Since you are reading this post, it is probably safe to assume you are either a golfer who would like to improve or a serious insomniac.  I will do my best to educate you on how to make significant improvements to your golf game over the coming cooler months. If you happen to doze off, I will add curing insomnia to my resume!

I think the biggest challenge golfers face when trying to improve is that making lasting improvements takes time and repetition of the desired motion.  When golfers try to make these changes during golf season, they are usually faced with heading out to play golf and having to decide whether to play poor golf while sticking with a new swing thought or reverting back to their “old swing”.  I feel your pain, it is very difficult to soldier on with a new swing move when faced with poor shots, possibly poorer than before.

This is why fall and winter is the ideal time to make swing improvements.  The fact the weather is cool and wet and you are less likely to be playing golf or less concerned with your score, means you are far more likely to stick with your swing changes.

How do we make a swing change?  The steps are quite simple to understand but there is a key element of practice reps.

Step 1 – The golfer is often unaware of what they should change about their technique (unconsciously incompetent)

Step 2 – The golfer is educated on what they need to change (consciously incompetent)

Step 3 – The golfers is educated on the more desirable technique and how to actually do it  (consciously competent)

Step 4 – Practice the desired motion while consciously controlling the motion.  This is the biggest challenge because if you are out playing golf, you will most likely be consciously thinking about where the ball is going. When you think about anything besides the desired swing motion, you instantly lose the ability to make the desired motion because at this point, it is only a “conscious skill” and not a habit yet.

Step 5 – After lots of repetition, the motion becomes a habit (unconsciously competent) and the golfer no longer needs to think about the swing to make it happen correctly. The golfer can then play golf thinking exclusively about the shot they want to hit and not their swings.

So, how do we make a swing change?  Ideally, we spend ample time making the proper motion and not worrying about where the ball is going.  The only time this will make sense is during the fall and winter.

Rules and Etiquette

Many new golfers are intimidated by the seemingly endless rules governing one’s behavior on the golf course.  Here is a summary of the most important things you should know before you head out on the golf course.  Notice I have listed “Rules of Courtesy”, “Rules of Fun” and “Rules of Golf”.  As far as I am concerned, when you are starting out in golf, play by the rules of courtesy and fun.  When your skill level improves you can start obeying all the rules of golf.

Rules of Courtesy

• Keep up to the group in front of you.
• Leave the course as you find it – Replace your divots, repair your ball marks on the greens, rake the sand traps when you are exiting them.
• Be quiet when someone is preparing to play a shot.
• Only play a shot when everyone is in a safe position.
• Be ready to play your shot when it is your turn.
• To keep play moving, play “Ready Golf”.  This means, if you are ready to play your shot and everyone is in a safe position, you can play, even if you are not furthest from the hole.
• When you finish a hole, move to the next tee immediately and mark scores there.
• If you are using a pull or power cart, keep it well away from the edge of the greens.  Most courses will have signs or white lines telling you where to drive.
• When you walk on to a green, take note of where the next tee is and leave your golf bag on that side of the green.  This way, when you finish putting, your clubs will be right on your way to the next tee.
• Don’t take more than one practice swing unless it is on the first tee to warm up.
• If you hit a ball into the trees, bush, deep ravine, black hole, etc., don’t spend too much time looking for it.  If you don’t see it after a few moments, drop another ball and play on.
• On the green, be aware of the location of other people’s balls and try not to walk between their balls and the hole.
• If you hit your ball in the general vicinity of another golfer, yell “FORE” loud enough to alert them of the impending danger.  We don’t know why you yell “FORE” either but it probably has something to do with a golfer getting hit because there wasn’t enough time to yell “Hey, look out, my ball is coming towards you!!”

Rules of Fun

• As long as you and your group are having fun, being respectful of the golf course and keeping up to the group in front of you, there really are no other rules!
• It’s only a game!!

Rules of Golf

There are actually 34 “Rules of Golf” so we have left a few out but these are the really important ones.

• Play the course as you find it.
• Play the ball as it lies.
• If you can’t do either of the above, do what’s fair.
• You should begin play on each hole by teeing your
  ball behind your designated tee-markers.
• You must mark your balls position with a small,
  coin-like object before picking it up on the green.
• The person who has the lowest score on the previous
  hole has “The Honour” and is supposed to tee-off first.
• The person whose ball is furthest from the hole is said
  to be “Away” and is next to play.

For complete rules information, visit http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-01/.

I hope this helps you have more fun.  Let the new golfers in your life know about the different kinds of rules and let them decide how they want to approach the game.

