About Golf Training

Ben Throckmorton asked:


Whenever you talk with golfers about golf instruction, they all seem to be very interested in the latest gadget, gimmick, trend, or secret method but mention fundamentals and they tune out quicker than you can say jack rabbit.
“That’s just for beginners,” they say citing their current 19 handicap as evidence that they have progressed beyond working on their grip, posture, and alignment. But talk about the “X-Factor” or “Speed Stick” or “The Power Move” or “The Magic Pill” or “The Inside Path” or some other new-fangled gimmick and they immediately start to salivate at the thought of becoming a single digit handicapper just by buying another videotape, DVD, or gimmick.
The truth is that yes, you can play good golf even with poor fundamentals but it’s so much easier to get your golf game on track and keep it on track if your golf swing is fundamentally sound. There is a moment in every golf swing whether it be a full driver swing, a 3 foot putt, or a 30 yard pitch, that I like to call “the moment of truth.”
The “moment of truth” determines whether or not a given shot will start on line and where it will finish.
This “moment of truth,” impact, is really the only thing that matters whether you’re pounding your driver or trying to coax in a 3 footer. Whether or not you can square the face of the club to the intended target line at impact determines how successful any single swing will be.
Let’s take for example, Lee Trevino. Trevino’s swing was not what you’d call classic but he was very skilled at squaring the face of the club to the target line at impact. He spent years honing his motion to a fine edge, spending countless hours on the driving range and golf course so that he could consistently square the face of the club to his intended target line. Jim Furyk is another example of someone with a less than classic motion who has major championship talent and who has spent his entire life honing his golf swing so that he can consistently square the club face to the intended target line. Fred Couples is another example and the list goes on and on. These players, all from different set-up positions, have trained themselves to square the club face to the intended target line at impact and you can too.
Having said that, let me say that most of us simply don’t have the time or talent required to hone our action to this very fine edge so it’s awesomely important that with limited practice and playing time, we give ourselves the very best possible chance to hit good shots and that means to play our best golf it would behoove each of us, no matter our current handicap, to work on developing sound fundamentals. It’s just easier with a good grip, good posture, and good alignment to hit shots that fly toward the target and that’s what we all want …..right?
So why do players who would love to play like Tiger Woods, who consistently shoot in the upper 80’s, 90’s, and worse, steer clear of the very fundamental concepts that would help them play better and shoot lower scores? Is it pride? Is it a misconception they have about what’s important? What is it? I can guarantee you that Tiger Woods works diligently on fundamental concepts like grip, posture, and alignment. He does this because he knows that if one of these fundamentals gets a little off, it will effect his entire swing. He knows this as do all tour players and most low handicappers.
Good players work consistently to develop and maintain a good grip, athletic posture, and square alignment.
Bad players don’t. Players who struggle seem to work on gimmicks, fads, and tricks in an effort to improve but somehow year after year, they have a new set of clubs, new pair of shoes, the latest golf ball technology, a brand new gimmick, and yet they shoot the same old scores and hit the same bad shots.
Now I know that working on your grip, posture, and alignment are not nearly as exciting as working with the latest gadget you bought on the Golf Channel that will allow you to hit the ball 350 yards but if you’ll try working on your fundamentals as prescribed in “How To Break 90 In 3 Easy Lessons”, you’ll see results that you won’t find anywhere else. You might actually be surprised how good your swing really is when you put yourself in the optimum positions to excel.
I know it, Tiger knows it, and know YOU know it…. so get out there and get to work on the concepts that are truly essential if you are going to shoot the scores you’ve always dreamed of.

