How To Keep Your Head Down and Eyes On The Ball

by: Izaruls

Even after playing the game for years you never know what's going to happen each time you step foot on the golf course. Personally speaking, it is this “unknown” aspect of golf that makes the game the most exciting sport to play, and nerve wracking too! I try to hit a full round at my local course at least three times per week and every game I play is an entirely new experience altogether.

Because of the hundreds of unexpected shots that golf brings you, it is imperative that you take advantage of your practice time. Regular practice is the only way that you can experience some of the irregular situations your golf ball may get into. And speaking of practice, the best advice that I can give is to start utilizing unconventional approaches to your golf game.

What Does Unconventional Practice Mean?

Far too many players spend the majority of their time hitting long distance shots at the golf range, with a small percentage attacking their basic short game shots. Either way, neither one of these approaches practiced 100% of the time will present you with the opportunity to make those strange and undesirable shots that a real golf game will inevitably give you.

Look Away

To give you a perfect example of an unconventional practice shot, here is a lesson that can help you keep your head down and eyes on the ball when initiating your swing when your ball is in a troubled spot.

Step 1: First take your stance to the right side of the ball if you are left handed, and to the left side of the ball if you are a righty. Now face away from the target. Not looking directly at the target may seem awkward at first, but go with it, relax, and loosen up your body.

Step 2: Now hold the club (whichever you like) with it extended downwards from your most dominant hand. The blade should be pointing towards the ground, directly at your feet.

Step 3: Next, place the blade of your club behind the golf ball and turn your head slightly back in order to properly aim your shot.

Step 4: Pull the club upwards while extending it forward. Then swing the club down and along your target line as best possible. Follow through as far as you possible can.

Step 5: Resist the urge to turn around to see the end result. Simply concentrate on following through and getting the ball back in to play towards the green.

We “older” golfers tend to forget basics, and/or ignore them…. Don’t, it’s always a good idea to get back to them regularly.

Effortless Distance With Your Golf Swing

by : Jeff O'Brien

Many times when you hear people talking about getting the most distance out of their drives or irons, you probably hear the word timing used as they talk about how to achieve this. Or, when you watch the professionals play (especially in person) the distance they achieve seems to come so effortlessly and smooth. Although a discussion of the entire golf swing isn't within the scope of this article, let's talk about the timing. Timing is a word that is often bantered about when discussing the golf swing and more precisely achieving maximum distance; but timing of what? And how do I achieve it?

In a nutshell, when is comes to getting the most efficient distance out of your golf shot, the timing element is the timing of the release of the stored energy that has amassed during the process of your golf swing.
Again, for the purposes of this article, let's fast forward just a bit to the point where you are at the top of your golf swing. At this point, if all has gone well, your left arm will straight. The relationship between the club and your wrists will be 90 degrees (wrists will be cocked). Your hips will have rotated approximately 45 degrees away from their original address position, while your shoulders have rotated more toward a 90 degree posture. Essentially, you are in somewhat of a 'coiled' position at the top of your back swing.

At this position, you have accumulated your stored energy. Except additional energy that will be stored and released rapidly as your shaft flexes and un-flexes, this is what you have to work with.

Now that you have all this energy stored up, how and when to release it is on of us golfers greatest conundrum. This power that you now possess is but a fleeting thing, and one must apply it at the proper moment in order to achieve the desired results.
Unfortunately, from this position at the top of the back swing is where the vast amount of golfers goes wrong; and that is the first movement they make back toward the ball is with the hands and arms. If you do this, a vast amount of your stored energy has now been released and not available to be applied to the golf ball. When you do this, you lose the angle created between your wrists and your club. You lose the angle that you have created between your shoulder and your hips. In essence, (among other things) you have begun uncoiling way to early.

Among other things, in its simplest form, this type of action is generally called swinging or releasing from the top or casting the club. Aside from grossly leaking energy from your swing this will cause and outside in swing path, and more often than not produce some severity of slice.

