Even after playing the game for years (decades?) you never know what’s going to happen each time you step foot on the golf course. Personally speaking, it is this “unknown” aspect of golf that makes the game the most exciting sport to play, and nerve wracking too! I try to hit a full round at my local course at least three times per week and every game I play is an entirely new experience altogether.
Because of the hundreds of unexpected shots that golf brings you, it is imperative that you take advantage of your practice time. Regular practice is the only way that you can experience some of the irregular situations your golf ball may get into. And speaking of practice, the best advice that I can give is to start utilizing unconventional approaches to your golf game.
What Does Unconventional Practice Mean?
Far too many players spend the majority of their time hitting long distance shots at the golf range, with a small percentage attacking their basic short game shots. Either way, neither one of these approaches practiced 100% of the time will present you with the opportunity to make those strange and undesirable shots that a real golf game will inevitably give you.
Free Golf Lesson: Look Away
To give you a perfect example of an unconventional practice shot, here is a lesson that can help you keep your head down and eyes on the ball when initiating your swing when your ball is in a troubled spot.
Step 1: First take your stance to the right side of the ball if you are left handed, and to the left side of the ball if you are a righty. Now face away from the target. Not looking directly at the target may seem awkward at first, but go with it, relax, and loosen up your body.
Step 2: Now hold the club (whichever you like) with it extended downwards from your most dominant hand. The blade should be pointing towards the ground, directly at your feet.
Step 3: Next, place the blade of your club behind the golf ball and turn your head slightly back in order to properly aim your shot.
Step 4: Pull the club upwards while extending it forward. Then swing the club down and along your target line as best possible. Follow through as far as you possible can.
Step 5: Resist the urge to turn around to see the end result. Simply concentrate on following through and getting the ball back in to play towards the green.
We “older” golfers tend to forget basics, and/or ignore them…. Don’t, it’s always a good idea to get back to them regularly.
Francisco
I’m about to go on my first golf lesson, and I’m not sure how much to tip. The lesson was a gift, so I don’t even know how much the lesson costs. Also - is this specific to a region? I’m in Chicago if that helps.
Tony
I live around Monterey Park and Work around Torrance, I’m a intermediate level recreational golfer. (Just broke 100). I can shoot pretty good, but have a consistency problem and would like to improve on my distance as well. So I’m thinking a private golf lesson would help, but just don’t know want to waste money and time on the ones that doesn’t work, any recommendations on some good golf pro around the area?
Eileen
Not everyone can have junior golf lessons and become a child golf prodigy like Tiger Woods. It is most important to keep the game fun when introducing your child to junior golf lessons and playing golf. Have you ever noticed how a junior just taking up the game of golf? If allowed, they will take a very natural golf swing.
The young golfers are not thinking about golf instruction or golf mechanics. Let your child enjoy learning the game by their own trial and error until THEY are ready to take the game more seriously. You can keep it fun away from the golf course by keeping a junior golf journal at home. Remember we play the game because it is fun.
Up until the child is in High School, practice sessions should be limited in time so the junior is not over-whelmed and should only be taken to the practice facility if the child wants to go and have fun. This will keep the junior motivated to go and practice more often.
In keeping golf fun, refrain from giving a junior golf instructions and let your junior swing as hard as they want from time to time during their full swing practice. As for your junior’s golf grip, just make sure the right hand is lower than the left hand for a right-handed golfer. Remember keep the fun and non-restrictive and do not worry about a proper grip, yet. It would be more beneficial for you junior to play a game such as being able to count to three without losing their balance no matter how hard they swing.
To keep your juniors motivation high and to allow your junior golfer to learn to feel the club, start with putting and chipping drills. Here are some easy ones to use:
Putting
Ladder drill - Using a sleeve of balls (three), Place a golf ball at four feet, eight feet and twelve feet from the putting cup. Begin with the four foot putt. If you make the four foot putt, then move to the eight foot putt. If you miss the four foot putt, then start over again with the four foot putt. Repeat this until all three putts are made.
Pull back drill - Pick a long putt in which you need to lag. Hit your putt. Did you make it? If then the answer is yes, then great. If not, move the golf ball a putter length further away from the hole. Keep this up until the golf ball is holed.
Chipping
Over the bag - This is a simple fun way to learn how to chip. Place a golf bag off of the green and set up to chip three to six feet behind the bag. The closer to the bag you place your ball, the bigger the challenge. Now making your chipping stroke your goal is to clear the bag while getting the golf ball close to the hole.
Chip to par - Pick several positions to chip from. Use one golf ball and as you would on the golf course, chip the ball as close to the hole as possible. Then proceed to putt the ball into the hole. Add up your strokes and go to the same spots and try to lower your overall score.
