September 26th, 2008 — Book Review
Your short game is the key to a good score in golf. No matter how well you can drive, if you can’t chip or wedge your ball onto the right spot on the green, you’ll never be able to improve your score. Many golfers make the mistake of focusing on putting and driving, missing out on some key lessons that will actually make both easier over the long term. Whether you are having issues with your short game, or you are looking to shave a few points off your score, this book is an essential read.
The author did a great job of making the book readable by any golfer, regardless of their skill level. If you’re a rank beginner or an old pro, you’ll be able to understand absolutely everything discussed in this book. That’s no small feat given that the game can be full of confusing terminology and euphemisms. We found the author’s style to be very enjoyable and overall, this is a quick read that contains some hard hitting advice.
The first few chapters break down how golf is scored and the five different “games” that you’ll be playing. Since most golfers look at it as three games, ie: putting, driving and chipping, these chapters deserve more than just a once over. You’ll be learning just how much your short game can impact your entire score and the way that you play golf as a whole.
Next up are chapters that discuss bump and runs, the art of pitching properly and how to handle a wedge. We loved these chapters and found them to be incredibly informative and helpful. You never really realize how much you need a good short game until you break it down like this. The tips are incredibly worthwhile and should be suitable for everyone.
The author also covers how using the right club is vital for handling each situation that comes up. The chapter on equipment was eye-opening and explained quite a lot to us. We also loved the tips and tricks section and can’t wait to give each one a try the next time we are out on the course. By far, this is one of the best books we have ever read on the short game, and it deserves a high place of honor on any golfer’s book shelf.
We highly recommend this book to anyone that needs to improve their short game. It’s a quick read, but we still managed to pick up some vital tips that we could put right to you use on the course. By far, this is one of the best books on the subject and as we mentioned earlier, it’s perfect for any golfer, regardless of their skill level. If you have golfing buddies with a birthday coming up, this would make a great gift. We also recommend it for beginners so that they get the right foundation for the rest of their game.
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August 13th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
Out of all of the mistakes you can make out on the course, a slice is probably the most common. This refers to a ball that goes to the right after you hit it, usually right into a nice stand of trees or a nearby water hazard. A slice is devastating to your game, and fixing it can be a little complicated. Here are some great tips to help you get over your slicing problem and get your score back on track.
One of the first things that many golfers try to eliminate their slice is to angle their body to the left. This is a natural compensation, and logically, you would think that it would work. However, this is a huge mistake and can actually result in slicing worse than before. Your stance may need a little work, but aiming the wrong way is not going to be very helpful.
To correct this, stand in front of your golf ball, without your club. This is an exercise that will help you get aligned properly. We’ll be adding the club in a second, but first, you need to focus on your feet and your hips. Your feet should be facing perfectly forward and should be slightly apart. As a result, your hips should also be facing the same direction.
If you notice that you’re leaning a little bit, or that your hips are not perfectly in line with your feet, bring them into line. Now, put your arms into position for your shot. If your hips move, correct them. Pretend that you are swinging your club back and again, mentally check the position of your hips. Correct them if necessary.
Repeat this until your hips are no longer pulled in the wrong direction. Once you’ve got it down, add the club back into the equation and start again. Get the feel of the right body position down until it comes absolutely naturally. This is a good exercise that you can do at home, in your backyard or even in your living room. The key is finding that “sweet spot” when your posture comes together and everything just feels right.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at some common swing issues that can exacerbate a slice. The most common problem occurs when you actually hit the ball. Instead of following through, you may pull up. This force sends the ball careening in the wrong direction.
To fix this, practice your downswing and don’t stop when you get to your golf ball. Keep the club traveling in the exact same direction for a few more inches. You’ll be using that force to literally guide the ball in the proper direction. Work on this until you have your club going perfectly straight in the right direction.
With a little practice and using these tips, you can cure even the nastiest slice and make it a lot easier to get a better score during your next round of golf.
