Drive The Green Golf

“It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation and always present”.- Homer Kelley

What is lag? Weve all heard this term. Lag can be defined as, trailing or following. Golf Instruction tells us we need to have it but why?

In this article we will focus on clubhead lag. Clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration assuring dependable control of distance. An example would be a tour player hitting a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the flag and that they are going to hit a 6 iron. A 6 iron! A lot of players would love to hit their Driver that far!

In every good swing at the moment of Impact the clubshaft is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball, and clubface, turning the 6 iron into a 5 or 4 iron. The average player arrives at Impact with the hands BEHIND the ball and the clubshaft either vertical or leaning backward. This ADDS loft and turns that 6 iron into a 7 or 8 iron! Do you play golf with someone that is always complaining that all of their irons go the same distance? These players have a backward leaning clubshaft.

The good players use a steady acceleration, the poor players over-accelerate. The hands reach maximum speed before reaching Impact and this one move dissipates all of the lag.

Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain clubhead lag.

What does lag feel like? It is exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through Impact. In this drill use a towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on ground just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball. This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club but this time rotate your right shoulder downplane to the golf ball and toward “right field”. Youll notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.

For the next drill you can simply take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down feel like the rope stays of the shoulder as you take your hands on a direct downward line to the ball, or a spot in front of the ball. This is called a rope handle technique in The Golfing Machine. As you can see, the end of the rope is lagging your hands.

The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try move the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a quitting motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward.

A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.

For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or Impact bag. Take the club back to waist high with the clubshaft parallel to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply rotate the right shoulder downplane to the golf ball and toward “right field”. This will bring the hands and body to Impact position and the club will be lagging!

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Title:
Ball Position For Different Clubs

Word Count:
810

Summary:
Ball position is a critical component thats often overlooked by players with high golf handicaps. Ball position decides a shots initial direction. While theories on ball position abound, you need to find one thats right for you.

Ball position affects a clubheads swing path, as I explain in my golf lessons. If the ball is too far back, the clubhead moves on an in-to-out swing path at impact, sending the ball to the targets right. If the ball is too far forward, the cl…

Keywords:

Article Body:
Ball position is a critical component thats often overlooked by players with high golf handicaps. Ball position decides a shots initial direction. While theories on ball position abound, you need to find one thats right for you.

Ball position affects a clubheads swing path, as I explain in my golf lessons. If the ball is too far back, the clubhead moves on an in-to-out swing path at impact, sending the ball to the targets right. If the ball is too far forward, the clubhead moves on an out-to-in swing path at impact, sending the ball to the targets left.

Correctly positioning the ball increases the clubheads chances of meeting the ball at the correct angle of attack and on the right target path. It also helps eliminate a fade or hook, along with other swing adjustments.

Most teaching pros subscribe to the standard ball position theory as do most players and most professional golfers. This theory advocates changing the balls position depending on the club used. If youve taken golf lessons or read my golf tips, youre probably familiar with this theory.

For example, the ideal ball position for the driver is just inside the heel of your front foot. Placing the ball there ensures that the clubhead makes impact just beyond the swings lowest point, with an upward, sweeping motion of the clubthe perfect swing for the being used.

The ideal position for long irons, on the other hand, is slightly back from the drivers position. The ideal position for mid-irons is one or two balls back from this position. And the ideal position for short irons is in the middle of your stance.

These positions place the ball at the lowest point in your swing, given the length of the club used and the type of swing taken. In addition, placing the ball at these positions enable the golfer to make clean contact with a crisp descending blowthe key to hitting iron shots well.

Much golf instruction is built around the standard theory. But not every teaching pro advocates it. David Leadbetter, whos taught numerous pro golfers, like Nick Price, and written several books, offers another approach. Its one he stresses in his golf instruction books. Like the standard theory, it makes sense.

Leadbetter suggests that players with lower golf handicaps position the ball (1) just inside the left heel for woods and (2) two balls back for irons. For players with high golf handicaps, he suggests positioning the ball (1) in the middle of their stances for irons and (2) a ball or two forward from that position for woods.

