September 17th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
Your legs may not be swinging but that doesn’t mean that they don’t play a huge role in how hard you hit, how accurate you are, or how far the ball goes. Your legs play a very large role in your swing, and it is all too easy to go wrong if you aren’t placing them properly. Let’s look at a few tips on how to avoid this.
Hips –
Your hips play a role in determining where the ball will fall when it lands as well as how hard you hit the shot. If you are twisting your hips one way or the other, your aim gets thrown off and you lose that power that will help you drive longer. Practice keeping your hips square in front of the ball and if you feel that they are being pulled one way or another during your swing, take the time to correct it. You should notice an immediate improvement. Try practicing this at home until you can reliably keep your hips square with every swing.
Knees –
Your knees also control some very important aspects of your swing and the resulting shot. If they are locked, you won’t be able to utilize the pull power of your legs to get a stronger swing. If they are too loose, the same problem occurs. You’ll need to find that “sweet spot” where your knees have just the right amount of flex to them. Think about sitting down but stop after just a few inches. Your knees should just have a slight bend to them. Keep practicing until you can easily find just the right amount of flex when you are ready to swing.
Feet –
Your feet actually do play a role in how well you swing. If they are too far apart, you’re missing out on that perfect zone. If they are too close, you’re hampering your efforts. If they are pointing out, you may even find that your swing is pulled in that direction. Practice keeping your feet square, and planted but a little loose. You may need the quick help of a pro to get the position just right so that you can practice later at home.
Putting it all Together –
As you can see, there is more to just your legs than the sum of all of its parts. You need to focus on each little spot, improving that and working to find the right feel. Once you get your knees, your hips and your feet operating in unison, you should notice a dramatic difference not only in the quality of your swing, but also how far you are able to hit and how accurate your shots become. It’s well worth the effort to find that sweet spot and keep practicing.
With a little tenacity, you can develop that feel on your own and be able to get right into position each time you address the ball. Keep trying – you can get there!
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September 3rd, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
While many golfers focus on fixing their swing, it’s often the backswing that is forgotten as part of the equation. If you are finding that you are having difficulty with accuracy, or you are not hitting the ball as far as you would like, it may be due to your backswing. Here are some easy fixes.
The first thing to focus on isn’t actually the swing, but how you are standing. In order to get more power in your downward arc, your stance needs to be correct. The best position for most golfers is to stand with your knees slightly flexed. Practice this position at home until it feels natural. There should be a slight bend if your knees, but they don’t actually need to be bent.
You can think of your knees like a spring. If they are too flexed, the spring will pop around wildly when the pressure is released. If there is not enough flex, nothing will happen. Picture squeezing a small spring together just a little bit with your fingers. That is the right amount of flex to have in your knees.
Now, let’s move onto the rest of your body. Your shoulders and your torso will have a big impact on your swing, both back and down. Work on aligning them properly and you should see a big difference in accuracy. If you are pulling your shoulders one way or the other, it will pull your shot. Work on getting them square in your stance and then gradually and smoothly bring that right shoulder back as you bring the club back. Keep trying this until the motion feels fluid.
Your torso is the next area to target. If you are twisting too much, once again, you’ll be pulling that shot. Every motion needs to be fluid. Perhaps the best way to correct torso and shoulder problems is to swing in slow motion. Slow everything down until you can feel that exact moment when you twist the torso too far or move the shoulder too far. Then, take steps to correct it and try it again.
Last but not least, the hips also matter in the backswing. They should be facing forward in your stance and they should not move much during the backswing. In fact, if you are pulling them, this can reduce the overall power in your backswing, since much of it will be coming from your hips.
Imagine a straight line coming out from both of your hips. This line should remain straight all through the backswing and then through the downswing. Slow everything down again and focus on keeping your hips straight. Once you have that moment pinpointed, again, correct and redo until the right stance feels natural.
By working on your backswing and breaking down each component, you can be assured that you will find any areas that need improvement and you’ll have the ability to tell just when you’re going wrong. Practice at home and see if you can’t put together the perfect swing.
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August 4th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
Having the right pair of golf shoes impacts much more than your comfort level. If you’re wearing the wrong shoes or if they do not fit properly, this can effect your swing and as such, your entire game. Most of us don’t pay attention to our feet in golf, but they are incredibly important. If your method of shoe shopping to this point has been to find the coolest designs, this may be keeping you from perfecting your game. Let’s look at some tips to help you find the perfect pair of golf shoes.
First, let’s look at materials and overall weight of the shoe. There are thousands of choices on the market, but you’ll need to find the right match for you. If you have problems with your hips, knees or sciatica, a heavy shoe is a big mistake. Look for lightweight shoes, ideally with soft spikes. This will cut down on the stress that your legs are feeling and help open up your swing.
The material should be breathable, especially if you live in a hot climate. Look for a mesh shoe if you have problems with hot feet, but in most cases, real leather will be your best option. No matter which type of material you select, you must have the shoes properly waterproofed. While some are already done for you, you will need to double check this. There is nothing worse than walking around a course with wet feet.
