Golf Tip Reviews

Golf Swing Video: Learn Alignment and Setup from Camilo Villegas

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:06:00 +0000

In this video post, we take a look at Camilo Villegas. But we are not going to try and pick apart his swing. And we are not going to discuss his wardrobe, his biceps, or his "Spider Man one-arm pushup" approach to reading greens. Rather, we are going to study something more mundane: his setup and alignment. Camilo is among the best at this, with textbook technique, and every Occasional Golfer can benefit by his example.

Watch his meticulous setup and preparation to hit his golf shot at the 2009 President's Cup:

Notice how he picks a definite, distant target to aim at, using his club as a visual guide to link his distant target and his close-in aiming point. Once he finds his close-in spot (at about 0:08), he never takes his eyes off the spot, and aligns his clubface and builds his stance around this spot (0:08 to 0:16). Only when he is certain of his alignment does he look one last time at his distant target (0:20). His stance is athletic, as if he about to sit on a bar stool. Then he finally pulls the trigger (0:25) and executes his shot.

His alignment and setup routine is methodical, repeatable, and meticulous. This, plus a whole lot of talent and hard work, surely contributes to Camilo's excellent stats.

You can't imitate Camilo's Spider Man method of reading greens without incurring serious chiropractic bills. But you can surely copy his setup and alignment routine the next time you play at your home course, or a new course found with golf course finder, or at the local driving range. Give it a try, I guarantee you will bring more consistency to your game!

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Golf Strategy: Beware the Sucker pin

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Symptom: You aim at the pin, no matter where it is on the green. After all, you're trying to get the ball in the hole, right? But, alas, often a well-struck shot ends up in the rough or the bunker, challenging your short game and costing you strokes.
Overview: Do not fire at the pin. Aim for the middle of the green instead.
Why it works: The essence of this tip is to manage your mistakes. If you take an aggressive line, and hit something other than a perfect shot (which happens a lot to Occasional Golfers), you put yourself in a very tough position around the green. Why do that? What are the odds of you sticking that ball within a few feet for a tap-in birdie? Why not aim for the middle of the green, or the fat part of the green, or whatever line gives you the best chance making sure your next shot is a putt and not a bunker shot or chip shot?

Often, I see Occasional Golfers who don't give the matter much thought. They see the flag, they aim at the flag, they fire at the flag. Indeed, that is what you do on the driving range, right? You aim at the flag. But that is the driving range, not the golf course. On the golf course you need to aim at a point that allows a less-than-perfect shot to avoid a major disaster. Don't allow this mental lapse to sabotage your game!

To hit the green with high probability, then, you will often need to play left or right of the flag. Be sure to pick something to aim at, and align your clubface to a spot on your target line. Then don't look at the flag again, look only at your intended target and your aiming point.

No matter how good you are at chipping and bunker shots, you are better off on the green! So stop firing at sucker pins! You'll be on the green more often, and you'll avoid those big, ugly numbers on your scorecard!

Please let us know if this tip works for you! Post a comment, email your friends, bookmark it, whatever!

Copyright 2010, GolfTipReviews.com, All Rights Reserved.

Golf Chipping Tip: The Underhand Toss Visualization

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Symptom: Poor distance control when chipping. Your misses are much more likely to be long or short than left or right. And of course you don't get up and down as often as you would like...
Overview: Before hitting your chip, imagine tossing the ball underhand to a particular spot, and the subsequent roll to the cup. Then execute your chip.
Why it works: By thinking about tossing the ball with an underhand motion, you focus only on where you want to ball to go, not on the mechanics of executing the chip shot. This often helps you visualize and execute a better chip. And, a properly struck chip will have some backspin which will limit the roll somewhat. But the basic idea stands -- pretending to lob the ball will help you visualize your shot and improve your chances for the coveted up-and-down.

Of course, you are usually better off putting the ball from off the green if you can. Please remember to keep your hands ahead of the ball while chipping, to make sure you have a descending blow onto the ball.

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Golf Swing Tip: Always use a club on the ground for aiming

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:43:00 +0000

Symptom: Your swing worked fine on the range. But when you take it to the course, you have erratic shots, slicing, hooking, pulling, pushing. All manner of grief and woe. And you can't figure out how you could hit it so pure on the range and so bad on the course...
Overview: At the range, lay a club you are not using on the ground, and aim it at your intended target. Line your toes up to the club, and keep the club between you and the ball. You are now aligned properly, and can execute your swing.
Why it works: It is actually very difficult for you to tell if you are aligned properly. It is easy to "feel" like you are aligned well, when in fact you are systematically aligned to the left or right of the target. This misalignment will cause a natural slice/pull or hook/push. But you will not be aware of your misalignment, because you have become comfortable with your (incorrect) setup on the driving range.

