Golf Swing Analysis

Golf Swing Analysis... here is a golf tip from golf instructor Peter Norwood. It`s simple yet so true.

Peter suggests that we "play golf" not "play golf swing". He is so right. Most us get so rapped up in the golf swing analysis that we forget what we are actually doing.

Below is Peter`s bio plus an excerpt from his play golf vs play golf swing article.

Peter Norwood has developed one of the strongest teaching backgrounds in the country. Peter traveled the United States for a decade working and learning under many of the best instructors in the world. Peter developed his knowledge for the game of golf in the same manner as other experts develop knowledge in their fields. His knowledge comes from learning under top experts in his field and from years researching and studying top golfers.

Golf Swing Analysis?

Many individuals becoming so immersed in technique I would describe them as playing golf swing instead of playing golf. Let me stress one point right off the bat, great golf scores are shot by playing golf, not by playing golf swing. Remember this, don’t ever forget it. Golf is scored by getting the golf ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible; it is not scored by how beautiful your technique appears. It is not Olympic aerobics. It is golf. Swing thoughts are thoughts in golfers’ minds while making golf swings. These thoughts vary among golfers; vary in the type of thought, the complexity of thought, and the number of thoughts. I never know what is going to come from golfers’ mouths when I ask them, “What are you currently thinking about when hitting shots?” I have heard golfers say anything from “absolutely nothing” to rattling off 4 or 5 of technical thoughts at once. Before I say anything else, let me reiterate this point, great golf scores are shot by golfers playing golf, not playing golf swing. The best golfers use simple and basic feels, but I assure you, complex thoughts are rare among the world’s best. It is even better on the course to have zero thoughts about the swing, playing using simple visualizations and feels, and embracing your tendencies on that particular day. This being said, there will be times when a swing thought is necessary, this is also a part of golf.

Read More At PeterNorwood.com

Great golf tip,eh! The moral to the story is keep the swing keys simple and work on your golf swing analysis on the range! I hope this helped...

Hank Haney-When To Hit A Fade

Hank Haney-When To Hit A Fade... learn the shot to hit when you "must" hit a fairway.

As an aside, here`s what wikipedia says about Hank Haney...

Hank Haney (born August 24, 1955) is an American professional golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods[1] and two-time major championship winner Mark O'Meara. A graduate of the University of Tulsa, Haney owns and operates four teaching facilities in the Dallas, Texas area. Haney says, "My philosophy as a teacher is to teach my students to become their own best teacher by getting them to understand the flight of the golf ball and how it relates to the swing, with emphasis on swinging the golf club on their own correct swing plane"

Getting back to the fade. I totally agree that it`s the best and or easiest way to hit a fairway. You may not get the full distance but you will be playing from the fairway. Here`s an excerpt from Hank Haney`s Golf Digest article...

Hank Haney-When To Hit A Fade

The no. 1 goal off the tee is putting the ball in play. And probably the easiest shot to control with a driver is a fade because the ball doesn't roll as far. The most important thing to know about playing a controlled fade is that the clubface must be slightly open to the swing path at impact. When you're playing a fade, the timing of the swing is the real key. If your hands and arms outrace your body through impact, the clubface tends to close too fast, causing the ball to hook. Feel that your body--and in particular your hips--are leading the clubhead through the shot (left). The faster you turn your body through, the less chance the face will close too much.

Read More at Golf Digest

Hank Haney-When To Hit A Fade... pretty simple... something to use when you really,really need to hit a fairway.

David Leadbetter Pitching Tips

David Leadbetter Pitching Tips... learn how to avoid the dreaded "chili dip".

David explains how the pitch shot should be the same as the full swing. You must accelerate all the way through the pitch shot. Here is an excerpt from David`s advice.

First, if you are not familiar with David, here`s a Wikipedia introduction

David Leadbetter (born 27 June 1952) is a leading golf instructor, originally from Worthing in England. He began his career on the European and Southern African tours, but had little success as a player. Having an interest in the techniques, mechanics and psychology of the sport he soon moved into instruction and came to wide notice in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six major championships.

David Leadbetter Pitching Tips

Whether it's a short chip or a long drive, you have to accelerate the clubhead through impact on all golf shots. It's an essential fundamental. Unfortunately, many amateurs fail to do this with their pitch shots, resulting in too much movement of the arms and upper body as they try to scoop the ball into the air (above, left). The pitching motion, even for a short pitch, should be fairly concise, though you accelerate through the strike. A good feeling from a fairly narrow stance is to put the breaks on with the body and arms just past impact. That snaps the clubhead through the hitting area like you're whipping a towel. So, shorten up your follow-through but keep the clubhead accelerating past impact (above, bottom). Your pitches will improve dramatically.

