Have Your Lie Angles Checked This Winter!

By Scott Szymoniak
Director of Player Development for Canongate Golf

Did you know that playing with an incorrect lie angle on your irons can drive shots anywhere from ten to thirty yards off line? Generally speaking, a one-degree mistake will equal a shot that flies eight to ten yards off-line. If you keep hitting the same shot, eventually your body will start to compensate for the fact that you’re not hitting your target. This is how golf swings start to become inefficient. The more compensations you make in your swing, the less reliable it becomes.

Be sure to drop by a Canongate Golf Shop and have your loft and lies checked. We charge $3 per club and it usually takes about 25 minutes to do a set. And by all means, if you’re considering new clubs, be sure to get fit. It just may save you a few shots this upcoming season!

Start Your Game Improvement Program

By Scott Szymoniak
Director of Player Development for Canongate Golf Clubs

Most players wait for the spring to start working on their games for the upcoming season. They spend a couple of months taking lessons and practicing hard. Before they know it, they’re playing great but it’s October! Wouldn’t it be great to be at the top of your game in March and April? The time to start working on your golf game is now!

Fall and winter are the best times to work on your game. It’s not so hot, and you’re probably not playing as much as you were in the summer. Here are a few things you can do that will improve your swing without even hitting a ball:

• Stretching – The most import piece of equipment you use in golf is your body. A good stretching program will improve your range-of-motion which will allow you to get the club in good swing positions. Not only does this help your ball-striking but also your quality of life! A body with minimal physical restrictions is a body with minimal aches and pains!
  
• Cardiovascular Performance – A good, brisk walk or light jog on a regular basis will lead to less fatigue at the end of your round. The goal is to be mentally and physically as sharp on 16, 17 and 18 as you were on 1, 2 and 3.
  
• Check your Grips! – Worn grips on your clubs will force you to increase grip pressure, which in turn will produce tension in your hands, arms and all the way up to your shoulders. Have your grips replaced before the season starts!

Just these few activities will lead to better golf earlier in the spring with less time to get to your peak-performance level. You should always consult your physician before you start any type of physical fitness routine.

How to Hit the Ball Straighter and Farther

By Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Clubs

The question most students ask me is, “How do I hit my driver straighter and farther?”

Well, my response is always very similiar. There are a few key ingredients to hitting a long, straight drive. See below for instructions in straightening and lengthing your drive!

1. Ball position - You should play your driver on the inside of your left foot (right foot for left-handed golfers). This will help you hit the ball on the up-swing.

2. Getting set at the top of the swing - Your back should be turned to the target, and your hips should be rotated 45°.

3. Follow Through - Be sure to clear all of your weight to the left side of your body to have a high finish.

4. Tempo - Most golfers naturally swing faster when a driver is in their hands. Tempo is one of the most important aspects of hitting your drive long and straight. Even if you do all of the other aspects correctly, if your tempo is off, you will not execute the shot effectively.

Hopefully these tips help you the next time you are practicing your drives at the Range. If you need additional help straightening out your drive, feel free to contact one of your local golf professionals!

Chipping Options - What to do when you don't make it to the green!

By: Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Club

Fact: Every golfer can improve one area of their game.
Fact: Chipping can make or break a round of golf.
Fact: Every golfer will miss a green during a round and your score depends on how you recover. There are certain situations where different types of shots will be effective.

What is your plan when you miss the green? Check out the plans below to learn more about your options when this happens, and what you can do to recover!

Bump & Run
This shot is used when you have plenty of green to work with. Use a lower lofted club, such as a 9-iron or a 7-iron. The key to this shot is to account for the roll. With a 9-iron, carry the ball about 1/3 of the way to the hole, the ball will roll the rest of the way. Depending on the distance to the hole, you can adjust how far to carry the ball. Using a 7-iron you want to carry it less than a 9-iron.

Flop (High-Lofted Shot)
This shot is used when you have to carry the ball over a bunker, or you are on the short-side of the green. Use a sand wedge or a lob wedge to execute this shot. First open your stance (left of your target) then open the face of the club and aim it just left of your target. Depending on the distance of your shot, vary the length of your swing. For shorter shots, take a shorter swing, and vice versa. One key element to executing this shot is to accelerate the club through the ball.

Takeaway: You should practice these shots at various distances and different lies. Try to simulate situations that you could be in during a round of golf - trust us, the next time you miss the green, you'll be glad you did!

Info on the Author:
Jenny began golfing when she was three years old. She competed in the Junior World Golf Championship in 1999 and 2000, and was a member of the 2000 Team Idaho for Junior America’s Cup. She attended Boise State University where she played on the women’s golf team from 2001-2005. In December 2005, Jenny received a Bachelors of Science degree from Boise State University in Exercise Science/ Fitness Evaluation. She is currently the Assistant Golf Professional at Chapel Hills Golf Course in Atlanta.

