Controlling distance with your Wedges
By Tim Mahoney
Golf is a unique activity where you have the combination of distance, direction and trajectory control of the golf ball. In the short game the ability to score is directly related to controlling the distance of the golf ball. Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler have the ability to control the distance of their wedges within 95% of the required goal. For an example, on a 30 yard shot, Spieth has the control of his wedges to hit the ball 28.5 yards, a differential of 1.5 yards in total distance.
Distance is controlled by club choice, length of club at address, length of swing, elevation of the shot, solidness of the strike and the speed of motion. All golfers should have a minimum of 3 wedges with the lofts of 48, 52 and 56 degrees of loft. All wedges should have a differential of 4 degrees of separation. As you work with the wedges identify the distance of ½, ¾ and full swing.
Length of club at address will have a direct impact on the speed of the motion throughout. Golfers should attempt to grip down the shaft, ½ of a grip and a full grip. Combine this with different length of swings as well. A shortened club will work with a shortened swing and a long club will work with a long swing. All wedge swings should be balanced or symmetrical on both sides of the motion. A partial backswing should match a partial forward swing. The golf swing needs to be balanced in order to control speed and distance.
A mirrored impact position and address, of the will assist with controlling the loft of the club. The impact position should be identical to the starting position. Unlike the full swing where the shaft needs to be forward leaned for speed in pitching the shafts needs to match.
Solidness of the strike is the effect of the angle or plane of the swing. A vertical swing motion will produce a toe hit and conversely a horizontal or flat swing will produce a heel hit or a shank. The club must be swung on the desired angle or right angle to your spine.
Distance control in the short game is the effect of the club, speed, length of swing and solidness of the hit. Control these variables and you to will pitch like Spieth.
“Find your distance potential”
One of the keys to playing golf in this era is to hit the ball long. As golf courses continue to be designed longer and more difficult, hitting the ball with power allows players the best chance to score. Although Tiger Woods has possibly the greatest short game in the history of the game, it is also a huge advantage the he has been consistently ranked among the longest hitters during his career. How can you hit it longer?
Quite simply, there are two keys to hitting it long: solid contact and speed. Hitting the ball in the center of the face with maximum speed will allow you to hit it as far as you can. This combined with the latest in club and ball technology can help you find your true distance potential.
The first thing you should determine is if you hit the ball solidly with your current swing. The easiest test is to use face tape that can be found at most golf shops. Place a piece of tape on your club and hit a shot. The ball will make a mark on the tape which will show you your contact point. Hopefully you will find you are consistently finding the center of the clubface. Make sure you test both woods and irons as you want solid contact with all clubs.
If you find that your contact is not as solid as you would like, look at two things to improve your swing. Make sure your posture at set up and throughout your swing is in an athletic position that you maintain during your swing. Good posture will help you swing the club around your body consistently “on plane” which leads to center hits.
Once you are satisfied with your contact point, the next key to distance is trying to increase your swing speed. In the golf swing there are three power sources that will help you swing the club faster. The combination of proper wrist action, an arm swing that puts the club in position throughout the swing and a powerful body pivot that supports the swinging action of the club will allow the club to swing consistently and produce power.
Finally, if you feel you are making solid contact and are using your power sources, make sure your equipment fits your swing. Clubs and balls that are fitted specifically for your swing will probably give you an extra few yards as well.
Learning to hit the ball longer is a very fun part of the improvement process. Examine your current swing and determine your needs. With a little practice, hopefully you will find a few more yards.
Remember if you do hit the ball farther, you will have shorter approach shots to the hole. It is important to work hard on short game distance control so you can take advantage of your distance and hit it closer. This should take pressure off your putting game and allow you to improve your scoring average.
Controlling Trajectory in the Short Game
In executing short game shots, inside 50 yards (pitches and chips), a player’s ability to control the ball’s flight trajectory can be just as important as controlling the ball’s direction and overall distance. A golfer has options to create consistent ball flight trajectory and as a result consistent shot patterns swing after swing.
