Free Online Golf Tips

Archive for May, 2009

3 Backswing Tips

Think of the movement of the backswing as a coiling motion, just like a heavy rope being twisted. When the rope cannot coil any longer, the tension has built up and is ready to explode - the same as your body will when preparing for the downswing.

Here are a few points to keep in mind when working your backswing:

1) To know whether or not you are rotating your shoulders enough, keep in mind that your chin should be touching the left shoulder when you get to the top. If not then you need more rotation.

2) Also at the top of the backswing, your right leg should be in the exact same position as it was in when the swing started. The foot should not move and there should be no flex in the knee.

3) Keep your hands close to your belt buckle. Imagine that they are tied together to your buckle with a rubber band. As you are taking the club back, imagine that the hands are attached to your belt with this rubber band and do not lift your hands until your shoulders have completely turned away from the target.

The Rules Of The Sand Bunker: A World Of Its Own On The Course

The sand bunker is like a world of its own - with special rules that every player must abide by or else suffer the consequences. Bunkers are considered to be hazards on the golf course and before you can even think about making your stroke, you cannot:

1) Touch the sand with your club (or your hands).
2) Test the conditions of the hazard.
3) Touch any loose impediments that are located in the bunker.

These three key rules mean that you must be extremely careful not to accidentally let your club graze the top of the sand when getting into your stance. And if you decide to take a practice swing then you had better make sure the club does not hit the sand. If you do then you will receive a penalty: 2 strokes in a medal play and the loss of your hole in a match play.

Waste Bunkers

Many courses have what are called waste bunkers. Waste bunkers are areas that contain sand, small rocks and pebbles, and are not usually maintained like the rest of the course.

These areas are also not considered hazards so you are able to take practice swings without fear of hitting the sand and receiving a penalty.

Variety Is The Key To Great Practice Sessions

When working around the greens, variety during practice is the ingredient for staying fresh and hitting all of the points you need to cover. For example, if you typically putt first during the beginning of your practice sessions then start today’s session with a few chip shots.

Not only should you vary shots made during each session you should also vary the location as well. Send a few chip shots one way, then chip the ball another direction.

Do not make the same putt from the same spot over and over again. Knock a few bunker shots from the inside of the slope, both uphill and downhill, including the middle to spice it up a bit. And pitch the ball towards various targets.

Stay Relaxed

Last weekend I went to knock a few practice balls on the green with my neighbor, Jim. I had always avoided playing golf with Jim because of his high-tensed attitude. Even on the practice greens this guy would take very shot as serious as if he were shooting to win the U.S. Open.

Do not be like Jim. Practice sessions are for fun and you are not going to make every shot turn out the way you want it to. That’s the point - to keep yourself guessing and getting used to the surprise. In a real game you will never have the same shot over and over again so why practice this way?

The Long Putter

From the very moment it was manufactured and sold to the golf market, the long putter has been surrounded by controversy. You probably have never used a long putter or perhaps are just reading about it now for the first time.

So What Is The Function Of The Long Putter Over Standard Putters?

Various golfers use the long putter as a practice tool to keep from bending over, especially when facing short putts. Other players may not have enough “wrist” in their putts and the long putter enables them to grip the club without the wrists and arms becoming unstable.

Long putters cannot really be swung properly without free-flow. The weight of the putter-head swings practically by itself, freely and straight back and forth, just like the pendulum on a clock

Are Long Putters Legal?

Yes, the long putter is in fact legal and allowed to be used as set forth in the rules by the USGA and the R&A. The controversy comes from the fact that many golfers feel that they give the player an unfair putting advantage. Others find it harder to putt with. The choice is yours to make.

Improve Your Game By Showing Up Early

If you play golf like I do then you absolutely love treating every shot like it was the last. And really, what other way is there to play the game, right? But this approach means that you must invest plenty of time on the practice green.

If you show up to your game just in time to start the first round then you have missed a golden opportunity to show up early and iron out any wrinkles and adjustments that will allow you to go for the gold with full confidence once the game starts.

By arriving early and spending time on the practice green, this allows you to:

1) Get used to the conditions of the course. Before your game even starts you will be a step ahead of the other players in your group. You will get a feel for the grass, the speed of the green, and wipe out any yips before T-off.

2) Start your game with total confidence. By knocking out a few putts and starting your game on a high note, your confidence will be at maximum levels and will stay that way throughout the game.

3) Get a great warm-up with your upper body as well as your technique. Most players make the mistake of not warming up before a game. But because you arrived early your arms will be loose, your shoulders stretched, and your technique solid.

