Golf Tips: Getting Off The Tee

Let’s talk about your tee shots. Next to putting, the tee shot is probably the most influential part of your golf game when it comes to how you score and your handicap.

First of all, remember this… your driver isn’t always the best club for you to hit. Now knowing this and being disciplined enough to keep the driver in the bag may be two different things. Don’t get me wrong…

If you’re hitting the driver well, it’s the right choice. But don’t let your ego get involved in your score.

Approach each tee shot with a plan.

Pick out a spot where you want to play your next shot from then picture yourself hitting that spot. Remember, if you’re having an off day with your driver, hitting your 2nd shot from the fairway is much better than taking strokes to recover from a wayward drive. So, if you need to pick out a spot a club or two down from your driver then do so.

After you’ve stood behind your ball and picked out your target from the tee, then pick out a shorter intermediate target on your line that you can line yourself and your clubface up to. When you do this you accomplish a couple of positive things. Number one and most obvious is that you have confidence that your alignment is correct. And since you have been practicing your alignment you now have confidence in your perceived confidence!

Secondly, there is a very beneficial side effect that picking out a shorter intermediate target has; it works for me and I continually see work with those golfers I work with.

By picking an intermediate target you’ll find that you will take a lot of pressure off your swing. You won’t feel as though you have to ‘reach back for that little extra’ to get to your target. As such your rhythm and tempo will be better. You won’t have such a tendency to over swing; because you’re just trying to get your shot started down the line that you know is correct.

Rolled up, what all of this means is that you’ll provide the swing and let the club do the work instead of trying to get too much out both your swing and the club.

Remember the fairway is, over all, more important than extra distance.

The object here as we’ve discussed these tips is for you to stand on the tee box with a plan and with confidence. As part of your plan, you will pick out a target that coincides with where you want your tee shot to end up. This will trigger your focus and help eliminate other visual variables that the golf hole throws at you. Picking an intermediate target will help get you aligned and keep you swing within yourself know that the club will do good work when you allow it to do so.

Head off to practice now and continue on that rhythm and tempo thing… and just getting the ball started toward your target. You’ll soon find that you can have both good distance along with accuracy.

Golf Tips: It’s In Your Touch

We’ve been working on our short game for the last few issues and for a very good reason.

To become a consistently good or even improved player (key word consistent), you have to posses a good short game. It doesn’t matter who your are, there are going to be times (even days) when you aren’t hitting the greens… hello short game!

Believe me… it is within one’s short game, where by improving it, you can quickly and easily shave numerous strokes off your golf game.

For this time around I want to work with you on developing some touch with your various clubs. In the past I’ve mentioned how important it is for your short game to get the ball on the green and get it rolling toward the hole as soon as possible. The purpose of this next drill is to get you an understanding of the flight and roll characteristics of each of your clubs.

From just off the green and varying distances, pick out a landing spot on the green. You could even stick a tee into the practice green to mark your spot.

Next, with varying clubs, work to chip or pitch your golf ball to hit your landing spot. The idea here is to not only begin to learn the various ball flights of each club, but to also understand the roll characteristics of the ball after it hits the green. Again, we aren’t trying to necessarily get the ball to the pin…

we want to hit the landing spot and learn what the ball does (or doesn’t do from there).

In doing this practice drill you’ll soon begin to get a feel for what each club will do. This will develop your ‘touch’ around the green and it will get those of you who have become locked in to using the same club around the green no matter what the circumstance off of that bad habit as well.

You will also develop a very good sense of what your favorite club to use is under what type of circumstance the shot demands…

and under pressure you’ll confidently know that this club is indeed the club for the job at hand.

A side note hear is that once you have practiced this drill for a while and your understanding and comfort level is good, begin to challenge yourself further by deteriorating your lies a bit.

Remember, on the course you won’t always get a nice cushy lie to work with so once you begin to groove your short chips and pitches, then you’ll want to add some degree of difficulty with less than perfect lies to your practice routine.

