‘Mastering’ Articles at Golf Product Review by Experienced Golf Balls

Mastering the Basics of the Golf Swing

Article by Howard Brule

You are an aspiring golfer who isn’t scoring the way you want. Welcome to the world of golf because golf is a difficult game to excel at. Maybe you can play the game okay, but just aren’t performing the way you know you can. Is it a swing problem that is the source of your problems? Here are a few suggestions to help you see some golf swing improvement.

The place to start, no matter if you are a scratch golfer or high handicapper is with a dedicated practice routine. Set up a routine that focuses on your troublesome areas as well as key in on the other critical aspects of your golf swing.

You can arrange for Golf lessons from a golf professional, but before you take that route there are some simple things you can try on your own to improve your basic swing. Golf theory may be worth studying but it is important to have at least the basics of a swing before spending hard earned dollars on instruction.

A helpful way to think of improving your swing is to think of it as giving your swing the g-a-s, as in grip, alignment and stance. The first step toward golf swing improvement is taking a close look at your grip. Your hands should come together naturally and comfortably on the club. If you swing right handed, hooking the pinky finger of your right hand over the index finger of your left is a great way to start. Hold the shaft of the club lightly without tension. There is no need to hold the club tightly in your hands to put a good hit on the ball.

Many players who have difficulty striking the ball with power find their alignment is wrong. You should be aiming where you want the ball to go with your shoulders parallel to the intended line of flight. Most inexperienced golfers take a “closed” stance with their body and shoulders aimed out to the right (for right handers.) You can overcome this by simply shifting your body slightly to a more “open” position when you take your stance. This will help you avoid swinging “across” the ball – the primary source of the slice.

Golf swing improvement will occur naturally if you are aiming correctly and have a good athletic stance. Your knees should be bent slightly, your spine angled forward but fairly straight, and your rear end in something of a sitting position. Don’t be tense. You should be relaxed when you swing a golf club.

Now, before you swing, step back from your ball and take a practice swing. Sweep the club head back and up keeping your arms extended and cocking your wrists as the club is taken up.

Your head should remain quite still and you should try to avoid “sliding” your body back as you take the club around and up. Taking the club back should be a rotational movement with your spine remaining more or less stationary and angled in the same way while rotating your upper body around your spine. As you take the club up and back your shoulders will naturally turn and the club will end up parallel to the target line. Then, keeping that athletic stance, throw the club out and back and down through the ball as you rotate your hips and upper body around your spine.

The golf swing may seem difficult at first but with a bit of dedication toward improving your swing you will almost certainly see an improvement in your game in a matter of weeks. Get to a practice facility or driving range, warm up, then practice swinging using the proper grip, stance and alignment and you will definitely see golf swing improvement. Then once you have mastered the basics you can take your game to the next level.

About the Author

Anton Brule is an avid golfer and student of the golf swing. He makes regular contributions to Internet Golf Review and recommends this free 7 part golf swing improvement course.

Mastering The Three Wood

Why – because players who hit a lot of greens in regulation tend to have lower golf handicaps. Those who don’t tend to have higher golf handicaps. The 3-wood is a great club for aggressive players. It’s also a great club for senior players who may have lost some flexibility and power over the years, but can still play well.

The 3-wood is the second longest club in your bag, so it can be hard to hit for some. Hitting a crisp 3-wood from a tight lie is especially challenging, as I tell students attending my golf instruction sessions, no matter how good you are.

You can use the 3-wood in man situations. Since it’s shorter than the driver, it’s easier to control, so you can use it off the tee on tight fairways. Using the 3-wood ton the tee may cost you some distance, but it increases your chances of hitting the fairway.

In fact, some players who can’t hit a driver hit a 3-wood off the tee instead. Players also use the 3-wood to chip with when on the fringe, in a fairway bunker if the bunker’s lip is low, and on long par-3s when there’s a head wind. But the 3-wood is used mostly off the deck on par 5s, when you need a good second shot. Another common use of the 3-wood is on long par 4s, where you need a long second shot to reach the green. Hitting a good 3-wood there can put you on the green in two, something neither a long iron nor a hybrid can do.

If you can master the 3-wood off the deck, you can save a lot of strokes. Sweep The Ball From The Fairway Unlike irons, which require a downward blow, the 3-wood (and other fairway woods) need a sweeping motion that strikes the ball as the clubhead moves parallel to the ground.

Below are five keys to hitting the 3-wood:

1. Keep your weight balanced

2. Position the ball opposite your front heel

3. Keep you head and body behind the ball

4. Pull the club through with your lead hand

5. Extend your arms on the follow-through

To hit the 3-wood off the deck, you must take a wide stance similar to that used for a driver. Position the ball opposite your front heel or in some cases, slightly back from this position, and your weight balanced comfortably on the balls of your feet.

Start your swing on a low path that almost skims the grass to replicate the shallow path you want to take on your downswing. Keep your back shoulder level and pull your right hand (left for left-handers) through with your other hand. Above all, stay behind the ball after impact. Brush through the ball and extend your arms toward the target on the follow-through – something a lot of players I find in my golf lessons must work on.

Not Designed For High Shots

The 3-wood is designed to hit a line drive type of shot. But you don’t need to feel that you have to help it get the ball in the air. The 3-woord has more than enough loft to drive the ball forward for distance. If you need to hit something with more loft, use the 5-wood. It provides less distance but more height than the 3-wood.

In the right circumstances, the 5-wood can be just as effective as the 3-wood. The 3-wood is a great club in the right hands. It’s not as versatile as a hybrid, but it’s more versatile than the driver. Don’t be afraid to hit it. Used wisely, it can set you up for short shots into the green on par 5s or serve as the club of choice off the tee. If you’re serious about improving your game, master the 3-wood. It will shave strokes from your scores and your golf handicap.

Golf Swing Tips