Golf Training

How to Get Out of Bunkers

Derek Bowler — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:49:00 +0000

Everyone knows how frustrating they can be if you don't know the proper mechanics of how to get out of bunkers. But the bottom line is, for the pros, bunker shots are some of the easiest shots on the course. These steps will ensure that you have the right mechanics for getting out of bunkers. Once you've read these steps, practice them and get used to hitting out of bunkers, and they will become just as natural as a regular short game shot. These steps will give you the solid foundation that you need for bunker success.

Here are the steps: (note: These steps apply to a normal sand bunker. Not wet or hard sand.)

1. Choke down on the golf club (Have your right index finger about an inch from the bottom of the grip). Choking down gives you the control with the club and also allows you to "feel" the shot rather than hitting it.

2. Narrow your stance a little and play the ball a few inches forward in your stance. This will also aid in controlling the shot, and it will contribute to higher ball flight.

3. Dig into the sand with your feet a little and get comfortable.

4. Keep your body completely still throughout (no twisting hips).

5. Start your swing with your arms and keep your swing vertical. The end of the grip butt should be pointed at the ball at the top of your backswing. (Don't bring the club straight back, remember steep is better here!)

6. Your left arm should be parallel to the ground and fully extended at the top of your swing.

7. Then start your downswing at the sand focusing to hit 1 inch behind the ball. Don't focus on hitting the ball, hit the sand an inch behind and the ball will get out every time!

8. Your arms and body follow the ball as it leaves the sand.

9. Remember steep angle into the sand is key here, however you don't have to swing too hard, we are not blasting the ball out we are advancing it.

Drill:
Go into a bunker and take 3 clubs your pitching wedge, sand wedge, and a lob wedge(if you have one). Remember that you can get creative with shots; just because it's a sand wedge doesn't mean that you'll "feel" the most comfortable or give you the best results. But I want you to notice the difference in design and performance.

Regardless, hit a few shots with each club and really notice the difference in how the ball comes out of the sand. Then choose the club that bests suits you. But remember on all these clubs swing steep and hit 1 inch behind the ball. You can even draw a line 1-2 inches behind the ball and aim for that line.

At home, office, or at the course take practice swings and focus on bringing the club up at a steep angle. Watch as your grip end points to the ground. And stop there – this is the position that you want to be in. A great way to see if the grip is pointed over the ball is sticking a tee in the grip handle. Do that a few times to ensure that you know where to stop the golf club and start your steep downswing. Then the downswing is easy! Just hit an inch behind the ball. Practice this for a few days then go have fun in a bunker!

Bobby Eldridge – Head Professional, PurePoint Golf & Scottsdale Country Club

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Lower Your Golf Score with Better Course Management

Derek Bowler — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:08:15 +0000

How Better Course Management Can Lower Your Golf Score

Whether you are just starting to learn golf, or you have been golfing for many years and you're just looking to refine your game, this will provide a good direction of focus for this season.

If you want your score to drop by any significant amount, you should learn to hit your 150 yard club, and learn to hit it very well. By "hitting your 150 yard club very well," I mean being able to step up to the ball, and KNOW that you can hit any green that is 150 yards away. Every time, any condition, with no pressure.

You need to get to the point in your game where you can hit those 8 or 9 irons very consistently and accurately. Anyone can do this. Believe it or not, 150 yards is not very far away, and most greens these days are very big targets. The short irons should be the easiest club in your bag to hit. And if they aren't the easiest clubs to hit, you should work on them until they are.

Once you master that shot, everything else is a simple adjustment. Your swing will be on, and you can simply add or take away a little club to adjust for varying distances… That's step 1.

Step 2 is designing your game to work around your "guaranteed 150 yard shot."

Let's say you are on the average 400 yard par 4. If you have that 150 yard shot in your bag, then it should be very easy for you to get onto the green in 3 shots.

Think about this…(I know you wouldn't really do this) but if you have the 150 yard shot, you can hit it off the tee, and again for your second shot, and end up 100 yards out hitting 3 from the fairway.

Now you've put yourself in a good position, which is what course management is all about. And better yet, if you have the 150 yard shot down, your 100 yard shots are likely to be working a lot better as well.

Even if you get yourself into trouble off the tee, just lay up to 150 yards out, and use your 150 shot to get on the green. This will do a ton of good for your golf game. You're on in 3, and you can still save par or make bogey with a 2 putt.

Start small, and master the 150 yard shot. Then build your game around it. If you do this, you won't have to worry about so many bunker shots, chip shots, and all the other specialty shots that make this game so frustrating.

If you can get this shot down, you've taken the first step to breaking down your game and lowering your scores. Then you work on your putting, and then you work on your driver.

Now, I realize golf isn't as easy as I've made it out to be above, but it really can be if you have the 150 yard shot. I can guarantee that you'll be playing the best golf of your life this season, if you keep focus on improving that 150 yard shot. It is essential!

