The Golf Doctor

Donald Off To Red-Hot Start

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:49:00 +0000


Luke Donald set a tournament record by taking only 20 putts en route to an eight-under 64. > Tiger Woods hardly missed a fairway, a big improvement. Luke Donald hardly missed a putt, and that was far more rewarding on Thursday at the Memorial. Donald set a tournament record by taking only 20 putts, which allowed him to tie a tournament record by opening with an 8-under 64 and a three-shot lead over a group that included Jim Furyk and Jason Day, who bogeyed his last two holes. What seemed like a normal round at Muirfield Village turned extraordinary for Donald when he rapped in a 12-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 eighth hole, starting a streak of six consecutive birdies. He one-putted nine straight holes until a routine par on the 18th hole to match the lowest opening round at the Memorial. "That doesn't happen very often," Donald said. Even rarer is the sight of Woods spending so much time in the middle of the fairway. Woods went with a slightly higher loft in his driver (10 degrees) and continued to make strides with his swing. He didn't miss a fairway until his 3-wood on the 18th hole deflected off a tree and landed in a bunker. Scoring starts with the putter, however. Woods missed an 8-foot par putt on the final hole, and his other bogey came on a three-putt at the 13th. He had to settle for a 69, and few complaints. "Everything felt pretty good to some degree," Woods said. "My swing felt good. Even my putting stroke felt good. A couple of bad pitches here and there, but overall, I felt like I controlled the ball well all day. With the wind blowing like this, you have to hit it flush. I did that all day. I didn't miss any shots." Furyk, who won the Memorial seven years ago, birdied three of his final four holes for a 67. He was joined by Ted Purdy, Thomas Aiken and Day, the 21-year-old Australian who missed a playoff by one shot last week at Colonial. Day was at 7 under with three holes to play, but made bogey from the bunkers on his final two holes. All of them were chasing Donald throughout a day that began cool and breezy and became warm and blustery. Donald, who had only two sub-70 rounds at Muirfield Village, hit the opening tee shot and made bogey. He was headed for another bogey on the second hole until he chipped in from 80 feet short of the green. "I guess all good rounds start with a bogey," he said. "It was just kind of a normal, everyday round until I got to the eighth and made a nice putt from the fringe. That kind of sparked off a run of six birdies. Just really got on a hot streak." He made eight birdies over the last 11 holes. And his score was an eyesore for those teeing off in the afternoon. "That's rough when you walk to the first tee and you're already eight behind," defending champion Kenny Perry. He finished the day eight shots behind after two late bogeys have him a 72. Stewart Cink was among those at 68, while those at 69 with Woods included Mike Weir and British Amateur champion Reinier Saxton. Donald felt putting was his weakness when he joined the PGA Tour. He has been working on fundamentals, and even switched to a mallet putter. He now is No. 1 in putting on the PGA Tour, and his success is no secret. "You start putting well, and you start believing in yourself a little bit," Donald said. "Confidence on the greens breeds confidence. You keep making more putts. I think putting is very mental. Once you feel like you're a good putter, then it becomes easier." Woods has a streak of 16 consecutive top 10s in stroke play, but scrutiny followed him home from The Players Championship last week because he played in the final group and couldn't break par. He has said he is still making adjustments because of surgery last year on his left knee, and has said for the last month that he is still missing his power. But he is back to hitting balls on the range, which is where he could be found late Thursday afternoon. And he painted an optimistic view of his immediate future. "The swing is starting to come around," he said. "I'm starting to feel good now. It's been a long time. I'm starting to get my power back. Everything is starting to come around now." Even so, hitting 13 fairways can be misleading because Muirfield Village is known for its generous fairways. The key is putting on some of the purest greens on tour, and Donald had that part figured out just fine. Story courtesy of Golf World

The Mini-Round

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:06:00 +0000

This is one of the most relished secrets of folks that make their living playing golf.

Basically you want to play 6 "mini-rounds" of 3 holes each within your 18 hole round.

The key is to set a scoring goal (for each mini-round) that is obtainable based on your average golf score. Here is a table that will help you figure out what that goal should be:

your current average score	scoring goal for each mini-round
110 or greater	6 over par
105	5 over par
100	4 over par
95	3 over par
90	2 over par
85	2 over par
80	1 over par
75	par
70 or less	1 under par

The mini-round concept eases the frustration a string of poor shots can produce.

After each mini-round is over, no matter how well or how poorly you did, you forget about your previous scores and start fresh on the next 3 holes.

And obviously as your game improves you should take a stroke away from your scoring goal for each mini-round. I would re-examine your scoring goal every 3-5 rounds.

Have a Great Day and Hit 'em Straight!
JJ

Getting off to a good start: Give yourself time!

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:20:00 +0000

If you want to start your game well then you need to be

relaxed when you get to the first tee.

You need to get to the course early. Rushing from the

car to first tee will do nothing for your game.

Ideally, get to the course early enough to hit some balls

on the practice range (or warm up net) and got to the

practice green.

Here is a warm up routine for you that will get you in the

right frame of mind to start well.

Go to the range, or warm up net, and hit about 30 balls

with a range of the clubs in your bag. The objective is to

warm up and get the gremlins out.

Start with an easy club such as your 8 iron.

Then work down the set to the driver. For example:

8 Iron - 5 iron - 3 iron - 3 wood - Driver

Then go back to a mid iron (e.g. 6 iron) then go to a

pitching wedge and play shots to different distances.

REMEMBER: The objective is to get warmed up, not worn out!

Next, go to the chipping /putting green and spend 5 minutes

chipping balls to different distances

Next, get the putter out, take 3 balls and start putting.

Practice knocking them in from 3 feet. Then go to the

important 10ft distance. If you can knock them in from

here in your round you will save shots. Practice your

distance drills. Get a feel for the green speed.

Then go off to the first tee 10 minutes before your tee time.

If you do arrive too late at the course, and if you can

do nothing else, have a quick putt. You are going to shoot

almost half your score on the green. You will use your

putter more than any other club in your bag. Make sure

you have a feel for green speed.

This warm up routine should take you no more than 30 minutes,

and you will arrive at the first tee relaxed and warmed up.

This will give you much more confidence with your first shot.

Confidence breeds success!

I hope you have found this tip useful.

Keep a lookout tomorrow for your next Course Management Key Tip

Play Well!

Jay

Hey, Golfers!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Do You Want to be Let in on the SECRET that will Knock Shots Off your Golf Scores?

(This Really Works...You'd Be Crazy Not to Use These Proven Techniques!)

http://turbourl.com/?v2be

The Proper Take Away Will Make Or BREAK Your Swing

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:39:00 +0000

The Proper Take Away Will Make Or BREAK Your Swing

Standing to the Handle

As you address the golf ball there are some critical parts of the setup that must be in place before you start the backswing.

If you look down and see the grip-end of the golf club across from your belt buckle there is a good chance you have MOST of the critical parts in place.

1. Across from Belt Buckle

Having the grip-end of the golf club across from your belt buckle assures you of having your head in the correct position, not tilted too far to the left side or the right side of the golf ball. The second part is your spine is probably in the correct position, if the grip end is pointing towards you chin, your spine is too long. If the grip end is pointing lower than your belt buckle, your spine is bent over too much. Lastly, the most crucial part is the golf club is soled on the ground with the correct amount of loft.

The golf club being soled correctly on the ground is the sure guarantee that you are in the correct set-up, after you confirm all the positions that we discussed above.

The Key to Starting the Golf Club Back

One of the top five most asked questions in the past 25 years has been, “What starts the backswing?” The answer is a bit complex, so grab your Hi-Liter and let’s get started.

When you are ready to start the backswing, the clubhead, shaft, your hands, arms and right shoulder move in ONE PIECE at the exact same time.
The clubhead starts back on an arc (we will get to that in the next section). The right shoulder starts turning backwards.

2. One Piece Take-away

3. Right Shoulder Turns as Arm Swings Club

The take-away is one piece all the way until it arrives at the 9:00 o’clock position (we will get to that in two sections).

As you start back, both knees are flexed and during the backswing- the right knee NEVER changes positions. It does not flex more, nor does it straighten out and it does not slide back away from the target.

The left knee also plays a major role in the backswing. It does not move towards the line of flight and it does not straighten out. As the golf club starts back, the left knee moves towards the right knee as a RESULT of the upper body turning and the lower body resisting this turn. The left knee never passes the golf ball in the backswing.

