How to Hit the Golf Ball on an Uphill Lie

How to Hit the Golf Ball on an Uphill Lie

Uphill lies make the game of golf a bit more challenging. This happens when the ball is positioned level with your feet at address but the slope is uphill. Here we have a couple of simple tips to help you successfully execute a shot on an uphill lie.

The uphill lie is considered to be the easiest shot to play, but if you do struggle with this type of shot the reason for your problem may be that your angle of attack on the ball is too steep. This causes you to hit down into the ground and you hit the ball fat.

Before you hit your shot there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. Firstly, the angle of the slope will cause you to hit the ball a lot higher and shorter than you usually do. You should therefore select a club that has slightly less loft to cancel out the effect that the slope will have on your ball.

Secondly, you will notice that the ball will tend to draw slightly from an uphill lie and therefore you should aim a little right to compensate for this.

Thirdly, you should check your shoulder alignment. The ideal position for your shoulders to be in, is in a position parallel to the ground, ie. the same angle as the slope. Therefore your left shoulder should be positioned slightly higher than your right shoulder. This will prevent you from hitting the ball fat.

A very important thing to remember is that the position of the ball in your stance should be in the middle for the shorter irons and further forward for the longer ones.

Lastly, make sure that after impact you have a high follow through. This basically means let the path of your swing follow the angle of the slope on approach, through the contact area and after impact.

I hope this helps.

Jakobus Nel is the owner and editor of a successful golf instructional website. Do you want to play your best golf ever?

My Torn Rotator Cuff – Nearly Made Me Pack In Golf

My Torn Rotator Cuff – Nearly Made Me Pack In Golf

Article by Nick Bryant

As I am a slightly older dad with young kids I do try hard to try to stay fit and active so that I can keep up with my kids as they grow uo. I also enjoy a game of golf, a good walk ruined as they say. I’m not a briiliant player as I never get to play as often as I would like but I do enjoy it, so was really hacked off when I developed a shoulder problem that stopped me playing.

It wasn’t actually as simple as that. The shoulder injury turned out to be nothing less than a torn rotator cuff which prevented me from doing any sort of activity. It was painful when I walked or ran, even though I am right handed, any sudden movement could cause serious pain in my left shoulder. If I forgot for a moment and made a sudden movement I could end up crying with pain. I know exactly how I did it. I was being impatient and trying to lift some flat packed furniture on my own rather than waiting for help, felt a pop in my shoulder and that was that. Shoulder messed up| The next morning I woke up with a painful shoulder and it just got worse with each passing day.

I couldn’t reach much above shoulder height, reaching for anything was impossible. I couldn’t reach behind me. I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t get comfortable and doing anything with the kids was impossible. Golf was just not going to happen for the forseeable future. So I took myself off to the doctors who sent me to a specialist. He diagnosed my torn rotator cuffand confirmed it with an MRI scan. Your shoulder joint is a simple ball and socket joint. Unlike the hip, the socket is made up of cartilage and not bone like in the hip, and doesn’t grip the bone of the arm. Instead, a group of four muscles help to hold the arm in place and stabilise the shoulder joint. These make up the rotator cuff. I had managed to tear one of these muscles which caused inflammation. Because all the muscles fit snuggly together any inflammation causes an impingement or pinching.

The muscle that I had torn is called the supraspinatus. I had torn a tendon that runs under my clavicle or collar bone and the end of my scapula or shoulder blade. Because it was inflammed, each time that I moved in a certain wayit got pinched or impingedpinched and was aggravated. I was recommended for surgery to cut away part of my collar bone to free up the trapped tendon and allow it to heal without any more damage. It all sounded very easy but I was a bit worried.

Being in the UK we are used to waiting for surgery so I took the time to find out about rotator cuff problems while waiting for my surgery date. Having read up on my injury extensively I finally discovered that most rotator cuff problems are treated with physical therapy.Even a torn rotator cuff can be fixed in this way, as long as it is only a partial tear. You start off by resting the joint to allow the inflammation to calm down, treating it with anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen and using ice packs. Once the inflammation and pain have calmed down you can start gentle physical therapy exercises aimed at strengthening the rotator cuff

Within six weeks my shoulder was pain free and the movement had improved dramatically. A few more weeks saw me return to full fitness. I have put off the surgery and will probably be cancelling it altogether if I remain pain free.

In the meantime I am playing golf again, still losing but hey, I do have a bad shoulder!

About the Author

If you want to know how i fixed myshoulder impingement without shoulder surgery that I was told I needed, check out my story at http://www.strongershoulders.com

Slicing The Ball? Understand Why And Cure It Forever

Slicing The Ball? Understand Why And Cure It Forever

Curring a slice can seem like a lifetimes work but it doesn’t have to be that way.If you understand the mechanics of the golf swing you can get rid of the slice affliction forever. Untill the time comes when you need a great raking curve ball around a tree to half the match with your playing partners.

Ok that said what causes the slice?

The slice happens when the club comes into the impact area from outside the target line, with the club face open and with a steep angle of attack.

