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The Golfing Machine

By: Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR GOLF SWING

This process is multi fold

Learn what YOUR neutral grip is
The CORRECT ball position for every club
The CORRECT swing shape
How far back YOU can take the club
How to play within YOUR style
You will have many options to choose from and we'll show you how to find the ones that will work for you. Once you have all of your "components" you won't need to experiment any longer!

WHERE TO START - GRIP AND POSTURE

While this may be obvious to some you would be surprised by the number of people that work on their swing without starting with their grip. There is a neutral grip for any golfer! That grip is where YOUR arm hangs down from the shoulder socket and the angle of YOUR target side hand. It makes no difference whether you use an overlapping, interlocking, and ten-finger (baseball) grip. What IS critical is the angle the club lies in your hand.

To find YOUR neutral grip, first take your address position, but without a club, and let both arms hang downward from the shoulder sockets with NO TENSION. Most golfers will find that their target side arm hangs somewhere between the middle of the target side thigh to the inside of the thigh (depending on the width of stance and/or the width of the chest). As you look down at your target side hand pay attention to the angle it hangs. Some of you will see two knuckles of the hand, some will see three, and some may even see four. It doesn't matter how many you see! Whatever the number, this is YOUR bodies way of telling you its natural tendency and that is the neutral angle for YOUR grip! When you place your target side hand on the club it should be at the same angle you just saw.

The club then runs diagonally from between the first and second joint of the index finger to the base of the pinkie finger. Close the fingers and then close the hand with the heel pad on top of the shaft with the thumb to the backside of the shaft. This supplies pressure from the heel pad downward and the last three fingers exert pressure upward. Then take the lifeline of the trailing hand, located between the thumb and heel pads, and place it on the thumb of the target side hand. The lifeline against the thumb exerts the pressure here; the right forefinger should be separated, in a "triggering position", but with no pressure. It is important to understand that the forefinger and target side thumb both be on the same side and angle of the shaft for the best support. The trailing thumb should be on the target side of the shaft. You never want the thumbs to exert any pressure. Finally, in order for the hands to work together, they must be parallel to each other.

POSTURE

Regardless of the player's level of golf anyone can get into a posture that looks as good as any Tour Player, it takes no athletic ability to get into a proper posture! For full swing shots, other than a Driver, the inside of the heels should be as wide as the outside of the hips (for a Driver the inside of the heels as wide as the outside of the shoulders). Push the hips sockets back and up so that the pelvis is at an angle, not horizontal to the ground. As you push the hips back, and up, this will lower the chest and place the weight toward the back of the arch of the foot. Simply unlock your knees, you'll feel a little pressure above the kneecaps, and let the arms hang limply downward from the shoulder socket. There should be NO TENSION in the arms or shoulders. Some players like to tilt their upper bodies slightly away from target as the final set-up adjustment and just because your trailing hand is lower than the target side hand this is acceptable, just don't overdue it. Now you have YOUR grip and posture.

BALL POSITION

Ball position is the most misunderstood portion of the entire set-up. There have been many opinions about ball position. Some say one position for every shot, others say move it around depending on the club. All of the guesswork is taken out however if the golfer would set the club at address as the manufacturer designed it. All clubs, except for the Driver, are designed so that the grip end of the club is ahead of the clubhead if soled properly, this means the shaft leans forward, not vertical or backwards! If you address the ball, with say a 5 iron, and the shaft is vertical then even before you swing you've added loft and turned it into a seven iron! That same 5 iron is designed to have approximately 8 degrees of forward lean at address. The best players in the world, using that same 5 iron, have upwards of 15 degrees at Impact! This turns it into a 3 iron! Having said that you have the option of setting up to the ball with the shaft vertical as long as you can get into the proper Impact position…the shaft leans forward at Impact!