The Problem – Top Hand Placement on the Grip

Our topic today is probably the most common problem I see; the incorrect placement of the top hand on the golf club.  Almost everyone who starts the game begins by holding the golf club too much in the palm of his or her top-hand (the left hand for right-handed golfers).  This grip fault is often referred to as a “weak grip”. In most cases the club feels more secure in this position (see photos 1 and 2) but it is actually less stable and also leads to many other problems.  The correct hand placement will put the handle of the club more into the fingers of the top hand and will position the heel pad on top of the handle rather than along side.

Picture 1

Picture 2

The Potential Effects

Placing the club too far into the palm can result in several less than desirable outcomes.  First, because the club is resting in the palm, you will need to squeeze the club quite tightly to maintain control, creating tension in the forearms. This tension can inhibit the wrists from hinging correctly during the swing and cause a loss of power and control.  This lack of wrist hinge can also result in the golfer hinging their elbow in an attempt to finish their back swing (NOT GOOD)!  The incorrect hand placement causes the wrist joint of the top hand to be positioned to the side of the handle rather than the correct positioning over top of the handle.  This inhibits the wrist’s ability to hinge correctly as opposed to the more desirable wrist action and also leads to a breakdown of the arm and/or miss-alignment of the clubface. There are several other potential problems associated with a poor top-hand grip but I won’t bore you with the nasty details!

The Fix

The cure for this very common ailment is to place the club more into the fingers of the top hand.  By doing so, the club will fit under the heel pad and will also allow the wrist to position itself correctly; directly over top of the handle of the club (see photos below).  This will allow you to control the golf club without needing a “Death Grip”, allow the wrist to hinge correctly and will promote a square clubface at impact (REALLY GOOD).  The easiest way to check how you have placed your hands on the club is to lift the club to vertical by simply hinging your wrists.  This should be quite easy and you should not feel any need to bend your elbows.

Good Top Hand Grip for Righty

Good Top Hand Grip for a Lefty

Let me know if this article is helpful and if you would like to see a specific topic in future posts.  Good luck with your golf!

Sources of Golf Information

We live in the age of information. One of the biggest obstacles to improving your golf game is getting advice from too many people or trying every tip you read or see on TV or the internet.  Here is a list of potential sources of information and my thoughts on their quality.

Spouses, Friends and Playing Partners

• Everyone is trying to help.
• People tend to offer advice from their own experiences.  Most times their experiences are not exactly applicable to yours and therefore, their advice really doesn’t apply to you.
• Taking advice from a spouse, friend, etc. can make golf more frustrating.
• In short, unless you are married to or dating a golf professional, good friends with a pro or are playing with one, it is in your best interest to let people’s advice go in one ear and out the other.

Television

• The Golf Channel is an excellent source of golf information.  The problem is, you are getting the same information from several experts who say the same things, totally differently.  As a result, you can become very confused when trying to implement their ideas into your game.
• Golf telecasts provide a great opportunity to watch the best players in the world do their thing.  You can learn a lot from observing their swings and the way they play the game.  The announcers are mostly very knowledgeable but again, they are talking about the same things in their own ways.

The Internet

• Web sites offer many kinds of golf information.  They can be very helpful for finding out about different golf courses and golf products. As far as tips and other advice on your game, once again, one person’s opinion explained in their words.  Use web sites and chat rooms for information about where to play and products but try to resist the temptation to use them as a teacher.
• “Ask the Pro” or personalized lessons are a little better but you are still relying on the advice of someone who can’t see you

Magazines

• Publications such as “Golf Magazine” and “Golf Digest” can also be great sources of information.  You have to be careful when reading the instructional articles because they have different contributors each month and once again, the advice is from a golf expert but may confuse you when compared to last month’s articles.  Read them for entertainment and enjoy the great pictures but be careful!!

Books

• Books are a terrific way to learn about golf.  The good ones are written by experienced Teaching Professionals and will usually take you from the very beginning all the way to very advanced topics.  Books are potentially less confusing because they offer one persons views.  They are still lacking in that the author can’t jump off the page and give you the specific instruction you need at any given moment, it is up to you to decide which page you should be on.

PGA Professionals

• I really feel that getting some instruction from a certified CPGA Golf Professional is the best way to get started or most efficient way to improve your game.
• Keep in mind, the Teaching Professional you choose is going to have a big impact on your golfing enjoyment so choose carefully.  Find an instructor you trust and understand and stick with them.  Going from teacher to teacher is like trying to learn from all the different instructors on The Golf Channel.  This is the perfect recipe for confusion and frustration.

As you can tell, there are a lot of sources for golf information.  It is important for you to find one source and stick with it.  Whether it is an instructor in your hometown, a particular golf book, one instructor on The Golf Channel every Monday night or your horoscope, find a source which helps you improve and stick with it.

