- Joined
- Nov 12, 2014
- Messages
- 6,086
- Reaction score
- 2,460
- Location
- Cabo San Lucas, BCS Mexico
- Handicap
- 4.8
I thought I'd share a few successful tips, tweaks and thoughts that help me during a round. I'm looking forward to hearing what works for others as well!
Tempo: I watch this over and over when my tempo gets out of whack; I can play it in my head on the course and it always helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1tgYm7w0Ak
Chipping: I'll grip the club completely in my palms; it allows me to be aggressive with my strike on the ball without letting my hands influence the shot. The ball comes off soft and controllable with a lot of spin.
Fading: I play a fade on most shots. At times, my swing gets a little steep and I'll start flaring shots to the right (it also leads to left shots, but as I try to NEVER hit left, I'll open up and hit the flare). When this happens, I'll grip the club away from the ball with a little bit of a hooded face. Then when I address the ball with the club gripped in that position, I'll square the clubface (leaving my hands on the club and not readjusting) and that in turn will get my shoulders back to a good spot and allow my right elbow to stay close to my body. Then I can take my normal swing and there is zero impulse to get steep.
Drawing: I'm forced to play about 6 draws from the tee at the course I've started playing. To play the draw consistently, I will grip the club again with a slightly hooded face, then leave it that way when I address the ball. For me, the key to hitting the draw without hooking is to move my sternum ahead of the ball just before impact; then I try to keep my shoulders going down the line while turning my hips through hard to the left. This creates a penetrating draw, and because of my body and shoulder positions, it's almost impossible to start the ball left or turn the face too far left through impact. I also do this on my wedges; the draw swing really produces a solid strike with great distance control and spin.
At the top: I've really focused on mimicking Steve Stricker. Of course the wrists do cock, but the feeling is that they never do. This has improved my ball striking tremendously. I do this with every club in the bag.
When I HAVE to hit the fairway: I hit driver off the deck. It's actually a lot easier with today's drivers, and now that I've cut my driver to 43.5", it's very easy to control. I can count on hitting the fairway 75% or better with a tiny little cut.
When it's all going wrong: I do 2 things; 1) think of the tempo vid above, and 2) choke up and narrow my stance. Usually, this will get me back on track within a shot or two. Sometimes I'll just play the entire round this way.
Putting: In practice and in play, I'll putt a lot of the time without looking. If I putt and then just listen for the ball to drop without looking, I'll start to get the feel back immediately, and I will also know soon be able to tell where a putt is heading as soon as it's struck. This provides nearly instant results!
Sand shots: 1) ACCELERATE, 2) TURN THOSE HIPS... 'nuff said about that
Trouble shots: Being able to hit a high or low hook, draw, slice or fade on command is CRITICAL. Learn to hit left handed or back handed when necessary. Also, when I have a restricted swing, I always use a trick Johnny Miller offered many years ago: grip the club way low with one, or even both hands on the shaft. Immediately break your wrists and the club will have a very small arc. Amazingly, you can hit the ball at least 50% distance this way! If you have a tree above or behind you, or a wall interfering with the backswing, this tip is awesome! I tried to find it on the web, but couldn't.
Tweaks: Experiment with the speed of clearing the hips
Experiment with hooding or opening the clubface at address (NOT by gripping normally and turning the clubface, turn the clubface one way or the other, THEN grip normally)
Experiment with a wider or more narrow stance
Experiment with ball position
Experiment with curves and trajectories
Tempo: I watch this over and over when my tempo gets out of whack; I can play it in my head on the course and it always helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1tgYm7w0Ak
Chipping: I'll grip the club completely in my palms; it allows me to be aggressive with my strike on the ball without letting my hands influence the shot. The ball comes off soft and controllable with a lot of spin.
Fading: I play a fade on most shots. At times, my swing gets a little steep and I'll start flaring shots to the right (it also leads to left shots, but as I try to NEVER hit left, I'll open up and hit the flare). When this happens, I'll grip the club away from the ball with a little bit of a hooded face. Then when I address the ball with the club gripped in that position, I'll square the clubface (leaving my hands on the club and not readjusting) and that in turn will get my shoulders back to a good spot and allow my right elbow to stay close to my body. Then I can take my normal swing and there is zero impulse to get steep.
Drawing: I'm forced to play about 6 draws from the tee at the course I've started playing. To play the draw consistently, I will grip the club again with a slightly hooded face, then leave it that way when I address the ball. For me, the key to hitting the draw without hooking is to move my sternum ahead of the ball just before impact; then I try to keep my shoulders going down the line while turning my hips through hard to the left. This creates a penetrating draw, and because of my body and shoulder positions, it's almost impossible to start the ball left or turn the face too far left through impact. I also do this on my wedges; the draw swing really produces a solid strike with great distance control and spin.
At the top: I've really focused on mimicking Steve Stricker. Of course the wrists do cock, but the feeling is that they never do. This has improved my ball striking tremendously. I do this with every club in the bag.
When I HAVE to hit the fairway: I hit driver off the deck. It's actually a lot easier with today's drivers, and now that I've cut my driver to 43.5", it's very easy to control. I can count on hitting the fairway 75% or better with a tiny little cut.
When it's all going wrong: I do 2 things; 1) think of the tempo vid above, and 2) choke up and narrow my stance. Usually, this will get me back on track within a shot or two. Sometimes I'll just play the entire round this way.
Putting: In practice and in play, I'll putt a lot of the time without looking. If I putt and then just listen for the ball to drop without looking, I'll start to get the feel back immediately, and I will also know soon be able to tell where a putt is heading as soon as it's struck. This provides nearly instant results!
Sand shots: 1) ACCELERATE, 2) TURN THOSE HIPS... 'nuff said about that
Trouble shots: Being able to hit a high or low hook, draw, slice or fade on command is CRITICAL. Learn to hit left handed or back handed when necessary. Also, when I have a restricted swing, I always use a trick Johnny Miller offered many years ago: grip the club way low with one, or even both hands on the shaft. Immediately break your wrists and the club will have a very small arc. Amazingly, you can hit the ball at least 50% distance this way! If you have a tree above or behind you, or a wall interfering with the backswing, this tip is awesome! I tried to find it on the web, but couldn't.
Tweaks: Experiment with the speed of clearing the hips
Experiment with hooding or opening the clubface at address (NOT by gripping normally and turning the clubface, turn the clubface one way or the other, THEN grip normally)
Experiment with a wider or more narrow stance
Experiment with ball position
Experiment with curves and trajectories