The goal of the driving range session is to prepare you to play on the course. On the golf course, you can always aim at a spot right in front of you to help your aim, but you can't use a club on the ground to help you with your alignment. That's why it's crucial that you do so on the range, so that you teach yourself the way proper alignment feels. Hopefully you can take that feeling out on the course, and eliminate those wayward shots that cost you strokes!

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Copyright 2010, Golf Tip Reviews, All Rights Reserved.

Golf Swing Drill: Learn Power and Consistency from the Stack and Tilt

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:43:00 +0000

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.

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Golf Swing Tip: Aim at a Point on your Target Line

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:53:00 +0000

Symptom: Well struck shots that are straight but off target. Your misses are very repeatable, prompting you to say things like "right again", or "&%$# can't stop pulling it left" or something similar.
Overview: Before you address the ball, stand in back of your ball and look at your distant, intended target. Pick a spot on the ground about two feet in front of your ball on your intended line. Keep your eye on this spot as you walk up the the ball to take your stance. At address, aim the clubface at your chosen spot, not the target in the distance. You might look at your distant target one more time, but before you execute your backswing, check one last time that your clubface is still aimed at the spot two feet in front of you.
Why it works: It's hard to aim at a target 200 yards away with any certainty. When your target is far away, it is easy to get off line without you knowing, which causes you to compensate during your swing, leading to shots that either "feel good" but are off line, or are off target "just like the last time". How annoying!

It's just simply much easier to aim at something that is close to you. And, since you can't put a club on the ground like you do on the driving range, it's doubly important that you use this method to ensure proper alignment.

There is another, less obvious reason that keeping your focus "close in" is valuable. On the golf course, dwelling on what is "out there" can put negative thoughts in your head. You might start to focus on the bunker, or the water, or the tree, or whatever. Don't let your mind wander down those negative paths! Pick your intended target by looking "out there", but then line up and execute your swing "close in". A close-in aiming point can help you stay calmer and more focused on the course.

Watch the pros on TV -- how many of them pick a close-in aiming point? Most of them! So why do you think you don't have to?

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Golf Strategy: The Best Way to Warm Up Fast

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:16:00 +0000

We all know the best way to warm up for your round. The trouble is, most golfers, especially Occasional Golfers such as you and me, rarely have time for such elaborate preparations. The last several times I've played golf I've gotten to the course with just enough time to tee off! Not ideal at all, but I don't know how I could have gotten to the course sooner, given all the other things I needed to do. But that's the way things seem to go. Sound familiar?

The situation is even worse when the day is cold and the wind is howling, and you feel like you're playing golf in Scotland at the Open Championship!

So what can you do to make sure you are as ready to play as you can be when you walk from the parking lot to the first tee?

The first thing you need to to is get your heart pumping. For example, if you can walk briskly to the first tee rather than ride in your cart, do it. Or jog to the first tee, or the clubhouse, or wherever you are going. The point is that if you go fast, you will get your body warmed up sooner.

Once on the tee, you need to stretch. It's always amazing to me how many people line up to hit their first shot of the day without having done even the simplest of stretches. And of course these same people need a Mulligan on their first shot, and the day starts off poorly, etc. etc.

I find that a three-step routine works well:
1. Put your driver or three wood on your shoulders, take an athletic stance, and rotate your torso back and forth until you can comfortably get your shoulders past 90 degrees in both directions. If you're like me, it will take at least ten rotations to get there. This loosens your lower back and hips, which of course is a mandatory first step to making a good golf swing.
2. Next, take your driver in your right hand, and put your left arm at your side or in your left pocket, and do the throw the stick drill (don't throw your club of course) at an imaginary distant target. Do this until you can swing fairly hard, and can feel the lag in your swing, and the control of your club face. This drill gets your right arm loose and starts you thinking about ball striking and swinging towards your target. Do this drill at least ten times if you can.
3. Finally, do the no-backswing golf swing while aiming at a tee, or blade of grass, or something. The point of this drill is to get you thinking about hitting something definite (as opposed to just stretching) and to stretch out your left shoulder and arm. Gradually take a bigger and bigger backswing until you can execute a full swing. Ten repetitions of this drill should be all you need.

