What's the best stretch for hip motion to generate
extreme power?
The lower body is your base to your golf swing, but
generating power -- especially in your downswing --
comes from the transfer from your upper body through
your lower body.
If you have tight hip joints, you will have a very difficult
time trying to generate any clubhead speed. There has
to be a certain amount of hip rotation on the backswing
and definitely on the downswing.
So what can you do if you are restricted in this area?
STRETCH!!!
Did I get my point across?
Okay, now...what stretch, right?
Well, like all the stretches and resistance exercises I
have golfers do, it's a very easy one; and can be done
anywhere.
It's called the Seated Groin Stretch.
Here's what you do!
* Sit on the floor and bring the bottoms of your feet
together.
* Both knees will bend and there will be tension in your
inner thigh and groin area.
* Place you elbows on your knees while grabbing your
ankles.
* Apply pressure with your elbows on your knees to
provide a bigger stretch in your groin.
* Hold for at least 15 seconds and repeat once more.
Here's how you'll benefit from doing this stretch daily:
* It allows more freedom in the hip area during your
swing, while reducing strain on your lower back.
* It reduces tension in your hip and inner thigh on your
backswing and follow-through for more freedom in your
swing.
* It creates a coiling effect in your hip region for
increased leverage and power.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Hamstring Stretches
If you're like most of us, you daydream about the
best and newest golf "goodies." Yet, many
golfers give little thought to the missing link
between their golf clubs and their golf scores.
Don't know what that is? Look in the mirror! The
missing link is you!
For example, 80% of all amateur golfers have
extremely tight hamstrings. As a result, they
can't get into their ideal golf posture. Here's a
golf stretch to help you maintain a better golf
posture while relieving pressure on your lower
back. I call it my "Standing Hamstring Stretch."
Find something that's about the height of your
groin area -- a counter or the back of a couch
will do fine. Gently pick up one leg and put your
foot on the counter or couch. Bend your knee
slightly, and then lean over that leg with your
upper body. Hold that position for a count of 10.
Then repeat.
Do this stretch every day, and I guarantee your
golf posture and performance will improve
greatly.
best and newest golf "goodies." Yet, many
golfers give little thought to the missing link
between their golf clubs and their golf scores.
Don't know what that is? Look in the mirror! The
missing link is you!
For example, 80% of all amateur golfers have
extremely tight hamstrings. As a result, they
can't get into their ideal golf posture. Here's a
golf stretch to help you maintain a better golf
posture while relieving pressure on your lower
back. I call it my "Standing Hamstring Stretch."
Find something that's about the height of your
groin area -- a counter or the back of a couch
will do fine. Gently pick up one leg and put your
foot on the counter or couch. Bend your knee
slightly, and then lean over that leg with your
upper body. Hold that position for a count of 10.
Then repeat.
Do this stretch every day, and I guarantee your
golf posture and performance will improve
greatly.
Golf Carts
You don't need a driver's license to drive a golf cart on the course, but you do
need some common sense . If you are driving a motorized cart, drive at a
moderate speed and keep your eyes open for other golfers. Depending on
weather conditions and other variables, courses will post different rules relating
to the use of carts. Be sure to obey the course rules regarding carts such as:
Keep carts on paths at all times -- this is a rule that courses use if the ground is
very wet and they don't want the tires of the motorized carts to damage the fairway
grass. 90 Degree Rule -- this rule requires you to stay on the cart path until you
are even (at a 90 degree angle) with your ball. Then you may drive your cart
straight out to your ball. When you've taken your shot, drive straight back to the
cart path. Adhering to this rule minimizes damage to fairway grass as well, but
still allows golfers to drive right up to their ball. Always, under all circumstances,
keep all carts, motorized or pull-carts away from the greens and off the teeing
ground. Often the course will post signs giving directions as to where they want
you to park your cart; follow the directions.
need some common sense . If you are driving a motorized cart, drive at a
moderate speed and keep your eyes open for other golfers. Depending on
weather conditions and other variables, courses will post different rules relating
to the use of carts. Be sure to obey the course rules regarding carts such as:
Keep carts on paths at all times -- this is a rule that courses use if the ground is
very wet and they don't want the tires of the motorized carts to damage the fairway
grass. 90 Degree Rule -- this rule requires you to stay on the cart path until you
are even (at a 90 degree angle) with your ball. Then you may drive your cart
straight out to your ball. When you've taken your shot, drive straight back to the
cart path. Adhering to this rule minimizes damage to fairway grass as well, but
still allows golfers to drive right up to their ball. Always, under all circumstances,
keep all carts, motorized or pull-carts away from the greens and off the teeing
ground. Often the course will post signs giving directions as to where they want
you to park your cart; follow the directions.