Golf Tips: Range To Game II

After you have hit your driver, put the driver down, and imagine that you are on an actual golf hole and you now have 180 yards to the pin.

O.K. so pick out a target of your scenario distance and get that golf club,

Do your pre shot routine and go after the target.

Then go back to the driver and pick out a different target line that gives you a different visual perspective.

Do this each time as part of your golf practice routine aiming for targets that are to the left of you natural line and to the right and so on.

The point here is to change targets and golf clubs frequently; get yourself comfortable and confident with going from a long shafted golf club to a shorter one and vise-verse.  As I just mentioned, changing your visual perspective of the target is important as well.

Tee boxes on golf courses aren’t so magnanimous that they align you perfectly with the fairway so you must get used to these visual changes that courses throw at you. You always here the expression of how a golf hole fits or doesn’t seem to fit a players eye. Golf course architects are like that.

I’ve mentioned your pre shot routine a couple of times.

If you’re not sure you have one work on finding one that feels comfortable to you and use it before every shot.

This doesn’t (and shouldn’t) be some long and drawn out routine that adds another hour to your (and everybody else’s) round of golf. Keep it simple and easy to replicate and get into the habit of doing it.

Hopefully you’ve gotten the gist of this part of your golf practice routine.

You’ll note that I said ‘part’ of your practice routine. Certainly if you are just starting to learn the golf swing you will spend more time with just one club in your hand.

But as you advance in your swing and your game there may come a time when you begin to lament that you can’t seem to get your golf game from the range to the golf course. If this is the case then these tips will certainly help you get over that hump.

Golf Tips: The Pitch Shot

The pitch shot in golf is a close cousin to the chip shot and certainly a shot that you must develop your competency with this shot to complete your short game arsenal.

The biggest problem that I see time and time again with people who struggle with executing any type of pitch shot is that they decelerate their clubhead just before impact.

One concept that will help you begin to execute crisp pitch shots is to think of a shorter backswing with a longer follow through.

Now, I don’t mean to take an abbreviated short backswing and then a rapid jab at the ball with a semi manufactured follow through, but we do want the concept of a consistent lengthy follow through.

Many times the cause of deceleration just before impact is because the golfer has taken much too big of a backswing… and at the last moment the brain tries to adjust to the perceived too much distance by decelerating the club……. and yuk… or is that yak.

As you practice your pitch shots work to keep your backswing as short as necessary to get the job done with a smooth tempo. With the longer pitch shots make sure that your left hand leads the club through the shot and you don’t ‘flip’ the club at the golf ball.

As we mentioned in a previous lesson work your pitches to a static target using different clubs so you’ll begin to develop that all important ‘feel’ for your clubs and what they are (or aren’t) capable of. As you do this you’ll begin to develop a nice rhythm to your pitch swing and your confidence in this shot won’t be far behind.

The key to developing those deadly pitch shots lies in how much practice you allot for this part of your game. Remember, work to shorten you backswing and extend that follow through. Deceleration is the kiss of death for a pitch shot.

Your success is directly related to your time spent working on this shot.

Golf Tips: Range To Game I

One of the more frequently visited topics that comes up is how come I can go to the golf practice range and do so well, but when I go to the golf course to play a round a different golfer shows up?

If this somewhat describes you, don’t panic. It is a very common ailment among golfers.

Aside from keeping in mind that just on a daily basis alone your golf swing is going to produce different results and scenarios for you to overcome. Welcome to the wonderful game of golf!

But in all seriousness here in the next couple of articles, I’ll discuss a few golf tips and techniques that will help you get your golf game from the driving range to the golf course.

First of all, I make the assumption that you are practicing your golf game on a regular basis and not expecting your game to just miraculously ‘show up’ for you on the first tee.

With this in mind I think that most people should consider that how they practice affects their ‘on course’ behavior. Frequently, the resolution to the mysterious vanishing golf swing is in how you practice to get better.

