What causes a pulled shot on a golf swing?
The pull -- a shot that starts left and stays on that line -- usually comes from hitting too hard with the right arm and shoulder. The shoulder lurches out toward the ball at the start of the downswing, which throws the club to the outside, causing an out-to-in swing at impact. The clubface is square to the path, so the ball flies straight left.
When to hit a good shot in golf?
The first drive after a long wait Hard to hit a good shot when you haven’t had the chance to re-warm up. 2. When the group ahead is letting you play through Don’t hit a bad shot and make them regret their decision. 3. The next shot after a shank Was the one shank a fluke, or is it about to torment your entire round? 4. Short-sided in a deep bunker
Why do I keep getting pop-ups in my golf shots?
Jason Guss, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, says pop-ups usually happen when your chest is too much over your front foot at address, with your weight too far forward. Guss says make sure your sternum is behind your belt buckle when you set up with a driver.
Is swaying bad in golf swing?
Pricing may vary. Jack Nicklaus’ centered turn is a move to strive for. In short, swaying is bad, because it means the bottom of your golf swing is moving all over the place during your swing, which is makes it impossible to hit the ball with consistent contact — hence the chunked iron shots.
What is the sound of a golf swing?
The Sound Of The Golf Swing : NPR. The Sound Of The Golf Swing Manufacturers work to perfect the sound drivers make when the ball is hit just right. Scott Simon talks with Tom Mase, who teaches mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University.
When did Gary Adams come up with the Persimmon Metal driver?
MASE: Absolutely. You know, back in 1979, Gary Adams came up with the Pittsburgh Persimmon Metal driver, and they tried to make it sound like wood for most of the '80s. And then there was a transition where they said, hey, let's not put in this urethane foam.
Who is the producer of the Ping G20?
Our producer, James Delahoussaye, went to a driving range in Washington, D.C. He met a golfer named Allan Soobert (ph) who was smacking balls downrange with his Ping G20. He said he has a newer driver, but he left it in the car. ALLAN SOOBERT: This one has a cank (ph) to it.
Who teaches mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University?
Manufacturers work to perfect the sound drivers make when the ball is hit just right. Scott Simon talks with Tom Mase, who teaches mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University.
Who makes NPR transcripts?
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc. , an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary.
How far away are your hips from the target?
GOLFTEC found in their study that higher handicaps slide their hips away from the target about 1.5 inches more than lower handicaps. It’s why, by the time they get to impact, their hips are about half-an-inch further away from the target than where they started.
Why is Jack Nicklaus' centered turn bad?
In short, swaying is bad, because it means the bottom of your golf swing is moving all over the place during your swing, which is makes it impossible to hit the ball with consistent contact — hence the chunked iron shots. As we wrote about here, weight shift happens in ...
Is hip slide bad?
Why hip slide is bad. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard about the concept of ‘shifting your weight’ in the golf swing. You set up to the golf ball, turn over to your trail side on the backswing, and then back to your lead side on the downswing. It sounds pretty simple, because in many ways it is. Shifting your weight like this is ...
Who is Luke Kerr-Dineen?
Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF .com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
Who is Luke Kerr?
Luke Kerr-Dineen. Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
1. Too many thoughts
Thinking too much when you’re over the ball can result in paralysis by analysis. Try to get one solid swing thought and stick to it. Don’t overcomplicate an already complex game.
2. Not factoring elements
How many times have you rushed to hit a shot only to realize after the fact that you were facing a strong headwind that causes the ball to come up well short? Instead of rushing to hit the shot, take a second to analyze the wind, lie, slope and elevation that will affect your ball flight.
3. Alignment
It might seem elementary, but make sure you are aimed where you think you are. Put an alignment stick or extra club down your target line at the range and make sure your aim matches with where you think you’re aiming.
4. Too far or close to the ball
Make sure your setup is tuned up before you head to the course. If you have a poor setup, it’ll make hitting a solid shot that much more difficult.
5. Too much time over the ball
This goes along with the first point above. Don’t stand over the ball too long or you may psyche yourself out. If you find yourself standing over the ball too long, step off the shot, regroup and get back into it.
6. Tension
Stay loose over the ball! Don’t try to squeeze the life out of the club. Relax.
7. Fear
Don’t focus on what could go wrong. Instead, focus on the shot you want to execute. If your mind is on the water hazard right of your target, chances are you’ll hit it in there. Keep your mind on what you want to do, not what you don’t want to do.
1. The first drive after a long wait
Hard to hit a good shot when you haven’t had the chance to re-warm up.
3. The next shot after a shank
Was the one shank a fluke, or is it about to torment your entire round?
5. Downhill putt inside 10 feet
You should make it, technically, but this is about as difficult as an short putt can get.
6. Greenside bunker with water long
Like the bunker at the back of Augusta’s 12th hole, if you hit it in there and hit your next shot too hard, and you may be taking a drop on your next one.
7. Downhill lie in the bunker
Especially when you’ve short-sided yourself, there may be no tougher shot in golf. The key here is to align your shoulders with the slope.
10. Any blind shot
Golf is hard enough as it is, let alone when you can’t see where you’re going.