The Mental Game
The right attitude and strategies are essential for success in any sport (or any
human endeavor for that matter), but they seem to be especially important in golf.
In so many other sports, your actions are reflexive, which leaves little time to think
about anything.
But in golf, the ball just sits there – giving you practically all the time you need to
decide what you’re going to do this time to pull off a successful shot. And how you
handle yourself mentally on the golf course, starting with your basic attitude and
including general and specific strategies toward the game, have a very important
influence on your results.
So this section of Tom’s Golf Tips is devoted exclusively
to tips I’ve collected on the mental game of golf. They are
worth checking out.
Technique is everything in this game and it doesn’t come
naturally to most people. Don’t hesitate to see a pro to
learn the proper technique. It will be a good investment.
Think before you hit and play within your capabilities.
Don’t try to execute a shot when your chances of
success are minimal.
Learn the terminology and basic rules of golf.
Understand that golf is more a game of precision than brute force. Distance is
fine, but not helpful at all if the ball ends up in the woods.
Don’t try to think of more than one swing key at a time when you’re making a shot.
It’s counter-productive.
During the swing, it sometimes it helps to think about a short mantra, such as
“Am—ster—dam” to keep other thoughts (especially negative thoughts!) out of
your mind and improve your tempo.
Don’t dwell on a bad shot after it happens. Focus on the shot ahead of you.
When you do have a bad shot, try to determine what caused it and turn it into
something that helps your game.
Don’t try to slug a seven-iron when a six-iron will get you there comfortably. Most
high-handicappers err by underclubbing themselves.
If long irons are giving you trouble, switch to fairway woods and metals. They are
much easier to hit.
Don’t hesitate to use a three-wood off the tee for more control.
Rather than easing up on a club if you’re concerned about hitting
it too far, take a club with more loft and swing away.
Try your best on every shot.
Make a conscious effort to remove tension from your grip and body.
Tension is a swing killer.
Take a few seconds to visualize the shot you are about to make. It helps.
If you tend to slice (as a right hander), hit your tee shots from the right side of the
tee – and do the opposite if you tend to hook. This gives you more fairway to work
with.
Always give yourself room for some error. If you need to fly the ball over a tree, and
you think a seven-iron will do it, hit an eight-iron.
Pick out a precise target on every shot, and always try to put yourself in the best
possible position to hit the next shot.
Wind strength and direction can have a big bearing on ball flight. Try to
learn through experience what one-club and two-club winds feel like.
The same goes for uphill and downhill shots.
If you have a sidehill shot with the ground falling away from you, aim left.
If you have a sidehill shot with the ball above your feet, aim right.
Pay close attention to where you are losing strokes, and devote your practice
sessions to those areas.
While on the course, don't think about your final score. Concern yourself only with
the shot at hand and the process of producing the best shot possible.
Above all, try to develop confidence in all your shotmaking. Negative thinking is
probably the biggest score-wrecker in golf, especially on short putts. Convince
yourself you can make that shot, or sink that putt, and good things will happen.
human endeavor for that matter), but they seem to be especially important in golf.
In so many other sports, your actions are reflexive, which leaves little time to think
about anything.
But in golf, the ball just sits there – giving you practically all the time you need to
decide what you’re going to do this time to pull off a successful shot. And how you
handle yourself mentally on the golf course, starting with your basic attitude and
including general and specific strategies toward the game, have a very important
influence on your results.
So this section of Tom’s Golf Tips is devoted exclusively
to tips I’ve collected on the mental game of golf. They are
worth checking out.
Technique is everything in this game and it doesn’t come
naturally to most people. Don’t hesitate to see a pro to
learn the proper technique. It will be a good investment.
Think before you hit and play within your capabilities.
Don’t try to execute a shot when your chances of
success are minimal.
Learn the terminology and basic rules of golf.
Understand that golf is more a game of precision than brute force. Distance is
fine, but not helpful at all if the ball ends up in the woods.
Don’t try to think of more than one swing key at a time when you’re making a shot.
It’s counter-productive.
During the swing, it sometimes it helps to think about a short mantra, such as
“Am—ster—dam” to keep other thoughts (especially negative thoughts!) out of
your mind and improve your tempo.
Don’t dwell on a bad shot after it happens. Focus on the shot ahead of you.
When you do have a bad shot, try to determine what caused it and turn it into
something that helps your game.
Don’t try to slug a seven-iron when a six-iron will get you there comfortably. Most
high-handicappers err by underclubbing themselves.
