The post Home Practice: Perfect Driver Setup appeared first on Golf.

The post Home Practice: Perfect Driver Setup appeared first on Golf.

Setup better by getting your trail arm under your lead arm for more consistent drives with the help of GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger.

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The post Home Practice: Transition Step appeared first on Golf.

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Gain earlier leg motion to get your timing right by performing this drill with the help of GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger.

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The post Home Practice: Swing Path Fix appeared first on Golf.

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Work on swing direction by performing this drill with the help of GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger.

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The post Home Practice: Hip Mobility appeared first on Golf.

The post Home Practice: Hip Mobility appeared first on Golf.

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger helps you dial in your swing with effective exercises in this 3-part series.

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The post Home Practice: Wake Up Muscles appeared first on Golf.

The post Home Practice: Wake Up Muscles appeared first on Golf.

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger helps you dial in your swing with effective exercises in this 3-part series.

The post Home Practice: Wake Up Muscles appeared first on Golf.

The post Home Practice: Backswing Exercise appeared first on Golf.

The post Home Practice: Backswing Exercise appeared first on Golf.

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger helps you dial in your swing with effective exercises in this 3-part series.

The post Home Practice: Backswing Exercise appeared first on Golf.

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

If you’ve been putting in hours at the range and still don’t feel as though you’re seeing results on the golf course, your practice might be part of the problem.

Better players tend to have better practice habits, and often it’s quality, not quantity, that really makes the difference. I checked in with a few of GOLF’s Top 100 teachers to find out the practice secrets of their single-digit handicap clients. Learn to approach your next range session or round like them, and you may soon join their ranks.

1. Start with a good warm-up

“Low handicappers definitely warm up their body before their practice sessions,” says Debbie Doniger. “If time is a constraint, just focus on three areas: glutes, hips and upper thoracic (spine). A dynamic warm-up is key before hitting balls.”

Try Debbie’s super-quick warm-up below to prepare your body for your next practice session.

2. Utilize all available technology

“The key to getting better is to constantly evaluate your game and turn weaknesses into strengths,” says Mike Adams. “The good players I work with use TrackMan and FlightScope data to check how they compare to tour players. The TrackMan Combine [a test designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in your game] can highlight areas where they need to work.”

You may also like An inside look at PGA Tour Rookie Cameron Champ’s amazingly powerful Trackman stats

3. Learn how to diversify your yardages

“Can you hit a mid-level wedge a variety of distances? If the answer is no, that has to be an area of focus,” says Jon Tattersall. “And when it comes to iron play, are your distances covered? If not, is this a fitting issue or technique? If you have access to a launch monitor, hit a number of shots with a lot of irons, then study the distances and shot pattern. The best caddies and players on tour know where to aim their shots given the typical shot pattern. Aiming a shot where the chances of success are slim usually doesn’t make for a good outcome. Match your tendencies to the shot you are facing.”

4. Take dead aim on the range

“Better players almost always practice with alignment aids on the ground,” says Kellie Stenzel. “Their ability to know exactly where they are aiming so they can have proper feedback from the results of the ball as well as the ability to check that their set up is correct is built in to each and every practice session. Players with less experienced will often feel the alignment aids are in the way. I’ve seen more than one tossed aside.”

5. Focus on your weaknesses

“Better players fix their faults, and enjoy the process of self improvement,” says Joe Plecker. “Making changes is tough work, and humbling. Most golfers like to practice their strengths and steer away from the discomfort or struggle of working on a fault. Better golfers love the challenge and are always looking for a way to eliminate errors in their games.”

Stenzel concurs. “By assessing their weakness and improving upon that, better players deal with their shortcomings, and that will help build confidence when they have to hit that shot type again.”

6. Two words: Short game

“Single-digits are likely to only hit 50% of their greens on a good day, so competency with the scoring clubs is vital to saving pars,” says Mark Blackburn. “I make my single-digits focus on distance wedges, shorts putts inside eight feet, and lag putts for speed. Good speed helps you avoid three-putts, and that, in turn, avoids bogeys and double bogeys.”

“From a drill perspective, I recommend speed ladders and three-footers around the hole, North-East-South-West.  As for wedges, figure out how far your full and half wedge swings go, then play for those yardages when laying up on par 5s and pitching out of trouble.”

