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Tuesday, 28 March 2006 |
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Pole Pass for Longer Distance!
For maximum distance and consistency, use an effective weight shift. Imagine a pole coming vertically out of the ground instead of the ball resting at address. Position your left shoulder behind the ball/imaginary pole on the takeaway - without swaying your hips. This results in a good position to initiate your downswing. On the follow-through, your right shoulder should then move past the ball/imaginary pole. When done correctly, you not only make a good turn, but also create a better weight shift.
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The Practice Area!
You may have noticed that the practice area is the first place any pro golfer heads for before the first tee in a tournament. Remember, the practice area isn't simply a place for unduly worrying about how one strikes the ball. It's a place to warm up and loosen your muscles. When you're ready to hit, start with a wedge and work your way down throiugh the set to the driver. Eventually, finish with a few wedges. Performing this routine will promote good tempo and feel, which are vital to striking the ball properly. It can also avoid injury!
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Swinging Inside A Barrel!
Whilst making one's stance wider and wider is good for stability, it also allows lateral movement to turn into a sway. Try the barrel drill. Start by keeping the stance approximately shoulder-width apart. Imagine two straight lines coming out of the ground outside your heels. You'll notice this allows for some lateral movement but, usually, a full turn is required in order not to hit the lines. Picture yourself swinging in the barrel and enjoy totting up some low scores
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Bucket of Balls!
There is a strong tendency for many amateurs to fan the clubhead open as they bring the clubhead away from the ball. If you time it right , this may add a few yards to some of your shots, but not with any consistency. The clubhead should, in fact, be square throughout the entire swing and your hands must not twist, if you are to regularly deliver the desired square clubface to the ball. For this, take up your address position but, instead of holding a golf club, hold a bucket of range balls in front of you with both hands with the bucket straight up and down, not tilted. As you turn back to halfway, keep the bucket straight up and down with the open end continuing to face upwards. No balls should fall out of the bucket! This represents a square clubface (back of hand facing in front of you). If you tilt the top forward, the balls will obviously fall, representing a closed clubface (back of the left hand facing to the ground). If the balls fall out behind you, your hands have, in effect opened the clubface (back of the left hand facing the sky). It's the same for the follow through. As you swing past the imaginary impact position, a few balls may dribble out due to the acceleration in your swing. The top of the bucket continues to face upwards. This drill clearly demonstrates the relationship between the back of the left hand and the position of the clubface. At address, the back of the left hand faces the target - halfway back, it should face in front of you whilst halfway through, it should face behind you.
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Swing tempo
A driver takes the same swing tempo as a pitching wedge, and the same is true for all the clubs when taking a full swing. Consistency in tempo leads to consistency in contact and thus accuracy. For a proper swing, let your arms lead and smoothly draw the club away with your arms, letting your body follow. Your left shoulder and hips will turn obediently, naturally transferring weight to your right side (about 90% on the back foot at the top of your swing). For greater accuracy try pulling with your left arm from the top of your swing BUT don't copy the pros and lead the downswing. Although this gives them power, for most golfers, it results in sliding ahead of the ball causing weak, slicing shots. Low and left causes topped shots. Keep the club face square for several inches after impact. Transfer your weight to your front left side (about 90% on the front foot on your follow through). Let your right knee rotate to face the target with your right foot up so the bottom is visible. Your hands should be high and close to your left ear.
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Balancing Your Swing
Can you turn the club loose with the middle three fingers and balance it on the thumb while gripping it with the little finger only at the top of the backswing? Are the shoulders turned enough so that the club is pointing toward your target? As a valuable exercise only, it is designed to get the left thumb under the shaft so that the club will be balanced and ready for the hit. If you aren’t able to get the club back in the proper slot, correctly gripped, you will not be able to hold the club, let alone get it through the ball properly. Do not let it slip off. When you’ve succeeded in developing the balance as described, re-grip, swing through and do the same at the top of the follow-through. Golf is played with the hands. Therefore, the correct grip takes preference over everything. Most players should seek to grip with the back three fingers of the left hand and the middle two of the right. Some seasoned golfers have stated that they get the feel of the hit with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. If you are not able to play frequently, try using the middle two fingers of the right hand as your pressure points. Once this is mastered, you can then concentrate on acquiring rhythm and timing.
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