The correct transfer of body weight during the full swing

The correct transfer of body weight in the golf swing is imperative to achieve a proper stroke on the ball. It must be learned early on because the natural tendency for most people is to transfer the weight incorrectly, usually in the exact opposite fashion of the proper method (resulting in the classic 'reverse pivot', which will usually translate to weak, over the top slices). The longer that one performs the incorrect motion the more difficult it will be to unlearn it.

Simply put, for a full swing, when the club comes back, the body weight should come back to the right side (for right handed golfers). The golfer should feel as though their body weight is 'loading up' on the right side as the club comes back away from the ball. Do not let the body weight 'roll' to the outside of the right foot, because this will cause a sway away from the ball, and the head and spine will not remain still (imperative for making good contact). Rather, feel as though the body weight is loading up on the inside of the right leg and instep of the right foot. This will serve as a solid 'post' to pivot back on instead of a weak and passive one.

When the club reaches the top of the backswing, the golfer's first move should be to turn their hips to the left, quickly. Then the golfer should effort to get their body weight over to the left side quickly as the arms and club follow. The left leg should remain firm and solid so that the golfer can powerfully thrust their body weight to the left side without the leg breaking down or falling out of balance. At the end of the swing, or the follow through, about ninety percent of the golfer's body weight should have transferred over to the left side as they face the target and hold the finish. The right heel should have come up and it should feel as though it is very easy to lift the right foot because all body weight is on the left side of the body.

So, why don't people do this naturally? Generally because the beginning golfer feels the need to try and help the ball into the air rather than trusting the loft of the club to do this. What this creates is a 'scooping' motion where the golfer leans into their left side on the takeaway, with the spine tilting forward as the club comes back. Then on the downswing they transfer their weight to the back foot as the club comes down and their spine tilts to the right, trying to make good contact on the ball (usually unsuccessfully) and often actually walking or falling backwards on the follow through.

Think of it like this, would you rather have your body weight transferring forward, through the ball (to the left) as the club makes contact, or away from the ball (to the right)? Obviously, more power will be imparted on the ball (and better contact/ ball flight) when the body weight is helping, rather than hurting.

Take a divot

Newer golfers and high handicappers are often afraid to take divots. This is due largely in part to the negative association with divots they've taken in the past. Most of these chunks of turf that they've dug out of the ground have started before the ball, resulting in fat, ugly shots. Divots are good (and essential for proper contact), providing they occur after the ball is struck. Ideally, the clubface should contact the ball, then bottom out on its swing arc after contact and under the turf (thereby taking a divot). This is true for all clubs except the putter, driver, fairway woods off the tee, and when hitting short chip shots.

The negative association with taking divots leads the golfer to try and 'pick the ball clean' off the turf. This discourages the descending blow that is required to get the ball on the correct trajectory, and encourages a weak, wrist-y shot in which the golfer 'lifts up' at the ball rather than hitting down. Many 'topped' or 'thin' shots will result when using this method. Hitting down on the ball is the only way to achieve good distance and get the ball up in the air.

A divot should be taken with every iron, because every iron should be hit with a descending blow (a fairway wood should also be hit with a descending blow, but so minimally that a divot likely will not occur). The more loft on a club, the bigger a divot should be taken. This is because the more lofted the club, the steeper the swing plane (and more of a descending blow). As loft decreases, the swing plane flattens out and the strike on the ball becomes more of a 'sweeping' blow (although still hit on the downswing).

One of the reasons I encourage practicing in the grass whenever possible (as opposed to off a driving range mat) is because this is the only way to get a true indication of how you are hitting the ball. A mat can be deceiving in that you can still hit a ball fat (contacting the ground before the ball) and get away with it to some degree because the club will sort of 'drag' along the surface before contacting the ball. When a fat shot is hit on the grass an 'incorrect' divot results (divot is taken too soon, the turf slows down the clubhead speed, and the clubface either does not contact the ball at all or it contacts the turf before the ball).

When addressing the ball, I believe the golfer should set their hands slightly ahead of the ball and clubhead for all clubs except the driver and putter. Again, more so with the more lofted clubs and less as loft decreases. This will assist in hitting down on the ball and taking an appropriate divot, because when you mimic your intended contact position at address you have a better chance of returning to the same position upon contact.

In addition to the other benefits, a divot will give you instant feedback about your swing. If your divot is very shallow (or non-existent) for a lofted club then you didn't hit the ball on enough of a steep, descending blow. If your divot is huge for a fairway wood then you didn't hit the ball on a flat enough swing plane. Is your divot pointing to the left? Your swing path was outside in and the club released to the left of your target line. Is your divot pointing to the right? Your swing path was inside out and the club released to the right of your target line. Is your divot pointing along your intended target line and the appropriate size for the club in your hand? Nice work.

Take a divot to play better golf, but please remember to replace it!

The best way to learn how to play golf

Learning how to play golf is easy if you adhere to three things. First, you must learn the set-up (the things you do before you make a swing - grip, alignment, stance, posture and ball position). Second, you should learn to hit the short shots (putts, then chips, then pitch shots) before moving on to the big shots (the full swing). Lastly, you must have an incredible amount of patience, because learning how to play this game will likely be one of the biggest challenges you've ever faced. Given time, however (and hitting thousands of golf balls), you will find that things become more automatic as less guesswork is involved. That's when things really get fun.

Generally speaking, I find that most people try to learn the game backwards. They play their first round and hit many poor shots all over the course. However, what they remember the most are the poor shots they hit off of the tee (particularly with their driver) because these shots are 'on stage' more than the others.

Think about it; the new golfer stands on the first tee box with driver in hand. His or her playing partners stand by silently watching, as does the starter, maybe a marshal, and maybe the next group waiting to tee off. This puts a high degree of pressure on the golfer which equates to anxiety, second guessing, tensing up, and likely a muffed/ topped/ shanked or whiffed tee shot. While other equally miserable shots occur on the approach shots and around the green, the golfer will be more likely to dwell on the experience on the tee-box, and will effort to go to great lengths to assure that the kind of embarrassment they felt never happens again.