7. Give purpose to your practice

“The best golfers I’ve found practice with efficiency,” Tattersall says. “The days of purely beating balls are behind them. Data drives so much of our world these days, and in golf it’s no different.  We use data from launch monitors, data from past performance (stats) and from good old-fashioned experience. The most productive practice usually follows some reflection on what to work on so that the next time you’re standing on the first tee of a tournament, you feel prepared for what is about to come.”

 8. Replicate “real round” situations

“Better players keep a routine in their practice that mirrors how they play,” says Plecker. “The quantity of practice (balls hit in a session) by a better golfer is less than an average player, and the quality of the pre-shot routine, analysis of the outcome, and pace of the swings is identical to that used in play.”

9. Stop aiming for the pin

“On approach shots, single digits tend to focus on hitting the middle of the green rather than firing at pins,” Blackburn says. “Employing this practice will minimize short-siding and maximize your scoring potential — especially since you’ve practiced that lag putting!”

IT’S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR AIM: A GOLF MAGAZINE STUDY

10. Invite pressure

11. Just get the ball in the fairway!

You may also like Here’s how to max out your distance on every drive

12. Face your fears

13. Challenge yourself

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

If you’ve been putting in hours at the range and still don’t feel as though you’re seeing results on the golf course, your practice might be part of the problem.
Better players tend to have better practice habits, and often it’s quality, not quantity, that really makes the difference. I checked in with a few of GOLF’s Top 100 teachers to find out the practice secrets of their single-digit handicap clients. Learn to approach your next range session or round like them, and you may soon join their ranks.

1. Start with a good warm-up

“Low handicappers definitely warm up their body before their practice sessions,” says Debbie Doniger. “If time is a constraint, just focus on three areas: glutes, hips and upper thoracic (spine). A dynamic warm-up is key before hitting balls.”
Try Debbie’s super-quick warm-up below to prepare your body for your next practice session.

2. Utilize all available technology

“The key to getting better is to constantly evaluate your game and turn weaknesses into strengths,” says Mike Adams. “The good players I work with use TrackMan and FlightScope data to check how they compare to tour players. The TrackMan Combine [a test designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in your game] can highlight areas where they need to work.”

You may also like An inside look at PGA Tour Rookie Cameron Champ’s amazingly powerful Trackman stats

3. Learn how to diversify your yardages

“Can you hit a mid-level wedge a variety of distances? If the answer is no, that has to be an area of focus,” says Jon Tattersall. “And when it comes to iron play, are your distances covered? If not, is this a fitting issue or technique? If you have access to a launch monitor, hit a number of shots with a lot of irons, then study the distances and shot pattern. The best caddies and players on tour know where to aim their shots given the typical shot pattern. Aiming a shot where the chances of success are slim usually doesn’t make for a good outcome. Match your tendencies to the shot you are facing.”

4. Take dead aim on the range

“Better players almost always practice with alignment aids on the ground,” says Kellie Stenzel. “Their ability to know exactly where they are aiming so they can have proper feedback from the results of the ball as well as the ability to check that their set up is correct is built in to each and every practice session. Players with less experienced will often feel the alignment aids are in the way. I’ve seen more than one tossed aside.”

5. Focus on your weaknesses

“Better players fix their faults, and enjoy the process of self improvement,” says Joe Plecker. “Making changes is tough work, and humbling. Most golfers like to practice their strengths and steer away from the discomfort or struggle of working on a fault. Better golfers love the challenge and are always looking for a way to eliminate errors in their games.”
Stenzel concurs. “By assessing their weakness and improving upon that, better players deal with their shortcomings, and that will help build confidence when they have to hit that shot type again.”

6. Two words: Short game

“Single-digits are likely to only hit 50% of their greens on a good day, so competency with the scoring clubs is vital to saving pars,” says Mark Blackburn. “I make my single-digits focus on distance wedges, shorts putts inside eight feet, and lag putts for speed. Good speed helps you avoid three-putts, and that, in turn, avoids bogeys and double bogeys.”
“From a drill perspective, I recommend speed ladders and three-footers around the hole, North-East-South-West.  As for wedges, figure out how far your full and half wedge swings go, then play for those yardages when laying up on par 5s and pitching out of trouble.”