Option One – Ball Choice:
A golfer’s choice of golf ball will have an affect on a golf ball’s flight characteristics. It is the dimples on a golf ball that are responsible for its flight characteristics. Their design (size, shape and pattern) will help dictate the ball’s trajectory. The size and depth of the dimples affect performance. Shallow dimples generate more spin on a golf ball than deep dimples, which increases loft and causes the ball to rise and stay in the air longer and roll less, which is advantageous when playing to elevated greens. Deep dimples generate less spin on a golf ball than shallow dimples, which decrease loft and causes the ball to stay on a lower trajectory, with less air time and greater roll, which is advantageous when playing to low elevated greens.
Option Two – Ball Position:
A correct ball position helps you contact the ball crisply and achieve the proper trajectory on the shot. Ball position affects the path and the angle of approach the club takes into the ball which ensures a consistent loft angle of the club at impact. With the ball positioned too far forward, your shoulders align left of the target, thus creating a swing path that is too steep and out-to-in. If you locate the ball too far back toward your right foot, your shoulders are closed, which creates a swing path that is too shallow and in-to-out. You will be able to produce consistent ball flight trajectories only if the ball is positioned correctly in your stance. For chip shots, position the ball about two inches back of center. You want to strike the ball with a descending angle of approach creating a low trajectory, running shot. For all wedges and pitch swings from normal lies position the ball in the exact center of your stance.
Option Three – Swing Technique:
To create a low trajectory chip or pitch shot, set your hands slightly ahead of the ball. A forward hand position will naturally de-loft the clubface, helping to start the ball on a low trajectory. Also, concentrate on making a rhythmic swing with a slightly slower tempo on the forward swing. A slower tempo will produce less spin, helping to keep the ball on a low trajectory. Stay level with your hips as you swing through impact. Feel as though the handle of the club leads the clubhead through the hitting area to prevent adding loft to the clubface at impact. A low trajectory shot means a low finish. The lower you want to hit it, the lower you want to finish, not only with the hands and arms, but with the clubhead as well. While it is okay to play the ball back in you stance to produce a lower trajectory, it is not advantageous to play the ball forward in your stance as a means of getting a higher trajectory. Playing the ball forward in you stance moves it ahead of the bottom of your natural swing arc. To hit a higher shot, the first choice should always be to take a more lofted club and make your standard swing. The second choice is to open the clubface, aim your swing line to the left of the target and keep the ball exactly in the center of your stance. Keeping the ball in the middle of your stance ensures crisp contact.
Option Four – Club Selection:
The easiest way to vary shot trajectory from a normal lie is to choose a higher degree lofted club or choose a lower degree lofted club. If you need a higher soft landing shot, choose a lob (60 degrees), sand (56 degrees), gap (52 degrees), or a pitching wedge (48 degrees). If you need a lower running shot, choose a 9 iron (39 degrees), 8 iron (34 degrees), 7 iron (30 degrees), or 6 iron (26 degrees). It is easier than creating a different swing or changing your mechanics. Clubs are designed with the clubface having different lofts. It is loft that makes a golf ball take flight on an ascending trajectory, not an upward direction of swing. The club actually hits the ball in a horizontal or slightly downward angle.
Choose the option that works best for your game. Your golf ball selection will be based on the design of the golf course that you’ll be playing. Under normal lie conditions, you’ll want to maintain a consistent ball position for crisp club to ball contact. Vary the length of your swing technique to produce low or high trajectories. And choose your club wisely. Practice with different lofted clubs and observe the ball flight trajectory patterns. Take your observations to the golf course.
Distance and Direction to better scoring
Direction
All gofers no matter what the handicap level should attempt to control distance and direction. An improvement in consistency is the effect of a compatible golf swing. When golfers attempt swing changes without regard to keeping a balanced or compatible swing, inconsistency is the result. Golf swings can be upright, Jack Nicklaus, flat Ben Hogan, shut face David Duval or an open face Nancy Lopez; as long as all the parts are compatible consistency is the result.
A weak grip should be balanced with a forward ball position, centered pivot, open face, swing path that is out to in and aggressive hand action through impact. A stronger grip should be balanced with a centered ball position, closed face, path from in to out and an aggressive body motion through impact.