The Correct Path in the Backswing

As the golf club starts back away from the golf ball the club head must swing back on an arc which is inside the straight line to the target.

4a. Correct Arc

4b. Correct Arc

If the golf club travels outside in the backswing the right shoulder will tilt up in the backswing and the golf club will swing vertical to the ground in the downswing. If the golf club travels too much to the inside of the arc in the backswing, the golf club will travel too level to the golf ball in the downswing. If the golf club swings too straight back you will have a tendency to hit the ball in the heel of the club at impact.

Too Much Outside

Too Much Inside

Too Straight Back

When the golf club travels back on the correct path the combination of the arms and hands will be able to swing the golf club back to the correct position at the top of the backswing as long as the right shoulder turns out of the way.

From Address to the 9:00 Position

When the shaft of the golf club is level to the ground and parallel to your intended target line- we refer to that position as 9 o’clock.

The first check-point in the backswing is the 9:00 o’clock position.

5. First Check-Point is the 9 O'Clock Position

When you reach 9 o’clock, you are half-way back and this is a great time to stop and take a look around, as long as you know what you are looking for. The first thing you want to take a look at- is the golf club in the exact correct position? The club should be parallel to your target line and level to the ground. The second part to take a look at- is the right shoulder turning and not tilting? It is very difficult to get to 9 o’clock with a tilted right shoulder.

Right Shoulder Tilted Too Much

Right Shoulder Turned Too Level

If the right shoulder is tilting up the golf club will most likely be outside the path and pointed up. If the right shoulder turns too much in the backswing the golf club will swing around you too much. If you are in the correct position, it is time to head back to the top of the backswing.

From 9:00 to the Top

From the 9 o’clock position the golf club must continue up on an arc.

6a. From 9 to the Top

6b. From 9 to the Top

This can only happen if you continue to turn the right shoulder out of the way. As the right shoulder turns out of the way, the arms, hands and golf club will continue to swing inside, however, after the golf club passes the 9 o’clock position, it will have to swing up. This combination is what I believe is the most difficult part of the backswing.

You can not stop turning the shoulder. If you do stop turning the golf club will start to swing up to much. If you continue to swing the golf club around with the shoulders the golf club will swing too much around.

The proper combination is when the shoulders turn and the golf club swings up. When you reach the top of the backswing with this combination you will be in position to swing the golf club down on the correct path and with clubhead speed.

Shoulders Stop Turning, Club Swings Up

7. Shoulders Turning Correctly

http://turbourl.com/?de3z

The Right Address For Better Consistency

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:48:00 +0000

The Feet

As we move through the address position section I want you to wrap your head around the idea that we are going to construct a building. The building is four to six feet tall and not very wide. Of course I am referring to the human body. The first place you would start is the foundation, so let’s talk about the feet first. Let’s see how far apart they are supposed to be and exactly where we place the weight once we get the feet planted.

The feet have to support the upper body and once the golf club, the arms, and the body get moving in the downswing there is a lot of force that the foundation has to support.

The feet have to be just slightly further apart than shoulder width. This distance is far enough apart to maintain a solid base.

1. Slightly More Than Shoulder Width

As the club begins to build up speed and the left hip makes the first move down the target line before it turns backward, the width of the stance will hold up just fine. If you have a tendency to lose your balance, your stance might be to narrow.

Too Narrow

After impact the golf club swings back around your body and up towards your left shoulder. As the golf club comes to the end of the swing your weight has moved from the right side over to the left side. The width of your feet will accommodate this move. Your weight needs to be evenly distributed between your toes and heels.

The Knees

From the feet we are going to move up the building to the knees. The knees have played a huge role in most sports- golf is no exception. The knees are going to come into play in two different parts of the golf swing.

The first part is the address position.

As you address the golf ball your knees will have a slight flex in them.

2. Knees are Slightly Fixed

You are NOT going to “sit” on your knees and they are NOT locked straight.

For a long time instructors taught students to have the feeling you were “sitting” on a bar stool. I always believed we should have been teaching people to feel as though you were “leaning” back on a stool. The last thing you would ever want to do is sit in golf. Sitting will cause the golf club to swing too level to the ground in the downswing, and you will have a tendency to hit the ground behind the golf ball.

Straight

Sitting

Before you start to “straighten” your knees to a “locked” position, which is just as wrong as sitting, let me give you a bit of advice. The knee position is what I refer to as “slightly” flexed. Because we are all different heights, I cannot give you an exact degree you should flex your knees- however; if you simply relax your knees, you will find the correct amount of bend on your own.

The second roll the knees play in the swing is when the golf club is in motion. As the golf club swings back, the single most important thing for you to remember is the RIGHT knee never ever moves from the original position. If you think of the two knee caps as head lights shining in front of you as you drive along a road, you might make some twists and turns but the headlights are always in front of you. As you start the backswing the right knee does not slide, bend or straighten out- it stays very quiet and solid during the entire backswing.

Both knees must remain flexed during the entire backswing and until impact.

The Hips

If your chin is in the correct position, and your spine is long (don't worry we'll talk about these shortly), and your knees are flexed the correct amount, the golf club will not sole correctly on the ground until you tilt or bend over from the hips. You do NOT want to bend at the waist. You ALWAYS want to bend from the hips. The difference is if you bend at the waist your spine will bend (not good).

If you bend at the hips you can maintain the spine angle and sole the club on the ground correctly.

3. Bend at the Hips

If you do not bend at the hips, you will not be able to sole the golf club correctly.

When you bend over from the hips you have to make sure you do not straighten out or lock your knees. When you bend at the hips you have to pay close attention to making sure you do not bend at the bottom of the spine.

Not Tilted

Tilted Too Much

The hips play another role not related to their position

Your hips must be parallel to the line of the ball flight at address.

4. Parallel to the Line of the Ball Flight

If your hips are open at address you will have a tendency to open the hips too soon in the downswing. The clubface will be open at impact and the golf ball will start right. If your hips are closed at address the golf club will swing too much from the inside in the downswing and the golf ball will either start right or you will struggle with a quick hook left.

Open

Closed

At address the hips are parallel to the ball flight line. As the golf club swings back down from the top, the first move from the top is for the left hip to move an inch or two parallel to the target line and then the left hip should begin to turn backwards out of the way so the golf club can swing back to the inside after impact.

When you arrive at the finish of the golf swing your belt and shoulders should be level to the ground. Your belt buckle will aim at the intended target and your hips are level to the ground.

The Shoulders

The shoulders play three major roles in the golf swing. The first two roles are static and the third is a moving role. In the address position the shoulders compliment the spine angle.

If the shoulders are opened up and back at address the spine angle will be in the correct position as long as the chin is up.

5. Shoulders Back

If the shoulders are rounded the spine will be bent over too much.

Rounded

The second role the shoulders play is they must be parallel to your intended line you want the golf ball to travel on. When you look down your toes, knees, hips and shoulders must be in line with each other. Parallel means they have to be on the same line going to the left of where you want the golf ball to start. If the shoulders are aiming to the right of the target the golf club will start too much inside the correct path in the backswing. If they are aiming to the left of the target the golf club will start too much to the outside in the backswing. For the golf club to start back on the correct path the shoulders must be parallel from the start.

The shoulders play yet another role in the backswing. As the clubhead, shaft, hands, arms and (shoulders) start moving backwards, the right shoulder has to move out of the way to give the hands, arms and golf club a place to swing to at the top of the backswing. The right shoulder does not slide back. Instead – rotates around your body.

The shoulders play a huge role in distance and direction. The shoulders have to turn as much as possible in the backswing. Once your back is facing the target (this for the 30ish and under crowd) or as much of a turn as possible, you will be in position to swing the club down with maximum club head speed.

The Spine

The spine has taken on an all important part in the golf swing in the past 10 years. Not many words were written about the spine and its role in the golf swing until then.

If the spine stays long during the backswing, not rigid, you can make a much bigger turn.

6. Long Spine During Backswing

If your spine is curved at address the shoulders will have a tendency to tilt and not turn. In the downswing the shoulders will have a tendency to turn on top of the golf ball instead of moving under. If the shoulders can move under, the golf club will stay on the path in the downswing (producing an inside to out swing). As the golf club swings back the right shoulder has to turn to allow the golf club to swing up, if the spine is too long the club will swing around too much and not up enough.

Bent Over

Too Long

There is yet another role the spine plays in the golf swing. At the top of the backswing the spine supports the upper body, the golf club, the arms and most importantly the speed at which we swing the golf club. If the spine maintains its length in the backswing, you will be able to swing the arms at a greater speed in the downswing.