So, what do they do? They spend a fortune on range balls and try to learn to hit their driver on their own, not realizing that the driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit due to the long shaft and small degree of loft on the clubface. They are trying to learn how to run before learning how to walk, or even crawl. They reinforce bad habits and set those habits into their muscle memory, further decreasing the likelihood that they will ever learn the right way to swing a club. You see these guys and gals all over the driving range; teeing up ball after ball, swinging the club (usually a driver) at 100% of their effort level every time, usually making a huge reverse-pivot, trying to control the club with their arms and wrists rather than making a proper shoulder turn, swinging dramatically from 'outside-in' on the downswing, and lifting their eyes and head up before the clubhead even contacts the ball.

The right way to do it? In my opinion, you have to take a lesson early so that you understand the fundamentals. While everyone has a unique swing, the grip/ stance/ alignment/ posture and ball position should be pretty consistent for everyone (although there are slight variances). In lieu of a lesson, make sure and buy a 'learning how to golf' book and read thoroughly about the set-up. Go back over this information frequently to make sure it is fully ingrained.

If you do take a lesson, make sure that you get an instructor that teaches the game from 'green-to-tee', or in other words, teaches putting and chipping before moving on to pitch shots and the full swing. Since everything in golf is sort of 'inter-connected', it makes sense to learn the small shots and build confidence before moving on to bigger shots that require more body movement and less chance of success.

Putting should be learned first. It requires the smallest swing with the least body movement yet it is a short version of the full swing. This is because all shots in golf should be controlled primarily by the turning of the shoulders, and all putting requires is turning the shoulders without using wrist or body motion. Additionally, as the golfer learns to keep their wrists firm through contact putting teaches them how to lag the clubhead rather than flip the wrists (another element of all other swings). Putting also requires that the golfer keep their eyes down on the contact point until after they've struck the ball, yet another key fundamental of the bigger shots.

Learning how to putt first also builds confidence. The instructor should ideally have their student start with very short putts so that they get accustomed to success and positive feedback as they roll the ball into the hole (albeit on a very small scale). Then they should learn some distance control drills. My favorite is having them hit putts towards the fringe from different spots on the green, simply attempting to get the ball to stop on the fringe just past the green. This takes the pressure off of putting to a small hole from a big distance, and teaches the golfer how to get the ball to stop in a 'general area', which is the essence of longer putts.

Next, the golfer should learn how to hit chip shots (or shots just off the green). This is a natural transition from learning how to putt because the swing is so similar (in that the only thing really moving is the shoulders; rocking them back and rocking them through with very little wrist or body action). The main difference from putting is that the wrists are 'hinged' when chipping; with the hands set ahead of the clubhead at address and throughout the swing. The ball is also moved back in the stance, the stance is a bit more narrow and open, and the golfer's body weight should be more on their front foot than evenly distributed between the two as when putting.

I think that the chip shot is the most important shot for the new beginner to practice because when they practice chipping, they are practicing everything. They are practicing putting because they are just rocking their shoulders as they would when putting; they are practicing chipping (obviously); and they are also practicing pitching and the full swing because when chipping they are simply practicing the most important aspect of these bigger shots: the contact point.

The biggest struggle for a new golfer is learning how to get the clubhead to contact the ball at the right moment on a consistent basis. Trying to do this while taking a full swing is incredibly defeating (at first) because of the high difficulty level and negative feedback. The timing has to be absolutely perfect and there is very little margin for error. The concept of having to 'hit down' on a ball in order to get it airborne is lost on many beginning golfers because natural human instinct tells us we need to try to 'help the ball into the air', or 'try to lift it up with our body' (think reverse pivot and flipping of the wrists through the contact area). This is why the chip shot needs to be learned early. By taking this small stroke, hitting the ball on a descending blow, getting the sweet-spot of the clubhead on the ball (or close to it) and getting the ball in the air and on the green, the golfer is learning some key fundamentals of the full swing and building an excellent foundation from which to build upon. I promise that practicing small chip shots will make you better much faster than practicing full swings with your driver.

Next, the golfer should be introduced to the pitch shot (shots that are further from the green but not yet a full swing away). The pitch shot requires that the golfer start to use some body movement in addition to the turning of the shoulders, but on a smaller scale than a full swing (slight hip rotation, slight leg action, and the rolling of the hands through impact and release). While the intent of the chip shot is to have the ball travel on a low trajectory and roll along the green for awhile, the pitch shot should travel on a higher trajectory and roll less after landing. Again, the pitch shot is simply a short version of the full swing, and teaches the golfer the correct positions to get in on a small scale. As the club comes back, the clubface should 'fan open', square up through contact, and 'fan closed' after releasing - just as in the full swing.

Not only is practicing the short game the best way to learn how to golf, it is also free at almost any golf course. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on range balls and learning bad habits, spend a little money on lessons to learn the fundamentals then obsess about the short shots (putting, chipping, and pitching). This can be done in your house (with golf whiffle balls at first so you don't break anything), your yard, the park, or ideally the practice green at your local course. Only after spending a great deal of time on the short game and experiencing success on a small scale should the golfer worry much about learning the full swing. When they do finally start in with the full swing however, they will find that it makes a lot more sense after having learned the short stuff first.

Taming the hook

Fixing a golfer's hook is usually easier than fixing a slice. This is generally because better players fight the hook, while beginning golfers typically fight the slice. As a golfer gets better they learn how to correct their slice by straightening out their ball flight and maybe even getting a slight draw. However, this slight draw can very easily turn into a duck hook, so the golfer must learn to hit a more 'neutral' ball without as much hook spin. Fortunately, this is a fairly easy fix.

Weaken the grip

Rotate the hands counter-clockwise on the grip so that the 'V's' formed by the thumb and forefingers point less to the right shoulder and more to the chin. Weakening the grip in this fashion makes it more difficult to rotate the clubhead through the contact area, thereby decreasing the likelihood of the toe leading the heel when the clubface comes into contact with the ball (which causes a hook). Be careful with this however, because the slightest change in hand position on the grip will cause dramatic changes in ball flight (so, just move them a tiny bit at first).

Lighten right-hand grip pressure

When the golfer grips the club too tight with their right hand, the tendency is to over-rotate the clubhead through contact, as the right side of the body will sort of 'take over' the swing. The right hand and arm are the 'power producers' in the golf swing and the left hand and arm are the 'control producers'; so there needs to be a balance between the two. Since most right handed golfers are actually right handed, they must be careful and try not to power the right side through too forcefully. Make the main 'pressure points' the pinky, ring finger, and middle finger of the left hand, and decrease pressure in the forefinger and thumb of the right hand. A great drill for people who fight the hook is to hit balls with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand completely off of the grip.

