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Q AND A - 'A Question of Golf' by Gary
Q. I play for my club team - how can we improve our performance?
A. TEAM SPIRIT is the key! And I don't mean the alcohol type - at least not until after your victory! Hold a team meeting about an hour before tee off and get the Captain to talk about your team and individual strengths i.e. Bill - you're right on top of your game, especially after your recent medal win Fred - you've got the best short game in the club - chip and putt them to death John - you're a fantastic competitor etc.....
Talk about how sweet victory will be in the bar after the match - you could be surprised at the outcome!
Q. I want to be longer off the tee, should I buy a new driver?
A. Well maybe! First of all, get checked out by a PGA Professional, preferably someone with a sound repuatation in coaching. More often than not, it's something in the set-up and posture that causes the lack of dynamic power and speed, as well as difficulty in hitting the back of the ball with a solid strike.
Try this - as you stand to the ball, imagine someone tugging your right shoulder away from the target and another person tugging your left hip towards the target. You will almost certainly be in a better position to contact the back of the ball. The ball position should be forward opposite the left heel/toe and your head about 9 inches behind the ball. Also tee up the ball a little higher than normal.
You should also get fitted with an appropriate driver for you by a qualified club fitter i.e. correct shaft flex/length/kick and most importantly that it looks good to you when you put it behind the ball.
Then grip it and rip it! Enjoy!
Q. If I only have time for a few holes after work and I'm playing alone, what should I do to improve my game?
A. Play 2 balls and select the worst shot each time including fairway shots and putts! It's tough but excellent for focusing the mind.
Q. I keep missing my putts from near the hole, normally from about 7 - 8 feet. I practise them, but still don't seem to get any better. What is the answer?
A. Firstly, you may be surprised to know that the top ten players in world golf only hole 48% of their putts from 6 feet and when they are 10 feet from the hole, it drops to about 20%. So don't expect to hold them when more often than not, the best players don't! Instead, give yourself a score out of 10 for the quality of the putt you hit and the ability to start the ball on the line you have chosen rather than an all or nothing attitude of holing or missing i.e. success or failure.
Q. Why is it I always seem to start my round badly and only get going after 3 or 4 holes? It is ruining my scores and preventing me from lowering my handicap.
A. POM! Preparation, Organisation and Motivation! Prepare for your round the night before. Make a list of things you will need, drinks, food, balls, tees waterproofs, etc. and organise them, crossing them off as you go. Knowing that your equipment is ready to go will help you focus on the game itself. Arrive in plenty of time and practice the first three holes of your course on the range, as if you were playing the competition itself i.e. driver down the first, followed by an iron etc. and give yourself a positive feedback with each good swing, visualising each shot as if competing. So take the course to your practice tee and then take your practice to the course! Click Here for a great new way to practice called The Range Game.
Q. When chipping on to the green, how do I know which club to use?
A. This may seem complicated but don't panic, I have 2 simple rules. Firstly, to give yourself every chance of a good first bounce; land the ball if you can, 4 - 6 feet safely on to the green and secondly, don't make a big swing when you can make a smaller one. In other words, don't use a wedge and pitch the ball way up by the flag, when you can use a 6 or 7 iron with a more controlled shorter swing, land it safely on the green and let it run up to the hole. Sometimes you will have to use a lofted wedge to carry over bunkers and mounds. Learn to use all the irons, from 5 iron through to lob wedge and stick to the simple rules above. If you would rather putt than chip from around the green, book up a short game lesson with your local Pro and watch your scores come down! And remember at least 50% of your practice should be done on or around the green.
Q. I am always told to keep my head down after a bad shot, is this right?
A. Well no, not really. The very best players, not only do not keep their head down, they don’t keep it that still either. Their head can aid body rotation in the back swing by rotating itself and then again in the down swing, but it must not move off its central axis. The eyes must watch the ball as the club descends into impact, but the head can start its move towards the finish position immediately after impact and end up tall and positioned over the left leg, facing the target. So let your head help your body move, not hinder it!
