Quick Tips

Squeeze And Let Go

Over the years, much has been written about grip pressure and what this level of pressure feels like. This has been a difficult task for instructors because how can you aptly describe what something feels like?

In this lesson, I’ll give you something more than a description of what correct grip pressure feels like. Take any club and squeeze it as tight as you can. That’s it–strangle that club handle. Give it the death grip. Take your normal address position, continuing to give the club a good squeeze. Now, just before you feel ready to take the club back to start your backswing, relax your hands. Let all the tension run from your fingers and your arms. Do you feel a softness in your hands now? If you do, that’s what correct grip pressure feels like. This tension-free grip is what allows good golfers to swing with rhythm and in good tempo. It results in the golfer being able to snap, or sling, the clubhead at the bottom of the golf swing, which is how a golf ball should be struck.

If you have tension in your hands and arms, you’ll end up dragging the clubhead through the hitting zone. Adopting a tension-free hold is the way to grip every club in your bag. Use this tip on the course the next time you feel tension setting in. Soon, you’ll again sense the release and power in your swing. Tension is the number-one killer of the golf swing–let it out with a good squeeze.

Professional golf instructor Barry Goldstein is the director of golf at Polar Shot Golf Center in Johnson City, N.Y. He also instructs at the Coral Springs Golf Range in Coral Springs, Fla.

The New Basics

In this article, we’ll take a look at what I like to call the get set position, or what’s more commonly referred to as the top of the backswing. Properly achieving this position supplies the power. Most amateurs make the mistake of never getting set, instead shifting into a reverse pivot or simply sliding laterally away from the target. Either of these moves will result in a great loss of power. In order to unload and_Ê properly return the club back through impact with balance and rhythm, you must have a good get set position.

If you follow the steps and perform the drills outlined in this article, you’ll find yourself set up to generate a stronger, more powerful golf swing.

Upper Body
_ÊAt the top, the left shoulder should be turned under the chin and hover above the right knee. Allow the left arm to extend naturally and fully.
_Ê
Lower Body
Your weight should be on your right side and on the inside of the right foot–over the arch, not the toes or heels. Point your left knee at or behind the golf ball.

Perfectly Set
Notice how I’ve maintained the spine angle I established at address. This is key, along with an extended left arm, a folded right arm and a shaft that lies above the right shoulder.

Batter Up
A solid, loaded get set position should feel very much like you’re about to skip a stone across a lake. Getting into this stance will allow you to deliver the club properly into the back of the ball.

Incorrect “Get Set” Positions
Unnaturally extending the left arm or overly bending the right can lead to big problems in trying to make solid contact. Trying to keep the left arm too straight will lead to lifting or spine angle changes on the way back. Over-folding the right arm invariably leads to an early casting of the club. Both moves sap power.

“Get Set” Drills

Umbrella Drill
Not only must you make a good body turn during the get set phase of the swing, you must also make sure that the arms and hands swing properly and in harmony with your rotation. The arms and hands supply the radius of your swing and control on which planes it travels back and through.

Try the umbrella drill to check that your arms and hands are in the right positions throughout the swing.

Step 1: Place an umbrella in the ground on a 45-degree angle, or one that mirrors the shaft angle at address.

Step 2: Swing the club away, allowing your body to make a good turn. Once your left arm is parallel to the ground, the wrists will have cocked into position. What you should notice is that the clubshaft now parallels the angle of the umbrella, and that the butt of the grip points toward the target line.

If you’re successful in swinging the club into this position, you’ll find that the club will travel perfectly up the swing plane and help you more easily attain a solid, loaded at-the-top position.

Rotation Drill
Assume your regular address position. Place a club across your shoulders. Now, start to turn your shoulders back until your left shoulder is over your right knee. Notice that the hips have turned half as much as the shoulders, that the right knee is still flexed and that the left knee points behind the ball. That’s a good turn. Starting from the ground up, transfer your weight back to the left side as you uncoil toward the target. You should finish with your chest facing the target, your right toe supporting your balance and still with a slight tilt to your spine. Ingraining a solid turn is that easy.

Canadian PGA professional Jeremy Taylor is the head instructor at the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club, located at the world-class Whistler Resort in British Columbia, Canada.

