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FEATURE ARTICLE:

Your Swing is A Clock, And Let The Clock Flow Naturally Back to Top,

Your Backswing Is A Clock

For many golfers, one of the most difficult things to do is to visualize different aspects of your swing. One "technique" however, used for years to teach golfers distances is a clock.

Golfers, imagine that your backswing is a clock, starting at 6 and going to 12.

Example: Use your Pitching Wedge. Start by hitting at noon. Then slowly work your way down to 8 o'clock. Keep track of the distance the ball travels. You now know what "time" to swing when you are 60 yards out, and have a protected green!

It seems that by picturing the dial of a clock and associating distances with various times, golfers tend to learn how to control their distances quicker.

How Hard Should I Swing?

Better players know that solid ball striking and low scores result when every swing is made with the same amount of effort. A good standard is 85 to 90 percent of maximum speed. However, suppose you need to add an extra 10 yards to your shot to carry a hazard? Do you swing harder at 100 percent? Absolutely not.

Swinging harder can easily throw off your rhythm and leave you in worse shape. You’re better off thinking about ‘swinging longer’ when you need a few extra yards. Make your usual backswing, but for that extra boost, focus on making your upper body turn just a bit fuller. Then, stay relaxed on the downswing and let your body unwind and swing the club as you normally would. The longer swing will produce more centrifugal force with the same 85 to 90 percent effort you’ve grooved. In most cases, this will be enough to give you the extra distance you require.

Square Your Club At Impact to Hit Straighter, More Consistent Shots - Duhh!

One way to guarantee that you hit straight shots is to make sure that the clubface is square to your target at impact. Yes, we are full of common sense. We also realize this is harder to do then say. Soooo.... here is a drill to help yourself out: It's an offshoot of Natural Golf, which I am NOT a proponent of (for a full game. It does come in handy in spots).

Here is how the drill works:

1. First, hold the club horizontally in front of your face with the right hand.
2. Add your left hand to the club
3. Turn your left arm and shoulder while folding your right elbow (be sure to keep the right elbow in close to your body for a compact, powerful swing)
4. Return your arms to the starting position so that the right arm straightens

Now, the important part:

Bend your spine slightly so that the head of the club is now between the ground and the horizontal position you were just in and repeat these 4 steps.

Now, tilt your spine again until you ground the head of the club behind a tee marking where a ball will be in the next step. Repeat the 4 steps again.

Now, place a ball on the tee. As you follow the same arm-and-shoulder moving step, keep the backswing abbreviated. Your hands should go no higher that your hips.

As the ball leaves the clubface at impact and the arms straighten, it is very important that you "freeze" your arms-extended position for a full five-second count. You should perform the four stages of this drill at slow, and half and three-quarter speeds.

This drill will teach you to become acutely aware of the clubface's square relationship to the target. Do 10 repetitions of this drill without interruption. If possible, have a son, daughter, spouse, friend or a sucker re-tee the ball for you between repetitions.

This will make the repetition automatic and learned.

Tip of The Week Back to top

Have a Video Camera?? TAPE YOURSELF!! You will be AMAZED at how bad you look swinging the clubs, and very impressed with yourself that you can pick out the flaws!! WARNING: WE are our own worst critics. You will find a lot that can be improved. Work on one area at a time (i.e. follow through, backswing, keeping head down, etc.)

A GREAT trick I once tried was rather simplistic in nature. As mentioned, I get a lot of practice on the course. One day, I brought my neighbors video camera (you didn't think I would take mine, did you????) I fastened with bungee cords the video camera to the front metal frame that holds the windshield on my cart. Whenever I came to my ball, I turned the camera on. After my (mis)hit, I turned the camera off. I was kind enough to also do that for my partner.

I found out MORE during that 15 minutes (yes, the tape was ONLY 15 minutes. Think about it) then I had learned in the previous five years. Try it, let me know if it works for you.

SPOTLIGHT: on Fairway Woods

Fairway Woods

Fairway woods are often described as 'game savers'. On long 4s, these useful clubs allow the average golfer to 'get home' in two shots with an excellent chance at par or birdie. A basic 'long club' swing is used with only the position of the ball being slightly different:

Avoid leaning back and trying to 'scoop' the ball. Take back the fairway wood low and slow. Play the ball 2 inches inside the left heel.

Relax the forearms and shoulders. A low take-back will help you sweep the ball of the turf.

Hit slightly down into the ball and let the loft of the club get the ball airborne.

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From our Readers:

Speaking of Videotapes, Below find a reader (anonymous) who videotaped himself, and saw a slight imperfection (oh, that my swing was only slightly imperfect!!)

I videotaped my swing today and while it looks pretty good overall there was a MAJOR problem with my impact position. It looks like I'm in the same position as I was when I addressed the ball: square to my target, both arms in front. (Unlike my address, however -- where the handle of the club is near my body -- at impact my arms are extended and straight, at roughly the same angle as the club.)

Do you have any tips, drills, or "thoughts" to help me get into the *PROPER* impact position? (I've seen dozens of pictures of good golfers and they all look pretty similar at the moment they strike the ball. They are turned slightly towards their target and the right arm is tucked in.)

Well, "BOB":

Sounds like you are TRYING to keep your arms in front by pushing the right arm, instead of letting body turn pull the arms. The straight-line extension of your left arm and club IS ABSOLUTELY NOT A FAULT - it is a consequence OF GOOD STRONG RELEASE - the pull of the club head being so massive that it pulls the left elbow straight, the left wrist flatter than address, and the shoulder blades inward.

It also sounds like you are swinging with a pivot around the SPINE, instead of a pivot around THE LEFT LEG/HIP. OUCH!!! you are turning like a revolving door instead of a side-hung door.

Stand on left leg alone and do 1,000,000 (or less, if you are not a serious golfer) swings of a Sand or Lob Wedge with your left arm alone and videotape THAT - and you will discover your impact position in these no-ball swings to be ABSOLUTELY AS GOOD as what you see in pictures of pro swings.

Because it changes the pivot for rotation to where it belongs and eliminates muscling in some mis-perception that you should be facing the ball at impact. No, you do not face the ball: your hips get there FIRST (your tummy), your torso NEXT, and finally a bit later, your arms, FOLLOWED BY an
instantaneous catch-up of the club head..