You are not a professional, so don’t be too critical about your development. I know I was at first. It takes time to get this game down, and for some, a LONG time. However, you can use your limited time far better than most amateurs. If you practice properly, you will save a lot of time, money, and find the game of golf much more rewarding. Proper practice will build motor memory, or in other words, good habits. With the right motor memory, you will be able to avoid that bunker on Number 18, even with the whole gallery (the geeks in the club house) watching.
Many teaching professionals, while giving excellent hands-on instruction, don’t give students a means for continuing to give you constructive criticism. They don’t provide a specific practice plan or a way for students to observe their own development after completing a few lessons. Therefore, golfers tend to slip into their old habits, or they develop new swing faults without even realizing it.
Golfers don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan. What you need to do is come up with a plan to develop your golf game. Start by going to the driving range on a weekly basis. I don't know about many courses throughout the country, but at least in Utah, most driving ranges close late at night so that you can get out of your office and onto the range with time to spare. Start by hitting a few balls with each golf club to see which ones you need the most work on and then narrow down your practice around those clubs (while still practicing with the others as well). Also, every course I have seen has a practice green where you can practice your chipping and putting. Follow the plan that you come up with for yourself and you will improve far more rapidly than you imagined possible.
Most people never even come close to practicing golf in an organized way, the way touring professionals practice. Now you will have the opportunity to practice this way. Just make sure you do so to help yourself improve your game. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Click Here to learn about The Simple Golf Swing!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Golf Terms for Beginners
I figured this would be a good thing to write for some of our newer golfers out there. These are all things that I'm glad to know as I'm just beginning to learn how to play golf. There are many more terms to learn other than these, but I figured this is a good start.
Address: The process of placing the club behind the ball and taking a stance in preparation of hitting it.
Alignment: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet in proper alignment with each other.
Aim: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet properly aligned and pointed in the same direction, usually at a 90-degree angle to the target.
Backspin: The spin of a ball where the forward area of the ball rotates over the top area of the ball causing the ball’s forward movement to slow on impact.
Backswing: The start of the swing as the club moves away from the target.
Ball Flight: The path and trajectory of a ball while in the air.
Closed Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly counterclockwise
within the swing path. Can cause the ball to hook.
Club Face: The front of the club, which makes contact with the ball.
Compensation: A movement for the purpose of overcoming another flawed motion.
Divot: The mark left in the fairway or rough, caused by the removal of turf by an iron. Indicates the [proper] descending blow of an iron.
Downhill Lie: The angle caused by the ball being on a downward sloping hill.
Draw: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the inside, relative to the swing.
Fade: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the outside, relative to the swing.
Flier Lie: The lie of a ball on fluffy grass, which causes the ball to pop up more quickly than expected.
Green: The manicured portion of the hole where the cup resides.
Grip: The rubber, plastic or leather sheath on the shaft.
Heel: Where the club head is attached to the shaft.
Hook: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the inside, relative to the swing.
Inside Path: The path of the club when it is inside the plane.
Lie: How the ball is sitting (good, bad, flier, etc.)
Lie Angle: The angle of the club shaft in relation to the sole of the club head.
Loft: The face angle relative to the sole of the club head.
Open Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly clockwise within the swing path. Can cause the ball to slice.
Outside Path: The path of the club when it is outside the plane.
Par: The number of strokes designated by the golf course for each hole and tallied for a total amount. Most 18-hole courses are between 70 and 72.
Pivot: The turning or “coiling” of the upper body during the swing.
Pull: Ball flight characterized by going straight and left of the target
Pull Hook: Ball flight characterized by starting left of the target and bending/curving even more.
Push: Ball flight characterized by going straight and right of the target
Push Slice: Ball flight characterized by starting right of the target and bending/curving even more.
Shank: Hitting the ball off the heel area of the club, which causes the ball to squirt low and to the inside.
Slice: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the outside, relative to the swing.
Square Club Face: Occurs when the club face is perpendicular to the swing path.
Sweet Spot: The area on the face of a club where the impact is most beneficial, as designed by the manufacturer.
Toe: The outside of the club, or part of the club head opposite the heel.
Unplayable Lie: A lie where the ball cannot be played due to natural obstructions.
See the Rules for details on penalties.
Click Here to learn about The Simple Golf Swing!