But, let's stay strictly within the confines of energy and timing. If, from the top of your swing, you begin the ascent of your golf swing toward the impact zone from the ground up and maintain the aforementioned angles we discussed much longer, you'll be well on your way to applying the energy of your swing at the proper moment (not to mention your swing path will be much more desirable).

>From the top of your swing, the weight beginning to transfer from your back instep toward your front foot is what initiates the downswing. Not your hands, not your shoulders, not a spinning motion with your hips. As your weigh begins to move toward your front side, your hips will follow by beginning to release (uncoil) from the angle they had attained at the top of the swing. As the hips begin to uncoil and continue to follow the weight shift your shoulders and arms will naturally follow. Note that I said naturally. You shouldn't be consciously firing your arms and shoulders to catch up. If you do, once again, you have just spent more of your stored energy.

As the weight shifts, the hips follow with rotation and the shoulders and arms now begin to follow suit, your wrists should still be in a 'cocked' position in relationship to the club. In other words, this angle is still maintained.
As your left hip clears, this imparts a tremendous amount of pressure for your upper body to catch up. And catch up it will in a big way. With you hips cleared and your belly beginning to point down the target line, you shoulders will follow through the hitting zone and finally your arms and hands will be naturally force to release in a dramatic fashion through the impact zone. As all this happens the shaft of your club will have a pretty fair amount of flex imparted on it. This is easily discernable if you look at a slow motion or still photo view of the club coming into the impact zone.

It is at this point, with the shaft flexed that the right hand begins to release (and eventually pronate) that is the culmination of releasing all this stored energy upon the golf ball with the proper timing.

In a sense, the release of the energy which entails the hips following the initiated weight shift, followed by the upper body responding to the hips uncoiling, that then begins to lead the arms and hands down the target line and through the hitting zone until finally the hands can no longer remain 'cocked' and they release the club naturally as a result of rapidly catching up to the rest of what the body has done.

In summary it is the arms and hands that complete the release of your stored energy NOT initiate it from the top of your swing. As you begin to bring this concept together it may actually feel to you as though your arms and hand are 'trailing' the rest of your swing. And in sense they are... they are waiting for the precise timing. And the great thing is, is that the physics of this will all take place quite naturally once you begin to refine the mechanics of your golf swing with your teaching professional. And with some practice you'll soon be able to let the natural forces and physics of a good golf swing apply the proper timing to the golf ball in a smooth and effortless... longer distance manner.

Custom Fitting Golf Clubs

Every golfer's physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today's best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become more than a fad that even not so professional golfers test its waters. Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing. Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.


Custom Golf Club How To's:

To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.

Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.

Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 ½-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 ½-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.

Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club's shaft flex that is appropriate for you.

Custom fitting can fix your slice. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing fault, but it could be because the club is too flat. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.

There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then you will take a club and hit some balls. One method is to place impact tape on the bottom of the custom golf club and an impact board on the floor.

As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. Then things get a bit more advanced. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can also measure the launch angle of the ball, how much backspin you generate and impact efficiency - all which affect distance. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.

Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It's a big misconception that custom fitting is only for good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.

Custom fitting won't cure all your bad shots. Coaching will sort that out. But if you do make a good swing, then the custom golf club will arrive correctly at impact and should produce a straight shot at your target. That alone will save shots during a round.

Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you've been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you're prepared to buy a new set of clubs it's definitely worth getting fitted.

Chipping Technique

A technique for chipping can be very simple and extremely effective. Below are some tips that you can use to improve you chipping technique.




7 Iron Run
A great place to use this shot is when you are close to the green and don't have rough or a hazard to go over. Use the basic stroke technique play the ball in the middle of your stance, allow for lots of roll and hit the ball almost like a putt.

Pitching Wedge
Use this shot when you have rough or a hazard to go over and still have a lot of green to work with. Using the basic chipping stroke technique, play the ball about 3/4 forward in your stance. You might use a little more wrist here to get the ball to pop up faster. Play for more height and less roll.