Maintain The Bend

There are many important facets to a good golf swing, but maintaining the bend in the right knee is one that simply can’t be overlooked. When a student comes to me with a common complaint (slicing, poor ballstriking or a general lack of consistency), I always take a close look at his or her body angles, and make certain that their posture and knee position are constant throughout the swing. If the student is having problems with posture or knee position, it’s not worth spending a lot of time working on other aspects of the swing. Solid results just can’t be achieved without correcting these problems first.
_Ê_Ê
Typically, golfers who straighten the right knee suffer from a sliding or swaying of the hips in the backswing.

Of course, these problems, along with the reverse pivot, are extremely common faults for recreational golfers, so it’s no surprise that a straightening of the right knee is also very common. The only way to prevent right-knee straightening is to keep the lower body centered and acting as a base of support. This way, the upper body will have the freedom to get behind the ball without affecting the angle or bend of the right leg.

It’s important to understand that trying to restrict the movement of the right leg while making your regular backswing won’t remedy the problem. The ideal situation is one in which the swing works without mechanics that affect the bend of the right knee.

The key to achieving this effortless backswing is keeping the spine angle you establish at address a constant. The spine angle and right-knee bend are closely related, and it’s necessary to maintain both angles for a solid golf swing.

My favorite drill for developing a solid backswing is the two-club drill. To practice the drill, you need two extra clubs and the help of a friend.

First, assume your address position, and have your friend stand behind you, placing the head of one club against your left shoulder and the head of the other club against your left hip. Then, take a backswing. If your hip moves off the club, then you’ve swayed, and your right leg and knee have straightened to some degree. Instead, you want the left shoulder to move off the club to the inside of the right foot, and the left hip to rotate while staying in contact with the club. This will ensure that you’ve maintained your original spine angle throughout the backswing, while also helping retain the original angle of the right knee.

Continue practicing this drill until the proper position feels natural. It might take some time, but if you can learn to maintain your right-knee flex and spine angle throughout the swing, you’ll be well on your way to developing a more solid, consistent golf game.
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Losin’ It
Losing your right-knee flex during the backswing usually results from a straightening of the right leg, a move that also generates a reverse-pivot. From this position, the likelihood of producing a slice increases dramatically.

No!
When performing the two-club drill, it’s important to turn correctly while maintaining your spine angle. If your left hip moves off the club on your backswing, you’ve swayed or tilted your spine–disaster.

Yes!
A solid backswing turn, one in which the right knee retains its flex and the spine angle doesn’t change, is evidenced in the two-club drill–at the top, the left hip is still in contact with the club while the shoulder has moved off the other.

Veteran instructor Carl Rabito is a two-time ECC PGA Teacher of the Year. His Rabito Golf Schools are based at the Diamond Players Club in Orlando, Fla.

A Call To Arms

Every golfer will experience periods of inconsistent ballstriking, low confidence and a general sensation of swinging out of sync. For these times, I offer a quick fix: Quiet your lower body, and concentrate on swinging the golf club with only your hands and arms.

Timing issues that can wreck a golfer’s confidence tend to crop up when he or she makes too many gyrations with his or her body, like turning and twisting the upper torso or overworking the legs. When golfers try to use their whole body to move the golf club, often they have no chance of making consistent contact or creating ample clubhead speed.

One of my favorite drills provides an immediate remedy for an overactive body. Make a few practice swings at quarter-speed and half-speed, slowly working up to full speed, keeping body movement to a minimum. Internalize the sensations created by the simple motion of the arms swinging the club back to the top and dropping into place on the downswing. As Charlie Sorrell, a former PGA teacher of the year, likes to say, The hands are for holding, the wrists are for hinging, and the arms are for swinging.

In the process of relearning the importance of the hand-and-arm swing, you’ll be building up clubhead speed. Try this drill, and you’ll find yourself back in rhythm, and regaining lost distance and confidence in no time.

Senior Instruction Editor Art Sellinger represents the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas, Texas. He’s the creator of the popular Power Guarantee training program and home video, available at www.artoflongdriving.com.

See Spot Putt

When the pressure is on, I’ve found spot putting to be especially effective. In fact, two of the great pressure putters of all time, Dave Stockton and Jack Nicklaus, employ the spot technique.

