Golf Basics
Golf Basics
Discovered recently that all of my basics are getting out of alignment; grip, stance and swing. This can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons; weight gain/loss, age/strength change, joint pain (adjust yourself to relieve it), etc. The best option is to go back and take some lessons. If you can't do that, the attached videos may be helpful. They gave me some insight into what I am doing wrong and need to adjust. Pete
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Re: Golf Basics
Maybe Tiger should take a look at these to correct his swing
I reckon he has put on a few pounds during his little exile
I reckon he has put on a few pounds during his little exile
Re: Golf Basics
Helpful videos. Thank you.
Since I'm a beginner I'm fortunate enough to not have any bad habits already bedded in so lessons are learned more readily. Lessons are absolutely necessary if you wish to get better.
The following is just my experience and applies to ME. So please don't take it as gospel.
I don't think I'll ever swing like Tiger Woods and have some physical limitations which I have to adjust for. The main one is a weak left shoulder where I stretched a tendon trying to knock a spinner out of the ground while playing cricket. It's never healed properly and if I hit the ground in front of the ball and the ground is hard, the tendon can tear again and that's my golfing days over. So instead of Tiger Woods, Tom Watson is my swing role model. He hits the ball very cleanly and doesn't throw up divots.
The biggest improvements in the swing have come when I've tried the following.
1. I tend to 'swish' the club rather than drive through the ball in the bottom third of the swing. Concerns over the shoulder stop me driving through the ball as much as I should. I place a small stone a few inches in front of the ball and then use that as my 'strike' point. It helps me drive THROUGH the ball rather than AT the ball.
2. On the takeaway I wasn't getting any power in the shot. This I found was due to me locking the right leg, straight, at the top of the swing. Once I ensured the leg remained a little bent, I was able to get more torsion and distance on the shot.
3. Again, due to concerns over hitting the mat or ground I was pulling up a little on the shot. I'm now keeping still and striking the ball more cleanly instead of topping or hitting in front of the ball.
4. In an effort to get more 'oomph' into the shot, I was moving my body forward and my hands in front of the club face at the point of impact. This meant I wasn't getting any height as the club face was closing, basically turning a 9 iron into a 6. KEEP STILL.
5. In my eagerness to see my ball sail into the stratosphere I was looking up too quickly as the ball was struck. This led to 'topping' and losing consistency. Look AFTER the ball has been struck.
6. I took a camera on video mode and recorded my swing from the side and from behind. This was a great way to see what I was ACTUALLY doing as opposed to what I THOUGHT I was doing. When I looked I could see I wasn't extending the left arm enough and the right elbow was too close to my body. It LOOKED weak and it WAS weak. So I made a point of pushing both the left and right arms out, without raising the elbow upwards. The result was more distance.
7. Mastering the wedge first helps reduce the tendency to try and hit the ball too hard. You then transfer that swing to the other clubs.
8. Having 10 thoughts in your head leads to a poor result. Once you are set, forget everything else and concentrate on smoothness.
9. I am stooping a little. This is due to too many hours sat at a computer screen so I'm working on gradually getting that posture straight. You can't free your arms if your chin is too low.
10. I was told to move the ball gradually forward, from the right foot for a 9 iron, to the left heel for the driver, as you move through the clubs. This was bad advice for me. It's easier to place the back of the ball in the middle of my stance and leave the club to do the work.
11. I was gripping the clubs too tight. Result. LESS distance. Still working on this.
12. If I show 1 to 1 and a half knuckles on my left hand, I can't cock the left wrist properly and it becomes painful. 2 to 2 and a half is best for me.
13. Hitting 100 balls on the range is too much. I start to tire after the first tray. There's little benefit in continuing. It could be down to the heat at this time of year, which is energy-sapping but I don't see how it helps you improve if you are tiring.
14. When practicing, I start with a wedge and work my down to the driver. Going straight from one to the other almost guarantees a poor shot.
15. When I swing smoothly and hit the sweet spot the ball flies beautifully. Trying to knock the cover off the ball always leads to LESS distance and LESS accuracy. At least for me.