The player also has the "option" of starting with the shaft, and hands, at a mid-body position. We also need to cover where the ball is located in relation to the player's upper body, not the feet. The width of the stance changes during the course of a round but the width of the upper body does not. In addition, the target side shoulder socket is the low point of the arc and the fulcrum of the target side arm swing. Therefore the ball with a wedge will be in the center of the chest, in line with the sternum, for full swing shots, the 5 iron under the target side of the chest, and the Driver at the low point, which is the shoulder socket. This could vary depending on whether the player has exceptionally wide shoulders, but for the most part these locations will be fine for irons but the target side shoulder socket IS the LOW POINT and the Driver MUST be played at this location for straight shots! Back of this location produces a fade, with no manipulation, and forward of this location produces a draw, with no manipulation. You may see some players playing the ball back, or forward, of the target side shoulder socket but these players must either change the shoulder location at Impact, by leaning backward with the upper body, or must manipulate the clubface to hit a straight shot.

AIM and ALIGNMENT

As you take your grip you must be sure the leading edge of the clubface square. The leading edge is the edge closest to the ball. Always set the clubface first, perpendicular to the target line, then set your feet, knees, hips, eyes, and shoulders parallel to the target line.

THESE LINES ARE PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER! NEVER AIM YOUR BODY AT THE TARGET! What is the object of golf? To get the ball in the hole with the fewest strokes as possible! To aid in alignment it is imperative that you utilize a procedure called an "Intermediate Target". The intermediate target is something between the ball and the target. It could be a piece of discolored grass, an edge of a divot, a broken tee, etc. It should be within your peripheral vision, so that you don't have to lift your head.

MOVING THE CLUB

Because we play golf on an Inclined Plane this dictates that the club MUST move on an arc. That means the club head is only on the base on the Plane Line approximately 2 inches during the swing! It also means that the club always moves in 3 dimensions. The Backstroke dimension is backward, upward, and inward all simultaneously and On Plane. The keyword for Backstroke is "BACK". The hands and arms control the backward and upward movement of the club. Therefore, if you did not make a shoulder turn the clubhead WOULD NOT move inside the baseline. The shoulder turn moves the club inward, NOT back and up. So if the player just turned their shoulders, without any hand or arm movement, then the club would be inside but not back and up. These two movements MUST work together to achieve the proper sequence. The trailing forearm moves the club on Plane by "tracing" the Plane. The bending, and folding of the trailing elbow also raises and lowers the club and cocks and uncocks the target side wrist. Never raise the arms and club by lifting from the shoulders sockets!

The Downstroke dimension is downward, outward, and forward. Once the player has reached full extension (follow-through) then the club moves again upward, inward, and backward. This completes the 3 dimensional swing.

LENGTH OF ARC

What does this term mean? Simply put, length of arc means how far back YOU can take the club. Some players may be able to take their hands high above their heads in the backswing while others can only get their hands to shoulder height, or less. It doesn't matter! However far you can take the club and still maintain structure is the end of YOUR swing! You can increase your length of arc by increasing your range of motion. (see your local physical therapist for exercises to increase your range of motion).

LET'S GET STARTED

Before every shot you play there must be a sequential order of events. First of course we have to find our golf ball. Once the ball is located we then must examine the type of lie we have, the distance to the target, the shot shape desired, the wind conditions (if any), how we're feeling that particular day, whether to play aggressively or conservatively or somewhere in between (this depends on our style), and finally choosing the correct club for the type of shot. We can't call this a "pre-shot routine" because there is nothing routine about a golf shot! There are always factors to be decided and these factors constantly change. So we would encourage you to use the phrase "PRE-SHOT". Pre-shot may or may not include a dress rehearsal of the swing, a practice swing. During the practice swing you're getting a feel for the mechanics involved in hitting the shot and visualizing the ball flight.

ADDRESS AND SET-UP

Once we have gone through our pre-shot we now start the initial mechanical and mental programming procedures. Approach the ball from behind and follow this order for success. Verify these six Impact Alignments.

Clubface to Target Line
Grip to Clubface
Hands to Ball
the Plane Angle
Pressure Points
Position of the Trailing Forearm
Balance, Grip, and Plane Line MUST be verified before EVERY shot!

Now we're ready to start the backstroke.

BACKSTROKE

Once address is completed we can start the backstroke. As discussed earlier, this involves two separate movements. These movements are controlled from the waist up. The lower body should be moved by the upper body if the player is flexible enough, if not, then allow it to move freely in both directions.