Open the stance

A closed stance encourages an 'inside to outside the target line' swing path, which produces draws and hooks due to counter-clockwise spin imparted on the ball. An open stance encourages an 'outside to inside the target line swing path, which produces fades and slices due to clockwise spin imparted on the ball. So, rather than 'closing your body to the target' (right foot pulled back), 'open yourself up to the target' (left foot pulled back). This will also encourage a higher ball flight, as a clubface that is more 'open' has more loft, and the golfer will also swing on a steeper plane. Again, don't do anything too different, just take a slightly more open stance and notice what changes this produces.

Alter the release of the clubhead

Instead of rotating the clubhead through contact, have the feeling of 'holding on' for a fraction longer. As the clubhead comes down towards the ball, have the feeling of keeping the clubface square for a foot or so after contact (rather than rotating the toe past the heel). This method is known as the 'hammer to nail' release, as the golfer should have the feeling that they are contacting the head of a nail with the clubhead at contact, then continuing to drive the nail through the ball and on past it before allowing the clubhead to rotate. This swing thought/ method also encourages getting more lag in the swing and consequently hitting the ball further. Assure that the clubhead is releasing down the target line after contact and not to the left of it.

Try these tips to cure your hook. If you are still having trouble, go see your local pro.

Short game practice is more important than full swing practice

Practicing the short game is far more important than practicing the full swing. This is especially true for beginners. The novice however, will be more inclined to practice the full swing and neglect the short game. This is probably due largely in part to the stress that the tee-box causes the beginner, as it can be quite embarrassing to chunk or skull a tee-shot. So, most practice is devoted to assuring this doesn't happen again.

Over half of the shots during a round of golf occur on or around the green. Therefore, it makes sense to me to practice the short shots for over half of your practice sessions. Yet you will see most golfers go straight to the range, pull out their driver, and pound balls relentlessly for an hour. These sessions rarely go well, as the driver is the hardest club to hit, so many bad shots occur - thereby reinforcing bad habits and causing the golfer a great deal of frustration.

The driver is a club that a new golfer should work towards patiently, as it is very difficult to hit good drives without first learning the fundamentals of the short game, and then learning how to hit more lofted clubs. You will see better golfers going through a practice session that begins with putting, chipping and pitching. They move on to partial shots with lofted clubs, then full swings with lofted clubs, then full swings with less lofted clubs, and lastly the fairway woods and driver. Once the driver is pulled out of the bag, the golfer is warmed up, stretched out, and ready to practice with the longest club in the bag.

Also, as I've stated many times (as have others), when you practice the short shots you are really practicing the full swing too. This is because practicing the short shots involves the 'contact point', where the club contacts the ball on a very small scale. Given that novice golfers have difficulty contacting the ball on the sweet spot with any regularity, it makes sense to me to practice getting the face of the club on the ball on a small scale before moving on to the full swing. If you ain't got the small shot, you sure as heck ain't gonna get the big shot!

The chip shot is the most important shot for a beginner to practice. When a golfer practices chip shots they are practicing everything. They are practicing putting because the chipping motion is so similar to the putting motion (only with the hands kept ahead of the clubface rather than flush to it). They are also practicing putting because they are getting a feel for distance control, which is what putting is all about. They are also practicing the full swing because they are getting a feel for the club contacting the ball properly, thereby gaining feel and building a solid foundation for the full swing. The chip shot (at the contact point) reinforces all the things that are important about the full swing at contact (hands are ahead of the ball and clubhead at contact, clubface is contacting the ball on a descending blow, the feeling of 'lag' is imparted, the importance of keeping the eyes down through contact is imparted, the necessity for a lighter grip, letting the club swing and not forcing it, etc., etc.).

So, practice that short game obsessively, especially if you are a beginning golfer. Chip shots around your house or yard with golf 'whiffle balls'. Go to your closest public course and utilize the practice green (remember, this is always free!). Practice simply brushing the grass with the clubhead (with no ball), mimicking a chip shot. Remember that if the club doesn't brush the grass at the right spot then the club wont contact the ball at the right spot either.

The more you practice the short game, the better your whole game will get.

Focus when it counts

Hitting a golf ball takes tremendous focus and self-discipline. During a round of golf, there is very little time spent actually swinging a club at a ball, so it is important to shut out all distractions when setting up for a shot. It is easy to maintain the same frame of mind during a round (laughing with playing partners, joking around, light banter, etc.) but this will not produce good results. While it is good to remain somewhat loose and relaxed when swinging the club, all focus should be on executing the desired shot.

Put yourself in a focused mind-frame:

When preparing to hit a shot, take deep breaths and clear your mind of any outside distractions. Put all energy towards the task at hand and the process you must go through in order to pull off the desired shot. Any personal issues you may have must be temporarily put on the back burner (because these issues are often so consuming that it is difficult to execute a golf shot because they creep into the mind).This can be easier said than done, but it becomes easier with a little practice.

Visualize the shot you want to hit:

As you stand behind the ball and pick out your target line, imagine the exact ball flight you are hoping to achieve with your forthcoming shot. See it flying through the air with any intended curvature, and see it landing at the precise spot you want it to, and rolling to the ultimate target. This will increase the likelihood of success because the focus is on what you want to happen, not what you don't want to happen.

Look at a small spot on the golf ball when setting up:

As you approach the ball and prepare to hit, pick a dimple or small spot on the gall ball to focus on. Look at this spot as you take the club-head away, during your back-swing, and during your downswing. This will train your eyes to stay steady and narrow your focus on the ball. While making sure to look at the ball is great advice, looking at a very small spot on the ball will help you hone in even better.

Loosen up and enjoy the in between times:

Most of a round will consist of NOT hitting a golf ball. So, enjoy yourself. Take in the surroundings, enjoy your playing partners, laugh, and have a good time. Just remember that when it comes time to hit the ball, it's game time, so put on your game face. Allow your body to be free of tension and keep your muscles moving so that they are ready to make an athletic motion, but keep your mind sharp and think about the shot you are trying to hit.

Focus when it counts for better results. Have fun out there!

Intermediate targets: Gotta have em'

If you don't utilize intermediate targets on the course, you are costing yourself strokes.

Intermediate targets are distinguishable points of reference along your intended target line. They are chosen by the golfer when standing behind the ball and determining what the intended target line actually is. It could be anything from a broken tee to a divot or an off-colored tuft of grass, and the closer to the ball the better.

