Binks Forest Golf Club

Archive for the ‘Golf Tips’ Category

The game of golf features many complex elements, but perhaps none are as important as the so-called short game. The short game comprises of putting and chipping, the areas where many golf shots go to waste.

A golfer may cover 275 yards of a golf hole in one drive from the tee, then take two or three shots to get the ball in the hole from just a few feet away. In these precise and short shots a good golf score is earned or lost.

Par

Every golf hole includes a par standard. Hole classifications include par threes, par fours and par fives. The commonality between all par standards is that par allows for two putts on a green. Thus, a par three anticipates that a golfer will reach the green in one shot and need two putts to complete the hole.

Likewise, a par five suggests that a golfer will need three shots to reach the green, but is still afforded two putts on the green. A skilled chipper is able to chip the ball close enough to the hole that only a slight tap-in is left with the putter.

Putting Definition

A putt is simply a golf stroke taken with a putter. Unlike other clubs, a golfer does not take a full swing with a putter. Instead, he uses the club to gently roll the ball across the green. Putters have flat faces designed for this task. To prepare a putt, a golfer attempts to read the slope of a green.

He estimates whether the ball will break to the left or right, takes into account whether he is putting uphill or downhill, then estimates where to aim the ball. The putting stroke is made by lining shoulders and feet to the hole, bringing the putter back and hitting through the ball toward the hole.

Putting Rules
Once a ball reaches the green, golfers are allowed to mark their ball, pick up and clean their ball, and replace it back where it was marked. This tactic is especially useful when a ball collects a great deal of mud in wet conditions.

However, a golfer may not substitute his golf ball on the green. He must putt the same ball with which he reached the green. Golf balls may also be marked and lifted when a ball obstructs another golfer’s line to the hole.

Chipping Definition

A chip shot is used around the green when a distance is too close for a full swing, but too far to putt. From a swing standpoint, a chip is very similar to a putting stroke. The golfer attempts to slowly bring the club back and then make just enough contact to land the ball on the green.

Once on the green, a chip shot rolls much in the same way that a putt rolls, thus golfers must also take into account the slope of the green when chipping.

Chipping Approach

When playing a chip shot, golfers tend to stand with the ball positioned near the back of their stance. This makes it easier to make contact with the ball and eliminates the risk of striking the ground before the ball.

Chip shots are usually taken with wedges, such as a pitching wedge, sand wedge or gap wedge. In some instances, when a ball must be elevated quickly, a lob wedge is used.

Professional and low-handicap players know the importance of swinging a golf club in a circle around their fixed spine angle.

Many amateurs make the mistake of sliding the back leg and hip throughout the swing.

This creates an unwanted lateral movement that leads to poorly stuck golf shots. The following tips are designed to help a right-handed golfer eliminate the unwanted sliding movement in the golf swing.

Left-handed players need to reverse the instructions.

Drills

Practice swinging with the right side of your body against a wall, a golf stand bag or broken shaft in the ground. This should help ingrain the feeling of hips turning in the swing.

The hips should not move laterally at any point in the golf swing. In fact, the hips will rotate to the right during the back-swing and uncoil in the forward swing.

Weight Shift

Maintain the weight on the inside of your right leg throughout your back-swing. If the weight reaches the outside of the right leg and foot you have started to slide in the back-swing. This forces a golfer to create extra movements in the swing to compensate for the lower body sliding at the start of the back-swing.

Correct Setup Position

Check your posture in your setup position. In the address position, you should create what is known as your “spine angle” by bending forward at your waist.

The proper setup allows a slight bend in the knees while bending forward at the waist to create an athletic stance. Standing too upright can lead to a lateral shift in the hips throughout the back-swing. Taking a more athletic stance will promote the hips to rotate and not shift.

Feel Hips Rotating Correctly

Square your right foot to your target line. The target line is an imaginary line that runs through the golf ball to your target. This should produce a 90-degree angle with your right foot pointing straight. Positioning your right foot greater than 90 degrees can promote a sliding movement in the backswing.

Practice turning your right foot in to create less than a 90-degree angle. This will restrict hip and lower body movement, allowing you to feel a rotation rather than a sliding movement in the swing.

“Natural” golf refers to the mental state with regard to preparation before each round of golf and each swing the golfer takes. The first step is to plan how you want to swing the club.

Positive mental attitude

This is one of the most important things for any golfer before heading onto the golf course. It is a lot easier said than done. How many of us have had a feeling of dread when walking up to the first tee because the last round of golf did not go very well.

In order to have a positive mental attitude, do the physical work beforehand to get there. That means going to the driving range and working on your game so you can feel confident when you step up to the tee.

Tempo

The body needs to move at a certain tempo and have a natural rhythm when you swing the golf club. Even if you struggle with consistency in this area, every golfer has hit that shot that feels perfect from start to finish.

Envision that swing in your mind before you step up to the tee. That is a natural reminder of the way you have played the game in the past when all has gone well.

Practice

One of the most basic philosophies in life also applies to golf. Practice makes perfect. In order to become a better and more confident golfer, you need to work on your skills. That means taking the time to work on your address, stance, takeaway, downswing, moment of impact and follow through.

You can do this by going regularly to the driving range and working on your swing. Practicing and playing at least twice a week will help you improve the natural way.