April 1, 2016 Posted by Matt

How do you know if your golf swing is too steep?  If your drives pop up like a baseball and go high and then land short your swing is probably too steep.  The ball flight is caused by an over-the top move where the club head comes in on a steep angle and spins the ball up into the air.  In addition to the high ball flight, often times the ball will go left.  You want to make a shallow back and through swing which will allow you to drive the ball forward instead of spinning it into the air.  A good drill to help you eliminate those poor drives is to find a hill where the ball is above your feet.  Make several practice swings to get a sense of what a flatter swing feels like.  Then try to hit some golf balls on the driving range using the same swing.  If you can transition to a flatter golf swing you will create top spin on your ball and you will have a lower ball flight which will result in more distance on your drives!

March 30, 2016 Posted by Matt

Use the bounce on your sand wedge wedge shots to avoid fat shots.  So what does bounce mean? It means the back edge is higher than the lead edge.  The wedge is constructed that way to prevent the club head from getting stuck in the sand on a sand shot.  The same is true for pitch and chip shots.  Open the face of your wedge slightly so the bounce part of the sole will strike the grass as you swing through the ball.  This will prevent you from hitting fat shots.  To get the feel of this shot, take a few practice swings and feel the club glide through the grass before you step up to the ball.  You want to focus on making the same swing as your practice swing.  Try it out and you’ll see an improvement in your short game.

March 27, 2016 Posted by Matt

If you are hitting thin shots, or ones that strike the middle of the ball, it’s time to make some adjustments to your golf swing.  A thin shot is usually caused by swinging too hard.  Golfers tend to shift their weight to their back foot and then start their arms down too quickly.  The problem is your center never gets back over the ball.  To eliminate thin shots you need to make a slow transition between your backswing and your downswing.  If you slow down the shift between your back foot and your front foot you will be more centered at impact.  This will allow you to hit down and through ball, ultimately eliminating those thin shots.

March 26, 2016 Posted by Matt

On your longer approach shots, aim for a big target.  If you want to lower your scores aim for the middle of the green.  Once you get to within 100 yards, then you can start going after the pin.  By aiming at a bigger target, you’ll ease the pressure of trying to knock it close to the pin and you are much more likely to end up on the green.  You would rather be on the green with a long birdie putt than hitting it on the short side of the pin just off the green.  Focusing on the big target will also minimize your chances of getting into trouble near the green such as going into a bunker or even worse a water hazard.

March 25, 2016 Posted by Matt

Do you shank your chip shots and pitch shots? One of the most frustrating shots in golf happens when a player shanks a shot.  Unfortunately, this happens quite often.  Even worse, once it happens the first time, it is likely to happen multiple times! On short shots, a shank is usually caused by poor balance.  Is your weight on your heels?  If it is, you are shifting your weight onto your toes as you strike the ball.  You end up striking the ball with the hosel instead of the face of the golf club.  To get rid of the shanks, when you set up, flex your knees and put your weight on the balls of your feet.  Your weight should remain there throughout the swing. If you make this small adjustment you will eliminate those dreaded shank shots!

March 24, 2016 Posted by Matt

Beware of back pins.  If you are playing a hole that has a pin located at the very back of the green, be careful about your club selection.  If you go over the green, it may be very difficult to get the ball up and down, as most greens are sloped from back to front.  A good rule of thumb is not to go after back pins.  Use the yardage for the center of the green rather than the back.  This way, you will get safely on for a putt rather than having to hit a tricky chip or pitch shot if you go over the green.  Even if you have a longer putt you’re better off two putting than trying to get up and down for par because you decided to go for one of those back pins.

March 21, 2016 Posted by Matt

Before you hit your tee shot, look at the pin position.  Good golfers are always aware of where the pin is placed on a hole before they tee off.  Depending on where the pin is located on the green, simply aiming down the middle of the fairway may not be the best option.  For example, if the pin is tucked on the right side of the green with a big bunker immediately to the right of the pin, then the smart way to play the hole is to aim down the left side of the fairway.  Then when you hit your approach shot you will have plenty of room to hit the ball to the middle or left side of the green away from the bunker.  If you were to hit your tee shot down the right side of the fairway, you will then have a difficult approach shot that will require you to carry the bunker and leave little room for error.  Be mindful of the pin position before you hit every shot and you will improve your scores.

March 20, 2016 Posted by Matt

When you address the ball be sure to bend at the waist, don’t reach with your arms.  Many golfers will take a stance with their driver and place their hands way out in front of them as they extend the club toward the ball and their arms look straight and stiff.  Although golfers will feel as though they will be able to generate a lot of power from this position, it actually will result in a flat swing that causes a hook or a slice.  For proper set up with the driver, you should feel as if your arms hang down naturally from your shoulders with your hands moving out about six inches from your body.  You will likely need to bend a little more at the hips so your arms will hang freely.

March 15, 2016 Posted by Matt

Watch the tour players if you want to play like the pros!  Take Gary Player for example, he might not be the biggest guy but he generates a significant amount of power in his swing.  He would often hit a shot and then step forward.  Many pros have modeled their swing after Gary Player to improve their weight shift.  If you find you are frequently falling backwards towards your rear foot, try this drill on the driving range.  Start with a short iron, hit the ball and then have your back foot step forward so it finishes in front of your left foot.  You will feel as though you are generating more power as you improve your weight transfer.

March 14, 2016 Posted by Matt

Hitting a straight ball off the tee might not be the best way to get your ball onto the fairway.  When you are playing in a tournament or an important match and you really need to get your ball onto the fairway consider your options before you hit.  When you are under pressure, hitting a straight ball becomes even more difficult.  Try choking down an inch or two on the handle and use a draw or fade to get your ball in the desired position.  Practice both shots on the range.  You’ll probably discover you are better at one or the other.  When you’re under pressure plan to hit your draw or fade instead of a straight ball and you will find yourself in the fairway more often than not.