Curing the Thin / Top

Thursday, November 14, 2013

You're all set for that soaring five wood to the heart of the green, or a towering wedge that drops right by the hole - and what do you get? Your wood runs 50 yards, all along the ground, or the wedge shoots ankle-high straight through the green into the rough behind. The thin or top is a horrible feeling - put a stop to it now!

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

• If hit a lot of iron shots thin or fat, or if you are one of the many club golfers who suffers from hitting the ball too high, not getting enough difference in length between your longer irons, there is a very good chance that your impact position requires attention.

• All good, consistent ball strikers have the club shaft and lead arm in line as they strike the ball, and not before!

• To get a feel for this position, try this drill. Put a coat hanger down the left side of the handle of the club and take your grip as normalyl as possible. The coat hanger should be up against the inside of your left forearm. The aim of this drill is to keep the connection of the coat hanger and your left forearm throughout the swing.

• Done correctly your left wrist will be a lot flatter at impact, your right wrist will have a slight hinge and the club and left arm will be in line. This will also give you the feeling of swinging down into the ball.

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Curing the Fat / Duff

Few shots in golf are more frustrating than a big, fat duff. All that effort and care, then you hit behind the ball, take a huge divot and the ball goes nowhere... Work on these simple tips next time you're on the range, and start hitting the ball crisply and cleanly.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

There are several reasons why these shots occur:

• Gripping the club too loosely or tightly

• Playing the ball too far back or too far forward in the stance

• Leaving your weight on the right side at impact

• Actively moving the lower half of your body too quickly through the golf shot leaving the club to come down on a steep downward swing

• Un-cocking your wrists (or releasing) too early on the down swing and trying to lift the ball into the air is also a common cause of the duff shot.

• A simple drill to help correct these faults is by hitting some shots with your feet and knees together, remembering to hold the club firmly but not tight - about 5 on a scale of 1-10.

• Move the body weight to the left from the top of the backswing through impact, release the wrists as late as possible, by driving forward with the right hip and hand and get the feeling of driving into the back of the ball with the club still descending.

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Playing from Plugged Lies

When your ball is lying partly buried in its own pitchmark, it is said to be 'plugged'. Local rules, particulary when courses are very wet, will often allow a free drop from a plugged lie, but otherwise you'll have to play the ball as it lies. OK, you've been unlucky - now, make the best of things by following these simple tips.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

To play a 'plugged' ball:

• Select a lofted club such as a pitching wedge or 9 iron

• Grip the club firmly but in the normal grip position

• Play the ball position back in your stance with hands slightly forward, ahead of the ball position

• Play a three quarter length swing to 'punch' the ball forward.

The key points to remember are: 

• Take a lofted club, grip it firmly and play the ball back in your stance

• Keep your weight on the left side throughout the swing, hitting down into the ball with a restricted 'punch' follow through.

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Curing the Shank

Probably the most dreaded shot in golf, the shank can cause panic when it strikes and the result is usually more shanks! Step back, breathe slowly and deeply, and work through these simple tips to eliminate it.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

The shank occurs when the ball is hit by the neck of the iron, and flies violently to the right. The shank is caused by:

• Too much tension in the grip;

• Too much weight on the toes in the downswing;

• An excessive out-to-in swing path, often when trying to hit the ball too hard.

To cure the shank:

•  Make sure you hold the club firmly, but not too tight - about 5 on a scale of 1-10.

• Feel the weight in your heels at address and during the swing, but stay balanced.

• Check your aim and alignment at address to make sure you are not standing open. Keep your feet parallel to the target line and swing the club along that line.

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Club Selection & Distances

No two golfers hit the ball exactly alike, and external factors such as temperature, altitude and wind will influence distance. Most of us don't hit the ball as far as we fondly imagine, with the result that we tend to take too little club and then hit too hard. Take some time to measure out your average distances, take enough club and play within yourself - you'll be far more consistent!

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

• Our Top Tip is to calculate your average hitting distance on the range with a 7 iron, using a gentle easy swing. Once you have this calculation, you plus or minus 10 - 15 yards up or down the club scale, for example if you average 150 yards with a 7 iron you will probably achieve 160 - 165 yards with a 6 iron and 135 - 140 yards with an 8 iron.

