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Putting Drill: The Perfect Short-Putt Drill

Below is an exercise which I consider to be the perfect short putt drill. It is best to practice this putting drill on a relatively flat portion of the green - the straighter you can putt the better.

1) Place the putter on the ground and place two tees on both sides - one on the heel and one on the toe of the putterhead. There should be a gap left of about 1 half an inch on either side. This gap can be reduced as your confidence builds with the drill.

2) Now place a ball down and simply hit putts, with the goal to swing the putterhead through the gate formed by the two tees.

If your stroke is at all crooked then either the heel or the toe of the putter will collide with one of the tees through impact. In this way, the drill forces you to make a straight stroke.

If you miss a lot of putts during this practice drill, check the aim of the putterface at address. It could be that it is not square.

Ernie Els’s Extended Arms

Ernie Els is one of the greatest ball strikers in the game - his seemingly effortless and beautifully rhythmic swing disguising serious power and great compression of the golf ball at impact.

It’s one of the many reasons why his iron shots fly so pure, straight, and far!

There is much in Ernie’s swing that every golfer can learn from, such as the way his arms are fully extended as he swings the clubhead into and through the ball. This helps him carry good speed into the ball and deliver that all-important descending blow.

To emulate Ernie’s positive move through impact, visualize your right arm extending fully toward the target and the clubhead traveling low to the ground after the ball. This will encourage you to swing freely through the ball and extend your arms like Ernie does.

* The right arm should be fully extended at impact.

* Keep the clubhead in line with the target through the shot.

* The legs provide a solid platform for the powerful unwinding of the body and a free swing of the arms.

How To Properly Set Up For Your Tee-Off Shots

On the tee, good alignment is paramount. The principle of perfect aim and alignment could not be simpler - imagine a railroad track running down the fairway. The golf ball rests on the outer track, which point straight at the target.

This is where you aim the clubface.

The inner track runs parallel left of that target line. This is where you align your feet, hips, and shoulders. Collectively, this is known as perfect parallel alignment; it determines the path of your swing and is thus an essential requirement of powerful, straight driving.

Hip Alignment: Bend your upper body forward from your hips. Your hips should be aligned parallel left of the target.

Relaxed Shoulders: Your shoulders should be relaxed, with your arms hanging freely, and aligned parallel with the target.

Target Line: The clubface should be square (at right angles) to the target line. Think of the outer track of a railway line.

Feet: The line formed by your feet should be in parallel alignment to the target. Feet should be shoulder width apart and the weight should be on the balls of the feet in readiness for the swing.

How To Hit A Draw

Shaping a draw involves moving the ball through the air from right to left for the right-hander, and left to right for the left hander.

1) Aim the clubface straight at the target, as if you are hitting a straight shot. Then align your feet in the direction that you want your ball to start off, without adjusting the clubhead.

2) Now make a normal backswing following the line of your feet.

3) Pay extra attention to rolling your right hand over your left hand through the hitting area to promote a good release of the clubhead.

4) Follow through to a well balanced finish.

The opposing angles at address, and the resulting path of attack and the clubface positioning at impact, impart the necessary sidespin and cause the ball to start off in one direction and curve away through the air.

A Swing Lesson From Jim Furyk

The fairway metal off the tee is a smart play; it gives you respectable distance and the extra loft on the face offers a greater level of accuracy than a driver. You can hit more fairways, which is a positive thing.

Once you have decided to hit a fairway metal off the tee, the key is making sure you don’t try to make up the distance that, in the back of your mind, you know you’re losing through not hitting a driver.

That’s an easy mistake to make, but not one made by Jim Furyk.

Furyk’s swing may not be picture perfect, but there is no one better at maintaining good rhythm and playing for position rather than for power. He believes in his swing, he knows exactly how far he hits the ball with that club, and he never pushes for more distance. That’s why he hits more fairways than probably any other top player in the game.

So, when you’re hitting a fairway metal off the tee, think position, not power. That’s the whole point of the club!