Posts Tagged ‘golf aids’
If there were one single aspect of golf that troubles almost all hackers, most amateurs, some club golfers, and a few pros, it would be the dreaded slice. Forget trying to add 30 yards to your swing… stay out of the woods forever and watch your score drop like a rock!
The only way to understand how to cure your slice is to first understand why the ball slices in the first place. The golf ball sliced because it has an enormous amount of side spin, when compared to backspin, after the ball is hit in the air. That is the only reason why a ball slices.
Unfortunately, there are many reasons why the side spin will drown the back spin when the ball is hit. All of them have to do with the club striking the ball, and contrary to popular belief, none of them have anything to do with external factors such as the wind or the lie of the ball. While those may contribute to the severity of the slice, the ball slices only because of the way it is hit.
This is where the reasoning diverges. There are actually two causes of side spin when hitting the ball. The first, and probably most obvious, is that the ball is hit with a sideways motion in addition to the forward motion of the club.
The sideways motion of the club is usually caused by a swing in which the club comes from outside of the plane of the swing and then come across the plane as the club hits the ball with a sideways motion. This is actually very common and can be avoided by keeping the left arm straight and concentrating on maintaining a proper swing plane. If you do this, you will undoubtedly see a dramatic decrease in the amount that you actually slice.
The second reason that you may be slicing is that your club face is open when the club strikes the ball. This causes the club to hit the ball with a glancing motion, and the ball actually rolls off the side of the club instead of skyrocketing off like a firecracker. While this is less common, it is harder to diagnose and even harder to fix. It could be due to either an inadequate turn during the swing, an early breaking in the wrist, and open club face during setup, or even an early turning of the hips. Try closing your club face at setup to see if that will decrease the amount that you actually slice. Even though that may work by lowering the amount that you slice, you still want to visit a golf pro so they can see what your underlying problem is so you can fix it.
Slicing the ball, especially if it is a dramatic slice, can ruin a golf game. There is no reason why something as simple as a slice should be ruining your game, so reread this article, take some of the advice here, and go make your golf game better!
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Different students will have different criteria to satisfy when choosing a golf school - but there are some requirements that should be generic.
Some will place a high value on the teaching skills of the professional instructors; others will be more interested in the facilities available. Some students of golf will be basing their decision purely on cost and some will want to explore the social scene at the school.
At the end of the day, people go to golf school to learn to play golf and all of the other facilities have to be ranked in accordance with personal preference.
When considering a school, it is important to explore its teaching principles. Ask if the school welcomes students of all ages and abilities. It is very beneficial for absolute beginners to have the opportunity to mix with and observe more experienced players. Check to see if the school caters for a particular age group - sometimes this is the case.
Find out the student to instructor ratio. The cost of one-to-one tuition is usually prohibitive and attending golf school will usually be a lower cost option but it is essential that the student instructor ratio is low to ensure that the student will still receive adequate instruction in a group environment. Tuition in large groups is not to be recommended as too much time is lost whilst the instructor manages the group.
Many schools now offer a wide variety of high tech gadgets and training aids to assist the student to model the perfect swing and also to analyze their own efforts. Whilst all of these gadgets look very impressive and they undoubtedly have a part to play in teaching the novice, nothing beats quality face to face instruction with a professional who knows and loves the game.
When making a decision about which golf school to attend do not be afraid to ask about the instructor’s qualifications and experience and also his or her status with the PGA. The very best way to learn is from someone who can play, and play well. Classroom theory is fine but it is experience and the practical application of the theory from which students learn most.
Price may be a factor when considering which golf school to attend and, as with all things in life, the cheapest is not always the best option. Rather than looking for cheapness look for value for money, there is a distinction. Calculate your budget and decide how to spend it. Consider taking fewer lessons at a better and probably more expensive school if funds are restricted.
Remember, learning golf, as with the learning process of any new skill, can only be accomplished if the student is prepared to practice. It really does not matter how good the school nor how good the instructor if the student is not willing to translate what he has learned into practice on the green.
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It is perhaps the supreme irony in golf that the simplest shot in the book seems to cause the biggest problem to the largest number of golfers.
