Golf Tips To Improve Your Wedge Play Authored by Henry Stetina Wedge play is a large aspect of golf and I am a strong believer that distance control is the most important way to become a successful wedge player. A golfer must be able to produce a swing that will send a golf ball the desired distance. I use a percentage system to swing the club in a way that will send the ball to the target with the correct distance. To be able to produce such a swing with confidence and reliability, a player must practice in a way that is beneficial to their success. Wedge control is an important aspect of the game and can be learned by the use of a percentage system and through quality practice. Learning From The Flight Of The Golf Ball (for right-handed players) By Henry Stetina The flight of the golf ball and the motion of the golf club are universal and apply to all golfers. After one’s body is correctly aligned, golf can be simplified by focusing primarily on the motion of the golf club. Ball flight will always be the result of body alignment and the direction of the clubface, as it relates to club path. The initial direction of the golf ball is caused by body alignment and the direction of the clubface. The curvature of the golf ball is caused by the direction of the clubface, as it relates to the club path. Before we can correct any undesirable ball flight, we must understand what causes the ball to fly in any particular manner. Finding The Right Golf Instructor By Henry Stetina Finding a quality golf instructor is similar to finding one’s soul mate. The instructor and student must meet a sufficient level of communication and trust to be successful. Taking golf lessons from someone who is not fitting may be stressful, frustrating and discouraging. There are many things a student can do to find an instructor who is appropriate. Students should ask friends, colleagues, golfers and local golf professionals to find who the favorable golf instructors in the area are. A student should then interview potential instructors to find one that will benefit them the most. Finding an instructor who has a good way of communicating is especially important. Experience and credibility are good traits when choosing an instructor. An instructor who is a successful golfer is a solid candidate for a successful instructor because they understand the game at a high level. It is absolutely necessary that the student has complete trust in the instructor’s ability to play. Become A Great Putter Putting is what makes a player great and also confounds others into quitting the game. It is the difference between being the leading money winner on the PGA Tour and missing the cut; the difference between winning the club championship and not qualifying for the event. Putting in golf is like the heartbeat in the human body. Great putts during major championships are legendary and will be remembered forever. The remarkable putt Tiger Woods made on the eighteenth hole at Torrey Pines GC during the 2008 U.S. Open, followed by a historic double fist pump, gives viewers chills. Bobby Jones considered putting as “A game within a game.” Paul Runyan was such a great putter that tour players petitioned the tour to increase the size of the hole in an attempt to level the playing field. The petition was granted and Paul Runyan not only began to hole more putts, but more chips as well. Golfers who embrace the challenge of putting and commit themselves to the process of becoming great putters find that putting is the heart of the game. To become a great putter, a golfer must commit to a mental process and believe that all of their putts will fall into the hole. Practice With Purpose Nearly all golfers wish to play better golf but either can’t find the time or don’t have the commitment. Others are content with the level of golf they currently play. Some golfers do practice but don’t improve as substantially as they would expect. The amount of time required to improve is relative to how efficient we wish to become. A professional tour player practices several hours each day, while a high handicap golfer may play only once a week. Many golfers are unaware or uniformed of what is required to improve, so a PGA Professional may be a critical tool in the learning process. There are certain ways that a golfer must practice in order to develop the skills necessary to play successful shots on the golf course. Once we know what must be done to swing the golf club correctly, we must focus intently on every swing in order to develop the desired results. Practice sessions must be centered on developing a consistent pre-shot routine, practicing how one plays, and using a trusting mentality. Minimizing Frustration Henry Stetina, PGA In the United States each year, 1 Million golfers quit the game of golf due to frustration. Golfers constantly read, watch, listen, and search for the latest in golf instruction in an attempt to send their golf game to a higher level. The information is often confusing, misinterpreted, forgotten, and contradicting, all of which leads to frustration. The fact is, most golf instruction is focused on body movements. Body movements vary from player to player and cannot be taught. Since the movement of the golf club is universal and applies to every player, we must learn to correctly move the golf club. The movement of the golf club is the only thing that dictates the flight of the golf ball therefore is the only thing that is important in making an efficient golf swing. Stretching For Success We are all guilty of it at some point. After the exchange of flip flops for FootJoys, we dutifully check in at the clubhouse and some of us actually make it to the putting green. After a cup of Jo and a little trash-talking, it’s off to the first tee. But wait. Was there something else? Keep Your Golf Clubs In The Groove Many golfers don’t realise the vital importance of maintaining their club grooves. It is easily overlooked and forgotten, but when the grooves become dirty and dull, the ball doesn’t spin properly and this affects all areas of your game. Golfers all around the world are spending billions on technologically advanced equipment but are neglecting to properly maintain this equipment for optimum performance. Cleaning and sharpening your grooves is simple and effective. 10 Crazy Rules of Golf We all pretty much know the basics. Three off the tee if you hook your Titleist into the drink. Play it as it lies (generally). Only 14 clubs in the bag and so on. However, the rules of golf, when actually read, resembles something out of an official piece of legislation or city by-law. They don’t always make sense and quite often don’t appeal to reason. There are many obscure and strange rules that you just might want to keep an eye on next time you have a side bet with a buddy. Here are my top 10 Obscure Rules of Golf: (all referenced from the USGA) Managing Your Golfing FD Hitting fairways consistently an issue for you? Having trouble getting up for golf? It’s time to set aside your inflated ego and admit that you have a performance problem. FD (Fairway Dysfunction) is more of a common affliction than you think. Just check out the golf courses in your area and you’ll see that FD is rampant among golfers of all ages. The trick to fighting FD lies in where you seek help. Here are 3 sure fire steps that every golfer with FD must take. | Golf 101Giving you all the tips, rules, and etiquette you need to get a grip on your game. ArchivesAugust 2010 Categories |
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