14 of 24

Write now Article Tools

Finding the fairway is the easiest way to improve your score, bottom line. Missing fairways due to a hook or a slice is the cause for many double bogie's on the course, but it can be corrected by a few changes on the tee.
#1, Check your grip. Grip is a big problem that often gets overlooked. Check your bottom hand. A strong grip shows more knuckle on the low hand at address. A strong grip can lead to a hook because it will turn your club head over at impact causing spin. Try backing off the grip a bit and see what happens with a neutral grip.

#2, Check ball position. When hitting driver, your ball should be forward, towards the front toe. This will promote contact on the up swing and not topping it into the ground.
#3, Your hands. Some golfers move their hands forward at address. Try letting your arms hang naturally at your waist. This is a good starting point for a clean take away.
#4, Use your shoulders. A struggling tee shot comes often from lifting with the arms and not swinging with the shoulders. Take away with a good shoulder turn. Practice this with out a club with your arms crossed. Lifting the arms will promote the dropping of the arms, straight into the ground.
#5, Swing path. Try to keep it simple with the swing at the top. Try an easy paced three quarter swing on one plane. This means take the club away on the same line that you drop it back down on. Rotate the shoulders straight back on the inside, shift your weight and turn through on the same line. Here are a few swing examples. Tiger has a two piece swing. Notice the different path back then the path through. He's Tiger. He has great timing. Look at Jim Furyk. He takes the club head away outside and moves inside at the top. Two plains. Look at a good tempo player like Davis Love or Ernie Els. Smooth tempo, same way back, same way through. On plain.
#6, Impact and timing. This is the tricky part. Where is the club at impact? Based on when you release the club head at the top you will either hit it straight or all over the place. If your hands fall behind your hip turn on the way down you will block the shot, or slice it. If your hands are ahead at impact you will hook the shot. Work on finding what instructors call "the slot" at the top. Let the club set, then drop right before you turn through, rotate the hips and extend the arms at the ball. Focus on finishing your shot. By working on your follow through it will promote a full swing rather then hitting at the ball and stopping

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The basics of golf: Learning to play?
We want to hear your view. Write now!