The hands and arms … the vertical plane
The shoulders … the horizontal or inclined plane
At this point we would like to remind you that Address and Impact are NOT THE SAME! The only thing that has not changed is the ball position.
# by jaclynseo | 2013-09-04 12:49

3 Golf Swing Tips For Instant Results

By: Dave Powell
Are simple golf swing tips a waste of time? Well, to improve your golf game there is no substitute for getting proper instruction from your local pro. He can help you develop sound technique and work out a practice regime to instil these swing fundamentals. However, quick golf swing tips also have their place in helping your golf. They can sometimes just help spark your game into life - a certain new swing thought may just help get your golf swing on the right plane, or a small change in your set up can have a major impact on your impact position.

Here are 3 simple golf swing tips that could just make that small but vital difference to your golf swing:

In golf a good shoulder turn is important. But how that shoulder turn is created is often misunderstood, and as a result leads to poor ball striking. Golfers sometimes make the mistake of thinking it is the length of the backswing that generates power. In an attempt to make a long backswing they allow their left heel to come up too far off the ground and their hips to turn too much. While this action may create turn, it does not produce coil. The main role of the backswing should be to stretch, or coil the muscles. It is then the release of that coiling action in the downswing that helps create power. The length of your backswing should be determined by how much coil you can create, not how far back you can swing the club.

Allowing your chin to rest against your chest at address makes it impossible to swing your left arm across your upper body in the backswing. When the natural path of the shoulders is blocked, it encourages you to pick the club up too steeply with your hands. The result is little or no weight transfer on to your right side, creating a backswing that is far too narrow. The resulting downswing becomes too steep and you usually end up chopping down on the ball instead of swinging through. Keep your chin up and allow your left arm to move freely across your chest. This will enable you to create the full wide arc required to strike the ball correctly.

When under pressure, many golfers make the understandable mistake of snatching the club away too quickly in their backswing. This gets the hands and body moving at different speeds and destroys the swings natural rhythm. Here is one of those simple mental golf swing tips which if used should help slow down the start of your backswing. At address, imagine there is a ball and chain attached to the clubhead. In order to start the club back you have to drag that ball along with it. Not only will this image help slow down you take-away, it will also make it easier for the rest of your body to work at the same pace as your hands.

One of these golf swing tips may help to instantly kick start your golf swing into action, but, remember that you should only have one (or two maximum) golf swing thoughts while you play.

Get free golf tips now by visiting Free Golf Swing Tips - the website of FREE golf swing tips, short game tips and putting tips to lower your golf scores!
# by jaclynseo | 2013-09-04 12:49

More Golf Stance Tips

By: Robert . Partain
Many newer golfers (and a few older ones, too) have a tendency to misalign themselves when they take their stance. Normally, what they will do is aim way right of the target and they do this for a reason. Players who are misaligned from the get go and aim right are usually players who try to swing with their arms. When they do this the ball will almost always take off to the left. So what they are doing with this "right side" target trick is trying to fix a problem before it even happens!

In theory, this shouldn't be a problem...but this is not theory, it's golf. When an "arm swinger" forces his ball back on the fairway by overcompensating his alignment, he thinks he's doing himself a favor. But on those occasions when he actually makes a good, solid full body swing, his ball zips off into the trees on the right or into a right side bunker and he gets mad, and what's worse is that by using this misaligning method he's never going to reach his full potential as a golfer.

These players need to work on the basics of their swing, using their body as a whole and not just their arms. But they also need to know what their alignment is.

So how can you (or anyone else for that matter) see what your alignment is to the target?

Well, here's a simple and very effective tip to determine what your target alignment really is.

Take a stance (your usual stance), aim at a target that you would hit at, and then lay a club down on the ground from toe to toe. Now step back about 8 or 10 paces behind the ball and club that you laid down and sight down the club. Sighting down this club will reveal your alignment.

If the club is a bit left of the target, then you're fine. But if it's to the right of the target, you are out of alingment. Simple but effective.

If you discover that you are out of alignment (that the club on the ground is pointing to the right of the target) then you need to work on squaring up your stance.

Being square to the target is one of the most important tips in golf. Every ball you hit will be effected by this stance--either in a good way or (if you're in a misaligned stance) a bad way. It really is that simple.

Now when you are certain that you are in a square stance, hit a few balls. If the ball goes way left of the target, you know you are pulling it by trying to use too much of your arms. If the ball goes way right, you know you are allowing your body to slide too much through impact.