18. Tee shot on a long par-3
It demands accuracy, which is hard when you’re pulling a long iron or fairway wood.
1. Neutral grip
The foundation of a good swing is the grip. To get into a solid grip position, take your lead hand (left hand for right-handers) and crunch your fingers about halfway, then, place them on the underside of the club and wrap the lead hand on top.
2. Posture
Solid posture is another important element of the swing. Soften your knees and then try to hinge at your hips, leaning forward into an athletic position. Your arms should dangle in front of you in position to make a swing.
3. Backswing motion
The key to movement in your golf swing is in your lead foot. Get in your posture and then push off the ground with your lead foot to rotate back and get your weight in your right heel.
4. Balanced finish
When you swing through, you want to engage the front side of your body in order to come to a balanced finish. Halting that momentum post impact will ensure that you come to a nice balanced position.
5. Even tempo
You’ll also want to have a smooth tempo when you make a swing. Start your swing smooth and gradually build up speed throughout the swing, gradually getting faster as you turn through to a finish.
What is the shank shot in golf?
You caught it so far off the heel, you hit the hosel—and golf's most alarming shot: the shank. According to Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher Dana Rader, the shank comes from having a weak grip, which leaves the face wide open at impact and exposes the hosel.
What is a toe hit in golf?
THE TOE HIT. Center your strikeShots off the toe of a driver feel bad enough, but toe hits with the irons are among the least forgiving in golf, diving left and losing much of their carry distance. Scott Davenport, the golf professional at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, says one trick will cure toe hits right away.
What does it mean when your shoulders spin out on the downswing?
Matt Killen, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, says a loss of posture -- typically with your shoulders and hips spinning out on the downswing -- produces the top, where you make contact with the upper half of the ball.
How to hook a ball from right to left?
To hook a ball from right to left, the clubface has to make contact with the outside half of the ball, the half that's farther away from you ( which means the clubface is closed at impact). To prevent that, Zander says you should focus on making contact with the inside part of the ball.
Why do golfers hit thin shots?
Golfers who hit a lot of thin shots tend to swing the club too steeply into the ball. That's because they slide past the ball on the downswing and have to force the club down to make contact. When they slide too far, they catch only the top half of the ball, hitting it thin.
How to hit a golf ball with a 5-iron?
Tee up some balls as you would for a driver, and practice hitting them with your 5-iron. If you move in front of the ball on the downswing, like thin hitters do, you'll swing down too steeply and slide the club under the ball, making contact high on the face.
How to hit a ball solidly off a high tee?
To hit a ball solidly off a high tee with an iron, your swing has to be pretty level at the bottom. Make a full backswing and feel as if you're staying over the ball through impact. Ranked No. 1 by his peers among Golf Digest's 50 Greatest Teachers, Harmon runs the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco Golf Club, Henderson, Nev.
What happens if you don't wind up going back on the downswing?
The problem actually starts on the backswing. Thin hitters usually lift the club abruptly, without much shoulder turn ( NO ), which leads to the forward slide. If you don't wind up going back, you have nothing to unwind on the downswing. So you slide. Here's how to stop that cycle.
How to hit a driver in golf?
Swing your arms back wide, and make a full shoulder turn. Try to get your back to the target ( YES ). Don't be too eager to hit the ball: Turn to the top, and then turn through . If you make a good move going back, you'll be in position to make a more level strike and stop hitting it thin. Tee up some balls as you would for a driver, ...
What is a good image for a tennis player?
A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke. If you get those two moves right, you’ll swing into impact with your weight forward and your wrists firm—two things every good ball-striker does.
How to hit a tennis ball with your back?
First, make your initial move from the top a little bump onto your front foot. Feel like you’re shifting toward the target, so your chest is over the ball. Second, get to impact with the back of your top hand facing the target (left), not pointing upward. A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke.
Who were the two golfers in the 2003 Presidents Cup?
In the 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa, two of the sweetest swingers at that time, Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby, were matched against two of the most unconventional, Jim Furyk and Jay Haas. As they warmed up, murmurs from the crowd suggested the “pretty” swings had it made. At one point, Jay said to Jim, “I bet those people don’t give us much of a chance.” Jim laughed, and the Americans went on to win, 6 and 5, one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the event. Don’t get me wrong, Adam and Stuart are tremendous talents. (I taught Adam for years.) But the only real barometer of a golf swing is the shots it produces.
Do golfers hit the ground first?
A lot of golfers never get over the instinct to lift the ball off the ground. They swing off their back foot or flip their hands through impact, both of which make the club bottom out too soon. As a result, they hit the ground first (fat shot) or catch the ball on the upswing (thin shot).
Checkpoints for Practice
Hitting the ball low on the club face prevents you from making solid contact - this is a thin shot
Video Transcription: Hitting Shots Thin
Another common miss in the one plane swing is for golfers to hit it thin. What I mean by "thin" is that as they're coming through impact they'll hit it a little bit low on the club face, so rather than catching it more in the center of the club face they'll actually hit it a bit low so the club face can't hit it and make solid contact.