The primary reason for picking an intermediate target very close to your ball and along your intended target line is to aim more accurately. Since you know that the intermediate target (which is ideally within a few feet of the ball for most shots) is on the target line, it allows you to more easily set the face of the clubhead perpendicular, or perfectly square, to the target line. Rather than trying to point the face of the clubhead at a target that may be hundreds of yards down the fairway, all you have to do is aim it at a (intermediate) target a couple of feet ahead of the ball. Picking an intermediate target is part of my pre-shot routine for all shots from putts to drives. I consider it the only way to align myself correctly.

I will always begin the routine by standing well behind the ball (at least 10 feet), then I determine my target line by holding up the shaft of my club so that I can see both the ball and the intended target along the shaft (it's best to do this while looking through only your dominant eye and closing the other). Then, with the club still raised and looking through my dominant eye, I will pick an intermediate target (any distinguishable point of reference) that is as close to my ball as possible. I will often look up the shaft and pick another one or two intermediate targets that I might look at when I do address the ball, to further confirm the target line. Then, I bring the shaft down and address the ball while staring only at the intermediate target closest to my ball. I set down the clubhead and point the face directly at the intermediate target so that it is perpendicular to the target line. At this point my clubhead is set, so I take my stance, assuring that my feet are parallel left of my target line. Then, a couple of waggles, a look at my intermediate target and any other intermediate targets along my intended line, one good look at my ultimate target, eyes back to the ball, and swing away.

The other great thing about the intermediate target close to your ball is that it helps you release the clubhead down your intended target line. Since you can (hopefully) still see the intermediate target with your peripheral vision as you look at your ball, this will allow you to swing the clubhead through the ball and towards the intermediate target with the confidence that it is on the correct line. This process takes a great deal of guesswork out of aiming. If you are not aimed the right direction and your body is aligned incorrectly, you will find that your ball rarely travels close to your intended target.

Finding distinguishable points of reference on the putting green can be more difficult. However, I will still pick out off color blades of grass, or anything along my intended line that I try to 'roll the ball over'.

I highly recommend picking intermediate targets as part of your pre-shot routine for every shot in golf.

Golf tips for seniors

Golf is one of the only sports that we can play well into our golden years. Unfortunately however, as the body ages we lose flexibility, strength, and some of the coordination we had in our youth. This doesn't mean that you can't improve at golf as a senior, it just means you have to modify your swing and practice regimen accordingly.

Here are some suggestions that I believe will help older golfers get better at the game:

> Stretch

The more you stretch, the more your body will allow you to make a full golf swing that involves the proper shoulder turn, hip turn, release, and follow through. Focus on stretches that involve the shoulders and hips primarily. Although you may find that you might not be able to bring the club back as far as you once did, you will still be able to create the torque necessary to achieve clubhead speed if you stretch regularly. Stretching also elongates and strengthens the muscles. There are books and online videos that specifically show which stretches are the most beneficial for golfers. Go to Google or your local library and do a little research.

> Lift weights

This should be a no-brainer. Lifting weights helps negate the muscle deterioration that comes with getting older. It better prepares us to swing a golf club and make our way around a golf course without fatigue. Obviously, don't overdo it and check with your physician if you have health issues. Again, there are books and online videos that address a weightlifting regimen for senior golfers. Google, YouTube, Library, you see where I'm going with this.

> Switch to more flexible shafts

As our swing speed slows down, we should assure that our clubs have enough flex to maximize power. Senior flex, or "A flex" shafts are recommended, as they are better suited for slower swing speeds. If you are the stubborn type that doesn't believe that your swing has slowed down yet, go to your local driving range and demo a couple "A flex" clubs; you might be surprised at how much further you hit it. Additionally, having a flex that is not compatible to your swing speed can result in the clubhead contacting the ball at the incorrect angle (equating to pulls or pushes). One of the quickest fixes for the most common problem in golf (the slice) can be switching to a softer flex. I recommend seeing a clubfitter if you have any uncertainty.

> Switch to lower compression balls

Similar to flexible shafts, lower compression golf balls help the senior golfer hit the ball further. These balls have a softer core, which will allow for more 'rebound' off the clubface for slower swings. Seek out golf balls that have a compression of 80 or under if you are a senior citizen. These balls also tend to be cheaper than the high compression balls and have a harder, more durable cover (so they last longer).

> Live on the practice green

Lets face it, we're going to lose distance as we get older. So, we should gain as much of an advantage as possible by dialing in our short games. We've all played with the older fellow who only hits it 100 yards off the tee (but straight every time) who manages to get frequent pars due to a deadly accurate putting game. We know that over 50% of golf shots are played on or right around the green, so practicing the heck out of putts and chips will help drop strokes and make up for shorter tee shots.

> Hinge the wrists earlier during the full swing

As we age our body turns less during the swing and the backswing becomes a bit shorter. To compensate for this, I recommend cocking the wrists earlier in the backswing to get more of a whipping motion through the contact area. Set the wrists earlier, then unhinge them quickly just after contact. It would be ideal to continue to use a big shoulder turn on the backswing and fast rotation of the hips on the downswing as the 'primary movements', but at a certain point we should start compensating for decreased mobility by utilizing the hands, wrists, and arms a bit more to achieve distance.

Hopefully these tips help. Have a good time out there!

Simmer down! Having a good time on the course

How many times have you finished a round of golf and said "I PAID for that misery?" We've all done it, and we've all felt the lingering pain that a poor performance on the course leaves us with. Don't be too hard on yourself, it just means that you're passionate about the game, and expect yourself to play up to your ability (providing you have rational expectations of what your actual ability is). Unfortunately however, this self deprecation stirs up doubt in ourselves and our golf game, and will result in a lack of confidence during your next round.

The key is to have fun out there, and never take the game too seriously. I'm smiling as I write this, because I know how difficult a task this is for those that play golf regularly. I used to be a 'cursing club thrower' who sulked around the course and gave my friends the silent treatment if I was having a bad round. I would become increasingly irritated as the day went on, frustrated and angry at myself and others. This became a self fulfilling prophecy, as the shots got worse and my attitude deteriorated.

