To find the right ball position

One of the most common mistakes amateurs make in the setup is faulty ball position. Specifically, a lot of players move the ball around far too much, particularly when it comes to the position for a long iron or hybrid (hit off the ground) versus the short irons and wedges. The problem with this technique is that it forces the player to make alterations to the swing that often lead to an inconsistent swing plane and impact position. Instead, try to keep the ball positioned off your front peck (chest muscle), and simply adjust the position of your back foot. For longer clubs, move it back; for shorter clubs, move it forward.

"A consistent ball position will lead to consistent contact. Don’t move the ball around, but rather, move your foot."

Stay Stacked

If you’re not familiar with the term “stacked,” as it applies to the golf swing, you should be. Basically, in a sound swing, the upper body should stay relatively balanced over the lower body without any significant leaning in any direction. At the far left, notice how my chest, shoulders and head are directly over my right thigh. I haven’t swayed in the backswing, but have simply coiled my chest over a flexed right leg. This is critical for loading up and creating power. At the upper right, you’ll see that my backside is sticking out rather than collapsing closer to the ball. This shows I’ve maintained my spine angle, which is also critical to a powerful swing.

"Allowing the majority of your body weight to move to your front foot at the top of the backswing is a huge mistake."

Promoting a better weight shift

A lot of players I see don’t hit the ball nearly as far as they could for the simple reason that they don’t move dynamically during the swing. In the photos above, you can see a simple drill I like to do to help promote a better weight shift. Basically I put my feet together at address, then shift my weight to my back foot in the backswing and step forward with my front foot as I prepare to shift my weight forward. It’s simple but it really works.

 

You won’t be able to create power if your body is static during the swing. You have to learn to shift your weight back and forward.

Putting controls

QUIP Tip: Bounce Angles

When it comes to chipping, the bounce angle of your wedges makes a big difference. If you struggle with fat shots, opt for a wedge with a higher bounce angle (the measure of angle between the leading edge and ground with the club upright). If you play on tighter lies, or if you hit the ball thin, try a wedge with a lower bounce angle.



Even though the hands ought to work as a unit during the putting stroke, each hand has a specific purpose. The left hand is responsible for squaring the putterface through impact. The right hand manages the loft of the putterface, also at impact. To get both hands working as they should, practice putting with one hand at a time. With the left, work on holing 5- to 10-footers. With the right hand, concentrate on your distance control from 10 to 20 feet by getting the ball to stop no more than a couple of feet past the hole. This will train both hands to work on their respective jobs independently so they become more effective at working together come time to make a real stroke.

What Not To Do:

Buy A Putter That Doesn’t Match Your Stroke

Buying a new putter these days can be complicated. As much as today’s models may be billed as “one-size-fits-all,” the reality is they aren’t. Different shapes, weights, lengths and so forth all can either enhance or corrupt a golfer’s putting stroke. For instance, if your stroke is straight back and through, mallets will help you become even straighter. If you arc it, a heel-toe blade will make it easier for you. Experiment with different models so you can be sure you have the right one for your stroke.

 

 

EQUIP Tip: Counterbalancing

Jack Nicklaus did it with lead tape under his grip. Counterbalancing isn’t anything new, but the Tour Lock Pro has made it a lot easier and more effective. With a series of weight options to choose from, the Tour Lock Pro counterbalancing can greatly affect the feel of any club (not just the putter) and, depending on whom you ask, make your stroke steadier and more balanced. I use it in all my clubs and swear by its effectiveness.

Post up your forward leg

Check out Mike Weir’s tremendous ability to load and pivot against his right leg (which would be our left leg for righties). This sometimes is referred to as “posting up” the forward leg and building a strong pivot point to snap the club through at impact. If his forward leg were to buckle, slide or overstraighten, Weir will lose stability and, as a result, lose both a lot of distance and consistency.