Read More at Golf Digest

David Leadbetter Pitching Tips... pretty simple abvice... makes sense. He taught two of the best ever in Greg Norman and Nick Faldo. It`s always good to go back to the basics and take in a good reminder!

Golf Ball Review 2012

Golf ball review 2012... I`m sure you agree that the right golf ball can help your overall performance on the golf course.

Golf Digest helps us to decide which golf ball fits our golf type... swing speed etc... with this review golf ball review 2012.

They review and rate the different golf balls in three different price ranges, over $38... $25 to $36 and $20 and under.

Here`s the... Golf Ball Review 2012

2012 Hot List: Golf Balls We found 34 balls that stand out. Why should you care? Well, if irons can be designed to address average players' flaws, balls can be, too.

Read More at Golf Digest

My personal favorite is the Bridgestone E5. You can buy the E5 for about $25 per dozen. The E5 has the same playability cover, urethane, as the ProV1. Plus, it helps with launch for the moderate swing speeds. In summary, the E5 won`t break your bank, it will stop on the green for full shots or chips and the average golfer will be helped with getting the ball airborne. I hope the golf ball review 2012 helped!

Moe Norman Golf Instruction Review

 Moe Norman golf instruction review... learn how to hit the golf ball dead straight!

Here`s what is said about Moe Norman in wikipedia...

Murray Irwin "Moe" Norman (July 10, 1929 – September 4, 2004) was a Canadian professional golfer. He was widely considered the best ball striker who ever lived. His accuracy, his ability to hit shot after shot perfectly straight, gave him the nickname "pipeline moe".

Moe Norman golf instruction review... here`s a video of Moe`s golf swing. As you will see it is very different but got great results.

Moe Norman Golf Instruction Review

 

Here are some Moe Norman golf instruction tips from a Golf Digest article...

Below are some of Moe's gems for hitting the ball with accuracy.

"Quiet hands through the swing. 'Fingers are fast, fingers are fast, palms are calm, palms are calm.' Moe said to hold the club in the palms of your hands, not in the fingers.

"Wide stance. He [keeps] his feet on the ground as long as possible, thereby ensuring the clubhead will travel as far along the line as possible and not turn over. Moe wants the sensation of the ball on the clubhead all the way through impact. His feet roll, but they do not lift." Schiffman's note: This reminds me of what Jack Grout taught a young Jack Nicklaus. For the first year of Nicklaus' golfing life, Grout had him roll his ankles back and through. Only later did he lift his left heel off the ground.

"Ball position. Moe plays the ball off his left heel because he's thinking of tearing through it and down the target line. He puts the club 14 inches behind the ball.

"Downswing. Moe begins his downswing with a move of his left knee forward, still keeping his feet flat on the ground. His arms drop into the 'slot,' all of 21 inches, as Moe says. His knees separate as his left knee moves forward. He appears to be squatting slightly to the ball, as Sam Snead did. At the same time, he has created clubhead lag. "Impact. Moe creates an extremely long 'flat spot' at the bottom of his swing. Moe feels his hands are still square to the target 22 inches past the ball."

Read More at Golf Digest

Moe Norman golf instruction review was definitely different but as we said before... he got great results!

Classic Golf Tips

Here is some very good advice when talking about classic golf tips from Jack Moorehouse creator of  "How To Break 80".

Jack has a point. I think a famous golf instructor once said something to the effect to not take the whole aspirin bottle when one or two will do just fine.

Here`s Jack`s broader point...

Classic Golf Tips

Don’t Overdo These Four Classic Golf Tips

Golf tips become classics for a reason. They provide an especially good way of capturing a key fundamental, whether it’s a swing adjustment or a course management tip. A classic tip that many golfers follow is “Don’t aim into trouble.” Aiming away from trouble saves strokes. Keeping these classic golf tips in mind when you practice or play is good for your game and your golf handicap. But sometimes we overdo them. When we do, it leads to trouble. It can also lead to back pain. So you need to be careful with them. Below we dis-cuss four classic golf tips that taken too far cause trouble.

Keep Your Head Still

This is probably the most popular of all “overdone” golf tips. This advice is generally given to players who pull up and top the ball. While you hear it a lot from players on the course, you don’t hear it in golf lessons. Why—because taken too far it’s bad advice. Keeping your head locked in place stops the body from turning toward the target. That in turn creates a cramped space for the arms on the follow through, spelling trouble. Instead, release your chin, sternum, and hips together. It’s a good thought going back, but after that forget it.

Turn Your Shoulders Not Your Hips

This common overdone tip is based on the idea that the more torque you create the farther you hit the ball. This idea is partly true. Based on our observations during our golf in-struction session, few golfers can complete a full torso turn while limiting hip turn. The rest of us just aren’t flexible enough. We can turn about 70 percent, and that’s it. If you want extra distance, you’re better off freeing your hips so you can turn your shoulders more. Like all the other golf tips discussed in this article, taken too far this advice leads to trouble.

Keep Your Legs Still On Chips

You want to keep your knees still when chipping. But the thought of doing that can “freeze” you, causing you to mishit your chip. When you rely only on your hands to swing the club during a chip, you create a jerky motion that can lead to tons of missed chips. Every shot you make requires synchronization between the upper half of your body and the lower. Instead of keeping your hips still during your swing, let your hips rotate back slightly at the start, then rotate forward to allow your knees to face the target, just the way they teach it in golf instruction sessions. (Check our video gallery for a golf les-son on the fundamentals of chipping.)

Keep Your Head Down During The Swing

Keeping your head down during the swing has been blamed for numerous golf swing problems. This tip from PurePointGolf.com shows you why keeping your chin UP is more important than keeping your head down.

Improve Golf Swing-Tee Height

Learn how to improve your golf swing with this golf swing tip about the proper golf tee height from Bobby Eldridge from PurePoint Golf Academy.

Bobby says... two minutes from now I’m going to have an answer for all of you on how high you should be teeing your tee shots so you can improve your swing. The new drivers that have come out in the last 5, 10 years have what is referred to as a deep face.

From the bottom to the top it’s about two or more inches. Most players associate all of that space with teeing the golf ball high. We even have three-inch tees now.

So, that isn’t true. You don’t need that. Some of you might, but most of you don’t.

So, here’s my rule of thumb for how high should you tee the driver: If the mistake you make is that you constantly top the golf ball, that isn’t always the answer. You could fix your posture and bend over a little bit and that would fix topping the golf ball.

If you always hit underneath the golf ball, this isn’t always the answer, where you tee it down so low. Maybe you simply need to get your chin up.

So, a great rule of thumb is that the golf ball should be slightly higher than the center of the club face.

Choosing The Best Golf Balls

Would you like some help with choosing the best golf balls for your golf game?

This golf tip is from Dave Nevogt, "The Simple Golf Swing", and will help you with choosing the best golf ball for your game and for the right price!

Dave is recommending the Srixon AD 333. You can get them for about $20 per dozen, and he finds that they perform much better than other balls in that price range. If you want to upgrade, look into the Srixon UR-X. Srixon makes the best balls available today, and many of the tour players (Vijay Singh, Jim Furuk, Robert Allenby, Henrik Stenson, Karrie Webb, Laura Davies, Boo Weekly and more) use them.

They are top notch, and if you haven't tried them, you'll be very pleasantly surprised with their performance. The UR-X is very comparable to the Titleist Pro V1.

Approach Shots In Golf

Here is a golf lesson  on approach shots in golf from Dave Nevogt of "Simple Golf Swing".

This lesson is entitled "Approach Shots: What it takes to Master Them."

Basically, your approach shot is your shot onto the green. One of the things I like to say is this, "You know your game is improving when you start fixing more ball marks on the green" - most likely meaning that you hit it on your approach, which is your objective.

Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind, and then we'll get to the heart of this article.

Proper Set Up In Using The Golf Driver

Here is a quick golfing tip on the proper set up in using the golf driver from to teaching pro Bobby Eldridge. Bobby teaches "The Simple Golf Swing".

Let`s listen to Bobby...
   
I often see a number of amateurs prepare for their driver golf swing by walking up, after they have teed the ball up, they just take a step back and they address it. They grip the golf club and they address it, and they sort of just plot their feet down wherever they land, but let me tell you the proper way.

Golf Swing Tips

Here are some great golf swing tips regarding the golf stance... from Bobby Eldridge... head pro at PurePoint Golf  reviewing stance and ball flight... plus golf grip instruction.

