I get so many questions about the short game stroke but when I teach I see that it is the alignment skills, (or lack thereof) and club face control that most golfers should be focusing on. As you get closer to the hole your aim and alignment becomes crucial being that the ball will not fly far enough to recover from faulty alignment with a big banana ball fade or round house draw.
The first thing to do is make a decision on where you want to land the golf ball. Judging the bounce and roll should be handled first.
Then stand back behind the golf ball and get your belly, the golf ball and your target area, (where you decided you wanted to land the golf ball) in a straight line. Then set the golf club face pointed directly at your target. Once your golf club face is set go ahead and align your body. I use an open stance meaning my front foot is dropped back slightly being that I hope not to move my body very much during the swing.
Once you have everything in alignment swing the golf club as if you were trying to lob the ball under handed to the target. Your challenge is to swing the golf club with just the right enough of force to move the ball in the air to your target landing area. If you guessed right as far as landing area and predicted roll the rest should take care of itself.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Golf drill | How To Read Golf Greens for Speed and Break
Short putts and long putts, are played with the same golf club even though the stroke pattern and purpose are quite different. Short putts demand club face control while the long putts demand pace control. The short putting stroke should be as short as possible to lower the risk of changing your club face position after aligning the club face at the target. The long putt stroke can be long and flowing because controlling the pace of the ball speed is your goal.
You’ll find when you three putt a green most of the time you left your putt short or you knocked it past the hole, unless there was a significant amount of break that you did not negotiate properly. It is usually the pace or speed of the ball that is the most difficult to control, especially on super fast greens like Augusta.
Today we discuss long putts and how to first determine the speed then the break. Most golfers look at the break first. I first have to make a decision on how fast I’m willing to roll the ball before I decide how much break or curvature the ball will take over the surface it has to cover. The slower I roll the ball the more it will break or curve.
I look at the green from 150 yards first to see any tendencies of lean one way or the other. If I threw a bucket of water on that green which way would it flow off?
Once reaching the green you need to look at the putt from both sides to gather all the information you can about the surface you are about to roll the ball on. I suggest that you drive your golf cart to the back of the green each time, (being that most golfers leave their ball short of the hole on approach) and then walk around the back of the putt first. Try walking a half moon circle around the putt rather than straight to the ball. Look at how the green leans. Understand that the designer of the green had to account for water to flow off the green for drainage purposes. Find the area of drainage and you’ll have the keys to the “lean” of the green.
Look at the coloration of the green. Is the color a deep dark green and thick or is it light brown with very thin grass blades? Is it up hill or down? Is there a ridge where the ball will speed up on you and run by the hole? Make a determination while walking around the hole as to how fast you need to roll the ball. Then once behind the putt, meld the information you acquired from looking at the putt from the back and the frontal view you have. Now and make an educated guess at the amount of break you should play for.
Remember if you are off on your amount of break by a foot or two it probably won’t cause you to three putt. It’s that putt you leave seven feet short or twelve feet past the hole that will cause you to three putt. Get the pace first, then the line.
You’ll find when you three putt a green most of the time you left your putt short or you knocked it past the hole, unless there was a significant amount of break that you did not negotiate properly. It is usually the pace or speed of the ball that is the most difficult to control, especially on super fast greens like Augusta.
Today we discuss long putts and how to first determine the speed then the break. Most golfers look at the break first. I first have to make a decision on how fast I’m willing to roll the ball before I decide how much break or curvature the ball will take over the surface it has to cover. The slower I roll the ball the more it will break or curve.
I look at the green from 150 yards first to see any tendencies of lean one way or the other. If I threw a bucket of water on that green which way would it flow off?
Once reaching the green you need to look at the putt from both sides to gather all the information you can about the surface you are about to roll the ball on. I suggest that you drive your golf cart to the back of the green each time, (being that most golfers leave their ball short of the hole on approach) and then walk around the back of the putt first. Try walking a half moon circle around the putt rather than straight to the ball. Look at how the green leans. Understand that the designer of the green had to account for water to flow off the green for drainage purposes. Find the area of drainage and you’ll have the keys to the “lean” of the green.
