Tips Archive --- Lower your handicap in a week Golf Level Check The Grip

Tip From a Pro - Lower your handicap in a week

by Brad Johnson, PGA Golf Professional

Day No. 1

Pinpoint your target
When picking a target aiming for a fairway or a tree isn’t good enough.  Instead, narrow your target by aiming for a particular branch on the tree, at a spot on the fairway or the green.  The smaller the target, the better chance you have of hitting a good shot.  Refuse to allow any negative thought to enter your head, and swing away.

Day No. 2

Create a pre-shot routine
It helps you focus allowing your mind and body to fully concentrate before each and every shot.  A routine helps you calm a case of nerves, shutting out all thoughts and hitting your ball to the target.  Practice this on the range for each and every shot.  A lot of golfers rush to the range and hit balls fast.  It is better to hit a few good shots utilizing your pre-shot routine each time rather than hitting a bunch of shots quickly with no thought.  Hitting rapid-fire shots will ruin your tempo and perhaps give you negative thoughts. 

Day No. 3

Grip Pressure
There is artfulness to holding the club that starts by gripping the club lightly.  As for your grip pressure, keep it light.  A common flaw I see is the amount of pressure students’ use when holding the club.  Gripping the club too tightly causes tension, destroying any chance of making a consistent repeatable swing.  Light grip pressure allows for a full and flowing and graceful swing.

Day No. 4

Distance versus Direction
Most golfers would like more distance from their drivers.  I see students’ on the range, swinging as hard as they can, hitting 50 drives in a row for the thrill of those 8 or 9 that might be well struck.  I would never allow my college players who come to me for help hit 50 driver shots in a row.  This causes fatigue and bad habits.  I have observed with amateurs that they mishit a lot of drives.  Focus on making good contact instead of trying to kill the ball.

Day No. 5

Pitching and Chipping
The first thing to remember about pitching and chipping is keeping your hands ahead of or even with the clubhead on the follow-through.  The follow-through should be about the same length as backswing.  Flex your knees and move your weight a little more to your left foot and keep your legs stable.  Keeping your weight on the left foot will keep you from transferring your weight during the swing, helping you to make good contact with the ball.

Day No. 6

Putting
Putting is an individual matter.  Read your line from behind the ball.  Walk to the ball; take your stance with your eyes directly over the ball and stroke the ball with an accelerating swing and a full follow-through.  As your stoking the ball keep your head and eyes still.  Just as in chipping, the putting stroke is approximately the same length.

Day No. 7

Have Confidence
Remember golf is a game.  Believe in yourself that you are going to play a good shot.  I want my students’ to have complete confidence and enjoy playing this wonderful game.  As a teacher I try and put everything in positive, constructive terms.  Be at ease.  If you feel at ease, you are relaxed and confident.