This routine takes about two minutes. Which seems to often be all the time that I have before it's time for the first shot of the day!

Finally, remember that you are not trying to crush this first tee shot, or hit the drive of the season. You just want get off the tee without getting into too much trouble either with your score or your body!

Use this three-step warmup and you can get on the course without too much damage to yourself or your score. And try to get to the course earlier next time! I will try too.

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Golf Putting Tip: Listen for the Ball to Drop

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:21:00 +0000

Symptom: Missed putts, particularly putts that miss on the right (for a right-handed player), putting yips.
Overview: Do not watch the ball go in the hole -- listen for it to go in the hole instead.
Why it works: By not allowing yourself to watch the ball go in the hole, you will keep your head still throughout the swing and during impact. This, in turn, prevents you from swiping across the ball from outside-to-in, imparting sidespin, and causing the ball to leak off to the right. So, listening for the ball to drop is both a positive thought (always very important on the golf course!), and a way to ensure your head stays still during the stroke.

You may find this tip harder to follow on putts with a lot of break, because your aiming point will be outside the cup. Don't succumb to the "mini-golf effect" (where you want to see the ball curving on it's way to the hole) on these putts. Be disciplined and listen for the ball to drop instead. You will be writing smaller numbers on your scorecard, and smiling more!

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Copyright 2009, GolfTipReviews.com, All Rights Reserved.

Golf Putting Drill: The Starting Gate Tee Drill

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:37:00 +0000

Symptom: Missing straight putts at intermediate length. Frequently muttering "pushed it" or "pulled it" under your breath as you watch the ball burn the edge of the cup yet again.
Description: Find a flat spot on the putting green, at a distance of about four feet from the hole. Putt five balls from the same spot and see how many you make. If you make them all, move back a few feet until you miss at least half your putts. This is the distance where trouble starts for you on the green.

Now, put down two golf tees, about five inches apart (or just far enough for your putter head to make it through), and perpendicular to the line of the putt. Putt another five balls from between these "starting gate" tees. You should find that you are making more putts in short order.

Why it Works: By always putting from the "starting gate" formed by the two tees, you are training yourself to do several important things.

The ball is always in precisely the same place, so the break is exactly the same, and this will not be a variable you need to contend with.
The "tee gate" forms a visual cue that encourages you to square your putter at impact. This will result in putts that are more on your intended line, with less tendency to push or pull your putts.
The "tee gate" also makes a physical barrier that you have to reckon with as you putt. In other words, in order to avoid hitting the tees with your putter, you will naturally swing your putter through the middle of the tees, the same way, every time. This consistency will lead to a more consistent strike of the ball on the face of your putter, giving you a truer roll. Which will help you make more putts.

As you begin to make more putts, you will start to develop confidence and assurance in your ability to get the ball in the hole, which is incredibly important for any golfer, but especially the Occasional Golfer.

Give the Starting Gate Tee Drill a try next time you are on the green, warming up for your round. I'll bet you sink more putts during your round, and have more fun as a result!

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Golf Putting Tip: Don't Miss the Comeback Putt

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:37:00 +0000

Symptom: Three putts from close range, especially when the first putt goes well past the cup, and you say something like "Wow, I guess it's more downhill than I thought!"
Description: When your putt rolls far past the cup, don't leave your comeback (uphill) putt short, or play too much break.
Why it Works: Of course, the ideal missed putt finishes about 18 inches past the cup. But, sometimes we all underestimate the speed or slope of the green and end up several feet past. It is an instinctive, emotional reaction to not want to repeat this mistake on the next putt, but BE CAREFUL! The reason the putt went so far by the cup in the first place is because you misread the speed. This same logic means that the comeback putt is probably MORE UPHILL (and therefore slower) than you think!

Don't leave the comeback putt short! And don't give it too much break either. Just as downhill putts have more break, uphill putts have less break. It's all gravity and physics.

So give the ball a firm rap on that comeback putt, don't play too much break, and stay away from three-putt land.

