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Five Mistakes Weekend Golfers Make
Jack Moorehouse
Most of us are weekend golfers. If we're really lucky, and
the weather holds, we play on both Saturday and Sunday. If
not, we play either Saturday or Sunday. Occasionally, we play
during the week but that doesn't happen too often. Our jobs
and families keep us too busy to play regularly.
Weekend golfers tend to acquire bad habits, habits that can
completely derail a round and ruin a good day. Below are five
faults to keep in mind if you play sporadically. While these
tips derive from many hours spent giving golf lessons to weekend
golfers, they're good reminders for any player.
Reaching Out
Reaching out with the driver is a fault I see a lot in weekend
golfers. Players often feel more powerful when they're all
stretched out, especially if it's on the tee. It's a fault
I've pointed out in my golf tips newsletter. I even do it
myself sometimes. But reaching out is the result of standing
too far away from the ball, which shifts your weight onto
your toes. When you swing, gravity pulls you toward the ground,
causing you to lose your balance. If you don't play often,
pay close attention to your set up. It's the foundation of
your swing, so make sure you're in a balanced and athletic
position before swing the club.
Not Releasing Tension
Most swing errors occur at set-up and one of the biggest causes
of error is tension. Too much tension in your hands causes
the rest of your body to tense up, impeding the flow of your
swing. Beginning with a good start where you synchronize the
swinging of the club with the turning motion of your body
gets you into the flow, and it helps you put the club in good
position without having to think too much about it. And we
all know what happens when we think too much. To get loose,
start your swing by holding the club a couple of feet in front
of and above the ball. Grip the club loosely and waggle it
a few times. It will loosen your hands up and your body as
well.
Slicing
Eighty-five percent of all golfers slice. It's especially
prevalent with weekend golfers who don't get a chance to correct
the fault in practice or through a lot of play. The split-hand
drill reinforces a free release, allowing you to rotate your
forearms through impact and turns your slice into a draw.
It's a drill I often use with players taking my golf lessons.
Here's what you do:
Grab your driver and address a ball on the tee. When you grip
the club, do so by taking hold of the shaft with your hands
a few inches apart. Instead of your normal set up position,
rest the driver on the ground inside the target line and behind
your rear foot. From this position, try to hit the ball by
sweeping up and rotate your forearms thorough impact. You
should finish with your right hand above your left. Try this
drill on the practice range just before teeing off. It will
give you the feeling of a draw as opposed to a slice.
Poor Left Hand At Impact
No matter what you do with the rest of your swing, the critical
moment is at impact. If you can get the back of the left-hand
square to the target (for right-handed players) and you have
a neutral grip, the ball has to go straight. If you haven't
played for awhile, your goal should be to reinforce the feeling
of getting your left hand leading the club face and the back
of your hand facing the target. Take a club and try hitting
a chip shot with just your left hand to remind you of the
feeling of hitting the ball with your left-hand leading. Remember
if you slice, you're hitting the ball with the side of your
left hand. If you hook, your hand has turned over too much.
Coming Over The Top
Coming over the top affects not only weekend golfers but also
PGA pros after a long lay off. This fault is strictly a path
issue. Here's a drill that will help you correct it. First,
lay a club down on the ground behind the ball and parallel
to the target line. Take your normal address position, then
pull the right foot back, until the right toes are even with
your left heel (for right-handers). Then swing along your
foot line. This drill forces you to swing from the inside,
creating a straighter shaped shot. Try hitting a few shots
like this before starting a round. It will help eliminate
the over-the-top swing.
If you keep these five faults -- and their drills -- in mind
the next time you play, you will have a fighting chance of
having a good round, even after a long lay off. Of course,
correcting these faults won't guarantee that you'll break
100, but they may help you cut a few strokes off your score
and make playing on the weekend more fun.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling
book "How
To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf
pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers
from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.
Article Source: articlekarma.com
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