Randalls Island Golf School
Swing Tips
Check in here for swing advice for your game.
Experiment
If you aren't happy with your ball flight, don't be afraid to experiment with your grip, ball position, swing path and swing shape. Best grips keep the palms aligned (hands like a praying position), have the top hand heel pad (the one down from your baby finger) on top of the grip (where the arrows and writing/logos are) and the base section of the lower hand index finger on the trail side (side away from target) with a slight separation from the middle finger (in a like pulling a trigger position). Whew. Now try turning those praying hands (both of them) more to the right or left. This should change where the face of the club points. Move your ball position further forward of back to change the angle your club is moving on at impact. Change you path. In your address position hold a golf ball in your trailing (away from target) hand and imagine you are bowling the ball to the right or left of the target. Duplicate these arm swinging motions on short shots. Change the shape of your swing by feeling your swing more in the shape of a ferris wheel and then in the shape of a merry-go-round. One or more of these changes should produce a ball flight change. Your main job is to get the face of the club looking at the target at impact. Try to swing effortlessly and tension free as you make these changes.
Provide Your Pro Feedback
Be an active participant in your lesson. By that I mean, let your pro know what you are thinking, what you are experiencing and your concept of what you are trying to do. I've seen many people multiple times and then out of the blue hear, "well I'm trying to do....., or I was told to.....". What you tell your pro can be very revealing and a tremendous help. Don't ever be embarrassed to speak up about your swing concept. Many aspects of swinging the golf club are counterintuitive to what most people think. Improving your technique is a team effort, and you are responsible for more than just swinging during a lesson.
Build a Solid Base
Build a solid base with an athletic stance, knees flexed, bend forward at the hips, back straight, arms hanging and feel like you are in a ready to move position or a solid "New York won't be pushed off my spot stance". Now watch the tour players on TV or in the magazines and look at the top of their backswings and take note of their right legs. They don't look like they have gone anywhere on their backswings, not much straightening or lateral move, and they haven't, legs separated and knees pretty level. If you have the flexibility try this for yourself. Your flexibility might not allow as big a swing as you are used to, and this might not be for you.
Better Putting
How's your putting? Next time you're watching golf on TV, look for these two things. Leg/hip movement and putter shaft angle. You'll see that the pros don't move their hips/legs during their strokes. To get the correct feel either have someone hold your hips while you putt, or at home hit some putts with your seat against a wall, don't let your seat move. As for the shaft angle, get in front of a mirror(either putting towards or away from it) and match the angle of the shaft to the angle of your forearms. You might have to slide up or down the grip or change your distance from the ball to get in line. Once there you might find you need a putter adjustment. Make both of these changes, keep your head still and you'll be making more putts.
Club Head Lag
We all want more club head lag, that's where the
power is, we see it in the slow motion replays every weekend. Lag is
the head of the club trailing the handle on the downswing, the
longer it trails the more power.
Lag is a result,
meaning it happens instead of trying to make it happen. First,
you've got to get the tension out of your wrists and arms, loosen
up. Second, you've got to get moving. To get moving and feel motion,
get moving with some "related sports" motions, such as: throwing,
start with a small tossing motion and build to a long throw,
bowling, same thing, small roll to faster roll, fly fishing, start
with small casts then cast it further and further. Notice how you
use your body more and more to add more energy to the motion, and
how your body moving in the direction of the throw leads the action.
Now grab your club and pretend it's a fishing pole, cast back and
forth, back and forth, further and further. Now make some swings
using the same body motion to lead the forward motion. Make sure
your back swing has motion too. The whole thing will probably feel a
bit out of control, and that's a good thing. When we "hit at" the
ball we aren't "swinging through it", like the ball isn't there.
Lagging the club head is especially challenging because you won't
feel like you are aiming and controlling the club, but that's how it
works Give it a try.
