ADDRESS POSITION
The address position is one of the most important foundations for the swing. A balanced, athletic address will provide lasting stability for the golf swing. Start with the feet shoulder width apart. Slightly flex at the knees and bend over from the hips just enough so your arms hang freely below your shoulders and away from your thighs. Your weight should be toward the balls of your feet and you should feel like you could do just about anything from this position. You could receive a serve in tennis, catch a ground ball, pull a roast out of an oven… anything! This balanced position allows your arms and shoulders to move the club back freely. It also allows you to transfer weight from one side of your body to another more efficiently. If this is your starting position, you’ll be able to swing the club more consistently and improve your shot making skills.
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BALL POSITION
Consistent ball position is critical to consistent ball striking. If the ball is in the wrong place, then the clubface will be facing the wrong direction at impact. This will create sidespin on the ball thus producing curvature of ball flight.
To avoid the unwanted slice or hook, start by placing the ball in the correct position in your stance.
Short irons: sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9 iron, 8 iron and 7 iron: place the ball in the middle of your stance
Mid irons: 6 iron, 5 iron, and 4 iron: place the ball a couple of inches toward the target foot (left foot for right handed golfers.)
Woods: place the ball just to the inside of the target foot (left foot for right handed golfer.)
These positions will vary based on the angle of the ground, however if you start here, you’ll have a great base to operate from and your ball striking will become more consistent.
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THE 3 WOOD CHIP
You’ve seen Tiger do it, Annika do it…just about all the pro’s do it. They pull out their 3 wood to “chip” the ball onto the green.
The next time your ball is resting cozily on the far edge of the fringe and right up against the long blades of grass, pull out your three wood and putt! Yes, that’s right, putt.
Set up to the ball as though you are going to make a putt. Choke down on the three wood and place the club head directly behind the ball. The wood nestles nicely in the long blades of grass. As the club moves back and through, you’ll notice that the club head sweeps easily back and through the long grass. As the face of the club contacts the ball, it puts over spin on it and it rolls freely toward the green. An iron can sometimes get caught up in the grass in this situation. Whereas the bottom of the wood with it’s wide, smooth area just glides over the grass producing more consistent contact with the ball.
Practice it a bit before you try it on the course. This is a great shot to have “in the bag” and will definitely get you closer to the hole.
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TEEING UP THE BALL
Tees are quite long these days with all the new oversized drivers on the market.
But how high should the ball be when you’re teeing it up?
Woods
The old saying “tee it high and let it fly” has some truth to it. The ball is struck on the upswing with the woods, so you should be certain that it is teed up high enough to allow for centeredness of contact.
A basic rule of thumb for the woods: With the club head resting on the ground, you should have at least half the width of the ball above the top of the club at a minimum. Some people like it a bit higher than that. Find what’s most successful for you.
Irons
If you use an iron off the tee, be sure to place it on one. Take advantage of having the legal opportunity to place your ball in the best, most unobstructed place possible… on a tee. It doesn’t have to be very high off the ground, just enough to give you a very clean lie.
A basic rule of thumb for the Irons:
While holding the ball and tee in your hand, push the tee into the ground until you feel the ground touch your fingers. This places the top of the tee about one quarter to one half inch above the ground. This should be just about right for any iron.
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DO YOUR CLUBS FIT?
Would you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on first? Most people would say no.
Golf clubs should be tried on as well. Most people think that it’s just the “really good” golfers that should have custom clubs. Well, even as a new golfer, one should seek out professional help to buy the clubs that fit. We’re all different shapes and sizes; therefore it’s not likely that we’d all use the same “size” clubs.
Someone who’s 6’3 needs longer clubs than someone who is 5’2. They probably need larger grips as well.
A PGA or LPGA professional can help guide you through the fitting process. The beauty of custom fitting is that you DON’T have to spend a lot of money and your DON’T have to buy a full set of clubs. For example, a new golfer doesn’t need all the irons. A sand wedge, 9 iron, 7 iron and 5 iron will be just fine. Add the 3 wood, 7 wood and a putter and you have a perfect set of clubs. You will have a greater degree of enjoyment and a lot more success if you’re playing with equipment that’s right for you.
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PUTTING
The putting stroke should be a smooth motion and very even in tempo. The stroke length should be balanced and roughly the same length on the back swing and the forward swing. But the key to it all is a smooth and even motion through the ball. Think of the motion of a pendulum. It’s not rushed or uneven. It’s rhythmic and smooth.
Gain more consistency in your putting by balancing out your stroke like a pendulum. Practice putts from 3 feet away then 6 feet away. Notice the difference in your swing length. However, the motion should still be balanced. You’ll go from a short pendulum to a bit longer pendulum but the tempo and motion will still be smooth. Practice like a pendulum and your putts will roll better and become more consistent.
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ALIGNMENT
Alignment eludes many golfers. People make great golf shots and the ball will sometimes go in the wrong direction due to simple misalignment. So here’s something that will surely help. Think of alignment like a set of railroad tracks. Railroad tracks run parallel to one another, always the same width apart. Imagine your ball is on one of the tracks running straight out to your target and your feet are on the other track. Your feet should be parallel with your ball track otherwise known as the target line. To ensure that everything is lined up correctly, place a small marker 2 feet in front of the ball and another 2 feet behind the ball directly in line with your target. If you stand behind your ball to look at your target, all three things should line up together. Get into your stance and place your feet parallel to the target line then lay your club on the ground with the shaft against your toes. You should notice that the shaft is running parallel with the markers and the ball. If it’s not, then your alignment is off. If you practice with good alignment, your golf shots will be more on line with your target and this definitely leads to lower scores.
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PRE-SHOT ROUTINE
Watch the pros, they do it. They always set up to the ball the same way every time. The same number of little waggles, the same number of looks to the target; what ever their habit is, they never stray from it. This helps them relax and focus. They’re getting into their zone.
Create your own pre-shot routine. Take a practice swing if you like, then stand behind the ball and find your target, walk to the ball, set your club behind the ball, get into your stance, get comfy, waggle the club if you like, look back to your target, be sure to breathe, then make your swing. Whatever you do, do it the same every time for every shot. You’ll look like a pro and improve your game along the way.
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PITCH LIKE THE PROS
How do they do it? They’re so accurate from 100 yards and in. This is the place where all the money is made. These are the “feel” shots and everyone has a different feel. The pitch shot is a partial swing not a full swing. An easy way to measure the partial swing is to imagine you’re facing a giant clock. Using your pitching wedge, swing the club back stopping at 3 o’clock in the backswing, then swing forward to about 9 o’clock at the finish (for right-handed golfers). Measure your yardage. If you need more distance swing from 2 o’clock to 10 o’clock; less distance swing from 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock. If you know the distance you get with each “clock” position, your short game will improve and your scores will be lower. Just practice your clock, take a few mental notes on yardage and you’ll be on your way to a great short game.
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SHOULD YOU WEAR A GLOVE?
This is certainly personal preference. Some people like to feel the grip with both hands so a glove is out of the question. Others like the extra security that the glove offers. Most people who wear a glove when they use their irons and woods, take it off for putting. This gives them a better feel during the putting stroke. I usually suggest trying it both ways. Play one round of golf with a glove and the next without. If you feel like you have more control and less tension with the glove, then there’s the answer. We want less tension in the hands and the glove could be just the thing. You can always remove it for putting like most pro’s do!
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