Address: The process of placing the club behind the ball and taking a stance in preparation of hitting it.
Alignment: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet in proper alignment with each other.
Aim: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet properly aligned and pointed in the same direction, usually at a 90-degree angle to the target.
Backspin: The spin of a ball where the forward area of the ball rotates over the top area of the ball causing the ball’s forward movement to slow on impact.
Backswing: The start of the swing as the club moves away from the target.
Ball Flight: The path and trajectory of a ball while in the air.
Closed Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly counterclockwise
within the swing path. Can cause the ball to hook.
Club Face: The front of the club, which makes contact with the ball.
Compensation: A movement for the purpose of overcoming another flawed motion.
Divot: The mark left in the fairway or rough, caused by the removal of turf by an iron. Indicates the [proper] descending blow of an iron.
Downhill Lie: The angle caused by the ball being on a downward sloping hill.
Draw: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the inside, relative to the swing.
Fade: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the outside, relative to the swing.
Flier Lie: The lie of a ball on fluffy grass, which causes the ball to pop up more quickly than expected.
Green: The manicured portion of the hole where the cup resides.
Grip: The rubber, plastic or leather sheath on the shaft.
Heel: Where the club head is attached to the shaft.
Hook: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the inside, relative to the swing.
Inside Path: The path of the club when it is inside the plane.
Lie: How the ball is sitting (good, bad, flier, etc.)
Lie Angle: The angle of the club shaft in relation to the sole of the club head.
Loft: The face angle relative to the sole of the club head.
Open Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly clockwise within the swing path. Can cause the ball to slice.
Outside Path: The path of the club when it is outside the plane.
Par: The number of strokes designated by the golf course for each hole and tallied for a total amount. Most 18-hole courses are between 70 and 72.
Pivot: The turning or “coiling” of the upper body during the swing.
Pull: Ball flight characterized by going straight and left of the target
Pull Hook: Ball flight characterized by starting left of the target and bending/curving even more.
Push: Ball flight characterized by going straight and right of the target
Push Slice: Ball flight characterized by starting right of the target and bending/curving even more.
Shank: Hitting the ball off the heel area of the club, which causes the ball to squirt low and to the inside.
Slice: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the outside, relative to the swing.
Square Club Face: Occurs when the club face is perpendicular to the swing path.
Sweet Spot: The area on the face of a club where the impact is most beneficial, as designed by the manufacturer.
Toe: The outside of the club, or part of the club head opposite the heel.
Unplayable Lie: A lie where the ball cannot be played due to natural obstructions.
See the Rules for details on penalties.
Click Here to learn about The Simple Golf Swing!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Simple Golf Swing
When learning to golf it is easy to discover, rather quickly, that a lot of technique is involved in order to hit the ball accurately, or even at all.
My second golfing experience was with a girlfriend from high school who loves to play golf and is very skilled at it. As I would prepare to swing, she would stand and watch me and critique me on my stance. She would tell me to bend my knees and space my feet evenly apart with the golf ball centered between them at club’s distance in front of me, and then when I pulled the golf club back to get ready to swing, I was to keep my left elbow locked completely straight, cock my wrists at the top, keep my knees bent, keep my left foot flat on the ground, and twist my torso instead of leaning to the right, and keep my eyes on the ball until it was off the ground. Now as you can imagine, keeping all of these tips foremost in my mind all at once was rather difficult, and I could tell it was going to take a while to get this down…
As I continued to struggle with this technique, my friend referred me to a book called “The Simple Golf Swing.” It is claimed to be revolutionary and to improve the swing of an amateur golfer significantly within two short weeks. It is available to order online, and seems to be quite a positive investment. To find out more about this amazing book, click the link below:
My second golfing experience was with a girlfriend from high school who loves to play golf and is very skilled at it. As I would prepare to swing, she would stand and watch me and critique me on my stance. She would tell me to bend my knees and space my feet evenly apart with the golf ball centered between them at club’s distance in front of me, and then when I pulled the golf club back to get ready to swing, I was to keep my left elbow locked completely straight, cock my wrists at the top, keep my knees bent, keep my left foot flat on the ground, and twist my torso instead of leaning to the right, and keep my eyes on the ball until it was off the ground. Now as you can imagine, keeping all of these tips foremost in my mind all at once was rather difficult, and I could tell it was going to take a while to get this down…
As I continued to struggle with this technique, my friend referred me to a book called “The Simple Golf Swing.” It is claimed to be revolutionary and to improve the swing of an amateur golfer significantly within two short weeks. It is available to order online, and seems to be quite a positive investment. To find out more about this amazing book, click the link below:
Monday, July 13, 2009
Woods & Irons, Irons & Woods
Golf is a great game. As a beginner, finding the right club to learn with can be difficult, and even a little intimidating. There are eight clubs altogether, ranging from a 3-iron to a pitching wedge (3-PW), and also a putter. If you’ve been miniature golfing before, you should be familiar with what a putter is – the only difference is that a putter in this case is solid steel and a bit heavier than the plastic ones at a miniature golf course. There are two types of clubs – irons and woods. Irons have thin, steel club heads with grooved faces. Woods are made of steel as well, but have thick club heads and are easier to start out with when you’re a beginner.