The golf club is at its maximum speed as it nears the golf ball and the spine is supporting the “frame of the golf swing” - your upper body. As the club head passes the impact zone the spine is at its most vulnerable position and from that point to the finish is when the spine is taking a real beating (physically).

Maintaining the correct spine angle will play a major role in club head speed and, the direction the club actually swings (swing path). The spine maintains the same angle from address to one foot past impact and it is critical that it starts from the correct position.

If you are in the correct posture at address no changes are necessary.

If you are standing too tall at address, bending at the hips will solve this problem. If you are bent over too much at the top of the spine or your shoulders are too curved, you will have to take a very serious look into changing your spine angle. Opening your shoulders and lifting your chin will be a great place to start.

The Chin

After you address the golf ball there is a check-list of things you need to go through to make sure you are ready to take off. I am not going to tell you the position of the chin is the most important- however, it ranks up there for sure. The chin controls what happens to the shoulders in the backswing.

If the chin is down in your chest at address, the shoulders will have a tendency to pop up in the backswing. The right shoulder will NOT turn out of the way to make room for the arms to swing around. If you continue to leave your chin down in your chest you might have some success with the shorter clubs, but the long clubs will be very difficult to hit. You can get away with the arms swinging up and down with the short clubs, you might not be so lucky with the longer clubs.

If you have a tendency to top your shots or hit thin, your chin might be up too much.

Too Down

Too Up

If you have a tendency to top your shots or hit thin, your chin might be up too much.

So now you want to know how much you should lift your chin up. I have some advice that is not the answer of all answers, but it is a wonderful starting point.

Lift your chin up just enough to get your fist under your chin and touch your throat.

7. Use Fist as a Guide

Correct

When you start experimenting with this new position you will want to start with a club you like to hit. You will know right away if the correction is going to help you or not. Give it a chance. If you top a lot of shots, you have lifted the chin up too much. The first few shots you might want to start with half a fist so you can ease into it. Keep in mind it is an extension of your spine. You might have to bend over at the hips another inch or two; this will compliment the chin position.

Hit Them Straight & Long,

http://turbourl.com/?de3z

Full Swing Fundamentals - The Grip

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:40:00 +0000

The Grip

Left Hand

When you pick up a golf club your hands are the only part of your body that touch the club. For many years the hands (grip) have often been referred to as the steering wheel of the golf swing. I don’t believe this could be more true. Gripping the golf club correctly makes playing this game a much better experience.

Gripping the golf club at first glance does not seem like a very difficult thing to do, however, it can take a lot of trial and error to figure out the correct grip for you. This is a very interesting aspect to the game of golf. Gripping the golf club is a VERY INDIVIDUAL thing for everyone that plays golf. There are no two grips alike. You can only find what works for you through hitting golf balls. I can and will guide you, but ultimately, results on the golf course speak louder than me.

Place the golf club up in your left hand, the golf club goes across the left palm- from the base of the forefinger to the pad above the pinky.

Now, hold the handle steady with your left fingers and wrap your palm around the top of the grip.

1. Club Goes Across the Left Palm

2. Wrap Palm Around Top of the Grip

The grip does more to effect actual ball flight than anything else in the game. That’s why we’ve started with the grip. It’s the foundation of the swing, and a quick fix for those of you that have undesirable ball flight patterns.

The more you grip the golf club in the fingers, the faster you can swing the golf club and the quicker the clubface will close. If you grip the golf club further up in the palm, the slower the golf club will travel and the longer it takes for the clubface to close. If you are slicing the golf ball, you will want to move the grip more into the fingers (the base of the fingers), if you are hooking the golf ball, you will want to move the grip more into the palm area (higher up in the left hand).

Right Hand

Now that the left hand is in place you are going to place the right hand on the golf club.

With your right hand on the side of your right leg, slowly bring it towards the bottom of the golf club.

The right hand will be placed on the golf club more in the fingers than the palm. You will simply fold the right hand around the fingers of the left.

BOTH PALMS MUST ALWAYS FACE EACH OTHER. It is not a difficult thing to do but it is mandatory, no gray area.

3. Bring your Right Hand Towards the Bottom of your Left Hand

4. Fold your Right Hand Around the Fingers of the Left Hand

5. Both Palms MUST Face Each Other

Congratulations, you have now GRIPPED the golf club. But hold on a second, there is a good chance this is not the correct grip for you, so you will have to experiment. However, I have given you a great starting point. The placement of the hands on the golf club controls what the clubface will do during the golf swing and ultimately what the clubface will look like at impact.

In the next section I will show you some variations of the grip that will help you find the one that works best for you.

**SPECIAL NOTE Most golf clubs either have a “ladies” grip or a “men’s” grip on the golf club. If you have small hands it is very important to make sure you have your clubs gripped with a ladies grip, it doesn’t matter if you own men’s clubs. If you have large hands you should have your clubs gripped with men’s grips. There are a couple more options, if your hands are really small you can have “junior” grips placed on your clubs or if you have x-large hands or arthritis you can have “jumbo” grips placed on your clubs. The grip size also effects ball flight. Large grips tend to make a person fade the ball and small grips tend to make a person draw the ball.**

Grip Variations

There are multiple ways to grip a golf club. Although it sounds overwhelming, it truly is not. Once you begin to experiment you will eliminate four or five of them instantly. I will give you a guide to get you started on the right track.

Interlocking Grip

Overlapping Grip

For starters, if you have small hands and fingers, the interlocking grip will probably work best for you. It helps you wrap your fingers and palm around the grip handle.

On the other hand, if you have large hands, the overlapping grip will probably work best for you.

The above-mentioned grips are the proper way to hold a club- however there are three different ways you can apply them to the golf club.

Weak

Neutral

Strong

You can grip the golf club in a weak position (no knuckles of the left hand showing), neutral (one knuckle of the left hand showing) or the strong position (2 or 3 knuckles of the left hand showing).

During your experimenting, if the golf ball has a tendency to curve to the right, you will want to move BOTH hands to the right (strong). When you move the hands make sure you do it slowly. If the golf ball has a tendency to curve to the left, you will want to move BOTH hands slowly to the left (weak). Now, if the golf ball is flying without a curve, you have the correct grip for you. DO NOT EXPERIMENT WITH ANY OTHER GRIP.

Grip Pressure

OK, you have found the correct grip for you. There is one last item we need to deal with. The amount of pressure you apply to the club plays a major role in how you swing the golf club. The tighter you grip the golf club the slower your arms will swing and the longer the clubface will take to release in the downswing (causing a slice). This is a good thing if you HOOK the golf ball. This will definitely stop the ball from curving from right to left. On the other hand if you have problems SLICING the golf ball this amount of grip pressure will make the ball slice more.

If you are struggling with slicing the golf ball, you will have to hold the golf club like you were holding a baby’s hand. Gently, the lighter you grip the golf club the faster the club will swing and the quicker the club will release in the downswing. If you do not have any problems with the ball curving, you have found the correct amount of grip pressure.

Hit Them Straight & Long,

http://turbourl.com/?de3z

Trouble Shot Tip #1 Downhill Lie

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:01:00 +0000

I'd like to share a great tip with you today. This will show you
how to make solid contact with the ball on an uneven lie going
downhill, which is probably the most difficult shot in golf.

One of the reasons this shot is so hard is because when you address
a golf ball that is on a downhill lie there isn't any room for
error. Most people end up hitting the ground behind the ball, or
hitting the golf ball thin since the ground is going away from the
ball. A downhill lie makes it very difficult to swing under the
ball and get it up in the air.

In this golf lesson, I will show what you need to do to get the
ball up in the air and on its way to the pin.

Tip #1 Uneven Lie-Ball going downhill

When you stop to think about what area of your golf game you should work on you don’t often think about the different trouble shots. You spend time at the practice facility working on your full swing and you might spend some time on your putting. However you rarely think about uneven lies, flop shots, deep rough or punch shots.

I have put together some valuable information on two Trouble Shots that I know will play a big role in you lowering your handicap.

Hands down this has to be the most difficult shot in golf. The game was just not designed to be played going downhill and there are two problems you are faced with. Just when you think you have a tough downhill lie you look up to see that you now have to hit the ball over a pond onto the green. Not going to happen.

