Q & A

Following is a piece from the Discover South Carolina website I did last year.

 

Q: How do I make sure my body isn’t getting ahead of the club?

Answer: Having the body, arms and club all working toward the same cause is essential to consistent play. One of the simplest ways to assure this is to swing with your upper arms remaining close to your chest. This so called “connection” keeps the arms and body together so one doesn’t outrace the other. This is why you see many tour players practicing with something tucked under their arms such as a glove, towel or a credit card. Some will even bunch up a sleeve on their shirt and stuff it under their arm, especially under the left arm.Q: Is it true that slowing your swing can result in more power?

Answer: “Swing easy and enjoy the extra distance!” There is some truth to this; however, when we slow down it’s usually more a feeling of slowing down rather than truly slowing down. When you feel that you have slowed down you’re actually allowing your body and arms to work together so that you get the same “connection” as mentioned in the response to the first question. Your swing becomes more efficient and feels smoother and easier because of the cooperation and coordination between your body and arms. While you may have slowed down, your club head may actually have gained speed. Baseball pitchers throw their fastest when experiencing this same sensation. When they try to throw harder, their ball speed actually slows because their arms and body get out of synch.

Q: I hit all my irons on the toe or near the outer edge of the iron. What can I do to change this?

Answer: Welcome to my world; and most everyone else’s too! You’ll likely notice the problem is more severe with longer irons although there are certainly exceptions to the rule. There are many reasons this happens, so let’s go over some of the possibilities. First, make sure your irons are the correct length and lie angle. You’ll need a good club fitter for that, and you may have to spend a couple bucks, but it’s well worth it. Next, check your set up. Bend primarily from your hips so your arms can hang freely. Your hands will be about a hand span from your body. Avoid “reaching” for the ball at address. During your swing, try to maintain your posture throughout, especially your spine angle. If you deviate greatly from your starting position during your back swing it’s very difficult to consistently get back to where you started. Finally, be sure the left arm and shaft form a straight line at impact. Many players work hard to keep their left arm straight on the backswing but then it bends at impact. If there’s one point in the swing where the left arm should be straight, it’s at and through impact.

Q: How can I fix or eliminate a pull-hook tendency?

Answer: Simply put, your clubface is closed at impact. If the ball is starting left and continuing left, you’re probably cutting across the ball with an out-to-in swing path as well. Let’s start with the clubface. First check your grip and make sure it isn’t too strong. Also make sure the clubface is square at address and aimed at your target. At the halfway back point, make sure the toe of your club points skyward and not toward the target line. It’s not easy to tell exactly where the club is at the top of the backswing, but if you position the shaft either parallel to the target line or even point it a bit left of the target line (laid off) you’ll be less likely to hit to the left from these positions. If the ball still goes left, work on your swing path by approaching the ball more from the inside and sense you are following through out to right center field to start the ball on a line more to the right. 

Q:  How do I stop hitting the ball fat? 

Answer:  You arc is bottoming out prior to impact so somehow you need to move the bottom of your arc more to the left. You may be hanging back on your right side too long so make sure you rotate through to a full finish. You could also be moving laterally and or vertically too much on your backswing. Most of all, work on getting your club to bottom out to the left of the ball, after impact. To do so, position a head cover about a foot to the right of the ball, on the target line. Your mission is to miss the head cover but still get under the ball. This will train you to approach the ball at the ideal angle to contact the ball on the downswing. If you bottom out early, you’ll hit the head cover. Sometimes I’ll paint a stripe with course marking paint perpendicular to the player’s target line then place golf balls directly on the line. The drill is to take a divot to the left of the line and leave the paint that was under the ball intact.

Golf in Cold weather

It’s that time of year when temperatures go down and handicaps go up. Following are a few tips to help you battle the elements.

Equipment: Golf balls don’t stay in the air as long in cold weather. Plan on taking a little  more club than you would in warmer weather. Shafts feel stiffer in cold weather. Don’t store your clubs and golf balls in the trunk of your car overnight. Keep them warm in the house. You might even use a driver with a little more loft to help maintain that precious “hang time.”

Conditions: Depending how cold the previous night was, the golf course might be a bit harder and firmer than usual. Watch out for faster greens and harder bounces, especially early in the day.

Clothing: It’s all about layers. Try to avoid heavy, bulky clothing that can restrict your swing. You’ll be best served by wearing 3 or 4 thin layers you can peel off as the day gets warmer and add again as the sun starts to set. I usually go with 4 layers: turtle neck, vest, sweatshirt, windshirt.

Body: It’s harder to be loose in the cold. Be sure to do plenty of stretching before you play. Allow a good 15 minutes to limber up before you head out to do battle!

RELEASE FOR POWER

If you tend to hit weak slices, this drill is the cure. Notice in the picture how the arms are extended and rotating, the glove is hidden from view and the toe of the club is turning toward the target. These are components of a powerful release that help create speed and solid contact. To capture this feeling, start in the position pictured then take the club back to about ¾. Now swing back to where you started, holding that position for a few seconds. Repeat these steps a few times then try it with a ball. You’ll be well on your way to longer, straighter shots.

Mike Schroder has appeared on the Golf Channel, is host of the nationally broadcast Links Illustrated television show and is the 1996 PGA Carolinas Section Teacher of the Year.

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.

If you can throw, you can swing

The golf swing is very much like an underhand throw. If you play right handed and throw right handed (or if you play lefty and throw lefty) this should be a breeze for you. Start by tossing a few balls underhanded, gradually increasing the distance each time. Notice you don’t increase your backswing  as much as you increase the speed and amount of your follow through the throw the ball farther.

Next take a 7 iron, tee the ball fairly high and try to make the exact same motion with your new “extended” arm. That’s right, use only one hand on the club. Note how smoothly you swing and how full and extended the follow through feels. This is the same sensation you’d like with 2 hands on the club!