Your Perfect Swing

Whack! Arrrrrgh! The erstwhile golfer groans as the ball dives impudently to the right into trouble, despite his best efforts to guide it to the left. This all too familiar scenario is played out over and over at golf courses across the country. Many golfers are stricken with that most dreaded of golf ailments, the vicious slice.

Likewise, most golfers don't know how to fix the problem so they do the intuitive thing, which is to line up their feet and shoulders to the left of the target. This only exaggerates the slice and leads to great frustration. As if the game of golf isn't frustrating enough already without adding additional difficulties.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. If you want to ditch the slice and improve your game, then consider adding a couple golf training aids to your practice routine. There are a large variety of training aids designed to help the average guy hit it straighter. So many, in fact, that it can be confusing finding ones that will actually help. I'll give you some tips here that will set you on the right path (pun intended) to getting rid of your slice affliction.




The first type of golf training aid you will need is a swing path device. Most slicers suffer from a nasty outside-in swing path. This means that the clubhead comes from outside the ball (away from the golfer's body) to the inside (closest to the body) at impact, cutting across the ball. This leads to both a loss of power and a tendency to slice.

To correct this problem, get a golf training aid that visually (or physically) shows you the correct path through the ball at impact, which is square to slightly inside-out. Some training aids have a foam device that the club will hit if you swing outside to in. This is great because it gives you instant feedback when you make a bad swing. Grove the inside-out swing path and you will be 90% of the way to getting rid of your slice.

The second golf training aid that can help get rid of a slice is a device to help you train the timing of your release. This is the point of the downswing at which the wrists release, snapping the club through the ball. The release point is important in generating clubhead speed at impact, and also in squaring the clubface.




If your release is late, then the clubface will be left open at impact, resulting in a fade or slice. Golf training aids for the release point are usually some type of shortened club with a device built in that 'clicks' when you release your wrists properly. This provides the instant feedback you need to time your release for impact.

Using these two types of golf training aids, swing path and release, you should straighten out your shots and add some yards as well. Good luck and happy hitting

Here's Your Gold Swing

If you want to better your golf swing, you need to practice, practice and practice. Many people get into bad form and swing habits that are causing them constant game problems. For this reason, they need a little golf swing instruction that can help them correct those habits and learn the right way to practice the game. Even golf pros have had professional swing instructors, that's how they perfected their swing.

The 18th hole is a lengthy par 4 with a tricky elevated green. You've missed the green to the right on your approach. Your ball sits about 8 feet off the green in the first cut of rough. The lie isn't too bad, but it's a tricky shot.

The left-side pin is about 25 yards away and there is a tricky downhill slope leading to a bunker right behind the target. Unfortunately, your opponent and nemesis is in decent shape with a slick 20 footer for birdie.

Whoever wins the hole wins the round, bragging rights, and 5 skins. If you can chip this one close or somehow get it to drop, you can turn the tables and put the pressure on him. Of course, chip it a little too hard and it's going down in the bunker along with your chances of getting those desperately needed bragging rights.

Are your chipping skills up to the challenge? Moments of reckoning like this come along pretty often in golf. It’s the times when you wonder is your game good enough to pull you through. On tough courses, under pressure, many of these moments come down to hitting a good chip shot.

If your chipping is not the best aspect of your game, consider adding a golf training aid to your practice routine. Golf training aids can help you maximize your results, especially when you have limited time available to practice. Here are some tips to help you find golf training aids for chipping that won't waste your time:

1. Practice at home! You really can improve your chipping in your yard if you practice. If you are pressed for time, this is a great way to keep your short game sharp. Suggested training aids: a small chipping net for a target, and a mat to keep your lawn from looking like Swiss cheese.

Step off 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 yards, putting a target at each one. To start, chip 10 shots at each target to get a feel for each distance. Then, when you feel confident that you have the feel, Chip one ball to each target to simulate on-course conditions. During a real round you only have one try to get it right!

2. Get a golf training aid that is some sort of wedge with a lengthened shaft, about 1 foot longer than normal. The long shaft will help you keep your wrist firm through the ball. This helps a lot with your consistency. Follow whatever exercises come with the golf training aid. It's fairly simple but you have to practice.

3. Tempo is just as important in chipping as it is during the full swing. Get an adjustable golf metronome and use it to get a good rhythm for your chipping stroke. Also practice your pre-chip routine because rhythm in your routine is very important in pressure situations.

4. Get a short game DVD! Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, etc. All these guys know tons of stuff about the short game that can be very helpful to the average golfer.

Good luck and chip away at your handicap!

While many people want the quick cure that will make them have that perfect game, there is no such thing, it all takes practice in doing it right to better your game. The whole idea is to get yourself into a good habit and rhythm. Think about any repetitive job you have had. At first you're a little spotty at getting everything right. You had to keep practicing the steps you were to take for a while to find a rhythm. Once you found the rhythm, you would get into the groove and notice your work went more quickly and more consistently.

It makes sense that before you knew exactly what was going on you were a little slower and not as consistent. But after you got the steps down, it became second nature and an easy job to keep going day after day without messing up, or needing others to bail you out as you fell behind.

Perfecting your golf game is much the same. The more you practice your game, the more the moves will become natural, and you will be able to train your whole body to repeat the motions the same way every time to better your overall swing.

Here's how to do it:

Swing Mechanics: Make sure you have a proper golf swing by looking on the internet, at the library, or in a bookstore for books on golf swing instruction. A little bit of time put into the research of proper swing techniques can give you a lot of new information. Really it will not take much time to look over how to do it right, and you will likely at the same time realize some of the things you are doing wrong.