Look at the coloration of the green. Is the color a deep dark green and thick or is it light brown with very thin grass blades? Is it up hill or down? Is there a ridge where the ball will speed up on you and run by the hole? Make a determination while walking around the hole as to how fast you need to roll the ball. Then once behind the putt, meld the information you acquired from looking at the putt from the back and the frontal view you have. Now and make an educated guess at the amount of break you should play for.
Remember if you are off on your amount of break by a foot or two it probably won’t cause you to three putt. It’s that putt you leave seven feet short or twelve feet past the hole that will cause you to three putt. Get the pace first, then the line.
Golf tips | Taking Your Swing From the Driving Range to the Course
Transferring your perfect consistent driving range warm up swing to the golf course is a typical dilemma and a frustration of many a golfer. You’re killing it on the range, everything seems perfect. You’re convinced that you will have your best round ever and then right on the first tee you yank it out of bounds! Some golfers can play well for the first three or four holes, only to loose their rhythm on the fifth hole and throw away a great start. Others play like a dog the first four holes, finally relax and start to play better. Does this sound like you? If so there’s help.
Before anything, you do need to see your swing by way of slow motion video analysis with a recognized PGA golf professional to see if there is a major swing fault in your swing that might be making it difficult for you to control your swing on the golf course. I offer lessons with video analysis right over the internet. All you need is a camera and your home computer. For details go to www.bobbylopezgolf.com. With that said, there is a technique or sequence of events that help a golfer control their swing tempo and emotions on the golf course. Of course nothing in golf is “always”, but if you’re doing the right things you’ll have your share of success.
First off I like to begin my day with the short game warm up first. Most golf courses are not designed for my kind of warm up. They have the putting green near the first tee and the driving range across the way.
After doing my short game work, (see my special report on golf game warm up) I head for the driving range with about 20 minutes to spend.
I try to end my last swing with my Driver with just enough time to get the first tee comfortably, (make sure it’s a good driver shot or hit another one until you do). I want my last swing to be, the first thing
I can relate to when I tee it up.
You need to understand that when you hit a good shot, all the mechanics of your swing must have all come together at just the right time or sequence at impact, at the specific rhythm or swing speed you had on the range. Once most golfers get to the golf course, they begin to increase the RPM on their swing so that the synchronization of your swing falls apart. Resulting in a club face that is out of alignment with the path, or maybe your body out of position from swinging faster and harder or even slower.
At the first tee, picture in your mind that exact swing speed or rhythm you had on the last great tee shot you hit at the range only moments ago. If anything attempt to swing the golf club a notch or two slower than on the range. Don’t over do it, I said a notch or two. Swinging way too slow will have the same poor result as swinging too fast. Remember, having the arms and body out of sync is the problem. Your swing operates at a specific speed where all the parts seem to fall into place. Find that swing speed or rhythm and you got it made.
As the game progresses you may be in further risk of swinging harder or slower. Having a couple of bad holes can affect your swing speed tremendously. Depending on your personality some golfers get angry and swing harder. That only leads to further damage and a totally lost day.
One common flaw is mixing target golf with swing mechanics. Concentrate on swing mechanics on the driving range not on the golf course. I’m referring to driving range work for your swing, not the driving range warm before you play. Driving range warm up before play is for flexibility, tempo and rhythm not swing mechanics.
When working on swing mechanics on the driving range do not concern yourself with accuracy. You may experience erratic ball flight when making a swing improvement for 20 to 30 days or more. Once you head to the golf course let the practice on rebuilding your swing melt in to your golf game without having to think about it on the golf course.
Develop a pre-shot routine. Maintaining a consistent pre-shot routine on your range warm up and carrying it over to the golf course is key to your controlling your tempo and rhythm on the golf course.
