Golf Impact Training

The fundamentals of golf are very different than many other sports. Take baseball for example; when you are up at bat to make your swing, your job is to hit the ball as its thrown to you. In other words, the game is built around your reaction towards what someone else is doing. You cannot make your move until the pitcher throws the ball to you.

In golf, however, you are the boss. You are in charge of making every move. The ball just sits there, waiting for you to make your shot. And you are 100% responsible for every play that happens. You cannot blame a bad play on a pitch, another teammate, or any other excuse.

This is what makes golf so difficult, and yet so challenging and fun to play. And on top of that, you have people watching you, all in complete silence. Talk about the need for focus!

The next time you are playing golf and heavy winds start to interrupt your game, do not get frustrated, instead, try to embrace the new playing conditions. It is pretty much inevitable that your score is going to be higher, so except that truth and welcome the challenge. Once you can understand this, heavy winds will not be as stressful as usual and having a positive mental attitude will make the game more interesting for you.

Alignment is positioning the club and body so the ball can be delivered to the target with a regular swing. It’s simple but often overlooked or misunderstood. To consistently hit the ball toward the target, the club and body need to be positioned correctly.

Aiming the club at the target by making an imaginary straight line through the ball to the target and simply setting the club behind the ball so that the bottom line of the club is perpendicular to the target line.

Once the club is positioned correctly, position your body so that it can function effectively. The line through your toes needs to be aimed at least parallel to the target line, preferably to the left of the target line. With your body aimed this way, you are able to make a swing that will have the club on line to the target throughout the entire swing. It also positions the target out in front of you rather than off to your side or behind you.

This phrase is often repeated in nearly every sport – keep your eye on the ball. It applies to golf too! If you do not watch the ball, then the chance that you will hit it is very slim!

Keep your eyes focused on one part of the ball. Don’t watch your club as you swing.

Keep your focus on the ball and let everything else fade into the background.

Try to look down on the ball, rather than watching it at the end of the golf club. Raising your shoulders is not going to help you see the ball more clearly. If you will look down on the ball, you will get results that are more successful and you will not have a tendency to look up before the end of your swing.

Unfortunately, it is completely natural to look away when you begin to pull the club back. Ignore the natural feeling and keep your eyes on the ball.

When you are looking down at the ball, you should notice that the only way you can keep the club head in the correct line of flight is to keep your hands moving parallel to the flight line. Keep your hands in line with the club head when making contact with the ball.

It is very important to learn to watch the ball no matter what kind of shot you need to make. It does not matter if the ball is in the long grass, the sand trap, on a slope, or anywhere else, the main thing is to see the ball completely so that you can hit it solidly and successfully.

There are not many golfers who stand still and keep their attention on the ball. Many times, people will look at where they want the ball to go and then look at the ball. Most golfers would be surprised to learn that they do not stand still and watch the ball. The instant that you take your eye off the ball, you begin having problems.

Most golf mistakes are a result of a loss of concentration. It you keep your focus on the ball, you will be able to hit the ball well.

To help your golf game, remind yourself to keep your eye on the ball for the entire swing. You will find your golf game improving so much that your friends may be asking you for advice!

Calloway Golf Tips

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Golf Tips – The Mental Game

The game of golf is a game of skill and endurance, but there is also a mental component to the game that can separate a successful round of golf from a nightmare. The ability to clearly think through each and every shot, without becoming distracted or frustrated, is critical throughout the course of a five-hour round of golf. Most important, you have to perform self-therapy several times per round to keep your mind clear and focused.

The first, and perhaps most important thing to remember is that each shot must stand on its own. Read the Rest

There are some basic elements of the golf swing that the golfer should use as a mental checklist when taking a shot. The first element is the body’s alignment toward the target. Stand five to ten feet behind the ball, with the ball directly between your body and the desired target. Locate guidance targets on the ground (leaves, blades of grass, dirt, etc.) inches in front and behind the golf ball that should be on a direct line with where you are standing and the target. Keep your eyes on those ground targets as you approach the ball.

Align the clubface behind the ball, with the center of the clubface on a direct line between the two ground targets you have selected. Grip the club with just enough tension to keep it from slipping in your hands throughout the course of the golf swing. Align your feet on a parallel plain with your ground targets, shoulder width apart, and the knees slightly bent. The front foot should be pointed slightly outward, toward the target, to allow your hips to flow freely through the swing.

Tilt your torso slightly towards the ball while keeping your back straight. The arms should now hang freely in front of the body to grip the club. The shoulders should be parallel with the ground targets and the toes, and your head should be tilted downward with your eyes on the ball. These motions described are known as the set-up, or addressing the ball.

You are ready to begin the golf swing. Keeping your back elbow tucked as closely to your ribs as possible, slowly take the club back on a straight line along the plain of the ground targets. Keep your front elbow locked throughout the back swing and never take your eyes off the ball. This motion should naturally tuck your chin into your front shoulder. Hips should remain still and slightly tilted, while the front knee will turn inward. At the apex of the back swing, allow your wrists to break slightly.

Bring the club downward toward the ball, uncoiling the wrists, and shifting your weight onto your front foot. You should attempt to generate force and speed on your down swing, while never take the clubface off of the target line. Upon making contact with the ball, the clubface should strike the ground as it moves through, taking a divot from the ground in the area past where the ball was lying, and through your second ground target.

Finish the golf swing with a nice, high follow through of the club. Your hips should be turned toward the target. Your weight should have shifted, and should now be firmly on your right foot. Smile and watch the ball fly toward the target.

If you watch the pros putt, you will notice that they are perfectly still over the ball, and their heads do not move. A good drill to help you keep still is to lean your head against a wall while you take some putting strokes. You should be able to feel your forehead move against the wall if you are not perfectly still. This perpendicular alignment to the wall should also show you if you are taking the putter head on a straight line back and forth.

More Putting Practice Tips 

You will want to look at the ball before hitting it. Some players find this difficult as it makes them lose focus as they concentrate too much on the ball. An easy answer to this problem is to turn your chin to the right and point it about two or three inches behind the ball. Keep it there until impact and then watch the ball sail through the air.

Since most people have trouble with their setup, this golf tip will deal with the setup. 

* Position your body so your body is parallel with the target line
* Your feet should be shoulder width apart
* With short irons, put the ball in the center of your stance
* Middle irons should have the ball placed one ball toward the target side from center
* For long irons and fairway woods, place the ball two ball lengths toward the target from center
* The ball should be three ball lengths toward the target from center
* Balance your weight on the balls of your feet
* Bend your knees slightly and keep your spine straight
* Move your body from the hips and make it a smooth, fluent motion