The Arc

You see the reason the ball going downhill lie is so difficult is because we swing the golf club on a arc. The arc has to have a bottom to it so you can find the bottom of the golf ball. When you address the golf ball on level ground the bottom of the golf club can swing up and down on the arc and return to the bottom of the golf ball, there is turf under the golf ball.

When you address a golf ball going downhill there isn’t any turf under the golf ball. The ground goes away from the ball. When you swing the golf club on arc and return to the golf ball the turf goes away from you. There isn’t any turf for the golf club to swing into.

You have to compensate so you can find the bottom of the ball.

Finding the Bottom of the Ball

The next problem is as big as the first one. You not only have to find the bottom of the golf ball, you have to make sure it goes up in the air.

There are four degrees of loft between all of my irons. If I am 150 yards from the green on a downhill slope of 8 degrees I am going to have a difficult time hitting the green with this shot. When I am standing 150 yards from the green I have to hit a shot that has enough loft so the ball will stop when it hits the green. I usually hit a 7 iron from 150 yards; in this case my 7 iron has the loft of my 5 iron. I have to drop down and take my 8 or 9 iron. Because the 8 and 9 irons are shorter than the 7 they will not perform like a 7.

When you have long downhill lies that won’t reach the green that usually isn’t a problem. Anytime you have a chip, pitch or full swing shot that can reach the green that is when the trouble begins.

So let’s spend some time with the technique of hitting a downhill shot.

As soon as the golf club reaches the bottom of the arc it has to swing level along the ground before it can come back up. In other words the arc has to be longer than normal.

Stand to the Slope

The first thing you have to do is stand to the slope. Your right shoulder has to be higher at address which places more weight on your left side.

The reason you have to stand to the slope is to make sure the golf club swings UP in the backswing and DOWN in the downswing. If the slope is severe enough you have to make sure you do not transfer any weight going back in the backswing.

Now comes the secret. You have to make sure at the bottom of the hit that you follow through LOW, follow through along the slope. You do not have to worry about finishing high. You have to keep the club head low to the ground so you can make solid impact and not top of scull the golf ball.

You might have the feeling of chasing the golf ball down the fairway. Two other items to remember when you are going downhill, the golf ball will not stop and you will have tendency to slice or push the golf ball to the right.

That's all for Tip #1, I hope it will help you the next time you find yourself with a downhill lie. In a few days I'll show you some great ways to get out of the deep rough.

Sincerely,
Jay

Hello Friend:

Every golfer worth his or her salt wants “touch”—the ability to routinely land the ball on the green and run it softly to the pin.

Maybe you even know somebody who has good “touch” and you’ve envied that person’s skillful shots.

Well, I’m going to teach you how to make those same shots part of your game.

That’s right. I’m going to help you acquire a feel for the greens...to master all the variables that are involved in the pitch shot...to truly have “touch.”

And having touch is going to cut your handicap by a third.

I think you should try it out. What have you got to lose?

If you haven't seen this, please check out:

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2473387

You won't be disappointed.

Thanks, and be sure to let me know how much your friends envy your skillful pitch shots after seeing this video.

Jay

How to Lower your Scores by Pitching the Ball with PinPoint Accuracy

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:45:00 +0000

Imagine: You've missed the green with your approach shot to the right, and now you have a bunker blocking the green. Your only realistic chance of saving par is hitting a great pitch shot that stops close to the pin allowing you to one-putt the green. Over the next few days I'm going to teach you much of what you need to know in order to lower your golf scores dramatically by learning how to pitch the ball correctly.

As you may know, the short game is by far the quickest way to lower scores. Everyone can improve in this area of the game, because it doesn't require as much athletic ability or flexibility as a full golf swing.

Lesson 1 will be on the setup. You should see immediate improvements from this setup alone. It has worked wonders for my students for years.

Pitching Lesson 1

The following screenshots are directly from our upcoming pitching video. In this golf lesson we will take you through our unique pitching setup, and explain how our setup will ensure more solid impact by automatically creating a steep swing angle. The steep swing angle will allow you to get maximum height, and minimum roll when the ball hits the green.

There are 3 parts to our setup. All of these setup components are built specifically to give you a steep swing angle automatically.

The 3 components to the correct pitching setup:

Ball Position
Weight
Hand Position

I have outlined the major pieces of each component below.

1. Ball Position

When you are learning how to pitch the golf ball correctly you want to start by placing the ball in center of your stance for every shot. The reason for this is that it will give you consistency in the beginning. As you get more experienced, we teach you in the video how to move the ball more forward in your stance. Moving the ball forward in your stance will give the ball added height. If you want to hit flop shots, you want to place the ball more forward in your stance.

So in the beginning, place the ball in center of your stance.

2. Weight

You want 70% of your weight on your front foot when pitching the ball. The most important part of this, is that you need to keep the weight on your front foot during the entire swing. Never transfer any weight to the rear foot when pitching the ball. You want the weight forward, because it forces you to come into the golf ball crisp. This will help you stop hitting behind the golf ball when pitching (the most common problem in pitching).

3. Hand Position

As you move your weight forward to your front side, your belt buckle will naturally move towards the target slightly. After this happens, you need to adjust your hand position so your hands are directly in front of your belt buckle. Again, this is done to promote a steep swing angle this move forces you to hit downward on the golf ball instead of "scooping" it. Most players think they have to "scoop" the ball in order to get added height on the ball. Our unique method lets the loft of your golf club put loft on the golf ball automatically.

Conclusion

As you can see, pitching the golf ball successfully is a mixture of art and science. You should be able to take this information and become a short game player immediately. Having said that, the setup is only the first component in the process. I will be following up in the next few days with more information on the backswing and downswing.

Please don't neglect this extremely important aspect of your game. I'll be in touch soon with more info like the above.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today.

Could You Putt Those Greens at Augusta?

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:54:00 +0000

Masters week is upon us and this could be one for the record

books in my opinion. But honestly, the best thing I love

about this tournament is the greens.

The greens at Augusta are about as good as they come. Slick

as all heck and undulating. As quoted by one reporter yesterday

"No one was holing a thing outside six feet." If you've ever

putted on really fast greens you know what they can do to your

confidence.

You can relate I'm sure. I mean most of us are happy to get the

ball on the green in regulation right?

But when you're faced with really fast and sloping greens,

position of your approach shots is at a premium as well as

distance control on your putts and pinpoint accuracy with your

line.

So what does this mean for YOU and your game? Well, while you

may not play greens as fast as the Masters, you can certainly

get a lot better at putting in general if you learn to putt well

on fast greens.

Which is why I'm excited to announce we've got a new shipment of

our best-selling Putting DVD back in stock.

(Click link at bottom)

We've been sold out of them for about 4 months now so it's been

a long time coming but they're finally here!

So, if putting is not your strength or you simply want to learn

the easiest way even an out-of-shape old golfer can cut strokes

give it a look!

And let's hope none of those guys putt the ball of the green at

Augusta!

Good golf,

HowToBreak80.com

22750 Hawthorne Blvd, Ste 202, Torrance, CA 90505, USA

How to Eliminate Your Golf Slice Quickly and Easily

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:21:00 +0000

Here's a really good tip that may help you to get rid of your slice. Best of all, it's really pretty simple once you get the hang of it, and understand why it's being used.

Chances are that you have battled with a slice at some point in your golfing days. To be completely direct with you, dealing with a slice really sucks. It hurts your golf game in many more ways than one.

Luckily, it's fairly easy to fix. I cannot claim that this small tip will completely cure your slice, but there's a good chance that it will. I hope it does.

First off, please understand that when you come into the impact zone, there are really only 2 factors that can determine the "shape" of ball flight.

1. The angle of the club face at impact.

2. The Path the club is taking at impact.

So, here's a few things you should concentrate on.

Try to keep your leading shoulder "down" on the ball through impact. This is called staying strong through impact. Many times the leading shoulder (left shoulder if right handed) flies up before impact. Now just for a minute, think about what that does to the club head when it's in the impact zone.

Get up from the computer and actually go though the motions slowly. Let your leading shoulder fly up as you approach impact and you'll actually be able feel and see the clubface coming from an outside-in path. That's the cause of the slice you are battling.

See, golf is all about thinking and analyzing your shots to get better. A huge part of this game is understanding "why" you're getting a certain result, and the physics behind that result. Thinking through your golf swing will provide huge dividends if you're willing to invest the time it takes.

So what can you do to correct that flying shoulder? Well, for starters, try to learn to keep your leading shoulder strong. Keep that shoulder "Down" on the ball all the way through impact, even after the ball is gone and flying straight down the fairway.

