November 3, 2015 Posted by Matt

Most three putt greens are caused by missing a three- or four-foot putt for par.  The main reason these putts are missed is the player moves his head or eyes during the putt, which causes the putter face to open or close.  To correct this problem, think heads or tails.  Place a coin on the putting green three feet from the hole when you practice, and do not look at what face is up.  Place a ball on top of the coin.  Strike the putt and then look to see if the coin is heads or tails.  Listen for the ball to drop into the hole.  On the golf course, keep your head and eyes still, and do not look up until you hear the ball drop into the cup.  The steady head will help you make many more short putts and stop those dreaded three putt greens.

November 2, 2015 Posted by Matt

To hit good bunker shots you need to rotate your shoulders.  Many players dump their green-side bunker shots back into the sand because they lack speed in cutting through the sand under the ball.  Swinging with your arms and hands will not allow you to propel the ball up and out consistently.  When you have a bunker shot, turn your shoulders to 90 degrees on the backswing so you can generate power for the club head to fire through the sand.  When you swing with force, you will cause the sand to lift the ball up and create spin to stop it on the green.  Practice making aggressive bunker swings with a good shoulder turn and you will make good bunker shots.

November 1, 2015 Posted by Matt

If your ball is just off the green, you need to make a decision whether to chip or putt.  If the grain of the fairway grass is against you (the blades point toward your ball), it is better to putt the ball.  If you try to chip, the grain might catch your club and cause you to stub the shot by stopping it in the grass.  If the grain is flowing with you, then you have the option of putting or chipping the ball depending on the slope of the green ahead of you.  Chip it uphill and putt it downhill for better distance control.

October 31, 2015 Posted by Matt

What if your lie is “too good”?  If you have a pitch or chip shot where the ball is sitting on top of the grass in the rough, you need to be careful.  While the ball is sitting up nicely, there is a very good chance that you will come under the ball with your club and strike it on the top of the face.  This will cause the ball to come up very short of your target.  A better way to  play this shot is to hover the club head on top of the grass and take it back and through low to the grass level.  This way, you will strike the ball in the middle of the face for good results.

October 30, 2015 Posted by Matt

If the ball is below your feet, concentrate on balance.  Hitting a ball that’s below your feet is one of the most difficult shots in the game.  Many players will miss this shot badly because they lose their balance during the swing by falling forward as the club comes down to the ball.  To help hit this shot properly, set your weight more toward your heels, and lower your rear end more than usual.  When you make your swing, keep your legs and feet as still as possible, and swing with your upper body only.  Grip the club toward the end of the handle.  The ball will start left and curve to the right, so allow for it by aiming well to the left.  Take a few practice swings first, to see if you remain in balance during the swing, and the step up and make the shot.

October 29, 2015 Posted by Matt

Swinging your arms for long putts.  On long putts, you should avoid trying to make a putting stroke that uses only your shoulders while keeping your arms and hands still.  While this works well for short putts, you will not have a good feel for distance on longer ones.  Swing your arms and let your hands and wrists move a little as you would on a chip or pitch shot.  This will allow you to generate more force to get the ball rolling on a longer putt, while still giving you a feel for distance.  Relax and use a light grip.  Think of making a flowing stroke to roll a ball.

October 28, 2015 Posted by Matt

Ever wonder how the pros create spin on a pitch shot?  Sometimes, you will have little green to work with on a pitch shot, and you will need to fly the ball to the hole and make it stop quickly.  To hit this shot, use a sand wedge and open the face, so the heel of the club is pointing toward your front foot.  Play the ball slightly back of the center of your stance.  Hold your hands so the face remains open throughout the swing and points up at the finish.  Do not take a divot, but pick the ball off the grass by sliding the club along the top of the grass.  The ball should float high and spin to a quick stop.  This pitch shot requires practice, so give it some time before you try it on the course.

Photo provided by golftec.com

October 27, 2015 Posted by Matt

Is it okay to hit a hybrid from a fairway bunker?  Absolutely!  If you need to a hit a long shot from a fairway bunker, you may use a hybrid to get the job done.  However, you need to make sure there is no lip to the bunker before you try the hybrid.  Play the ball back about one inch from where you would normally play the club from the fairway.  Keep you legs and feet still and use your upper body to power the swing.  Strike the ball first and skim a small amount of sand in front of the ball.  This should get the ball up and out so that it carries a good distance.

October 26, 2015 Posted by Matt

Good posture is important.  If you have poor posture at setup, you are stacking the deck against yourself for hitting good golf shots.  Stand up straight with your feet about shoulder width apart.  Bend over about 30 degrees from your hips (not your waist).  Keep you back straight and your neck and head in a line from your spine.  Make a slight knee flex, so you get the feeling of being in an athletic position.  You should feel like a baseball infielder at the ready.  Your weight should be balanced on the ball of your feet, and your arms should hang down from your shoulders.  You are now in perfect posture.  Use a picture of a touring professional at setup, and then look at yourself in a full-length mirror to see how you compare.

October 25, 2015 Posted by Matt

If your ball comes to rest in a bad lie near the green, do not reach for your putter.  If the ball is in a depression or on hardpan, you should use an eight or nine iron for the shot.  Stand close to the ball, and set the club so with the toe down.  The heel of the club will be slightly off the ground.  Use a putting stroke and strike the ball with the toe of the iron.  The ball will pop out and roll nicely along the green.  If you try to use your putter, you will tend to blade or top the ball and not make good contact.  This shot also works with longer irons such as a 7 iron or 6 iron.  The more green you have between the ball and the hole, the longer the club you should use.  Practice this shot before trying it on the course, and you will have learned a great option for tricky lies.