May 2008
With the great weather that we've been having lately, the driving ranges have been packed. All those eager golfers embracing the early season, getting out on the range, practicing and practicing!
But then they're surprised when the driver that they were pounding the ball with on the range seems to let them down on the course. Why? Many golfers, when they go the range, only take a small set of clubs. They hit their driver over and over again until they feel that they've really made some progress. This repetitive motion or practice is called blocked practicing. Research shows specifically block practicing results in a false sense of accomplishment and an artificially high level of performance during practicing and proves to be ineffective as it relates to playing the game of golf.
Random practicing is when you perform a number of different tasks in no particular order, thus avoiding or minimizing consecutive repetitions of any single task. In golf that means changing targets and clubs, ideally, every shot.
Random forms of practice will have poorer practice results but lead to better on course performance. Golfers who practice under random conditions demonstrate superior retention compared to those who block practice.
During block practicing, golfers fail to practice as close to game like conditions as possible. When we play, golfers are called upon to produce a single repetition of a particular movement in any number of different situations (different targets, clubs, lies, distances) - quiet different from producing numerous repetitions of the movement in the same situation over and over.
So how can you get the best results from your time at the driving range? First, take the whole set of clubs out of the car and practice with every club. Second spend some time on your short game at the chipping and putting greens. This way you will most closely simulate a real game and will be more prepared to adapt your game to a variety of shots!
April 2008
The snow is finally starting to disappear. But if you've been shut in all winter, you need to wake up your muscles with a few stretches. This simple routine can be done now to get you ready for golf and should be done 15-20 minutes before you tee-off. It loses its effect if you spend 15-20 minutes afterwards getting your bag and clubs together. You should be changed and ready to play so that you tee-off within 5 minutes of finishing this warm up.
September 2007
HOOKING
PROBLEM: Hitting the ball with a closed clubface, causing shots to curve to the left.
The first thing you should do is check your grip. The Vs in each hand should point over your right shoulder. If they point farther right, your grip is too “strong” and could produce a closed face and a hook at impact – when the hands return to their normal position.
If your grip is proper and you are still hooking, try weakening your grip by gradually moving both hands to the left.
Check your stance to make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to your target line.
One cause could be the ball location. If it is too far back, it could produce an excessive in-to-out swingpath.
Grip club more in the palm of your hands, rather than the fingers, to reduce wrist action and premature closing of the clubface.
Make sure that your left wrist is not too relaxed at impact. If it is,your right wrist will take over and close the clubface too early.
On the downswing, make sure that the action begins with your legs and body to guard against wrists unhinging and closing the clubface too soon.
It is advised that you have the Flash