I’m always thinking of practise routines to help shave a few shots off your
game each week and this little tip is one I have used time and time again
to help keep my putting stroke smooth and straight.
It will help you concentrate more on what you are doing with the putter
head throughout the stroke and hopefully stop you pulling or pushing the putt away from the hole.
The golf putting technique:
Take time before going out on course to have a few practise putts to help get a feel for the speed of the greens and help loosen you up before the first REAL putt of the day.
This technique requires you to make a straight tunnel of tees (6 tees should be enough) directly behind the putter head from where you are to take a practise putt.
With 3 tees on each side, just wider than the putter head, begin to space them out with up to a maximum of a couple of inches in between each one.
(Only push the very tip of the tee into the ground, just enough for it to remain standing because you don’t want the green keeper getting too angry!)
These tees are going to act as your barriers and will help focus your putting stroke and keep your action with he putter straight and true therefore helping you hit a more consistent putt.
Now address the ball with the tunnel of tees behind you and get ready to hit your putt. When you draw the putter head back be sure not to hit any of the tees that you have set up. It is also the case that you shouldn’t hit any tees as you bring the putter back to meet the ball before impact.
If you hit the tees either on the way up or the way through then your stroke is not as straight as it should be and would explain why you are not consistently holing putts.
Practise this drill for a couple of minutes and you’ll quickly realise the accuracy of your putting stroke and where you are going wrong. Focus on hitting a smooth putt without hitting any of the tees.
You’ll see the results almost immediately and you will hopefully start to naturally take a better and smoother golf putting stroke and therefore start holing more putts and improving not only your score but your golf handicap too!!
Good luck with this one and let me know how you get on.
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Saturday 9 August 2008
Golf Instruction: How to lose 10 yards BUT be on the fairway!
Golf Instruction: How to lose 10 yards BUT be on the fairway!
The golf instruction today poses a question to you.
Would you be happy to lose 10 yards from your drive or long approach
shot but be pretty certain that you would be on the fairway or green?
Everyone wants to hit the golf ball as far as they can as they automatically think this is the only solution to getting a better score at the end of the round.
But on reflection of your round how many times did you lose shots by having to play from the rough or even worse from under a tree or bush because you hit wide and missed the fairway?
How many times have you said to yourself,
‘If only I was on the fairway I would have had a better chance of getting par!’
Yet still we do exactly the same thing on the next tee or hole!
Here’s a golf instruction therefore that can improve your accuracy with only a slight downside of losing maybe just 10-15 yards.
Instead of taking a full golf swing and launching the club at the ball simply take a ¾ length swing and follow through as normal. Be sure to keep your balance and everything else the same and stay relaxed throughout the swing.
By taking a ¾ length swing we are keeping the golf swing more compact and therefore less likely to go off line of our swing and lessen the chance of anything going wrong throughout.
You will probably find that you will not lose too much club head speed on the downswing and so that’s why you may only lose 10-15 yards from your drive or long iron shot.
This simple golf instruction will have you back on the fairway more consistently if you are struggling with your game at the moment.
From here and when you build your confidence again you can extend your golf swing back to the full golf swing and gain back those yards! But be sure to give this golf instruction a go first and see what difference it makes!
Be sure to let me know how you get on!
The golf instruction today poses a question to you.
Would you be happy to lose 10 yards from your drive or long approach
shot but be pretty certain that you would be on the fairway or green?
Everyone wants to hit the golf ball as far as they can as they automatically think this is the only solution to getting a better score at the end of the round.
But on reflection of your round how many times did you lose shots by having to play from the rough or even worse from under a tree or bush because you hit wide and missed the fairway?
How many times have you said to yourself,
‘If only I was on the fairway I would have had a better chance of getting par!’
Yet still we do exactly the same thing on the next tee or hole!
Here’s a golf instruction therefore that can improve your accuracy with only a slight downside of losing maybe just 10-15 yards.
Instead of taking a full golf swing and launching the club at the ball simply take a ¾ length swing and follow through as normal. Be sure to keep your balance and everything else the same and stay relaxed throughout the swing.
By taking a ¾ length swing we are keeping the golf swing more compact and therefore less likely to go off line of our swing and lessen the chance of anything going wrong throughout.