Here`s Bobby...

I’m going to talk with you about how to draw the golf ball, hook the golf ball, or fade or slice the golf ball on purpose.

That way, the next time you go play, if you have a dogleg right or a dogleg left, or the wind’s blowing from the left or wind’s blowing from the right, you’ll be able to curve the golf ball that will be beneficial towards you.

Senior Golf Instruction DVD

Senior golfers... golf instruction dvd... play the best golf of your life!

Purepoint Golf has introduced a new golf instruction dvd. It’s a new senior golf dvd.

It’s especially designed to help golfers 55 and older play the kind of golf they thought was a thing of the past.

In fact... regardless of your age or physical condition... PurePoint Golf is saying... if you follow their instructions and get in a decent amount of practice, you just might find yourself... playing the best golf of your life.

Here is the secret to successful senior golf according to Bobby Eldridge, head teaching pro at PurePoint Golf 

Online Golf Lesson

Here is a helpful online golf lesson from Dave Nevogt at "The Simple Golf Swing".This week's lesson is entitled, "How to Get out of a Bunker with a Buried Lie."

This lesson could really help you out in a situation where a buried lie could potentially add a few
unneeded strokes to your round.

This is one of the most feared shots in all of golf by the amateur.

Why? Because it looks so intimidating when you can barely see your ball, but it doesn't need to be that way. You will be hitting great shots and impressing your friends when you follow these steps!

Let's say that you just don't have a "fried egg" (where 50% of the ball is buried) but only the very top of the ball is visible. What do you do? Follow these steps and you'll be able to hit any lie that you have in a bunker.

Here's what you do:

Golf Mental Preparation

Golf mental preparation... use your head for lower scores

by Jack Moorehouse...

Think Your Way To A Lower Golf Handicap

Personal records drive golfers to succeed. Setting a goal of breaking 90 for the first time or chopping two strokes from your golf handicap compels us to work hard, practice smart, and stay focused. It also compels use to think differently when facing difficult shots. We continually find ourselves asking the question:

What’s the best shot in this situation? When it’s all over, you want to know if you’re playing the right shot at critical times in the round.

Golf Downswing Technique

Golf Downswing Technique... learn to use loft in your pitching... hit down to go up.

PurePoint Golf Instruction - Pitching with Loft – Golf Technique and Instruction

I’m going to get you back on track with your pitching with golf technique and instruction that you’re just going to love. It’s the reason why you need loft, and here’s why.

A lot of you hit a lot of pitch shots that, after it’s in the air, it maybe has 2, 3, 4 feet of loft to it, and when it hits the ground, it takes off running and runs over the green.

A couple of reasons why you struggle with not getting the ball up in the air: Number one, you have to start using your pitching wedge or your sand wedge and your lob wedge, not your 9 iron to chip with. You need a loftier golf club.

Number two, check the ball position. Make sure it’s in the middle of your stance and your weight’s on your left leg.

And lastly, make sure that you start hitting down on the golf ball so it’ll go up.

Golf Instruction DVD

Golf Instruction DVD... learn to play golf the simple way

Bobby Eldridge and PurePoint Golf are introducing a new golf instruction dvd that they believe is a better way to teach the game of golf.

PurePoint Golf`s DVDs, #1 golf instruction system online, have taught over 55,000 golfers in 70 countries.

This isn't, technically, a new golf swing technique.

It's the same tried and true PurePoint Golf Swing that's become the most popular, most imitated swing in the golfing world.

What they have done is come up with ... a new way of teaching it.

Basics Of A Golf Swing

Basics Of A Golf Swing... difference between pitch and full swing

PurePoint Golf Instruction... Pitching Shots vs. Full Swing

There is a big difference between the golf swing basics of pitching the golf ball in and around the edges of the green, over bunkers, over little trees, over a pond, 30 yards, 20 yards, 40 yards, and the golf swing basics of hitting your full pitch shot swing.

Whenever I’m talking about chipping and pitching, I’m talking about golf shots that are in and around the green. If I’m not talking about that, then I’m talking about your full swing.

The technique to hit to the green in front of you is ball in the middle, weight left, handle forward. And it’s an arm swing.

Now, if you want to hit a full wedge shot, it will go way over the green.

With the 90-yard swing, you can see a difference with your golf swing basics at address. Your body turns, your shoulders turn, which moves the weight a little bit over to the right side, and the arms swing up and down.

