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Last week I talked about how much distance is lost by golfers who have an ‘out to in’ golf swing. They usually strike the ball a
glancing blow and can’t release their hands properly through the ball to create maximum club head speed.
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Most of these golfers also battle with a ball that disappears right in a fade or slice, or, when they do release their hands, the ball goes long, straight and left of target (left handers reverse these directions).If you experience this, then you know it can be frustrating (that’s a polite phrase), especially when you have hit a great Tee shot and you have just a short iron in your hand. You know you can get it close and be on for a birdie, but then you let it drift right (into a bunker or water) or pull it far left and are now battling a 3-putt.
Most golfers in the mid to high handicap range that I see playing the game, actually strike the ball quite cleanly, especially with their Irons. They suffer less with thinning the ball or hitting it fat, and more with a wider dispersion on their approach shots than they should. That means they are often not rewarded after good golf off the Tee Box.
If you suffer from the problem I have described in this article, then please consider giving me a call. Getting your swing sorted so that you attack the golf ball from the inside, will not only add distance to all your shots, but it will also add accuracy to your approach shots.
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It will mean less frustration, and more of those magical moments when you have played the hole as well as you can and sometimes
walked away with a birdie.
| DON’T LET WIND BLOW YOU OFF TRACK |
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As golfers, we should never underestimate the weather as a factor.
Even something that seems fairly innocuous – such as the temperature – will play a role. If it’s cold, you’ll need to ensure that you stay warm without packing on so many layers that you can’t move your arms properly and if it’s warm you need to ensure that you’re utilising a shirt with UV protection or moisture-wicking abilities. The balls will even fly differently (further) when it’s warmer compared to when it’s cold.So, what do you do different when it’s windy?
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For one thing, you need to be a little more ‘canny’ about knowing the rules. Grounding your club behind the ball on a windy day is just asking for trouble – for example, do you know what to do if your ball moves?
Then there’s technique, where stability becomes even more important. The most fundamental approach here is to widen your stance at address, lowering your centre of gravity, and giving you a more solid base to hit from.
The most useful shot in windy conditions is the ‘knock-down’. To play the knock-down you need to take an extra club and play the ball back in the stance – toward the right foot – and get your hands in front of the ball at address, keeping them in front through impact, and keeping them lower on the finish. Try and keep more weight on the left side.
Don’t forget how wind affects the spin on the ball either, hitting the ball harder creates more spin – and the wind will accentuate that even further – so an ‘80%’ smooth swing is a great idea.
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I’ve seen the wind make some golfers look a bit silly because they lacked versatility in their shot-making repertoires and were constantly being buffeted out of their rhythm with their long or slow swings.
If windy days tend to ruin your enjoyment of the game then come speak to me and I’ll show you a couple of techniques to help keep your ball-flight on track.
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‘Hit the ball to a specific target, not just away from trouble’
Golf AcademyONE 