I use breathing exercises to try and keep myself level minded and level thinking throughout the round. Stay away from coffee, anything with sugar like orange juice, sodas, even diet sodas because of the caffeine. What you eat or drink can greatly effect your swing tempo, rhythm and all around attitude.
Be patient on the golf course. What difference does it make if you bogey the first hole or the last, it’s still a bogey. Forget it. Keep playing, stay within your rhythm and hope for the best. Don’t force your game, like a young quarterback trying to force a ball in coverage and getting intercepted.
Getting emotional over a bad hole will only make things worse. Ben Hogan was probably the greatest at controlling his emotions on the golf course. Controlling your emotions doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Stay relaxed, concentrate on your swing rhythm not your mechanics, (that’s for the driving range) and enjoy the day. After all that’s why you play golf!
You may want to consider taking advantage of our One Day To A Better Golf Game Program. We do it all in one day! Short game, video instruction on the range, lunch with the pro, on course instruction with a PGA pro covering everything from club selection to alignment to controlling your swing on the golf course.
Before anything, you do need to see your swing by way of slow motion video analysis with a recognized PGA golf professional to see if there is a major swing fault in your swing that might be making it difficult for you to control your swing on the golf course. I offer lessons with video analysis right over the internet. All you need is a camera and your home computer. For details go to www.bobbylopezgolf.com. With that said, there is a technique or sequence of events that help a golfer control their swing tempo and emotions on the golf course. Of course nothing in golf is “always”, but if you’re doing the right things you’ll have your share of success.
First off I like to begin my day with the short game warm up first. Most golf courses are not designed for my kind of warm up. They have the putting green near the first tee and the driving range across the way.
After doing my short game work, (see my special report on golf game warm up) I head for the driving range with about 20 minutes to spend.
I try to end my last swing with my Driver with just enough time to get the first tee comfortably, (make sure it’s a good driver shot or hit another one until you do). I want my last swing to be, the first thing
I can relate to when I tee it up.
You need to understand that when you hit a good shot, all the mechanics of your swing must have all come together at just the right time or sequence at impact, at the specific rhythm or swing speed you had on the range. Once most golfers get to the golf course, they begin to increase the RPM on their swing so that the synchronization of your swing falls apart. Resulting in a club face that is out of alignment with the path, or maybe your body out of position from swinging faster and harder or even slower.
At the first tee, picture in your mind that exact swing speed or rhythm you had on the last great tee shot you hit at the range only moments ago. If anything attempt to swing the golf club a notch or two slower than on the range. Don’t over do it, I said a notch or two. Swinging way too slow will have the same poor result as swinging too fast. Remember, having the arms and body out of sync is the problem. Your swing operates at a specific speed where all the parts seem to fall into place. Find that swing speed or rhythm and you got it made.
As the game progresses you may be in further risk of swinging harder or slower. Having a couple of bad holes can affect your swing speed tremendously. Depending on your personality some golfers get angry and swing harder. That only leads to further damage and a totally lost day.
One common flaw is mixing target golf with swing mechanics. Concentrate on swing mechanics on the driving range not on the golf course. I’m referring to driving range work for your swing, not the driving range warm before you play. Driving range warm up before play is for flexibility, tempo and rhythm not swing mechanics.
When working on swing mechanics on the driving range do not concern yourself with accuracy. You may experience erratic ball flight when making a swing improvement for 20 to 30 days or more. Once you head to the golf course let the practice on rebuilding your swing melt in to your golf game without having to think about it on the golf course.
Develop a pre-shot routine. Maintaining a consistent pre-shot routine on your range warm up and carrying it over to the golf course is key to your controlling your tempo and rhythm on the golf course.
I use breathing exercises to try and keep myself level minded and level thinking throughout the round. Stay away from coffee, anything with sugar like orange juice, sodas, even diet sodas because of the caffeine. What you eat or drink can greatly effect your swing tempo, rhythm and all around attitude.