As you start to bring the golf club back, your shoulders start to turn and your weight moves backwards a little bit. That’s a full golf swing.

And the 40-yard pitch shot is a big difference in the two swings. One, the 100-yard wedge was just like the driver swing, but with a wedge in your hand. The pitch shot is a miniature little tiny golf swing that you don’t move any weight to your right side.

I hope that clears it up for you, and thanks.

Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePoint Golf Academy where he teaches “The Simple Golf Swing” theory.

Play Smart Golf

Play Smart Golf... Learn To Save Stokes

Playing Smart Saves Strokes

Even players who thrive on crushing the ball know that hitting it long isn’t always the best strategy. Sometimes, they need to hang back and save that muscle for another time. We call it playing smart. Jack Nicklaus was a great example of a player who plays smart. He knew when to take what the situation gives him. That’s one reason why he was one of the world’s best golfers. For weekend golfers, playing smart can save strokes and keep your golf handicap from ballooning.

But playing smart isn’t always the first thing on your mind when in trouble. Many golfers try “miracle shots” to salvage the situation when in trouble. Often, it’s a shot they’ve never hit before. Save miracle shots for when you must try one. The rest of the time, play smart. It may not seem like the best strategy, but it can save you strokes later on. In my golf lessons I emphasize three situations when playing smart works well. Below I describe these situations and provide golf tips on how to play them.

Ball In High Grass

When we say high grass, we mean high grass—the no man’s land of rough. You know the kind—where you could be standing over the ball and not know it. The problem with this rough is that it’s much thicker than regular rough. It’s so thick it can catch your club and turn the hosel before the clubface is even close to the ball. Thus, it may take multiple shots to get out. It’s that thick.

The only remedy for this lie is to take your wedge and attack the ball with a hard descending blow. But first you need to adjust your set up using these golf tips: Use an open stance but close the clubface a bit. Next, take a firm grip, aim just behind the ball, and swing down hard. These adjustments make it easier for the clubface to cut through the grass. Make sure, you also swing through—because if your club gets stuck, the ball will, too.

Ball In Bunker

While a ball buried deep in the sand requires a shot like the one described above, a regular lie in the sand—one where the ball is sitting on top of the sand—needs just the opposite approach. The goal here is to “shave” the ball out, not shovel it. Here, you need to take a smooth controlled swing with an open stance and clubface. Aim to make contact two inches behind the ball. It will fly out softly with minimal sand, saving you strokes and landing the ball close to the pin.

Playing The Punch Shot

The punch shot is a third play smart situation. The object of the punch shot is to keep the ball low, straight, and precise. It makes for a great approach shot in the wind. But it also makes for a great shot to salvage par from the trees. Many players use a longer iron to make this shot, but a hybrid works just as well, as I’ve mentioned in my golf tips newsletter. Here’s how to make a punch shot work for you:

Play the ball just back of the middle of your stance, which takes some loft off your club and enables the ball to fly lower with backspin. Take a three-quarter swing, mostly with your arms, and keep your wrists firm and hands quiet on the downswing. Make a smooth controlled swing, with out decelerating or hurrying through the shot, and keep your follow through short and low. The punch shot is a great weapon to have when in trouble or when playing in a stiff wind.

These three common “play smart” situations are often discussed in golf instruction session and golf articles. There are more not so common play smart shots. Look for them and then store them in your mind so you’ll remember them. In these situations, forget the “miracle shot” you’ve never hit before unless you’ve no other choice. Playing smart helps keep a lid on scores and stops golf handicaps from ballooning.

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. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

Golf Swing Tempo

Golf Swing Tempo... learn to add distance with increased swing speed

PurePoint Golf Instruction – Proper Golf Follow Through – Golf Swing Tempo

How many times have you stood in the middle of the fifth fairway at your local golf course and you always hit 9 iron from that little bush?

Or you always hit 7 wood from that little tiny tree on the side of the fairway, but today there’s just a little breeze in your face, or maybe the pin is in the back of the green? And you really don’t want to hit 8 iron and you really don’t want to hit 5 wood, but you’d like to hit the club you’re trying to hit a little bit further?

I want to give you a little tip, or a little pearl on how to hit it further by increasing your golf swing tempo, but I don’t want you to get hung up on the fact that it’s just for the driver. This can be for any club.

