>Articles:
How you can Play Better Golf
They say golf is played 90% above the shoulders which means if you are not hitting the ball right, it may not be your swing but the way your mind works. I am sure you must have heard the 'Analysis, Paralysis" line where too much thinking results in a bad shot. Your mind starts breaking down the swing and next thing you know it, your body freezes up and all the tension ends up in your arms and wrists preventing you from hitting a nice shot.
Golf Instructors also tell their students to leave the analysis on the driving range and be confident on the course. Don't be working on the mechanics when you are out playing a game. Instead, break it all down on the driving range and try new things there. |
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power loading: remember the fundamentals
You might have heard the saying 'if you want to hit it further, slow down'. Most of us who have playing golf for a long time don't think about weight transfer when we hit the ball. But if you think you are losing distance with your clubs then you're probably right. The problem is that as we age, we lose flexibility. We also forget the fundamentals that we have learned a long time ago. Fundamentals that allow us to hit the ball crisp and a long way. Next time you're on the range, pay attention to your weight transfer. Start with your stance and notice where your weight is before you lift the club. Now bring your club back and feel the weight transfer. Make sure you feel the shift of weight, otherwise start again. It is important for you to feel where the weight is. Now as you bring the club up, feel like you are storing power in your hips. As you start your swing down, feel the power unloading and the shift of weight from top to bottom. The weight you be shifting forward and through impact. The more you feel the weight transfer, the longer the ball will fly. Take this tip to the range and you will relearn how it feels to hit it long again.
learn better shot making
Learning new things is always good for your brain. It keeps it from aging and getting dementia in your later years. To some golfers, the technique is a lifetime learning experience. Professional golfers are always changing, tweaking and making fine adjustments to their swing because the ball needs to go a little further or the trajectory needs to be a little more of an incline or something. With us, we just want distance or accuracy and lower scores.
How do you learn new techniques? Do you watch your favorite PGA player and try to mimic their swing? For years, I have tried exactly that but with very little success. Then I took a few lessons with Paul Holtby and learned to work the ball. His philosophy was to work the ball, hit it every way but straight. He said most golf courses were designed to make it hard for a player to score low. The one thing you won't find on a golf course is a straight shot. There will be a tree in the way or a big hill. You would hardly need to hit it straight to the pin.
Next time you are the driving range, try to hit the ball differently. Set yourself up and hit a few draws, fades, high cut, low cut and low screamers. If you do this regularly, you will be like Phil Mickelson on the course. You will see golf differently because you are a whole new set of skills in your bag. You can get creative and hit that special shot.
How do you learn new techniques? Do you watch your favorite PGA player and try to mimic their swing? For years, I have tried exactly that but with very little success. Then I took a few lessons with Paul Holtby and learned to work the ball. His philosophy was to work the ball, hit it every way but straight. He said most golf courses were designed to make it hard for a player to score low. The one thing you won't find on a golf course is a straight shot. There will be a tree in the way or a big hill. You would hardly need to hit it straight to the pin.
Next time you are the driving range, try to hit the ball differently. Set yourself up and hit a few draws, fades, high cut, low cut and low screamers. If you do this regularly, you will be like Phil Mickelson on the course. You will see golf differently because you are a whole new set of skills in your bag. You can get creative and hit that special shot.