December 6, 2015 Posted by Matt

Touring professionals will map the greens of the course they will play in an upcoming tournament.  Use a small book that you can carry in your pocket.  On a slow day at your home course or very early in the morning, go from hole to hole and make a map for each green.  Determine where the four most likely hole locations will be and hit putts or roll a ball toward the locations.  On your map, draw little lines and arrows to show how the ball will break.  Often, there are slopes and breaks that you cannot see, and the map will help you remember which way your putt will move.  Take a quick look at your book as you approach the green to remind yourself of the slope.

December 3, 2015 Posted by Matt

Plan your entry point on breaking putts.  If you have a putt that will move left or right toward the hole, you need to visualize an entry point for the ball to drop into the cup.  The middle of the hole is not a good choice for breaking putts, as you will tend to miss on the low side.  Determine your line to the hole and concentrate on the part of the hole where it will have the best chance of going in.  You may select seven o’clock or nine o’clock as your target entry point.  This will narrow your focus and help you to better determine the amount of break in your putt.

December 2, 2015 Posted by Matt

A great shot to have around the green is the cut flop.  You will often see this shot from the players on the professional tours.  If your ball is in the rough near the green, take a lob wedge and open the face so that it is almost flat along the ground.  Aim the leading edge at your target.  Take the club back low to the ground, and then swing aggressively through the grass, so that the club slides under the ball.  Hold your finish low to the ground and just a foot ahead of your ball.  The ball will pop out and should have a good deal of spin on it.  Practice this cut flop, as it will save you many strokes around the green.

Photo Credit: www.golfwrx.com

December 1, 2015 Posted by Matt

Missing those short putts and ending up with a bogey can be so frustrating after you’ve played the rest of the holes well.  The keys to making these short putts are aim and speed.  First, set the putter behind the ball and aim it to the hole, then take your stance by stepping in and having your body parallel to your target line.  Second, make a rhythmic putting stroke that goes back smoothly, makes a slight pause, and then accelerates through the ball.  This will ensure that the ball rolls crisply to the hole, and holds the line.  If you slow down the forward stroke, the putter face will open or close, and the ball will miss the hole every time.

November 30, 2015 Posted by Matt

When you practice, always use alignment rods.  If is difficult to align ourselves correctly by just using our eyes.  Most players aim to the right of the target naturally.  When you go to practice, always use alignment rods or old shaft to point just left of your target.  When you set up to the ball, make sure your fee, hips, and shoulders are parallel to the rod.  By doing this in practice, you will get a better sense of what it feels like to be square to the target.  This method will help train your eyes to know when you are aimed correctly.

Credit: cheapestgolfequipment.com

November 29, 2015 Posted by Matt

Load and coil for more power.  To create more power in your golf swing, you should feel as if you are coiling back like a spring and then releasing it through the ball.  To get this feeling, avoid lifting your arms up in the backswing; rather, feel your weight load into your back butt muscle as your legs support the backswing.  From this position, shift your weight to your front foot, uncoil your shoulders, and swing your arms through the ball.  You should feel no effort in manipulating the club with your arms and hands.  Let them whip through impact as a result of your shoulders unwinding.

November 28, 2015 Posted by Matt

Focus on your right knee during practice.  One important key is to set and move your right knee properly during the golf swing.  On the backswing, keep a little flex, or bend, in the right knee, to receive your weight and enable yourself to make a weight shift to the front foot.  If you straighten the knee, it will make it difficult to get your weight moving forward and often leads to a reverse pivot.  Then, move the right knee toward your target; do not jut it out toward the ball.  This will ensure that you are swinging with power from your feet up.  Have a friend or professional check your right knee during the swing to see if you are executing the moves correctly.

November 27, 2015 Posted by Matt

Look for a bail out area.  On difficult holes, the golf course architect will often give the player a bail out area.  If, for example, you have a shot over water to a pin that is placed near the hazard, look for an area where you can land your ball safely and then pitch or chip to the hole on your next shot.  Sometimes, you will be able to find bail out areas for your tee shot or lay up shot on par five holes.  Examine the hole to see how you can play these difficult holes as safely as possible.

November 26, 2015 Posted by Matt

Beware of the slicers grip.  Many teaching professionals can tell if a player will slice the ball by simply looking at the player’s grip, without ever watching one swing.  The grip is vital to getting the clubface square at impact.  Most players who slice will have their left thumb directly on top of the handle, so it points straight down the shaft.  This type of grip will not allow the face of the club to close at impact, and the open clubface will create a banana ball.  Place your left thumb so it is off to the right of the handle, allowing you to see two knuckles when you look down.  This move is called strengthening your grip (see strong grip below).  It will allow you to square up the clubface at impact and get rid of that slice!

November 25, 2015 Posted by Matt

What is the difference between players who putt well and those who putt poorly?  A great putter gathers information on their putts in a logical process and focus in on rolling the ball to make the putt.  Many will actually visualize the ball rolling along their line and dropping into the hole.  The poor putter concerns himself with mechanics such as grip, stance, and length of backswing.  One golfer is committed to making the putt, while the other is caught up in the process, not the outcome.  Leave your mechanical thoughts on the practice putting green, and commit to your target when you are on the course and you will become a great putter.