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THE
FAMOUS
'HG ULTIMATE
GOLFING
TIPS'
As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of your game
through our dedicated PGA Teaching Professionals we will provide you each
month with pointers focussing on different areas of the game. These pointers
will be archived for your reference.
Table of
contents: (click on your article of interest...)
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Consistently Load for Power!
By Peter
Krawitz
HG Professional Fitter
Do I experience shots that
vary in ball contact and lack power? Inconsistency is
something that plagues the average golfer. So often during my lessons I hear
my students say 'I want to be consistent!'
To allow consistency we must use
our equipment as it was designed to be used:
These two factors create power and
achieve accuracy control.
How can I achieve this?
Place you club against a solid object like the corner of a wall or
building, then bend the shaft using your body forward towards the target.
This known as 'loading'. This demonstrates the characteristics that the
shaft should have at impact. Following this we need to understand that the
shaft bends with our motion.
A way to practise this:
A good exercise to experience this is to make a swing and listen for
a 'whooshing' sound as late as possible during your swing.
Important to Note!
If the 'whoosh' occurs prior to impact you will have lost the load
or stress on your clubshaft before the ball. It is also vital that you play
with shaft characteristics that enhance rather than hinder your swing. Your
Henry-Griffitts Professional Clubfitter will be able to assess any issues
with your shafts concerning weight, composition, deflection point and
deflection amount. As the wrong shaft can limit you're potential to achieve
this loading.
Peter Krawitz hold 'AAA' PGA
Australia professional rating. He teaches at The Kew Golf Club in Melbourne,
Victoria. He can be contacted for further information on 0419 137 435 or by
e-mail petepro36@hotmail.com
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Hit Or Swing?
By Bryan
Ferguson
HG Professional Fitter
Have you ever experienced a shot
that is maybe just a chip out from the trees back onto the fairway only to
see it travel too far? The shot was played with ease and in an almost lazy
fashion. Then there is the other occurrence when playing into the wind just
taking one club less and making an abbreviated half swing. On this occasion
the ball again travels considerably further than expected.
How can this be made to
happen on purpose?
Quite simply what was mentioned were the two types of golf stokes that
can be used, they are referred to as hitting or swinging. The long lazy easy
motion is swinging and the short abbreviated motion if hitting. The
distinctive styles vary so dramatically, but both are equally effective
means to play golf with. Hitting is exclusively a right arm (right hander)
thrusting pushing motion, where as swinging is the left arm dragging pulling
motion.
How can I practice these?
For hitting monitor your right arm bending and straightening (after
impact), as this is your power source. For swinging focus on your left arm
being swung freely and rolled by and with you body pivot/turn for power and
rhythm. When practising or using these on the course, ensure you make
several practice swings when changing over from on to another, otherwise you
risk experiencing "switting" as both are to be never used at the same time.
How should I choose when to
use either in my game?
Experimentation with both of these will give you the best indication of
when and where to apply hitting and swinging motions. You now have the
ability to become an artist on the course just like the pros, as you will
have more shots in your golfing repertoire to use.
Bryan Ferguson holds 'AAA' PGA
Australia professional rating, Masters qualification in 'The Golfing
Machine' and is a certified Master Clubfitter. He operates out of the Albert
Park Golf Driving Range in Melbourne, Victoria. He can be contacted for
further information on 0417 590 723 or by e-mail
bryanfergusongolf@hotmail.com
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Fix Your Impact
By Vince
Owen
HG Professional Fitter
Ever wondered why many tour pro
and good amateur players alike tend to strike the ball so consistently from
drive to putt?
Golf strokes can vary so
dramatically, but one key element will remain as a constant: that being
impact. Despite many golfers perceptions impact hand, arm and body location
will vary from that of address for all shots. Achieving this is the key to
consistent ball striking.
How impact will vary?
Depending on the
type of shot required impact would have differing characteristics:
* Long Shots - hands well forward of the ball, arms and wrists acutely
angled and the body (hips/chest/shoulders) will be turned considerably to
the left of the target (for the right hand golfer).
* Short Shots - hands only slightly forward of the ball, arms and wrists
will have little if any angle and the body might look slightly left of
target or the same as address.