So, after impact the leading shoulder is still down. The triangle between your shoulders and chest is still present. Most importantly, the body has NOT gotten ahead of the hands. This is a HUGE distinction. As you may notice, the left shoulder is actually higher than the right shoulder. So what do I mean when I say "leading shoulder down"?

You have to envision yourself from the back looking down on the ball. When I say "down", I mean that the leading shoulder and chest is still facing the ball through impact.

So even though it may seem like the leading shoulder is higher than the trailing shoulder, it's still facing the ball at impact. NOT TOWARDS THIRD BASE in comparison to the ball. If your leading shoulder was facing towards third base at impact, which would mean that you have let the leading shoulder fly up.

Furthermore, hand action is huge in this game. You must learn to release your hands correctly through the ball. This means that you release the hands while the leading shoulder is still "down", or facing the ball.

The key is to let your arms release through the ball, while your left shoulder is "Down" on the ball. To do this you will need to rotate your forearms correctly, and use your leading ELBOW (not shoulder) as a hinge. So another way to explain this movement would be that your hands are still moving towards the target, but your leading elbow has almost stopped.

Keep the leading shoulder down and let your arms and hands release through the ball and you will see the ball go farther and higher. This will take a while to get used to, but once it clicks, the results will be outstanding.

Hit them straight,

Jay

============================================
David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today.

Become A Better Golfer By Ignoring The Professionals!

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:57:00 +0000

One of the biggest mistakes that golf players make when

wanting to improve their game is by trying to imitate the

styles and techniques of professional golfers that are seen

on TV and in magazines.

Every day there are hours and hours of tips that you can get

from the golf station, the latest magazines, and even videos

of the pros.

Sure it would be great to become a better golf player by

copying Annika Sorenstam or Tiger Woods, but it is

counterproductive to play your game like the pros do.

You have to understand that the men and women who live from

playing competitive golf is a very tiny percentage.

Professional golfers do not play golf after they got off of work,

the golf course is their job. They work at it, full time, as

you do at your career. Eight to ten hours of their day is spent

on the practice range, golf course, the practice green, anywhere

they can swing and practice!

You and I do not have the same luxury of being able to practice

our golf game for a living. How great that would be, but lets be practical.

Professional golfers can work hard and learn to make shots that

literally loft the ball into the air and have it stop short just

2 feet away from the hole, without even an inch of roll.

Us regular players should not spend six months trying to repeat

the same maneuver. We must practice the basics and take our time

with learning our individual style and technique.

Understanding How Important Practice Is

What type of practice is best for the average golfer?

This question is usually answered by looking at the amount of

people you will find at the driving range, hitting long distance balls,

over and over again. Most golfers spend over 95% of their time hitting

these long distance shots, but never taking the time for practicing

the shots that count: their short game.

Most people do not enjoy practicing their short game, but the value

received from investing in the effort is the same benefit professional

golfers reap as a reward for their game. These men and women spend 80%

or more of their time by practicing short game shots from all angles

and variables. While you should not imitate the way professional golfers

plays their game, you can certainly learn how to dedicate practice

to the right areas as they do.

Focus On Your Short Game

Most people get a huge thrill out of banging their driver for hours

on end, hitting the ball at great distances, making long drives all

day long. However, during a real game when they look down and see

their scorecard reaching 100 once each round is finished, their excitement

dwindles to a standstill.

Improving your score means you have to spend less time using your driver,

and more time learning how to effectively shoot your short game shots.

You must make the best use of your practice time while you have it.

After work, instead of spending an hour at the driving range hitting

long-distance balls, devote specific time to putting shots, chipping,

pitching, bunker shots, and shots made from 45 - 75 yards.

50% of your score will come from the strokes that are taken at 75 yards

from the ball or less. So does it make sense to spend at least 50% of

your practice time on those exact same shots?

Of course it does!

It may take some discipline to not spend all day knocking balls out

of the driving range, but I guarantee you that your golf game will

improve ten-fold by upping your short game shots and decreasing your

distance practice shots.

Hit 'em straight
Jay

Equipment Care - Dirty Golfers Are Not Welcomed!

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:15:00 +0000

One of the basic tenets of golf is to take care of your equipment.

The appearance of a player and his golf accessories can tell a

lot about that person. By taking pride in your golf apparel,

especially your clubs and golf bag, and keeping everything in

shape, you will look better and most importantly, your expensive

golf equipment will last a lot longer.

Keeping Your Club Faces Free From Dirt

Whenever you hit a shot, you will see that the grooves of the

face on your iron will be cluttered with dirt. To keep this

area clean and free of grime, simply wipe off the clubhead with

a rag or small towel and then use the sharp end of a tee to

scrape each groove.

Cleaning your club face like this is not just for appearances

either. By removing encrusted dirt and mud, your shots will

maintain distance. With a dirty club, you can lose control

and your ball will not reach the distances desired.

Cleaning Your Golf Balls

When you arrive at each tee box, you will see a small structure

on a pole designed to help keep your golf balls clean. Some of

these contraptions have a round handle on top, and some have a

crank-type handle on the side.

These are called ball washers and the purpose is to enable you

to clean your golf balls. You simply place the ball in the

designated area and once finished, the ball will come out

erfectly clean.

When cleaning your golf balls, keep it courteous. These ball

washers can be extremely noisy so be sure not to use the machine

when one of your playing partners is about to make a shot. It's

best to wait until the swing is over before you operate the ball cleaner.

Keeping Your Shoes Clean

If you wear spiked shoes during your golf games, as everybody

should, keeping them clean is also standard procedure for the

player who takes care of his or her equipment. At the end of

the day, be sure to scrape off any of the excess dirt and grass

from the spikes before taking off your shoes.

In addition to preventing the trunk of your car from getting

dirty from your shoes, you'll also be able to keep an eye on the

spikes and know when it's time to get new ones installed in your shoes.

Note: You can purchase a package of spikes to keep your footing

fresh at all times. Each package should come with a small wrench

that has two claws. You will insert these claws into the holes at

the base of your cleats in order to remove the spikes.

Replace them with the new spikes but be sure not to tighten them

up too hard because it may be extremely difficult to remove the

spikes for future replacements.

============================================

Hit 'em straight!
Jay
---------------------------------------------------------------

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today.

How To Learn While Enjoying Golf

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:11:00 +0000

In Scotland-15th Century, the game of "gowf" was born. In 1744, the first rules of play were codified by the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, who were established in Edinburgh. And since then, the world has never been the same. Played in Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, South America, China, and, of course, Scotland; golf is one of the most popular sports in the world. Strangely enough, some universities even offer a golf major.

For the newbie just starting out, the game encompasses a world with a rich and diverse history, requires a potentially major investment of time and money, and a great amount physical and mental anguish. But hey, it's still fun!

A beginner begins by learning what NOT to do.

Initially, you'll want to rush out and spend all your money on greens fees, equipment, clothing, and lessons. Don't rush into that, you don't know the where, what, and how yet!

Understandably, you'll be excited about the game. It's something you can play all by yourself, with your family, and even with your boss. But playing golf well is difficult if you don't find out what you really need to know.

Start out taking baby steps; otherwise you get too serious too soon. Don't spend every waking hour on the range when you first start out. According to many pros, this is a recipe for disaster. Trying too hard in the beginning can cause you to develop bad habits that are hard to break. Although you don't want to be out there from dawn till dusk, spending time at the range can help you get your muscles go.

Hit them straight!

Jay

Golf Humor Golf Cartoons Zahn Zany Zinger #104

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:19:00 +0000

Golf Humor Golf Cartoons Zahn Zany Zinger #104

How Much Practice Time Do You Spend Putting?

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:49:00 +0000

Hundreds of golf books and articles have been written entirely about putting. The variety of

information that can be found on this simple little shot involves different putting styles,

strategies, types of putters, philosophies, and individual techniques. There are even pieces of

information that include scientific theories and research tests about putting.

Is Putting Really That Important To Study?

Beginner golfers, amateurs, and even some players at the professional level all tend to

overlook just how integral putting is to the game of golf. I know it sounds strange that so many

golfers do not consider their putting skills to be paramount to every other type of golf shot, but

you have to understand that many people have a fascination with sending the ball

skyrocketing through the air from the tee and images of professional golfers sending the ball

through great distances with the swing of ultimate grace, not the "boring" putt shot.

The truth is that putting is the culmination of every shot you made on each hole. Each shot

you take leads up to that one defining moment when you must make the ball in the hole.

