Author: Ric De Vera

Greg Norman used to say the difference between a pro golfer and a good amateur player was the ability to hit a shot 172 yards instead of 175 yards. Davis Love III has said the big difference he sees between his pro-am partners and the pros themselves is the point in the swing where the most acceleration occurs: For amateurs, it happens between the top of the swing and impact; for pros it occurs between impact and the finish. Others say a Tour player’s club bottom out after impact, while an amateur’s does so just before the ball. Regardless, we all know that the pros do it the “correct” way, while the rest of us are simply trying to achieve a semblance of correctness.

The important thing to remember when taking advice from professional golfers is that the tips they’re providing have been proven through trial and error and have obviously held up under the toughest pressure. For this reason, pro tips carry more weight than those you get from a member of your foursome or even your local PGA Professional. This doesn’t mean everything they say will necessarily work for you, but you can bet that the advice they’re giving you is sound. (Extract from Golf tips editor, Michael Chwasky, Nov/Dec 08 issue)

How to cure slice:

Most amateur players who slice only have a vague idea of why they do so. Some think it’s due to their swing path or their release, and some even blame their equipment. The angle of the clubface is an element they often overlook. However, the simple fact is that if a shot moves left to right, you can be sure the clubface is open at impact. A great way to make sure the clubface isn’t open at the “moment of truth” is to get your left forearm to rotate through impact.

To see the correct rotation, try this simple drill using your watch. Turn your watch so the face is on the underside of the wrist of your lead arm (the left arm for right-handed golfers, the right arm for left-handed golfers). Keep your lead elbow a couple of inches from your side and rotate your forearm so you can see the entire face of the watch. The left wrist should be flat. This should help you visualize the proper rotation in your swing and also prevent you from flipping the club with your wrists at impact.

If you don’t rotate the clubface at all, the face of the watch remains pointed at the ground. During your swing, this incorrect movement results in the open clubface that causes a slice. If you try to rotate with your wrist and not your forearm, you won’t see the entire face.

Do this drill with your lead arm alone before practicing with both hands on the club. Continue to work on this movement until you see the watch face consistently, and your slicing woes will disappear for good. (Nick Kumpis)

Tips for Chipping:

For chipping, the key is to set up in a pre-set impact position so all you have to do is let your hips turn to bring the club back to impact. The important setup keys are: Play the ball off your right ear with the clubface pointed at the target; create one line with your left arm and the club; keep your hips slightly open; and shift more weight to your left side.

The key to good chipping is having trust in your fundamentals and playing with feel. Create a picture in your mind of the shot you want to execute rather than concentrating on mechanics. To create more feel with the club, make sure you take few practice swings to check that you’re scuffing the grass ahead of the ball. This will ensure that you contact the ball with descending strike. At the end of your practice swing, look closely at your landing area – try to make the feel of your practice swing match the picture.

Tips for Pitching:

The setup for pitching is similar to that of chipping in that you want to set your hands and club into a pre-set impact position. From there, all you have to do is let your hips turn so the clubhead comes back to the proper position. The important setup keys are: Play the ball off your nose with the clubface slightly open to take advantage of the club’s bounce; create one line with your left arm and the shaft; and keep your wrists relaxed and your hips slightly open.

When you’re playing, you have to trust your technique and focus on swinging through the shot to solid finish. It’s critical that you accelerate through your impact zone. Remember, you want to create spin, not loft, in the pitch shot, so you have to hit down and through the ball. Take a few practice swings with your eyes on the landing area you’ve chosen and remember the feel of the swing. Set up, take one last look and focus on the length of the swing you want to make. Re-create this feel, and your results will be good. (By Glenn Deck)

Regardless of the outcome, the most important thing is you’re enjoying what you’re doing. Happy golfing!