The Language of Golf

Anyone who has wandered unexpectedly into a conversation about golf finds out very quickly there is a language golfers speak which is a little hard to understand for a newcomer to the game.  If I said to friend, “You should have seen this shot I hit on number 12 today.  I had 220 to the stick and I hit this towering, high cut with my 5-iron that took one bounce and then checked up and left me a tap in.  The whole day was like that; I was knocking down flagsticks it was like I was playing darts out there.  My irons were totally dialed in!”  A lot of people might be curious what I just said.  Translated this means “I hit a five iron shot from 220 yards to the hole on number 12 that ended up very close to the hole.  I hit good iron shots all day.”

It struck me that being a new or casual golfer trying to figure out all the golf specific language must be about the same as when I stroll into a computer store.  As soon as I here a word that ends in “hertz” I start to panic!  So, for all of you who would like to understand the golfers at your office, your spouse or would like to sound like a cool golfer, here is a crash course in Golf Speak 101!  At the bottom, there are a few fun terms used to lighten the mood.

Golf Club Words

Clubhead – Large chunk of metal on the end of the shaft.

Shaft – Long pole made of steel, graphite or other exotic material, which joins the handle and the clubhead.  Shafts vary in flexibility.  Some common flexes are; Senior Ladies, Ladies, Senior Men’s, Men’s Regular, Men’s Stiff and Men’s Extra Stiff.

Grip – The handle of the golf club.  Usually made of rubber.

Driver – #1 Wood.

Fairway Woods – Every other wood!!

Irons – Skinny headed clubs.  Should be made of Stainless Steel.

Sand Wedge – Special iron designed specifically sand traps.

Putter – Flat faced club used for playing shots on the green.

Golf Score Words

Par – The regulation number of strokes that are set for a particular hole from tee to cup, if played flawlessly.

Birdie – A score of one under par on a hole (ex. score of 3 on a Par 4)

Bogey – A score of one over par on a hole (ex. A score of 5 on a par 4)

Eagle – A score of two under par on a hole.

Double Bogey – A score of two over par on a hole.

Double Eagle (Albatross) – A score of three under par on a hole.

Hole-in-One – A score of one on a hole.  Golf’s most cherished accomplishment.

Snowman – Score of eight on a hole.  Coincidentally, most pros are
“frosty” after making one!

Golf Course Words

Par – The regulation number of strokes that are set for a particular hole from tee to cup.  Or the total of each hole’s par for a course par.

Cup – The hole in the green.

Green – Closely mown area where the hole is located.

Tee – Patch of grass where play is to begin for each hole.

Tee Markers – Pairs of objects, between which you should tee your ball to begin a hole.  Different colours are used to distinguish skill levels.

Fairway – The cut grass and preferred route between tee and green.

Sand Trap – A hazard which is maintained and full of sand.

Clubhouse – Main building at a golf club.  It usually houses the
Pro Shop, Restaurant and Locker Rooms.  A triple-decker sandwich with turkey, bacon and tomatoes.

19^th Hole – Clubhouse Bar.

Pro Shop – Place where you check in to play and can purchase balls,
clubs, etc,

Head Pro – Golf Professional in charge of the Pro Shop.

Assistant Pro – Golf Professional training to become a Head Pro.

Teaching Pro – Golf Professional who specializes in teaching people how to golf better.  I happen to know a good one at Gorge Vale!!

Caddy – Person who carries your clubs during a round of golf.

Driving Range – Place where people go to hit practice balls.

Putting Green – Place to go to practice your putting.

Flag Stick – The stick with a flag at the top used to indicate the location of the cup.

Hazard – Can be either a sand trap or water hazard.  Avoid them at all cost!!

Front Nine – Holes 1 thru 9.

Back Nine – Holes 10 thru 18.

Starter – Person in charge of the first tee.

Tee-Time – When you start off at the first tee.  It may be at a strange
time like 12:17.  This is your exact time.  There are strange times because
tee times will start on an even hour first thing in the morning and then
may run every nine minutes after that.

Bunker – A sand trap

Pin – Flagstick

Golf Shot Words

Slice – A shot that curves dramatically from left to right for a right-handed golfer.

Hook – A shot that curves dramatically from right to left for a right-handed golfer.

Topped Shot – A shot resulting from only hitting the very top of the golf ball.  Usually rolls along the ground. Also known as a thin shot.

Fat Shot – A shot, which results from hitting the ground before the ball. Usually causes a large chunk of grass and soil to fly through the air.  We call it “Hitting the big ball first”!

Putt – A shot played on the green that rolls along the ground.

Chip – A shot played near the green, which spends a little time in the air and then rolls along the ground like a putt.

FORE!!!! – What you shout when your ball is headed towards another player.  Presumably, “Hey look out I just hit my ball at you!!!” would take too long to say!!