7. Give purpose to your practice

“The best golfers I’ve found practice with efficiency,” Tattersall says. “The days of purely beating balls are behind them. Data drives so much of our world these days, and in golf it’s no different.  We use data from launch monitors, data from past performance (stats) and from good old-fashioned experience. The most productive practice usually follows some reflection on what to work on so that the next time you’re standing on the first tee of a tournament, you feel prepared for what is about to come.”

 8. Replicate “real round” situations

“Better players keep a routine in their practice that mirrors how they play,” says Plecker. “The quantity of practice (balls hit in a session) by a better golfer is less than an average player, and the quality of the pre-shot routine, analysis of the outcome, and pace of the swings is identical to that used in play.”

9. Stop aiming for the pin

“On approach shots, single digits tend to focus on hitting the middle of the green rather than firing at pins,” Blackburn says. “Employing this practice will minimize short-siding and maximize your scoring potential — especially since you’ve practiced that lag putting!”
IT’S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR AIM: A GOLF MAGAZINE STUDY

10. Invite pressure

11. Just get the ball in the fairway!

You may also like Here’s how to max out your distance on every drive

12. Face your fears

13. Challenge yourself

The post 13 practice habits of single-digit handicappers you can try yourself appeared first on Golf.

The post How to pitch it close from nasty greenside grass appeared first on Golf.

The post How to pitch it close from nasty greenside grass appeared first on Golf.

When playing from heavy rough off the fairway, escape is the first order of business, but from around the green, knocking it close remains priority No. 1.

For starters, choke down on a lob or sand wedge and narrow your stance, keeping pressure over your left foot. Position the ball forward in your stance and aim your feet, hips and shoulders slightly left of your target, keeping the clubface open to unlock the club’s bounce.

You may also like Frustrated with your short game? Try this quick fix for poor chips

Take a couple of practice swings first from a similar patch of rough. Use more wrist hinge than normal going back and — here’s the secret — swing along your shoulder line, not toward the target. And do it with speed, so that the club makes a loud “whoosh” through impact.

If you only hear a soft brushing of the grass, add more arm speed. This auditory cue tells you that you’re creating the speed you need to dislodge the ball from the cabbage. Now step up and repeat it for real — and show the rough who’s boss!

LAUNCH CONDITIONS

Hinge your wrists quickly on your backswing and, as you come through impact, listen for the sound of your clubhead powering through the heavy grass. Halt your finish when the shaft is parallel to the ground. Aim to land a bit short of where you want the ball to end up, because it won’t have as much spin and will roll out a little more.

ESCAPE WITH EASE

At address, set your body slightly left of the target and set the clubface open to your stance. Stand closer to the ball than usual and listen for the whoosh when you swing. Combining speed with this setup creates the angle and loft you need at impact to launch the ball up and out.

The post How to pitch it close from nasty greenside grass appeared first on Golf.

The post Stuck in the rough? Leave the wedge in the bag and use a putter appeared first on Golf.

The post Stuck in the rough? Leave the wedge in the bag and use a putter appeared first on Golf.

Stuck in greenside rough? Leave the wedge in your bag and pop it out with your putter. Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger (@DebbieDoniger) shows you how it’s done.

PRESS YOUR LUCK

Lush, thick grass is nice to picnic on, but it’s a bear to chip from. So why even try? Here’s a dandy little pop shot that I learned (okay, stole) from instruction Hall-of-Famer Jim McLean. Rather than get your wedges in a twist, grab your putter and set up with the ball at or even behind your back foot. (Yeah, way back there.) Lean the shaft toward the target and slightly toward your left pants pocket. Set about 70 percent of your weight over your left side. I use my putter grip on this shot, but you can use whatever hold you want.

HINGE AND DROP

As far as technique goes, you’re basically hinging your wrists and lifting the putterhead straight up — no “swing” or weight shift needed. As soon as the putterhead completes its rise, allow it to drop pendulum-style right back to the ball. The weight of the clubhead — and gravity — makes it easy. Since you’re coming into impact so steeply, the ball will immediately “pop” up into the air (assuming you’ve caught the ball prior to the grass). Don’t worry about following through. Simply stick the putterhead into the spinach. And pick a landing spot short of the hole — this baby’s going to run.

The post Stuck in the rough? Leave the wedge in the bag and use a putter appeared first on Golf.