Do what it takes to win

Sunday, December 1, 2013

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

We've all, at some point in our golf careers, had a match or a tournament that we've either won or really wanted to win. What separates winning from finishing behind the winner? Here are several things that players need to do to put themselves in a position to win. Whether you are a low and or high handicapper, there are commonalities to look for.

First you must play within yourself. This means that you don't attempt any shots that you have not practiced many times beforehand. If you are a fader of the golf ball and the shot calls for a draw then don't try to hit this shot. Play to your strength and not your weakness.

Secondly, play the golf course and not your opponent. This is where many players get caught up in the moment. They try to keep up with their opponent in driving distance, hitting clubs that they cannot get to the green, trying shot shapes that don't fit their stroke pattern and a host of others things.

Thirdly you must prepare for the event. This means charting the course and the greens even if you have played the course many times before. Develop a strategy for how you are going to play the course and pick the holes that you can attack and the ones you will need to be a little more conservative on. If you are an aggressive type of personality then you must attack, attack, attack! But pick your spots to be aggressive.

Winners see things happening in a positive manner. Players that don't win see negative images instead. They think about things like, "Don't hit it to the right, there's water over there." Instead of recognizing that there is a problem down the right side and saying "Ok, let's keep it down the left side."

Players also need to check their equipment. Are your loft and lie angles correct for you? Have your wedges been knocked weak? If you play a lot of golf or practice a lot you need to have these checked on a regular basis. PGA Tour players have theirs checked every week and adjust them based on course conditions or the shot shape and trajectory they will need for that particular course.

Some other things you will need are plenty of golf balls, tees, a marker to mark your golf ball, new golf gloves - if you wear them - clean grooves on your irons, an up-to-date rule book and making sure before you reach the first tee that you have counted your clubs to make sure that you have no more than 14. Ask Ian Woosnam about this one!

Be prepared and get your game face on!

comments | | Read More...

Putt like the pros

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

Look at the world's best putters and they all have at least one thing in common: Once they pick the line, they focus on the pace of the putt. They do not "fall in love" with the line. This only leads to putts that are short.

The best putters use different types of strokes and grips. Some of them use a straight back/straight through type of stroke while others use the arc approach.

Let's examine these types of strokes.

1. With the arc approach the club moves back, up, and in during the backstroke, which means it has to move down, out, and forward in the downstroke. Because the player is using this arc approach, ball location is critical. Too far forward and you will pull the putt and too far back and you will push it.

2. The straight back and through method produces a putter face that essentially looks at the ball during the stroke. Since the putter is now moving on a vertical plane there is no inward motion, which means there is no outward motion. Ball location isn't nearly as critical since the face isn't opening or closing.

Players also have a variety of ways they stand at the ball when putting: Some use the so-called square stance, while others use an open one.

Then there is putter and grip styles.

Ken Green uses a putter about 30 inches long while other Bruce Leitzke uses a long putter anchored at the top of his chest. Grip styles range from overlap to reverse overlap, the claw, the saw, cross handed, you name it!

The bottom line is use whatever you want style you want, as long as you're making putts.

Don't be worried about what your playing partners may think or say, you're the one making the putts, not them.

Bernhard Langer has overcome the yips at several times in his career. Do you think he cares what other players think about his putting style?

Whatever you decide to do, stick to it and work on it. Good putting can make up a lot of strokes and bring that handicap down.

comments | | Read More...

Get to know your swing plane

By Karen Palacios-Jansen
Special to WorldGolf.com

Professional and low-handicap golfers consider the swing play to be one of the most important concepts in golf. Swing plane directly relates to how straight, high and far you can hit the ball. At the same time, swing plane is one of the most intimating terms for high-handicap women golfers, simply because they're not sure what a swing plane is, let alone what a good one looks like.

To envision a perfect swing plane, imagine a dotted line drawn from the ball, along the clubshaft and up past the grip. This is your swing plane line. As you start your swing, the clubhead goes up the imaginary dotted line and then basically the club turns upside down so that the grip end of club points down to the ground. The club should be parallel to your imaginary dotted line. Your shoulders turn to finish the backswing and then as you start the downswing, the club should drop back on the imaginary dotted line.

High-handicappers, because of poor swing mechanics or misconceptions regarding swing plane, begin their swings by rolling the club away from their bodies on the takeaway, which immediately puts the club under the swing plane or dotted line. From this position, the player can only lift the club to finish the backswing and then come over the top, or above the swing plane on the downswing. From here, all you can do is hit the ball from an outside path, a major cause of slices and pulls.