There has never been a perfect golf swing, and probably never will. Keep your golf swing balanced and compatible and you will have consistent results.
Distance
Golfers are constantly striving for more distance. Trying out new clubs, improved physical conditioning and the latest secret in a golf publication in an attempt to add an extra 10-20 yards. All of these changes are good, but the number one influence on distance is a combination of club head speed and solid contact. One without the other simply results in short off line tee-shots.
Speed is the effect of wristcock, arm swing and torso turn. Maximize all power sources in a balanced manner will result in an increase in speed. Solid contact is the result of a path that is from the inside to along to inside. Swing the club on the manufactured angle with the arms in front of the trunk will produce the correct path, resulting in a square hit.
All golfers should be striving for balanced controlled distance for improved scoring. Club head speed combined with solid contact is a guaranteed means of increased distance.
270 Yards with the Driver
Golf has developed into a power game. Longer holes, thicker roughs, elevated greens and tighter fairways have attributed to this change in concept. In the golf swing there is only 3 power sources available: wrist cock, arm swing and body turn. Club head speed and power is the effect of the blending of these power and speed sources. Golfers must use all 3 power sources when attempting to maximize distance and speed.
Allowing the wrist to cock and unclock freely during both sides of the golf swing will increase speed and distance. As the club swings back allow the wrist to cock thus forming a right angle from the left arm and club. Holding the club lightly will allow this action to take place.
The body needs to turn freely on both sides of the swing. The backswing the shoulders turn 90 degrees as the hips turn 45 degrees. On the forward side of the swing the lower body needs to initiate due to the coil established in the backswing. The knees should touch with the right hip finishing closer to the target as the left. A great drill to assist with the back swing pivot is to place a club on the shoulders at address and turn the shaft into the top of the swing. Allow the upper body to turn against the resisting lower body.
Complementing the wrist cock and body turn is the swinging motion of the arms as the right arm bends 90 degrees. The arms must swing freely on both sides of the swing as the right arm bends. The arm swing is the effect of the correct posture and relaxation at address and during the motion.
A drill to assist you with generating these power sources, is what I call the wind up exercise. Place a club across your chest. From the starting position, wind your upper body against the lower body. Allow the shaft to rotate freely at right angle to your spine. Hold for 5 seconds at the top and repeat. As you do this exercise, maintain your posture and keep your abs engaged.
The completed power backswing has full wristcock, arm swing and body pivot. Allowing your wrist to cock, arms to swing and body to turn will give you the opportunity to create Rory McIlroy’s power and speed.
Ninety degrees of wristcock, shoulder turn and right arm bend will generate 270 yards of distance. Allow the arms to swing, wrist to cock and arms to swing and you will hit it like Rory!
4 Steps to Successful Putting
By: Tim Mahoney
If you were to watch the good putters on any of the tours, they all have the same type of routine, a routine for success. As you approach putting, your mind must be on your hands, assisting you with controlling distance. Consistent players utilize fact not fiction. Develop this routine, and you will become a great putter.
Step 1- Walk into the golf ball with your right hand only on the club. During this motion you have three goals: establish an angle in the back of your right wrist (this angle must be maintained during the entire motion.) Aim your clubface at your target. Align your right forearm on the same plane as the shaft.
Step 2- Position your body (all shots in golf, you must align club than body.) Position your eyes over the target line, weight even, golf ball forward in your stance with boxed feet.
Step 3- Position your left hand onto the club. As you slide your hand onto the club, position both thumbs on the flat part of the club with your palms facing each other. Flatten your left wrist and maintain the bend in your right wrist.
Step 4- Swing the putter with the arms. Quiet torso motion as you maintain the hand position. Hold the follow thru until the ball comes to a rest. Your mind must be on controlling distance. Perfect distance is the effect of maintaining the hand position.
All good putters develop a routine. I believe great putters develop an angle in the back of their right wrist at address and they maintain this angle throughout the stroke. As a result, pre-set this angle at address and maintain this angle during the entire motion. Consistent performers utilize fact not fiction.