How to Align Your Shot

October 5, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Aligning your shot is far from easy. I have heard of many methods to align a shot. For example: point your left shoulder towards your target; draw an imaginary line along your toes; place a club on your thighs and let it point to the target; align your elbows, stick out your tongue and close your right eye…. OK, I made the last on up, but my point is that there are hundreds of suggestions on how to align your shot while playing golf.

Recently, I came across a method I had never heard before and it actually is repeatable, simple and makes sense. This is a recipe for success if you asked me! In my Golf Canada Magazine, David Hearn provides a unique tip on how to be successful when aiming at a target. Align your heels! He says it is “imperative that the club be placed on the ground flush against your heels and not your toes. Because feet tend to flare out, the heel line is the best indicator of where you’re currently aimed.” This is brilliant. It makes absolute sense to me.

Aiming your shot has many variables, but the important point about this tip and many others is to consistently have the same set up routine. That is what really ensures success.

If you have a tip about aligning your shot, please pass it on; we would love to hear about it!

Course Management: Reality or Myth?

October 2, 2012October 2, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Play the shot that makes the next shot easy. – Tommy Armour

No truer words have ever been spoken. I am a huge supporter of course management. I believe that choosing the smart shot over bashing your way around the course is how amateurs break 100, 90, 80 or 70. Course management is something that takes practice and is unique to everyone. No two players can manage their round of golf in the same way. No really, course management is unique to each player.

GolfLink.com states that “Golf course management for a player means understanding how to play the best round possible by using your strengths as a player against the challenges the golf course has to offer.” This article provides further details on course management, but the main point is that each player must play to their strengths. If you cannot reach the green on your next shot, hit the ball to your best distance. For me that is 115 yards. I would rather hit a full pitching wedge than a three-quarter sand wedge from 75 yards.

“Good course management requires planning ahead” by Joan A. King at Positive Mental Imagery is another outstanding article. She outlines many excellent tips on how to successfully manage a round of golf. I especially enjoy how she focuses on the mental aspect of staying focused and being positive throughout the round. As Jack Nicklaus says: “Sometimes the biggest problem is in your head. You’ve got to believe you can play a shot instead of wondering where your next bad shot is coming from.” Staying positive during your round will lower your score.

“A video from the Whittle Golf Tips Series takes a look at some course management. It shows how the seven out of ten rule can be used to make smart decisions in competition and produce the best results.” This is a great rule. Play the shot you can hit 7 out of 10 times and find success instantly.

Course management is something that takes time to learn and is unique to everyone. Playing a round of golf without focusing on your strengths only leads to disaster. I am confident that everyone can be successful on the links; it just takes focus and the willingness to try new things. See you on the links!

How High Do You Tee Your Ball?

September 9, 2012June 20, 2018 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

http://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/golf/www/release/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_med_image/article_images/CSmomentofimpact_299_1.jpg

Image from Sports Illustrated Golf.com

I have played with the concept to how high to tee my ball for years. I have a tendency to tee the ball low with fairly good results. This year, however, I struggled to get any real distance off the tee. It appears that I have lost 20 yards with my driver and it has caused me some challenges on the long courses. Of course, this is not something that any of us can afford. So I decided to do a little research and this is what I found.

Sports Illustrated Golf.com conducted an outstanding experiment on how high to tee your ball. It is a quick read and everyone should take a look. It gives advice on using an iron or hybrid. Quoted from SI Golf.com: “Within each of the three handicap levels, carry distance for mid- and high-tee heights was significantly longer than the low-tee height, largely an effect of the higher tees promoting higher launch angles and less spin. The high tee height provided the most distance, giving the players an average of 12 yards more carry per drive than the low tee height.” Overall, I would rate this article a 10.

Videojug has a video Golf: How High To Tee Up With Different Clubs that gives an excellent visual overview of where to tee the ball and why. It supports the Sports Illustrated article.

Brent Kelly at About.com Golf says the same as the others, but at a different location. Most agree that teeing the ball high will increase your distance.

Well, I am off to the range. I have never teed the ball up that high. I have always placed my tee low to medium. I guess it is never too late to teach and old dog new tricks! I will practice this new revelation and get back with the results!

How high do you tee the ball?

Sand Play – Not Just a Day on the Beach!

September 7, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Hitting it close out of the sand!

I was reading a post by Ian Hardie from Golf Habits – Simply Better Golf called “Don’t hit the ball out of a sand trap”. He talked about how to successfully play out of the sand. His advice resonated with me because this skill is one of the least practice of all. There are many aspects to consider when playing out of the sand. To expand on Ian’s post here are a couple of things to consider.

In a green side bunker that has compacted sand and no lip….use a putter. This type of shot is called using a Texas Wedge. Strike the ball with some authority and you will find that the ball will play like a bump and run shot. It works very well, especially if you are not confident with your sand wedge.

In a green side bunker that has compacted sand and a lip….use a 8 iron. Play it exactly like a bump and run from the fringe. Ensure that you do not take any sand and make contact with the ball first.

From a green side bunker with soft sand regardless of the lip…use a sand wedge and follow Ian’s advice. It really does work. One important point about this type of sand shot (and all others aswell) is the follow through. You must follow through towards your target and the club head must finish above your head. If you follow through your ball will come out of the sand just like the pros!

If you are in a fairway bunker and you are plugged….use your sand wedge or pitching wedge and get the ball in play. Sometimes it is best to take your medicine and advance the ball 50 yards down the fairway than to hit your next shot from the same bunker.

If you are in a fairway bunker and you are sitting on top of the sand….use one club more than you would from that distance. If you are right-handed, aim a bit left and opposite if you are a lefty. Make sure you do not use any legs and the ball will travel the distance you wanted….one club more is the key to this successful shot.

Playing out of the bunker is an important skill. Making an up and down from the bunker is rewarding and significantly lowers your score. If you get a chance to practice, take advantage of the opportunity. Remember, playing out of sand traps is not just another day on the beach!

See you on the links! I am a grateful golfer.

Keeping Your Composure!

September 3, 2012April 5, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Keeping your composure when the wheels fall off is the most difficult skill in golf. All of us have played the front nine as if we were pros. We start to count things up, figure that we are going to set a personal recorded…..the poof, our game comes crashing to earth.

I am sure many of you are thinking….yeah too many times. So how does an amateur keep their composure when things are falling apart. This does not mean showing zero emotion like Jason Dufner; it means keeping calm like Rory Mcilroy during the 2011 Masters. Staying focused when the whole world is falling down around you. So what to do?

The great Bobby Jones referred to composure when he said that “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears.” I have read many different methods to keep your composure and I have my several techniques.

One technique is to laugh and smile at my silly shot. I do not hop around like a fool, but smile to myself and give a little chuckle. I find that I remain calm and I can easily refocus and prepare for my next shot.

Another technique is to say my name to myself like I am correcting something. It is sharp, quick and allows me to move on without carrying pent up emotions.

Lastly, I walk to my ball, look around at the beautiful surroundings, the sun shining, the birds singing, the gratitude of being able to play golf in an awesome country….I feel calm already. I guess you get my point.

The one thing in common with all three techniques is they quickly eliminate the negative focus of making a bad shot and focuses on the positive aspect of playing the game. Golf is meant to challenge your inner sportsman and remaining calm and enjoying your time on the links will only enhance your inner pro. I am a grateful golfer; see you on the links!