Get in the Mindset: If you are not mentally ready to play golf, you will not do well. Right before you make a shot, you must get into a 'zone' where you are focused. Some people use a deep breath as a way to clear their mind and focus on a goal, others tap their club on the ground a few times to get into their zone, whatever it takes to get you ready to take a shot. It is important to make sure you know how to get your mind into nothing other than the shot you are about to take, and tune out distractions. You need to create a 'trigger' that will get your into your 'zone' and use it on every shot.

Learn from the Pros: Even if you think you have your swing down, and you have come up with your trigger to get into the zone, you can still get a little more help perfecting your swing, this is where the pros come in. A golf pro can help you fine tune any problems in your swing. They will help you change your stance and other problems in your swing and while it feels weird at first, you will get used to the changes and enjoy the results of better scores on the links. After you have your lesson with the pro, take notes of what you need to remember and keep those notes in your golf bag. Each time you are practicing your swing, pull out those notes and remind yourself of the small problems you have, to make sure you're doing everything right.

If you really want to become a better golfer, the best way to improve your score is to make sure you have taken proper golf swing instruction. Once you come to the realization you have created some bad golfing habits, you will realize it is also time to get a little professional help. The hard part is breaking the old habits to create new ones.

While you may not realize it right away, learning the right way to swing, from a golf professional, will be one of the best things you have ever done for your golf game. While it is a lot of work, learning the simple steps to the right swing are going to give you the benefit of bettering your game and seeing the fruits of your labor on the score card.

STOP THE SLICE!

Tee to Tree - The dreaded slice has ruined the attitudes of countless golfers for decades. Although your tee shot may seem ok at first, it starts to curve to the right and becomes hopelessly lost in a frightful collection of looming trees and crackling branches. This is the most common problem for golfers.

Les problems - It happens because of two basic problems. First, the angle of the club's face is not right upon impact. Second, the path of the club is wrong as you swing down through the ball. There are various reasons that the angle of the clubface can be off and other reasons for a poor swing path. Diagnosing these two problems is the first step and curing them and ending the terrible slice.

Diagnosis - To diagnose what is causing your slice, there are several things to consider. First, take a look at your grip. Sometimes your left hand may be turned too far to the left. If this doesn't seem to be the problem, look at the way you stand up to the ball. Some golfers stand way to the left and this is usually the reason for the slice. You have to have your stance square to the ball.

Backswing Blues - This may still leave many golfers wondering what the problem is. If this is the case, there may still be a problem with the backswing. Sometimes the club may be going too far back and away from your body when you make your backswing.

Uppity Shoulder - Finally, there can sometimes be a problem with your shoulder right before you hit the ball. Some golfers throw their leading shoulder up in the air right before they hit the ball. This throws everything off in their swing. Check each of these possible problems by asking your friends to watch your swing. If they see one of these problems are especially noticeable, you can move on to the correction process.

The Cure - There are many ways to cure a slice. Curing the golf grip may be a simple case of moving your left hand. Squaring your stance may require the use of a club that you lay on the ground in front of you. If you place the club parallel to the direction of the shot, your feet should be aligned with the club on the ground. Practice this stance until it becomes natural. Your shoulders should also be aligned in this way with the club. In terms of a problem on your backswing, make sure to keep your elbows in as you swing back. This may correct the problem with your backswing as you may have been pushing the club away from your body. Finally, keep the leading shoulder down and allow your hands and arms to move through the ball naturally.

The Road to Success - Correcting a slice can take a lot of careful diagnosis but these basic principles may help you to determine what to look for at first. After that, some careful practice and determination may cure this problem and put you on a better road to success off the tee.

Chip It Stiff!

The 18th hole is a lengthy par 4 with a tricky elevated green. You've missed the green to the right on your approach. Your ball sits about 8 feet off the green in the first cut of rough. The lie isn't too bad, but it's a tricky shot.

The left-side pin is about 25 yards away and there is a tricky downhill slope leading to a bunker right behind the target. Unfortunately, your opponent and nemesis is in decent shape with a slick 20 footer for birdie.

Whoever wins the hole wins the round, bragging rights, and 5 skins. If you can chip this one close or somehow get it to drop, you can turn the tables and put the pressure on him. Of course, chip it a little too hard and it's going down in the bunker along with your chances of getting those desperately needed bragging rights.

Are your chipping skills up to the challenge? Moments of reckoning like this come along pretty often in golf. It’s the times when you wonder is your game good enough to pull you through. On tough courses, under pressure, many of these moments come down to hitting a good chip shot.

If your chipping is not the best aspect of your game, consider adding a golf training aid to your practice routine. Golf training aids can help you maximize your results, especially when you have limited time available to practice. Here are some tips to help you find golf training aids for chipping that won't waste your time:

1. Practice at home! You really can improve your chipping in your yard if you practice. If you are pressed for time, this is a great way to keep your short game sharp. Suggested training aids: a small chipping net for a target, and a mat to keep your lawn from looking like Swiss cheese.

Step off 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 yards, putting a target at each one. To start, chip 10 shots at each target to get a feel for each distance. Then, when you feel confident that you have the feel, Chip one ball to each target to simulate on-course conditions. During a real round you only have one try to get it right!

2. Get a golf training aid that is some sort of wedge with a lengthened shaft, about 1 foot longer than normal. The long shaft will help you keep your wrist firm through the ball. This helps a lot with your consistency. Follow whatever exercises come with the golf training aid. It's fairly simple but you have to practice.

3. Tempo is just as important in chipping as it is during the full swing. Get an adjustable golf metronome and use it to get a good rhythm for your chipping stroke. Also practice your pre-chip routine because rhythm in your routine is very important in pressure situations.

4. Get a short game DVD! Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, etc. All these guys know tons of stuff about the short game that can be very helpful to the average golfer.

Good luck and chip away at your handicap!