Let’s face it, the putt is the only golf shot that it is really possible to execute flawlessly without any tuition at all. We all start off doing this as kids. Some of us are even superb at it at this young age. It is this shot that is often the spur that leads to a lifelong addiction to this wonderful game of golf.
What then, goes wrong? How can this easiest of golf shots become the absolute bane of an adult golfer’s life? Sorry to say, there is no easy answer. Experts are just as baffled as inexperienced amateurs over this one. The saying ‘it’s all in the mind’ was probably never more true than in this golfing case.
Several years ago, an American company developed a golf putting machine. They carried out tests in optimum putting conditions and were gob-smacked to discover that their pride and joy couldn’t hole every putt. They took that machine apart and tweaked every element of it until they were certain that it was in perfect working order. And, guess what? It still failed to hole some putts. If this doesn’t go to prove that there is at least an element of ‘black art’ about golf putting, then nothing will.
The best lesson to take from the above is that you really never are going to achieve putting perfection. If a machine in perfect working under operating under perfect putting conditions fails to hole every golf putt, then a human being with all his or her imperfections never is.
So, the first rule is, stop giving yourself such a hard time whenever you miss a few putts. It happens to even top professional golfers. In fact, any problem you have with putting is much more likely to be psychological than physical, so the very last thing you should be doing is getting down on yourself mentally; this can only make matters worse.
Is there anything you can do if you really do have severe, regular putting problems? Well, apart from working on the mental side of things to inculcate strong belief that you really can putt (try some self-hypnosis tapes etc.) the best advice is to see if a change of putter will do the trick. Take your lead from the professionals. So many professional golfers who’ve suffered terribly from the ‘yips’ on the putting green, such as Bernhard Langer, found their salvation in the broom handle putter - maybe you should give one a try.
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If you have decided to take up golf as a hobby you will be rewarded with the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and the addition of many new friends and acquaintances. Like any project you approach in life your attitude and expectations will determine your enjoyment of the game.
Take stock of your personal traits. Are you overly competitive? If you are, remember the road to a low handicap is littered with bad shots, bunkers, water hazards and triple digit scores on your round. You will invest a lot of time in practice. Welcome every hook, slice and 3 putt as a learning opportunity. Even Tiger Woods needs a coach to help him with his game.
If you like to meet new people golf provides you with opportunities for social interaction. You will get to meet new people in a setting in which you both have an avid interest. This makes for easy conversation and more opportunities to improve your game. Most clubs offer single players the opportunity to play the round together, if you would prefer to play alone just mention this to the club pro when arranging your tee time.
How much golf equipment do you actually need. Golf can be a very expensive game but there are affordable options. A high-end brand name set of clubs can set you back several thousand dollars but a good used set will cost you a few hundred dollars. Before you buy clubs it is a good idea to visit golf stores and club pro shops. You can test out different types of clubs, determine which club length is best for you, get to know the different types of grips available and learn the difference between graphite and steel shafts. You can learn about the type of golf ball that will best suit you as a beginner. Having a golf ball with the correct compression will help you make the most of your game.
If you want to increase the exercise benefits of golf you can choose to walk the 18 holes. When you are choosing a golf bag you will first need to decide if you are going to walk or ride, your choice here will be a carry or cart bag. Golf bags are available in a range of materials so choose one that is suited to the climate in which you will play most of your golf. Golf shoes are important, make sure they are comfortable and waterproof. A rain suit is also a good addition to your golf bag.
Should you take lessons from a golf professional? Your budget is the deciding factor here. Golf lessons are expensive but if it is within your budget it may be worthwhile. You will find that lessons will raise the standard of your game quickly. A more affordable way to take lessons is to purchase one of the many training programs available on video and dvd. Many seasoned golfers use these programs to raise the standard of their game and new golfers can learn at their own pace.
The above are just the basics of getting started in the game. Before you lift a club, develop the right mental attitude. Remain positive, quiet your mind and envision you shot before you hit the ball. A good mental game is half the battle on the road to a low handicap. Above all enjoy!
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