Sand Wedge
This is the perfect shot to use when you are faced with a hazard to go over with little green to work with. Use the basic chipping stroke with your sand wedge, open your stance a little and play the ball off your left heel. Use a little extra wrist here and pull down and through with your left hand and the ball will pop right up and land softly with minimum roll.

Lob Shot
Basic ChipHave you ever had a shot you thought was impossible? You had a huge bunker to go over with no green to work with or you had a tall tree to over with almost no room to maneuver. The lob shot may be the answer for you! This shot is challenging to learn but with just a little practice you can master this shot and master your short game. Start by opening your stance and your club face of your sand wedge to give you maximum loft. Slope your shoulders so that your right shoulder is lower than your left.

The Quickest and Easiest Way to Draw the Ball

I'll tell you right now... this is going to be painless, contrary to what you may think. I'll start with a single definition.

Level Shoulder turn - a turn that stays level with the ground (parallel to the ground) through the backswing.

So, now that we have that out of the way, let's continue on with this quick and easy tip to draw the ball. And if you've battled a slice for years upon years, just wait until you try this. The next time out to the range, your slice is going to be dramatically reduced.

Here it is. Instead of taking your normal shoulder turn (whatever that may be), focus on keeping your shoulder turn as level as possible (parallel to the ground). So as you are setting up to the ball, feel your feet on the ground to determine if there is an uphill or downhill lie. Then in your backswing, just focus on keeping your shoulders level to the ground.

Now, this may actually produce a HOOK of all things, so remember to adjust accordingly. And remember that you are attempting to wrap that club around your body. You want a horizontal swing plane, not vertical. That's what this level shoulder turn is really accomplishing. You'll find it so much easier to release through the ball correctly, and to square up the face of your club at impact.

Give that a try on your next trip to the range and you'll be amazed to see that dreaded slice going away, especially if you use this in conjunction with the rest of the "The Simple Golf Swing" system. I know this probably seems incredibly simple to anyone who has been battling a slice forever, but just remember that simple solutions are usually the most effective.

Unlock Your Hidden Potential by Discovering the Golf Swing that is Delivering Consistent, Accurate Distance to thousands of golfers world-wide. This Information can't be found ANYWHERE else!

A Golf Training Book

by : Mike Pedersen

A golf training book needs to be ‘user-friendly’ and ‘plug-and-play’. What I mean by that is a golfer should be able to have a clear idea on what he should do immediately to improve his/her game. And it should be easy to apply. No figuring out what to do next. No sense of confusion or frustration at information overload.

Haven’t you purchased a book (not necessarily a golf training book) before; got excited to dive and; and then in a short period of time felt overwhelmed?

I know I have!

It’s not a good feeling and can leave you even more frustrated than before you purchased it.

I have even seen golf training books that have been thrown together by several “so-called” experts and by the time you’re finished you don’t know where to begin. That’s not to say the information wasn’t credible, but isn’t the whole purpose of reading a book having the ability and confidence to know what to do next to achieve whatever goal you had when you first purchased it?

On the other hand, a golf training book that will work for you should have all the components of the golf swing including swing mechanics, biomechanics, strength, flexibility, aerobic, injury and much more.

And not only the above information, but in a way that you…the reader can apply immediately.

It would be nice to have step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and even the benefit to the golf swing throughout the entire golf training book.

I have bought and read over two dozen golf training books in pure disgust. They are not “golf-specific” but just general training books that don’t have any application to the golfer.

This golf training book should also break down every phase of the golf swing and have strength and stretching exercises for each phase. That way you can really dial in to the exact issues you are having with your swing.

This way the golf training book isn’t only a ‘plug-and-play’ book but an ongoing resource for you to refer to for many years. Having such a resource is invaluable in your pursuit of a better game.

I could write about golf training books for 50 pages, but I don’t want to bore you too much. Just make sure before you buy a golf training book, you skim it to see if you can easily understand and apply the information.

Short Game Shots

by : Max Johnson

Many amateurs are very confused when it comes to being able to hit different short game shots. Many amateurs seen to grind over which shot to attempt in order to get the ball close to the hole. The truth of the matter is that most amateurs just simply do not understand the difference between a chip shot and a pitch shot.



