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More Secrets To Improve Your Short Game
By Foursome | August 20, 2008
Your Lead Hand Is The Boss
Always keep in mind that your lead hand is considered “the boss” and your back hand is “the support”. In other words, the back hand supports the lead. Grip the club with the fingers of the leading hand and let your back hand support the swing. When you swing, do so with your lead hand and the back hand should aid in guiding the club along the target line.
If you are still uncertain as to why this hierarchy is an important key to a successful shot, simply take a few practice swings with just one hand, alternating. By spending time on the practice tee with your one-handed shots, you will quickly realize just how much more power comes from your lead hand.
Let The Ball Get In Your Way
A small, but significant secret to dominating the short game and improving your score is to always execute all of your shots – the pitch shot, chip, bunker, and putting – all in the same manner, by allowing the ball to “get in the way”.
This simply means to make each shot by swinging “through” it. It doesn’t matter if you are just taking practice swings or actually making contact with the ball, do not swing “at” the ball – only through it. Your confidence will remain high and by hitting the ball through with power, you will have more chances of completing the shot at hand.Always Swing Along The Target Line
Swinging perfectly along the target line seems to give the most trouble to players, especially with new golfers. Visualize and pretend you are drawing back an arrow to shoot from a bow. And just like a like a bow and arrow, the clubhead should be taken back directly along the target line, then forward, maintained exactly on that target line - until the swing is completed.
Everyone swings differently and has a unique swing plane. However, regardless of how far back you draw your club or how high your follow-through is, it is imperative to always keep the swing right along the target line. This goes for every golfer.
The Follow-Through
Properly following through when swinging your club is one of the most often overlooked problems with new golfers. How you finish your swing, whether displaying a show for the crowd or silently ending your stroke, you should never sacrifice a solid follow-through. Remember, the stroke is not finished just because contact is made with the ball.
Just about every major sport preaches the importance of the follow-through. From baseball players to basketball, football to fly fishing – all of the motions associated with each sport would be strange and ineffective if the players just cut the movements short.
This is especially important in golf. Consider how the pros make those amazing putts, hardcore bunker shots, or the hundreds of tough pitch and chip shots - with perfect form and never sacrificing the follow-through.
Topics: Short Game, Tips & Practice |