If long irons are giving you trouble, switch to fairway woods and metals. They are
much easier to hit.
Don’t hesitate to use a three-wood off the tee for more control.
Rather than easing up on a club if you’re concerned about hitting
it too far, take a club with more loft and swing away.
Try your best on every shot.
Make a conscious effort to remove tension from your grip and body.
Tension is a swing killer.
Take a few seconds to visualize the shot you are about to make. It helps.
If you tend to slice (as a right hander), hit your tee shots from the right side of the
tee – and do the opposite if you tend to hook. This gives you more fairway to work
with.
Always give yourself room for some error. If you need to fly the ball over a tree, and
you think a seven-iron will do it, hit an eight-iron.
Pick out a precise target on every shot, and always try to put yourself in the best
possible position to hit the next shot.
Wind strength and direction can have a big bearing on ball flight. Try to
learn through experience what one-club and two-club winds feel like.
The same goes for uphill and downhill shots.
If you have a sidehill shot with the ground falling away from you, aim left.
If you have a sidehill shot with the ball above your feet, aim right.
Pay close attention to where you are losing strokes, and devote your practice
sessions to those areas.
While on the course, don't think about your final score. Concern yourself only with
the shot at hand and the process of producing the best shot possible.
Above all, try to develop confidence in all your shotmaking. Negative thinking is
probably the biggest score-wrecker in golf, especially on short putts. Convince
yourself you can make that shot, or sink that putt, and good things will happen.
What to do to break par
You have to find the time to do some serious work on the short game. If it's
difficult to make it out to the course, you can always chip and pitch balls in your
backyard and putt on an indoor carpet every night. This dedication to the short
game is what will allow you to still shoot good numbers when your swing is
not at it's best. It will also reduce pressure on your approach shots because if
you can get the ball up and down regularly, it's not that big of a deal if you miss
the odd green. When you do work on your full swing try to work on the weaker
clubs in your bag and hitting the ball from poor lies. Also, forget distance. At
your level you are probably long enough. Concentrate on never swinging over
80% of your ability. If you can resist the temptation to hit the ball too hard your
miss hits will not stray to far off line, eliminating the need for that miraculous
shot to get you back it the game. Finally, have fun out there. If you lighten up a
little you will reduce your stress levels allowing you to switch into automatic
mode instead of having to grind it out all of the time.
difficult to make it out to the course, you can always chip and pitch balls in your
backyard and putt on an indoor carpet every night. This dedication to the short
game is what will allow you to still shoot good numbers when your swing is
not at it's best. It will also reduce pressure on your approach shots because if
you can get the ball up and down regularly, it's not that big of a deal if you miss
the odd green. When you do work on your full swing try to work on the weaker
clubs in your bag and hitting the ball from poor lies. Also, forget distance. At
your level you are probably long enough. Concentrate on never swinging over
80% of your ability. If you can resist the temptation to hit the ball too hard your
miss hits will not stray to far off line, eliminating the need for that miraculous
shot to get you back it the game. Finally, have fun out there. If you lighten up a
little you will reduce your stress levels allowing you to switch into automatic
mode instead of having to grind it out all of the time.
Chips & Pitches
BEST TIP: Let left arm control club with little
wrist action.
Choke down on the club an inch or two for chips.
Use a narrow, open stance. Open the clubface and keep it
square to the target.
Use the same basic swing for a chip and pitch.
For chips, stand tall and raise your hands to get the heel of
the club up and the toe down. This promotes crisp shots.
Play ball off right foot, angle shaft toward target, open
stance, let shoulders control swing, keep left arm against
left side, let clubhead swing to left of target after impact.
Don't rush the downswing.
Make sure the shaft is leaning toward the target at impact.
To avoid hitting chips and pitches fat:
don’t sole the club at address.
use an open, narrow stance.
keep arms connected to chest and rotate body rather than
sliding hips laterally and jabbing at the ball with your hands.
focus eyes on front of ball, with weight on front foot and
wrists ahead of ball at impact.
be sure to make a complete follow-through.
Use arm and shoulder swing, not hands, for short chips.
Let gravity do most of the work on downswing.
Let left arm control club throughout swing with little wrist
action.
Play ball back in stance with hands and weight towards
target.
For high pitches, start downswing with legs.
Open stance, square shoulders. Club should go straight
back and through. Rock (like a clothes hanger on a hook),
don’t turn shoulders. Let arms drop to start downswing.
Use a light grip.
Clubhead should trail, not lead, hands and wrists at impact.
Use inside out swingpath and be sure to pivot.
To avoid "scooping" chips and pitches, keep wrists ahead
of ball at impact.
