Golf Monthly Instruction Tips

[Gary]

I have been playing golf for about 3 years. As a latecomer to the game (I am 50), I devoured every bit of advice, intruction book, DVD, and tip I could. It probably comes as no surprise that I found that some tips contradict others, and I think the truth is that one has to find what works best for oneself. In the September 2009 edition of Golf Monthly there are a couple of tips on fairway woods which I thought might be useful. On page 81 we learn that, to hit high, backspinning fairway woods we should put the ball BACK in our stance. On page 104 we are told that, to hit low, running fairway woods, we should... PUT THE BALL BACK IN OUR STANCE! Can't help feeling that the true secrets to this game have to be unlocked from some mystical vault by ritual sacrifice....

 

[adamk15]

I think I remember in one mag one tip given for greenside bunkers was not to open the clubface but later on they said to open the clubface and aim further left.

I agree with you, you have to try different techniques and find which works best.

I suppose the mag is just trying to explain these techniques so that we can decide which are best for us?

 

[Ken_A]

Its simple - what works for me might not work for you - perhaps your slice is a product of alignment, perhaps mine is a product of not turning my hands over.

There is no one answer - and thats why golf is so great.

 

[Ken_A]

Did I say great? change that to hateful - no great - no hateful - no great - no hateful...............................

 

[Gary]

I agree.
There's no doubt that touring pros and teaching pros have probably forgotten more that I have learned. I wish there were a teaching manual written by a 19-handicapper (like me). I'm sure our perception of what's going on with our swings is entirely different. Maybe Golf Monthly should have 'Tips From a Hacker' - simple stuff, like keep your head still. That's another one which gets mucked about with. Watch any pro, the head stays rock steady. They might think theirs moves a bit, and I might think mine isn't, but compared to them, I am headbanging! Recently, I was given a tiny, 62 page pocket book called "Don'ts for Golfers" which was written in 1925. Apart from the fact that the sports psychologists would be apoplectic about the use of the word "Don't", it contains a wealth of basic common sense tips which are valid, and often repeated today.

 

[viscount17]

Maybe Golf Monthly should have 'Tips From a Hacker' - simple stuff, like keep your head still. That's another one which gets mucked about with. Watch any pro, the head stays rock steady.

I beg to differ. I've got a string of shots that I took of Lee Westwoods swing. There was a hoarding behind him. His head position moves a lot.

 

[Parmo]

Don't read them anymore, they are far more distructive than benefit for my game, they create far too many swing thoughts.

 

[muttleee]

Maybe Golf Monthly should have 'Tips From a Hacker' - simple stuff, like keep your head still. That's another one which gets mucked about with. Watch any pro, the head stays rock steady.

I beg to differ. I've got a string of shots that I took of Lee Westwoods swing. There was a hoarding behind him. His head position moves a lot.

Yeah. And Annika Sorenstam and David Duval don't even look at the ball when they hit it. Eg. see Annika's swing:

 

[MizunoMan]

Instruction lolss

The best advice is to get the basics right, alighnment, grip. Find the correct tempo for yourself and hit 1000's and 1000's of balls.

For most of us its the last bit we struggle with.

At the end of the day i bet eveyone on here would have a direct relationship between the number of balls hit and their handicap.

 

[bobmac]

Gary, in answer to your OP.........
If you play your 3 wood back in your stance you will have less loft at impact. Therefor the ball will start lower, ok?
If however you hit it hard, you will create more backspin which helps the ball lift, thus giving a higher spinning shot.
If you hit it smoothly, it will have less spin, therefor flying lower and running more.
Hope that helps a bit with your original question

 

[MizunoMan]

Gary, in answer to your OP.........
If you play your 3 wood back in your stance you will have less loft at impact. Therefor the ball will start lower, ok?
If however you hit it hard, you will create more backspin which helps the ball lift, thus giving a higher spinning shot.
If you hit it smoothly, it will have less spin, therefor flying lower and running more.
Hope that helps a bit with your original question

He didnt have a question!!

 

[muttleee]

Yeah. And Annika Sorenstam and David Duval don't even look at the ball when they hit it. Eg. see Annika's swing:

Heyyyy what happened to my pic?? It was there when I previewed the post. Ah well...here's a different one, still showing Annika's head movement:

 

[haplesshacker]

I don't know why, perhaps the more 'golf' educated can explain this to me. But pic 2 just looks odd!? I mean it looks all bunched up 'an everything. Maybe I've just got it wrong?

 

[CrapHacker]

I have been playing golf for about 3 years. As a latecomer to the game (I am 50), I devoured every bit of advice, intruction book, DVD, and tip I could.

It's alright for you. I used to play this game in the late 70s and 80s, before starting again this year.

And I did all the reading and learning I could back then.

So not only is it sometimes contradictory, it's also blimmin out of date !

Apparantly nowadays irons are 'Left,left, left' Whilst the driver is 'Right, right, right'. For a right hander, of course.