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Golf Swing Tip: Draw the Ball with the Four O'Clock Aim Point

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Symptom: You can't hit a draw to save your life, and wonder how in the world people do hit a draw anyway. Rather, you hit slices, and call in vain for the ball to "come back" even though everybody can see it is tailing off to the right.
Description: To draw the ball, or straighten out the slice, put the number of the ball at the four o'clock position (for a right-handed player, at address), and strike the ball on the number.
Why it Works: To hit the ball on the four o'clock position, you will need to come at it from an inside path on the downswing. This inside path is what is needed to hit a draw. (Or make your swing more "draw-like", which will eliminate your slice). It helps to position the ball with the number at four o'clock, to make sure you have a very particular aiming point on the ball, as shown below:

You can combine this tip with the two-ball drill and the throw the stick drill to reinforce the "inside path on the downswing" motion.

This is a remarkably simple tip, one that you can use on all your tee shots during your round. You can place the ball however you want on the tee, right? May as well make the ball number be your target and put that target at four o'clock! Give it a try during your next round and see how it works.

Of course, the four o'clock aim point concept works for other shots too, even when you can't put your hands on the ball to position the number.

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Golf Strategy: Take One More Club

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Symptom: Your approach shots are usually short of the hole. You often say, "must be more uphill than I thought" or "I guess there's some wind up there" or similar lame utterances.
Overview: If in doubt, take one more club. If debating between a seven and eight iron, for example, choose the seven iron.
Why it works: The vast majority of high handicappers leave their approach shots short of the hole. Pay attention to this the next time you play with your buddies -- I'll bet it's true in your foursome too. Ideally, half your shots would finish past the hole, and half short of the hole, so that on average you end up pin-high. By taking one extra club, you will end up closer to the pin on average, which will leave you shorter putts, which will lead to lower scores.

Many Occasional Golfers wish they could get backspin on their ball, like the pros they see on TV. (Hint: You must have a descending blow.) But unless the ball lands past the hole, that would just take the ball further away from the cup!

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Golf Putting Lesson: Three-Putt Cure

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Salt helped people with their swings on the driving range every day. He could usually help people find a more consistent swing, which is what they all needed. But, he knew when he might have a real golfer on his hands when a student would ask, "Shouldn't we go to the putting green? That's where I'm spending all my strokes.".

One such pupil was Jenny, a sophomore in high school and a star player for her high school golf team. She wanted to play the LPGA tour. Salt knew she was not ready, but admired her ambition.

Jenny knew she was not ready, too. Her handicap was 7, but she was a better ball striker than this. She had way too many three putts. She knew she needed some help. Though she was skeptical of old Salt, she also knew he was well-respected in golfing circles. And so she came by to seek his advice.

"Hi Salt, I'm Jenny", she said.

"Hi Jenny. Pleased to meet you. I've seen you play a few times. You are a great ball striker." Salt could make small talk when he had to.

"Thanks. But I need to improve my putting, Salt. Last time out, I shot a 76 but had four three-putts. I can't win tournaments like that!"

Salt was a little alarmed at the intensity in her voice. "High strung, this one," he thought to himself.

"Well, maybe we should head over to the putting green and have a look," Salt suggested.

And so they did. Jenny dropped a dozen or so balls on the green and proceeded to launch them, one after another, at a distant hole.

Salt was alarmed.

"Hold on for a minute here Jenny," said Salt.

"I wanted to get going on this practice right away," Jenny said. "Don't you agree?".

"Jenny, I already see several things I'd like you to do differently. I think these will help your putting quite a bit."

"What is it?" said Jenny. She was a bit insecure about her putting. Do you think my grip is bad? Should I go to a belly putter? I've been thinking about that. Or maybe I'll switch back to a blade from this mallet. What about this old grip -- should I get a thicker grip?" The questions were coming in rapid-fire succession, but Salt remained unfazed.

"Jenny, I'd like you to practice with two balls only," said Salt.

"Two balls? I need more practice than that, Salt," Jenny retorted. She was beginning to wonder if this old codger was worth her time.

"Yes, two balls only. And here's what you're going to do. You will pick a distant hole. Make your best effort on the first putt. Then improve upon it with your second putt. Then, walk to the hole and finish out your putts. Don't stop putting until both balls are in the hole. Keep track of your three putt percentage. Do that for 30 minutes, and I'll check back on you." And Salt headed back into the clubhouse to find a cup of coffee.

Jenny was a bit miffed. What kind of silly game was this? She wanted to hear about technique, or club face angle, or something. But, she did as Salt suggested. After all, she couldn't leave, because her Mom had dropped her off and wouldn't be back for an hour at least.

Her first attempt was at a distant hole, and she ended up 20 feet short. Her second putt was better, but still ten feet away. She wanted to hit another. But she didn't, because of what Salt had told her. She walked to her balls. On her way, she noticed that it was much more uphill than she thought. "Must be why I was short," she noted.

She missed both of her next putts, then tapped her balls in. "Two lag putts, two three putts. This is not good," thought Jenny. She was determined to do better.

The next hole she selected was a bit closer, and downhill. Jenny studied it much more carefully. She hit her first putt within five feet, her second within three feet. She was happy with this, and was about to pick them up, but didn't. She putted out, as she had been told. And, she missed one.

Now she was mad. But she was focused.

She selected her next hole, and walked to the cup and back to be sure she had a good read. Her first putt was within three feet, her second within one foot. She lined up her next putts carefully and did not look up until she heard them drop. Two two-putts. Finally. She felt a little better.

And then she smiled. Maybe Salt knew what he was doing after all. Jenny continued with her practice.

Salt came by half an hour later.

"How's the putting going, Jenny?" he asked.

Jenny smiled. "Pretty well, Salt, I think."

"Let's see you get close to that hole," said Salt. He pointed at a hole about 40 feet away, downhill, with about five feet of left-to-right break.

"OK, said Jenny." And she walked to the cup and back, picked her line, aligned her ball on that line, and stroked her two putts within three feet. She walked to the hole and sunk them both. Two two-putts.

"Well done," said Salt. "Now how about that hole over yonder?"

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Golf Swing Video: Learn the Lag From Sergio

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Sergio Garcia is one of the best drivers of the golf ball on tour, as his stats indicate. Sergio's swing looks a little bit unusual at first. But in fact Sergio can show the Occasional Golfer some very solid swing elements.

Have a look at this Swing Vision analysis:

First, like all pros, his setup position is excellent (0:30).

Notice how his head stays over the ball throughout the backswing (0:30 - 0:49). Pay attention to the vertical lines behind him to give you a point of reference. If anything his head has actually moved a little toward the target. Sergio has absolutely no lateral sway on the backswing. He has a solid position at the top, as expected. Please also not that he has a very good shoulder turn, but not he does not have an excessively long backswing.

The difference between Sergio and most other players comes on the downswing. Notice how his wrist cock increases during the downswing. Run the video to (1:09) to see how his wrist cock has increased to perhaps 120 degrees midway through the downswing. Peter Kostis makes this point for us very nicely. To pull this off, there can be very little tension in his wrist or left shoulder. This gives him tremendous lag and power in his downswing, more than you might expect from someone of his stature.

It's this extra wrist cock and lag that Sergio has in his swing that makes his swing look a little different than most. But as you can see, the Spaniard has an excellent swing that gives him excellent power and control. Perhaps you can channel Sergio's swing concepts next time you play golf in Spain. Or wherever you get to play next. As Occasional Golfers, we can't be too picky.

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Golf Swing Tip: Eliminate Lateral Sway with a Starter Move

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Symptom: Swaying off the ball on the backswing, which puts you out of position at the top, causing an inconsistent and weak downswing. You frequently say to yourself, "you would think I'd never hit a golf ball before" because your swing has just left you, without any warning and without even saying goodbye...
Overview: The Starter Move is very simple and can be done in many ways. Basically, to initiate your backswing, from a powerful setup position, you point your inside right knee at your inside left knee, ever so slightly and rather quickly. You then push off with your left foot to initiate the backswing.
Why it Works: The Starter Move is probably the least understood, simplest, and most important part of the golf swing. Pretty bold statement, you are thinking to yourself? It is true. The Occasional Golfer should ALWAYS use the Starter Move to initiate the backswing.

To see how the Starter Move eliminates your Lateral Sway (or to see if you are swaying), stand facing a reasonably-sized mirror and swing with and without a Starter Move. Simply take a stance as if you are about to hit the ball, look up in the mirror, identify a vertical line in back of you that is approximately in line with your right hip, and pretend to start your backswing. Pay particular attention to your right hip -- does it move to the right, even the slightest bit, relative to your reference line, on the backswing? If so, you are swaying on your backswing. You cannot sway on the backswing! -- it is the root of much evil and the cause of great inconsistency for you.

Now, take your same athletic stance, look in the mirror, and initiate the backswing with a starter move. Did your right hip move at all to the right? I'll bet not -- probably you started turning around your spine immediately on the backswing, and avoided the dreaded lateral sway. Try it a few more times and see for yourself. With the Starter Move you can totally eliminate your lateral sway on the backswing.