In pitches, ball and shaft should be centered and weight
should be divided evenly.
For distance control, don’t let right hand take control of
clubhead speed.
Control the distance on short shots by limiting your
backswing.
To avoid thin chips, don’t try to help the ball into the air.
Use a low running shot when conditions permit for more
control.
For a low running chip, use a very narrow stance, play ball
off right foot, keep hands ahead of ball, and swing straight
back and through with firm hands. Keep your hands low at
the finish.
For a short, pop chip, use an open and narrow stance, an
open clubface, play the ball in the middle, hit ball from out to
in. Don’t flip wrists.
When chipping, keep butt of club pointed at belt buckle.
For short shots, move feet closer together and take shallow
divots.
Keep lower body still on short chips just off the green.
For long chips, keep lower body relaxed and let it react
naturally to actions of arms and upper body. Start
downswing by shifting knees toward target.
To improve your rhythm, make your backswing and forward
swing equal in length.
wrist action.
Choke down on the club an inch or two for chips.
Use a narrow, open stance. Open the clubface and keep it
square to the target.
Use the same basic swing for a chip and pitch.
For chips, stand tall and raise your hands to get the heel of
the club up and the toe down. This promotes crisp shots.
Play ball off right foot, angle shaft toward target, open
stance, let shoulders control swing, keep left arm against
left side, let clubhead swing to left of target after impact.
Don't rush the downswing.
Make sure the shaft is leaning toward the target at impact.
To avoid hitting chips and pitches fat:
don’t sole the club at address.
use an open, narrow stance.
keep arms connected to chest and rotate body rather than
sliding hips laterally and jabbing at the ball with your hands.
focus eyes on front of ball, with weight on front foot and
wrists ahead of ball at impact.
be sure to make a complete follow-through.
Use arm and shoulder swing, not hands, for short chips.
Let gravity do most of the work on downswing.
Let left arm control club throughout swing with little wrist
action.
Play ball back in stance with hands and weight towards
target.
For high pitches, start downswing with legs.
Open stance, square shoulders. Club should go straight
back and through. Rock (like a clothes hanger on a hook),
don’t turn shoulders. Let arms drop to start downswing.
Use a light grip.
Clubhead should trail, not lead, hands and wrists at impact.
Use inside out swingpath and be sure to pivot.
To avoid "scooping" chips and pitches, keep wrists ahead
of ball at impact.
In pitches, ball and shaft should be centered and weight
should be divided evenly.
For distance control, don’t let right hand take control of
clubhead speed.
Control the distance on short shots by limiting your
backswing.
To avoid thin chips, don’t try to help the ball into the air.
Use a low running shot when conditions permit for more
control.
For a low running chip, use a very narrow stance, play ball
off right foot, keep hands ahead of ball, and swing straight
back and through with firm hands. Keep your hands low at
the finish.
For a short, pop chip, use an open and narrow stance, an
open clubface, play the ball in the middle, hit ball from out to
in. Don’t flip wrists.
When chipping, keep butt of club pointed at belt buckle.
For short shots, move feet closer together and take shallow
divots.
Keep lower body still on short chips just off the green.
For long chips, keep lower body relaxed and let it react
naturally to actions of arms and upper body. Start
downswing by shifting knees toward target.
To improve your rhythm, make your backswing and forward
swing equal in length.
Curing the Slice
BEST TIP: Keep left arm straight and rotate it before
impact.
Line up ball on heel of club at address to promote inside-out
swingpath.
Use a strong grip, light grip pressure and relaxed
forearms. This helps square the clubface at impact.
Grip club in fingers. This also adds distance.
Take club straight back on backswing, and change the swing plane
to inside-out on downswing.
To get proper swing feel, pretend that an elastic cord connects your
right elbow to your right hip and your left elbow to your left hip.
On takeaway through downswing, keep your left
wrist straight and your right wrist cupped.
Don’t let your body get ahead of your arms and
hands on downswing. Try to hold your body back.
Square shoulder alignment is critical.
On downswing, pull down with both arms, as if
you’re ringing a bell.
Flatten swing plane.
Transfer weight from top of swing diagonally toward right of target,
while letting right elbow come down. Also corrects "toe shots."
Keep back towards target longer and delay hipturn on downswing to
avoid outside-in swingpath.
Practice hitting the ball with back to target to get proper feel.
On downswing, swing with arms and hands, not shoulders and body.
Align shoulders to right of target at address. On downswing, move
right shoulder down rather than out toward target line. Tuck right
elbow in close to torso. Avoid spinning shoulders too early.
