|
|
|
|
|
Bob's Golf Site...
|
| I'm having fun - lot's to learn!
|
Golf is a facinating challenge for me. It is a very difficult game to
play well. To be sucessful, one has to do many things correctly - all
the time! I have been playing for about 5 years now. My brother-in-law
and his wife are avid golfers. Stan and Brenda live in England, belong
to two golf clubs, and play 18 holes - five days a week. They convinced
me to take up this game. They also introduced me to Bernard Firkins - a
former golf pro who continues to teach by focusing on the basics and has
heplped me imensely. Here are my notes - based on his teaching - that I
need to review constantly.
Steps for correct swing - driving and fairway shots
- Align club face and shaft perpendicular to desired flight path (stand
behind club shaft to check if you need to)
- Position feet together so club shaft is lined up between legs
- Set left-hand grip, thumb to right of centre, first finger line to
shoulder, fingers tight together
- Set right-hand grip with palm centre over right-hand thumb, thumb and
forefinger touching, little finger over left-hand fore-finger - keep
hands tight together (should feel uncomfortable!)
- Move left foot slightly to left - toe out slightly
- Move right foot to right - amount increasing with decreasing club number
- Raise club smoothly (keep eye on back of ball) - amount increasing with
intended distance. Raise left heel on backswing, transfering weight to
back foot.
- Swing smoothly, accelerate during latter portion of downward swing using
wrist action, keep head in same place, do not raise shoulders but twist
body and follow through completely - facing forward and on right toe -
having transfered weight back on to front foot.
- Keep eye on hit spot until after contact
Changes for Pitching (ball is mostly in the air) - use Pitching Wedge
to chip onto green
- Move left foot slightly to left - do not change orientation
- Move right foot slightly to right - do not change orientation and keep
your weight on your front foot
- With hands forward of ball, raise club smoothly - amount depending
on distance to pin - keep eye on ball - bending the wrists
- With hands still forward, swing down smoothly, carry through, push the
ball slowly - do not scoop the ball!
- Keep eye on hit spot until after contact
view 7-8-9 tutorial
Changes for Chipping (ball is mostly on the green) - use different
wedges or irons to control flight to roll ratio to chip onto green
- Move left foot slightly to left and rotate so toe is slightly
forward with 80% of weight on left foot
- Do not move right foot (ball shoud be by right big toe)
- With hands forward of ball, raise club smoothly - amount depending
on distance to pin - keep eye on ball - do not bend the wrists
- With hands still forward, swing down smoothly, carry through, push the
ball slowly, adjust force for distance (do not scoop the ball)
- Keep eye on hit spot until after contact
view video
If chip shot is from edge of green where bank rises sharply behind ball,
place left foot facing and level with and 12" from ball, right foot
parallel and about 12" beside, then drop iron down, just behind ball to
chip onto green.
Changes for Putting
- Move left foot slightly to left - do not change orientation
- Move right foot to right, about 12" apart and parallel, lean over the ball
- Move club to right smoothly (keep eye on back of ball) - about 12"
- Move to left smoothly, carry through, push the ball slowly, adjust force for distance
(optimum stop at hole or + 12" )
- Keep eye on hit spot until after contact
Changes for Sand Shot - use Sand Wedge to extricate from bunker
- Pivot left foot slightly to left
- Move right foot to right, about 12" and slightly forward relative to
left foot
- Raise club smoothly (keep eye on sand 3" to right of ball) - bending the wrists, club above head
- Swing with strong wrist action, aim to hit sand 3" to right of ball,
splash sand (and ball) out of bunker - follow through strongly - more
strength & sand for more distance
- Keep eye on hit spot until after contact
Controling flight path with fade and hook
Fade (to move ball from left to right when in flight - aka slice)
- aim club face to target
- aim body (feet and shoulders) slightly to left of target
- make normal swing along body line
- correcting a slice
view video
Hook (to move the ball from right to left when in flight)
- aim club face to target
- aim body (feet and shoulders) slightly to right of target
- make normal swing along body line
Handicaps
Scratch golfer (male) drives 250 yards and can reach 470 yard hole in two
Bogey golfer (male) drives 200 yards and can reach 370 yard hole in two: handicap of 17.5 to 22.4
Stableford Scoring
reference
0 for 2 or more over par
1 for 1 over par - bogey
2 for par
3 for 1 under par - birdie
4 for 2 under par - eagle
5 for 3 under par - albatross
|
|