One important point that is often overlooked is the impact that golf course chemical practices can have on your feet. If you are allergic to dies, or pesticides and herbicides you will need to find a shoe that is completely sealed. Your feet can absorb these materials, especially if they get wet and you may get sick. While some courses use safe practices when it comes to treating their fairways and greens, you cannot rely on this 100%. Take these precautions and you’ll be a lot happier and healthier.
Now, let’s move onto the actual mechanics of a shoe. You’ll want to make sure that it is well balanced, and addresses any existing condition you may have. For example, if you under pronate, which means that your feet tend to slope in towards one another, you may have issues with your swing. Likewise, over pronating can affect your stance and swing as well. Find out if you have undiagnosed foot problems and get the shoes that will correct that for you.
Your golf shoes need to be functional first and foremost, and although they can be expensive, getting the right pair will impact your game. If you have consistently found that you cannot improve your score, the problem may be right under you. Visit a shoe store that specializes in fitting golf shoes and try out a couple of different pairs until you find the right match. It’s well worth the time and the effort, as well as the money, considering how it will effect your game.
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July 28th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
If you have ever come up to short or too long on your approach to the green, it’s time to master the art of the flop shot. This is a shot that eludes many golfers, but once you’ve got it down, you will notice that your overall accuracy improves and you’ll be able to get a lot closer to the pin. Here are some tips to help you land that next flop shot.First, it’s important to realize that this shot is nothing like chipping. When you chip the ball, you’re trapping the ball. This gives you either more or less distance depending on how hard you hit it. A flop shot requires you to slide underneath the ball, not trap it. This is the number one problem for many golfers trying to land this shot. Once you have the difference down, you will be able to start making flop shots consistently.
Let’s talk about stance. Your stance will be much like a chip shot. Your knees should be slightly bent, and your arms slightly bent as well. Hold your club as you normally would, and backswing as you normally would. But, as you hit the downswing, the key is to slow down.
Think of it as an arc of power – much like the swing systems on most golfing video games. On the upper end of the swing, you want to give it as much power as you can. Right before you hit the ball, you want to slow that down to maximize the force. It takes a little getting used to at first.
We recommend practicing in your backyard, or even in your living room (without the ball of course) until you get the feel for the swing rhythm. You’re not actually going to be hitting anything yet, but the key is to get the feel for the swing. Once it comes naturally to you, you’ll be able to move onto the next step.
Now, let’s talk about your wrists. You’ll want to hold your hands normally on the upswing, but right when you hit the ball, the key to landing that flip shot is your wrists. This is one shot where you actually want to break your wrists. Imagine you are holding your club and clasp both hands together.
Keeping them together, move both hands sharply to the left, so that your left hand is now facing sideways and your right hand, which is on top, is also facing sideways. Both hands should be vertical. Now, put your arms down like you would if you were holding a club and get a feel for that same movement.
Add in the swing motion and at the last second, break your wrists. Keep going until all the pieces fit together. Then, you’ll be ready to add the ball. Remember, you want open the club face and slide underneath, not hit down. Ideally, your flop shot should pop up and land right where you want it. It takes a little practice, but with time, you’ll be flopping like a pro.
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July 8th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
While we all know that our knees and hips can have a disastrous effect on our swing when used improperly, they can actually help you hit a better drive when you use them the right way. Let's focus on each one and work on some exercises that will help you get that swing you've always wanted.
The Hips
Your hips can actually control the direction of the ball, even if you don't realize it. Most us have a tendency to raise our hips with our arms on our up swing. Try it in front of a mirror. Does one leg move slightly up, or do you notice that your heel comes up off the ground when you swing upwards? If it does, this will end up in pulling your shot to the right or the left. To fix this problem, here is an easy exercise. You want to be able to isolate your torso from your hips. Stand straight, with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Swing your arms around in front of you, raise them up, bring them back down and swing them in front of you.
The "Windmill" is a great technique that can help with isolation. Stand once again with your feet planted firmly and start spinning your arms around like a windmill. Keep going until you can do it without engaging your hips.
Now, you're ready to put it all together. Keep your feet planted firmly, knees a bit bent, and bring your club up. Do not move your feet! Now, bring the club down and as you do, rotate your hips in the direction of the shot. This will take a little practice, and you'll need to perfectly sync the two halves of your body. With time, this will give you added power that will add yards to your drives.
The Knees
Our knees are another common problem area. If your feet are planted, it's pretty tempting to want to lock those knees too. You need to keep your knees flexed at all times during your swing, but not overly so. Here's an exercise to help you get the feel.
Start with both feet facing forward, and firmly planted. Now, put both arms straight down by your sides. Keep your upper body straight and bend your knees until your fingertips are at about mid-thigh. If you have long or short arms adjust accordingly. Now, hold that position and bend slightly forward, bringing your hands up. You should be in about the same position as you would be if you were holding a club.
Keep trying this one until you get the feel for the position. Your knees should be relaxed, loose and facing forward. If you pull them to either side, it will affect your shot. Experiment a bit to find the right angle for your body. It may take a few tries, but with practice, you'll be able to line up your stance perfectly. If your knees are relaxed, and your hips are engaged properly, you will notice a big difference in the power of your swing.
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