These drills are easy to turn into fun games or challenges.
Consider private junior golf instruction or a summer golf camp taught by PGA Professionals if your junior shows the interest. If this becomes an option, use references from friends and co-workers to find the PGA professional that would be right for your child. Again, the main goal is to keep it fun and not try to make your golfer into a mechanical machine.
Brittany
The fashion of golf has certainly evolved over the years hasn’t it? I mean the suit jackets of the Bobby Jones era, the 1970’s (say no more), and those terrible stiff collared shirts of the 80’s. But now…we have Under Armour, Nike Dri-Fit, or Adidas Climacool, amongst a host of others that keep us dryer, cooler, and allow us to swing freer than ever before. Clothes are not fashion anymore…they are equipment.
This article is about turning the oldest golf clothing, or your best suit into reliable golf equipment. I am going to take your suit jacket and turn it into a training aid that will help you improve both your long game and your short game.
What is the number one complaint we have when we put on a suit?
It’s too restrictive.
I can’t move.
What is the number one thing you hear on TV and in golf magazines about a consistent golf swing?
You must stay connected.
Your arms must stay connected to your body.
Well what does that mean…stay connected? It basically means that your arms won’t outrace your body. Another way to think about it is that we don’t want to let air into our armpits. It is a very hard thing to feel unless you work on it in a drill. So the irony is that a restrictive suit will help your game by keeping you connected.
There are several different drills out there that will help get this feeling. However, I like to provide tips that you can work on from the comfort of your home or office. That way you can practice everyday, even if you don’t have time to get to the range.
This drill is so simple because it is about getting a feeling for how your arms should stay with your body.
Put on your suit jacket.
Take your golf stance.
Make your back swing until you get to the set swing position. (Left arm parallel to the ground.) For a full lesson on the set swing please click here.
Make your downswing and stop when your right arm is parallel to the ground on your follow through.
Repeat as often as you like.
The reason this drill helps get the proper feeling is that we don’t want our arms to stray away from our body. If they do they won’t work together and it makes it much harder to have great timing. Great timing is very important for any player trying to have a consistent golf swing.
This also helps your short game because staying connected is very important when you are playing pitch shots. Your suit will not let your arms move away from your body, which makes it easier to for your arms and body to travel at the same speed. This makes a huge difference in the crispness of your pitches. For a full lesson series on pitch shots please click here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this tip. If you would like to see this tip in picture format please click here.
Good luck with your practicing and playing. May you “Play Your Golf Dreams” sooner with the help of FREE-GOLF-LESSONS.COM.
America’s top executives love the game of golf! What is it about the game of golf that makes it s appealing to the corporate world? Why do so many multi million dollar deals happen over a round of golf?
Golf and corporate American have been linked for close to a hundred years. Many believe the romance began with Rockefeller’s love for the game. The golfing world has been the backdrop for corporate decisions and business deals since the first exclusive country club opened its doors in the late nineteenth century. It has become so important that playing a good game of golf can help clench some of the best corporate jobs!
One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the pace of the game of golf. It is considered a relaxing game with plenty of downtime. While playing the game there is plenty of time to discuss business propositions. Not only that, but since all players are working at a common goal, a sense of camaraderie develops while on the course. When you play a round of golf with a potential business associate, you will spend four hours with the same person. This allows quite an opportunity to get to know someone!
Golfing tests the abilities of the players against several sets of obstacles. When golfing with potential business partners or clients, you get the opportunity to see how they strategize to accomplish their goals. You also get to observe the way they handle difficulties. These two skills come into play in the business world every day. By watching how someone plays golf, businessmen can determine whether or not they want to build a working relationship with their fellow golfers.
Golf shows you the character of the person you are golfing with. You can quickly determine whether or not the person has the patience, fortitude, and drive needed to succeed in a business endeavor. You can also start building the relationship around a common bond other than a business deal. And after the game, deals can be sealed over drinks in the country club.
When golfing with a potential business partner, the timing of bringing up business discussions can be tricky. You do not want to appear over eager by bringing the subject up too quickly, but at the same time, you are there to discuss the business proposition. One rule of thumb that seems to work well is to wait until after the first five holes to even consider talking business. This gives you time to get to know your comrades and gauge their moods. If the atmosphere seems right, go ahead and start talking work after five holes.
If you are looking to move your way up in the world of business, it might not be a bad idea to take a golf lesson or two. Golf and American business are joined at the hip, and the appeals of the game will probably keep it that way for a long time to come.
Carolyn