Certainly to gain proficiency at golf one must hit a lot of golf balls. And there are certainly times when your practice routine is one of just focusing on getting your rhythm and timing going. But to get your game from the range to the course you have to focus on certain aspects.

As a part of your golf practice routine you should practice or emulate real golf. First of all (assuming you’ve properly warmed up) starting with driver, pick out your target and give yourself some fairway parameters. By that I mean that say… the flag to left from that flag to the right is the width of my fairway… outside of that I’m in the rough or even O.B.

Stand behind the ball and reaffirm your target line or what ever you pre shot routine may be. Knowing that you now have a target that you must hit and you have but one swing to hit it will add more focus and a certain amount of pressure to your golf swing.

This is what we want here.

If you only put your swing under this type of situation when you are on the golf course itself… well good luck. Good rounds can certainly happen by chance, but you’ll be forever developing any kind of consistency.

Up next let’s finish getting your driving range game to the golf course.

Golf Exercise For Home Or Office

Improving your golf game through muscle tone and fitness doesn’t mean you have to be a member of a health club.

With just a little creativity and a few minutes a day, you can have a very positive impact on your game with some simple golf exercises.

Here is a quick and easy stretching exercise for your lower back, gluteus area (butt), and hamstrings.

The best part of this stretch is that you can do it while seated right there in front of your computer or your TV.

While seated in your chair with your knees about shoulder width apart, take on foot and pull it back toward you until slightly underneath you or until you bump up against your chair.

Next move your other leg out away from your body in the opposite direction until you have about a 10 degree or so flex in your knee. You don’t need to lock your leg all the way out. Now, with your extended leg, make sure only your heel is on the floor and your toes are pointing upward.

Now with your one hand on each side of your extended leg, slide your hands down toward your extended leg’s ankle.

As you gently descend toward your ankle (remember to keep only your heel on the floor and your toes pointed upward) you should feel the stretching taking place along the back side of your body.

Go slowly. Don’t bounce. Once you get to a point where you can feel the stretch and you aren’t struggling to hold your position, stop there and hold the stretch for about 5 to 8 seconds. Straighten back up for a couple of seconds then repeat this action. Do about 3 sets each for each leg.

This is an excellent golf exercise for the middle part of the body and is especially helpful for those of us that prefer to walk. Many times the act of walking around the golf course will cause the muscles in the lower back to begin to tighten.

This stretching exercise will help alleviate problems with the lower back by increasing the length of these muscles. Increasing the length of these muscles, your back will naturally stay flatter (no reverse ‘c’ or sway back posture) and a lot more pain free.

There are numerous quick easy golf exercises that you can do just about anywhere and anytime. If you do just a little bit of exercise each and everyday you will soon be feeling and seeing the results of your stretching.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions, consult with your physician before exercising.

Golf Fitness And Your Exercise

If you are truly interested in getting the most out of your golf game, then some sort of golf exercise and fitness routine must be a part of your improvement plan. Executing the golf swing at a consistent and efficient level requires muscular strength, tone and endurance.

Playing your way into golfing shape is not the answer.

Some well thought out golf exercises and specific fitness routines are.

Getting out and hitting mammoth amounts of buckets of golf balls will actually only increase the chances of incurring an injury or developing a chronic pain somewhere on your body.

This is why I include this type of activity in the ‘playing your way into shape’ category which comes under the heading of ‘don’t do’. Believe me, I speak from experience here. Don’t do as I did. Some good golf exercises geared toward strength and flexibility are an investment not only in your golf game but your health and happiness as well.

What can happen with the this type of approach is that, although you certainly will develop your golf muscles, your non golf muscles will then become out of balance with your developing golf muscles.

As this type of imbalance caused by the ‘playing golf exercise strength’, you begin to increase the chances of developing a chronic soreness, pain, or even injury due to the domination of the stronger muscles, or simply the complete overuse due to the constant repetitive physics of the golf swing.