You will probably find that you will not lose too much club head speed on the downswing and so that’s why you may only lose 10-15 yards from your drive or long iron shot.
This simple golf instruction will have you back on the fairway more consistently if you are struggling with your game at the moment.
From here and when you build your confidence again you can extend your golf swing back to the full golf swing and gain back those yards! But be sure to give this golf instruction a go first and see what difference it makes!
Be sure to let me know how you get on!
Sunday 3 August 2008
Golf Putting – Hole more 6 footers with this simple trick!
In golf it is very easy to get carried away with focusing on hitting the ball further off the tee in order to reduce your scores and golf handicap but there is another area that mustn’t be forgotten – Putting!
With 18 greens to negotiate every round it is vital we learn how to reduce the number of shots we take over what is a very short distance. It is no good getting on the green in two only for us to take another three or four shots.
This simple technique should get you sinking more 6 foot putts than ever before and it won’t cost you a penny.
The technique
Before you start your round of golf make sure you spend at least 10 minutes on the practise putting green. This is where you should focus your mind on your technique and form so that when you are out on the course you perform as best you can!
Instead of putting to the holes though, take a tee peg and place it in the ground.
Your challenge now is to hit the tee peg from your putts.
Start from about two feet away and attempt to hit it three times in a row with three putts.
Then once you have achieved that, move further back, perhaps to four feet, and repeat the process. Then again to six feet and attempt to hit the tee peg three times in a row.
As crazy as it may look and sound, what you are actually doing is focusing on putting the ball to a much smaller target than that of a hole.
Then when you have mastered being able to hit a tee peg from six feet and it comes to putting to an actual hole, the hole itself seems a much larger an easier target to hit therefore resulting in you making more putts.
It really is just a simple tip as it concentrates on improving your putting accuracy without costing you anything or changing your stance or putting movement.
Just focus your mind on hitting the tee peg in practise and the golf holes will seem like buckets to you out on the golf course!
I hope this golf instruction tip helps to knock a few strokes off your game and helps reduce your golf handicap.
With 18 greens to negotiate every round it is vital we learn how to reduce the number of shots we take over what is a very short distance. It is no good getting on the green in two only for us to take another three or four shots.
This simple technique should get you sinking more 6 foot putts than ever before and it won’t cost you a penny.
The technique
Before you start your round of golf make sure you spend at least 10 minutes on the practise putting green. This is where you should focus your mind on your technique and form so that when you are out on the course you perform as best you can!
Instead of putting to the holes though, take a tee peg and place it in the ground.
Your challenge now is to hit the tee peg from your putts.
Start from about two feet away and attempt to hit it three times in a row with three putts.
Then once you have achieved that, move further back, perhaps to four feet, and repeat the process. Then again to six feet and attempt to hit the tee peg three times in a row.
As crazy as it may look and sound, what you are actually doing is focusing on putting the ball to a much smaller target than that of a hole.
Then when you have mastered being able to hit a tee peg from six feet and it comes to putting to an actual hole, the hole itself seems a much larger an easier target to hit therefore resulting in you making more putts.
It really is just a simple tip as it concentrates on improving your putting accuracy without costing you anything or changing your stance or putting movement.
Just focus your mind on hitting the tee peg in practise and the golf holes will seem like buckets to you out on the golf course!
I hope this golf instruction tip helps to knock a few strokes off your game and helps reduce your golf handicap.
Thursday 31 July 2008
Golf Handicap: 3 crucial ways to lower it
The golf handicap is the tool by which golfers everywhere use to instantly compare and judge each other on their skill level of the sport.
The question of who is the better golfer can be answered simply by comparing this magical number no matter what your background or where you come from.
The golf handicap is also the only fair system to allow golfers of different abilities to compete against each other in competition and maintain, hopefully, a close and exciting game.
The challenge, however, always remains the same. That is to lower your golf handicap and if possible to get that figure into single digits. This seems to be the ultimate goal for many amateur golfers and if you don’t believe me try asking any golfer with a handicap of 10 or above!
So how do we go about lowering it?
How do we topple an extra couple of shots off of our golf handicap?
The answers to those questions aren’t always popular as everyone is looking for a short cut, but rest assured that by applying these methods then you can notice a difference in your performance very quickly indeed!