Think about it, you already got your tee shot straight and flying as far as you can. You've

taken the approach shot(s) without sending the ball into the rough or other disaster hazards,

and now it is on the green waiting to shine as it sinks smoothly into the hole without a glitch.

The Importance Of Sharpening Up Your Putting Skills

When it comes to scoring, putting is the most important part of golf. This final shot takes the

perfect amount of speed, confidence, coordination, and precision. You need to adjust your

body and swing type so that just enough strength is used to tap the ball, while holding back

the excitement you feel to be making the last shot.

And above all, what if you miss? That in itself takes great character to not "blow your top", so

to speak, out of sheer frustration.

You should take the putt shot as serious as you do with every other shot, regardless of the

short distance it needs to travel. Consider a long drive that you just hit from the tee which

traveled 200 to 300 yards. This giant shot counts the same as a putt: 1 stroke.

The scorecard doesn't care what type of shot you have to make. So it goes without saying

that if you are going to put so much practice into your golf game, especially on the driving

range, it is equally important to devote practice and skill to your putting shots.

============================================

Hit 'em straight

P.S. It's jam-packed with easy and simple golf drills,

strategies and advice that will quickly improve your

distance, accuracy and handicap...

http://turbourl.com/?n3yv

Triangle Custom Clubs

PO Box 99742

Raleigh NC 27615

http://turbourl.com/?n3yv

How to Read the Green When Playing Golf

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:43:00 +0000

The ability to read the green is essential to improving your game. If you have a great putting game, you stand a very good chance of winning.

Becoming a master putter requires physics, art, and the ability to read and predict the balls speed and path over a certain area. Not only that, you have to develop precise control and aim, without giving up the ability to know where your ball is going.

You can stand and gaze out over the newly plowed fields of green all day, but that wont help you learn to read it. The farther away you stand, and how tall you are, can all lead to reading errors. Depending on the altitude of your eyes, you can misjudge texture, wetness, contour, and density

You can forgo this problem by simply sitting on your haunches and taking a good look. Squint if you have to. You can put your club on the ground, facing the hole, and peer down the length of the shaft. This will give you an even better look. You should look for any lumps, curves, hills or dales that you might not have noticed from a standing position. Calculate how many ups and downs there are between you and the hole. Because even a drop of dew can alter the balls speed, try to get a feel for how wet the grass is. Put your hand on it and actually feel it!

If the golf course's landscaper has mowed the grass in two different directions, then the grass is double cut and can change the travel distance of your ball by 12 inches. If landscaper has also rolled or compacted the grass, this can also effect the roll by 10 inches.

The cutting of the grass isn't the only factor to look at. You also have to be aware of the amount and direction of curve. The amount of force you put behind a ball should be directly effected by whether you're uphill or downhill, or how much to the right or left the green breaks. Obviously you can't really measure all of this without the appropriate tools, but learning the ins and outs will come in handy.

Practice makes the game grow fonder! Take some time out to practice on both the practice green and actual green. If you are playing with a partner, watch how he putts. Use what you see as a tool to help improve your shot.

Make sure that you aren't holding up someone's game, but keep in mind that most courses have slow days, so go on one of those days to practice. Take a pen and pad of paper with you, write things down, take note of everything you observe about each hole.

If you read the green, and play with your new found knowledge, you would probably play your best game ever. Wouldn't that just make your day?

Hit Them Straight,

============================================

Balance and Posture Make for a Winning Swing in Golf

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:31:00 +0000

When it comes to playing golf, everything matters. A good swing, balance, stance, posture, grip, fitness, and good equipment; all these things are important. Can you master a superb grip? Yeah, it's pretty easy. Can you achieve a masterful swing? Definitely, with a little guidance. Can you find someone to teach you how to get fit? Sure, there are tons of programs out there. But because of the fact that the proper balance, posture, and stance seem to puzzle many, here's some advice about how to get where you need to be.

When a player has improper tension it can seriously ruin a first-rate swing and the potential for high scores. Realistically, you should probably have a solid grip and you need to have the right amount of spring in the swing, but when the whole body is tense, so is the mind. To loosen up take a few long, deep breaths and stretch out your neck and shoulder muscles.

Remember, its ok for your head to move slightly. This is true because a large number of good players can move their head up to 6 inches during a powerful swing.

Now, with your feet shoulder width apart, get a good grip and face the ball. Keep in mind that you should place your feet slightly further apart for wood and lower number iron shots, and a little lower for chips. Keep your back straight while bending at the hips. Don't worry too much about sticking out your butt, just don't over do it.

Put your weight toward the balls of your feet, and let your arms swing liberally. Don't hide your chin in your chest, but keep your eyes directed towards the ball.

If you have followed these instructions, you should be relaxed and balanced by now. Here are a few tests you can try to see if you are balanced and have a firm stance. Try lifting one foot. If you can do this without falling on your butt, you aren't balanced. If someone can nudge you to the one side or the other, you don't have a solid stance. If you could be shoved backwards by a slight push, you have placed your weight too far back on your the heels of your feet.

People will tend to swing from the inside to the outside if their weight is too far back on their heels. That's just asking for a hook. Make sure you have a solid stance by checking to see if your knees are directly above the balls of your feet.

Look at your stance. Your left foot should be slightly open, and your shoulders should be aligned and level along the line of the target. Turn your head to the left (if you're a right handed player), and imagine a line that runs across the front of your eyes. This should run flush to the target line. If you're in the correct position, your spine will turn away from the target slightly. This is true even if your weight stays balanced.

As you follow through with the swing, you should remain balanced. Practice doing a backswing-to-downswing, while making sure you're swinging through a single plane. This will be hard to maintain, if you're not balanced.

As you go into the backswing, 75% of your weight should move onto your back foot, and 25% onto the front foot. These percentages will reverse through your downswing to impact.

From how you complete your setup, your swing will develop. Once you have mastered balance, posture, and stance, you are half way to the perfect swing.

============================================

PREVIEW-Golf-Big names missing for Texas birdie-fest

Reuters UK - HOUSTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - This week's Texas Open leaderboard will not feature many of the sport's biggest names but birdies should still be easy to find at San Antonio's La Cantera Golf Club. The third stop on the PGA Tour's seven-tournament Fall ...

Golf Glance

FOXSports.com - Site: St. Andrews and Carnoustie, Scotland. Schedule: Thursday-Sunday. Courses: St. Andrews, Old Course (7,279 yards, par 72), Carnoustie, Championship Course (7,412 yards, par 72) and Kingsbarns Golf Links (7,106 yards, par 72). Purse: US$5 million ...

How To Learn While Enjoying Golf

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:24:00 +0000

A beginner begins by learning what NOT to do.

Initially, you'll want to rush out and spend all your money on greens fees, equipment, clothing, and lessons. Don't rush into that, you don't know the where, what, and how yet!

To get started you need to find course, preferably an affordable one, and wear comfortable, loose-fit clothing. You can wait to spend the big bucks on golf clothes later. Borrow some clubs from a friend- a nine iron, wedge, and a #5 wood are good enough to get you going. You won't use the wedge at the driving range, but you will need it later at the practice area.

Watching others will help you find good stance, grip, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball while you swing, and give it a nice firm whack. It's okay if you miss a few, your just beginning. At this point, you're teaching your body the motion of what the swing feels like. Its learning what angles and impacts produces what kinds of flights.

When you start out on the putting green, stand 2 feet from the hole. When you're making 25 putts in a row consistently, move back six feet. Continue that until you are, no farther than, 20 feet from the hole. Remember that pros even miss at 2 feet sometimes.

Golf is about balance, concentration, and simple physics. Whether you're driving or putting, you should stand so that a light breeze wouldn't knock you over. Now that your first lesson is over, you can go relax-you deserve it!

Nicklaus stays in touch with game of golf

FOXSports.com - MONTREAL (AP) - Jack Nicklaus had a golf club in his hand and a gallery around him, just like old times. He was checking up on his U.S. team at the Presidents Cup when he noticed Steve Stricker in a bunker at Royal Montreal, getting advice from ...

FERGUSON ON GOLF: Presidents Cup in hand, U.S. looks for solution in ...

FOXSports.com - MONTREAL (AP) - One cup runneth over. The other cup is empty. The Americans raised the Presidents Cup after a runaway victory at Royal Montreal, and they raised hopes again that they are capable of being a world power in team golf, maybe even good ...

