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Archive for August, 2009

Chip Shot Setup Rules

It is an oversimplification to say that bad chipping always stems from a bad set up. But it is certainly true to say that a lot of golfers make life extremely difficult for themselves by neglecting this important aspect of the chip shot.

The correct setup for 99%PRCTG% of all chip shots can be expressed in one simple sentence:

“Ball back, hands and weight forward”

This promotes a shape of swing that makes the clubhead approach the ball on a slightly descending angle of attack, leading to crisp ball-turf contact.

Club Choice

The setup and the simple swing required to hit neat chip shots can be applied to different clubs. When you need to play a chip to carry some rough or a bunker between you and the flag, go with lots of loft, such as a wedge.

If a low-running chip shot is required, go with less loft such as a 7 iron or the 8 iron. The swing stays the same. All you have to do is make sure that in your setup, the ball is back and your hands and weight are forward, and that your hands lead the clubhead into the ball.

Learn From Tiger Wood’s Solid Stance

The next time you watch Tiger Woods putt, ignore for a moment where the ball goes and focus instead on his hips and legs.

You will notice that they stay absolutely rock-still throughout the stroke. This is hugely significant and one of the major points of difference between top players and many amateurs.

By keeping the hips and legs steady, Tiger establishes a solid foundation as he swings the putter back and through. It makes it easier to produce an in-line stroke on a more consistent basis, which leads to sweet strikes. This feature of Tiger’s putting stroke is well worth copying.

Notes:

- The size of the swing should be in proportion to the length of the putt. Too much swing will result in a loss of accuracy.

- Tiger uses the reverse overlap putting grip. It is thought to be the best way to control the putter.

- The putter meets the ball on a slight upward arc, imparting a smooth roll.

Chipping Away - Don’t Forget To Turn Your Body

Your average chip shot uses a somewhat short swing, however, this does not mean that the rest of your body does not have to work as a fluid unit.

Most often, poor contact is the result of the body not turning as the arms come down in the swing. This usually results in the clubhead overtaking the hands.

From this point on, make it a practice to bring your chest and back in perfect harmony with the swing of the arms. Not only does this give great momentum to your swing, but it also keeps the club moving in the proper angle of attack.

Notes:

1) The head only comes up long after the ball is on its way.

2) Hands, arms, and torso should work as a unit, turning together.

3) Grip pressure remains soft for maximum feel.

4) Adopt a narrow stance with flexed knees.

5) The clubhead stays low to the ground through impact and rises only at the end of the swing.

How To Read Greens & Take Action

No green is totally flat. Thus, most putts have a degree of break on them - often subtle, sometimes severe. The best way to deal with breaking putts and sloping greens is to treat every putt as if it is straight.

Here is how it works:

1) Identify how much break there is on a putt. For example, a 3 foot break from the left - the hole itself now ceases to be your target. Your new target is an imaginary hole positioned 3 feet to the left of the actual hole.

2) As you go through your pre-shot routine, aiming the putterhead and aligning your stance, your focus should continue to be the imaginary target.

3) Now hit a dead-straight putt at your imaginary target to the left of the hole, and the slope on the green takes care of the rest. The advantage of this method is that you are far more likely to make a pure putt stroke when hitting a straight putt than you are when trying to guide the ball on a breaking putt.

How To Hit An Upslope Ball

This is probably the easiest of all the shots from sloping lies, because there’s a sense of being able to launch the ball into the air. However, there are a few ways to make sure you play it well.

1) Your right shoulder should be markedly lower than your left and your weight favoring the back foot. Adopt a slightly wider stance and aim right of the target, because the ball tends to hook from an upslope.

2) Try to swing in harmony with the slope and maintain your balance. Do not get thrown back onto your right foot, or lean into the slope.

3) Keep your weight and your head down through impact. Let the natural momentum of your swing pull you into the finish position.

Points To Remember:

- Align the shoulders with the slope.
- Maintain balance.
- Keep your head down.

How To Hit A Downslope Ball

This is the toughest of all the sloping lies because the downslope gives you the sense that it is very difficult to get the ball airborne. The nature of a downslope means that you’re deprived of loft, and it is all too easy to scuttle the ball straight along the ground.

1) Make sure your shoulders and hips are as close to parallel with the slope as possible - your left shoulder should feel lower than the right.

2) Place the ball back in your stance. This is a very important point. You will tend to want to put the ball forward in your stance because it feels natural to generate some elevation from there, but this will prevent you from getting the ball airborne.

2) Pick the club up a little steeper in your backswing with an early wrist hinge. This sets the club in a position from which you can more easily generate the necessary steep angle of attack into impact. Make sure you maintain your weight distribution all the way to the top of the backswing.

3) As you swing down into impact, try to feel as though you are chasing after the ball down the slope, staying well down through impact so that the clubhead follows the contours of the ground. Never try to “help” the ball into the air.

How To Fix A Poor Pitch Shot Setup

Poor quality pitching often stems from a poor setup, something that is easy to fix but overlooked by many golfers.

Even veteran players seem to forget the obvious little tweaks that need to be made as they get better at the game - basics, basics, basics!

Here are four steps to a better set-up and more successful pitching action:

1) Make sure that your feet are only slightly apart, and that your shoulders are square.

2) Choke down on the grip. This will give you maximum feel and better clubhead control as you swing.

3) Put the ball back in your stance and hold your hands forward.

4) Keep your chin up. This simple move tends to lead to a better posture, with the spine angle more erect, and it gives you space under your chin to turn your left shoulder. Try to feel as though you are almost looking down your nose at the golf ball.

This post will be somewhat off the “beaten path” so to speak, but it at least stays in the realm of golf

As you know, I am in the “golf business” at least to some degree. As a golf clubmaker I have built clubs for folks all over the US and parts of Europe as well.  And now I teach these methods to others in my DVD.

But how about you? Do you ever think about getting into the golf business?

If so then I’ve got a blog post you should take a look at.

No, No, I’m not trying to sell you anything. I have had the pleasure of working with the owner of this blog, who’s name is Mark. and he is holding a contest to give away a real, honest-to-goodness working website that is golf related. It will be about golf putters and it’s a great way to make some extra cash (read - greens fees ) in your spare time.

OK, that’s all for now. Sorry for the diversion from the normal golf tips, but just in case there were some of you interested, here’s the blog post that Mark sent out about the contest. Good Luck!

Hit ‘em straight!

Ben