Golf in Detail » Golf Training

Ways To Improve Your Short Game

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:01:48 +0000

If you want to improve your golf score then one part of your game that you have to improve on is making better chip shots around the green and better pitch shots from 100 yards in. Too many people focus solely on improving their drives or tee shots and neglect to work on their short game. When you think about it, you are only hitting off the tee 18 times per round and using your driver maybe fourteen times per round. Think about how many times in a game of golf that you use a pitching wedge or sand wedge approaching the green or chipping onto the green. If you want to lower your handicap and score better in golf then you have to improve your short game.

High handicap golfers make two fatal mistakes when hitting their approach shots or when chipping. They have a tendency to take a full or three quarter back swing and then stop swinging when they make contact with the golf ball. This leads to errant shots, duffs and skulled shots. As soon as you stop your swing when you make contact with the ball you are going to hit it about two yards or you are going to send it flying low across the green at a thousand miles an hour.

The goal of a chip or approach shot in the game of golf is getting the ball up in the air and having the right distance to land on the green and roll up to the hole. You will never obtain this unless you make the proper swing and this means following through on your swing. Take a nice follow through swing just like you do when hitting off of the tee.

The closer you get to the green the more you want to choke up on the club. This is a way that you take distance off of your shot. When you are close to or beside the green you want to be fully choked up the club. You will be able to control your distance and speed much better. When you are 100 yards out or more you will want to slightly choke up on the club so you can get more distance out of your shot.

The key to making that shot is how much backswing to use. Take your backswing only as far back as you think you have to. This might sound confusing but it makes sense. If you have half a pitching wedge shot to make then take your backswing halfway back. If you have a 30 yard pitch shot to make then take a backswing thirty per cent of the way back. You obviously don’t want to take a full backswing because you will hit the ball 100 yards.

The final step to making a great chip or approach shot is the follow through. If you stop your swing when your club makes contact with the ball then that ball is going nowhere. Take your backswing as far back as you think you have to and then make smooth follow through swing. You will be surprised how easy it is to get that ball up in the air. It is that follow through that pops the ball up in the air. This is what you want to do.

Once you combine these two methods into your shot and get a feel for distance and speed you will start making better shots. I was taught this concept a few games ago by a good golfer and already I am getting the ball up on the air and making more consistent accurate chips and pitch shots. Go out to the driving range and practice this method. Your game will improve.

Golf Exercise Routine

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:07:05 +0000

The snow is beginning to melt and the possibility of “hitting balls” and hitting the links seems promising. It may be a few weeks or even months before the golf season is in “full swing”, but for those of you that are chomping at the bit for the greens and clubs, here’s a taste of an exercise program that may hold you over until play begins.

Preparing for sport is a concept that is well understood and followed by most competitors. The benefits include protection against injury, improved motor learning, and depending on the type of preparation used, improved sport performance as a result of increased strength and endurance.

Until recently, physical preparation for golf was non-existent. Thanks to top performers such as Tiger Woods and David Duvall, training for golf has become a popular method for improved performance. Coupled with the consistently positive results of research on exercise and aging, exercise and sport performance and exercise and health, exercise and golf are now seen as complimentary activities for most, and required activities for many.

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Most generally, golfers that are looking to improve their performance on the links are in need of a more powerful swing, a more consistent swing, prevention of or relief from injuries, and improved endurance throughout 18 holes and practice. Incorporating specific physical activities into your life throughout the year can help do just that. Stronger muscles can generate greater force throughout the swing while at the same time protecting the muscles, ligaments and joints from injury. Fatigue is delayed as a result of cardiovascular exercise, allowing for not only more energy during a round, but more opportunities to play and practice throughout the season. Range of motion can be improved through both of these activities as well as the incorporation of a few stretching exercises.

And now is the time. If you want to experience how the benefits of exercise and activity translate directly to your golf game this season, follow this simple routine.

Exercise Routine

Be sure you know proper exercise techniques before beginning exercise in order to derive the maximum benefits & prevent injury.

Day 1	Exercise	Week 1-2	Week 3-4
Bike or Treadmill	5-10 min.	5-10 min.
Rear Delt Raise	2×8*	2×10*
Internal Rotation	2×8*	2×10*
Warming up is essential. In addition to cardiovascular activity that helps increase core temperature, rotator cuff exercises aim is to improve strength and prepare these muscles for activity.

Day 1	Exercise	Week 1-2	Week 3-4
Bench Press	2×8*	2×10*
Abdominal Crunch	2×15*	2×20*
Squat	2×8*	2×10*
Back Extension	2×8*	2×10*
Strength training activities will help you generate force and increase club head speed. Furthermore, stronger muscles are less likely to suffer injury and premature fatigue.

Day 1	Exercise	Week 1-2	Week 3-4
20 min.	30 min.
60-70% HR Max	60-70% HR Max
Weight management, endurance and delay offatigue can be improved by incorporating cardiovascular activity into your routine.

* 2×8, 2×10, 2×15 indicate 2 sets of 8, 10 and 15 repetitions.

A Portable Driving Range

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:54:20 +0000

Glideball Portable Driving Range – $ 199.95
The Glideball Portable Golf Driving Range Utilizes a REAL golf ball, so golfers of all levels can practice just about anywhere. Once hit, the ball travels up two parallel wires to a Y shaped pole and instantlt returns to the turf hitting area, thereby eliminating the hassle of retrieving the ball. Practice striking a REAL golf ball with ANY club to improve your game… almost anywhere! Portable, self-contained and quickly assembled. Improves rhythm, and consistency of swing. High quality durable hitting turf. Sets up from 10 ft. to 60 ft.

Watch the Glide Ball Video