The key: Stay on plane as much a possible, especially in the beginning of the backswing. If you're on plane at this critical part of the backswing, you're more likely to remain on plane throughout the entire swing.

No one has a perfect swing plane, but good ballstrikers manage to keep the club on plane throughout their swings more often than not. Here's a drill to help you learn the correct swing plane once and for all.

With a short-iron, grip down on the shaft so that the butt end of the club almost touches your belly button. As you swing back, maintain the triangle formed by your hands and forearms by keeping the butt end of the club pointing at your belly until the clubhead points just outside your right foot. An early body turn or an early break of the wrists will destroy the triangle and move the club under the swing plane. If you keep the club pointed at your belly and your triangle intact, your clubface will remain square and remain on plane. Turn your shoulders and finish your backswing.

As you start the downswing, drop your arms so the butt end of the club points away from your belly. This is the correct delivery position, where the clubhead is on plane and approaches the ball from an inside path.

If you're ever off plane on the backswing, you'll be forced to throw the cluhead from the top and the butt end of the club will point back to your belly button. This is the exact opposite of what you want to do. From this position, you'll slice, pull or top the ball.

To sum up the perfect plane, keep the butt end of the club pointing toward your belly on the takeaway and away from your belly on the downswing. You don't have to be perfect, but don't do the opposite.

comments | | Read More...

Some lessons to take away from watching the British Open

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

Golfers in the U.S. are spoiled when it comes to course conditions and the type of golf we play here versus in Europe.

The British Open is usually an extreme example of the contrast in golf between the two. While courses in the U.S. normally accept shots fired at the pin, the reverse is true at the British Open.

Watch the British Open and you'll see the type of golf (and preparation) you would need if you are intending to head over to Europe, especially to Britain, for a golf vacation.

The run and punch shot

Most shots on British golf courses are played short of the green and run up to the hole. Shots fired at the pin usually go off the green leaving delicate little chips and pitches. Of course the player also has the option of putting from 30 yards off the green as well.

But that's just one type of shot you would need.

Watch the pros at Carnoustie and see how they hit a lot of punch and knockdown shots to keep the ball below the tree lines and out of the wind. To hit this type of shot position the ball back in your stance from your normal position. Be sure to increase the weight distribution to favor the front leg and foot and then leavbe it there during the stroke. After impact keep the club low to follow through. If you rotate the club face slightly you can hit a low punch draw.

If you hold the club face it will generally produce a straight punch and if you feel a little "reverse" action of the clubface you can hit punch fade. Experiment a little to find your ball location for those windy days.

Surviving those deep bunkers and tricky greens.

British golf courses are notorious for deep pot bunkers, something you don't see much on U.S. golf courses. There will be times when playing the ball backward is the best choice. There have been a lot of players that have tried to advance the ball from one of these caverns and wind up having to hit a second and third shot from bunker.

In the U.S. we very seldom are faced with these types of shots. I would suggest that you don't try to be a hero, take your medicine and move on. You'll have plenty of holes and times to make birdies during the round.

Putting is also very tricky on European greens. In the U.S. we are use to smooth, well manicured greens, not so on British courses. The greens are usually bumpy, lots of undulation and slower then U.S. greens. Take your time, hit the putt a little firmer, and be committed to the line. Speed is always a factor so don't fall in love with the line.

Oh, and the weather is awful

As you'll probably see at the British Open, it can be rainy and cold over there. You'll need headgear, cold weather, rain gear, lots of gloves and a hand warmer. Dress in layers whenever possible but nothing restrictive, you still need to move and make a golf swing.

There's nothing you can do about conditions so just accept the fact that the round isn't going to be pleasant and that everyone else is playing in the same conditions.

We have it so good over here that sometimes we don't realize how poor course conditions can be outside of the U.S. It's a different game in Europe and if you ever get the chance to go over and play don't hesitate!

comments | | Read More...

It's not about how good your golf swing looks

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

Some skillful players know how to get the ball in the hole and score. Others have what appears to be a great golf swing but cannot score, while still others have a combination of both a great-looking swing and the know-how to go low.

Which one are you?

Take a look at the Champions Tour and you'll see countless variations of swings - most are not "pretty" but these players have found a way to get it in the hole. And what is the objective of the game? To get the ball in the hole with the fewest number of strokes.

Ben Hogan was asked who he thought had the best swing he had ever seen and he answered, "A driving range pro over at..."

Some players are cursed with a beautiful swing - on the driving range - but can never take it to the course. Others are blessed with the ability to score with swings that look like an octopus in a telephone booth, like Jim Furyk.

