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Consistency
Develop a pre-shot routine to become a more consistent golfer. The pre-shot routine should be only 3-5 general steps that are repeatable and fluid.
Any activity that requires movement needs to flow, but the harder and longer we think about what to do, the more tension and hesitation we create. If you have a routine, you will actually be quicker at setting up to hit the ball and more successful because of the familiarity and feel you will develop.
Think of all the daily tasks you do that involve a routine. The majority of the routine does not take much thought, but a small portion may require some problem solving. For example, getting up and out of the house in the morning. You know you need to get cleaned up, dressed and eat. The order is automatic but the clothes you choose to wear depend upon the weather and your activity.
To hit your golf shot, you know you will grip the club, aim, set your body posture and get into proper balance. however, you needed to think about which club to hit and where to aim. All these things we can control and better yet we can develop a routine to create consistency and keep the set-up routine simple and flowing so not to develop tension and you will see improvement.
Balance
What do we need to do to achieve balance in the golf swing? We need to begin in balance before we swing.
Try the following . . .
- After you grip the club, set your body in proper posture and alignment. The final step in your pre-swing routine is to check your balance.
- Good/Proper Balance is achieved when you can jump straight up from your set-up and land in your same footprints...or if jumping is not a good option for those of us who are more mature...
- You should feel approximately 60% of your weight on the ball of each foot (slightly more pressure forward than on your heel) and 40% on each heel.
- Your set up posture should be a very athletic position and that includes proper balance so you can maintain correct swing mechanics because poor balance will compromise your swing.
- Remember, you can try to keep your head down and your eye on the ball, but if you are not in proper balance to swing, your body will react and compromise your swing to save you from falling down!
Did you know? Balance - Consistency / Consistency = Better Golf
BY: Cathy Bremer Lombritto, PFG Teaching Professional, Keller Golf Course
Balance is one of the top priorities for you to successfully hit a golf ball consistently! Why? Consistency does not happen if you are reacting to being out of balance. For example, what happens if you trip while you are walking? Your body reacts to not letting you fall down . . . you stumble, your head bobs up and down, left and right, this is why you are LOOKING UP!
I have never met a golfer who moves their head . . . 'looks up' prematurely and miss hits the golf shot on purpose! You and your playing partners can keep repeating the mantra 'you are looking up, eye on the ball . . . keep your head down . . . keep your head still!' You keep trying and trying to no avail, are you stubborn? I don't think so . . . you are a golfer who only wants to successfully hit your golf shot and have fun.
So, if this sounds familiar, check your balance.
Decide Before Addressing the Putt
Dave Pelz, the short game guru, reminds up that roughly 75% of all our strokes are made within 50 yards of the hole. A fraction of a wedge. A chip shot. A putt. A sand shot. All those shots that can turn a potentially bad score on a hole into a good one - or vice versa.
Let's just discuss one item about putting - the "deciding" part. Some golfers get over the ball and change their minds on where and how hard to stroke the ball while repeatedly and alternately looking at the cup and ball. Sure, most of us look at the cup a couple times before stroking a putt, but too many thoughts and glances while over a putt is not only unnecessary, but can also be detrimental. Our bodies can become tense when remaining stationary too long and doubts can develop. Therefore, the decisions on the line of the putt and the length of the backstroke (which determines distance the putt will go) should be done before you get over the ball.
One of the best putters I've ever played with is Bud Tompkins, an excellent golfer in the Twin Cities area. Bud looks at the break, considers the distance, thinks about the speed of the putt, and then makes his direction/distance decisions before addressing the putt. He then makes his decision on how to stroke it. After this 5-second mental exercise, he steps up to the ball, gets comfortable and then takes less than 3 seconds to pull the trigger. He never changes his mind over the ball on how and where to stroke the putt. This DBA (Decide Before Addressing) the putt method works particularly well with those knee-knocking putts inside of 6 feet.
Give this a try. Your playing partners, as well as the group behind you, will appreciate the slightly less time you'll need on the green to stroke your putt. And, hopefully, you'll discover that you will need fewer putts per round when you approach the shot as a putt and not a science project.