One of the main benefits of spot putting is that it helps you maintain your putting posture throughout the stroke. Most golfers tend to rise up out of their posture prematurely, usually because they’re anxious to see the results of their efforts. Rising up from your stance usually forces a stroke that strays off-line and sends the ball away from the intended target.

Spot putting can help you beat this flaw and improve the quality of your putts. Try this: Choose a spot on the green an inch or two in front of your ball and directly on the line you’ve chosen to roll your putt. I typically look for an unusual blade of grass or a colored spot on the putting surface. When you’re set to putt the ball, focus your eyes on your chosen spot—not your golf ball. Now, make your stroke with the goal of rolling the ball right over the spot. Remember, don’t rise up from your putting posture until your putterface has passed your spot.

Spot putting effectively takes the hole out of your mind, which typically translates into a smoother stroke. Also, by focusing on the spot rather than the ball, you’ll tend to properly accelerate the putterhead down your intended line, which will result in more putts finding the hole.

Professional golf instructor Barry Goldstein is the director of golf at Polar Shot Golf Center in Johnson City, N.Y. He also instructs at the Coral Springs Golf Range in Coral Springs, Fla.

Staying On-Plane

A major fault of both accomplished and recreational golfers alike is taking the club too far inside on the backswing. This inside position generally leads to the club getting stuck behind the right hip (for right-handed golfers) on the downswing, preventing the desired, down-the-line release. Getting stuck too far inside creates a number of problems, the most serious of which is a compensatory flipping of the hands at impact, a move that creates nothing but glancing blows and non-compressed golf shots.

Swinging the club too far inside on the backswing and flipping at the ball not only affects the quality of impact, but can also greatly affect accuracy. Because the club can’t pass the right hip in the downswing and release down the target line, shots can go both left or right, without predictability or consistency. Playing golf with this type of move isn’t a lot of fun.

The best way to eradicate the inside takeaway for good is to learn to swing the club on-plane and down the target line. To accomplish this, lay a club on the ground in line with your hands and parallel to the target line. Take the club away by moving your hands along the shaft on the ground. Don’t allow them to float to the inside of the shaft. A great way to check yourself is to take some swings and stop at the waist-high position in your backswing. If your hands are inside the club (and your right hip), then your backswing is still traveling too far inside._Ê

Another great practice drill requires the use of two alignment clubs. First, place a club above the ball, parallel to the target line. Then place a second club eight to 10 inches inside this line. You’ll notice the two clubs form a path, which should be your track on which to swing the club. At first, it will probably feel like the club is moving to the outside of the target line, but after a number of repetitions, the proper swing path will begin to feel normal. Practicing this drill will help keep your shoulders, hips and feet in alignment, and promote a more on-plane backswing.

Correcting an inside takeaway is a surefire way to improve both your shotmaking and scoring. The next time you’re at the range, lay two clubs on the ground, one to the outside and forward of the golf ball and another to the inside and behind the impact area. As you take the club away, use the track formed by the two clubs to guide your clubhead along the proper backswing plane. For most amateurs, swinging along this plane may feel as if the club is traveling too far to the outside, but it’s not. It’s on-plane and in perfect position to lead the golfer to a solid position at the top. More importantly, it negates the need to make compensating, difficult-to-time moves on the downswing, i.e., flipping the hands at impact.

PGA professional Paul Hahn is the head golf professional at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

My Favorite Drills

If you want to truly improve your golf game, it’s going to take practice. By that, I mean good practice. A great way to ensure your practice time is useful is to incorporate some drills into your regimen. This will not only help train your golf swing and cut out faults, but also make for a more interesting session out at the practice facility. In the following few pages are a few of my favorite drills, each designed to help fix your game in a hurry.

1. Baseball Drill

The Baseball Drill is a great way to practice both leveraging your body against the ground through the hit and ensuring you make a proper turn. To start, address the ball normally. Then, as you take the club away, lift your left foot just as a baseball player does before making a swing. This will force your weight to your back foot on the backswing. Once you reach the top of your swing (middle left photo), plant your right foot (middle right photo) and initiate the downswing with the arms.

