Golf Tips
Hi, Im Sprogger and I would like to pass on a few tips I have received in my 12 years of playing golf. None of these thoughts, tips or ideas are all mine. In fact they have come from many people, golf teachers and pros, playing friends and the odd article that I found helpful in a magazine somewhere and what works for me.
First, a little bit about me. Having played semi pro Cricket and Rugby in the UK, I took up golf after a career ending injury prevented me from playing competivly any more. So, I took up the great game of …… WACK ****. Like us all I started off with a 18+ handicap, today I play off 8 (my friends tell me Im a bandit !!!) and I am looking to bring that down some more in the next couple of years.
Where to start ? On the first tee, with the Driver of course !!! You know the drill, “tee it high - let it fly”, “grip it and rip it” just like Big John. Well thats ok but lets hope your second is in the fairway and not still on the tee box !!! First of all look at the tee box and look at the shape of the hole, next ask your self, do you fade it or draw it as your natural shot ? Depending on your natural shot picking which side of the tee box to start on can be very important. You want to be playing away from the water on the left or that bunker on the right. So, we’ve decided to go with the draw and tee it up on the left, tee the ball up so that you can see half of the ball above the driver. Next, line up the ball name in the centre of your club and point it at your target. Next put the logo where you want the club head to meet the ball. From here concentrate on making a nice wide backswing, turn through the hips so that you can feel your hips coiling in backswing. At the top of the back swing you would like the club head to be pointing at the target. Swing down and thru and extended the arms towards the target, the power does not stop the moment you hit the ball, feel that width in the backswing coming all the way to the finish and watch your buddies whistle in appreciation as your ball dissapears in to the distance.
A couple of drills I practise when Im at the range concentrating on my driver. Take a marker pen, but not the permanant type (black works best for me), colour the middle (the sweetspot) about the size of a quarter. Hit the ball and see if the dimples are in the coloured area, re colour the sweetspot and repeat, if you can continually hit the coloured area then your hitting the sweetspot. To make it harder reduce the size of the circle !!!
To play the draw or fade, practise the one thats not your natural shot. Imagine the shot and the swing in your minds eye, see the shot. Alignment is key to shaping your shot, for the draw (for us right handers) aim right of the target and square the club face to where you want the ball to finish. The opposite applies for the fade, then swing normally and watch as the ball does just what you wanted it to.
Thanks for reading and I hope these little tit bits of info help you with your golf game. Have a great day.