Fun huh? Hell no, and also not fun for my playing partners who were just trying to enjoy a nice day outside. It took me awhile to learn to let go of bad shots, but when I finally achieved a certain amount of 'inner peace' that allowed me to do this, the results on and off the course were (and continue to be) quite beneficial. Here are some ideas for having fun on the golf course:

Don't keep score:

There is really no need to keep score if you don't want to. Unless you are playing competitively or are tracking your handicap, you will likely find that you have a much better time out there if you forgo the scorecard. This is especially true for the beginning golfer, as trying to add up all those strokes takes the focus away from swinging the club. There is no shame in this practice, as everyone plays this game for their own reasons.

Loosen up:

Talk to your playing partners. Show genuine interest in their games and congratulate them for well executed shots. This will take your focus off yourself and ease the tension that comes with it. Remember that a round of golf consists of maybe two cumulative minutes of actually swinging the club, so enjoy the in-between times and take in your surroundings. A couple of adult beverages can also help you loosen up (if you are so inclined).

Remember, it's just a game:

When you really think about it, getting mad at ourselves for 'not hitting that little white ball exactly how we wanted to' is pretty silly and childish. It's a strange and fascinating game that has an infinite amount of variables, where no two shots are exactly the same. Golf is also unique in that every course is completely different and offers up new challenges. Enjoy this great game but realize that you can never master it. The second you think you have it figured out you become complacent, and the golf gods will make you pay. The pros do so well because they never get too high or too low, and they remind themselves that they are getting paid to play a game.

Do it for others:

If you find that you simply cannot control your temper and feel the need to throw clubs and yell at yourself, please consider the fact that this behavior ruins not only your day but it also ruins the day for anyone in your vicinity. Tension and anger is contagious, so don't be the one that gets the ball rolling, so to speak. Try to laugh off your bad shots and be consoling to your partners when they hit bad shots. This will not only improve your mood, but it will have positive results in your game (and likely your blood pressure).

So, chill out, and have a great round out there!

Getting started

Golf is a game that can be extremely intimidating to the new player. The enormous rule book, the need for proper etiquette, the challenge of the game, the touch required for short shots, the strange new golf lingo, all combine to cause a new golfer a great degree of stress (which we know is detrimental to playing good golf). Therefore, it is best to prepare oneself as much as possible during the early learning stages to eliminate stress as much as possible. Here are some tips to ease the process:

> Take a series of lessons from a qualified instructor.

This is the best way to rapidly increase the learning process. No amount of research or watching golf on TV will substitute for one on one instruction with a teaching professional. He or she will guide you through the necessary components of the set-up (grip, alignment, stance, posture, and ball position), and show you the most effective way to practice. They can answer any questions you might have (remember, there are no dumb questions, so don't be afraid to question anything that might be confusing) and recommend proper equipment for your level of play/ age/ etc.

> Read golf books:

Start with basic instruction books then move on to more in-depth ones. There are a plethora of golf instruction books that will assist in the learning process, and also confirm/ reiterate things that your instructor is teaching you. The more that a new golfer can become a 'student of the game', the more knowledge and confidence they will assimilate.

> Practice the short game obsessively:

Get out there and practice your short game (putting, chipping, and pitching) whenever possible. Practicing the short game is really the secret to getting better because when you practice short shots, you are really practicing everything (as short shorts are just short versions of the full swing - and by practicing them you are practicing the most important component of the full swing... the contact point). This will also teach a beginner the 'touch' that is required for short shots and thereby build a great foundation for the full swing. Additionally, practicing the short game is free at most golf courses (on their practice greens by the clubhouse). Even putting or chipping whiffle balls in your living room counts.

Play a lot:

The more you play the more you will experience all the variables that this game of golf has to offer. The more rounds that are played, the more the new golfer will build confidence and get more comfortable with any different scenario. They will learn course management, proper club selection, and what works and what doesn't during a round. I highly recommend a 'playing lesson' with a teaching professional at least once early in the learning process, so that the pro can go over etiquette, rules, course management, etc. They will also get a feel for your tendencies on the course so that you both have a better idea of what you need to focus on during your next lesson.

Use online resources:

There is a vast amount of information available online for new golfers to sift through. Google 'golf for beginners', look at golf instruction videos on YouTube, read golf articles on thousands of different topics, or find some blogs to follow. While this is no substitute for good instruction, it can help reinforce things you are working on and act as a great visual aid.

Most importantly, don't give up! Remember that everyone struggles with this game at first, and the bad shots creep in at every level (just more often for beginners). Just like anything, you will get out of it what you put into it, so get out there and take a lesson this weekend!

The Perfect Swing?

Here is a secret:

The perfect golf swing does not exist.

Neither does the perfect jump shot, the perfect baseball pitch, or the perfect serve in tennis. This is because everyone has their own, personalized method of executing each of these actions; none of which can be deemed 'perfect'. If you gathered ten PGA Professionals and watched each of them hit a tee shot, then you were asked to pick the 'perfect' swing, you would struggle, because each pro's swing would result in (mostly) the same impressive outcome, albeit with different swing actions. A better phrase would be: 'how to achieve YOUR perfect golf swing', because a person's golf swing is a unique creature that is all their own.

The different ways to swing a golf club are truly infinite. There are 'flat' or 'one plane swingers' (think Cory Pavin or Zach Johnson), there are 'two plane swingers' (Tiger Woods, Fred Couples), there are 'outside in' or 'figure eight' swingers (Jim Furyk, Lee Trevino), and so on. How the club is brought back away from the ball is somewhat irrelevant, as is how the club is brought back down towards the ball. What is important is what path the clubhead is traveling on as it contacts the ball, the clubhead speed generated, and what direction the face of the club is pointing at contact. Much of this depends on what type of shot the golfer is attempting to execute.

Remember that a 'completely straight golf shot' does not exist. There will always be some movement either left to right, or right to left in the air, even if that movement is an inch or two (more often much more than that), it still exists. Therefore, golfers should not attempt to hit 'perfectly straight' shots. They should notice what their tendencies are (do you hit a draw or a fade more often on the range?) and plan, or 'set up' accordingly by either aiming slightly right or slightly left.

Generally speaking, a 'desireable' clubhead path is 'inside-out', or one in which the clubhead is approaching the ball from the left, contacting the ball, and releasing to the right. This puts draw on the ball (providing the face of the clubhead is either square to the target or slightly closed). The more common clubhead path for beginner and high handicap golfers is one that comes from 'outside-in', with an open clubface, resulting in a slice. This is where good instruction comes into play, as fixing a slice is an easier remedy than one might think.