Believe me, there is not a simpler, easier, and more effective fix for your lateral sway, and your golf swing in general, than the starter move. Make it part of your swing on every full and intermediate shot, every time. Watch the pros on TV also; some have a pronounced starter move, like Stricker, Cabrera, and Stenson. Some have a less pronounced starter move, and others will not have one at all. But believe me -- and verify this for yourself -- there is no pro who has a lateral sway on the backswing. Because the lateral sway is death to the golf swing.

It is, of course, possible to eliminate your lateral sway without a starter move. But for the Occasional Golfer, it is much, much simpler to always use a starter move, so you don't have to worry about it! You can then enjoy a more consistent and dependable golf swing that works from week to week and month to month, without a lot of tinkering and babysitting. And isn't that what we all really want from our golf swing?

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Golf Swing Video: Starter Move Gallery

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

The Starter Move is very simple -- to initiate your backswing, from a powerful setup position, you point your inside right knee at your inside left knee, ever so slightly and rather quickly. This rocking motion puts weight on your left foot, which you can then use to initiate your backswing. This rocking motion is preferable to just moving the club backwards from a dead still position. And it puts your golf swing into a rhythm that is a swing, not a hit or a slap.

There are many variants of the Starter Move. Some pros have a pronounced Starter Move, others are more subtle.

Have a look at the swings and Starter Moves from Steve Stricker, Angel Cabrera, Henrik Stenson, and Sam Snead. Three men from today's PGA tour, and one from a bygone era. But they all have a noticeable and effective Starter Move. Give it a try next time you are at the range!

Steve Stricker has a controlled and simple golf swing:

Angel Cabrera has a very pronounced Starter Move. What a windup! A very long player. (Don't imitate this swing!)

Henrik Stenson has a slow and deliberate Starter Move that gives him a balanced and powerful swing.

The great Sam Snead had a very pronounced Starter Move throughout his career. This old footage of his swing through the years shows it off well.

Don't forget the Starter Move in your swing! You will be a more consistent player with a good Starter Move.

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Golf Swing Tip: Elastic Left Shoulder for a Smooth Downswing Transition

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Symptom: Over-the-top downswings that results in slices, shanks, and other erratic shots, especially with longer irons and woods. For sure, nobody ever says, "Wow, how did you hit it so far with such a slow, easy swing?"
Overview: Think of your left shoulder as being elastic, so that it stretches at the start of the downswing but does not immediately pull the club down as you start driving toward the ball.
Why it works: We have all heard that power and consistency in the golf swing swing comes from the lower body and hips. Some of us have been annoyed by this, thinking, "OK, that's great, but how do you deliver the power from your lower body and hips, through your torso and your arms, consistently, to the ball?"

Well, one thing is for sure: You must resist the urge to hit at the ball with your shoulders and arms from the top of the backswing (hitting from the top, or casting). Rather, you must let your lower body initiate the downswing, with your hands and arms going along for the ride as the downswing begins. A very effective way to visualize this is to think of your left shoulder as a piece of elastic. In other words, as you start your downswing, you should feel your left shoulder stretch like elastic, storing energy for later in the downswing.
The "elastic left shoulder swing thought" accomplishes at least three very important things:

You will keep the clubhead back behind you longer, and avoid casting or throwing or coming over the top.
Since you won't be casting the club, you will keep your balance more easily. This will help you keep your head still during the downswing.
Your swing will slow down at the top during the backswing-to-downswing transition, and therefore look more graceful and natural. But you will generate more clubhead speed and consistency at impact, which will give you more power.

You will also find that it helps to grip the club as lightly as possible to avoid tension in your left shoulder. And please do not fixate on keeping your left elbow straight either, as this too can introduce tension that is not productive.

The "elastic left shoulder swing thought" is positive, simple, and non-technical enough to remember and apply on the golf course, during your round. Combine this thought with a "throw the stick with my right arm" thought and you've got both arms covered. You will be on your way to a consistent, repeatable swing that you can trust on the golf course. Give it a try next time you practice or play. I'll bet you see immediate positive results!