16. A slow takeaway produces a more controlled shot and less 'swishing'.
17. The grip is CRITICAL. So is squaring the club at the top of the backswing.
It's a technical game which for me is part of the challenge. So is getting the body to do what the mind wants it to!
Since I'm a beginner I'm fortunate enough to not have any bad habits already bedded in so lessons are learned more readily. Lessons are absolutely necessary if you wish to get better.
The following is just my experience and applies to ME. So please don't take it as gospel.
I don't think I'll ever swing like Tiger Woods and have some physical limitations which I have to adjust for. The main one is a weak left shoulder where I stretched a tendon trying to knock a spinner out of the ground while playing cricket. It's never healed properly and if I hit the ground in front of the ball and the ground is hard, the tendon can tear again and that's my golfing days over. So instead of Tiger Woods, Tom Watson is my swing role model. He hits the ball very cleanly and doesn't throw up divots.
The biggest improvements in the swing have come when I've tried the following.
1. I tend to 'swish' the club rather than drive through the ball in the bottom third of the swing. Concerns over the shoulder stop me driving through the ball as much as I should. I place a small stone a few inches in front of the ball and then use that as my 'strike' point. It helps me drive THROUGH the ball rather than AT the ball.
2. On the takeaway I wasn't getting any power in the shot. This I found was due to me locking the right leg, straight, at the top of the swing. Once I ensured the leg remained a little bent, I was able to get more torsion and distance on the shot.
3. Again, due to concerns over hitting the mat or ground I was pulling up a little on the shot. I'm now keeping still and striking the ball more cleanly instead of topping or hitting in front of the ball.
4. In an effort to get more 'oomph' into the shot, I was moving my body forward and my hands in front of the club face at the point of impact. This meant I wasn't getting any height as the club face was closing, basically turning a 9 iron into a 6. KEEP STILL.
5. In my eagerness to see my ball sail into the stratosphere I was looking up too quickly as the ball was struck. This led to 'topping' and losing consistency. Look AFTER the ball has been struck.
6. I took a camera on video mode and recorded my swing from the side and from behind. This was a great way to see what I was ACTUALLY doing as opposed to what I THOUGHT I was doing. When I looked I could see I wasn't extending the left arm enough and the right elbow was too close to my body. It LOOKED weak and it WAS weak. So I made a point of pushing both the left and right arms out, without raising the elbow upwards. The result was more distance.
7. Mastering the wedge first helps reduce the tendency to try and hit the ball too hard. You then transfer that swing to the other clubs.
8. Having 10 thoughts in your head leads to a poor result. Once you are set, forget everything else and concentrate on smoothness.
9. I am stooping a little. This is due to too many hours sat at a computer screen so I'm working on gradually getting that posture straight. You can't free your arms if your chin is too low.
10. I was told to move the ball gradually forward, from the right foot for a 9 iron, to the left heel for the driver, as you move through the clubs. This was bad advice for me. It's easier to place the back of the ball in the middle of my stance and leave the club to do the work.
11. I was gripping the clubs too tight. Result. LESS distance. Still working on this.
12. If I show 1 to 1 and a half knuckles on my left hand, I can't cock the left wrist properly and it becomes painful. 2 to 2 and a half is best for me.
13. Hitting 100 balls on the range is too much. I start to tire after the first tray. There's little benefit in continuing. It could be down to the heat at this time of year, which is energy-sapping but I don't see how it helps you improve if you are tiring.
14. When practicing, I start with a wedge and work my down to the driver. Going straight from one to the other almost guarantees a poor shot.
15. When I swing smoothly and hit the sweet spot the ball flies beautifully. Trying to knock the cover off the ball always leads to LESS distance and LESS accuracy. At least for me.
16. A slow takeaway produces a more controlled shot and less 'swishing'.
17. The grip is CRITICAL. So is squaring the club at the top of the backswing.
It's a technical game which for me is part of the challenge. So is getting the body to do what the mind wants it to!
Re: Golf Basics
Blimey! all you have to do now is incorporate all of the above without thinking about it.
Re: Golf Basics
Hehe. Sorry about that. I've probably put off anyone from ever picking up a club.Arcadian wrote:Blimey! all you have to do now is incorporate all of the above without thinking about it.
