Best Golf Instruction Series Summary

To become a better golfer it is essential to consistently strike shots that travel exact distances.  There are several variables involved in this process including: golf equipment, golf swing techniques, different playing conditions, adrenaline under pressure, and knowing your capabilities on each day.

Be Fitted with the Proper Golf Equipment

Starting with golf equipment, the most important component is the golf ball.  Having the correct launch and spin will greatly increase your chances of consistent shot making. Go to a local club fitting center to measure launch and spin to determine the best ball for you. Next, be sure to determine the proper length clubs with the correct shaft, golf grip size, loft and lie of the club head, and club head type that matches your ability level. The higher handicap player will need a more forgiving club head than a lower handicap player. All of these components can be determined at the fitting center and perfected by trial and error on the course. If you have the correct golf equipment, only small adjustments are needed to realize your ball striking potential.

Swing Tips – Producing a Consistent Golf Swing

After deciding on golf equipment, make sure that your fundamentals are correct so that you can develop a consistent golf swing that produces the same speed on every shot. Even top level golfers have problems with this and need to make adjustments.  This can be corrected by making adjustments to the basic fundamentals of the golf grip, ball position, stance, or posture, or a change during the golf swing. Long hitters have more of a challenge because their mistakes are amplified due to their high swing speed. A consistent golf swing can be achieved by knowing the pre-swing fundamentals and by finding a good teaching professional to clarify what adjustments and swing keys will help to produce a consistent swing.

Golf Exercise – Learning Distance Control

Knowing Golf Course Conditions

Once you have the correct equipment and proper swing techniques the next step to distance control and good shot making is knowing how different conditions will affect how far the golf ball travels.  For example: at sea level with no wind my 8 iron flies 154 yards when the temperature is above 75 degrees. If the temperature is lower than 75 degrees, the ball flies proportionally shorter.  At sea level, in 40 degree temperature the ball will fly 145 yards with no wind. The only way to really learn this invaluable information is to practice in all conditions and elevations. Distance the ball travels is effected by wind, altitude, temperature, humidity, and the condition of the golf ball. Experience is the best teacher and writing down how far each shot flies in practice and during rounds will expedite this learning process.

Adrenaline

Another important factor in distance control is understanding how adrenaline increases under pressure will increase strength and club head speed. During my career I have been in contention to win on several occasions and I know that nerves and adrenaline increase club head speed and cause the ball to travel farther than normal. I allow for five to ten yards more carry on short to mid iron shots and 10 to 20 yards more carry on long iron and tee shots. Know this tendency, and realize this is a good thing because the farther the ball can fly the shorter the course will play. The more you can experience this state of heightened awareness when in contention the more comfortable and effective you will be. This nervous feeling is the reason for playing in competition and should be welcomed because it means you are playing well and getting closer to reaching your potential.  Performing well when you are pressured is essential for any competitive golfer to be their best.

Physical Condition

Finally, the  factor that is different each day is how you are feeling. Some days the strength level is 100%, and other days it may be 50% depending on what you ate, if you are feeling ill, how you slept the night before, or what is going on mentally that could affect your energy level. On the range prior to the round is the time to determine all of these variables that could affect your ability to swing the club consistently. I know on full strength days there is no doubt that I will make full swings as much as possible, but on days when my energy is less than normal I will take more club and swing easier to produce the needed yardage. Again, experience will teach you all of this important on course knowledge that if used properly will improve scoring ability in all conditions.

For more golf tips, visit JLLewisGolfTips.com.

Swing Tips – Producing a Consistent Golf Swing

Best Golf Instruction Series Part 2

To become a better golfer it is essential to consistently strike shots that travel exact distances.  There are several variables involved in this process including: golf equipment, golf swing techniques, different playing conditions, adrenaline under pressure, and knowing your capabilities on each day.

It’s important to be fitted with the proper golf equipment before being able to produce a consistent swing.  For more information, read the first article in this series, Best Golf Instruction: Know Yardages with Each Club – Be Fitted with the Proper Golf Equipment.

After deciding on golf equipment, make sure that your fundamentals are correct so that you can develop a consistent golf swing that produces the same speed on every shot.  Even top level golfers have problems with this and need to make adjustments.  This can be corrected by making adjustments to the basic fundamentals of the golf grip, ball position, stance, or posture, or a change during the golf swing.  Long hitters have more of a challenge because their mistakes are amplified due to their high swing speed.  A consistent golf swing can be achieved by knowing the pre-swing fundamentals and by finding a good teaching professional to clarify what adjustments and swing keys will help to produce a consistent swing.

For more useful golf tips visit JLLewisGolfTips.com.  To find a good teaching professional in your area, contact your local PGA section.

The next article in the Best Golf Instruction Series: Know Yardages with Each Club, Golf Exercise – Learning Distance Control!

In 1983 I asked our local professional if he thought I could make it on the PGA TOUR. His reply has stuck with me to this day. He said, “There is no way anyone else could ever answer that question for you. You have to believe in yourself and what you are capable of. What you achieve will be a reflection of your own thoughts.” This was great advice because it made me realize that the amount of effort, the intensity of my desire, the ability to overcome adversity, and the level of tolerance and perseverance needed to succeed are all controlled by my own self motivation.

Ability is a factor in being able to play any sport professionally. However, there are extremely talented athletes that never achieve their potential. On the PGA TOUR numerous players have done extremely well contrary to what many critics believed they would do.

PGA TOUR Player Personas:
There are many examples of players on the PGA TOUR who have created their own winning personas. Corey Pavin has had many PGA wins including a major championship during his career. He makes up for a lack of distance with gritty determination and an outstanding short game. Additionally, Corey has a tremendous desire to win and works nonstop on all parts of his game. Scott Verplank has been one of the most consistent money winners in the history of the PGA TOUR. His caddie once told me that on approach shots from inside 100 yards Scott rarely ends up with a putt of more than six feet. Since forty-three percent of all strokes are taken from inside 100 yards, mastering this aspect of the game, short game and chip shots, has led to his success. Many criticize Jim Furyk’s unorthodox golf swing; however, results are what matter. Jim has improved his golf swing to perfection which now produces consistently good shots and top finishes with regularity. Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank, and Jim Furyk have developed outstanding skills to go along with the work ethic needed to be successful on the PGA TOUR.