Perfect Putting
Putting is one of the most unique parts of the game with equipment that ranges from 30-72 inch length putters; golfers use whatever it takes to put the ball in the hole. Whether you use a conventional putting grip, split grip, or the new “claw” grip, putting still comes down to how well you can control your distance.
Distance is the primary variable in good putting. Those who cannot control their distance will have a hard time with 3 putting. The speed of your putt will determine how much or how little your putt will break. The line you need to be aware of is the line about 18 inches behind the hole, not the line to the hole.
Golfers are too concerned with how much a putt breaks instead of the speed. The average PGA Tour professional makes only 55% of their 6 footers and 90% of their 3 footers. A typical amateur will have a greater chance of 3 putting from 6 feet than they will making it. If golfers would have the mentality of “where they want their next putt to be from,” they will have fewer and fewer three putt greens.
Here are a couple tips on how to control your distance:
- Place a tee on the toe and heel of your putter and swing the putter through the tee’s. This will ensure you are hitting the center of the putter.
- The distance of the stroke should be the same length back and through. Control your distance by rocking your shoulders instead of using your hands and wrists.
Derek Nannen is the Director of Instruction at Eagle Mountain Golf Academy. For more information, visit www.eaglemtngolfacademy.com, call 602-762-5000 or email dnannen@eaglemtn.com
Body Rotation
By Jay Larscheid, General Manager/Director of Golf at Longbow Golf Club
One of the elements of a sound golf swing is good rotation. A key to this is keeping the club in front of your body throughout the swing. To accomplish this motion, the golfer must rotate the club head, hands and chest at the same rate. Try to visualize a dot on the club head, on the hands and in the middle of your chest. During the swing, feel like those three dots go to the top, back down through impact to a good finish position at the same rate of rotation.
Jay Larscheid is the General Manager/Director of Golf at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jayl@longbowgolf.com
Pre-Round Preparation
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
Give yourself the best chance of starting your round well by arriving at the golf course 45-60 minutes before your round. Begin at the putting green with putts of various lengths. Then hit a few chips to establish your feel. Finally, move over to the practice range and hit balls with every other club in your bag starting with your wedge. To ease first tee jitters your last three practice shots should mimic your opening drive.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Fairway Bunkers
By Jay Larscheid, General Manager/Director of Golf at Longbow Golf Club
When playing from fairway bunkers or waste areas on some of our desert courses play the ball towards the center of your stance, take one more club than you normally would and make sure you make a smooth, controlled swing. Focusing on the front edge of the ball and maintaining your posture throughout the hitting area will allow you to make solid contact by hitting the ball first.
Jay Larscheid is the General Manager/Director of Golf at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jayl@longbowgolf.com
A “chitch” shot can be a very valuable and often used shot in your bag. A combination of a chip and a pitch, the “chitch” is a shot used from around that will help lower your scores dramatically.
All great players have a wonderful imagination around the green to “CREATE” shots. With the short game consisting of approximately 70% of your score, the more shots you can execute around the green, the better your chances are of being a low handicap short game player.
A “chitch” shot will combine the characteristics of a low running chip shot with the loft of a pitch. Played in the middle of the stance, clubs such as a sand wedge, pitching wedge, and a 9 iron can be used.
A simple straight back, straight through motion can be used to execute this shot. When you are faced with a task of going over an object and have a lot of green for the ball to run, the “chitch” is the perfect shot.
No-Peek Putting
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
If you are having trouble making short putts maybe the problem is you are looking up before your stroke is complete. Try the following drill. Place your ball on a dime on the putting green three feet from a hole. When making your stroke concentrate on looking for the dime. By the time you see the dime your stroke will be over.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Balanced Set-up
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
It is very important to have good balance at the start of your swing. In order to establish a strong foundation at address make sure your feet are shoulder width apart and your weight is on the inside of your feet more toward the balls of your feet. Imagine you are on top of a tall building and want to look over but not fall over.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Aim For Success
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
Proper aim and alignment are vital to successful shotmaking. To
insure you are aimed properly, the next time you are on the practice range try the following procedure. Stand behind the ball and look out at your target. Then bring your eyes back toward the ball and pick out a spot 2-3 feet in front of your ball. This spot will serve as your intermediate target. Lay a club down parallel to the line to your intermediate target. Make sure your feet are parallel to the club on the line and you will be aimed for success.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Precise Wedge Distance Control
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
One of the quickest ways to lower your scores is to control the distance you hit your wedges. A great way to develop feel is to find out how far you hit your pitching wedge when you let your left arm rise only to the 7:30 position in your backswing. If you can determine the distances for the 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 positions with your wedge you will turn one club into three. If you choke down 1 inch and 2 inches you will have the equivalent of six more clubs at your disposal.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Pressure Putting Practice
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
If you need help to make more of those testy 3-5 foot putts, then try the following drill. Place 9 golf balls on a flat spot on the putting green in three rows at 3, 4 and 5 feet from hole. The goal of the drill is to make all 9 putts in succession. If you should miss one start over. In order to make the drill more challenging choose a hole on a slight slope.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Grip Pressure Check
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
If you are not striking the golf ball as solidly as you would like maybe the problem is your grip pressure. Proper grip pressure allows you to maintain proper balance throughout your golf swing. Here is a simple test to determine proper grip pressure. After you have taken your grip hold your club out in front of you so that the club shaft forms a 90 degree angle with your forearms. The club should be held just tight enough so that it does not fall out of your hands.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
GREENSIDE BUNKERS: ESCAPE THE BEACH!
The single most important thing to do in the sand is to GET OUT! The greenside bunker is the only shot in golf where you are trying to miss the ball. The design of the sand wedge allows for this to happen and still enable the ball to get on the green. Unlike all other clubs, the sand wedge is built with the trailing edge of the club higher than the leading edge. The angle from back to front is called the BOUNCE and a typical sand wedge will have 10 degrees. This type of design allows the club to glide through the sand splashing the ball out on the green.
To allow for the sand wedge to work properly, you must position your body and club correctly. Below are the set-up guidelines for the Greenside Bunker shot:
- Set the face open
- Normal grip
- Dig feet into sand 2 inches
- Ball forward in the stance
- Normal distance from the ball
- Weight forward 60%
During the swing, make sure your grip pressure is light to allow for an earlier wrist break than normal. With a full shoulder turn, make a long relaxed swing with enough speed to throw the sand onto the green. One of the most common mistakes for amateurs is the lack of speed through the sand. If the sand does not fly onto the green, neither will the ball.
Widen The Fairway
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
If you normally hit the ball from left to right off the tee try the following strategy to effectively double the size of the fairway. During your next round, tee off next to the right tee marker and aim at the left side of the fairway. By doing so, you will double the amount of fairway to hit into than if you had teed up in the middle of the tee markers and aimed straight down the middle of the fairway.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
Gain More Distance
By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club
If you have been playing golf for years or just taking up the game of golf you may be searching for a way to hit the ball farther. There is a simple, low-cost way to gain more distance on your golf shots – stretching! If you obtain a golf specific exercise book, either at your local bookstore or library, work hard and follow the suggested stretching regimen you will gain the valuable yards you are looking for in your game.
Jeff Allen is a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club. For more information, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480-807-5400 or email jeffa@longbowgolf.com