The next time you’re out, try this. Take a couple of practice swings. Warm up before you hit the ball, and then raise the club up in the air like you would a baseball bat.

If you can swing it in the air and increase your golf swing tempo, that’s 20% harder than I usually swing a golf club. Then put it down on the ground and do the same thing twice. Step up to the ball and give it a whack.

Now, if the truth were known and we went out and measured that 9 iron, I guarantee you that 9 iron went 10% further than my average 9 iron.

So, here it is. Make sure that just before you get ready to hit that you raise it in the air and increase your golf swing tempo a little bit faster than you normally would. Then put it on the ground and give it some swish. And then put it up to the ball and give it a whack.

Don’t forget, the further you hit it the more offline you might be.

So, if you’re looking to hit it a little bit further, try that practice session.

Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePoint Golf Academy where he teaches “The Simple Golf Swing” theory.

How To Hit Fairway Woods

How To Hit Fairway Woods... reap the benefits of mastering the three wood

Mastering The Three Wood

By: Jack Moorehouse... How To Break 80

The shorter your approach shot to the green, the better your chances of hitting it in regulation (GIR) and making par. The number of greens hit in regulation is a telling statistic – as I’ve explained in my golf tips newsletter. Why...because players who hit a lot of greens in regulation tend to have lower golf handicaps. Those who don’t tend to have higher golf handicaps.

The 3-wood is a great club for aggressive players. It’s also a great club for senior players who may have lost some flexibility and power over the years, but can still play well. The 3-wood is the second longest club in your bag, so it can be hard to hit for some. Hitting a crisp 3-wood from a tight lie is especially challenging, as I tell students attending my golf instruction sessions, no matter how good you are.

Used In A Variety of Situations

You can use the 3-wood in man situations. Since it’s shorter than the driver, it’s easier to control, so you can use it off the tee on tight fairways. Using the 3-wood ton the tee may cost you some distance, but it increases your chances of hitting the fairway. In fact, some players who can’t hit a driver hit a 3-wood off the tee instead. Players also use the 3-wood to chip with when on the fringe, in a fairway bunker if the bunker’s lip is low, and on long par-3s when there’s a head wind.

But the 3-wood is used mostly off the deck on par 5s, when you need a good second shot. Another common use of the 3-wood is on long par 4s, where you need a long second shot to reach the green. Hitting a good 3-wood there can put you on the green in two, something neither a long iron nor a hybrid can do. If you can master the 3-wood off the deck, you can save a lot of strokes.

Sweep The Ball From The Fairway

Unlike irons, which require a downward blow, the 3-wood (and other fairway woods) need a sweeping motion that strikes the ball as the clubhead moves parallel to the ground. Below are five keys to hitting the 3-wood:

1. Keep your weight balanced
2. Position the ball opposite your front heel
3. Keep you head and body behind the ball
4. Pull the club through with your lead hand
5. Extend your arms on the follow-through

To hit the 3-wood off the deck, you must take a wide stance similar to that used for a driver. Position the ball opposite your front heel or in some cases, slightly back from this position, and your weight balanced comfortably on the balls of your feet.

Start your swing on a low path that almost skims the grass to replicate the shallow path you want to take on your downswing. Keep your back shoulder level and pull your right hand (left for left-handers) through with your other hand. Above all, stay behind the ball after impact. Brush through the ball and extend your arms toward the target on the follow-through – something a lot of players I find in my golf lessons must work on.

Not Designed For High Shots

The 3-wood is designed to hit a line drive type of shot. But you don’t need to feel that you have to help it get the ball in the air. The 3-woord has more than enough loft to drive the ball forward for distance. If you need to hit something with more loft, use the 5-wood. It provides less distance but more height than the 3-wood. In the right circumstances, the 5-wood can be just as effective as the 3-wood.

The 3-wood is a great club in the right hands. It’s not as versatile as a hybrid, but it’s more versatile than the driver. Don’t be afraid to hit it. Used wisely, it can set you up for short shots into the green on par 5s or serve as the club of choice off the tee. If you’re serious about improving your game, master the 3-wood. It will shave strokes from your scores and your golf handicap.

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. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest  golf tips, golf lessons and  golf instruction.