Like I said in my last post, during my first golfing experience I started out with a 3-iron Wilson golf club. I thought this was a good choice until the next time I went golfing and used a 9-wood. 7-woods and 9-woods are often beneficial for women and seniors, especially when starting out, because they allow you to change the face angle, loft lie, and angle to affect the ball flight. This was proven to me when I used the 9-wood to hit. Once again, out on the green, I took a whack at the little Maxfli golf ball at my feet and sent it flying about 200 yards ahead of me. Now obviously this takes some technique as well, which I still have yet to master, but the 9-wood is definitely a good way to go when starting out!
Taylor Made R9 Fairway Wood
Like I said in my last post, during my first golfing experience I started out with a 3-iron Wilson golf club. I thought this was a good choice until the next time I went golfing and used a 9-wood. 7-woods and 9-woods are often beneficial for women and seniors, especially when starting out, because they allow you to change the face angle, loft lie, and angle to affect the ball flight. This was proven to me when I used the 9-wood to hit. Once again, out on the green, I took a whack at the little Maxfli golf ball at my feet and sent it flying about 200 yards ahead of me. Now obviously this takes some technique as well, which I still have yet to master, but the 9-wood is definitely a good way to go when starting out!
Taylor Made R9 Fairway Wood
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Amateur Begins...
When it comes to golfing, I am a novice. I used to think that golfing was just what old men did in their spare time while they discussed business matters, but I’ve recently been convinced otherwise. I’m dating a guy who absolutely loves golf, so I decided to try it out.
On a beautiful July morning, I found myself standing on a bed of thick green grass, a Maxfli golf ball at my feet, a 3-iron Wilson golf club in my hand, and a soft breeze blowing through my hair. It was a good day to be outdoors on the driving range, and I was ready to take a swing! As a prior softball player, I was positive that with one swing I could send that Maxfli golf ball out into the green abyss of the golf course, but shortly after my club made contact with the ball, it landed right back at my feet! Somewhat irritated, I took another swing. This time it landed about eight feet to my left. Over and over I swung, I hacked, I literally beat each ball with my club, but this I did to no avail.
Luckily, this event wasn’t completely hopeless. A couple of times my trusty 3-iron made ideal, though I’ll admit, accidental contact with the ball, sending it about 150 yards ahead. My initial thought was, “I hate this game… but I love it!!!” With just those few successful swings, I was hooked. I may be a beginner and the game may be frustrating at first, but I look forward to my next golf outing! The amateur begins!
On a beautiful July morning, I found myself standing on a bed of thick green grass, a Maxfli golf ball at my feet, a 3-iron Wilson golf club in my hand, and a soft breeze blowing through my hair. It was a good day to be outdoors on the driving range, and I was ready to take a swing! As a prior softball player, I was positive that with one swing I could send that Maxfli golf ball out into the green abyss of the golf course, but shortly after my club made contact with the ball, it landed right back at my feet! Somewhat irritated, I took another swing. This time it landed about eight feet to my left. Over and over I swung, I hacked, I literally beat each ball with my club, but this I did to no avail.
Luckily, this event wasn’t completely hopeless. A couple of times my trusty 3-iron made ideal, though I’ll admit, accidental contact with the ball, sending it about 150 yards ahead. My initial thought was, “I hate this game… but I love it!!!” With just those few successful swings, I was hooked. I may be a beginner and the game may be frustrating at first, but I look forward to my next golf outing! The amateur begins!
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