Golf 101: Why do I chunk it?
Whether you are a beginner, 10 handicaps, or Rory McIlroy, no one player is immune to the dreaded chunk. How many times have you hit a great drive, breathing down the flag from your favorite yardage and laid the holy sod over one? It’s awful and can be a total rally killer.
Stickney: The only 2 ways to hit a golf ball farther
If I had a dollar for every time someone walked into my Academy (myself included!) and asked how to hit it farther I’d own a bank by now. Golf course agronomy has evolved and the rock-hard fairways of yesterday are gone and have been replaced by soft conditions that require more and more carry off the tee.
Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction
Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.
The Wedge Guy: You can change your stripes
Over my 40-plus years in the golf industry and a lifetime in the game, I have had the opportunity to observe thousands of recreational golfers of all skill levels. I believe the common thread between all of us – from scratch player to high-handicapper – is that we all would like to get better.
Why does my golf club get stuck in the ground?
If you crowd your club and stand so close that your arms do not have enough room to hang and swing can often result in your golf club getting stuck into the ground. Being too crowded, effectively makes the club too long relative to your body, so it has nowhere to go but into the ground.
Why does my golf club hit the ground before the ball?
As your hips move too much side to side , this can often cause the club to hit the ground before the ball if you do not recenter yourself exactly the same amount. Also, when you stance is too wide, the potential locations the club has to hit the ground increases, which results in more inconsistent strikes.
What is the aiming line on a golf club?
The aiming line on a golf club is the leading edge and the more lofted the club the more crooked the top line may look. Often golfers will not set the club properly on the ground as a compensation — they hit slices, for instance, so they set the club closed at setup.
How to make good contact in golf?
1. Crowded posture. Proper posture is one of the most important fundamentals to good contact. Giving yourself enough room to bow from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders puts you into a balanced position that allows you to be athletic throughout your swing.
What does it mean when you get stuck in your backswing?
If your backswing is a straight line back that tends to go toward the sky and is just a lifted motion, all you will have is straight down, which tends to get stuck. It reminds me of the letter V. Straight back and up equals straight down and dig.
How to know if your golf club hits the ground?
You can easily check this by taking a practice swing and seeing where, relative to your feet, your club hits the ground. If your club hits the ground centered in your stance, it would be greatly to your advantage to place your golf ball there. 3. Flat footed forward swing.
How to keep your sternum from chunking?
By getting into good posture and placing your upper body and club s haft evenly forward of your ball, this will produce a bottom of your arc that happens after your golf ball.
What factors affect where your club bottoms out?
Factors that affect where your club bottoms out in the swing include weight distribution, ball position, posture and release . Let's explore each of these individually. Weight Distribution - If your weight or center of gravity is leaning back behind the ball, that's where your club will bottom out.
When should the club head catch up to your hands?
Lastly, the club head should not catch up to your hands until the moment of impact. As long as the club head trails your hands it is still descending. The moment it catches up to your hands it bottoms out and then will start its ascent. Your rear wrist should remain bent backwards until impact.
What happens if you hit the ball too far forward?
Ball Position - If you have the ball positioned too far forward in your stance, your club will hit the bottom of its arc before it gets to the ball. Release - If you are releasing the club head to soon and allowing it to catch up to your hands before you get to the ball, you will bottom out too soon.
Does hitting the ground before the ball hurt?
Hitting the ground before the ball hurts! It hurts you physically, but it really hurts your score as you lose significant distance. A thin shot can advance and not put too much of a damper on your score, but when you meet earth before you meet ball, it's never a happy ending. We've all been there.
Why does my golf club shank?
When looking at the main golf shank causes, perhaps the most common reason relates to the swing path. Most golfers know that the ideal swing path through impact comes from inside to outside the ball-to-target line. However, this knowledge (and the desire to attack the ball from the inside) causes players to whip the club off on the inside in ...
What happens if you swing too far away?
Too far away and the momentum of the swing will cause you to lean into the ball through impact – again, the shank is the most likely result. To help, picture a weightlifter just before they lift. Their shoulders are over the middle of their feet, with their weight sitting over the balls of their feet.
What happens if your grip pressure is too light?
If your grip pressure is too light it is likely to fall down. Setting the perfect golf grip both in terms of pressure and the position of your hands on the club should make a big difference to your game. Try this drill to add more stability to your grip and reduce your chances of hitting a shank.
How to get a good shot in the downswing?
1 Position from the ball. The first thing to check should be how far from the ball you are standing. Too close and you’ll lose your spine angle in the downswing, lift out of the shot and hit an open-faced shank.