Golf, Presidents Cup: Mickelson fills a leadership role as U.S. wins

International Herald Tribune - MONTREAL - Autumns hardly have been the time when he has raised a toast to celebrate the best golf has to offer. Instead, since 1994 shorter and cooler days and the flutter of leaves have signaled Phil Mickelson's duty to don his country's colors ...

How to Stop Hooking the Ball

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:06:00 +0000

While slicing the ball is probably the most common flaw

that beginner golfers have problems with, the second largest

mistake made is called the hook. It is the exact opposite of

the slice, but equally frustrating

A hook is the result of the ball hit with a low tee shot

which goes straight for a while but all of a sudden makes a

sharp left turn and gets buried in the woods, sunk in a water

hole, or lands in the rough.

The Problem Is Simple

Golfers that are prone to making hook shots often have the

clubface closed in relation to their swing path. This causes

the ball to sidespin counterclockwise (when talking about

right-handed golfers) and hooks the ball to left.

The issue is not hard to figure out, nor is it rocket science.

It is just a matter of common physics. The clubface is simply

closing in too soon which makes it point to the left of the

target when impact occurs.

Check Your Body

If you have a problem with hooking the ball, you will soon

discover that you are probably swinging with far too much hand

and arm force, and not enough movement with the body.

Your problem which is causing your ball to end up hooking is

because the clubhead gets warped into the closed position from

all of your upper body movement and the hips never open up

completely. This habit of closing your hips and having too much

force from the arms and hands will almost always result in a hook.

It is inevitable.

The problem may also lie within your grip. Often times, golf

players who hook the ball tend to be using too strong of a grip.

The clubface tends to be closed when impact occurs because there

are more than three or so knuckles showing on the left hand at

address. Reduce your grip and maneuver the hands so that only

two knuckles are showing. This can help immensely and sometimes

cures the issue immediately.

Hit 'em straight
JJ

============================================

Having confidence in your game

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:56:00 +0000

Recently I played a few rounds with some new players

I had met while travelling.

During these three rounds I found a common theme and

it jumped out at me like a snake in the grass.

This has inspired my thoughts on how your confidence

can effect your game and certainly your score.

I encountered three different golfers who were

undermining their own games and probably

didn't even know it.

You may recognize them in your playing partners.

Here is what they said -- out loud.

"I can't putt, probably won't make this"

-- This one was from 3 feet out.

"I hate sand shots"

"I can't hit over water. Got a bag full of old balls

so when I get to water holes, I pull 'em out"

Oh, and I should mention they said these things repeatedly.

I used to be the "I hate sand shots" guy till I

learned how to hit from sand and NOW when I am in sand,

I still think up and down in two.

Why?

Because, your brain and your body respond positively

to the messages you send it.

You control those thoughts when you see your

ball 'at the beach'.

=========================================

So what is the thing you have low confidence in

when you approach it?

Is it any of these?

- hitting over water

- hitting a 3 wood on the fairway

- hitting into wind

- 2 foot putts

- dog leg left (when you slice)

- green-side or fairway bunkers

- "insert fear of your choice here"

- teeing off on the first tee and an audience

- 18th hole of match play and being up/down by one

What thoughts go though your head and what do you say out loud?

Since this is a GAME its time to play a GAME with your mind.

You see wind, you smile.

You imagine you love to hit into wind AND you say out loud,

"I love to hit these shots"

You picture the one time you did it right.

Then you go into your pre-shot routine (you do have one right?)

and step up to the ball and do not hesitate.

If, by some outside chance an old thought patter creeps

back into your mind, step away from the ball and start again.

You will truly smile when this works for you.

I hope you master ALL of the thoughts that decrease

your confidence or hold you back.

Hit em straight
JJ

------------------------------------------------------------

Breaking 80

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:45:00 +0000

1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
2) Taming a Crosswind
3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies

===============================================
1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
===============================================
Short sand shots out of a deep bunker can ruin a good score. They're among the hardest shorts to hit for weekend golfers, especially if the ball is close to the front lip. You not only have to hit out of the sand, you have to get the ball to pop almost straight up to avoid hitting the bunker's lip. That's why it often takes recreational golfers multiple shots to get out. But don't let the shot scare you. By making the right adjustments, you can get out in one and set yourself up for a short putt.

Here are six keys to making short sand shots:

1. Open the clubface wide
2. Take a wide stance for stability
3. Squat down a little at address
4. Make a three-quarter backswing
5. Take a full turn against a stable body
6. Face the target at the finish

This shot isn't as hard as it looks. To get the ball in the air quickly, open the clubface about 30 degrees and keep it open throughout the shot, enabling you to get under the ball. Take a wide stance for stability, since you'll be making a firm swing, and play the ball just inside the heel of your front foot. Squat down a little, too, which helps you get the swing arc below the level of the ball.

Now take a three-quarter swing, keeping your legs quiet and your feet planted. It's on this shot to important to keep the lower body stable because you'll be making a full shoulder turn. Swing the club into the sand about an inch behind the ball. Keep your wrists firm as they go through the sand, with the clubface pointing straight up. Turn your shoulders through so they face the target at the finish.

Don't hurry the shot. Take your time with it. Make sure your setup is perfect and your feet are firmly planted. Then, take a short swing. Practice the shot when you can. You'll find it easier to make than you thought.

===============================================
2) Taming a Crosswind
===============================================
The British Open is back at Carnoustie this year. In 1975 Tom Watson won his first major at Carnoustie in extremely windy conditions. He was two under par when he came to the 166 yard 13th. Deep bunkers in front of the green guarded the pin and a crosswind buffeted shots. But Watson played the crosswind perfectly, making par when he needed to and winning the championship.

Here are the basics to playing in the wind.

1. Choose the right club
2. Complete the shoulder turn
3. Widen your stance for stability
4. Stay low in the hitting zone
5. Finish with your weight forward

While the basics are the same, playing in a crosswind is slightly different strategy-wise than playing in a head or a tailwind. In a headwind, you play the ball back in your stance and swing about 80 percent of your normal swing. Swinging softly reduces the ball’s spin, which prevents it from flying high, where it is susceptible to the wind.

In a tailwind, you do the complete opposite. You play the ball forward in your stance and hit it higher for more distance. The wind does the rest, so you can also count on the ball flying straighter and longer, even on mis-hits in a tailwind.

But in a crosswind you curve the ball into the wind, if you want it to land softly. If you want it to land and roll, you “ride” the wind. The wind acts like the slope of a green and makes the ball curve, just as the slope of the putting surface does. So you need to determine which way the crosswind is blowing—right to left or left to right—and then hit your shot accordingly.

For example, with the wind moving right to left when Watson played the 13th hole and the pin tucked in behind a couple of bunkers on the right side of the green, Watson played into the crosswind. He aimed at the right edge of the green and let the wind blow the ball back on target. He also played a slight fade, so the ball would land on the far right side of the green, where it would bounce and go left with the crosswind.

Playing in a crosswind, like playing in a head or tail wind, is tricky. But you can do it with right mindset. Practice in a crosswind to get a better feel for the shot. Then, carry it over the next time you play. Knowing how to playing a crosswind cuts strokes from your scores without swinging a club.

===============================================
3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies
===============================================
Q.
I have difficulty controlling the draw/hook from an uphill lie. I usually take an extra club, choke down, and weaken my grip. But I still hit a big draw or miss-hit and push the ball way right.

Any suggestions?

A. Three factors come in to play when hitting from an uphill lie: your setup, the hill's slope, and the shot's trajectory. Here are some tips on dealing with these three factors:

* Club selection is key. The slope's angle changes the club's effective loft, altering the shot's trajectory. In severe cases, a 7-iron becomes a 9-iron. Experience tells you just how much of a change to expect. It sounds like you've accounted for this, but you might try going down another club on occasion.

* Stance is another consideration. Tailor your stance to the slope. Your spine should be perpendicular to it, meaning your shoulders will tilt back and your back knee will support most of your weight. Correct weight distribution at address largely determines this shot's success.

* Backswing is a third consideration. Keep your weight pretty much where it was at address in the backswing. The less drift forward, which recreational players tend to do, the cleaner the shot. Concentrate on making a wide takeaway and keeping your wrists quiet in the backswing's early stages.

With an uphill lie, you must go with the slope. Since your weight's farther back and your lower body less active than usual, you'll have a tendency of pulling, caused by your hands getting over active at impact. To avoid this, keep the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible by swinging with the slope. Finish in balance, your back leg supporting most of your weight.

Until next time,
Go Low!

