do this every time you’re on the putting green, noting down your scores, you will hopefully see an improvement in your overall putting scores next time you play. 

DRIVER

Correct

Incorrect

TRIGGER YOUR POWER

It is very important that you have a solid foundation to build your golf swing around especially as many golfers lose power by moving incorrectly through their backswing.  Even though you may  watch the professionals and try to copy their movements many are left feeling that they are not getting the most out of their game. However if you follow this drill and practice it will help you gain those all important yards off the tee.

Although it is very difficult to copy the great methods and swings of the professionals as it takes a lot of dedication, practice and athleticism to generate the distance that these professionals do.  But there are corrections that you can make to your swing that will help you gain more precision and distance.  In photo 1, I am demonstrating a poor backswing technique as my left foot has moved off the ground and my head has moved to the right, away from its original position.

PHOTO 1

As in photo 2 a good drill for you to practice to create a more powerful swing position is to place a basket between your legs and practice a few swings.  This will stop your left leg from flexing too much while allowing you to create a better turn and a more powerful swing.  After you’ve completed a few practice swings try hitting some balls in this position and hopefully you will see a big difference in your performance.

PHOTO 2

In photo 3 you can see that my weight is predominately on my right foot and if I remain in this position I will ultimately lose power however there is one simple drill, which I was taught in my earlier days which can help.  By using and practising this drill it will help you get into a position that all the top players incorporate in their swings. 

PHOTO 3

In photo 4 you can see that I have put my golf bag against my left hip at address. Try making a few practice swings and as you are doing so simply bump your hip gently into the bag; it is a great way to feel the correct starting movement in the downward swing. This drill helps as when you perform it correctly it will stop your upper body from moving faster than your downswing, which is a very common fault in most swings. As you repeat and practice this drill you will soon start to create a good solid swing like the professionals.