How To Hit Good Wedge Shots

How To Hit Good Wedge Shots... tips to make more birdies

Dial In Your Short Irons Now

By Jack Moorehouse

When you’re within 20 yards of the goal in American football—the Red Zone—you must score. If you don’t, your team’s offense failed. When you’re within 40 yards of the green—8-iron, 9-iron, and wedge distance—the Scoring Zone—you also must “score.”  Put another way, you must drop the shot as close to the hole as possible, leaving you an easy putt. If you don’t, you’ve cost yourself a birdie.

Obviously, the more birdies you make, the better your score and your golf handicap. But before hitting from this distance, you must answer six critical questions. Answering them improves your chances of dropping it close significantly. In this article we’ll discuss these six critical questions and provide golf tips on how to hit them better, improving your chances of collecting more birdies.

1. How Far Do You Hit Each Club?

Dialing in your short irons is mostly about distance control. In other words, you must know exactly how far you carry each club on the course, if you want to hit it close. Distance control is what teachers focus on in golf instruction sessions. If you don’t know how far you hit each short iron, go to the range. Practice making normal and hard swings. Get a feel for just how far you hit each club using each swing.

2. How Do You Hit Each Club?

Direction control is also vital when hitting short irons. So in addition to getting a feel for distance when practicing at the range, track your tendencies with each club. Do you draw or fade the shot? When you swing harder, do you pull or push the ball? Find the answers to these questions on the range first, so you’re not educating yourself on the course. Keep them in mind when playing a shot within the scoring zone.

3. What Kind Of Swing Do I Make?

Some weekend golfers shorten their swings when hitting short irons. Or, they ease up. This leads to bad shots. Take your normal swing and hit through the ball in the scoring zone. Hit them just like they teach in golf lessons. If you need more distance, don’t swing harder. Take an extra club. And don’t try to hit the ball really high. You may lose control of the shot. If you don’t hit these clubs well, take some golf lessons and practice at the range. Also consult golf tips on hitting them.

4. Where Do I Want To Hit This Shot?

Directional accuracy demands that you aim correctly. When you’re practicing with these clubs on the range, work on alignment, too. Begin every shot by standing behind the ball. Then follow your routine. In addition, picture an imaginary line from your long distance target to an immediate one a few feet in front of the ball to the ball. Align your club to the target line and the ball. Then, align your body parallel to the imaginary line.

5. What Are Your Conditions?

The best short iron players monitor their conditions—their sate of mind and their physical condition—on every hole. Your conditions really matter. If you’re angry or pumped up, you’ll hit the ball longer than you normal. If you’re tense or tight, you may hit it shorter.  compensate for your condition. Also, track how you hit the ball under the various conditions.

6. What Are the Playing Conditions?

Like your personal conditions, playing conditions matter as well. What type of lie do you have on the course? How firm is the green? What is the wind doing? Is the green above or below you? The answers to these questions have a major bearing on the shot. Run through them before you hit any shot.

The last thing you must do before hitting a shot in the scoring zone is remind yourself to never short-side yourself. Never miss a shot to a spot that gives you no green to work with coming back. You want to be aggressive in the scoring zone, but be smart about it. Follow this cardinal rule and you’ll be glad you did.

Answer the questions listed above before hitting a short iron and you’ll make more birdies. Make more birdies and you’ll not only trim your scores, you’ll also cut your golf handicap by several strokes. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

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. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

Mental Side Of Golf

Mental Side Of Golf... Stay In The Present And Lower Your Scores

A frequently heard commentators comment is that of a player needing "only to stay in the present", possibly an obvious observation, but, certainly one of the most difficult states to achieve. The brain is such a fast operating super-computer that unconscious thoughts seem to fly unbidden from the right side of the brain to the left with alarming speed and clarity. Among the most useful tools that the sports psychologist or mind coach can give to a player are those that help clear the mind and allow them to stay in the present.

One of the most effective methods is that of "squeezing the sponge". Squeezing the sponge is the title of a breathing exercise whereby the art of concentrated breathing will calm and relax a player. People generally believe deep breathing to have its emphasis on inhaling, squeezing the sponge is in fact the exact opposite, by fully breathing out, exhaling, to the point where the stomach can be felt moving backwards towards the spine eventually a point will be reached where a reflex action takes place and the body is filled with clean fresh oxygen as the player is forced to inhale, in scientific terms, an involuntary action. As a player breathes out they are also expelling any bad feelings, while the new breath provides new energy and centers the mind and body. By concentrating on breathing in this way a player has been forced to stay in the present.