JJ Louw

For more information and all your golfing needs, Click Here.

Playing Lesson with Ryan Stopford @ Pearl Valley

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:37:00 +0000

Check out this great video Ryan Made.He desperately needs Sponsors so please contact me if you can help in any way.

Improve Your Golf Score With The One Plane Golf Swing

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:54:00 +0000

Every golfer is looking to lower their golf score and improve their golf swing. And let's face it, a proper golf swing is pretty complicated when you start putting together all the things you need - set up, golf grip, stance, addressing the ball, wrist cock, backswing, hip swivel, downswing, etc.

One great way to improve your golf score is to simplify your golf swing. So how do you do that?

Focusing on the one plane golf swing can go a long way toward simplifying your golf game and improving the consistency of your golf shots. What exactly is a one plan golf swing? A one plane golf swing keeps your club on one plane during the entire golf swing, which can minimize mistakes that you might make.

The one plane golf swing allows you to strike the ball with the club face square, improving the quality of your golf shot. This will help to minimize those bad slices and hooks that get you in so much trouble. A great way to develop a good one plane golf swing is to find a golf instructor that teaches this type of swing.

One good lesson with the right instructor can greatly improve your one plan golf swing, practically lowering your score overnight.

There are also golf swing training aids, such as the golf swing trainer, that are designed to keep your golf swing on one plane. This is an easy way to practice the one plane golf swing at home with minimal expense. You just need to put in the training time.

Finally, another training aid is one I've mentioned before, and that is making sure you are properly balanced throughout your swing. You do this by placing a quarter on your front shoe. If you are properly balanced with a one plane golf swing, the quarter should remain on your shoe throughout the swing.

If it falls off, you weren't properly balanced throughout your golf swing. By being able to swing consistently without the quarter falling off your shoe, you'll be better balanced for more of your golf shots, resulting in better, more consistent shots.

How To Break 80

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:11:00 +0000

1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
3) Playin' In The Rain

======================================
1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
======================================
Here's a tip on what clubs to carry in your bag: Many teachers recommend carrying three wedges, a pitching wedge plus two utility wedges. That might be difficult under some circumstances. But if you substitute a hybrid club for two of your longer clubs, you gain a one-club advantage, allowing you to carry the extra wedge. There's a range of lofts between 52 degrees and 60 degrees that provide versatility around the green.

The 56-degree wedge is among those clubs. You can hit all kinds of shots with it when you're close to the green. You can open the face and hit a high lofting shot, or play the ball back in your stance and hit a bump and run. Mastering the 56-degree wedge also prepares you for hitting the 60-degree wedge, the ideal club for making flop shots.

Here are five tips to hitting a 56-degree wedge:

* Determine the type of shot required
* Open your stance slightly at address
* Position the ball based on the shot
* Keep your hands ahead of the ball
* Use a descending blow

If you continually stub short wedge shots, it could be because you're not using a descending blow. A good drill for players who stub short chip and pitch shots requires a friend's help. Have him or her hold his hand just above and beyond the ball at address and catch it in the air after you've hit it. (I've done it hundreds of time and it doesn't hurt.)

In addition to teaching you to make a crisp descending blow, the drill forces golfers to keep the club low after impact, so as not to hit the other player's hands. That keeps the golfer from scooping the shot or lifting up and skulling it.

Gary Player once said that 70 percent of all golf shot are played around the green--a startling but accurate statistic. Work on your wedge shots, especially with the 56-degree wedge, and you'll turn three shots into two when around the green.

======================================
2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
======================================
Nothing's more frustrating than putting a ball offline. Instead of sinking the putt, you leave yourself with a tap in, even though you had the right distance. If the green is sloped away from you, you drift several feet away from the hole, with a difficult putt coming back. Either way, you're adding strokes to your score.

Lining up your ball properly is a key to putt well. No matter how close or far you are from the cup, if the put isn't lined up properly, it has no chance of going in, even if you have the right speed. And compensating in mid-stroke for misaligning the putt seldom works, if ever.

Many weekend golfers try to push or pull the ball to get it on target instead of starting square and trusting their stroke. They sideswipe the ball, send it off line, and have problems with distance control. Instead, line up your putts by using this visual device. Try framing the ball.

Next time you're putting, picture a framing square as it relates to your putter and your line. The vertical part of the tool should be parallel to the face of your putter, and the horizontal part should be parallel to the target line. Keep the putter on line and the face square, and the ball will go where you aim it.

Here are 5 other keys to keeping your putts on line:

* Position your eyes over the ball
* Remain still during your putt
* Square up your shoulders
* Keep you hands over (or just ahead) of the ball
* Form a neutral union of your hands

If your putting is offline, it can be frustrating. Use the framing square to line up the putt and commit to the five keys mentioned above. If everything is in order, trust your stroke and make a good putt, accelerating through impact. Almost half of all your strokes during a round of golf are putts. Keep them to a minimum and your will reduce your scores.

======================================
3) Playin' In The Rain
======================================

Q. What do you recommend when playing in wet, soft ground conditions, when irons have a tendency to stop short in the ground or on approach shots over hazards when the SW can cut into the ground? I end up advancing the ball a lot shorter than the intended distance or hit it straight into the hazard

A. Many golfers don't use enough club in the rain. You need to take more club when playing in wet conditions or when the ground is soft. The ball doesn't travel as far in the rain or in wet conditions as it normally does, and the ground decreases roll when the ball hits. So take an extra club to compensate.

Also, sweep the ball off the ground. Wet turf is heavy turf. Hitting the ground results in a fat shot that goes nowhere. Instead, focus on sweeping the ball off the ground with minimal contact. Try picking the shot cleanly from the turf.

A great drill to practice sweeping the ball is "Clip the Tee." Stick a tee in the ground (no ball) and use a 6 iron or a 7 to "clip" it out. A clipped tee will pop straight up. If you can consistently do that, you'll greatly improve your ability to sweep a ball off the ground. Clipping the tee means the club head is square, the swing path straight, and the ground untouched.

In addition, stay dry when playing in rain or in wet conditions. Above all, keep you grips dry. Once your grips get wet, the length of your shots tends to decrease substantially. Also, take off your gloves and put them in your pockets. Dry gloves improve your grip. If all else fails, wrap your handkerchief around the grip (it's legal).

Until next time,
Go Low!

To Ensure Consistency and Success - Play with a Straight Back!

noreply@blogger.com (JAYLO) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:31:00 +0000

I believe that to mature as a golfer, you need to have an
understanding of why certain individual fundamentals on the course
are working for you, and why others aren't. In short, you have to
understand the working components of your swing. Secondly, you
need to understand what corrections or adjustments could be made in
order to attain success.

The set-up that we teach is very specific and important. Playing
with a straight spine and back angle is an important fundamental
that we teach, and something that is literally the glue of our
swing theory. Whether you are 5 yards form the green or teeing
off, playing with a straight spine and back will ensure that you
swing on a consistent plane every time you set over the golf ball.
The following are reasons why a straight back is essential for you
to see success out on the course:

- Gives you a fixed position to start from - every time

- Allows for the club to travel on a consistent plane

- This is essential in golf. If you are hunched over (golfers that
are hunched over at the ball usually are not aware) your swing
plane is consistently changing due the level that your body is over
the ball. This leads to many inconsistent shots (Especially from
around the green).

- Minimizes hitting behind the ball or hitting the ball thin
This is a big problem for most golfers. If you haven't played for
weeks and you find yourself not making solid contact, the 1st
fundamental that should go through your mind is: "Is my back
straight at set-up and throughout the shot"?

In my mind this is one of the most important truths that we teach
about the golf swing. If you look at the tour pros they always
have a straight spine angle and back at set-up and throughout their
swing. Whether you are on the tee, fairway, around the green, or
even on the green - having a straight spine and back angle is
extremely important. Having a straight back and spine angle is
especially important from around the green when pitching and
chipping!

For some golfers, straightening your spine angle is going to feel
very strange, because you've never played that way. But trust me,
maintaining a straight spine throughout the swing will do wonders
for your consistency. It also leads to better impact with the
ball. Next time you watch the tour players on TV, make sure to
check out how straight their back is at setup.

The main point that I want to communicate is that there are many
factors in golf that you can't control. For example: course
conditions, weather, and course difficulty. However, one aspect of
your golf swing that can be constant and unchanging is your spine
angle at set-up. So play golf this way and you will begin to
develop consistency and confidence.

Yours in Golf,
JJ