Always turn. Never sway. Full turn sets stage for proper downswing.
Lower body first. Shoulders and arms second. At impact, belt buckle
should be even with the ball and majority of weight should be on left
foot
Avoid spinning of hips at start of downswing. From top of downswing,
focus on shifting hips laterally toward target. Hips will turn, but it will
happen naturally. Don’t force it.
Keep hands in front of chest and both arms extended well into
backswing
Keep left arm in line with shoulders at top of backswing. Don’t drop
left shoulder during backswing.
Keep right side low at address. Play the ball
even with your left armpit and with your spine
tilted away from target.
Delay hand and chest rotation on downswing.
Start your downswing with arms moving down
rather than forward.
Don’t let chest outrun arms and hands on
downswing. Keeping chest back gives arms
room to swing down from inside out.
Don’t swing inside to out. Instead, swing
inside to square to inside and rotate forearms
along with body through hitting area.
Don’t exaggerate taking club inside on backswing. Maintain spine
angle.
Try to make the toe of the club reach the ball before the heel. Avoid
opening hips.
To help square the clubface at impact, pretend you are hitting a ball
well behind the actual ball.
Keep your left arm straight through impact and rotate it as it
approaches ball.
If you rotate your left forearm properly through impact, you can hit
hard with your right hand without slicing.
If your divots on practice swings are well behind the ball, it is a sign
you are making an improper inside arm swing when you take the
club back.
Relax the thumb and forefinger on your right hand. This relaxes the
right arm and makes it easier to swing the club along the right plane.
To avoid swinging "over the top," start your downswing with your
arms while keeping your back to the target.
With a neutral grip and a "frisbee throw" with the left hand, try to make
the back of your left hand parallel to the ground at impact.
impact.
Line up ball on heel of club at address to promote inside-out
swingpath.
Use a strong grip, light grip pressure and relaxed
forearms. This helps square the clubface at impact.
Grip club in fingers. This also adds distance.
Take club straight back on backswing, and change the swing plane
to inside-out on downswing.
To get proper swing feel, pretend that an elastic cord connects your
right elbow to your right hip and your left elbow to your left hip.
On takeaway through downswing, keep your left
wrist straight and your right wrist cupped.
Don’t let your body get ahead of your arms and
hands on downswing. Try to hold your body back.
Square shoulder alignment is critical.
On downswing, pull down with both arms, as if
you’re ringing a bell.
Flatten swing plane.
Transfer weight from top of swing diagonally toward right of target,
while letting right elbow come down. Also corrects "toe shots."
Keep back towards target longer and delay hipturn on downswing to
avoid outside-in swingpath.
Practice hitting the ball with back to target to get proper feel.
On downswing, swing with arms and hands, not shoulders and body.
Align shoulders to right of target at address. On downswing, move
right shoulder down rather than out toward target line. Tuck right
elbow in close to torso. Avoid spinning shoulders too early.
Always turn. Never sway. Full turn sets stage for proper downswing.
Lower body first. Shoulders and arms second. At impact, belt buckle
should be even with the ball and majority of weight should be on left
foot
Avoid spinning of hips at start of downswing. From top of downswing,
focus on shifting hips laterally toward target. Hips will turn, but it will
happen naturally. Don’t force it.
Keep hands in front of chest and both arms extended well into
backswing
Keep left arm in line with shoulders at top of backswing. Don’t drop
left shoulder during backswing.
Keep right side low at address. Play the ball
even with your left armpit and with your spine
tilted away from target.
Delay hand and chest rotation on downswing.
Start your downswing with arms moving down
rather than forward.
Don’t let chest outrun arms and hands on
downswing. Keeping chest back gives arms
room to swing down from inside out.
Don’t swing inside to out. Instead, swing
inside to square to inside and rotate forearms
along with body through hitting area.
Don’t exaggerate taking club inside on backswing. Maintain spine
angle.
Try to make the toe of the club reach the ball before the heel. Avoid
opening hips.
To help square the clubface at impact, pretend you are hitting a ball
well behind the actual ball.
Keep your left arm straight through impact and rotate it as it
approaches ball.
If you rotate your left forearm properly through impact, you can hit
hard with your right hand without slicing.
If your divots on practice swings are well behind the ball, it is a sign
you are making an improper inside arm swing when you take the
club back.
Relax the thumb and forefinger on your right hand. This relaxes the
right arm and makes it easier to swing the club along the right plane.
To avoid swinging "over the top," start your downswing with your
arms while keeping your back to the target.
With a neutral grip and a "frisbee throw" with the left hand, try to make
the back of your left hand parallel to the ground at impact.
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