Many times the missing link to getting longer drives and lowering your golf score isn’t to read and learn more about the mechanics and the physics of the golf swing. Not at all.

That’s right.

Believe me, I worked on every angle of the swing and thought that I had crafted a pretty decent swing and was seeing good improvement in my game. I actually discovered the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide while trying to find some good golf swing exercises that would relieve some back pain I was beginning to experience. And with this I discovered that longer more effortless drives was all about just getting my body to move just a bit better.

I first saw the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer on The Golf Channel. At the time I was on the road and traveling quite a lot. With being on the road so much, I really felt like something like this could make good use of my idle time in the hotel room instead of just lying around. For my traveling situation I thought the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer would work great for traveling as the equipment would fit easing into my travel bag. That was just the beginning for me in what has turned into a steady exercise routine for me and my golf game yet today.

A balance approach to your golf strength training is the correct answer to get your golf game to the next level. The benefits of golf specific strength training are well documented. With the proper golf exercise and fitness program golfers see a marked increase in everything from the distances obtained by their clubs to the precision in which they execute their golf shots.

It only stands to reason that when you implement golf swing exercises that condition and strengthen the relevant muscles as well as provide additional flexibility and tone to the to the secondary muscle groups used, your golf swing will become less awkward, more consistent, and much more powerful with half the effort.

With a good routine geared toward strength and flexibility golf exercise, you will soon find yourself being able to direct the bulk of your focus on executing each precise shot and not have to mentally and mechanically walk yourself through your golf swing. And with your focus firmly directed on the golf shot in front of you and not your balance and golf swing mechanics, you’ll immediately begin to see improvements in your game.

Golf Gifts And Accessories

With the game of golf there certainly is no shortage of golf accessories and golf gifts that you can procure for your favorite golfer (even if that’s you!).

Aside from all the choices in equipment that directly relates to you getting the ball around the course in the least amount of strokes, one just wouldn’t be a complete golfer without the proper complimentary golf accessories adorning one’s body, bag, and clubs!

As I thought about some of the accessories I could feature in this article I began to wonder how to get a good amount of them in for you without extending the article and the information presented into next week.

So, let’s take a look at some of the golf accessories that are essential to us golfers and hopefully give you a couple easy places along the way to seek them out. So, in no particular order, here are a few that immediately come to mind.

For those rainy days around the house or when you can’t get out to the course, or just to compliment the golf room of your house there are many great golf books and videos for your enjoyment. There is everything from serious improvements to your game all the way to the courses you dream of playing one day.

A good golf glove is a pleasure to wear. An poor quality on isn’t. Particularly on a hot summer day a quality golf glove can literally save you strokes. There are certainly many good gloves available. The Nike Dri-Fit Tour Golf Glove  is well recognized, high quality glove you’ll like. If you’re geographically north, then you’ll want to also consider those colder days and take a look at the Nike Cold Weather Gloves as well.

A good golf glove can only do so much. If your golf grips are badly worn, you’ll need to get those worn golf grips replaced. If you haven’t re-griped your clubs in a while you’ll be amazed at how a new set of grips will feel. You won’t believe you let your old ones go so long. Golf club grips are kind of like your tires on your car they wear out gradually so you don’t really notice sometimes how bad they get. Good grips on your clubs are essential. My own personal choice is Winn Grip. I really like the feel of these grips. And after using them just once, I probably always will. Another very popular grip is the Golf Pride Tour Wrap Grip.

Technology even plays its part when it comes to golf accessories and golf gifts. If you enjoy the gadgets and enjoy knowing what your yardage to the flagstick is then you’ll get good use out of the Bushnell Yardage Pro® Tour Laser Range Finder

The lost and found at the course is full of golf club head covers. If any of yours has fallen victim to being lost you will want to replace them. Aside from being able to personalize your Original Golf Headcovers with your favorite college or pro team, head covers serve a useful purpose in keeping your club heads from being dinged and scratched.