So, the backswing and downswing are somewhat irrelevant (although there are some general checkpoints that are good to be aware of, and the weight shift/ posture/ ball position/ should be somewhat consistent) providing the clubhead is on a good path as it travels through the contact area and the face of the club is pointed in the right direction at contact.

The Real Lessons (#2)

This is the second article in a series of posts titled: "The Real Lessons", in which I hope to highlight ways we can glean much about life, from golf, and vice-versa. Hopefully we can learn more about ourselves and what we can do to be better people and better golfers.

Mastering the mental game in golf is similar to mastering the mental game of life. This involves letting go of regrets, and staying in the present.

Letting go of regrets:

Just let it go, man. One of the most stressful things in many of our lives is the fact that we can't let go of past mistakes and we live with regret; constantly replaying scenarios and considering how we might have approached them differently. The enormous amounts of stress this regret causes has negative effects on our day to day life and makes it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

The same thing happens during a round of golf. We hit a ball into the woods, hit a tree trying to get out, finally get it on the fairway, hit it into the water, get it on the green and three putt. On the first hole! Then we have to put this catastrophe behind us on the second hole and attempt to move forward with absolute trust in our swing. Not an easy task. The tendency is for the golfer to get extremely heated and obsess about the bad shots, which causes the bad shots to continue (because the ball knows what you're thinking).

It is imperitive in life, and in golf, to forgive yourself and move on without beating yourself up. The only thing we have control over is the next shot (or moment), so buck up and do your best.

Staying in the present:

Allowing the mind to run off all willy nilly during a round of golf will cause the golfer to lose all focus on the shot at hand. One hundred percent of a golfer's attention should be pinpointed directly towards 'what is happening right now'. So many times we start adding up our anticipated score on the third hole after a couple of early birdies, thinking, "oh gee, if I keep this up I'll finish ten under par!" We constantly look at our scorecard and add up imaginary numbers. Big, big mental error. This practice takes all the focus off the shot at hand and puts the golfer in a 'results not process' frame of mind, which is detrimental to good golf.

As in life, rewarding ourselves for successes before a job is completed; or beating ourselves up for failures that can still be reversed, will not do us any good. We can set goals, and should, but there is no shortcut for getting the work done step-by-step, with our minds intent on the process of the task and not the future result.

Light grip for putts and chips

Shots that are on or around the green do not require power, they require touch. Therefore, the golfer should grip the club very lightly for putts and chips because increased grip pressure decreases feel and inhibits a natural swinging motion. The golfer should have the sense that they are gripping the club lightly enough to actually 'feel' the clubhead contact the ball.

Remember that grip pressure should remain consistent for the entire stroke. Many beginners and high handicappers have a tendency to grip the club with more pressure as it approaches the ball on the downswing in an effort to control the shot. Trying to control or manipulate the club in this fashion is an 'anti-touch' move, resulting in many fat, thin, and muffed shots around the green, and poor distance control while putting.

I do recommend that the golfer grip the club with a bit more pressure in the left hand than the right (for right-hand golfers). The left hand is the 'control' hand and the right hand is the 'power' hand, so it thereby makes sense to add control and decrease power. Another danger in gripping too hard with the right hand is the dreaded 'flip' shot in which the right hand unhinges through impact, breaking down and flipping (or 'scooping') the club at the ball rather than lagging it through. This is the number one reason for failed chip and pitch shots around the green, because the club does not stay square through impact for nearly as long as a lagging motion that is achieved by keeping the wrists firm through contact.

A good way to get a sense of how much grip pressure should be used for putts and chips is to hold the club so that she shaft is vertical with the clubhead in the air. Hold the club just firmly enough so that it does not slip out of your hands (about a five on a scale from one to ten). Then, increase the grip pressure in the left hand just slightly. Try to maintain this same pressure as you address your ball and throughout the entire stroke.

Think of feeling the weight of the clubhead throughout the stroke. If you ever lose the feel for where the clubhead is, then you are gripping too tight. Get out of your own way and let the club swing back and through rather than trying to guide or manipulate it.

We Talkin' 'Bout Practice (and how it differs from playing)

Practicing Golf and Playing Golf are completely different animals, and should be approached with totally different mindsets. Trying to mimic a practice session during a round is detrimental to good play, and trying to mimic a round during a practice session will hinder the learning process.

Practicing:

The driving range and practice putting green are the places to tinker with your swing and make adjustments. Feel free to analyze different components of the swing and try new ways of doing things to test their effectiveness. Practice with purpose, and think about how one action changes another action.

I practice two different ways. One way is to try and shape shots different directions (hook, slice, fade, draw, knockdown, punch, lofted shots, etc.), even hitting extreme hooks and slices just to get the feel for spinning a ball off the clubface to get it to curve a particular direction. Practicing in this manner teaches the golfer how to build an arsenal of shots that will come in handy in many situations on the course. Simply attempting to hit straight shot after straight shot will not only be quite defeating (as no ball really ever flies completely straight), but there is very little to learn from this technique. This method of attempting to shape shots and be creative with practice sessions is the most common for me.

The other way to practice at the range is a bit more similar to playing, but not quite the same. I'll take a bucket and just hit balls without thinking of shaping it one way or the other, or in other words, just swinging the club as naturally as possible. I will be very aware, however, of what the ball is doing in the air. I'll make mental notes on how many shots are drawing, how many are fading, how many I'm getting thin or fat, etc. This teaches me a great deal about my natural tendencies so that when I get to the course I have more of an idea about what my ball is going to do in the air.

Playing:

When you get out to the course, all swing thoughts must be eliminated, all analysis and adjustments put out of the mind, and all trust put in the natural golf swing. Trying to tinker with a golf swing during a round is a recipe for disaster, as this greatly decreases the confidence level of the golfer and thereby decreases the likelihood of a good shot.

If you must have a swing thought, have it be something like 'smooth tempo', or 'slow down'. The golfer must focus on staying relaxed and in the present moment. Visualize the shot you want to hit, based upon the tendencies you've noticed on the driving range or prior shots during rounds, and focus on the process and not the result.

The Real Lessons (#1)

As you've probably heard others more poetically pontificate; golf and life have many parallels. If you play this game for any significant amount of time this truth becomes quite evident. If you can distinguish between these similarities and be very honest with yourself, you can make yourself a better golfer and better person concurrently.