Also notice how much Weir’s hips have cleared through impact while still staying behind the ball. (He could hit a home run over the Green Monster at Fenway with this swing.) Practice bracing your forward leg so it’s a strong lever to rotate your body around and release the club. Think of a home-run hitter knocking one out of the park

—Rick Sessinghaus, PGA

 

Hunter Mahan Check out his finish. Mahan has made such a full rotation that his left foot has rolled onto its side like Nicklaus used to do—proof of a full rotation and a strong left side.

Nick Watney Watney can crush it, averaging 306 yards per drive. His shoulders have turned past his hips, and his left side is in perfect alignment— the ideal finish pose.

Swing down and turn

Many amateur players tend to make hitting hybrids more difficult than it actually needs to be. The reality is that hitting a hybrid effectively requires you first to acknowledge that a hybrid isn’t a wood—meaning you don’t need to feel like you ought to sweep or scoop the ball to get it up in the air. If anything, a hybrid should be played more like a middle iron, with a downward thrust into the ball.

Parker McLaughlin isn’t the only player on the PGA Tour using hybrids. Several players are adopting hybrids as both long iron and fairway wood alternatives.

Hitting down on your hybrids is key. Practice this simple drill, and work on getting your right shoulder below your left at impact. This will help you hit down into the ball.

Check out Parker McLaughlin. He’s hitting a hybrid club effectively by hitting down on the ball (as evident by the divot in the air) and also by making a full rotation. These are two swing thoughts every golfer should have when hitting a hybrid. Don’t hit up or sweep. Hit down and make a divot after you make contact with the ball.

—Karen Nannen, PGA

Mike Weir Pound for pound, Weir is a longer hitter than most think. His strength has a lot to do with a right leg that acts as a pillar for his body to rotate against and build torque.

 

Maintain the forward lean

Two of the best players still in their 20s on the PGA Tour, J.B. Holmes and Anthony Kim understand completely what it means to maintain a forward-tilting spine angle through impact. Also, notice the separating of the hands from the body. By maintaining the forward upper-body lean, the arms/hands have more room to store lag and eventually release over the golf ball. If these angles are lost, it’s because the spine is upright, which if it happens, will translate into poor consistency and lousy ground contact.

The last thing you can learn here is their head positions. They’re facing the ball! Don’t feel like you need to keep your head down or lift it too far up. Keep it facing the ball, and you’ll rotate more effectively.

—Derek Nannen, PGA

Add width for more power

Camilo Villegas Camilo’s aggressive swing has proven itself to be a winning one, as he already has notched 2 wins in 3+ years on the PGA Tour.

At only 160 pounds, Camilo Villegas averages a whopping 291 yards off the tee, making him among the top 40 for drivers on Tour. He’s often depicted as a muscular player, but in reality he’s a small-framed guy with great definition. Now, are his muscles his power source? Nope. Villegas understands width and how it builds power. His strong muscles are a bonus.

Grab a 2x4 and push it toward your target as far as you can while turning your body to the left and extending your arms. This will help you add a ton of width to your swing.

Check out how far he keeps his hands from his body in each photo. From a physics standpoint, by adding width, he’s increasing his arc, which leads to a faster clubhead speed. Combine that with how nicely he winds his upper body and still allows his lower body to be stable, and you have a recipe for a smashing drive. He’s wide, flexible and in perfect balance. If you can copy that, you’ll be huge!

—Jeff Ritter, PGA

J.B. Holmes Known for his huge distance, Holmes is also a powerful iron player, thanks to a solid forward lean and tremendous lag. See if you can copy this position here.

 

Anthony Kim Forward lean doesn’t mean rigid lean. Notice how Kim has some bend in his back (Holmes has some, too). It’s better to have some bend than to be too stiff.

Tips From The Tour, 2009

They may not know it, but several of the best golfers in the world are actually darn good instructors. They may not articulate their moves verbally, but in watching them play, there’s a lot that we as wannabe-Tour pros can learn and pick up from their amazing abilities.