His reasoning is logical. Players with low golf handicaps use their lower bodies more aggressively than players with high handicaps. Players with low golf handicaps are capable of taking advantage of a forward ball position. Players with high handicaps are not.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus also offers a ball position theory, which he explains in his golf instruction books. It, too, make sense.

Nicklaus advocates a constant ball position, regardless of the club used. He believes that the ball opposite the left heel is the only spot where the club ever travels parallel to the target line. Any other position towards the back foot means the ball is struck too early in the downswing.

Instead of re-positioning the ball, Nicholas favors changing your stance, depending on the club. Open your stance for the shorter irons, and pull the right foot back, to make the stance wider and squarer, as the clubs shaft length increases. Winner of 18 majors, Nicholas has a theory that seems to work for him at least.

Another consideration with ball position is tee height. I tell players taking my golf lessons that the balls equator should be even with the top of the driver when the ball is on the tee. Placing the ball higher enables the player to hit the ball on the upward arc of his/her swing. Players with oversize clubheads, then, need longer tees to reach the right height.

A third consideration with ball position is weather. If its windy, tee the ball higher if youre hitting with the wind to generate loft. The added loft enables the wind can carry the ball farther. Tee the ball lower if youre hitting against the wind to produce a low shot, like a line drive in baseball. This type of shot cuts through the wind and rolls farther than a shot with loft.

Regardless of which theory it is, find one thats right for you, just like Jack Nicklaus did. Test each theory out while on the practice range and under game conditions. Work on it until you find the ball position thats right for you. Then, use it every time you play.

Technorati Tags: Angle Of Attack, Article Body, Ball Position, Balls, Cl, Correct Angle, Critical Component, Driv, Golf Handicaps, golf lessons, Golf Tips, Hook, Initial Direction, Irons, Perfect Swing, Professional Golfers, Swing Path, Swings, Target Path, Word Count

Developing consistency isnt easy. Its especially difficult for golfers whose practice time is limited by their work and/or their families. But there are some things that these golfers can do to help themselves develop consistency, even when theyre unable to get to a range or are on the road traveling. One is practicing their pre-shot routine something my golf tips often discuss.

Unfortunately, many golfers dont have a pre-shot routine. If they do have a routine, they dont always use it. And when they use it, its disorganized. Their method of ball alignment is haphazard; they spend too much time over the ball; and/or they line up off-target, among other things. If theyre interrupted, they look up to see what caused the noisethen hit away, as if nothing happened.

Using a pre-shot routine is helpful, whether on the tee or in the fairway. It encourages consistency, guarantees correct alignment, and helps you make the transition to the right frame of mind. It also helps you focus on the job at hand, which my golf tips constantly advocate. In short, a good pre-shot routine prepares you both physically and mentally for a shot.

My golf lessons review the individual components of a good routine. Of course, everyones routine will differ to a degree, but most will be pretty consistent in terms of their key components. If youre striving for a lower golf handicap, work these components into your routine.

Heres what I recommend

Components of a Pre-shot Routine

Stand behind ball/visualize shot
Position yourself parallel to target line
Place clubhead behind the ball, square to target
Look at target/visualize shot
Relax arms/waggle club
Look at target again, sense shot, exhale
Pull trigger and swing

First, stand a few yards behind the ball facing the target. While behind the ball, pick out a target, and picture the shot, a technique we often emphasize in my golf instruction sessions. Also, visualize the balls flight.

Next, walk to the ball. Position yourself approximately parallel to the target line with your feet close together.

Next, place the clubhead behind the ball so that it looks squarely at the target. Adjust your body so that it is parallel to target line. Move your back foot back, then your front foot forward until youre in a comfortable but stable stance. This sequence eliminates the need to worry about where the ball is positioned. It will be in the correct position every time.

Once youre set up, look at the target. Visualize the shot once more. Gently shuffle your feet, then waggle the club a few times. Constant movement primes you for the swing, as our golf lessons teach.

Then, relax your arms and your hands. Waggle the club a few times more.

Next, take another look at the target. Exhale. Sense the shot.

And finally, pull the trigger. Swing smoothly and easily.

