Bunker Shots End Up Short Of The Hole

Cal on March 21st, 2008

Most high handicappers come up short out of greenside bunkers about 90% of the time.

This is the result of not accelerating the club through the sand - they get scared they will hit the ball to hard and fly over the green.

As you set up in the bunker, think in terms of striking the sand with enough force so that the ball will land near the hole on the fly. You will find that most of your sand shots will end up closer to the pin instead of coming up short.

This will also help your Sand Saves stats!

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Setting Goals

Cal on March 20th, 2008

Most high handicappers set goals of breaking 100 or 90.
Instead of thinking in terms of breaking a particular score, set your goals around things like number of fairways hit, number of greens in regulation, number of sand saves, and number of putts.
As you practice to make yourself better in these things, your score will improve […]

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Putting From Off The Green

Cal on May 27th, 2007

Putting from off the green is an excellent way to get the ball close to the hole without worrying about hitting it fat or thin.
One thing that you must take into consideration though, is that you have to hit your ball with more force than you usually would on the green, for the amount of […]

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To hit solid chip shots, your arms need to stay close to your body.
Place a glove under your front armpit when you chip balls in practice. The glove should never fall to the ground.
This way you will learn the feeling of keeping your left arm connected to your body, and the results will amaze […]

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Stop Those Fat Shots

Cal on May 26th, 2007

Hitting the ball ‘fat’ or striking the ground behind the ball is a very common problem for high handicappers.
One way to correct it is to try and hit the ball on a lower trajectory while you practice. Do not change the ball position relative to your stance, just try and hit the ball lower.
You […]

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Practice Your Weight Shift

Cal on May 26th, 2007

A lot of wild shots are caused by a poor weight shift.
To help you get a good feeling for the proper weight shift on the course, make it part of your pre-shot routine. Make a slow motion practice swing and load almost all of your weight on your back foot when you are fully coiled […]

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Takeaway Sets Golf Swing In Motion

Cal on April 12th, 2007

Taking the club away from the ball to start the backswing is one of the most important parts of the golf swing.
A lot of problems occur by snatching the club back too quickly (mistakenly thinking that speed here equals power), lifting the club (as opposed to moving it away) or having your hands start moving […]

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Practice Chipping With A 5 iron

Cal on March 27th, 2007

To practice chipping for accuracy, you must be able to:
- catch the ball cleanly,
- get it into the air,
- get it rolling as soon as possible.
Instead of using a wedge, try practicing with a 5 iron. This will force you to concentrate on making crisp smooth contact and a smooth stroke, or you will […]

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Know When To Stop Practicing

Cal on March 18th, 2007

When practicing, avoid hitting balls when you are tired or have sore muscles.
Hitting shots whilst you are not 100% can promote bad habits in your swing to compensate for your body’s state. You may also injure yourself easily if your back, neck or leg muscles are sore.
Listen to your body and practice when you […]

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Hitting Wedge Shots Close To The Hole

Cal on March 17th, 2007

Most high handicappers hit wedge shots high into the air and hope they come down close to the hole.
A better way to hit accurate wedge shots is to choke down on the grip a bit and make a shorter back swing. Then accelerate through the ball and finish with the club head low in […]

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