Improve your fitness levels
This has got to be my first tip for any golfer looking to reduce their golf handicap. Have you ever noticed in your round of golf, especially in the hot summer months, that by the time you are playing the 14th and 15th holes it takes a lot more effort to maintain concentration and focus on your shots? This is the part of the round that could make or break that decent score you have been putting together!!
A game of golf played over 18 holes can have you walking approximately 4 miles. Add to that the fact that you are carrying a bag full of irons, woods, balls, snacks, drinks, waterproofs etc. then you are certainly carrying a few extra pounds on that walk!
The more tired you get the harder it is to hit your drives straight and long. Your approach shots go a bit wayward of the green and you 3 putt instead of 2 putting.
All these shots add up!
By simply improving your fitness levels you may last those extra couple of holes without feeling the effects of fatigue setting in.
So if you don’t already, then why not go for a few walks during the week. If you already do this, then why not do a little more and have a jog round the park.
Basically, whatever you are doing now, just do that little extra and feel the difference on those last few holes on the course!
Practise Practise Practise
I have spoken to many golfers who are desperate to lower their golf handicap. They will buy the latest golf clubs and golf equipment and will even play in each weekly competition at their golf club but are annoyed that they don’t improve their scores!
When I ask them how long they have spent on the practise ground, or how many balls they have hit at the driving range the answer is usually either not long or not very many.
I have spoken to the professionals of a few golf clubs recently and even asked the best players at my golf club how they managed to get their golf handicaps down to at least single figures and every time the answer is the same. Practise!
To make my point ask yourself these questions.
Do you think your game would improve if you hit 50 practise balls a week? Probably not too much. What about 250 balls? What about if you hit 500 practise shots a week, and you did this for a month solid!
In short, you would learn so much about your golf game that you couldn’t not improve your scores.
You don’t necessarily have to hit 500 balls a week, but hopefully this focuses your mind that you shouldn’t just rely on the newest golf club or new golf ball and that, yes, some work will have to be done to improve your scores…..but it sure will be worth it!
Golf Instruction – Golf Lessons
I think the two tips above are great ways to lower your golf handicap by a few shots in a very quick fashion. I also think, however, that sometimes you will need a bit of a steer in the right direction to get even more out of your game.
Just like when you were at school you would go to your teacher for some help when you got stuck, in golf there will come a time when you need a few pointers.
My tip here is to go and ask for help from someone who knows what they are doing. In the golfer’s case, have a chat with your club professional.
Why go on for weeks battling with a problem you have that no mater how much you practise you just can’t seem to overcome.
Don’t be stubborn and don’t drive yourself crazy. The club professional will happily and quickly analyse your problem and set you on the right path!
So if you’re struggling, don’t be shy about asking for lessons. Rest assured that all the great players have lessons. Even Mr Tiger Woods has someone helping him with his game today. He is not stubborn or too proud to ask for help and he is the best player in the world.
So go ahead and get some guidance from someone in the know to help you out!
So there we have an outline for three crucial ways to lower your golf handicap. Combining these three basic yet often neglected pieces of advice I strongly believe that any golfer can improve their game and at the same time enjoy the sport that little bit more!
Give them a go and let me know how you get on!
The question of who is the better golfer can be answered simply by comparing this magical number no matter what your background or where you come from.
The golf handicap is also the only fair system to allow golfers of different abilities to compete against each other in competition and maintain, hopefully, a close and exciting game.
The challenge, however, always remains the same. That is to lower your golf handicap and if possible to get that figure into single digits. This seems to be the ultimate goal for many amateur golfers and if you don’t believe me try asking any golfer with a handicap of 10 or above!
So how do we go about lowering it?
How do we topple an extra couple of shots off of our golf handicap?
The answers to those questions aren’t always popular as everyone is looking for a short cut, but rest assured that by applying these methods then you can notice a difference in your performance very quickly indeed!
Improve your fitness levels
This has got to be my first tip for any golfer looking to reduce their golf handicap. Have you ever noticed in your round of golf, especially in the hot summer months, that by the time you are playing the 14th and 15th holes it takes a lot more effort to maintain concentration and focus on your shots? This is the part of the round that could make or break that decent score you have been putting together!!
