Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
How Much Practice Time Do You Spend Putting?
Monday, October 08, 2007
How to Read the Green When Playing Golf
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,
JJ
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.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Balance and Posture Make for a Winning Swing in Golf
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.
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.
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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 ...
Read more...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 ...
Read more...Tuesday, October 02, 2007
How To Learn While Enjoying Golf
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 going, while helping you figure out which clubs and balls you'd like to use.
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 ...
Read more...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 ...
Read more...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 ...
Read more...Friday, September 28, 2007
How to Stop Hooking the Ball
Hit 'em straight
JJ
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.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Having confidence in your game
Hit em straight
JJ
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.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Breaking 80
2) Taming a Crosswind
3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies
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1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
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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:
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
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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 club2. 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
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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.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Playing Lesson with Ryan Stopford @ Pearl Valley
Check out this great video Ryan Made.He desperately needs Sponsors so please contact me if you can help in any way.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Improve Your Golf Score With The One Plane Golf Swing
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
How To Break 80
1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
3) Playin' In The Rain
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1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
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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.
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2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
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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.
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3) Playin' In The Rain
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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!
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.