Gimme – A short putt someone in your group says you don’t need to
hole out because you could never miss it!

Ace – A hole-in-one.

Mulligan – Playing a shot over.

Whiff – A swing, which misses the ball.

Handicap – For example, someone whose handicap is 16 is expected to shoot 88 on a Par 72 golf course

Golf Slang – (Just for Fun)

Go to the hip – Quit playing on a hole, as in pick up your ball and put it in your
hip pocket!!

Hacking – Playing poor golf

Three Jack, Three Stab, Three Tap – Take three putts.

Better throw a provisional – Said to someone who has just thrown a club that ended
up in the trees or bush.

Dance Floor – The green.

Jail – When you find your ball and there is no escape.

Army Golf – When a player hits shots left and then right and then left again…Left, Right, Left!!

Where bears go to die – Said after a ball goes particularly deep into the woods

Human rain delay – A very slow player.

Motorboat stroke – Said when someone three putts a lot! (putt putt putt putt putt…)

Shanks – Hitting golf shots off the hosel of the golf club resulting in shots that go directly sideways.

Lateral hazard – Someone who has the shanks.

Radio Station – A very high score. As in: “Bob fired a ‘radio station’ today. Was that 98 Rock or Magic 105?”

Turf hockey -When your divot travels further than your ball.

Playing croquet - Hitting two or more consecutive topped shots.

Drive – By Shooting – A whiffed drive

Banana Ball – A big slice

Taking it Deep – Shooting a low score

Laurel & Hardy – A ten on one hole

A Gust of Gravity – When your ball surprisingly stops short of the green.

Honk – A missed easy putt, as in: “I honked that two footer.”

Let The Big Dog Eat – Make a very aggressive swing with your driver.

Chief – Your driver

Assistant Chief – Your 3-wood

Please let me know if you or your group use different words for golf related subject matter.

GETTING STARTED in Golf

In this post, I will try to give you all the information to get you started for the golf season. You need to feel comfortable to continue playing golf. There are too many ladies quitting the game because they feel intimidated and uncomfortable. Hopefully this will help.

Buying Golf Equipment

When it is time to buy golf clubs they must be custom fitted to ensure they are suitable for the body type and swing motion of each individual.

Custom fitting includes the three parts of the golf club; head, shaft and grip.

• Head – look for head style and lie angle.
• Shaft – look for shaft type; steel or graphite, flex and length.
• Grip – look for style and thickness.

Custom Fitting determines these specifications.

Why Custom fit?

A properly fitted club will enable a golfer to most consistently hit shots in the center of the clubface aimed directly at a target.

Myth – “ I am not good enough to be club fit. I could use any equipment and it wouldn’t work”.

A golf club that is not fitted properly can affect a golfers swing motion negatively. A golfer will make adjustments in their swing motion, 
regardless of club used, to get a center hit aimed at the target. Most times this doesn’t work out.

Where can I get Custom Fitted and how much will it cost?

Most professional shops at golf courses offer this service. When looking for equipment an appointment can be arranged with a
 trained CPGA professional (me if you live in or near Victoria).

The cost of the fitting is usually included in the price of the equipment. However if this is not the case, a fitting will cost $35.00 to $50.00. A fitting will take 30 – 45 minutes in length.

What clubs do I need to get started?

A new golfer can start out with a modified set of clubs.

• One wood (5 or 7-wood)
• Four irons (5, 7, 9, PW, or SW)
• Putter
• Bag
• Balls and tees

A beginning golfer can get nicely equipped with woods, irons, putter, and a bag for as little as $350.00. For this price you can have your equipment perfectly suited to your needs.

Booking a Tee-Time

• Phone the Pro Shop at the course you would like to play.
• Ask if they make tee-times and if so, how far in advance can you make a booking.
• If possible, request a tee-time for your preferred day.
• Book your tee-time. Your time may sound odd like 11:23.
• It is very important for you to be there in plenty of time to tee off at that time.
• Tee times often run on 8 or 9-minute intervals so be ready to play at your time.
• Ask about present course conditions. For example, is the course really wet, are the greens in good condition, how long will it take to complete your round.
• Enquire about the dress code.
• Ask the price of the green fees for 18 or 9 holes

Choosing which tees to play

Tee selection should be made based on your skill level rather than gender.

Select the tee, which will allow you to reach the green on most holes in two shots less than the par if you hit good shots. For example, you should play the forward tees until you can comfortably reach most of the par-4 holes in two shots.

Remember, golf is supposed to be fun. Playing the golf course shorter will make it more enjoyable until your skill level warrants a bigger challenge.

This should be enough information to get you started in the right direction, but if you have any more questions please leave a comment as I know you won’t be the only one with that question.