A game of golf played over 18 holes can have you walking approximately 4 miles. Add to that the fact that you are carrying a bag full of irons, woods, balls, snacks, drinks, waterproofs etc. then you are certainly carrying a few extra pounds on that walk!
The more tired you get the harder it is to hit your drives straight and long. Your approach shots go a bit wayward of the green and you 3 putt instead of 2 putting.
All these shots add up!
By simply improving your fitness levels you may last those extra couple of holes without feeling the effects of fatigue setting in.
So if you don’t already, then why not go for a few walks during the week. If you already do this, then why not do a little more and have a jog round the park.
Basically, whatever you are doing now, just do that little extra and feel the difference on those last few holes on the course!
Practise Practise Practise
I have spoken to many golfers who are desperate to lower their golf handicap. They will buy the latest golf clubs and golf equipment and will even play in each weekly competition at their golf club but are annoyed that they don’t improve their scores!
When I ask them how long they have spent on the practise ground, or how many balls they have hit at the driving range the answer is usually either not long or not very many.
I have spoken to the professionals of a few golf clubs recently and even asked the best players at my golf club how they managed to get their golf handicaps down to at least single figures and every time the answer is the same. Practise!
To make my point ask yourself these questions.
Do you think your game would improve if you hit 50 practise balls a week? Probably not too much. What about 250 balls? What about if you hit 500 practise shots a week, and you did this for a month solid!
In short, you would learn so much about your golf game that you couldn’t not improve your scores.
You don’t necessarily have to hit 500 balls a week, but hopefully this focuses your mind that you shouldn’t just rely on the newest golf club or new golf ball and that, yes, some work will have to be done to improve your scores…..but it sure will be worth it!
Golf Instruction – Golf Lessons
I think the two tips above are great ways to lower your golf handicap by a few shots in a very quick fashion. I also think, however, that sometimes you will need a bit of a steer in the right direction to get even more out of your game.
Just like when you were at school you would go to your teacher for some help when you got stuck, in golf there will come a time when you need a few pointers.
My tip here is to go and ask for help from someone who knows what they are doing. In the golfer’s case, have a chat with your club professional.
Why go on for weeks battling with a problem you have that no mater how much you practise you just can’t seem to overcome.
Don’t be stubborn and don’t drive yourself crazy. The club professional will happily and quickly analyse your problem and set you on the right path!
So if you’re struggling, don’t be shy about asking for lessons. Rest assured that all the great players have lessons. Even Mr Tiger Woods has someone helping him with his game today. He is not stubborn or too proud to ask for help and he is the best player in the world.
So go ahead and get some guidance from someone in the know to help you out!
So there we have an outline for three crucial ways to lower your golf handicap. Combining these three basic yet often neglected pieces of advice I strongly believe that any golfer can improve their game and at the same time enjoy the sport that little bit more!
Give them a go and let me know how you get on!
Wednesday 30 July 2008
Golf Instruction: 5 Top Tips on Improving Your Golf Swing
Golf Instruction: 5 Top Tips on Improving Your Golf Swing
Whether you've been playing golf for a long time or you have only just begun, you'll find that there is plenty of good information out there about improving your game.
When you have so much information that is designed to address every aspect of your golf game, however, it can be difficult to stop and remember the basics, and it doesn't get much more basic than your golf swing.
Improving your swing is a major part of improving your game, so make sure that you give this topic the attention that it needs. Take the time to think about improving your golf swing and keep the five tips below at the front of your mind.
Golf Instruction: Move the weight over your feet!
Remember that when you are after a good golf swing that you should stand fairly lightly on your feet. You aren't going to get very far when your feet are planted as you swing, and you'll find that your ball doesn't either. Remember to move your weight over your feet. While you shouldn't necessarily move your weight too quickly, remember that a small amount of movement will improve your momentum and smooth out your movement as you swing.
Golf Instruction: Steady your knees
Remember that your knees, when you are doing a golf swing should not be locked. Instead they should be slightly bent and you should be in a comfortable position. If you are not comfortable, there may be a few reasons. You might find that you are tensing up, or you might find that your knees are being shaky and need to be strengthened through exercise. Take some time to think about what you are looking for when it comes to your golf swing and where your knees are as you do it.
