AFTER THE FACT

The ball may already have left the clubface but there are many drills, tips and thoughts that take place post – impact that can help your with your ball striking and scoring.

TRAP THE BALL

For crisp contact with short and mid irons insert a tee in the ground at about a 30 degree angle on the target side of your golf ball. (See inset.)  Imagine you are going to drive the tee farther into the ground after you contact the ball. This will help you contact the ball first, then the ground and cause the shaft to lean toward the target at impact; all essential ingredients of solid ball striking, especially with irons.

 

Eileen Kask is a PGA Class A member and is ranked in the top 5 of all South Carolina golf instructors by Golf Digest.

Do You Speak Swinglish?

10 Golf Swing Terms Every Player Should Know

Golf instructors are bi – lingual; we speak our native tongue as well as “Swinglish,” a language filled with clever terms for various ingredients of the golf swing. These terms make us sound like geniuses when we astutely inform you that “your reverse pivot caused you to come over the top and cast it so you were outside in. That’s what causes your chicken wing!” During this explanation your head nods mocking comprehension but the glazed over eyes are a dead giveaway. In this light, the following is a list of 10 oft used, oft abused, but must know golf swing terms that are so common to Swinglish.

 Bear in mind the explanations have been written as if relating to a right handed player.

 10. Ball position is the placement of the golf ball relative to the player’s stance. The right side of the stance is the back portion and the left side is the forward portion.

Back Ball Position	Center Ball Position	Forward Ball Position

 9. Open or closed stance

The stance is open when a line across the player’s toes aims left of the target and closed when that same line aims right of the target.

Open stance	Wide stance, not open	Closed stance	Narrow stance, not closed

 

9A. Open or Closed Clubface:

When the stance aims left, it’s open but if the club aims left, it’s closed! The angle of the clubface carries the greatest influence on the direction of a shot.

A square clubface has the leading edge (bottom line) perpendicular to the target line. It’s hip to be square!	An open clubface will aim to the right of the intended target.	A closed clubface aims to the left of the target.

8. Strong, neutral and weak grip

This has nothing to do with how tight the grip pressure is; rather it pertains to the placement of the hands on the club.

When the hands are positioned to the player’s right side of the handle the grip is considered to be strong and likely the clubface will be closed at impact.	A neutral grip is formed when the hands are on top of the handle.	A weak grip occurs when the hands are toward the player’s left side of the handle. The clubface will likely  be open at impact.

 

7. Casting or early release is an un-cocking of the wrists prior to contact.

When you cast, the club head arrives at the ball before the handle does.	When the wrists remain cocked on the downswing, the handle arrives at the ball ahead of the club head. That’s a good thing!

 

6. Chicken wing usually refers to the player’s left arm on the follow through

Here is an extra spicy chicken wing.	In this photo the arms have remained in the desired “V” or “Triangle.”

5. Laid off, Across the line

When the shaft points left of the target at the top of the backswing, it is laid off. Many players will hit with an open club face from here.	When the shaft points to the right of the target, it’s across the line.	When the shaft points on a line parallel to the target line you’re in good shape at the top!

 

4. Reverse pivot / Sway

In an effort to “shift” the weight on the backswing the lower body has slid to the right and caused the upper body to tilt toward the target. This swaying action creates a reverse pivot.	Here the upper body has turned and created a preferred coiled position at the top of the backswing.

   

3. Swing plane is the tilt of your swing. In baseball and tennis the plane is closer to horizontal whereas croquet requires a vertical plane. The golf swing plane falls somewhere in between. Notice in the photos below that the club shaft is parallel to the hoops on the ground. That means the shaft is on plane. 

 

2. Swing Path is the direction your club swings through impact relative to the target line. It influences the initial direction of your shot. The diagram below is taken from a teaching aid I built. With the ball positioned at the center of the green arc, if the club comes in along the red line and follows through to the green, it’s on an outside – in path. If it approaches on the green arc but follows through to the yellow line, then it’s inside – out. Because golfers stand to the side of the ball and swing the club around their body in a circle, the ideal path would be along the green arc or inside – square – inside.

 

 

 

1. Over the top takes the prize for being the number one abused term. Simply put, it is when the club swings “over the top’ of the desired swing plane on the down swing. (See photo) Many recreational players do this for which I am grateful as this move has provided me with a nice way to make a living!

 

 

CLIMATE CONTROL

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your game when playing on the Grand Strand.

Heavy Air.
Our sea level air is very heavy which means the ball may not fly as far as it does where you live. I’ve heard this referred to as “The Beast of Myrtle Beach.” Players report carrying the ball ½ to a full club shorter than they do at home. Be sure to adjust accordingly.

Bermuda Grass

On the greens determine the grain by looking at the color of the grass. Light and shiny means down grain and faster while dark and dull means into the grain and the ball will roll more slowly.

In the fairway the lie may seem tighter than what you’re used to. Many are tempted to pick the ball clean but you’ll be best served by striking downward, even with a fairway wood.

In the rough the ball almost always sinks to the bottom. Open up the clubface a little, the longer grass twists it closed, and swing steeply into the back of the ball. Use plenty of loft and don’t be greedy!

Wind
It can kick up, especially close to the ocean. Learn to keep the ball low by positioning the ball back in your stance and your hands left of the clubface. Your follow through should be low and abbreviated while your left wrist stays firm. (For a right handed player)

Fairway Bunkers
Our sandy soil creates areas sometimes referred to as waste bunkers. To escape them, position the ball in the center of your stance, keep your lower body very quiet on the backswing and contact the ball on the descent striking the sand after the ball. Hybrids work very well here especially if you happen to hit behind the ball.

Pine Straw
Play it much like you would from a fairway bunker only be careful with your footing as pine straw can be slippery. Also be careful where you step while you are establishing your stance so you don’t accidentally move the ball before you swing at it.

Water, Water Everywhere
There are very few courses in the area where you can miss the fairway by 100 yards and still have a shot at the green. Here if you miss the fairway you’re likely to be in a water hazard or out of bounds. Do what you can to keep the ball in play off the tee to avoid all those penalty strokes.