First of all before you struggle with determining whether you should hit a chip shot or a pitch shot, we do need to realize that the only things that matters is that the golf ball needs to end up in the hole or as close to it as possible. Right? So, how do you go about figuring out what type of short game shot to hit?

First you need to look at the lie you have. The lie of the golf ball is the condition that the ball is in which you have to play the next shot from. Is the golf ball in the short grass of the fringe or down in the greenside rough? What you are trying to determine is how much grass is going to between your wedge and the golf ball at impact during the short game shot. The amount of grass will affect how the ball reacts once it hits the putting green.

After you determine your lie, you will now go about picking out a spot for the ball to land. Many teachers will use ratios in discussing short game shots such as if you use an 8 iron you should carry the ball one third of the way to the hole and let it roll the other two thirds. You should first determine if there is a flat spot where you can feasibly land the ball. As simple as this may sound, finding a flat spot to land the golf ball is often overlooked.

When executing a short game shot, it is easier to determine how the ball is going to react once it hits the green if it lands on a flat spot. It is much more difficult to determine what your ball will do if you are hitting into an upslope or landing on a down slope. Obviously, you cannot always find a flat or level spot but if you can, your short game shot will be easier.

Now that you have determined what kind of lie that you have and where you need to land the short game shot, the type of shot has been determined for you. Remember, who cares what we call it as long as it goes in the hole or ends up close.

Some of you do not like that and you are really wanting a definition for each shot. If the ball rolls farther than it is in the air then it will be called a chip shot. If the ball is in the air longer than it is on the ground then it will be called a pitch shot. Even watching the touring professionals on Sunday, many of the announcers interchange the terms and do not always use them correctly.

To improve your short game shots, determine the lie of the golf ball, find a flat landing spot and then determine which club will help you achieve these results.

Position For Putting

The ideal ball position when putting is a couple of inches ahead of your spine. The putter will strike the ball on an upswing generating topspin at impact. The resulting roll is strong and the ball should remain on line through spike marks and any other imperfections on the green.

It Takes Time To Develop Skills

When playing on a course for the first time, it isn’t necessary to keep score. New players should set their own par. The par assigned to the hole by the course indicates the score most professionals shoot for – it is considered perfect. It is not designed for the novice player.

New players who want to experience playing the game on the course should take the par and double it. If you can achieve double par or better, you are doing very well. Take the par given to the hole to determine how many shots you will take to position your ball within 50 yards of the green. For example, on a par 4 hole, take four shots to get 50 yards or closer. If you are not within 50 yards, pick up the ball and move it within 50 yards of the green. Take four more shots or fewer to get the ball in the hole.

This will help you keep up with the pace of play on the course and give you experience playing the game. Too many recreational golfers give up on the game because they do not feel they are skilled enough to go out on the course. It takes time to develop skills. Use this method for practice and before long you will be hitting every shot and finishing out the hole.

Perfect Golf Grip

By: Jeffrey Veal

When you think back on the first time you struck a golf ball, you weren't thinking about using the perfect golf grip. You did not realize that every part of your body has to function together to produce a great golf swing. A bad golf swing is what you'll experience if any part breaks down during the swing. The correct grip is one thing that will ensure you that your quest for the proper swing gets off on the right foot. You'd be amazed at the impact a right or improper grip can have on your general game. You might be wondering what measures need to be learned to acquire the perfect grip. Experimenting is one way that many people have done it. You won't have to go through this process because their are some standard, fundamental techniques to help you out.

To help your golf game advance, there are a few different grips that you can test until you find the one that is right for you. The thing you'll notice is that almost all swing tips are geared towards a specific type of golfer. Fortunately, any type of player will discover that different grips are a choice for them. When you do find the grip that is correct for you, just like magic you'll notice your game starting to get better. Start out by making sure that you are not squeezing the club to tightly. This will cause your upper body muscles to become tight, particularly the muscles in your arms and shoulders. The normal thought process behind gripping your club tight is that most people think that the harder you hold onto the golf club, the harder the initial contact will be. This is simply not true with the golf swing. Actually, you'll swing slower and with less control when you are all tensed up. By loosely gripping the golf club, you will produce a more measured, controlled swing. This is the golf swing that will improve your game.