This is caused by the upper body ( shoulders ) starting the downswing, throwing the club out and away from the body which is the complete opposite of what you should be trying to achieve.

So if you take the club to the top of your backswing, and we’ll take it for granted that you have made a full shoulder turn ( 90 degrees ) and only 45 degrees in the hips. From here a slice would come from the hips staying still and the shoulders starting things down. This you’ll notice makes the club move away from you and travel towards the ball from about two feet away from your right toes and on a path towards around six inches from your left toes. So steep and outside the target line inside.

Now compare that to the right way.

Back to the top of the swing and now start by rotating the hips first. You’ll notice the right shoulder naturally drops somewhat. Now continue turning and watch the path this time. The club is now coming from about 6 inches from the right toes to impact, more from close to you to impact and away. The opposite to the slice.

The way I got this motion was to hold a football in both hands at your right hip and now take your golf stance and throw the ball over your left shoulder ( right motion ).

Hope this article will help to cure your slice for good.

Steve has been a keen golfer for over 30 years. He still loves the game and plays on a regular basis. His current handicap is 2. If this tip was helpful to you and you would like to see and hear more of the same. Please go here. http://easyswing.info

Tips for Correcting a Slice in Your Golf Swing

Tips for Correcting a Slice in Your Golf Swing

Here we’re going to discuss one of the most common issues with the golf swing… the dreaded golf slice. There are seemingly countless issues that can led to slicing in the the golf swing, and we’ll discuss some time-tested corrections that can help you get rid of that slice in your golf swing.

Address

One of the most frequent causes of the slice happens during address. Most golfers prefer a square stance at address, where the feet, hips, and shoulders are in line with the target. If you move your left foot too far forward, the club face is likely to open at impact and the ball will fly to the right. The left foot should be directly under the left shoulder.The same holds true for the shoulders and hips. Unless they too are square at impact, the ball will not fly straight and true. Your body must be in complete alignment and totally square to the ball when the club hits the ball. That’s the first step…

Grip

The next step is correcting the grip. Many newer players grasp the club too tightly, which can cause the club head to open as it strikes the ball. Again, this will make the ball fly to the right. If the grip is too loose, the head will wobble at impact and that, too, can lead to slicing or hooking.There are several different types of grips, but to cure the slice in your golf swing, start with a neutral grip. It works for the majority of golfers, and it’s a good base to start and it’s easier to make adjustments from a totally neutral position. To check that your grip is neutral: you should be able to see two or three of your left-hand knuckles. If you cannot see any knuckles at all, this is a sign of an improper grip. As your hands come back into the hitting zone, they will rotate to a neutral position, causing the face to open.Rotate your hands—not the club, just your hands—until you see a couple of knuckles. Try hitting a few balls using this new grip. Keep in mind that minor adjustments to your grip can go a long way. Keep working at it until you discover the right position for you. Once you have it, remember it!

Tempo

When correcting a slice, swing tempo is important. Many golfers have a tendency to try to use their arms as their power source to get some extra yards, but this almost never works. Once they get to the top of their backswing, they allow their hands to take over and lead the downswing. As the hands come down, with everything else following, the club face will almost undoubtedly open. From start to finish, your swing should be smooth and relaxed. Avoid the temptation to jerk the club once you get to the top of your backswing. Let your hips start the downswing and everything else will follow.

Above all, correcting a slice is a matter of finding the one or two things you are doing wrong and fixing them. This, of course, takes time and patience. If you work through the possible causes, you will eventually find the solution, and your enjoyment of the game will soar to new levels.

Sign up for my FREE newsletter and get golf tips designed to help you lower your golf score by as much as 7 strokes. Even if you don’t drive 300 yards, you can improve your golf game. At http://golftipsforyou.com, I’ll show you how.

The Best Solution to Drawing a Golf Ball – 4 Easy Steps

The Best Solution to Drawing a Golf Ball – 4 Easy Steps

Article by Sean O’Kelly

Most of us who don’t hit the golf ball for great distance hope to improve our long game by drawing, or imparting a little hook, on our long shots. For any beginner as well as some intermediate players this might initially appear extremely hard, however with a little knowledge of what we are attempting to accomplish plus a little practice, anyone can be hitting this shot consistently.

There are two key benefits to draw the golf ball:

• Distance. Hitting a ball which has a hook spin will cause the ball to roll a greater distance than will a fade spin.

• Accuracy. If we are able to consistently strike the ball with a controlled draw, we could aim to the right of our target and allow the golf ball to shape toward our target area.

So to understand how to draw a golf ball, we have to first consider the grip. The main elements, then, to get a hook grip are as follows:

1. Place the grip of the club along the base of the fingers. This permits you to produce increased power as a result of greater wrist hinge, while doing so enhancing your control, or feel, for the club.

2. Do not grasp the club too hard. As the great Sam Snead once said, “If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they’d starve to death”.

3. When gripping the golf club using a normal grip, the “V” between your thumb and forefinger points at the right shoulder for right-handed golfers, and the left shoulder for left-handed golfers.