Be patient on the golf course. What difference does it make if you bogey the first hole or the last, it’s still a bogey. Forget it. Keep playing, stay within your rhythm and hope for the best. Don’t force your game, like a young quarterback trying to force a ball in coverage and getting intercepted.
Getting emotional over a bad hole will only make things worse. Ben Hogan was probably the greatest at controlling his emotions on the golf course. Controlling your emotions doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Stay relaxed, concentrate on your swing rhythm not your mechanics, (that’s for the driving range) and enjoy the day. After all that’s why you play golf!
You may want to consider taking advantage of our One Day To A Better Golf Game Program. We do it all in one day! Short game, video instruction on the range, lunch with the pro, on course instruction with a PGA pro covering everything from club selection to alignment to controlling your swing on the golf course.
Golf Training | The Golf Landscape Has Changed Forever!
Tiger (and other younger golfers along with the golf club industry) have changed the game of golf forever. I dare say that if Lee Trevino were 25 years old today he could NOT make it BIG on tour. Why? Because he was a shot maker. In his day accuracy was at a premium. Tall rough at U.S. Opens had a devastating influence with a 3 iron in your hand. Today the kids have a nine iron into the green....BIG difference!
Of course the ball and the golf clubs made a significant contribution to this dilemma but also the conditions of the golf courses have changed. Belly putters with long flowing strokes. Smooth quick greens that roll true.
Watch one of those old films of the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and see how the old boys use to pop the ball. It would hop along the bumpy green searching for an opening.
All this emphasis on the LONG BALL has taken its toll on golfer's wallets. They need to buy a new driver every year to keep up with the latest technology. Golf companies take advantage with $799 drivers that sell for only $249 a year later in a barrel.
One other area of concern is "Golf injury"? We never thought of golf injury in the early years or golf fitness either. The only thing we ever lifted when I played on tour was a 12 ounce can of Heineken, (I played in Europe).
All this emphasis on distance has tempted golfers to rip at the golf ball with all they've got landing them at their favorite health care professional’s office in grimace. There's an idea...how about the government offering free health care for golfers?
Of course the ball and the golf clubs made a significant contribution to this dilemma but also the conditions of the golf courses have changed. Belly putters with long flowing strokes. Smooth quick greens that roll true.
Watch one of those old films of the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and see how the old boys use to pop the ball. It would hop along the bumpy green searching for an opening.
All this emphasis on the LONG BALL has taken its toll on golfer's wallets. They need to buy a new driver every year to keep up with the latest technology. Golf companies take advantage with $799 drivers that sell for only $249 a year later in a barrel.
One other area of concern is "Golf injury"? We never thought of golf injury in the early years or golf fitness either. The only thing we ever lifted when I played on tour was a 12 ounce can of Heineken, (I played in Europe).
All this emphasis on distance has tempted golfers to rip at the golf ball with all they've got landing them at their favorite health care professional’s office in grimace. There's an idea...how about the government offering free health care for golfers?
Golf Drill | Golf Injury Effects Pros & Amateurs!
The three major causes of golf injuries are:
1) Postural instability
2) Lack of flexibility
3) Misaligned swing mechanics
The golf swing requires the spine to rotate, bend laterally and extend. This requires flexibility that is golf specific.
Golfers suffer from a variety of injuries. Below I have listed the most common injuries for the PGA and LPGA.
PGA: Low Back Pain (25%), Left Wrist (16.1%), Left Shoulder (10.9%), Left Knee (7%), Left Hand (6%)
LPGA: Left Wrist (31.3%), Lower Back (22.4%), Left Hand (7.5%), Left Knee (6%)
Here is a list of common causes of golfing injuries: Amateur and professional: most common is repetitive practice. Amateurs, poor swing mechanics is the 2nd most common. Swing faults are responsible for both amateurs and pros joint complex dysfunction and de-conditioning syndrome. Increased club lengths have contributed as an injury promoter.