The Best Golf Training Aids RU

Really… the game of golf should be so simple. Golf, the game you can enjoy for a lifetime.

But if you’re struggling with your golf game and your golf swing, looking at the prospect of playing golf for a lifetime may seem more like a sentence than a vacation.

Look, you know there are all kinds of golf training aids out there. We offer many of the most effective and popular training aids and practice equipment.

Including the very popular – in fact chosen by golf pros as the #1 swing trainer club in the world Medicus 2000 Dual Hinge 5 Iron and the Medicus Dual Hinged Driver

Many of them are very useful and if used prudently will lower your golf score. Golf-ology.com will hopefully help you as you navigate around. But, let’s be frank. The best golf practice aid for you is you.

There is no amount of money spent on golf instruction that is going to by default suddenly improve your golf game. If this were the case, my game would be impeccable and all the millionaires would be scratch golfers!

So you see the common denominator is you.

Golf is like any other activity. The more consistent time you are willing to spend on improving your golf game the more your game will improve. And only you can determine this.

Of course the standard approach to playing better golf is to seek out and take some lessons. Getting some qualified golf instruction is a good place to start.

Starting out on the right track with a good understanding of the golf swing and the physics of it will help you to begin to develop the right muscle groups for the golf swing and your balance.

Once you have an understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing, then it’s time to practice. Don’t take on too much information early on. I can’t emphasize this enough. Get a basic understanding of the golf swing then work to reproduce the swing consistently. By this I mean don’t worry about different golf shots, drawing, fading, hooking, or slicing the golf ball. Don’t worry about what club does what. Focus on the reproduction of a solid golf swing.

Get your swing to a good comfort level by developing the proper muscles used in the golf swing. There are many great strength and flexibility exercises you can do. Golf exercises are very, very important. Don’t put a high value on results early on. Learn just the swing. Get your body comfortable with the golf swing. Not golf shots. The shots will come with a consistent swing.

Even now, when I am not getting the results I want from my game, I get back to the swing. Not the clubs, not the golf shot. I work to get comfortable and confident with my swing. The irony is that I work to get my swing back to where I am not thinking about my golf swing when I am standing over the shot. I want to know the swing is there, so I can then focus on the specific shot.

If you’d like some help from some of golf’s greatest, players and instructors such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and many more. Simply choose your favorite from this fabulous list of Golf Instructors!

Also, take some time to look around the website. We have many helpful articles on many aspects of the golf game both physical and mental, and for all levels. But remember, the best golf training aids start and end with you.

Golf Tips: Getting Up And Down

The quickest, easiest, surest way to shave strokes your golf score is by improving your short game… and if it’s not with your putter…

then you’ve gotta get up and down when you’re around the green.

This becomes even more amplified for the mid to higher handicap golfer simply because by definition the higher handicapper won’t be as accurate with their approach shots, hence they will miss more greens… when you miss more greens; you need to have a short game that can get you up and down from off the green.

A good short game is a great remedy for earlier misguided shots…

not to mention a good short game will put more pressure on your opponents.

A good practice drill for you is to take a handful of golf balls and from just off the practice green play a round of par 2 golf. Chip your five or so balls at the hole…

once done putt your chips in starting with chip that came the closest. If you’re down in 2 then you par… if not… you bogey.

A couple of benefits will happen here. First your chipping and putting will begin to improve. Secondly, you’ll be simulating what really goes on when you’re playing your rounds of golf.

Now if you want to even more accurately what reflects an actual round of golf, get together with one of your playing partners and work this drill with a bit of friendly competition added to the mix.

No matter what the stakes (or steaks) are, this will assuredly heighten your focus or even make you pucker up a bit… but this is what we want…

to get you to a comfort level with some real time pressure and game like environment. The more you put yourself in this type of situation the more comfortable you and your game will become. Don’t under estimate the value of this.

Now get out there and start getting better!