Бесплатный фрагмент - Creating a Perfect, Consistent Golf Swing

Table of contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Keys to Good Golf

Chapter 2

Making the stroke

The Forward Press and Reverse Press

Raising the club

Review

Hand action

Setting the club

Summary

Chapter 3

Tips for Beginners

Understanding clubs

Modern clubs

Clubs for Beginners

Tips and Techniques for Approaching, Driving and Putting

Driving

Iron shots

Putting

Avoiding hooking short putts

Side hill putts

Slicing and hooking

Side hill shots

Up and down hill

Special trouble spots

Shots into the wind

Sandtrap shots

Chip shots

Conclusion

Introduction

The facts and fundamentals of any field do not change. This also remains true in the world of golf. Nevertheless, continued research and study have allowed new concepts to be cultivated and it is these concepts that have produced some rather precise conclusions which will be presented in the following pages.

It is quite regrettable that the thrills of this great game and even the recreational and health benefits which can be afforded by participation in this game are out of the reach of so many players simply because the game is so frequently misunderstood. For, while the game may be frequently misplayed, this is not due to any inabilities on the part of the player, but simply due to a lack of proper understanding of the game.

In reality, there is actually very little one needs to learn or know in order to play an excellent game of golf. Unfortunately, the lack of understanding regarding some key elements prevents many from enjoying the game.

Through a correct understanding of the facts of golf, the game can truly be enjoyable and can even be easy. To gain an understanding in how to improve your game, the following facts must first be established.

A golf club can and will only do what the player makes it do. The golf club on its own contains no special powers or abilities.

Each club is designed for a specific purpose. When and only when the club is applied to the ball in its natural state will the club produce the effect for which it was originally designed.

In this eBook, you will learn the many different ways you can begin to improve your golf game and achieve success with it. By establishing a plan, you will then be able to act aggressively and positively toward correcting errant tendencies while recognizing your errors. Through recognizing these errors you will be able to avoid them and then literally teach yourself how to play good golf, resulting in a natural sense of confidence.

Chapter 1

Keys to Good Golf

Far too frequently many golfers become so caught up in the essence of making the perfect shot that they fail to consider the basic keys to making a good shot. There are three essentials to any good golf game. Without mastering each of these three key elements it is impossible to achieve any level of success with your game.

Unfortunately, many players labor under the assumption that once they have mastered the ability to swing the club correctly the game should just naturally fall into place for them. This is highly incorrect. It must be stressed that each of the three key elements must be mastered in order for swings to be produced accurately and successfully.

The basic ability to swing the club correctly is certainly important. No successful game of golf can exist without it. That said; however, the only true correct way to swing the club is with a sense of body control. The ability to swing the club with body control is impossible; however unless a player also has the proper footwork to go along with it. If a player has not obtained a proper sense of balance so that he or she has full, unrestricted use of his body it will be impossible to obtain a correct swing. It is from the body that the power which generates the swing flows. Therefore, much of the success of the golf shot and the distance you can achieve, depends on how you use your body.

Second, players must be able to keep their club in the correct position so that it will produce the effect for which the club was designed. If this is accomplished, it will allow the ball to fly straight toward the goal without deviating. If you have noticed that your balls are not flying straight and true straight down the middle; if they are deviating left or right or anywhere other than the goal, the problem is most likely due to an inability to maintain the club in the correct position. This is where the importance of the grip comes in.

Finally, there is the matter of footwork. A player may be able to master his grip and a sense of body control; however, a lack of footwork can also spell disaster for any golf game.

When analyzing your golf game to determine where there is room for improvement, it is important to consider the following factors:

How well do you handle your weight? What is your sense of balance? Do you know how to work your feet and legs in order to set up the proper sense of balance so that your body can then be established as the motivating reason in swinging the club?

How well do you use your body? Can you feel there is a double-handed, ambidextrous motion in a golf swing in which an upswing as well as a downswing exists? Are you using your body in a way so that the upswing is made with the right side of the body while the downswing and follow through is established with the left side of the body?

Are you able to use your hands in order to exert the positioning control necessary over the club so that you can make the ball do precisely what you want it to do?

Individually, each of these aspects is certainly important and necessary. Beyond that; however, there is also a certain order of importance in order to establish a performance that will prevail in creating the ideal result for your game. For example, even if a golfer is using his body correctly in swinging the club, he must able know how to handle his body weight and only when he has established a working relationship between his body and his weight will be able to properly use his hands.

While this may sound somewhat complex, it can be explained simply. It is all a matter of timing.

First, one must learn to handle his or her weight. Simply shifting the weight from one foot to the other; however, will accomplish nothing on its own. This only places you in a position to where you can then utilize your body correctly.

Only when you have the basic footwork so that you are in a position in order to use your body to swing the club are your hands then free to exert the proper sense of control and position over the club. Quite simply, the shot will only fly as the club makes it fly and the flight of that ball is a direct result of the position of the club. The position of the club is directly linked to what your hands are doing and what your hands are doing is the factor that will determine the ultimate efficiency of your swing.

The three basic factors in any successful game of golf are:

— Footwork to achieve balance

— Body action to render power

— Hand action to maintain club control

The main problem for some golfers; however, is that they fail to obtain timing with these three factors. To be certain, the timing issue is delicate. Properly coordinating these three factors into an arrangement that works is a technique which requires attention.