Bobby Eldridge – Head Professional, PurePoint Golf & Scottsdale Country Club

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Golf Club Impact Tip

Derek Bowler — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:48:00 +0000

Getting Yουr Hands Through tһе Ball аt Impact

Hаνе уου еνеr tһουɡһt аbουt wһаt уουr hands аחԁ forearms аrе actually doing аt tһе moment οf impact? If חοt, please give tһіѕ a try bесаυѕе іt's one οf tһе mοѕt іmрοrtаחt раrtѕ οf tһе swing.

Try tο ɡеt іחtο tһе impact position, Ɩіkе уου аrе аbουt tο mаkе solid contact wіtһ tһе ball. Now flip уουr trailing wrist Ɩіkе уου wеrе casting a fishing pole. Tһіѕ іѕ referred tο аѕ a wrist brеаk, аחԁ іt's חοt a mονе tһаt уου want tο mаkе іח golf. Sο іf уου аrе trying tο "flip" уουr hands through tһе ball аt impact, tһіѕ tip mау һеƖр уου understand tһе сοrrесt way tο mаkе tһіѕ happen.

If уου рυt a wrist watch οח уου'll bе аbƖе tο visualize tһе сοrrесt moves tο mаkе. Aѕ уουr leading arm аррrοасһеѕ impact tһе watch face ѕһουƖԁ bе getting close tο pointing exactly down tһе target line, οr tο tһе flag. Now simply ROTATE tһе watch face ѕο іt's pointed аt tһе ground. Wіtһ a club іח уουr hands, уου'll see tһаt tһіѕ mονе mаkеѕ уουr trailing wrist аחԁ forearm "flip" οח top οf уουr leading wrist аחԁ forearm. Here's a picture οf wһаt I'm referring tο.

Yου аƖѕο see tһаt tһіѕ wіƖƖ һеƖр tο "close" tһе face οf уουr club nicely, tһаt wіƖƖ both reduce уουr slice, аחԁ add distance. Tһіѕ іѕ tһе сοrrесt mονе tο bе completing through impact.

It's іmрοrtаחt tο note tһаt уουr forearms ѕһουƖԁ bе working together аѕ well. Try tο keep уουr forearms аѕ close tο each οtһеr аѕ possible through tһе impact zone. If уου саח master tһіѕ mονе, уου'll find increased distance аחԁ іt wіƖƖ аƖѕο ԁο wonders fοr уουr slice.

Until next time,

Bobby Eldridge – Head Professional, PurePoint Golf

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Re-evaluating Tiger’s greatness

Derek Bowler — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:15:01 +0000

A Tiger with whom we are not familiar

In light of Tiger's dour demeanor Thursday, Thomas Boswell at the Washington Post is questioning whether the big guy still has the chutzpah to win 19 majors. Boswell was particularly alarmed by Tiger's admission that he was simply "plugging along" at Pebble …

…"Plugging along" is an adequate strategy in majors. But it's not what you expect from Woods at either of the classic courses [Pebble and St. Andrews] where he has owned everything but the fishing rights. If he goes O-fer the '10 majors, with a zilch at his other favorite track

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Tiger gets heckled from sky at Pebble

Derek Bowler — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:32:12 +0000

Tiger Woods took a verbal shot from the gallery on Friday at Pebble Beach, but on Sunday the insult came from above.

Similar to the planes that flew over Augusta National in April with sarcastic messages for Woods, a plane flew over Pebble Beach Golf Links

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Does Tiger still have what it takes?

Derek Bowler — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:07:42 +0000

Here's һοw times һаνе changed: Tһе United States Open іѕ coming up аחԁ instead οf being tһе favorite, Tiger Woods wаѕ talking аt Muirfield Village аbουt һοw һе wаѕ hoping tο mаkе tһе сυt аt tһе Memorial Tournament јυѕt tο ɡеt four rounds οf competition under һіѕ belt before tһе Open.

Nο talk аbουt winning tһе Open οr chasing tһе record οf 18 major titles. Talk аbουt mаkіחɡ tһе сυt. Larry Dorman οf tһе Nеw York Times took note οf Tiger apparently lowering tһе bar.

Tiger Woods ѕаіԁ something Wednesday tһаt һе һаԁ probably never ѕаіԁ before аt a professional golf tournament:

Read Article HERE

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Memorial may push back U.S. Open qualifier

Derek Bowler — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:02:34 +0000

DUBLIN, Ohio — With thunderstorms wreaking havoc at the Memorial, the USGA has announced its contingency plan in the event of a Monday finish at Muirfield Village.

Should the Memorial carry over to Monday due to inclement weather, the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier scheduled that day in Columbus, Ohio, would be rescheduled for Tuesday. Players who made the cut at the Memorial who were scheduled to play a qualifier in another city, such as Memphis, site of next week's St. Jude Classic, would have the option of playing in the Columbus qualifier on Tuesday.