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Golf Swing Tip: Sit on the Bar Stool for Power and Balance

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Symptom: Erratic shots, poor balance, and an inability to get into that "perfect pose position" on your follow through.
Description: Pretend you are about to sit down on a bar stool when you address the ball, and hold this spine position until the start of your downswing.
Why it works: On the backswing, think of your spine as the axis around which your body turns. You need to keep this axis relatively still and at a consistent angle throughout your backswing. Stillness matters because this stability allows you to put the clubhead in a known and consistent position at the top of the backswing, which is crucial for a repeatable downswing. It also is a great help in keeping your head still as you swing.

Pretending to sit on a bar stool helps you anchor your spine in just the right way for it to act as your axis. Indeed, the tension in your muscles needed to hold this "almost sitting" position is about the only "good" tension I know of in the golf swing.

You will find that it is much easier to strike a pose in that perfect finish position when you do the bar stool setup. If you are not used to this setup position, it will take some getting used to. You may also find that this position tends to limit the length of your backswing, but this is almost always a good thing for the Occasional Golfer.

So -- the time you've put in sitting at the bar was actually golf practice! If you can sell that explanation, please share your secret below in the Comments section. And please don't forget to Share this Tip with your friends by Bookmarking it or Emailing it to them!

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Golf Putting Tip: Draw on Your Ball and Align Your Line

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Symptom: Inconsistent putting, putting yips, putts that just barely miss the hole even though you swear you had the break figured out.
Description. Put a straight line around the equator of your golf ball with a permanent marker. After you mark your golf ball on the green, replace it on the green by aligning the golf ball line to your intended putting line.
Why it works: Since the rules of golf allow you to mark and clean the golf ball on the putting green, take advantage of the opportunity to aim the golf ball on your line. The visual aid of the golf ball line makes it easier to hit your putts on line, and avoid swiping or hooking your putts as you strike your ball with your putter. Your putter has some sort of alignment aid on it, like a line, or some white circles that represent balls, or something similar, right? Why not extend this concept to the golf ball?

As you watch the pros on TV, you will see that almost all of them do this, each and every time. Some of them are quite obsessive about it, in fact. I guess if I were playing golf for a living I might be too.

Anyway, the whole idea of drawing a line on the ball is to aid in your aiming and setup. When you hit the putt, be sure you don't let the line wobble, and please make sure your ball finishes past the hole (or in the hole of course!).

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Copyright 2009, GolfTipReviews.com, All Rights Reserved.

Golf Chipping Tip: Pick a Spot to Land Your Ball

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:22:00 +0000

Symptom: Too few up and downs. Your erratic chipping leaves the ball too far from the hole too often. The frequently shouted "get going" or "hit something", or "&$^#@".
Description: Chip to a specific spot where you want the ball to land.
Why it Works: Chipping is really a two-step process. First you figure out where to land the ball given all the variables. Then you execute your shot to land the ball on your chosen spot. Does this sound simple? Well it is!

Chipping is one of the hardest parts of the game. You must consider the length of the chip, how much spin the ball will have, the slope and speed of the green, your lie, your stance (uphill, downhill, sidehill), and many other factors. It's enough to make your head spin as you stand over the ball. But you can reduce all this complexity to one simple question that you can answer and commit to -- where shall I land the ball?

Where to land the ball is something you can control. And practice in your own yard. As you play your round, the situations you will find yourself in will vary depending on the conditions of the course, or the hole, or the day, or whether they've mowed the grass yet, or whatever. But you can always reduce all these variables to the simple question -- Where shall I land the ball?

Learn to chip to a spot with your hands ahead of the ball and you will get up and down more often. And you will hear the coveted "nice touch" or even "it's good" from your playing partners as you tally another up-and-down.

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Golf Strategy: Find More Golf Balls Than You Lose

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Fellow Golfers, I have a confession to make -- I rarely buy golf balls. Instead, I rely on finding more golf balls than I lose when I go out on the course. On a tough course I usually find 5-10 balls. (Sadly, I might also lose one or two along the way.) So I come out ahead on golf balls, and way ahead on expenses.

Apparently most folks on the course do buy new balls, because most of the balls I find are very nice, new, fresh, expensive, balls!