Back Pain: Due to the notorious X-Factor as much as 8 times the normal force is put into your low back during a golf swing. The golf swing subjects the lower back to rapid, complex, and intense loading patterns. The lower back must contend with significant lateral bending, shear, compression, and torsional forces. For example, the golf swing generates a peak compression load of more than eight times the body weight in both amateurs and professionals, whereas running and rowing only generate four and seven times body weight, respectively. It is not surprising that 62% of golfers will incur an injury directly related to the sport.
1) Postural instability
2) Lack of flexibility
3) Misaligned swing mechanics
The golf swing requires the spine to rotate, bend laterally and extend. This requires flexibility that is golf specific.
Golfers suffer from a variety of injuries. Below I have listed the most common injuries for the PGA and LPGA.
PGA: Low Back Pain (25%), Left Wrist (16.1%), Left Shoulder (10.9%), Left Knee (7%), Left Hand (6%)
LPGA: Left Wrist (31.3%), Lower Back (22.4%), Left Hand (7.5%), Left Knee (6%)
Here is a list of common causes of golfing injuries: Amateur and professional: most common is repetitive practice. Amateurs, poor swing mechanics is the 2nd most common. Swing faults are responsible for both amateurs and pros joint complex dysfunction and de-conditioning syndrome. Increased club lengths have contributed as an injury promoter.
Back Pain: Due to the notorious X-Factor as much as 8 times the normal force is put into your low back during a golf swing. The golf swing subjects the lower back to rapid, complex, and intense loading patterns. The lower back must contend with significant lateral bending, shear, compression, and torsional forces. For example, the golf swing generates a peak compression load of more than eight times the body weight in both amateurs and professionals, whereas running and rowing only generate four and seven times body weight, respectively. It is not surprising that 62% of golfers will incur an injury directly related to the sport.
Golf tips | Playing Golf Under Pressure
Whether it's the US Open or a $2.00 Nassau with your buddies everyone feels some kind of pressure when they attempt to perform. An entertainer experiences pressure before starting a show, as does a concert pianist etc. How about Doctors about to perform a major operation...now that's pressure! Somebody could die...this is only golf.
Let me give you a few tips that helped me. Please understand that we are talking about the mind and individual personal conditions that each of us carry along with us. Differences in personality and mental makeup. Also consider that sometimes the pressure is strictly psychological.
The first hurdle I had to climb was to NOT care what other golfers think. A touring pro I would used to take lessons with would make me rip up my score card after the round whether the score was good or bad. He would say..."it's over and nobody cares."
It true...can you remember who finished third in the US Open in 2005? You might not remember who won! I don't...and yes I don't care.
You're not out to impress anyone and if you are concerned that you are going to be looked at in a negative manner just because you had a bad day on the golf course then you need to NOT play competitive golf.
My son Brandon was a football place kicker. I think the pressure place kickers experience is far greater than that of a golfer. You have 40 guys who are sweating on the side line after working their tails off all day and you are asked to make a 35 yard field goal to win the game. You have to face those same guys in the locker room after the game and during practice all week long.
What I taught my son I will now share with you. I always told him, "if you are busy enough trying to accomplish your pre-kick routine then you won't have time to get nervous."
I believe you need a very good pre-shot routine before you hit a golf ball. First you decide what club to hit and how the shot will look once you hit it...all in your mind's eye. Then you start your pre-shot routine of approaching the golf ball the same way every time. Taking the same number of waggles before you hit every time...then let her go. What ever happens.....happens! No use worrying
You have to believe in your practice habits first...believing that you practiced the proper things and that you did them the proper way. Then you need to believe that you're making the right decision in club selection and shot selection. Then believe in your pre-shot routine and again let it go. Don't second guess yourself.
