Golf Tips: Learn To Swing Easy
If You can do three things in golf, over 90% of your competitors would not be able to compete with you.( let’s disregard putting for now)
- Stay out of trouble with your driver (notice, I didn’t say smash the ball 300 yards down the center of the fairway).
- Hit 70% of the greens you face from 150 yards in (in other words, learn to control your 8 iron and down).
- Chip the ball within 20 ft of the pin, almost every time (regardless of what you may think, this is not that tough).
Tip #1 – Staying out of Trouble with your Driver
So what is it that’s really causing problems with your driver? Is it Flat-out inconsistency, is it a slice,or is it a hook? Well the good news is that, regardless of what problem you are fighting, there are a few things to incorporate into your game that really will help you. If you have been fighting a slice for a very long time, this is not going to be the absolute end to your problem. But your slice or hook can be reduced to improve upon your score. So here the first tip is.
- Swing Easy. Swinging the club easier and more fluid is something you would definitely have to learn if you want to improve your game. If you go to the range and concentrate ONLY on swinging easy, it will revolutionize your ability to position yourself for a good approach shot when you get onto the course. You will make more consistent impact with the ball, and it will reduce the amount of side-spin you naturally place on the ball because the club head won’t be traveling as fast or with as much force. Again, I know you’ve heard it before, but I ask you to concentrate on this for 1 week. And if you can’t physically practice it, visualize it at the office (visualization works great).
- Switch to a low spin ball. Lower spin off of the tee means that the ball is going to go more straight regardless of how whether your ball moves right or left. I recommend the Titleist DT SoLo, the Precept Laddie, or the Maxfli Noodle. You can find these balls anywhere from $13 to $20 per dozen, and they will play a large role in reducing the side spin that you naturally place on the ball.
All this sounds simple, but it is not. Try switching to a low-spin ball, if you are experiencing problems controlling your driver, and start swinging easy. When you are on the range, ALL you should be thinking about is swinging the club easy. The result will be increased distance and straighter shots because you’ll be releasing your hands through the ball better.
Learn to release your hands through the ball correctly and get rid of your slices, blocks and inconsistency.By “releasing your hands through the ball”, I am describing the act of maximizing your club head speed at the moment of impact, and eliminating the “outside-in” movement that creates a slice.
How You Will Benefit:
- You’ll learn an easy way of “getting your hands through the ball”
- You’ll be increasing the speed of the club head through the impact zone
- You will ensure that the club head is square at impact (which will drastically reduce any slice that you have)
What To Do:
Step 1: Create the “X”
You need to focus on making your forearms cross when completing a follow through. This would ensure a correct release of your hands through the ball.
Practice creating that “X” after impact.
It will be easy to understand the alterative by paying attention to where the club is pointed, which I will explain in the next step.
Step 2: Finish at Third Base
In your follow through, focus on pointing the club down the third base line.
Many golfers finish their swing with the club straight up in the air, or even pointed down the first base line in relation to their feet. Try that once, and you will feel the extreme “outside-in” movement that produces a slice. This is nothing more than a habit that can be easily broken. The Simple Golf Swing goes over this step in much more detail.
Summary:
So when you are on the tee next time, focus on just 2 things. Make the “X” and “finish at third”. That’s it. Swinging easy should already be grooved into your swing from the last tip I sent. Focus on these 2 tips, and you should be on your way to consistently staying out of trouble with your driver, which is the first step to scoring better.