A certain order of performance must be established so that the three basic operations of a golf swing can be properly executed. When properly combined and timed, the golfer is able to move smoothly from one maneuver to the next with all operations functioning collectively towards the final target of applying the club to the ball in a successful swing.

As Bobby Jones, the renowned golfer once stated, “My golf swing is a something that starts within me.” It is certainly an accurate expression that the golf swing begins within the player. It is not something that is done with the club; instead it is something that is accomplished with the body.

In every stroke a golfer makes there are actually two swings as we discussed previously; the upswing and the downswing.

In order to accomplish the upswing the player must use the right side of his body by balancing with his weight on the right foot.

For the downswing to be executed, the player must use the left side of his body by balancing on his left foot.

An essential element in mastering the game lies in understanding that you cannot use your body any better than you can transfer your weight to the right foot so that the upswing can be accomplished with the right side of the body. Subsequently, you must be able to shift your weight to the left foot so that the downswing is accomplished on

the left side. Therefore, it is critical that one learns to handle his weight so that the correct sides of the body can be used to accomplish the appropriate swings.

Once you have learned to re-shift your weight to the left foot so that the left side can be utilized in order to pull the club down and through the ball you will then be in a position to learn how to position your hands correctly.

You may note that as you swing the club up and down, there is a definite need to keep the club in the proper position as it is being swung up and down. This is accomplished with the hands; however, your hands will never be able to perform this critical function unless you have first established the ability to utilize your body as a way to motivate the club.

The importance of timing arises once again.

In a nutshell, this is really what the golf swing is all about. As we know, there are really only two basic requirements to every golf shot; distance and direction. Likewise, there are really only two things that you must learn in order to play a good game of golf; a sense of body control and body action in order to swing and stimulate the club and the proper way to achieve the action of the hands necessary to achieve the position of the club in order to regulate and determine the direction of the golf shot.

Every good golf player has the ability to produce different effects on the ball. One can make the golf ball go straight, slice or hook through a fairly simple manner.

For example, by turning the golf club in towards you (known as a closed position) you can use it to pull the ball to the left or curve it. You can also curve the ball to the right by simply positioning the club so that it is turned out away from you.

By keeping the club square, at an absolutely right angle to the line of the shot, the ball will fly completely straight.

The matter of obtaining a good golf swing therefore is really just a simple matter of training yourself to use your body to swing the club and then assuring your hands are free to exert the proper position control over the club so that it will fly true.

Assuming the correct position to the ball is the first half of any golf shot. The basic elements for assuming the correct position to the ball include:

— Assuring proper placement of the club to the ball

— Assuring correct hand positions or grip on the club

— Assuming correct placement of the feet

— Assuring proper positioning of the body

The four distinct moves to establishing the correct position to the ball can be accomplished in a step by step procedure that is quite simple.

Step 1: Place the club behind the ball by using only the left hand

While it is quite natural for the player to place the club behind the ball, a peculiarity in the construction of golf clubs could present a problem if you are not careful. The part of the club that meets the ball, the face, is not parallel with the shaft. Instead, it is hooked in. In other words, it is angled so that it will point off to the left a matter of a few degrees. If you are not familiar with this, problems can be established in this early step. By understanding the construction of the golf club you can then place the club properly to the ball. The proper way to place the club to the ball is to slant the handle of the club ever so slightly in the direction of the shot. By doing so, the left hand will then be positioned directly over the ball rather than over the club head. This slight change will allow you to:

— Create the position of the club during the swing

— Keep the club in the desired position

— Bring the club into and through the ball

Once the proper position of the left hand on the club has been assumed, the hand will rest more or less on top of the shaft. Three knuckles of the left hand will remain in clear view if you are looking down at your hand while the left thumb will be at a point that is somewhat behind the shaft.

This will happen quite naturally if the shaft of the club has been tilted forward slightly when it is positioned to the ball.

Step 2: Position the feet into place

The correct position to stand is in a place where the ball will be opposite to the left heel. Imagine a line which runs from the ball to the inside portion of the left heel. This will be at right angles to the line of the shot. Your feet must be placed so that the toes of both feet are parallel to the line of the shot. Keep in mind that this position should be assumed regardless of shot or club that is used. There is no need to change position when you change clubs. This will allow you to position the weight on your right foot so that you can use the right side of your body when raising the club to the top of the swing to make the stroke. As you bring the club down into and through the ball; you will be in a better position to shift your weight to the left foot and therefore use the left side of your body.

Make certain that your feet are never wider apart than the width of your shoulders. A narrow rather than a wide stance is always preferable because it allows you to shift your weight far easier.

Step 3: Bring the right hand to the club to complete the grip

Before this point your right arm should have remained inactive and should have been hanging rather naturally by your right side. Now is the time to bring the right hand to the club. You may note that when you bring the right hand to the club, with the club opposite to the left foot, you will need to relax the right knee somewhat.

Your right hand will assume a position on the club that is directly opposite to the position of the left hand. While the left hand lies on the top of the club handle, the right hand will assume a position that is somewhat underneath the club.