The relationship of your wrists pertaining to your grip is an area that requires your attention. It is better to have your wrists working collectively than individually towards the identical task. One way to ensure that your wrists will work together is to use the cross-hand grip. A cross-hand grip is executed by positioning your right hand on the club where you would normally position your left hand. Next, position your left hand on top of the grip. If you are right handed, of course, do the exact opposite. As you'll notice, this is going to feel a little strange the first time you utilize this grip. But, don't worry, because this will coerce your wrists to work together as one rather than trying to function by themselves. This grip can be used for your normal golf swing and for putting.

Of all the swing tips, the ones that concern the golf grip should be examined carefully. If your game is not at the level you think it should be, take a look at your grip. The benefits of a proper golf grip include better accuracy and strength in your swing, and an general improvement in your golf game. For a quick spark in your game, have a look at your hands. You'll discover that the perfect golf grip will improve your golf game and get you to the next level quicker.

Smooth And Consistent Putting Stroke

In order to ensure a smooth and consistent stroke there are four things you should always do at address:

1- Keep your eyes over the target line. Keeping your eyes positioned over the target line makes it easier for you to aim, and consistently keeping your eyes over the target line makes it easier to keep your aim consistent. And a better aim translates directly into better putts.

2- Make sure your hands rest directly under your shoulder line. As you bend forward from the hips to position your upper body facing the ground, bend your elbows slightly so that your hands are clear of your body and resting directly under your shoulder line.

3- Keep the putter shaft in line with your forearms. A key ingredient to keeping a consistent pace from stroke to stroke is to make sure your forearms and putter shaft move together. To do this you will need to grip the putter shaft with your palms and not your fingers.

4- Keep the putter shaft at a ninety degree angle. Almost every putter has some amount of built-in loft. If you setup at address with the putter shaft vertical then you will take advantage of this loft and it will help you to get the ball rolling smoothly. Remember, the shaft should be completely vertical, it should not lean either toward or away from your target.

If you remember these four tips and practice them consistently, you will soon be draining many more putts and consistently shaving strokes off your game.

Using The Right Equipment

Many people are in the mind-frame that if the golf club costs a lot of money, it must be the key to a better game. This is not necessarily true. When it comes to the driver the only thing that will help you and lower your handicap, is a club that has been chosen properly, no matter how much it costs. So what type of club should you be getting?

Well, do your homework and find out which clubs are the best for your abilities. One thing you should be considering is your driver swing speed. This helps you in determining the shaft and the flex of your club.

Next, you have to consider which clubs you need. This will depend on your level of playing abilities. For a beginner, you will likely not even need a driver. A typical beginner set might include three, seven, and nine wood, as well as lob or approach wedge, sand wedge, and the pitching wedge.

A seasoned player with a lower handicap will have the need for a driver, three, five, seven, or nine wood, irons three through nine, and the lob wedge, sand wedge, and pitching wedge.

Overall, having the right clubs, standard or fitted for your specific stature, is important to improving your drive and your golf game.

The Different Aspects Of A Better Swing

The key to becoming a better golfer is to learn the techniques of a better golf swing. Beginners need to learn the basics of the golf swing to be able to play the game, but it requires a lot of practice to learn this important part of the game of golf. This should come as no surprise, it is the same in any sport, if you want to get better you have to practice and in golf your swing is crucial.

A better golf swing is very important, but the golfer should not rely solely on the swing techniques. He or she should also consider the different aspects of a better swing.

Don't try to practice your golf swing while playing a round of golf. Use the driving range for that. The driving range enables you to concentrate only on your swing, making the practice more effective.

