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November — balance |
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Balance is a big factor in golf, whatever shot you are playing.
When you are set up to hit a driver, you need stability, a good set up, with a feeling of equal weight on each foot, with nothing feeling tense or tight. A loose grip helps with a smooth take away, then a nice smooth swing, and wait for the hit, keeping everything moving to a fully balanced end of swing position.
At this point a good feeling would be, a nice straight left leg (for the right handers) 90% of your weight on that leg and your right shoulder and hip pointing towards your target... completely balanced, watching your ball fly away.
This may be a little more follow through than you are used to, but if you try to make this move, you will be more balanced throughout the whole swing, and impact too, just like the pro’s - great balance!!! |
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October — check your posture |
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This is a good drill to make sure your posture is right.
You need to use a club to help.
Stand up straight, using the club, put it down your back (spine)
Now take your normal address position bending from the top of your legs keeping the shaft in contact with your back.
This should show you what a good position should feel like.
This is a simple drill that will help you with your address position, and then ball striking.
Without good posture it is hard to maintain a good swing.
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September — uphill lie |
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You need to take more club than normal on this shot as the ball will fly higher, depending on the slope.
You will need to aim the club head to the right as the ball will draw in flight, so this means that your body alignment should also be aimed to the right.
Your stance will be slightly different than normal; this is due to the slope. I would suggest that you try to get you shoulders parallel to the slope which means there will be more of your weight favouring your right leg (the lower leg).
The ball position will be placed forward in the stance to help the club follow the contours of the slope and your swing will be as normal as possible, but you might find that you will be restricted in the follow through, this is due to the up slope and limited leg action.
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August — are your shoulders aligned?? |
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With putting it is impossible to build an accurate putting stroke if your shoulders are not parallel to the target line. I also like to see the forearms parallel too.
I suggest you check that your shoulders are not open or closed at the address by using a mirror before you go any further.
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July — a line of tees |
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This is a good drill to help with a smooth and controlled take-a-way.
What we do is make two lines of tee pegs parallel to each other, round about a foot long. Then tee up your driver, remembering to always have half of the ball over half of the head. The idea is to hit 6 or more drives, by sweeping the club through the gateway of tees without hitting them.
This drill will help with you with your one piece take-a-way, keeping the club head smooth and low to the ground… a good drill.
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June — rhythm and tempo |
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If there are things going wrong, rhythm can help.
If you have good rhythm and tempo you can get away with some things. All ways swing smoothly this can help minimise the damage, and help you with control. Rhythm, good tempo and a smooth swing are the magic key.
This is a must! |
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May — warm up properly |
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All to often I see people just turn up to the club, get out the car, put your shoes on, just in time for there tee time, and then wonder why it takes 4 to 6 holes to feel warm, and settled down. This of course reflects on the score.
You need to get to the course 15 minutes or so before, and warm up by swing 2 iron clubs together, it does not matter how you hold them, as it’s much heaver than on, so there for helping you loosen up, this only takes 5 minutes, then go and hit some balls,( if time) and go to the putting green. Now that is important, this should help, as you would never see a pro go straight to the 1st tee before warming up... just try it! |
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April — solid putts |
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We all want to hit solid putts, well here is a way to improve the solid crisp contact, especially if you come up short all the time.
Just put a coin, say a pound coin, on the ground, and try and slide it away with your normal stroke.
To have good success the putter head will have to move downwards as it approaches the coin, as low as you can, to ensure good contact with the centre of the putter face.
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March — spot on striking |
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The secret of hitting your irons straight with control, is great ball striking.
So this is what I would like you to try, this is a good drill!
Mark out two straight lines of tee pegs one each side of your iron, and pointing at your target, but just wide enough for your club to pass between them without touching them.
What you have to do is to try to strike the ball cleanly off the grass WITHOUT hitting the tee’s.
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February — line up the ball |
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It is now very popular for players to put a line on their golf ball to help line up when putting.
What you do is……. use the line to aim at your target (either the hole if it’s a straight putt or to a point you have selected if not) then use the line on your putter to align with the line on the ball……now you must trust the two lines are right and go ahead and putt.
You might find that it helps to align the line on the ball with your target and then step a few yards back to check that all is well before addressing your putt.
You can also use the same line you have marked on the ball to help when hitting off the tee. Again point the line on the ball down the fairway to the target you have selected eg, aim at a tree in the distance. Align your selected club with that line and swing through.
This I feel will help with your confidence on aiming the club and ball at your target, I do feel the line will help….try it!!
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January — the swing plane |
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The swing plane is very important. It is something you must check and you’ll be pleased to hear it’s easy to do.
The swing plane is the path the club follows around your body, if you get this move consistent, the on-plane position will help you hit the ball longer and further, so this is what you do…..
Put a tee peg in the butt end of the grip on your 6 iron, and then take your set up position. Make your back swing, rotating your shoulders until your hands are somewhere between your waist and shoulders... and stop.
At this point you could imagine a line pointing from the tee in the end of your club to the ground.
If this imaginary line points ahead of the ball, your swing is too flat, and if the line is behind the ball your swing is too steep.
Adjust your back swing so that the imaginary line points at the ball position.
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December — big power shoulder turn |
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Do you want to drive the ball further??
Well to do this you must make a full shoulder turn, the greater the upper body can coil, the more the lower body can resist and therefore the more torque and potential power you will have to unleash at the ball.
To practice the big shoulder turn, put a tee peg in the ground about level with your right shoulder at the set up and put another tee in your mouth.
As you swing back the tee in your mouth must pass to the right of the tee in the ground. This move will really help to get your weight to the right and therefore help with a fuller turn.
With this fuller shoulder turn you will also make a wider arc, allowing more time for club head speed, and then more distance... you know you want it!!
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