Now that summer is upon us and the fairways are relatively dry a lot of us are thinking about optimisong the distance we can drive the ball from the tee. We're looking for lower scores, so we've got to have the right set up when we stand on the tee to use our weight ptoperly. So, put a stick or something,on the ground, inside your right foot, and when you reach the top of the backswing, your chest should be over that stick. You must have a full turn and ensure that your weight goes towards the flag when you hit the ball. The unwinding of the body creates the energy that makes the arms move. So, its the body, not the arms that generates the power that gives longer distance drives. Drawing the Ball. Drawing the ball will find you extra distance, but there aren't too many golfers who know how to do this properly, yet there are many articles written about it. Simply put, it requires a swingpath that is in to out. This is the important bit - it means taking your normal stance, then moving your right foot back, so that the toes of the right foot are just about level with the heel of the lefy foot. Why? Because this ensures that the hands stay behind the body on the downswing. Go on, do it because practice makes perfect and don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen the first time you try it!. Fading the Ball. However, if you want to fade the ball - NO, I don't meanslice, we're all very good at that! - the converse is true. What you must do is open up your normal stance so that feet, hips and shoulders all aim left of whatever your target is. It may be that you're trying to negotiate a bend in the fairway to give you a better shot at the green, or the flag is in a precarious position from where you are so you need a high,soft-landing shot. A fade is your answer. But just don't overdo the 'left of target' aim or it will all end in tears! This leads on to the sometimes need to get a small amount of backspin to what could be called a 'checking chip'. Here, you've got to move the ball back in the stance and give it a shorter, but faster swing.. This will mean your hands will be ahead of the ball and so its going to be a low flight. So long as you strike properly you'll get enought backspin to check the chip. Bunkers. These have always been the scariest thing on a golf course to the amateur golfer. We all know how easy the professionals make these shots look, and so with a little practice ( theres that word again) bunker shots can becoame an "everyday, run of the mill" shot. For an ordinary or normal greenside bunker shot, your feet should aim left of the target. Open up the club face and play the shot across the ball and this will give a soft landing. The only time bunker shots become difficult is when the ball is under the lip of the bunker. Poached egg shots aren't difficult, but thats the subject of another article. So, you've arrived on the putting surface and a strong pointer to great putting is to remember that the putter sing plane is NOT straight back and trhough, but slightly INSIDE to straight through, and if you remember this one little gem when practicing, your scores will reflect how much better your putting is. Happy Golfing and God Bless. Tony Bryan - The Audio Ebook Guy. About the Author Tonys many articles on golf and other topics have earned him Expert Author status. A single handicap golfer, his first audio ebook (which can be downloaded to MP3s) Golf - The Short Game is at: http://www.tony-bryan-theaudioebookguy.com You can also join the affiliate program there too. |