If you are on the golf course, you should think about the proper angle to put the ball on the green. You should concentrate on hitting the ball rather than thinking about the kind of swing you will use to hit the ball. You want the swing to become automatic.

It isn't easy not think about the swing when you are playing golf. Only a few golfers are able to block thoughts of how to better their swing while hitting the golf ball. They are mostly professional golfers who have honed their skills for a long time.

The key to a developing a better swing is not thinking about the swing while trying to get the ball in the hole. You should learn to relax and concentrate. Thinking about your swing should only be done when you are practicing it or at home, if you try to practice it during a round, your golf partners may think that you are having a hard time hitting the ball. This is because thinking about the swing while trying to pit the ball in the right spot will divide your attention.

Consistent and correct practice, hopefully with the supervision of an instructor is the key to becoming a better player. There are no magic bullets that will do the trick, your future in golf depends on your determination and the condition of your muscles.

Learning this technique is not easy. You have to be patient and try to put more concentration on the game. Condition yourself physically and mentally to improve and enjoy your game.

Hiring A Golf Instructor

When it comes to hiring a golf instructor for lessons or when researching golf schools you should spend some time looking for the right one. Below are 5 steps you should go through to help you qualify your next golf instructor or golf school.

1- Just like selecting a golf school you need to determine what your budget is for a golf instructor. You want to eliminate those golf instructors that are not within your budget. Why waste your time?

2- You should next determine if you're looking to revamp your golf swing or just looking for a quick fix or tune-up. Some golf teachers may be better at one or the other so make sure you ask them what they're best at.

3- The guys you play golf with could be a great source of information on a good golf instructor. Ask them if they could recommend one to you. Even if they can't recommend one they may know someone who can.

4- After you've narrowed down the list to 3 or 5 golf instructors then look at their credentials. You want to find out where they've taught in the past and call their past employer. See what the employer says about them and their teaching style. Ask if they were liked by the students and the staff.

5- The last thing to do is set up a phone or face-to-face interview with the golf instructor. This is where you want to have a list of questions prepared so you don't forget to ask the important questions. Also this is the time to see if their style and personality will work for you.

After reading this you probably think these were things you'd go through to hire someone for a job. Well actually that's exactly what you're doing. A golf instructor is an independent consultant and you're hiring him to do a job... work on your golf swing. So you should perform the due diligence to make sure you get the golf instructor that's right for you.

I would also suggest doing the steps above that are appropriate for selecting a golf school. You want to see if the golf instructors at the golf school are going to be right for you because you don't want to spend all that money and not be satisfied with the instructor and experience. Golf vacation schools are also a nice option to include the entire family for a week long vacation and golf.

Pitching

• A pitch is a lofted shot that flies further than it rolls
  
• Use a lofted club (Usually a lob wedge, sand wedge, or pitching wedge)
  
• Open stance with feet closer together
  
• Ball positioned in center of stance
  
• Body turn is determined by the size of the swing
  
• The backswing might be waist high, shoulder high, or regular full-swing depending on length of shot
  
• Legs and body turn slightly through the shot
  
• Practice using waist high, shoulder high and full-swing to become familiar with the various length shots they will produce

** Watch Stan Utley demonstrate this wedge technique :-

How Good Are You In The Sand?

Think about it, if you could convert 5 out of 10 attempts from a normal lie in the trap, how many strokes could YOU save per round? The following tips will set you on a solid foundation that you can practice.Try it.

1. Practice your putting.
I know this is a sand play article but if you practice holing putts 10 feet and shorter for 30 minutes a week, sand saves as well as all other shots become a little less daunting. If you feel good about holing a 10 footer, it takes a lot heat off the rest of your game so just humor me and work on your putting 30 minutes weekly. My saving putts at Pilot Knob Park were 3 feet to 8 feet and I made all four.

2. Use a neutral grip.
You don’t want to use a strong grip for bunker shots because it’s absolutely essential that the club face slides under the ball and into your finish without the club face closing. A neutral grip is one that has the back of the left hand facing parallel to the target line and the right palm facing the same direction. Slap your hands together in front of you and you'll instantly see what I mean.