This is the first article in a series of posts titled: "The Real Lessons", in which I hope to highlight ways we can glean much about life, from golf, and vice-versa. Hopefully we can learn more about ourselves and what we can do to be better people and better golfers.

Be Brave.

Simply taking up the game of golf takes great courage. It is (in my opinion) the most difficult sport (or 'game' depending upon your take) that exists on this great sphere we call Earth.

We are required to swing a long stick with a tiny protrusion around our body and at a tiny little ball, striking it precisely in the middle of the club-face at just the right angle, then propel it extraordinary distances towards a specific target. The margin for error is minute. It is a game not just of inches but fractions of millimeters, where the smallest variable can re-route the entire ball flight (or render it non-existent).

Once we do manage to get that tiny ball on the green, we are then required to play an entirely different game where the goal is to putt the ball into the hole with pin-point accuracy and touch. Since the putting stroke is so different than any other golf stroke, it really is a game within a game; and thereby increases the complexity and difficulty of golf.

So, executing a decent golf shot takes an extreme amount of self confidence given the likelihood of disaster. We must 'quell the demon voices' that ring through our heads trying to convince us that we will not succeed. Mind over matter has never been more appropriate.

The beginning golfer experiences a large degree of failure, and a small amount of success. It takes a certain kind of drive to continue on with this game and persevere with the courage and confidence that things will get better. This is similar to life, when everything that is 'new' and 'challenging' is kind of uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. If you can see even a fragment of silver lining, or something to build on, and power through with your head held high, any challenge can be conquered.

The Sand, Man

The bunker (sand) shot is the one and only shot in golf where the goal is to miss the ball.

Let me explain.

In order to effectively get a ball out of the sand, the golfer must propel the clubhead into the sand under the ball and send the sand towards the intended target. The ball will travel with the sand (if the shot is executed properly). Many beginning golfers struggle with this concept because it seems like a bizarre notion to 'miss' the ball, but this is really the only way to play a sand shot.

The first thing to do when your ball ends up in a greenside bunker is determine how deep the ball is sitting in the sand. The more ball that is showing, the better, because the shot will be easier. If the ball is buried in the sand you will have to swing the club much faster and hit further under the ball.

Remember that it is against the rules to take a practice swing in the sand (unless your practice swing merely swings through the air above the sand - it is illegal to touch the club to the sand before the shot). So, approach the ball, take a very open stance with your body facing the target, and wiggle your feet around until they sink an inch or two into the sand (not only for stability but also because you want your swing to bottom out lower than a normal golf shot, so you set your body lower). Open up the clubface of your most lofted club (I use a sixty degree sand wedge), you want to use the 'bounce' on the bottom of the wedge to drive the club down and through the shot.

Play the shot in the middle of your stance, pick a spot in the sand a couple of inches behind the ball, take a very 'steep' takeaway (think 'straight up' instead of 'around your body') and hinge the wrists earlier than you would for a normal golf shot. As you bring the club down into the sand, use a lot of hand/ wrist motion at the moment of impact to assure that the club-head travels through the sand aggressively. This is not a time to be timid, the shot must be struck with authority.

Think of 'throwing' about a cup of sand onto the green towards your target. The ball will go where the sand goes. Finish with the club high and turn towards your target as you would for any golf shot.

Sometimes the biggest challenge is finding a place to practice this shot, as not many golf courses have a practice area that includes a sand trap. If you have one in your town, take advantage of it!

Lag = Power

Lag in a golf swing equates to the delayed release of the club-head to maximize power and efficiency. During the downswing, if the wrists remain hinged and the hands remain ahead of the club-head for a longer period of time, the effect will be similar to the cracking of a whip through contact, with the club-head releasing forcefully through the ball and sending that little dimpled son-of-a-gun into the stratosphere. This is the real secret to achieving more distance.

Here is how to get more lag in your golf swing:

Take the driver out of your bag. Turn the club upside-down so that you are holding the club-head and the grip is facing the ground. Take your normal grip just under the club-head and pretend like the end of your grip is the actual club-head. Take a few swings, and listen for a 'whooshing' noise. This noise occurs at the moment when the club is traveling at the fastest speed. Ideally, we want to hear that noise at the exact moment when the face of the club-head should contact the ball, and not beforehand. Generally speaking, more novice golfers will hear the 'whoosh' too soon.

If the 'whoosh' noise occurs too soon, like around the time when the shaft of the club is traveling past your right knee, or somewhere thereabouts, then you are releasing the club too soon (or "casting" the club as it's commonly referred to). This over the top move is so common because the average golfer has a tendency to grip the club too hard at the top of the swing and try to rush it down with the arms and hands rather than letting it come down naturally as it should.

So, take two tees and place one right where the ball would normally be, and put the other about a foot ahead of it. Practice the 'whooshing' drill and try to get the 'whoosh' to occur right between the tees. When this happens the hips have time to clear out of the way and the body weight has time to shift over to the left side of the body (for right handers), which guides the club head through the contact area much faster.

Remember, it is not the arms and hands that create power in the golf swing. Rather it is the uncoiling motion of the upper body coupled with a powerful weight transfer to the left side in which the right hip fires through as it rotates. When this happens the proper lag is achieved by the body motion leading the arms and club down and through, instead of the opposite.

Other drills to help incorporate more lag in your golf swing include; practicing golf swings with your left arm only (as it's the right arm/ hand that tend to be the culprit when releasing the club too early - this drill builds up the golf muscles of the left arm and trains the golfer to be more dominant with the left side), and practicing chip shots (as the wrists should never break down or come unhinged during the typical chip shot - this drill teaches the golfer to 'hold on' for longer and delay the release of the club-head).

Good luck and have fun reaping the benefits of added lag!

Winter Lesson Special

Hello and Happy 2010!!

As this year gets underway and the weather begins to improve, you may find the desire to dust off the golf clubs and tune up your game. This is a great time of year to play because you don't need a tee time at most places and you can play at your own pace. Many courses also offer generous discounts on greens fees during the winter.

I am now teaching exclusively at King City Golf Course (right by Tigard on hwy. 99) and am offering $10 off 1/2 hr. lessons through the end of March ($25 instead of $35) - please mention this post to receive your discount.

As always, I do not charge extra for multiple students (up to 3), so if you get a couple of friends or family members together then the cost can be split amongst your group. I specialize in lessons for beginners but all are welcome. Even expert golfers need to review the fundamentals once in awhile!