Hole in One Series - Part Four, Mental Game

Last week, we continued our hole in one series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed any of the previous articles in the series, feel free to go back and revist the concepts that we covered by clicking below.

Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics

Hole in One Series - Part Two, Dominant Hand

Hole in One Series - Part Three, Pacing Your Swing

I'd be remiss if i did not acknowledge the mental aspect of the golf swing. I truly believe that my mind is as much of - if not more - responsible for my aces than a decent golf swing.

For many years, I knew that I felt "different" when hitting a tee shot on a par-3 hole. In fact I felt much different than when I was faced with a 200 yard approach on a par-4. The "difference" I refer to is that on a par-3 shot, I always felt that I was able to visualize in vivid color the ball going into the bottom of the cup.

On other shots, the color wasn't as vivid, although I still see the ball going into the hole. I don't have an explanation for this, but years ago, Sports Illustrated performed a study on my brain wave activity during my swing. The results showed that my brain waves were in fact unique on par-3 tee shots (at least I proved I had a brain). What I found interesting was that my par-3 brain waves were consistent with those produced by other golfers when they faced 30 or 40 foot putt. Putting puts a golfer in a situation where the hole itself is the definite target.

Takeaway: Visualization is a powerful tool. I implore you to use it. Combined with a mastery of the three swing factors discussed previously, I'm sure you'll find yourself with more accurate approaches.

Hit 'em Straight!

Hole in One Series - Part Three, Swing Pacing

Happy Fourth of July!

Last week, we continued our hole in one series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed Part One or Two of the series, feel free to go back and revist the concepts that we covered by clicking below.
Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics
Hole in One Series - Part Two, Dominant Hand

The third crucial component to accuracy in your golf game is swing pace, which tends to vary from golfer to golfer. Just compare Nick Price and Lanny Wadkins to Ernie Els or Loren Roberts. A dramatic difference exists between them, yet each is an outstanding ball striker.

My take on this is that for most golfers, a smoother, slower swing lends itself to much more consistent and solid contact. A deliberate takeaway will actually encourage your hands to work into a more solid and cocked wrist position at the top of the swing. From there, the front hand pulling motion will allow you to maintain the cocked position throughout the downswing and release the club head at impact. Because the body follows the hands, the smoother pace better allows the body, hands and club to work together to create a smoother club head speed. Furthermore, a controlled swing facilitates better balance from start to finish and leads to more consistency.

Takeaway: Slow down your swing for better balance and a more accurate shot!

Be on the lookout for our last article in this series from Mancil! Coming up next week:
Mental Notes

Hole in One Accuracy - Part Two, Your Dominant Hand

By Mancil Davis, King of Aces
Canongate at The Woodlands

Last week, we started a new series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed Part One of the series, feel free to go back and revist the basic concepts that we covered by clicking below.
Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics

A very important aspect of the swing is the lead hand position. I play and teach a dominant front hand. This may be contrary to other modern swing theories and the power style of golf played by many of the Tour's leading money winners, but I truthfully feel that a dominant front hand will enable most golfers to enjoy more consistent and solid golf shots.

When a typical (if there is one) golfer tries to fire the right hand (for right-handed golfers), the result is often a distorted, inconsistent clubface angle. In contrast, when a player uses the front hand to control the swing, it makes it easy to "push" the club away from the ball and keep it traveling low to the ground, allowing extension and a longer takeaway.

Second, the lower body, which is naturally inclined to follow the front side, establishes the much needed transfer of weight to the back side for leverage. From the top, I encourage the player to "pull" with the front hand to initiate the downswing. Again, the body follows the clubhead and works through the shot. There's no feeling of extreme effort in this type of swing, as one motion simply creates another. The lead hand pulling the club will make it easier to swing down the target line, leading to more accurate shots and consistent contact. While there may be a slight loss of distance as compared to the right-hand hit, the improved accuracy will more than make up for it when you total out your scorecard.

This push-pull motion may feel awkward at first, as I am asking you to use your less dominant side. The only way to become more comfortable with this motion is to practice it. Often, I have my students swing with just the front hand on the club to ingrain front-side control. Then, I ask them to hit balls from a normal address position with both hands on the club, but remove the back hand as the club starts its downward motion. Try this drill next time you are at the range. You'll be surprised how solidly and straight you can hit your shots with just your front hand on the club.

As you perform these drills, pay particular attention to grip pressure. The tendency here is to over-grip with the front hand in an attempt to better control the club. All you need is just enough pressure so that the clubface won't turn at impact. Takeaway: The "Grip it and Rip It" strategy may work for John Daly, but softer hands will ultimately produce the best results.

Be on the lookout for upcoming articles from Mancil! Coming up in a future Issue:
* Pace
* Mental Notes