3. Aim the club face down the target line which should be just left of the hole.
You’ve heard all the hype about opening the club face and such and that’s fine if you hit a lot of bunker shots but most folks don’t so aim the club face down the target line which should be just left of the hole. The target should be just left of the hole because the method I use will impart some left to right spin which will move the ball from left to right once it gets on the ground.

4. Aim your feet on a 20-30 degree angle to the left of the target line.
The greater the angle you create between your feet and the target line, the higher and softer the ball will come out of the trap. Practice these shots a bit with varying angles and you’ll see what I mean. Find the angle where you’re most comfortable and which produces the best results and stick with it whatever it might be.

5. Anchor your feet in the sand to enhance your balance and stability.


6. Swing the club out to in across the target line parallel to the line that your feet are on and keep the face of the club square to the target line.
The club should enter the sand 1 - 2 inches behind the golf ball and “slice under it’ into a nice full finish. This will produce a shot that comes out of the bunker and lands softly on the green. Your arms and forearms should remain relaxed throughout the swing. This will produce wrist action and speed through the ball which will produce a shot that spins and stops quickly under normal circumstances.

7. PRACTICE
It’s very important for the average player to take as many variables out of play as possible. Thus the need for a neutral grip, and constant set up position. Practice and play with these points in mind and I guarantee you that your bunker play will improve

Foot Action

Foot Action - is instrumental because even though your hands are the only connection with the club, your feet are the only contact with the ground. When you build a house you need a solid foundation. Not to diminish the overall importance of the hands , but the feet don't feel the anxiety or nervousness that we apply to the hands by gripping tighter under pressure.

In addressing the ball, there is a best stance for every shot in golf, and the stance may vary for different players. There are three types of stances in golf: Square, Closed, and Open.

The Square stance is that in which both feet are equally distanced from the line of flight which is the imaginary line between the ball and the target. This is your basic standard stance which is recommended for overall compactness and control

The Closed stance has left foot nearer than the right foot to the line of flight. This stance is assumed when desiring to draw or hook the ball.

The Open stance has the left foot drawn back farther away from the line of flight than the right foot. This stance is best utilized to fade or slice the ball to the right of your intended target.

In addressing the ball, the heels should be placed at approximately the width of the shoulders. The weight should be distributed evenly from the ball to the heel of the feet. Now as we begin to start your swing, the feeling we want you to achieve is by rolling the inside of your left foot over to the inside of your right foot which is braced. This movement is minimal, yet very important as it will initiate the cycle of establishing the proper reaction in your swing in the correct sequences as you will see.

Ball Position

- The ball placement varies with the club you select. From a flat lie:

• Play your short irons (wedges, 9-iron and 8-iron) in the center portion of your stance. These clubs have the most upright lie angles and they must be swung at the steepest angle, and you should take a divot in front of the ball.

• Your middle irons should be played one ball toward the target-side foot from center (a ball left of center for the right-handed golfer). These clubs have a slightly flatter lie angle and you should take a slightly shallower divot than with the short irons.

• The correct ball position for the long irons and fairway woods is two balls toward the target-side foot from center (two balls left for the right-hander). With these clubs, the ball should be struck directly at the bottom of the swing arc with very little divot.

• The driver is played farthest forward (three balls left of center for the right-hander) to strike the ball on the upswing.

- Ball position is where you position the Ball in relationship to your Feet and Body in preparation to hit the Ball.

Why is Ball Position important?

It is vital. You can not hit the Ball properly if the ball is incorrectly positioned.

How do I position the Ball?

Well the really simple answer to that is you draw a line from the Ball towards the middle of your Feet, that’s where you position it.