Thats it. Use this routine as a guide to developing your own or adapt it as you see fit. Work on the routine until you have something youre comfortable with, then use it. If you watch professional golfers youll see that they all have a slightly different pre-shot routine; but they all have one and they all use it time and time again.

Sergio Garcia used to waggle the club countless times before he pulled the trigger. He no longer does that. Now, he waggles the club a couple of times, then pulls the trigger. He uses the routine every time he hits a ball from the tee or the fairway. Other players have their own pre-shot routines, with their own idiosyncrasies. But they do the same thing again and againevery time they hit.

Theres, nothing mysterious about a good pre-shout routine. In fact, its rather simple. Each component is designed to help you with the mechanical or the mental phase of the swing. And some of these components can be modified to suit your needs, so you have your own version.

Whats critical, though, is that you use the same routine every time you take a shot. Repetition develops consistency, and consistency lowers golf handicaps. If something interrupts your shot, step away from the ball and start the routine all over again. Doing so assures you that you are focused squarely on hitting the ball.

Repeat this routine on the course or at home, with and without a ball. Practice it until it becomes instinctive. If you make adjustments, practice the new routine until the adjustment becomes instinctive. Use the routine every time you take a swingeven when taking golf lessons.

Next time you cant get to the range or youre on the road, work on your pre-shot routine. Then use it when youre on the course. You might be surprised just how much a good pre-shot routine helps your golf handicap.

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There are many different types of golf swing faults and golf training aids can go a long way in helping any golfer deal with their specific problem area.

The golf swing is the essence of the golf game and therefore it would not be a bad idea to get even two golf training aids that are specific to your swing fault.

The golf training aid that I have found to be very effective is the weighted club. This is a very golf-specific golf training aid as you go through the exact same motions you do with an ordinary club but with more weight. This greatly helps in strengthening and conditioning all the relevant muscles.

The inside approach is another great golf training aid to help improve any golf swing. This particular device is extremely useful for slicers and helps deal with this problem fairly quickly.

Another golf training aid is exercise tubing, which is very affordable and yet very effective. The strength of this device is in its ability to break down the golf swing into as many different phases as you would like to focus on for the sake of improvements. It offers specific resistance training for each phase.

A stability ball is a golf training aid than any golfer with a bad back should have. There are almost countless different stretch exercises that you can with it. And what makes this golf training aid even more attractive is the fact that you can do your exercises in the office or at home when you have a moment.

A simple pair of dumbbells can be a golf training aid that is very useful to any golfer. They are usually very portable and there are many exercises that can be done with hand weights.

Use of a golf training aids all boils down to the golfer knowing exactly what they are doing when using it.

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Unless you are born a natural golf player, you will need golf instruction if you expect to improve your game. Employing a professional golf pro can help you target the weaknesses in your swing and diagnose your hooks. A professional golfer will be able to share with you some of the secrets of the trade and show you simple mind games that will help you focus better, before and after every shot you take on course.

Even the best amateur golfers out there, although they probably don’t want to admit it, take tutoring from the pros. Natural born athletes like the Michael Jordans and Michael Schmidts of the world need help from the pros every once in a while to improve their game by pointing out the slight faults in their back swings or how they look up in their short game. Even the elite of golfers seek out advice from those who are considered the gurus for golf instruction when they are in a decline or losing distance on their drives.

In other words, it isn’t a bad thing that you want golf lessons. That is exactly what the golf pros are for. That is the reason why they have trained hard and become certified by the PGA. It isn’t easy to be certified as a golf pro. It takes years of hard work, studying and training to obtain that qualification. Part of their learning process is to learn how to, not only teach golf but to plan a club tournament, deal with club members and even run the club shop. Even after they have qualified as a golf pro, they still enrol in the occasional seminar or course to brush up on new teaching techniques.

Of course, golf instruction is a crucial aspect of this training and their work. This is the reason, after all, why English and Scottish golfer first came to America at the start of the twentieth century. Several decades after they had established the PGA to spread the word of golf and teach Americans how to play, golf is now played and taught all over the world. Those Scottish and English players sure made tough competition for themselves.

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