Our golf coach regularly answers golfers questions free online. Below are some recent questions with his answers
A golfer asks; Since having a hip replacement a deep slice has crept into my game. I have tried as many fixes as I have been able to find without success. The lower the club number the greater the slice. The Golf Coach answers; Damaging slices can become ingrained. The temptation is to aim left to accommodate the slice. This however will only make things worse as an open stance encourages an out to cut across the ball which will impart further slice spin. Suggestions 1. Square up your stance - it should feel as though you are peeping over your left shoulder at the target at address. To a persistent slicer a square stance will feel like you are aiming right. 2. Make sure you feet hips arms and shoulders are all square to your target line 3. Strengthen your left hand grip so that at least two knuckles are showing 4. Swing at 75% of your usual effort (this will stop you hitting from the top) It may be wise to consult with your physiotherapist about any of these changes given your medical history A golfer asks; I'm 16 years and my handicap is 5.2. When I go to the golf course for a practice round, Everything is perfect. Round of 75 or less Only if I've got a competition, Than does everything wrong. round of 85 or more. Can you help me? The Golf Coach answers; Your problem would seem to be that you are getting in your own way when you have a card in your hand. There are a million ways to get in your own way on a golf course - trying too hard, putting yourself under too much pressure, beating yourself up over poor results, shots, holes and thereby reliving the punishment and putting yourself under even more pressure, getting focussed on past mistakes, or future possibilities rather than staying in the present. The next time you play a comp I would like you to forget about the score completely just concentrate on each shot as a unique challenge as it comes along. Every shot you play creates a new hole and it is your job to play the best shot you can from wherever it finishes. If you are thinking about your score you are not thinking about your shot, if you are thinking about the next hole you are not thinking about your shot, if you are concerned what others might think of your score you are not thinking about your shot. If you hit a bad shot do NOT tinker with your swing. You know how to swing you are a 5 handicapper - you probably just got in your own way on that particular shot. Roberto de Vincenzo once said "you cannot win before you play" -just keep playing focussed golf and add them all up at the end of the round and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. A golfer asks; hello, I have a problem with my 1 wood, it's the only club I can't hit straight with!! no matter what I do I always get a left to right swerve on my shot. my 3 wood and 5 wood shots r usually fine. I use Dunlop mxII graphite shaft clubs, thanks for any help you can give me :) The Golf Coach answers; I am assuming that because you are hitting your other long clubs fairly straight the problem here is mental rather than technical. However it would be worth checking your alignment with your driver as slicers invariably try to compensate for the expected slice by aiming further left thus exaggerating the problem of cutting across the ball. My first suggestion therefore is to take the time and trouble to make sure you are squared up in your set up. If I was to say to you "don't think of an elephant" I guess the first thing you conjure up in your minds eye is an elephant. Similarly I reckon that when you pull your driver out the last thing you say to yourself is something like "don't slice it again". This leaves a very powerful image in your mind of the ball slicing away into the heavy stuff. Your body believes this is what you want to achieve and 'bingo' does so with great consistency. It is therefore very important that you have an image of where you DO want the ball to go and its flight before you strike it. Focussing on where you don't want it to go sets that negative image in our mind and the body does its best to produce it. Take a few balls out on your course when it is quiet and practice on the tough driving holes using positive imagery before you strike your drives.
|