 |
|
| Notes from the Pros |
|
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Get A Better Start To Your Golf Swing
Proper Takeaway Drill
Most golfers don't understand the importance of drills and doing them correctly. Drills will make you a better golfer in a shorter amount of time than if you try to hit a large quantity of range balls. Without a PGA Professional watching your every swing, it becomes too difficult to feel the correct movement while swinging 70-100 miles per hour. Here is a drill that will help get your swing off to a better start.
Body and Arms Drill:
Assuming your golf posture, place your hands on the shaft just below the grip of the club. Bend forward into your golf posture allowing the butt end of the club to rest against your stomach. Practice your takeaway while the butt end of the club continues to rest against your stomach. This drill will help your arms and body to work more together on the takeaway, which will then allow your big muscles to be more involved.
Understanding your tendencies and errors in your takeaway will give you a better indication of why your golf shots and your ball flight aren't as consistent as you would like them to be. Learning to incorporate more drills into your practice sessions and cutting back on hitting so many golf balls in attempt to feel change, will help you to see more results.
From PGA Head Golf Professional, Randy Jones:
Golf Ball Fitting
You always hear about being properly fitted for golf clubs, which is extremely important. After you have all your clubs dialed in to your golf swing, it is time to get fitted for the proper golf ball.
How many times have you played a round of golf with 3 to 4 different types of golf balls (Callaway, Titleist, Top Flite, etc.)? Different brands of golf balls will fly, spin, feel, and sound different when you hit them. Your game will never be consistent when you are constantly changing balls.
My recommendation is to be fitted by a PGA Professional or by your swing coach. If you don't have neither of these, try to going to http://www.titleist.com/golf-ball-fitting/.
Stick with one golf ball and your game will improve.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Club Fitting
Any golfer that is about to invest in their game by purchasing new golf clubs should make one more investment. getting properly fitted by a PGA Professional.
My recommendation is to get fitted by an expert in the game. Expert meaning a PGA Professional that is trained to understand the golf swing and is a certified club fitter. Most of the people at the retail golf stores you go to are minimum wage employees or work off of commission. They are there to get you to walk out of their store with a set of new golf clubs. Every club or set of clubs they have for sale is standard. We are not all standard in height, weight, strength, swing technique, etc. We all need clubs custom fitted to us.
Most people believe that custom fitted golf clubs are more expensive. That is not the case. For example, you will pay the same prices for Titleist golf clubs that are on the shelf as you will for custom fit Titleist golf clubs. Also, most places will wave the fitting fee if you purchase golf clubs from them, like we do at Alamo Golf Club.
Take the time to do your research on finding a place where there is a PGA Professional on staff that is a trained golf instructor and is a certified club fitter or better yet just come out to Alamo Golf Club where I personally can take care of all your fitting needs. I am a Certified Ping Club Fitter as well.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Golf Tip on Chipping and Pitching
Do you know what the difference is between chipping and pitching?
The definition of chipping: If executed correctly, this shot should roll more on the ground than it flies in the air.
The definition of pitching: If executed correctly, this shot should fly more in the air and roll very little on the ground.
I'm always asked, "What do I do differently to hit a chip or a pitch?" The simple answer is change golf clubs.
To hit a chip shot, try using a 7 iron. A 7 iron has a lot less loft than a pitching wedge or sand wedge and will allow you to keep the ball lower to the ground and rolling. The lower the golf ball stays to the ground, the more control you will have.
To hit a pitch shot, try using anywhere from a 56 degree wedge to a 60 degree wedge. These clubs are the most lofted clubs in your bag and if executed correctly, the golf ball should have a lot of loft with very little roll.
The very last thing I can tell you about chipping and pitching is to set up the golf ball the same for both shots. The only difference will be the length of your backswing to help hit shots different distances.
For keys on how to set up to hit a short chip or pitch, refer to our website alamogolfclub.net and look for the notes from the pros icon under the lessons/clinics page. There will be a short tip on Create a "Y" for chipping.
I truly believe if you use and trust this, not only will your short game improve, but your overall enjoyment of the game will as well.because you will be shooting lower scores.
Go to your local PGA Professional for more help on chipping and pitching.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Simple ,but efficient
Having trouble making those 3 foot putts that mess with your mind and confidence?
Here is a simple drill that will put discipline back into your putting stroke. Place your golf ball 3 feet away from the hole with the golf ball resting on top of a dime. Make a putting stroke keeping your eyes focused on the dime through impact and to the finish. Avoid the urge to follow the ball with your eyes immediately after impact. Don't look up until you hear the ball hit the bottom of the hole. This drill will help you stabilize your body and make those dreaded 3 footers.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Golf Tips for maintaining balance to improve your golf swing consistency
1) An efficient address (set-up/routine) is critical to assisting you with consistent balance during your golf swing. Your address can be viewed as one of the top issues if you want to hit solid golf shots. If your address position is consistent, you can have some minor swing flaws and still hit a reasonably solid golf shot. This is due to better balance and stability in your golf swing from a better address position.