We chose a few Tour professionals to spotlight (you can learn something from literally everyone on the PGA Tour), and with the help of some of our popular instructors, we put together a few simple, easy-to-digest elements of their swings that you should incorporate into your golf game. And while no two players swing exactly the same (yes, even Adam Scott and Tiger Woods have differences), one thing holds true: Every one of these featured Tour pros can teach you something about becoming a better player. With the help of Rick Sessinghaus, PGA, as our model, get ready to turn your swing into one that’s Tour-worthy. Read on!

STACK YOUR IMPACT POSITION TO THE LEFT

Take a look at Boo Weekley and Vijay Singh at impact. I can’t help but admire how well both pros compress the ball against the clubface and then hit the ground with their iron shots. They’re rock-solid at impact and stacked over their left side.

Boo Weekley Boo isn’t just known for his down-home personality, but also an amazing ballstriking ability. No wonder he’s averaging 3.71 birdies a round.

Vijay Singh Already considered one of the “best to ever play,” Vijay also seems to never age. His languid swing has helped him play on the PGA Tour and stay competitive.

In this simulated impact position, most of my weight is on my left leg, and my left arm and shaft are stacked over my left side. Try this in a mirror to get it right.

 

Both players have their spine tilting away from the target. Use a club like this to check your spine tilt. Your left shoulder should be a little higher up.

Another key component to a solid impact position is the positioning of the body. Check out the spine, and note how it tilts away from the target. That helps them stay behind the ball. At the same time, at least 75 percent of their weight hovers over their left leg. This weight shift is vital in order to release the golf club at impact effectively.



Finally, look at the back of the left hand on both players. The glove logo is facing the target. This ensures a square clubface and a straight shot.

—John Stahlschmidt, PGA

Wide stance is Wide swings

Add width to your swing for straighter shots. Usually, width is associated with adding power to your shots, but in reality, adding width can help you hit the ball straighter, as well. How so? First, the wider your stance is, the shorter your overall swing will be. The shorter the swing, the less likely something can go haywire and the straighter your shots will fly. Second, by adding width, you’re not only engaging your stronger muscles, but also activating the bigger muscles, which are much easier to control than the small muscles (such as the muscles in the forearms or hands). The more you effectively use your core and your legs, the less you have to manipulate the club with your smaller muscles, and hence, the straighter your shots will fly.

To practice, start as I have, with a wide stance. Initiate your backswing long and slow, and try to keep your hands as far from your body as possible, especially in the early phase of the swing. When you reach the top of your swing, which will come sooner than you think because of your wider stance, stay as wide as you can. As you enter into the downswing, remember to swing long and wide, and retain this type of width well into the finish.

You should feel as though the big muscles in your legs and core are your guides, and the arms and hands are mere extensions of the bigger muscles. Yes, you’ll build power, but our goal here is to get more accurate. Don’t feel as though you need to control the clubface. Instead, stay wide, stay smooth, and you’ll soon see straighter shots.

Impact drill

When practicing, sprinkle powder on the clubface to see where the ball is making contact. Also, experiment with different tee heights to help you find the hot zone of the club.



If you want to hit straight shots, you need to hit solid shots. With today’s 460cc drivers, the clubface has become enormous. As for the sweet spot, even though there’s more forgiveness around it, the sweet spot remains just that: a tiny spot in the center of the clubface. Better players know that hitting the sweet spot sometimes adds spin, which, depending on your attack angle, can make hitting straight shots even more difficult. To solve the problem, they hit in the area located above the sweet spot, known by some as the “hot zone.” The hot zone knocks rpms off the hit and sends the ball away on a higher trajectory for more penetrating and straighter shots. Give it a try and see if you can hit the hot zone. It doesn’t feel as solid, and you’ll lose some ballspeed, but the effect of higher less-spinning drives is worth the effort.

Through the gates. In case you haven’t noticed the red tees, try a few practice hits with tees situated like these. You’ll improve your ballstriking and be able to see if you’re hitting the toe (above) or heel (above right) at impact. If you find out that you’re a toe-hitter, your angle of attack is probably too flat, and/or you’re too far away from the ball. This tends to produce weak shots that drift or push to the right. If you find yourself catching the clubface more toward the heel, you could be too upright or standing too close to the ball.