Golf Instruction: Practice and record
One of the most important parts of learning anything about the way that you work is to make sure that you know what you are doing wrong. Many, many things will become obvious to you if you take the time to simply think about what you are doing and you'll find that having a visual representation of your swing will help you a great deal. Get a friend to help or set up a digital camcorder in the yard; this will help you identify weak spots in your game it can tell you a great deal about what you need to learn.
Golf Instruction: Great backswing
When you are working on your backswing, remember that your attention should be equally focused on how far your body is rotating along with your club and your arm extension. This should be all one smooth moment, and you'll find that you might be tempted to break it up at first. The more smoothly you can move, the better off you will be.
Golf Instruction: Get in shape
Although lots of people make jokes, remember that golf is really a sport. You'll find that the better shape you are in, the better your game will be. Take some time to focus on your arms and your back, and you'll soon see the results in your game.
Golf is a game that takes some skill and practice, so make sure that you put in the time that it takes to get your game to where you want it to be!
Whether you've been playing golf for a long time or you have only just begun, you'll find that there is plenty of good information out there about improving your game.
When you have so much information that is designed to address every aspect of your golf game, however, it can be difficult to stop and remember the basics, and it doesn't get much more basic than your golf swing.
Improving your swing is a major part of improving your game, so make sure that you give this topic the attention that it needs. Take the time to think about improving your golf swing and keep the five tips below at the front of your mind.
Golf Instruction: Move the weight over your feet!
Remember that when you are after a good golf swing that you should stand fairly lightly on your feet. You aren't going to get very far when your feet are planted as you swing, and you'll find that your ball doesn't either. Remember to move your weight over your feet. While you shouldn't necessarily move your weight too quickly, remember that a small amount of movement will improve your momentum and smooth out your movement as you swing.
Golf Instruction: Steady your knees
Remember that your knees, when you are doing a golf swing should not be locked. Instead they should be slightly bent and you should be in a comfortable position. If you are not comfortable, there may be a few reasons. You might find that you are tensing up, or you might find that your knees are being shaky and need to be strengthened through exercise. Take some time to think about what you are looking for when it comes to your golf swing and where your knees are as you do it.
Golf Instruction: Practice and record
One of the most important parts of learning anything about the way that you work is to make sure that you know what you are doing wrong. Many, many things will become obvious to you if you take the time to simply think about what you are doing and you'll find that having a visual representation of your swing will help you a great deal. Get a friend to help or set up a digital camcorder in the yard; this will help you identify weak spots in your game it can tell you a great deal about what you need to learn.
Golf Instruction: Great backswing
When you are working on your backswing, remember that your attention should be equally focused on how far your body is rotating along with your club and your arm extension. This should be all one smooth moment, and you'll find that you might be tempted to break it up at first. The more smoothly you can move, the better off you will be.
Golf Instruction: Get in shape
Although lots of people make jokes, remember that golf is really a sport. You'll find that the better shape you are in, the better your game will be. Take some time to focus on your arms and your back, and you'll soon see the results in your game.
Golf is a game that takes some skill and practice, so make sure that you put in the time that it takes to get your game to where you want it to be!
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Welcome To Golf Instruction Today!
Welcome to the Golf Instruction blog that aims to help provide some
free golf instruction no matter what the level of your game.
Whether you are after some basic golf instruction because you have
just taken up this fabulous game or simply want to knock a few more
shots off your handicap then getting a little more golf instruction
will do no harm!
We will deal with all aspects of the game from golf clubs, golf swing instruction,
driving the golf ball, approach shots, chipping, putting and even look at
improving your mental condfidence to lower your score and heighten
your enjoyment of the game.
Welcome to Golf Instruction Today!
free golf instruction no matter what the level of your game.
Whether you are after some basic golf instruction because you have
just taken up this fabulous game or simply want to knock a few more
shots off your handicap then getting a little more golf instruction
will do no harm!
We will deal with all aspects of the game from golf clubs, golf swing instruction,
driving the golf ball, approach shots, chipping, putting and even look at
improving your mental condfidence to lower your score and heighten
your enjoyment of the game.
Welcome to Golf Instruction Today!
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