Here's some proven ball-finding pointers -- give them a try next time you play:

Help Look. Always help your playing partners look for their lost balls. Hopefully you will find their ball. But undoubtedly, theirs is not the first errant shot into the tall grass or the woods in this general area. You will likely find several other balls as you hunt for your friend's ball.
Widen the Search. Don't be afraid to look further away than they are looking. I often hear "I'm sure it's right here" but in fact they are off by ten yards or more. So widen the circle of the search and you may come across an extra ball or two.
Walk the course if you can (it's better exercise and you will stay more limber during the round). Walk the right side of the fairway, or even in the rough, as you approach your ball (even if you are in the fairway). Most lost balls started out as big slices by right handed players.
Get down the hill. Gravity and water make grass grow and lay downhill. You need to be looking uphill, into the grass, to see the ground and the balls beneath. They will be hidden under the matted grass from the high or uphill side.
Use your feet. Shuffle through the grass rather than just walking, and you will sometimes inadvertently kick a surprise ball from the undergrowth.
Use your club. Probe in the grass with your club, scraping the ground and probing for balls. Often you will hit a ball with your club that you would not have seen.

If I happen to lose my ball due to bad luck or a bad shot, it does take some of the sting away when I find three more dimpled, pristine, willing volunteers, eager to get back in the game! I'll bet it will for you too.

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Golf Chipping Tip: Putt Whenever You Can

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:37:00 +0000

Symptom: Poor chipping, seldom converting up-and-downs from just off the green. All too often, your chip goes about two feet when you wanted it to go twenty feet. Expletives are uttered...
Description: If you can putt the ball, you should putt the ball. Put away your wedge and use the putter for more consistency and better scores.
Why it works: Most golfers will get the ball closer to the hole with their putter than with a wedge from off the green. If the ball is on the fairway in front of the green, or the fringe around the green, or anywhere where the golf ball can travel across the grass without much impediment, PUTT IT!. It will save you strokes on the golf course.

If you must chip the ball, be sure to keep your hands ahead of the ball throughout the chip for more consistency.

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Golf Swing Video: Shorten Your Backswing

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Symptom: Erratic shots, a golf swing that is not reliable or powerful, and doesn't hold up under pressure or from round to round.
Description: Slow down and limit the length of your backswing for more consistency.
Why it works: The purpose of the backswing is to coil the body and set the club in position for a powerful downswing. A backswing that is too quick, or too long, can easily get the club out of position, and can prevent you from storing the energy needed for a powerful, consistent downswing. Indeed, you can hit very good shots with hardly any backswing at all. Do not confuse a long backswing with a powerful golf swing!

Many of the best players on the PGA Tour have very compact, repeatable golf swings with relatively short backswings that the Occasional Golfer, such as you and me, can emulate. I suggest looking at Paul Casey, Boo Weekley, and Fred Funk, for example. These guys all hit the ball plenty far, and very consistently, with a repeatable and limited backswing.

Here is Boo:

Here is Paul:

And here is Fred:

All are regarded as excellent ball strikers and all have simple, repeatable swings that we would all do well to emulate.

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Golf Swing Drill: Feet Together for Balance and Power

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Symptom: The dreaded "spin-out" move, losing balance on your full golf swing, or just simply swinging too hard.
Description: On the range, put your feet together -- almost touching -- and hit balls with your "three quarters swing" until you can maintain your balance throughout the swing and follow through.
Why it works: By putting your feet together, you are much more prone to lose your balance during your golf swing. That is why you usually stand with your feet apart! But by putting them together, you will be forced to focus on your balance and tempo and keeping your center of gravity under control. You may find that this is hard to do -- if so you probably have an over the top swing (the most common swing fault) and so you should look at the throw the sticks drill or the no backswing golf swing drill to fix that motion first.

Once you have regained your tempo and balance with your feet together, return to hitting shots with a correct stance, with your feet about shoulder width apart. Your feet will feel solid on the ground and your power will come from your feet and legs, where it should. Hopefully your consistency will have returned with more power too!

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Golf Swing Tip: Start With the Finish

golftipeditor@live.com (GolfTipEditor) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:54:00 +0000

Symptom: Slice, poor balance. Maybe you are spinning out, or lurching at the ball, or making other awkward moves. And for sure, nobody says, "Nice golf swing" in an approving and slightly jealous manner after you've hit your ball.
Description: Model a perfect pose at the end of your swing, in balance and with belt buckle facing the target, then execute your swing so that you end up there.
Why it works: By starting at the finish, you are able to eliminate those parts of the swing that prevent the desired finish. It sounds far too simple to possibly work, right? After all, we are hitting the ball, not posing for a sculptor. But the drill can be remarkably effective, especially if your swing is basically solid, and you're just a little off once in a while. So give it a try next time you are at the range. I'll bet you end up a bit richer when you do some golf betting with your friends the next time you play.

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