But if we are to be more exact then that we would say:

There are two Ball positions to learn

One for All Iron Shots
and
One for all Wood Shots

For Iron shots Draw a line from the Ball between your feet where the line is about 2-3 inches from your Left heel { or try to imagine 2-3 golf balls inside your left heel }

For Wood shots draw a line from the ball between your feet where the line is about 1 inch from your Left heel { or try to imagine 1 Golf Ball inside your Left heel}

Clubs To Carry

All great players have good hands, and that's why it's so crucial to develop a proper grip. First, should you use an interlocking or overlapping grip? Someone with large hands probably should use an overlapping grip. Small hands, an interlocking grip. Next, comes grip balance within the confines of each hand. The weight of the shaft should be balanced so you always have control throughout the swing. Another important element is the position of your left thumb on the shaft. Players who extend their thumbs hit the ball high and straight. Those who shorten the length of the thumb are likely to hit the ball low and left. Grip pressure is another checkpoint. Try holding the club as tightly as you can, then hold it loosely. The correct pressure is somewhere in between. Finally, see how many knuckles are showing on your left hand. If you see most of them, you'll likely hit a hook or draw. Fewer, and the ball will go high and right. Experiment with these basics and you'll find a grip that's best for your hands.


- Which clubs should you be carrying in your bag? Well, that depends on your BUDGET and your SKILL level!

The High Handicapper's Bag
• 3-wood
• 5-wood, 7-wood
• 5-iron through 9-iron
• Pitching wedge
• Putter

Most high handicappers cannot hit a driver, no matter how badly they want to. Drivers are especially dangerous in the hands of high-handicappers because many view distance as the quality they most want to have off the tee. So they spend several hundred dollars on an oversized titanium driver that most of the time will only put them farther off the fairway, not farther down the fairway.

You need to own a driver - just practice with it on the driving range, and leave it at home when you hit the course.

The Mid-Handicapper's Bag
• Driver
• 3-wood, 5-wood, 7-wood
• 4-iron through 9-iron
• Pitching wedge
• Sand wedge
• Putter

Intermediate players may also be better off hitting 3-wood off the tee rather than driver, but certainly have a better shot at controlling the driver than high handicappers.

Mid-handicappers who are strong in their short game might consider adding a lob wedge or gap wedge to this assortment, but most will probably be better off with the lofted fairway woods rather than long irons.

The Low Handicapper's Bag
• Driver
• 3-wood
• 2-iron through 9-iron
• Pitching wedge
• Lob wedge
• Sand wedge
• Putter

Scratch golfers will carry the same bag with one exception: Substituting a gap wedge for the 2-iron.

The better you are, the more specialized your game becomes. And that specialization for the best players leads to a concentration on the short game. Most top players hit the ball far enough that they rarely use a long iron, hence the ability to bypass 1-irons and 2-irons in favor of adding more wedges.

The lob wedge and gap wedge simply increase a great player's options around the green.

Remember: No matter what your skill level, hit clubs you are comfortable with. If you are a high handicapper but you can keep your driver in the fairway, then by all means carry a driver. If a 1-iron is a club that you have mastered, carry a 1-iron.

Swing Through the Target - Not the Ball

Swing into a better golf game, but don't try to put your swing on the ball. Let the ball get in the way of your swing as you swing away from the target and then swing toward the target.

In other words, you let the ball get hit because it was sitting there. It got in the path of your swing. This is a good example of why people's practice swings are often better than their swings for real. Without a ball, they swing projecting through the ball. When it is there, they swing at the ball.

One of the keys to correcting this problem is to understand not only how the proper body actions work, but also - and just as important - how to separate the optic eye from the 'mind's eye'.

The optic eye sees where the ball is sitting. The 'mind's eye' sees the ball traveling to the target. Remember, the ball is not our target, so we shouldn't let the optic eye con us into hitting it. Let the 'mind's eye' swing to your target, which is the fairway or the green.

When your mind is focusing on where the ball sits, it can limit your ability to make the proper swing. When your projection is positive - as it is when your 'mind's eye' is on the target - it will encourage you to make the necessary and proper body motions. You have already been practicing them with your teacher or on your own.

Remember, the target is not where the ball sits; it is where you want it to go. There is a direct link between the strength of your projection and the strength of your physical swing.