Golf - Setting up for your swing

Play Your Best Golf - Break 90 Vol 1

If you're not hitting the sweet spot on the clubface, you're probably not driving the ball well. One reason why you could be missing the sweet spot is that your head is over your back knee at address. This might not seem like much, but it affects everything else in your swing. The most efficient--and fastest-- swing rotation occurs when your lower body is stable. You can only achieve this by being centred and balanced at address.


Below are seven keys to a power-laden setup:

1. Widen your stance at address
2. Shift more weight on your right side
3. Keep your chin up to allow for the turn
4. Make a full 90-degree shoulder turn
5. Hover the club head above the ground
6. Sense your right forearm crossing over left
7. Finish high and in balance with your swing

A balanced, centred position starts at address. A good setup allows you to make a good turn away from the target, yet still remain behind the ball at the top of your swing, with your weight over your back foot.

But it's not uncommon for a golfer to create extra side bend at address by moving his head over his back knee. This imbalance ends in a setup that results in (1) a slice causing-reverse pivot at the top and (2) too much "hang-back" at impact.

Since your right hand (left for lefties) is below your left hand on the grip, tilt your back shoulder down the same amount. You want to feel as if you're on top of the ball, with your head just slightly back of centre. If you tilt too far back, you throw your entire swing off.

We all want to drive the ball longer off the tee. Hitting driver/8-iron into the green beats hitting driver/4-iron into the green every time. But you must be centred and balanced at address to do this. If you are, you're in great position to hit a bomb. Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Golf - Breaking 90 is very satisfying

Play Your Best Golf - Break 90 Vol 1
20th June 2010 Delivered the result that matched my expectations in todays round, 89 Gross for a nett 68 with 31 putts. Breaking 90 was the minimum that was acceptable after the past 2 weeks of preparing and tuning up my game. Together with the result the game was very good fun, my brother turned up and wanted to have a round with me to see if the ‘hype’ was true. This added a particularly different attitude with a lot of jesting and chatter that would be an unacceptable distraction to most golfers. Which I agree with too, but playing with my brother gave an unexpected bonus. I was very relaxed and did not falter under the pressure from distractions and jokes. At the same time maintained a serious target focus and succeeded.
Ended up coming 2nd on the day and was happy with that placing, made a few mistakes in the round which cost me the win. Still surprising to me that my understanding of the game and my playing has evolved to this level in a year. In the round there was One bad drive, caused by not doing my routine set up, One bad putt, rushed it, two bad pitch/chip shots and this was the difference between winning and 2nd place. Happy with the result though as my goal was to break 90, not winning the competition. My handicap will go another step closer to 20 after this, under the system now consistency is the way to change handicap and I am finding this beneficial to my game as well.

The fluency and feel with the irons is a definite aid to my game at the minute. Since moving on from the oversized cavity back game assisting irons it has been a gradual appreciation and understanding of being able to ‘feel’ the shots when playing them. Can admit to actually shaping shots deliberately now with the more ‘pure’ style of iron. This is all good in the setting up for moving to blades later in the season. Putting was nothing brilliant yet again was consistent and my style did not falter except in the one putt that missed a par chance. This is perhaps the most enjoyable part of improving my game as every putt is taken confidently and expected to go in.

The coming weekend an hour and a half drive to Keith to play in the next round of the DK Edwards Trophy and their Open day is planned for Sunday. A 10.30 am hit off will make it a long day but the opportunity to play golf on another course can’t be passed up. Even though it will be the first time on this course I am looking forward to finding out if my current approach to playing is as effective there as it has been on my home course.  “Hit ‘em straight, all”
 Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Golf - Winter and playing in the wind and rain

Play Your Best Golf - Break 90 Vol 1

18th June 2010 Travelled away for the first three days of the week and chose to not take the clubs with me in favour of having a few days break after the concentrated practise of past weeks. On arriving home Wednesday afternoon, considered going for a few swings and decided to withhold that pleasure until Thursday. The few days away from the course gave some soft tissue twinges a chance to recover and also was a little release from practising seriously and returned some fun and pleasure to going out for a hit again. Golfing never becomes a chore or task in my weekly routine and being able to realise that it is just a fun sporting game that I love playing is important to that view.


The first round of the US Open at Pebble Beach has begun with many still to finish the first 18 holes and the leaders in the clubhouse on even par. The course is playing tough it seems, Rory McIllroy on 2 over, Ernie Ells even, Tiger Woods even after 6 holes Sergio Garcia 2 over on the 8th hole, Tom Watson 1 over after 6 holes, Casey 2 under after the same so the Open has a ways to go yet and some good golfing action to be seen.

For those readers who may think it would be great to be able to go and have a hit at any time, it is. Golf is not my employment and is very important as relaxation and excercise that is the crux to why I make time available to play the game often. No more time consuming than going to the gym, playing football, cricket or bowls, golf gives sporting competitiveness as well as the former benefits for my well being. The sense of satisfaction from the clean sweep of winning the first round of the John Leake Trophy plus the nearest the pin and longest drive is very enjoyable. The two minor trophies are something that have not been in my ability to do, until recently. They are the first times since beginning to play again last year I have won them in fact, nearest the pin on a par three that is. NTP in two shots I have won before.

That I deliberately wound up for a crack at the long drive is true, it was on one of the holes that I do try and hit long on occasion as opposed to other holes on the course. There is an Out of Bounds on the hole but it is the 2nd hole and not the combined ninth and 18th the long drive usually is on. My tactic is not to take unescessary risks on the 9th and 18th holes. “I do have a particular game strategy, that has no bearing on what course I am playing on. Breaking 18 holes into loosely four sections being, the first 4 holes and having a gross score of 21-22, with this I know that I am playing close to bogey golf which is appropriate for my present handicap. After 9 holes a score of 44-48 is what I look for on my card. This gives me a definite focus on what I can shoot for at the end of 18. The next three holes I play with a touch more aggression, with a target of 60-65 gross wanted after this attacking charge. If I blow out during this stanza there is still 5 holes left to recover a close to nett handicap score, if not then my target is to play the final six holes in 25-30 strokes. My current handicap is 21 and I have played with this round strategy for the past 6 months and dropped 4 strokes. Soon it will be due for a recalculation to suit my next handicap goal.” Sticking to my round plan with the goal to win or have a good round rather than win a LD, on the 2nd hole though there is plenty of holes left to make up for any errors.

Went out for a hit on Thursday with an added incentive, the weather had taken a turn for the worse at last. Gale strength gusts blowing across the course and a few showers with the rain coming in sideways with a taste of salt from the waves breaking on the cliffs a couple of kilometres away, put the onus on concentration and technique to play well. Had an enjoyable 9 holes for a 45 with 14 putts, not to bad considering the wind was blowing the ball 6 inches from its resting place on some greens let alone the effect it had on some putts rolling towards the hole. It was real game time practise, slowing down and taking my time in the set up of shots and I performed better than expected. In fact the accuracy was beyond expectations with Tee and fairway shots. Pitching left a little to be improved on with my calculation of how much the wind would affect these shots. Friday is shaping up to be much the same except wetter so another 9 holes will suffice for my tune up into Sunday’s stroke round. With Saturday being spent putting and pitching and getting the short game in some good order. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Golf Babes: Cristie Kerr

Golf Babes: Cristie Kerr winner of the LPGA State Farm Classic June 2010
The Ladies Professional Golf Tour is marked with the established golfers and the up and coming new players as is the PGA itself. Golf Babes is a great site to follow and keep up to date with the results of tournaments.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff