Don’t Scoop your Irons
For good iron shots - always hit down and through the ball.
Hit the ball first before your swing bottoms out, and then continue on down taking out a small divot in front of where the ball was.
The loft of the club will cause the ball to shoot up and soar.
Trying to scoop the ball into the air will lead to poor shots and lack of distance.
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Think Outside the Fairway
You may come to a hole that has a lot of trouble down one side of the fairway, and to top it off then gives you a difficult approach angle from the other side.
Sometimes it may be easier to hit your drive onto an adjacent fairway, into some short rough, or even lay up short […]
Make the Practice Swing Count
Taking a practice swing that just waggles the club around whilst you look in the general direction of the green achieves nothing.
Set up close to the ball so you have the same lie and stance as you will when you actually take the shot. Now take your practice swing.
Feel how the slope of the […]
Plan to Improve Your Golf
Getting better at golf will not happen magically as you play more rounds - you will either ingrain your bad habits or create new ones as you try to correct your current mistakes.
Set up a plan for yourself that will include lessons, practice and tackling your strengths and weaknesses. Track your stats. It doesn’t […]
Grip, Alignment, Stance and Posture
Many high handicappers set up to the ball in a way that generally guarantees a poor shot.
Most mistakes actually happen before you even swing the club.
Check the following basics to make sure you are giving yourself every opportunity to hit a good shot:
grip - ease off on the pressure
alignment - make sure you really are […]
Go to Club
Do you have a “go to” or “get out of jail club”?
It’s the one you find you are most comfortable hitting. Take some time to learn how to hook it, fade it, punch it low or hit it high.
Once you master different shots with this one club, you will be able to get out […]
Don’t Rake That Bunker too Quickly
If you are in a bunker and your ball does not get out of the bunker after you have hit it (sounds like a lot of my shots…) - do not start to rake the trap.
By raking whilst your ball is still in the bunker, you are testing the sand and violating a rule.
Wait until […]
Casual Water and Putting
If you are just off the putting green and there is a puddle of water along your line to the green - you must play the ball as it lies.
If you are on the green you may get relief to move your ball in order to avoid putting through the water.
Pitching - Use Your Imagination
Find a spot at the range where you can hit pitch shots to an area that is out of your line of sight.
Try to imagine targets that are 25 to 30 metres apart and swing to hit your shots to those imaginary targets.
Check to see how well your feel for those shots are, and practice […]
Swing Easy, Hit Hard
The secret to hitting long drives is not by swinging long or hard.
You need to stay in balance, by making a wide back swing and full shoulder turn.
Let your swing speed come from turning your shoulders and allowing your arms to be pulled through the shot.
Your hands will then work as a lever to “crack […]