By being in a square stance and evaluating a few practice shots, you can determine a lot about your swing and those areas that you need to work on.
# by jaclynseo | 2013-09-04 12:48

The Perfect Address - And It Ain't Madison Avenue!

By: Bobby Lopez, PGA
The right arm will be bent slightly, but not to such a degree that it severely pulls down the right shoulder. A right shoulder too low during address will encourage a vertical rather than horizontal rotating motion.

The player will also tend to lay back instead of following through properly. Then the player will be forced to use the hands to compensate for the incomplete body rotation. The result: inconsistency.

It is natural for the right shoulder to be slightly lower than the left, because of the right hand position on the grip, but be careful to avoid extremes. The shoulders should feel relaxed as you are setting up.

With a good arm position you will notice that the elbows point approximately at the hip joints. The arms should be just far enough from the body to allow natural extension. The position is a matter of personal preference but you should have room for your arms to hang down naturally from your shoulders. Choose your own balance point but be aware of the danger of extremes.

What happens if your hands are in too close? If the hands are too close to the body at address, the club will have to swing on too vertical a swing plane. This will cause you to take too deep of a divot, and usually causes a weak slice. Vice versa, if the hands are too far away, this promotes a very inside take-away and you will lose the proper angle of attack for the ball. Once the angle is lost, your body will create a “compensation” to get proper ball contact. This will cause various ball flights and great inconsistency.

Open Shoulders (shoulders aimed to the left)
Typical Cause: Positioning the hands too forward in the stance.
Remedy: Place a golf club on the ground in the direction of your intended ball flight and square your shoulders to the golf club.
Typical Ball Flight: Pull if the club face is square to the path, pull slice if the club face is open.
Closed Feet, (feet aimed to the right)
Typical Cause: Lifting of the back to look at the target area.
Remedy: Only swivel the head to look at the target.
Weight Too Much On Heels
Typical Cause: Bending as if you’re sitting on a bar stool.
Remedy: Bend from the hips and maintain weight on the balls of your feet in an athletic pos
# by jaclynseo | 2013-09-04 12:48

Building the Foundations: Teaching Your Kids the Fundamentals Without Going Inside the Course

In any sport, teaching our kids the fundamentals and the basics is the key if we want them to grow up and improve on their skills at the right track that will lead them to success. And in the game of golf, as soon as you see your kids showing even the slightest of interest in the game warrants the need to teach the basics to them even in their tender ages.

But did you know that you can start them off in the right direction without really having to take them inside the golf course and buying them all those junior golf equipment and other expensive golfing stuff? All you need to do is to take them in your backyard playground and alas, you can already teach them the basics and improve their skills even if they are not teeing up in the golf course. Here are some drills you can try teaching your children which will surely get their attention and not in any way bore them.

Hand and eye coordination
One of the fundamental cornerstones that you need your kids to be able to develop in order to make it good in the game of golf is hand and eye coordination. Have your kid throw balls at you at the other end of the backyard using an underhand style. Doing so will develop this fundamental skill which will be useful for him or her when in the golf course swinging the club and making the ball go towards a target.


Developing body turns and weight shifts
Did you know that having your kid throw baseball passes will also develop proper turning and the shifting of weight which are essential when it comes to swinging the golf club? Have your kids throw the baseball to you and let them learn the proper building up of energy and translating it in the throw which in essence is what they will also be going in their backswings and downward swings en route to letting the ball fly.

Solving the green dilemma
You may have noticed but kids under the age of 10 still have troubles when it comes to the green, as they are still having a hard time calculating the slopes and distances. Well that is normal since their eyesight is still developing and what you can do is to help aid it and improve their eyesight in the greens faster. Get yourself a junior bowling set and take it to the practice course and place the pins near the hold and have your kid hit it with the bowling ball. This way, you will be able to help them improve their sight in the greens which they can eventually utilize when playing golf.

Building the upper body
And lastly, we all know how important building upper body strength is when it comes to swinging the club especially during long shots and drives. And since our kids cannot lift weights in the gym as we do, have them climb monkey bars instead in order to develop their upper body strength even while they are still young.
# by jaclynseo | 2013-09-03 11:33


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by jaclynseo

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