Because you made a good turn on the backswing (you had to because only one leg was on the ground), you should feel as though your left leg is planting force into the ground through the downswing. Because of that, you want to keep your left leg firm at impact to ensure that you not only hit the ball consistently, but also prevent any power leaks. If you practice this drill often, you’ll kiss that dreaded reverse pivot goodbye and hit better shots in no time.

2. Backwards Drill

Can’t stop duck-hooking and/or slicing it? You’re probably swinging from too far outside the target line to back inside the target line. This means the clubface swipes across the ball, producing either a big slice or a wicked duck hook (if the clubface is closed.)


As you can see here, because I’m swinging with an extreme inside-to-outside swing path, my hands must work overtime to be square to the target at impact. When you give this drill a try, stick with ¾ swings and allow for an abbreviated finish. The goal is to feel the clubhead moving from inside to outside and to get the hands to rotate more effectively.

To practice the fix, try the Backwards Drill. Simply set up to the ball as normal, then adjust your right foot so it’s well behind you (relative to the target). This’ll situate your body in an extremely closed position. As you take the club back, at the top of your swing, your back should be facing the target. Make about a 3__ã4 swing, and work on both swinging from inside to outside the target line and letting the hands rotate as much as possible. The ensuing ballflight should be a huge draw that starts way to the right and draws back toward the target.

3. Flat-footed Drill

A great way to ingrain a proper turn is to practice making a few swings with your feet planted on the ground. This will prevent you from lifting your body upward as some golfers do when they lift their left heel off the ground on the backswing. In addition to that, golfers who lift instead of turn the body also tend to lose the needed forward spine tilt in the upper body, which results in all sorts of inconsistencies. If you fall into that group, consider making some normal swings (go as far as you can without lifting your left heel) and keep both feet on the ground. This will force you to turn without lifting, and might also help you add some flexibility along the way. Also, keep the right heel planted as you finish to feel a centered rotation.

4. One-handed Takeaway

Looking for more power? The perfect drill for you is the One-handed Takeaway Drill. Assume your setup as normal, then remove your right hand and initiate the backswing with just your left arm. As you rotate back, you should be able to keep your left arm fairly straight, as long as you keep turning. If you aren’t turning enough, you’ll have a difficult time extending the left arm and keeping it taut. Once you’ve maxed out your turn without any left-arm breakdown, take hold of the club with both hands and make a forwardswing all the way through to the finish.

This is a great drill for adding width to your arc and more turn to your backswing. As for trying it with a ball, give it a shot (though, it’s an effective drill even if you don’t plan on making any hits).

5. Visualization Drill

Be honest with yourself: How confident are you during those few critical seconds before you hit a golf ball? Most amateurs swing with a hit and hope mentality, where fear tends to be the overriding force in one’s swing. Don’t hit the water. Don’t slice. Don’t hit it fat. And so on!Instead, as you practice (and play for the matter), try to visualize the best possible result you can think of. Rehearse the outcome in your mind a few times, and let yourself totally relax and build confidence in your shot.

seeitgolf

To really ingrain a positive mental picture, consider taking advantage of some of the best players in the world and watch as they demonstrate perfect mechanics for you. That’s the thinking behind the innovative seeitgolf system, which began its initial effort with the rhythmic mechanics and near-flawless putting stroke of the PGA Tour’s Aaron Baddeley. Using a series of slow-motion imagery and graphics, golfers can spend about 15 minutes watching a video of Baddeley’s stroke from various angles, with a smooth music track, bold graphic overlays and repetitive views of the golf ball being struck, rolling and dropping into the cup. The goal, according to seeitgolf, is to ingrain a positive mental picture in the mind of the golfer before he/she heads out onto the course, and cut out all those negative thoughts and doubts before and after you make a stroke.

Sounds cool, right? It is. And perhaps the coolest part is that the seeitgolf video can be viewed on portable devices such as an iPhone or iPod, as well as on a computer or via DVD.

More seeitgolf videos are in the works to, again, enhance a player’s positive mental picture and cut out negative swing thoughts and doubts. In other words, See it. Feel it. Trust it.

To learn more and/or to buy the seeitgolf system, check it out online at www.seeitgolf.com.

Jeff Yurkiewicz, PGA, is the head instructor at the Grayhawk Learning Center in Scottsdale, Ariz. Find info at www.grayhawkgolf.com.