Stay focused on these tasks and you won't have time to get nervous.
Jimmy Demerit gave me a tip once. He said whenever he would get a little tight on the golf course he would just say to himself. "well they can't electrocute me if I play bad". He said he would relax and do fine.
Relax and enjoy the game. They won't electrocute you if you play bad but if I find out I might water board you!
Let me give you a few tips that helped me. Please understand that we are talking about the mind and individual personal conditions that each of us carry along with us. Differences in personality and mental makeup. Also consider that sometimes the pressure is strictly psychological.
The first hurdle I had to climb was to NOT care what other golfers think. A touring pro I would used to take lessons with would make me rip up my score card after the round whether the score was good or bad. He would say..."it's over and nobody cares."
It true...can you remember who finished third in the US Open in 2005? You might not remember who won! I don't...and yes I don't care.
You're not out to impress anyone and if you are concerned that you are going to be looked at in a negative manner just because you had a bad day on the golf course then you need to NOT play competitive golf.
My son Brandon was a football place kicker. I think the pressure place kickers experience is far greater than that of a golfer. You have 40 guys who are sweating on the side line after working their tails off all day and you are asked to make a 35 yard field goal to win the game. You have to face those same guys in the locker room after the game and during practice all week long.
What I taught my son I will now share with you. I always told him, "if you are busy enough trying to accomplish your pre-kick routine then you won't have time to get nervous."
I believe you need a very good pre-shot routine before you hit a golf ball. First you decide what club to hit and how the shot will look once you hit it...all in your mind's eye. Then you start your pre-shot routine of approaching the golf ball the same way every time. Taking the same number of waggles before you hit every time...then let her go. What ever happens.....happens! No use worrying
You have to believe in your practice habits first...believing that you practiced the proper things and that you did them the proper way. Then you need to believe that you're making the right decision in club selection and shot selection. Then believe in your pre-shot routine and again let it go. Don't second guess yourself.
Stay focused on these tasks and you won't have time to get nervous.
Jimmy Demerit gave me a tip once. He said whenever he would get a little tight on the golf course he would just say to himself. "well they can't electrocute me if I play bad". He said he would relax and do fine.
Relax and enjoy the game. They won't electrocute you if you play bad but if I find out I might water board you!
Golf Tips | Can Ballet Improve Your Golf Game?
There you go, now you need to join your kids in ballet lessons so you can improve your golf game! Not at all. But, I had the pleasure of teaching yesterday a member of the Richmond Ballet Company and he was a beginning golfer which is why I chose to include this experience in the daily blog.
Even though he was a beginner, (I'm not mentioning the name without his permission) he had a very keen understanding of balance and knowing how to feel where is body was going. Dancers are used to working in front of a mirror and understand the effort to "teach or train" your body to go to a specific place or position.
It was amazing how quickly his swing began to take shape in a very short period of time. Maybe Ballet lessons would help but I think a better emphasis on SLOWLY moving yourself around the swing plane in front of mirror will help anyone build a better swing path and thus a more consistent swing.
Maybe you saw the video of Ben Hogan practicing in slow motion If not you can see it at http://tinyurl.com/mnwaca9
Do your drills slowly and deliberately and "feel" where your body is going. Do it all 'in balance".
Even though he was a beginner, (I'm not mentioning the name without his permission) he had a very keen understanding of balance and knowing how to feel where is body was going. Dancers are used to working in front of a mirror and understand the effort to "teach or train" your body to go to a specific place or position.
It was amazing how quickly his swing began to take shape in a very short period of time. Maybe Ballet lessons would help but I think a better emphasis on SLOWLY moving yourself around the swing plane in front of mirror will help anyone build a better swing path and thus a more consistent swing.
Maybe you saw the video of Ben Hogan practicing in slow motion If not you can see it at http://tinyurl.com/mnwaca9
Do your drills slowly and deliberately and "feel" where your body is going. Do it all 'in balance".
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