Players who did not make the cut at the Memorial will be required to play at their originally scheduled qualifying site.

Follow this link: Memorial may push back U.S. Open qualifier

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Ricky Barnes’ 62 blows away Tiger Woods at Memorial

Derek Bowler — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:57:57 +0000

DUBLIN, Ohio — Tiger Woods shot a perfectly respectable 3-under 69 in the third round of the Memorial on Saturday, but he may have felt like he was standing still.

That's because playing partner Ricky Barnes put up a 10-under 62, just one off the course record.

"I got off to a great start," said Barnes, who birdied two of his first three holes, holed a wedge for eagle from 108 yards on the par-5 11th hole, and did not make a bogey. "I think I made about a 35-footer on the first hole. Probably would have run eight, nine feet by, and hit dead center and went in."

Barnes's 62 was among the best rounds ever shot on Tour by a player grouped with Woods.

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Tiger says he’s sticking with Hank Haney method

Derek Bowler — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:28:35 +0000

Hank Haney might not be on Team Tiger anymore, but Tiger Woods isn't replacing his ex-coach's ideas.

After his round of 72 and T19 finish at the Memorial on Sunday, Woods said he was pleased with his ability to shape the ball, but that he still needed to work on his tee shots and he would continue to follow Haney's swing ideas. Last month, Haney resigned as Woods's swing coach after six years working with the World No. 1.

Q. But what are you going back to? What's the model?

TIGER WOODS: Just working with what I was doing with Hank, for sure.

Q. Same stuff you did with Hank?

TIGER WOODS: Absolutely.

Woods said he needs to be able to hit the ball both ways, a right-to-left draw and a left-to-right fade, to have a chance to win the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which begins in less than two weeks. Woods will not play in this week's Tour stop, the St. Jude's Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

"[Pebble Beach] a shot-making golf course," Woods said. "You have to hit the ball well there because the greens are so small. I mean, they rival Hilton Head in size, and then also they have so much more pitch."

How close is Woods to regaining his form? Woods said he's more than halfway back, but not by much.

Q. Where would you put yourself in the progression you're on right now? Are you over 50 percent of the way to being back?

TIGER WOODS: Definitely, absolutely. Absolutely.

Q. 60? 70? 80?

TIGER WOODS: More the first part.

In other Tiger news, ESPN's injury expert Stephania Bell files a helpful report on Woods' neck injury, which she said didn't appear to cause him discomfort at the Memorial.

How to Win the Ryder Cup and Influence People

USA Today's Steve DiMeglio talks with 2008 Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger about Cracking the Code, The Winning Ryder Cup Strategy: Make It Work for You, Zinger's book about his successful Ryder Cup captaincy and the lessons it holds for executives.

It's an entertaining read, but I wish we got to hear more about this exchange:

Has 2010 USA captain Corey Pavin reached out to you?

No, not yet. He did text me and wanted a copy of the book. I know he's talked to tons of people but he hasn't asked me anything yet. That's fine. He doesn't need me to be a successful captain. He doesn't need me at all. He'll be fine. There have been some captains who have micro-managed everything and lost. There have been captains who were drunk every night and won. There is no blueprint on winning.

We've had Ryder Cup captains who were drunk every night?!?! Could I get a follow-up question, please?

Stay observations

Some items we noticed while wondering if a Celtics-Lakes Game 7, the World Cup and the opening round of the 2010 U.S. Open would be the greatest TV sports day ever.

Stewart Cink's charity tournament is kinkier than you might imagine. (Via Ryan Ballangee's Waggle Room)

Legendary golf writer Dan Jenkins says Woods's comeback is a joke compared to Ben Hogan's career after his car accident. "Hogan won six majors after his accident," Jenkins said. "If Tiger Woods tops that, the good news is, I'll be dead and won't see it." (Via GeoffShackelford.com)

If Golden Tee makes a game for the iPhone, we might finally break down and buy one. (Via The Chicago Sun-Times)

Read the original post: Truth & Rumors: Tiger says he's sticking with Hank Haney method

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Vijay Singh accepts special exemption into 2010 U.S. Open

Derek Bowler — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:22:06 +0000

Vijay Singh accepted a special exemption to the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf links, according to the United States Golf Association.

Singh, a three-time major winner and former No. 1 player in the world, has struggled with back injuries the last two years and has fallen out of the world top 50, which means he would have had to qualify for a spot in the tournament. The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking get automatic spots in the U.S. Open field.

“There were many compelling reasons for us to invite Vijay Singh into the field of this year’s U.S. Open, particularly his three wins in Majors in the last 12 years,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., chairman of the USGA’s championship committee. “He has played through injuries, which caused him to drop, quite quickly this year, in the World Rankings. He’s always been competitive at the U.S. Open and he is healthy and playing well again.”