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July 30th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks, tools
If you are new to this sport, or ready to take it to the next level, club selection has a lot to do with how well you will end up playing. While there is no substitution for technique and skill, having the right kind of golf clubs can have a big impact on your overall score. Here are some tips to help you decide which golf clubs are right for you.
Beginning Players
The most common mistake beginners make is finding the cheapest clubs they can get, and they may not even be the right fit. While it is understandable that you don’t want to invest heavily in equipment if you are not going to end up enjoying the sport, you may never get the appropriate experience if your equipment is substandard.
In this situation, we recommend renting clubs from the course where you play. In many cases, your course will offer a free club fitting. This will help you learn more about the different types of clubs and the lengths you may need. We highly recommend getting a fitting before purchasing any set of clubs, regardless of their price. This can save you a lot of money over time and you’ll be able to find the right clubs for your specific needs.
Intermediate Players
Once you’ve got a good feel for the sport and you start to enjoy it, many players decide to take it to the next level and spend a little more on clubs. Once again, getting a proper fitting is really the key to club selection, but you can also make some decisions on the types of material for your clubs and their specific uses.
For example, let’s say that you are having issues with your overall accuracy. This may be caused by your golf clubs having too flexible of a shaft. Change this and you may experience better control. For those that need more freedom, a graphite shaft is ideal and is quite easy to find.
Advacned Players
At this point, if you have made it this far in the game, you’re going to want a set of clubs that reflect your skill. We highly recommend that advacned players that play frequently get a set of custom made clubs. This allows you the freedom to have clubs that are made of the right materials, and perfectly sized to fit your body. This option also works well for those that may not yet be up to this skill level, but have the money to buy custom clubs.
Remember, your clubs are an investment. If the sticker price is getting to you, here’s a formula to make it easier. Let’s say your new set of clubs costs $2500. You’ll be using them for five years, playing once a week. This boils down to $9 a game. Compare that with what you would spend for rentals or even on non-necessities, and it’s pretty clear you’re getting a good deal.
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July 22nd, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
So many golfers make the mistake of jumping ahead when it comes to handling their game. They get wrapped up in the latest swing techniques or spend their lives in the search of the perfect club. Unfortunately, these players are missing what could be wrong with their game. Sometimes, you have to go back to the beginning if you want to lower your score.
Golfing fundamentals are essential for any golfer, no matter how long they have been playing. If you’re finding it impossible to break into pro territory, the answer may not be in a better club, a different ball or the latest shoes. The answer may be found in the way that you actually play the game. If you’re skipping over the cornerstones of golf, you won’t be able to build a strong foundation for the rest of your game. No club can help you if you are missing the essentials.
If you are ready to rebuild your game, you may want to consider going to a pro and getting some lessons. There is no shame in backtracking and you may actually be able to find the trouble spot that is causing all of your problems. Sit in on a lesson with a brand new player and pay attention to how the pro instructs them. Listen to those beginner tips and then try to play as though you have never played the game before.
If you remove all that you have learned through the years and start fresh, you may find that suddenly, you’re playing the way you’ve always wanted to. We all have a tendency to want to play like Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus when we first start out and in our rush to get there, we skip over what is truly important. By going back to those beginning lessons, you can rediscover the game and what it really means and requires from you.
This is a very important step in building a strong mental game of golf. Often, we create our own mental blocks and it can be hard to get through them. You need to be able to take it down to the bare minimum again and literally start over. By taking the time to relearn the sport, you will most likely unlearn the problems that you were creating for yourself.
One of the best side effects of starting over is that you may find your love for the sport completely renewed. If you’re constantly fretting over your score or how to find the perfect swing, you’re missing out on the whole point of the game. Yes, a score is important, but it is essential to enjoy your time on the course as well. You’ll have the benefit of the years of knowledge in the back of your mind, but you’ll still be able to rediscover the reasons why you even got started as a golfer.
Turn back the clock and see is starting over isn’t the right answer to fixing your game.
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