Do you struggle with long putting? If you do but do okay with your short putts then you should consider using a different grip for different distances.  For example, you may want to try using a traditional grip on your long putting. Then, try using a left-hand-low grip on your short putts.

Head to the practice green and experiment with various putting grips for a variety of distances.  Once you’ve had a chance to practice this new method, test it out on the golf course. Many top PGA professionals have tried different putting styles for different distances.  Perhaps this new method will work for you too!

August 10, 2016 Posted by Matt

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If you slicing your golf shots then you are probably bringing the club back too far inside.  As a result, you have to push the club way outside at the top of the swing to get the club back to the ball.  This type of swing path is referred to as as an outside-to-inside path and is the most common cause of slicing your golf shots.

Fix Your Slice:

To fix your slice, keep your hands quiet and push the club straight back.  Your left hand should be the hand that guides the club back.  As you make your shoulder turn, the club will be slightly inside which is normal.  By making this change, your club will be in the proper position at the top of your backswing.  You will now have a swing path where the club head is moving inside-to-out.  If you make this slight change you should see straighter shots!

August 4, 2016 Posted by Matt

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How do you handle a golf shot on wet sand or hard packed sand in a bunker?  Your biggest concern is not sending the ball flying over the green.  Avoid opening your clubface too much as it will cause the club to bounce off the sand.  Either open your clubface just a little or consider using a pitching wedge instead.  Your goal should be to hit the sand just a few inches behind the ball with enough speed that the club skims through the sand just under the ball.  You want a short follow-through. Finally, if you practice this shot off wet sand, you will see significant improvements in your sand game.

August 1, 2016 Posted by Matt

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How well do you see the line of your putts?  Often players will set up to their putt and aim left or right of the hole.  You think you are lined up properly, however, if you are consistently missing putts to one side of the hole there is a very good chance you are lined up incorrectly.  A good way to determine if you are lined up properly is to go to the practice green and close one eye and check your line to the hole.  Then close the other eye and check it again.  You will find that one eye will look at the hole more accurately than the other eye.  Which ever one looks more accurate is your dominant eye.

Favor the dominant eye when you head to the course.  If you watch the PGA Pros, you will notice many great putters have their heads tilted to one side or the other.  Try the same method to see the line of your putt and you should start to sink more putts!

July 31, 2016 Posted by Matt

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July 24, 2016 Posted by Matt

To hit your wedge shots more accurately, stand closer to the ball than normal.  When you are hitting a shot with a pitching wedge or sand wedge, your swing should be more upright.  You want to approach the ball from a steeper angle than you would with your longer clubs.  To hit a good wedge shot, hinge your hands as you swing the club back.  Then come down on the back of the ball. If you keep you swing compact, you will hit solid shots and be more accurate. Head to the driving range and stand closer to the ball when practicing your wedge shots until you feel comfortable over the golf ball.

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July 23, 2016 Posted by Matt

When you hit your drive left and then it hooks even further to the left you are hitting a pull hook.  The biggest problem with a pull hook is you are probably finding yourself in trouble off the tee. Unfortunately, you tend to find a lot of water and out-of-bounds when you hit this type of shot.  A pull hook usually occurs when your upper body is faster than your lower body.  A good way to fix this issue is to begin to shift your weight to your left side before you unwind your shoulders and start your downswing.  If you can clear your hips before you get to impact you will eliminate that dreaded shot and you will improve your scores significantly!

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July 15, 2016 Posted by Matt

How you handle deep greens may affect your golf scores if you’re not careful.  Golf courses with deep greens may have a three-club difference between the front of the green and the back of the green.  If you are using sprinkler heads to gauge your distance, the yardage is to the middle of the green.  If it’s a big green, you may need to take one more club than normal if the pin is in the back and one less than normal if the pin is in the front.  If you make these adjustments on deep greens you will hit your shots closer to the hole and ultimate position yourself for a better score on the hole.

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July 14, 2016 Posted by Matt

In most cases, double bogies or high scores on a hole are usually the result of hitting a poor drive and then following it up with a poor decision.  The last thing you want to do is try to force a shot through a narrow space between trees.  Or try hitting a three-wood out of thick rough.  Although it stinks, you want to get the ball back on the fairway as fast as possible.  This includes hitting the ball sideways or sometimes slightly backwards.  In the end you will probably avoid those double bogies or an even higher score.

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July 10, 2016 Posted by Matt

A forty yard shot on a tight lie is a tough shot to hit.  If you try to hit a pitch shot with a wedge, there is a good chance you will chunk it or hit it thin and skull it over the green.  An alternative method to use is a seven or eight iron.  Play the ball back in your stance.  Make a compact chipping stroke.  Your goal should be to land the ball about 75 percent of the way to the green and then let it bump and run the remaining 25 percent to the hole.  Try this alternative method on your next 40 yard shot and you’ll likely improve your score!

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July 7, 2016 Posted by Matt

In golf, casting occurs when you release your hands too early in the downswing.  As a result you feel like you are flipping at the ball at impact.  If you have a cast in your backswing you are loosing a lot of power and ultimately distance.  A good way to eliminate casting is to work on the pump drill.  Swing up to the top of your swing and then holding your hands still, drop your arms to your waist.  Be sure to keep your hands in the same hinged position they were at the top of the swing.  Repeat this motion up and down like a pump three or four times and then come down and hit the ball.  You should feel as if you are hitting down on the ball at impact instead of flipping at it.

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