Q. I am beginner, why do my balls always banana to the right?
A. Good question, and one asked by many improvers. It is important that you always have a sound and neutral grip on the club. If you do not know what this means, go to your Club Pro, who will be happy to help. Then after checking that the body alignment, especially the shoulders are aiming parallel to the ball target line, you must coil up the upper body in the back swing and not sway. Feel like you are swinging in a barrel. This is physically demanding, compared to the down swing, which is an effortless release or turn of the hands on a path which must be at, or right of the target. So work hard in the back swing, don’t hit hard at the ball!
Q. What is the best way of practising my putting before a tournament?
A. I always ask my students when reaching the practice putting green, to stroke 2 or 3 balls from one end of the green to the other, to feel the pace. Ask in the Pro Shop if the putting green is similar to those on the course. Then place a white tee peg and putt to it from varying distances, this removes the expectation of holing and the disappointment of missing, before you play, as you are not expected to hit the tee peg very often. Finally, hole out from no more than 3 feet, from around the hole to hear and experience balls going in the hole. Good positive feedback prior to your on course event.
Q. My daughter is 10 years old and has handicap of 18. She loves football and other sports, should she concentrate on one?
A. Your daughter is a very talented young golfer but we must not forget why we all play this great game and primarily it must be fun. I would definitely encourage her to continue with all the sports that she enjoys and to participate in as many team games as possible. She will naturally lean towards her specialist sport as she gets older and experiences success.
Q. Give one tip guaranteed to improve the game of any golfer
A. Know what you have to work on by recording either in a notebook or on formulated record sheets, information about your game, to help you when practising in between play.
Don't ball bash. I see so many people hitting as many balls as they can, as hard as they can, expecting to improve - they won't.
Take regular breaks in between practice to evaluate the results and record what works. Practice quality not quantity and practice with a purpose. That's 3 tips!
Q. What would you say to someone who thinks it is too late in life to have lessons
A. I am sure you are not surprised to hear from a coach that it is never too late to have lessons. I have taught golfers of all ages, the oldest being 93. His woods and irons went more or less the same distance, but he loved the process!
Q. What is the single most common fault of the average club golfer
A. They get confused when trying to hit the ball a long way, they try to hit too hard.
The saying I use regularly with improving golfers is that if you work hard with your body, you don't have to hit hard to create distance. Certain principles apply here, but distance and accuracy can be created by being athletic in the body and at the same time stable and balanced throughout the swing.
Do you have a question you would like to ask Gary?.....He would like to hear from you!
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PLAYING AWAY? - CHECK OUT THE FIVE DAY UK AND IRELAND WEATHER FORECAST
Gary has selected a number of his favourite courses, so if you're planning to play golf in that region, click on the nearest course and see if you need waterproofs or suntan lotion for your trip.............
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent take plenty of golf balls!
SOUTHERN ENGLAND - Remedy Oak, Wimborne, Dorset simply stunning!
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND - Trevose, Padstow, Cornwall magnificent setting
WEST OF ENGLAND - The Kendleshire, Bristol thoroughly enjoyable
WEST WALES - Tenby, Pembrokeshire true seaside links
CENTRAL SOUTHERN ENGLAND - Wokefield Park, Reading delightful Berkshire countryside
WEST MIDLANDS - The Belfy, Sutton Coldfield relive The Ryder Cup!
NORTH WALES/ENGLAND BORDER - Carden Park, Cheshire stay and play - it's great!
EASTERN ENGLAND - Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire voted No 1 inland course
NORTHERN ENGLAND - The Oaks, Yorkshire a Yorkshire gem!
WESTERN SCOTLAND - Turnberry, Ayr Watson v Nicklaus - what memories!
EASTERN SCOTLAND - Carnoustie, Angus my all time No. 1 favourite
WEST OF IRELAND - The Dooks, County Kerry I've died and gone to heaven!
However bad you're playing - it can always get worse!.....
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