2) The majority of amateur golfers try to hit the long ball by swinging too hard. Has this ever worked for you? If you were to tell me yes, I would guess that you are lying. It is not how hard you swing that creates distance. It's centeredness of contact, meaning hitting the sweet spot with a high club head speed. Control is the key word. How about swinging easy to hit the ball more solid? That's your first step to hitting longer drives which will also help you with balance.
3) Your current physical shape has a huge impact on your ability to maintain your balance, stability, and body control during your swing. Improved flexibility and strength will give your golfing muscles a much greater chance at maintaining balance and hitting solid golf shots.
Maintaining a dynamic posture takes a high level of golf specific fitness, which most golfers don't have. Unless you address this, you may never achieve a consistent golf swing. So work out! It will make your golf game and quality of life better and more enjoyable.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Hybrids
Having trouble hitting your long irons?
My recommendation to solve this problem is to invest in the beloved hybrid. Hybrid golf clubs have a larger head and a lower center of gravity, unlike the narrow soled long iron. The hybrid will go much higher and longer than the long iron.
How to Hit the Hybrid
A lot of people treat the hybrid like a fairway wood. They put the ball position too far forward and try to sweep the ball off the ground causing more tops and hooks.
Try these steps to enhance your ball striking with your new hybrids.
1. Treat your hybrid like your long irons. Play the ball just slightly forward of middle.
2. Don't try to sweep the ball off the ground like a fairway wood. You have to hit more DOWN like an iron.
3. As always swing to a full finish.
The lofts you need on your hybrids to replace your long irons are as follows:
2-iron (18 degree hybrid)
3-iron (21 degree hybrid)
4-iron (24 degree hybrid)
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Create a "Y" for Chipping
Try this swing thought for solid, consistent ball striking.
Randy's 3 Keys:
1) To be more consistent on short shots around the greens, hit a low shot that runs whenever you can. Using a short to mid iron, play the ball just inside your back heel. Put the majority of your weight to the left leg (for right handed players) and push your hands ahead of the ball. Your arms and club will now form a lower-case "y" at address.
2) With the correct setup, the swing is a matter of rocking your shoulders back and through-very similar to a long putting stroke. Make sure to have good tempo in your swing, especially from the start, maintaining the "y" as you swing the club back.
3) Lean into your front leg to start the downswing and don't tighten your grip. You need to return the ball with your "y" perfectly intact. The angles you create at address will produce a downward strike and a low running shot that rolls just like a putt.
Use this technique for your chipping and your short game will greatly improve.
Tip from Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Ball Position
The ball placement will vary with the club you select. (From a level lie)
1. Play your short irons (8 iron, 9 iron, and wedges) in the center of your stance. These clubs have the most upright lie angles, they must be swung at the steepest angle, and you should take a divot in the front of the ball.
2. Your middle irons (5 thru 7 iron), should be played 1 ball toward the target side foot from center (left of center for the right handed golfer). These clubs have a slightly flatter lie angle, and you should take a slightly shallower divot.
3. The correct ball position for long irons and fairway woods (3-4 iron and fairway woods) is two balls toward the target side foot from center ( two balls left of center for the right handed golfer). With these clubs, the ball should be struck directly at the bottom of the swing arc with very little divot.
4. The driver is played the farthest forward (three balls left of center for the right handed golfer) to help strike the ball on the upswing.
With correct ball position, you are giving yourself a better chance at striking the golf ball more consistently.
From Randy Jones, PGA Head Golf Professional
Keys to Keeping the Driver in Play
1. Set up with the ball position more forward in your stance. Move the ball more towards your left foot for right handed players.
2. Tee the ball high. This will give you the feeling of sweeping the ball or hitting the ball on the upswing. When you tee the ball too low with your driver, you have more of a tendency to have a descending hit which can make you pop the ball straight up or slice the ball to the right.
3. Have the feeling of tilting your upper body to the right. Feel like your head is behind the ball at address. You should also put more of your weight on your right leg.
4. While taking some practice swings, try to imagine yourself swinging a long broom stick. Or even better, swing a broom stick. This will give you the feeling of swinging the club more around your body on a flatter swing plane.
5. If these steps don't help you while playing on the golf course, then you should choose a shorter club off the tee (3-wood, 4-iron, etc.). This will help you keep the ball in play more often, and make the game more enjoyable.
6. And last but not least, on every shot you hit in golf, HOLD YOUR FINISH.
|
|
|
