GOLF TIPS

Some good practice tips

On chip shots, the left arm does the work, the right arm goes along for the ride and the wrists and hands remain passive. Don't consciously break your wrists when chipping.

The most important muscles involved in the golf swing are in the hands and arms. Any increase in strength in these muscles translates into longer, more accurate shots. An easy way to increase hand and arm strength is to keep a rubber ball at your desk and squeeze it with your right and left hand for a few minutes each day.

The left Side Controls Takeaway. "The takeway is controlled by the left side. The left shoulder and left arm push the club smoothly away from the ball and high into the air. The relaxed right side is just pushed out of the way."
--Byron Nelson--

Stay Connected. To develop proper left arm rotation on the forward swing which will help to get rid of a slice, practice hitting shots with a headcover placed under your left armpit. If you can hit shots without the headcover falling to the ground, you are keeping the left arm and left side properly connected.

Feet Together Drill Improves Full Swing. By practicing swings with your feet together you are promoting good footwork, balance, and a free arm swing that reduces any tendency to sway during the swing. Not many drills are as all around helpful. Simply practice hitting balls with your feet touching. Focus on making solid contact.

The key to longer tee shots

09/17/98 By Mike McGetrick
I haven't met many recreational golfers on my lesson tee who wouldn't like to hit longer and more powerful tee shots. My teaching philosophy has always been to help students develop all parts of their game which includes a fair amount of lessons on and around the green to maximize scoring. Just as damaging to your score as a poor short game, however, is an inability to put yourself into position in the fairway to hit the green in regulation. A longer tee shot means a shorter iron into the green, and for many golfers, that can be a huge advantage.
There are several key points in the setup, backswing and forward swing to keep in mind when you have to hit the ball long and straight.

(1) Power positions in the setup

Grip pressure:

When faced with an important tee shot, the first thing many golfers do is squeeze the club tighter. The club should be held firmly in the hands, but not so tight that tension creeps up the forearms to the biceps and shoulders. Tense muscles are slower than soft ones, so try a grip pressure of four on a scale of one to ten to generate maximum clubhead speed.

Stance width:

Stand wider than shoulder width. This wider-than-normal base will provide the necessary stability to deliver a powerful hit without losing your balance.

Keep your chin up:

Many players set up with their chin pinned to their chest in an effort to keep their head down during the swing. This severely inhibits a correct shoulder turn and usually produces a swing that is made only with the arms. Tilt forward from the hips, not the waist, so you create some space between your chin and chest allowing your shoulders room to turn under your chin.

Upper body tilt:

Lowering your right shoulder at address adds a slight tilt to your upper body and sets you up behind the golf ball. Approximately 60 percent of your weight should be on your right side at address. From this power position, it is easier to catch the ball on the upswing with your driver.

Ball position:

Position the ball one inch more forward in your stance and tee the ball one-quarter inch higher than you normally do. These adjustments will ensure a higher than normal launch angle which provides maximum air time and maximum carry down the fairway.

(2) Power up your backswing

Big upper-body turn:

Power hitters create a tremendous amount of stored energy by turning their upper torso against the lower half of the body in the backswing. A good position at the top is achieved when the shoulders are turned at least ninety degrees and the weight settles into the right hip and heel as you pivot around your right leg. Your head should be allowed to move a little to the right as you wind up behind the golf ball. This coiling into the right leg can only happen if you maintain a slight flex in your right knee. The winding up of your upper body will pull your lower body sufficiently into position. Note- When you let your right leg straighten as you swing back, the weight can reverse to the left leg at the top and the hips can over-rotate creating a major power leak.

Hand, arm and club position:

You want a wide, powerful swing arc that comes from a solid position with the hands, arms and club at the top of the swing. The correct position at the top of the backswing has the hands and arms extended away from the body producing the right amount of arc, length and height necessary for power. To make sure you're able to unleash maximum clubhead speed at the ball, you need to allow your wrists to hinge at the top of your swing. To avoid a collapse at the top with the arms and club, stop your arm swing when your shoulders stop turning. At the top of the backswing, your hands and arms should create the proper extension producing a wide and powerful swing arc.

(3) A power-rich forward swing

How do the professionals make their forward swings look so effortless, yet generate clubhead speed that sends the ball rocketing down the middle of the fairway?
Look for the following elements in a powerful delivery to the golf ball.

Gradual acceleration:

Keep in mind the pros build acceleration gradually as they start the downswing with maximum speed occurring at the golf ball. This will allow you time to smoothly change directions by dropping your arms down as your body begins to unwind to the target, instead of spinning toward the target with the upper body. Many amateurs pour on speed at the start of the downswing to try to create power. This slash at the ball destroys the power angle created by the hands, arms and club in the backswing and results in a casting of the clubhead at the ball. Greg Norman has said that when he needs to hit a tee shot extra long, he makes sure that his swing feels just a little slower as he starts down to the ball, allowing speed to progressively increase with the maximum speed occurring when the club meets the golf ball.

Arm extension and rotation:

To generate top speed and deliver a square clubface, your forearms must rotate through the hitting zone. Just prior to impact, the right elbow is bent and the left forearm is above the right. After impact, the right forearm rotates over the left, the left elbow bends, and the arms are extended down the target line. A characteristic of long hitters is a straight right arm after impact, while short hitters try to scoop under the ball hoping to launch the shot into the air. For maximum distance, work on keeping your right arm straight after impact.

Get to your left side:

On your forward swing, make sure you unwind your body towards the target as you pivot onto your left leg. You should be balanced with most of your weight on your left side and your right foot up on the toes and shoelaces facing the target. If you make this balanced finish your goal, you will learn to swing through the ball, not at it.

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