4. To draw a golf ball, make use of a strong grip, which can be achieved merely by moving your hands on the club so the “V” is to the right of your right shoulder (and of course to the left of your left shoulder for lefties). This will automatically shut the face of the club as it approaches the ball, imparting a counter-clockwise, or hook spin.

These simple methods to draw the golf ball are only general, as each golfer will have to experiment how strong his grip must be for the ideal effect. For example, those with naturally strong hands might find a stronger grip unnecessary to bring the club into proper position.

The final component that must accompany the hook grip to properly draw the golf ball is correct swing path. In the event the club on impact doesn’t go through the ball, that is, if it cuts across the ball on an outside to inside path, the closed face of the club will result in a “pull” shot. This for a right-handed golfer will cause the ball to go far to the left. The path of the golf club head needs to be on a slightly inside to outside plain. The desired result will be achieved when the grip and the swing path of the club work together.

About the Author

My name is Sean O’Kelly, for more tips and information on how to improve your long game, click HERE, and for an interesting perspective on how to play golf for free, click HERE for a 50 page guide.

How to Stop Slicing the Ball

How to Stop Slicing the Ball

For recreational golfers, no part of the golf game is more frustrating than getting great contact on a drive…only to see it slice 50 yards into the woods. To compensate, many golfers make “on-the-fly” adjustments that usually make the problem worse! In this article, I’ll give you FIVE FAQ’s on key swing fundamentals that will help you to stop slicing a golf ball. (These FAQ’s are for right-handers..for left-handers, reverse the directions)

FAQ 1:

The Setup — When a basketball defender is guarding his man, he tries to be perfectly balanced so that he can quickly react to the direction that his opponent is going. If he is leaning right, the offensive player could easily exploit that. In a similar way, you must be properly balanced as you setup to the ball. Bend your knees, get set and avoid leaning to the right or to the left. If you aren’t set properly, your swing is doomed before it begins! If you are perfectly balanced, you’ll be less likely to slice the ball.

FAQ 2:

The Shoulders — When you swing a club, your right shoulder should be LOWER than your left shoulder at the moment of impact! This is a common mistake of many golfers who have problems with slices. When you examine your swing at the moment of impact, if you find that you are one of the many golfers who keeps your left shoulder lower than your right, than you have found the probable cause of your slice!

FAQ 3:

Proper Grip — A quick test to make sure you have the proper grip is to insert two golf tees between your thumb and the webbing of your hand while gripping the club. If the tees point toward the target, than your weak grip is a typical slicer’s mistake. Make sure both tees are pointing straight in front of you.

FAQ 4:

Flat Left Wrist — At the top of your swing, make sure your wrist is flat. A loose wrist or a wrist that is at an angle will cause you to slice the ball. Many who slice the ball find that they have a tendency to cup their wrist at the top of their swing. Keeping that wrist flat and straight will help keep the slice out of your game.

FAQ 5:

Proper Hand Rotation — After you have hit the ball, where are your hands? Your right hand, or ungloved hand, should rotate over and be on top of your left hand after you have struck the ball. If you’re not rotating your hands in this manner, you will find it very difficult to keep your ball straight!

If you are able to implement these five FAQ’s, you should soon stop slicing the ball, see your drives heading down the fairway, and you’ll definitely see your scores start improving dramatically..

Please see my popular website in the field of golf tips. Visit my website here!

Learn how to fix your golf slice today!

Process to Correcting a Slice – Golf Slice Swing Correction Tips

Like any golf strategy, correcting a slice is a process. By working your way through the possible culprits, you will eventually find the cause of your problem. Here are some time-tested tips on correcting a slice.

Although there are countless issues that can lead to slicing the ball, some are more common than others. One of the most frequent causes happens during address.

Most golfers prefer a square stance at address, where the feet, hips, and shoulders are in line with the target. If you move your left foot too far forward, the club face is likely to open at impact and the ball will fly to the right. The left foot should be directly under the left shoulder.

The same holds true for the shoulders and hips. If they are not square, the ball will not fly straight and true.

Your Grip is Key in Correcting a Slice:

Along with tightness, your grip on the club should be neutral. Check your grip by looking down at it. You should be able to see two or three of your left-hand knuckles. If you cannot see any knuckles at all, this is a sign of an improper grip. As your hands come back into the hitting zone, they will rotate to a neutral position, causing the face to open.

Rotate your hands—not the club, just your hands—until you see a couple of knuckles. Try hitting a few balls using this new grip. Keep in mind that minor adjustments to your grip can go a long way. Keep working at it until you discover the right position for you. Once you have it, remember it!

Tempo, Do this and Correct Your Slice:

From start to finish, your swing should be smooth and relaxed. Avoid the temptation to jerk the club once you get to the top of your back swing. Let your hips start the downswing and everything else will follow.

Take a Look at Your Divot, Learn to Notice a Slice Divot:

Another useful tip to correct your slice is to look at your divot. If your divot is pointing too far to the right, this may be your problem. Again, check your posture at address and make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are in line with the target.

More tips on hitting the ball straight in this post.