How can I apply this to my game?
You will also
notice when watching tour pros or good amateur players that they have the
trait of a forward press just prior to commencing their backswing. This is a
rehearsal of the impact location of the shot to be played. If you can
incorporate this impact fix into your routine you can improve your ball
striking dramatically. Remember impact will vary depending on long or short
shots due to the varying physics required.
Vince Owen holds 'AAA' PGA
Australian Professional Rating and operates 'V.O.G.A.' The Vince Owen Golf
Academy based at David Grahams Golf Complex, Anna Bay in the Newcastle
region of New South Wales. He can be contacted for further information on
0402 813 205 or via E-Mail
vincentowen@optusnet.com.au
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Do You Sometimes
Experience Irritating Slices?
By Paul Hart
HG Professional Fitter
If you
answered 'yes' to the above question you are in good company, as
seventy-nine percent of my students surveyed during my thirty-three year
teaching career have answered this question the same way.
Why does this occur?
The vast majority
of players are certain the clubface should be kept square to the target for
as long as possible during the swing. Some Professional Golfers too. The
scientific facts are that you can see any good player close the clubface 180
degrees from hip high on the downswing to hip high after follow-through in
any sequence of photographs. These facts are often overlooked by most
observers.
How can I apply this to my stroke
pattern?
To hit the ball
longer and straighter experiment with higher roll rates through the ball,
but roll the swing with the body and arms; not the hands (the hands are
passively aimed with the body pivot doing all the work). It is this physics
of rotation that applies all of the power and accuracy; as this is how the
club has been designed to swing.
How can I evaluate my results?
If the ball hooks,
turn the body more. If the ball pulls, swing more to the right and if you
are still slicing exaggerate the roll more.
Although people can get quick results with these thoughts, constant
attention is required to ensure the mental computer has a clear program for
each swing.
Snares!
The only way you
can fail with the above is to attempt it with an ill-suited driver. Less
than 13 degrees can guarantee failure for many (refer to you HG Professional
fitter for an evaluation).
Paul Hart is a 'AA' Member of the
Australian PGA holds a Doctorate qualification in 'The Golfing Machine'. He
teaches at the Milperra Golf Driving Range in Sydney, and can be contacted
for lessons by calling 0412 070 820, or by E-Mail at
hartgolf@ozemail.com.au
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Bunker Play
By Steve Khatib
HG Professional Fitter
Upon speaking to golfers of varying
standards about bunker play I hear two common themes: “my bunker play is
fantastic, I really feel confident”, or, “I have no real consistency on
judging distance, or even simply extricating myself from the sand.”
The same golfer I see for a lesson
this week can tell me a different story about their bunker shots at next
weeks lesson.
Why golfers can experience such highs
and lows in bunkers?
Let us forget about opening the
clubface, opening the stance etc., etc. and focus on the most important
factor: Where is the bottom of your golf swing? As, if
this does not always remain a constant your shots will be inconsistent.
The bottom of the swing should be
located after the ball where the clubhead reaches its ‘low point’
of downward, outward & forward travel in a three-dimensional arc.
Golfers that struggle with consistency will have a varying ‘low point’
which can lead to shots hit with heavy or thin ball contact
regardless of the type of sand and how far behind the ball you would like
the clubhead to initially make contact with the sand. This subsequently
affects distance and ball control.
So how can you monitor and practice
this to incorporate it into your game?
Draw lines in the sand, just as the
ancient Greek mathematician/inventor Archimedes did. Simply place a row of
balls on a line and strike them out of the bunker. Look for a similar
pattern of where the divot ends and adjust accordingly. This practice may
also be also undertaken without a ball. When playing on the course you can
evaluate by studying your divots post shot.
Managing just fifteen minutes practice
per week can really improve your swing in bunkers and also off turf.
Steve Khatib a‘AAA’ accredited PGA professional, holds
a Masters qualification in ‘The Golfing Machine’. He teaches at Ivanhoe Golf
in Melbourne, and can be contacted for lessons on 03 94997001, or at
info@stevekhatibgolflearning.com
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