Tag: nicklaus

Learning Golf from the Best

Learning Golf from the Best

I like to think we all seemed to have our heroes and greats in our early years. Growing up in front of a television had us dashing around with a sword or packing a six-shooter at our side. Depending on what we were watching at the time, whether it was in front of a television or out on some field watching a football game. We all seemed to mimic someone at one time or another. In our early years finding someone we admired as a Mentor kind of kept the spirit alive in direction and where we are today.

I often wondered back how I caught on to what some people call golf fever. Thinking back I often admired good golfers where I caddied. How I remembered getting excited when I watched a good golfer walk towards the first tee box. Standing there in anticipation of a huge drive to follow as the golfer teed up his ball, remembering how they maneuvered the golf ball off the tee box, watching the shot rise with a steady climb as it went out into the distance. I had to figure out then and there on how they did that by grabbing a stick or a nearby branch of any length and mimicking their swing. I use to take buckets of golf balls out to the practice range to try and accomplish that remarkable hitting distance. It just made me a better golfer trying.

Names like Kendal and Nadler sparked my excitement that took me where I am today in golf. To this day, because of my admiration of their golf game back then, it fired up the enthusiasm for years of golf that followed. The names may not have recognition to anybody else, but to me they were like a Palmer and Nicklaus as their names are to anybody today in the golf industry.

Kendal I admired because of his ability to take trees and woods out of play. His shots started out low with a steady climb upwards at about 200 yards out. His drives were so huge. I think then and there is where I caught the fever. His 5 wood took all the trees out of play. With today’s technology, I would like to view those same shots again.

Nadler was a different type of golfer. She liked to play a low draw shot or fade shot. Her ability to move a ball in any direction was uncanny. Going up and over trees was not her game. Nadler steered her golf shots around them, like she was navigating a vehicle on an obstacle course. Her golf game was kind of like, hit the ball just before the green and watch it bounce past a sand trap and roll in towards the flagstick. Nadler could steer the ball around sand traps, trees, and whatever obstacles that were in her way. I often thought her golf ball had eyes, because of how her golf shots would start out straight and come back in towards the flagstick. It was amazing to watch. I learned from her that a straight shot was not the only golf shot you needed to master to play good golf. Also playing the old bump and run approach is an alternative game to play, that she was a master at.

It was because of them, my enthusiasm for golf took me to a better game. I didn’t even think about watching it on television at the time. Sure I enjoy watching it on television today. You tend to slow down and take a more relaxed approach, or what you may call a golf couch approach at the game, as you get older. I guess the golf fever for me then, was being able to play golf like my Mentors, and there was nothing more enjoyable than actually trying to create a golf swing like theirs out on the course. I liked to think of them as Mentors, because it was them that taught me the potential thrill of playing good golf.

No matter what game of sports you play or want to learn. It could work for all walks of life. Go out and watch someone that is much better than you, and see if you can catch the excitement, to be as good, if not better. It could bring you to the top. If you’re persistent!

Find tips about bowling technique and bowling terminology at the Bowling Lessons website.

 

How to Cure a Slice With a Fade

How to Cure a Slice With a Fade

Most golfers believe that you have to draw the ball to be a good player.  However, some of the best players ever moved the ball left to right.  Guys like Hogan, Trevino and Nicklaus all played a fade.  So if you are trying to cure a slice you might want to consider turning into a fade instead of a draw.

 

Curing a slice with a fade is actually easier to do because you are already hitting the ball left to right.  You just need to get it under control.

 

The best way to approach this is to leverage some of the things you are already doing but fine tune them. There are just a few factors that create a fade.  From a physics standpoint a fade occurs when the clubface is only slightly open relative to the path of the clubhead.  If you are slicing the clubface is very open relative to the face. 

 

Grip

Let’s start with your grip.  The left hand should be on top of the shaft with at least one knuckle, (possibly two) showing.  Then fit your right hand to the left with the thumb of your left hand resting comfortably in the palm of your right hand.  You don’t want to have too strong of a grip or you will start hooking the ball. 

 

When you are trying to cure a slice and learning to play a fade this should feel close to your usual group.  Your grip will probably be a little stronger than usual but not a whole lot stronger.   Practice taking this grip over and over away from the driving range and golf course to make it feel natural.  When your grip reverts to its old form, and it will, just turn it over a little stronger to the right.

 

Setup

Since you are trying to cure a slice you already set up aimed to the left.  But you are aimed too far left.  So for starters take your normal aiming position and then turn everything a little more to the right.  Get your feet, hips and most importantly shoulders turned more to the right.  If moving all of these feels too awkward you can try leaving your feet and hips pointed where they are now but square up your shoulders more.  Your shoulders are the biggest determinant of the clubhead path.  Try and get your shoulders square. 

 

Swing

Here is the good news.  If you’ve followed the steps above you will still be able to swing a little out to in.  This should produce a gentle fade.  Many instructors will tell you to hit a fade by swinging from the inside but with a slightly open face.  However, the reality is that most slicers can’t easily change their swing path from outside-in to inside-out.  So let’s assume you’re still going to be a little out to in.  Make certain the grip is just strong enough to turn the slice into a fade. 

 

Here is another tip that may be different than what you are used to hearing.  If you are trying to cure your slice with a fade and you start hitting it left, then go at it a little harder with your body.  Yes, I said swing a little harder.  The reason is, if you swing a little harder with your legs and shoulders the clubhead will not be able to catch up so the ball will start to fade right again instead of going straight left.  

 

However, if you are still slicing the ball too much then swing a little easier.  Give the clubhead a chance to catch up with your body and swing past center.  This will get you squared up and producing the gentle fade you want.  . 

 

To cure the slice swing problems, start practicing with a middle iron.  Swing easy, you will be amazed how far you hit it.  If you normally hit a 6-iron 150 yards try and hit it only 130 yards.  Try and quiet down your lower body and swing your arms more.  If the ball starts going left instead of fading then swing a little more aggressively as we talked about above.  Once you’ve mastered this you will be able to play on any course with a controlled fade.

Bob Charles has worked in the Golf Industry for over 13 years and walked inside the ropes at many PGA Tour events. This experience gives him a unique insider’s perspective on the game of golf. To see how other golfers are learning how to cure a slice with a fade go to http://www.how-to-fix-a-Slice.blogspot.com/