• Other factors to determine correct club selection are whether you are hitting uphill or downhill, and the gradient of the slope. As a general rule take an extra club when playing uphill and a club less when playing downhill.

• An uphill lie increases the loft of your club and will encourage the ball to fly higher reducing distance. A downhill lie reduces the loft of your club and will result in a lower ball flight and more distance.

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Basic Knowledge of the Rules

The complexity of the Rules of Golf, not to mention the Decisions on the Rules, is such that few can have exhaustive knowledge of them.

But the most basic rules can and should be known by all. The following cover most everyday situations you will encounter, and if they don't:

a) play the course as you find it, and b) play the ball as it lies.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ROUND

- Read the Local Rules on the score card.

- Put an identification mark on your ball. If you can't identify your ball, it's lost.

- You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs.

- During the round, don't ask for ‘advice’ from anyone except your partner or caddie. Don't give advice to anyone except your partner.

PLAYING THE BALL

- Play the ball as it lies, don't improve your lie, the area of your intended swing or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. If your ball lies in a bunker or a water hazard don't touch the ground in the bunker, or the 

ground, or water in the water hazard, before your downswing.

- Playing a wrong ball (except in a hazard) - in match play you lose the hole. In stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and you must then play the correct ball.

ON THE PUTTING GREEN

- You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line of your putt but not any other damage, including spike marks.

- You may mark, lift and clean your ball on the putting green but always replace it on the exact spot.

Ball played from putting green strikes flagstick - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty.

LIFTING, DROPPING AND PLACING THE BALL

- If a lifted ball is to be replaced its position must be marked. If a ball is to be dropped or placed in any other position (e.g. taking relief from GUR, etc.) it is recommended that the ball’s original position be marked.

- When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it within two club-lengths of where the ball lies, not nearer the hole.

LOST BALL OR OUT OF BOUNDS

- Check the Local Rules on the score card to identify the boundaries of the course. If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played under penalty of one stroke i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball, after which if it is not found or identified it is lost. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you may play a ‘provisional ball’. You must state that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search for the original ball. If the original ball is lost or out of bounds you must continue with the provisional ball under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is not lost or out of bounds, you must continue play of the hole with it and the provisional ball must be abandoned.

- Under a penalty of one stroke, you may drop a ball behind the hazard as far back as you wish keeping the point of entry in line with the flag or you may play from where you played the original shot.

WATER HAZARDS (yellow stakes)

- Ball in water hazard (yellow stakes and/or lines) - play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke,

a) play again from where you hit the ball into the hazard, or

b) drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin on the water hazard and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

LATERAL WATER HAZARDS (red stakes)

- Under a penalty of 1 stroke you have 4 options.

a) drop the ball within 2 club lengths to the side where the ball entered the hazard, not nearer the hole.

b) drop the ball behind the hazard as far as you wish keeping the point of entry in line with the flag.

c) play another ball from your original position.

d) drop a ball on the other side of the hazard, within 2 club lengths but not nearer the hole.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

- Check the Local Rules on the score card for guidance on immovable obstructions (e.g. surfaced roads and paths etc.).

- Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans etc.) anywhere on the course may be moved. If the ball moves it must be replaced without penalty.

UNPLAYABLE LIE

- It is your privilege (and you are the sole judge) to declare the ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball lies in or touches a water hazard, you may under penalty of one stroke,

(a) drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole,

(b) drop any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or

(c) replay the shot.

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Course Management

Good golf is not just about hitting good shots. If you can't think your way round the course, you won't score well. Most handicap golfers could save several shots a round if they would learn to play the percentages and not attempt the impossible.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

• On a tight hole where the fairway narrows or bunkers loom, always play percentage golf

• More birdies will come with an 8 iron from the middle of the fairway than a wedge from the rough - so think about a three wood or a five wood from the tee

• Try not to play a shot that you have not practiced, and if in doubt, always play safe

• Tee the ball up as close to the trouble as you can - this way you are always hitting away from the danger.

• Remember - in golf, there is always a good place to hit a bad shot on every hole!

• A 'golf playing lesson' with your pro can also help identify your strengths and weaknesses and help with course management

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