The sensation caused in the abdomen during the full exhale in the breathing exercise is also the area of the body concerned with the concept of centering. Centering is a method used widely in the field of martial arts and is an excellent tool for helping players stay in the present. In his book "Chen-Hsin - The Principles of Effortless Power" Peter Ralston states.

"There are aspects of this field of study that are sometimes emphasized or made pivotal to the rest. Centering is one of those. Indeed, it would be possible to devise an ENTIRE art founded totally and solely upon this one point. Many warrior trainings, esoteric practices and metaphysical techniques revolve around this one principle of centering.

In my life, I have spent much time concentrating on that spot and have practiced a great deal moving from there. It is my experience that this produces TREMENDOUS results.

The center region is concentrated in a place within the abdomen. You should feel this place to be large enough to be powerful and yet not so large that you cannot maintain a feeling of its density.

Performing and functional activity while concentrating on that spot will automatically increase the POWER, SKILL and EFFECTIVENESS of that activity."

It is important that players practice the art of centering to the point where they can automatically find their center in the pressure situation of tournaments. To help this and reinforce the benefits of these tools try hitting a dozen balls on the range thinking of nothing but technique, to in effect be hitting balls with your head, but still with a specific target. Then hit a second dozen having first squeezed the sponge and then following the centering technique as they cross the play line, feel how different the experiences are. This exercise has a tremendous added benefit in that when a player is fully and correctly centered they will also be perfectly balanced

Another tried and tested method to help players stay in the present is that of "clear keys", clear keys are tools that can be used to distract the conscious mind and allow the subconscious to perform unhindered. An exercise to show how this works is to stand about 12-15 feet away from a partner, he holding one golf ball, you holding two. Initially using only one ball each start tossing the balls to each other simultaneously and continuously but the only thing either of you concentrate on is saying the word 'now' when you perceive that the ball approaching you has reached the apex of its flight. You will find that you are both effortlessly throwing and catching the balls in the manner of seasoned circus act. After a short period, introduce the third ball into the exercise, you will find that you continue to "juggle" the balls without difficulty. The word "now" is your clear key and you have quieted the conscious mind.

Clear keys whilst playing usually take the form of some sort of mantra, back-hit, being one of the most common, humming is another often used key but any distraction can produce the desired result.

Nick Madgett is a Sports Psychologist and qualified Mind Factor Coach, the Mind Factor system is used by some of the worlds greatest players such as Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, David Howell and Graeme McDowell. Nick is also the main contributor to http://www.golfpsychologyonline.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Madgett

Golf Swing Exercises

Power Golf Swing Exercises Video With Dumbbells

Mike Pedersen, Perform Better Golf, shows us how we can use dumbbells at home to build a powerful golf swing.

Great golf training  exercise... no gym necessary! Watch the video (2+ minutes)

Golf Tee Height

Here`a a quick lesson from PurePoint Golf on golf tee height.

Instruction – Tee Height – Improve Swing

Two minutes from now I’m going to have an answer for all of you on how high you should be teeing your tee shots so you can improve your swing. The new drivers that have come out in the last 5, 10 years have what is referred to as a deep face.

From the bottom to the top it’s about two or more inches. Most players associate all of that space with teeing the golf ball high. We even have three-inch tees now.

So, that isn’t true. You don’t need that. Some of you might, but most of you don’t.

So, here’s my rule of thumb for how high should you tee the driver: If the mistake you make is that you constantly top the golf ball, that isn’t always the answer. You could fix your posture and bend over a little bit and that would fix topping the golf ball.

If you always hit underneath the golf ball, this isn’t always the answer, where you tee it down so low. Maybe you simply need to get your chin up.

So, a great rule of thumb is that the golf ball should be slightly higher than the center of the club face.

If the golf ball sits much higher than the center of the face, the swing tip to improve your golf would have you hitting the golf ball on the upswing. If it was teed down close to the ground, and you tried to hit the golf ball on the upswing, you might wind up hitting a little grass behind it. Instead, you would have to hit this one on a little bit of the downswing, which is defeating the purpose of the driver. The driver’s swing is a sweeping swing. And you want to catch the golf ball at the bottom of the arc.

At worst, you want to catch it on the way up but not too much on the way up.

Experiment with your tee shots. Play a whole round of golf where you tee it a lot lower than normal, then the next round a little bit lower than normal. And then play the third round where you tee it real high.

I promise you that real high is not the answer. Try that the next time out.

Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePoint Golf Academy where he teaches “The Simple Golf Swing” theory.