Swing Tip: Keep Your Head Still (1)

Boy what a weekend! My oldest son is now playing golf with me and we just had the most beautiful weather this past Sunday as I played the best round I’ve had in months. The sun was shining, the wind was minimal, and the temperature was just over 75 degrees - heaven!

There was only one problem; Dean, my son, was having a heck of a time with his shots. Dean has been having the same issue for a long time now and I helped him figure it out this past weekend. You see, there are little things that can be done to improve your golf game but they can be so tough to spot sometimes.

Dean’s Steady Head

It finally dawned on us that my son was the type of player that did not keep his head steady throughout the swing. When a golfer has a head that wobbles, sways, or dips, it is more likely to cause him to hit “behind” the ball. And if the head is swaying more towards the target, then topping the ball is usually the result.

So the next time you are playing a round ask your partner to look closely at your head. If there are any movements then have him or her point out the details so that you can work on keeping your head position still. You will be pleasantly surprised at the results!

Tricky Bunker Shots On The Slope

Bunker shots, while fun, are never easy and if you have ever faced a shot where the ball is lying halfway up on the face of the bunker, or down the back of the bunker, then you know how tricky this can be.

Logically speaking, when the ball is in this situation you, a) have an uphill lie, the ball will come out higher and, b) or a downhill lie, the ball will come out lower.

Whenever you are swinging on an uneven surface in the bunker then you must make an adjustment with your shoulders during address to copy that of the slope. Here are the pointers you need:

The Uphill Shot: Tilt your shoulders until they are parallel to the ground. If you do not adjust your shoulders this way then your swing will literally run into the ground. The last thing you want to do is have the club stuck in the sand. Keep the clubface square because there is plenty of loft due to the incline.

The Downhill Shot: With the downhill shot you also need to tilt your shoulders but this time make sure they mimic the downward slope in the bunker. If you tilt back then the club will be buried far behind the ball (or on top of the ball).

Pitching Over Water Hazards & Bunkers: No Time To Get Fancy

There are plenty of times when you have to send the ball flying over obstacles so that the green can be reached. A more daunting shot is when you have to clear a creek, bunker, or a hillock. Not only are the risks higher, but if the ball lands in the bunker or the water then your score will drop.

It’s quite normal to want to make this pitch shot land close to the cup, but no matter how much you want this to happen you must keep in mind the #1 priority:

Clear The Obstacle!

Many times the hole will be close to the edge of the obstacle and the temptation is overwhelming to try to hit a high flying shot that can fall steeply, land smoothly, and come close to the hole.

As wonderful a goal this is, it is more likely that the pitch shot will disappoint you and end up falling short, back into the creek or the sand. Instead, work with what you have. The hole is close to the edge of the green which means you have plenty of room to clear the obstacle. Use this opportunity to get out of the trap you are in.

In time, as you become more skilled at pitch shots like this one, you can then try to pop the ball in to the air and land close to the hole, or to send the ball beyond the hole but with a little backspin. For now - just get it over the obstacle.

Traditional Putters: Still The Most Popular Putter Today

The modern golf era, which I would say started in the 1960’s, all had putters used by players that were similar to one another. All of the styles, putter lengths, and weights were all alike.

The shaft was upright and connected to the hosel, which connects the close-end of the putter-head. The putter-head was usually a blade-type which made them look just like irons accept for the steep face in which the function was to allow the ball to roll on the ground.

The traditional putter is still the most popular putter used by both professional golfers and regular players like you and I. The shortest club in the golf bag, the traditional putter became created from various materials - stainless steal, wood, copper and aluminum.

The appearance may come in a smooth metal color, metallic or an unfinished appearance. Some traditional putters are painted and others may have materials built into the sweet spot of the face which allows the player to get a better connection and feel when contact is made.

Swing Tip - Keep Your Head Still (2)

Any golfer who can keep his head still when making his shot is one that probably also hits the ball well. And conversely, any golfer that has an unsteady head while swinging is more than likely making a lot of mistakes, yet doesn’t realize where the problem lies. So try the following technique to help keep your head still and see if it fixes any issues you may be having.

A Technique To Take Control Of Your Head’s Movement

Years ago I had problems with my swing that I just couldn’t figure out. And it wasn’t until a friend took notice of the way my head was moving around when I swung that I actually fixed the issues. So we developed a nifty little technique to gain control over the shaky head syndrome.

1) Hit some practice shots with a partner, using your iron.

2) Have your partner lean his hand against the top of your head/forward. This will help keep your head still.

3) Now swing as many practice swings as possible, until your partner’s arm gets tired. Work on feeling the rotation as you keep impeccable form.

4) Moving onto your real shots, work extra hard at maintaining the same stillness in your head that you had when it was being held in place by your partner.