Jeanne

Eddy Kong Ww asked:


Now, the best and last 2 simple & proven ways to improve your golf on the course. Finding out your “physical and mental limitations” is the first step towards a lifelong better game of golf. Once you find out what is keeping you (which is quite easy) from making that perfect swing, you can set up a game plan to improve it.
It may be a flexibility or a matter of adjustment or changes and even mental issues, or it may be a strength issue. But either way, you have got to find out what it is. Even veteran golfers are not spared from this. Is golf training program really works?
The most common issue (especially for the older golfer) is flexibility. Not being able to rotate your body fully on the backswing (this may even injure your back or spine) , creating that power and torque for maximum clubhead speed.
If your back swing is cut short, you may even LOSE yards on your drives! And I say again; no amount of lessons or hitting balls will make that any better. You have got to do specific golf stretches to improve this limitation.
Now on the other side of these limiting factors is strength, specific to golf. And one of the most common limitations is weak the back of the upper leg. The role of this is critical.
It allows you to maintain your golf posture throughout the swing and for 18 holes. It prevents undo strain on your lower back. And can give you a steady, comfortable position while putting.
If your hamstrings are weak, I can almost say with certainty, you have got some low-back pain or injury. This is prevalent in older golfers and even the younger ones too.
Back pain is the number reason to keep a golfer from playing his or her best. Have you ever walked off the course with your back in pain? I am sure at one time or another you have.
You cannot just enjoy this game of golf, if your hamstring is weak. So, is there a solution for this without injuring your back and up your golf level.
Now do you think hitting more balls or taking more lessons will improve this? I think you know the answer.
If you have a difficult time, “staying in your swing”, it most definitely could be your posture. In order to maintain the forward flex in your upper body (golf posture), your hamstring need to have optimal strength (and flexibility).
If not, your hamstring will send a message to your brain saying, “get out of this position, I cannot hold it any longer”. Do you think his has ever happened to you? Your mind will not obey you and starts to do some movements that you cannot simply control.
So working on the physical side of your game improvement may be the missing link. I can assuredly tell you with this approach, your game WILL improve.
I guess it is doing some stretching exercises before the golf and of course go to a medical professionals to certify that you are fit to “twist and turn” your lowerback. You do not want to injure during the game and even lose to your golf partners, do you?
There is no doubt. Getting your body to move just a little better will make a huge difference in your ability to make an optimal swing for 18 holes. So before you take that next golf lesson, take a look at your BODY first!

Arnold

Mike Gelhaus asked:


If you hit the ball well, but suffer from consistency in your shot direction or shape, you may be suffering from alignment problems at address. This is an extremely important but very underrated factor in the golf swing, and most amateurs pay far too little attention to getting it right. Are your feet, hips, shoulders, and clubface aligned properly for each shot? Here’s a short test that will help you find out:

First, are your feet lined up parallel to the target line? This one is easy. Just address the ball as if you were going to hit a shot, then put a longish iron on the ground so that the shaft touches both of your toes. Then take another iron and carefully line it up just behind the ball with the grip end of the shaft pointing toward the target.

Now, step back and see if the shaft by your feet is parallel with the shaft behind the ball. If the shaft points to the left (for right handers) then you will tend to swing on an outside to in swing path, which will predispose you to hitting pulls, fades, slices. If the shaft points to the right of parallel, then you will tend to push, hook, or draw.

Second, check your hips and shoulders. This is a little tougher. Leave the clubs from step 1 in place and address the ball again. Have a friend stand behind you and lay a club across your hips and shoulders to tell where they are lined up. If they are pointing left or right of parallel to the target line the same problems from step 1 apply.

Third, check your clubface. Believe it or not, this can be the toughest one. Tape a 12″ plastic ruler or other straight object to the clubface and then address the ball normally. This will exaggerate any errors and tell you where you are aiming. If the clubface is aimed left of square (closed) you will tend to hook and if it is aimed right (open) you will tend to slice, depending on your grip and other factors in your swing.

Now, if the results of this test show that your alignment needs work, I suggest you check out some golf training aids that are designed to help you line up correctly. Several affordable training aids are available that really make practicing your alignment easy. Here are some tips for finding a golf training aid that will maximize your results.

1. Make sure the golf training aid is easily portable and easy to set up. If it’s not convenient to use, you won’t use it.

2. Get one that not only has a ‘T’ setup for aligning your feet and ball position, but also includes a mirror that will help you get your hips, shoulders, and head position right. Otherwise, why bother?

3. Use the golf training aid whenever you hit at the range, but make sure you practice without it as well. Hit 10 shots with, 10 without and alternate. Develop a feel for setting up square without the device, since you can’t use it on the course.

If you get a good golf training aid and use it consistently, you should see rapid improvements in your direction and ball striking consistency. Good luck!

Laurie