Golf Tips

“is it time we move forward?”

It’s safe to say, many would like to put 2020 behind them. A tough year? That would be an understatement. With a difficult economy and social distancing still the buzz phrase, it’s hard to know how to look ahead, let alone move forward. The golf industry, unlike many others, has been blessed. Despite heavy restrictions, golf has a built-in social distancing platform. As a result, most golf courses remained open or opened quickly despite a nationwide shutdown last spring. Many people quickly grew tired of watching endless movies, series and documentaries on Netflix. In a desperate attempt to find something to do, thousands flocked to local golf courses in hopes of escaping reality or getting the kids out of the house. Our sanity was at stake! How do we expand the game…

hitting the punch shot

Learning the punch shot is a must have for every golfer. Keeping the ball low, can save strokes in windy conditions. The Scenario You hit your pitching wedge pretty solidly, but it takes your best swing to get close to the pin. The Solution The longer the backswing, the less margin for error, yet most golfers make their club selection based on a full swing for the yardage at hand. This often can prove to be a big mistake, especially when you can get away with swinging a longer club a little shorter. Often referred to as a “Punch Shot,” this is a shot maker’s best friend, especially to an open green or when faced with a stiff wind. Below are the steps to executing the shot properly as well as a yardage guide to…

visualization on the course

Visualization is one of the routines good players perform on the course that sets them apart from amateurs. As a teaching golf professional, I get asked on a weekly basis how to transfer what my students learn at the range or on the simulator out to the golf course. In order to do this, you need to visualize the good shots that you had on the range during your practice time. In other words, when you get a perfect shot on the driving range, you need to lock that in. You should remember both how your body felt in making the swing but also the process of the shot. If you can do that, it will help you because the more you practice this, the more it will start to register…

driver slice encyclopedia

Can you believe that approximately 70% of golfers worldwide slice it off the tee? That is an absurd number! Why is a slice such a common missed shot tendency? Let’s find out as we learn to get rid of that slice forever. What Causes A Slice? The most typical reason for slicing your shot is an out-to-in club path and/or an opened club face at impact. Let me break it down into swing positions, so you can always refer back when the slice creeps back into your game. 1. Poor Grip: Weak grip promotes slice. Check to see if you can see either two knuckles on your lead hand or the flap of your glove.2. Ball Position: If the ball is too far back in the stance, it is tough to release the club…

off the tee

You practice on the range with your driver the most out of all of your clubs, but just when you start to feel confident about letting it fly, the ball pops straight up into the air. It’s embarrassing; it also goes nowhere. Sound familiar? If you’re swinging at your teed-up ball with an iron swing, it makes sense that you’re popping it up. Wouldn’t it? With an iron, the goal is to hit “down” on the ball to make the ball pop up. With the big stick, however, the ball is already teed up for you, so there’s no need to hit down. Angle of attack is a measure of how steep the club face is moving toward the ball. For example, you would want to hit your 7-iron with a negative…

the yips

In the world of professional golf, players are ultimately measured by one statistic—the money list. Keeping your card as a TOUR player is pressure-packed, an experience the average golfer could never fathom. Success is measured weekly, and by year’s end, many players are left without a job and must reshuffle and start all over again. TOUR players often look at their driving distance, greens in regulation and up and down percentage, all of which are important measurements, in seeking an advantage over the field. But in my experience as a teaching professional, success starts not from the tee box that may be over 500 yards away but from the hole, with the ball only 3 feet away. I have come to realize that all players of all levels struggle with…