Develop a routine and use it on every putt:
- Determine the line you want the ball to roll on
- See that line in your mind
- Pick a spot on the line a few inches in front of your ball to roll the ball over
- Make a few practice strokes
- Hit your putt
Drivers
Today's drivers are designed to help you hit drives that fly high with less backspin. You can help by teeing the ball high, playing the ball forward and catching the ball on a slight upswing.
How High to Tee Your Ball
When using a driver, make sure that half of your ball is above the top of your club for a normal tee shot. The new oversized drivers should be struck in the middle of the club face because the "Sweet Spot" is higher on the face than on the old conventional clubs. Striking the ball higher on the club with your driver will create a higher launch angle which should mean more distance. Good luck!
Harvey's Critical Point
The late and legendary Austin, Texas club pro, Harvey Penick, when asked what part of the swing is the "most critical," replied: "the beginning of the downswing." Touring pros demonstrate that there are many ways to get the club from the address to the top of the backswing. A comment once made by Bobby Jones supports the position that the downswing is the important move. "I never hit a ball on the backswing," Jones said.
Mr. Penick said from the top two things should happen at the same time: 1) a gradual shift of your weight from the right foot to the left while at the same time, 2) allowing gravity rather than the hands to initiate the beginning of the downswing. While these two things are simultaneously occurring, the right elbow will drop close to your right side and the wrists will maintain their cocked position until the clubhead is about halfway from the top of the ball. Some call this "hitting late in the downswing." Some call it the "release" of the hands. Call it whatever you want, just be patient at the top of the swing, allow gravity to begin the downswing, and your tempo and timing should improve. Take it from the pro who taught a couple kids named Ben Crenshaw and Tim Kite how to play the game a half century ago: Harvey Penick.
Your First Shot
Your first shot is all important. If you are not feeling confident or ready to play that first shot, then use your favorite club instead of the driver. If your favorite club is a five hybrid, go with that. It is important to be confident. If you don't have a favorite club, see your local PGA Professional.
~ From Mike Diebel, Golf Professional, Goodrich Golf Course
Develop a Routine
Develop a routine and use it on every putt:
- Determine the line you want the ball to roll on
- See that line in your mind
- Pick a spot on the line a few inches in front of your ball to roll the ball over
- Make a few practice strokes
- Hit your putt
The First Tee
The first golf shot of the day off the first tee is your most important shot of the day. That first shot can set the tone for your round of golf for the whole day. Let me give you a few tips on how to make that first shot better and make your round of golf more enjoyable.
Pre-round practice would be the best thing a player can do to help your round get off to a good start; however, time is sometimes a problem. So if you only have a few minutes before your round, allocating your time is important.
- Take some practice swings. Get loose. Start thinking about your game today and why you're here: to have fun and play well.
- If you have time, do some chipping and putting. Get familiar with the speed of the greens. How are your chip shots reacting to the speed of the greens today? Start thinking golf.
Get a Grip
~ From Mike Diebel, Golf Professional, Goodrich Golf Course
Having a new or clean golf grip on your clubs can make a difference in your game. Depending on how much golf you play, worn or dirty grips can cost you strokes.
For an experiment, take one of your clubs that you use frequently and scrub the grip with soap and a brush. You will be surprised to see the dirt that comes off your club. A slippery grip can make a big difference when swinging your club for distance and accuracy. If you have the time, stop by your local pro shop and put on one new grip. That new grip will feel so good I bet the gripping of the rest of your clubs is soon to follow!
After a Round of Practice
After Round Practice Playing a round of golf is always a great time. The improvement you make with your golf can sometimes be slower than you would like. I suggest spending some time after your round to work on your game.
The players who improve the most are the players who can look objectively at their golf game, find their weaknesses and work on them. It is definitely more fun to practice the part of our game at which we are good. But the quickest way to improve your game is to find your weakness and work to make it one of your strengths.
Following your round is a good time to work on your game. It is a good time to ingrain a good round or work out problems that you just had with a certain part of your game. Set a goal while you practice. Once you accomplish your goal, whether it takes five minutes or an hour, you are done, you reached your goal, good work. A productive after round practice will make that after golf cold drink taste even better!
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