Do you need to work on your mechanics? Sure, but when the bell rings you've got to find a way to score. When playing golf don't be concerned about "how" it looks, the scorecard doesn't know any better, but rather what you need to do to get this little white ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible.

Here are a couple of suggestions to help you improve your scoring.

1. Get out on the course and play two balls. Play the worst ball on every shot and you'll find a way to score.

2. Play the forward tees. If this does not give you a different view then nothing will.

3. Play your approach shots from the middle of the fairway on par 4's from the 100 yard marker, par 5's from the two hundred yard marker, and the par 3's from the fringe. This will tell you where your weakest points are. You may think you've got a good short game but playing this way will definitely show you how good it is.

Ultimately players need to control the clubface, their pivot, and their chosen Plane Angle. These three pieces can make the difference between success or failure on the golf course. If these three do not match up the player is doomed for a golf life spent in mediocrity.

For an example of how to match these three up look at Colin Montgomerie's swing. His pivot is a slide and tilt in the backstroke and then another slide and tilt in the downstroke. He matches up his pivot by using what I refer to as a Turning Shoulder Plane for his Plane Angle. Then to match the clubface he uses a "Angled Hinge Action." These three are compatible. However, the Plane Angle and Hinge Action would not be compatible with a more rotational pivot such as the one used by Tiger Woods.

In our new book, coming out later this summer, we go into great detail about how to match up components. We will show you pictures of the different variations then show you how to match up what you're doing to make your golf stroke more effective.

comments | | Read More...

Control your wrist, and control your slice

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

You're standing on the tee with water right and think, boy I don't want to hit it right. What usually happens next? The ball doesn't go into the water because it wants to. It go in the water because it has to!

You did everything absolutely perfect to produce this slice and send your golf ball to a watery grave. So how do you fix this abomination of a shot? First, you will need to know what a slice is and what some of its causes are.

A slice can start anywhere but then curves back to the right - for a right-handed player. The amount of this curvature can be small or great depending on the clubface angle when the ball leaves the clubface.

If you are slicing here's a quick check list to narrow down why.

1. Ball location - having the ball too far back in the stance will not allow the clubface to close properly. A player's hand speed also affects ball location. Fast hands need to play the ball back and slow hands more forward.

2. Hinge action (the control of the clubface transmitted through the left hand) - Faulty hinge action can lead to slices, hooks, pushes, and fades. But properly educated hands can even compensate for off plane motions.

3. Right arm action - Not straightening the right arm through impact allows the clubface to remain open. These three are the basic reasons for slices, but there could be more depending on the player.

 

Some misnomers about slices

 

1. Clubhead path controls initial ball direction.

This is one of the worst pieces of advice ever given. Why? The ball will always leave the clubface, at a right angle to the clubface, regardless of the path the club is swung on unless there is enough time and force to alter what's known as the Venturi Effect.

2. A strong grip eliminates a slice.

Yeah right. We've all heard this and I bet you've even tried it. You probably took a lesson - or two - from the local pro and have spent a few dollars (or even a few hundred) to get rid of that nasty slice.

Heck, you might have even tried to fix that nasty thing yourself! But you quickly realized after hundreds of golf balls...it did not work. You heard me. It didn't work, never has, and never will.

If you want to eliminate a slice, or a hook, you MUST learn how to control the clubface through the proper use of the left wrist. That's all there is to it.

comments | | Read More...

A golfer's got to know his limitations

By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor

How many times have you taken a lesson and walked away feeling unfulfilled, Knowing that you just didn't get it?

It may not be your fault!

The majority of golf teachers work strictly on the mechanics of the golf stroke. And while that certainly plays an important role, there is something else that absolutely must happen for the mechanical aspects to work.

You see there is a golf handicap and a physical handicap. Your golf handicap may be a 5 but the physical one may be 30! What does this mean? In simple terms your body may not allow you to do certain things.

As an example: You might not have any external rotation of the right forearm that would preclude getting your right elbow in front of the right hip.

Of, if your hips are limited in flexibility and rotational motion then turning them through the ball will be next to impossible. If the left side of your body is weaker then the right then it will not provide enough support through the ball, it will collapse instead.

So without the knowledge of what you can do physically, trying to work on mechanics is an absolute waste of time.

Players virtually never make poor motions because they want to, but rather their bodies dictate what they can and can not do.

When working with an golf instructor be sure to ask them if they offer a physical evaluation to go with their teaching. Whether they are qualified to do this or they farm it out makes no difference. But what does make a difference is the interpretation of the data.

Remember it's not your fault if you are having swing issues. You want to do something different but your body just won't allow it.

comments | | Read More...