Playing lessons and group lessons are also available. Please feel free to email me with any inquiries or if you'd like to set up a lesson time.

Thank you!

Jeff Mount
USGTF Golf Teaching Professional
King City Golf Course
503 577 8807
djm8181@yahoo.com

How to build a repeatable golf swing

After a new golfer learns how to swing a club reasonably well (getting it on a good plane/ proper weight shift/ proper release of the club, etc.), they will find that the biggest challenge becomes making good contact with the ball on a regular basis. Getting the clubhead to contact the ball right on the sweet spot at the exactly right moment is not something that comes easily for most beginning golfers, regardless of how pure their swing looks or feels (and it's no wonder, there is very little margin for error, especially with the less lofted clubs).

The clubhead must not only navigate the perfect path through the contact area, but it must also contact the ball at the appropriate moment during the downswing (excluding the driver which we hit slightly on the upswing). Additionally, the face of the clubhead must be perpendicular to the target line at the moment of contact. Timing is crucial.

Most of us that have been golfing for awhile got a good feel for 'solid contact' simply by hitting thousands and thousands of range balls and playing hundreds of rounds of golf; thereby getting the feedback we needed to groove a repeatable swing. This can be an incredibly frustrating way to learn the game because in the beginning the bad shots outweigh the good ones disproportionately. One starts to get discouraged quickly, especially considering how expensive range balls and rounds of golf are. It's no wonder that so many people give up the game (or just stick to Wii golf). Fortunately, there is an easier and faster way.

First of all, if you've never played golf, or you really don't know the fundamentals, you need a series of lessons in my opinion. The setup needs to be in place before moving forward (proper grip, alignment, stance, posture, and ball position), and then you need to learn how to properly swing a golf club (getting the club on the correct plane/ making a good shoulder turn/ firing the hips/ keeping the head and spine still/ getting the body weight to the left side of the body on the downswing, etc.). You could learn these things on your own, but it's gonna take awhile! I think it's well worth the money to have an instructor guide you at first just to get down the basics. After a comfort level with the basics is achieved then the challenge becomes building a repeatable swing that gets the sweet spot of the clubhead on the ball and traveling through the ball on the right path.

Here's the drill for accelerating the process of building a repeatable swing:

Find a lawn or park where you can make a full swing with a golf club. Place two golf tees in the ground about 8 inches apart (white or yellow tees work best for this because they stand out). Take a pitching wedge, and swing the club so that the clubhead brushes the grass between the tees. As you do this, make sure that the clubhead brushes the grass *right between the tees* and not before or after the tees. That's it! By doing this over and over, you will build a repeatable swing that will help you hit golf balls on the sweet spot of the clubhead, and at the correct moment of the downswing, more consistently (best of all, it's free, no golf ball or golf course required).

As you improve with this drill and find that the clubhead of the pitching wedge is brushing the grass right between the tees every time, then move the tees closer together and try and get the clubhead to travel through a narrower gate (and so on and so on until the tees are so close together that the clubhead will barely get through without hitting either tee). Then, start moving towards the less lofted clubs in the bag, ending with the driver (repeating the same process with the tees).

This drill really requires that you pay attention to what's going on. If you notice that your tendency is to brush the grass well after the tees, then you probably have an issue with topping the ball. If you brush the grass before the tees, then you probably hit the ball fat more often than not. If you notice that your clubhead regularly hits the tee furthest away from you, then you likely stand too close to the ball. If you hit the closer one regularly, you stand too far away.

Also, be conscious of the path that the clubhead is traveling on as it brushes the grass between the tees. If the 'brush' of the grass points excessively to the left, you are probably either pulling or slicing across the ball. If it points excessively right then you are pushing or hooking the ball. The goal is to get the 'brush' going straight at the intended target. Noticing the direction of the 'brush of the grass' may sound difficult, but it's really not if you keep your eyes down after the clubhead moves through the grass (which also helps with keeping the head still until well after contact, also incredibly important).

The more you do this drill, the quicker you groove a repeatable golf swing. Good luck and have fun!

Drills to help you chip better

The chip shot is usually over-analyzed, causing golfers to freeze up over the ball and second guess themselves or their chipping technique. Remember that the chip shot is simply a short version of the full swing. We swing the club back, then accellerate down and through. Simple, right? Well, it should be, but unfortunately golfers often grip the club too tight due to being too tense or trying to force the issue, resulting in deceleration or flipping at the ball and fat or thin shots.

The following drills will help free up your form so that this shot becomes easier:

Line em' up:

Line up six or seven balls a few feet off the green, about four inches apart. Take the club you usually hit chip shots with (a fifty-four degree wedge for me). Now pick any arbitrary spot on the green, take a good look at it, and tell yourself that that is your general target area. Then, hit each ball towards that target with a VERY light grip, walking down the line and letting the club brush back and forth as you hit each ball. The club should never stop moving and you should not even look at where the balls are going, just keep the eyes down on the balls.

It is important that the clubhead never stop moving. In other words, hit the first ball, allow the clubhead to swing back and brush the grass before stepping slightly forward to hit the next ball. The point of this drill is to: A) give the golfer a feel for letting the club do the work and not forceing or manipulating it and B) keep the golfer's eyes down until after contact. Remember to keep the same light grip pressure throughout the drill (this also helps the golfer to learn to let the clubhead accellerate through the ball and not decellerate).

With a little work, you will usually find that after you have hit all the balls in the line, when you look up all those balls will be in about the same area on the green, providing you contacted them reasonably well.

Left hand only:

Chip balls using just your left hand. This will help you learn to hit the ball on a decending arc, and teach you to be more left hand dominant on chips and pitches (as the right hand/ arm has a tenedency to take over and cause the dreaded flipping motion at the ball).

Grip touching left wrist:

Choke down on your grip so that the hands are on the bottom of the grip (the best method for chip shots incidentally). Angle your wrists so that the hands are ahead of the clubhead (clubhead by your back foot, hands by your front hip. Do this to the point that the top of your grip is touching your left wrist. Now, hit some chip shots and try to keep the grip touching the left wrist throughout the entire stroke. If the grip separates from the wrist, this means that you are 'flipping' at the ball and need to work on getting more 'left hand dominance' in the stroke. You may find that physically wrapping a velcro strap or large rubber band around your grip and left wrist helps.

Think of the shaft of the club as being an extension of the left arm on chip shots.