Archive for June, 2011

How to Hit a Draw

June 26th, 2011

One of the significant weapons in a golfer’s arsenal is a draw shot. A golfer needs to know how to hit this bang on, if he or she wants to do well on the golf course. Basically a draw shot, also called as a hook, begins from the right, and then slowly curves back from the left. Sometimes it also happens that the shot starts on the right and keeps on going towards the right. Now this shot is inevitable in case of obstacles and when a golfer cannot take a direct – straight shot at the target. Experts opine that even the dreaded slice can be corrected with this draw shot. So can we take a shot at how to hit a draw? Here we go!

How to Hit a Draw in Golf

I am sure those into golf reading this needn’t be told what all is required when you are looking at how do you hit a draw. Nevertheless, you will obviously need golf clubs and other equipment. Now let us get on to the actual procedure.

Draw #1
Getting the stance right and in place is fundamental to any golf shot. There are different stances for different golf shots and golf swings. For a draw a golfer will have to get into a ‘close stance’. This stance, simply put is a stance where the golfer points slightly to the right of the target. The rear foot has to be moved back a couple of inches for the line along the top of the toes to point to the right of the target. But the shoulders have to be pointed along the line of the target, with the swing as well.

Draw #2
Now, this stance will lead to an inside a golf swing plane. It can very well result in a swing plane where the club will go back in the normal pathway. This is followed by the club continues on the outside of the same swing path after it hits the ball. This is exactly what leads to the right left swing on the ball.

Draw #3
Now regarding how to hit a draw with your driver, a player will have to strengthen the grip on the club and ensure that the ball moves to the left. To ensure that the ball turns to the left, the golfer will turn his hands a little bit to the right while maintaining the same proper golf grip. The club face will be closing on impact with this grip, which will eventually lead to getting the side spin. The end point will be curving of the ball to the left.

Draw #4
The next in line when it comes to how to hit a draw is releasing the final 12 inches. The closer the club comes to the ball, try and speed up the final 12 inches before the ball and the club come in contact. Here right hand arm will turn over left, as a consequence of releasing the hands into and through the ball. Speed up just the last 12 inches, no need to speed up the whole swing. All this will lead to the execution of side spin in the appropriate direction.

Draw #5
When a golfer is looking at hitting a draw, or any golf shot for that matter, he makes sure that the weight is duly transferred. It is extremely important for a golf shot to come about as good. The weight transfer in this shot has to be from the rear leg to the front. If this does not happen the golf club face will open on account of the swing plane drifting outside.

Well, this was all about how to hit a draw! I hope that was not too tough! As a parting shot, here are some points to ponder over (read golf tips!) that you would perhaps not mind!

  • Let your swing be as it is. Work on the grip and alignment instead.
  • Try this shot with all the clubs and see what happens.
  • Ensure that your body is aimed to the right of the target and golf club position is central to the position of the target. » Read more: How to Hit a Draw

Golf Slice Correction

June 22nd, 2011

In golfing jargon, a ‘duffer’ is a player who is not good at playing the game and messes up his or her shots. Duffers apart, sometimes, even the ace players have messed up their golf swings in the earlier days. In fact even today we all are quite aware of the fact that great players go wrong with their shots on the golf course. One of such dreaded glitches by golfers all over is the golf slice. As amateurs many a golfers face this problem. In extreme cases even their careers are ruined. In the text coming up, there will be an elaboration on golf slice correction. In case this caught your golfing brain, read on about correcting a golf slice.

Golf Slice Explained

A golf slice is referred to the curving of the ball to the right immediately after the golf swing. The shot appears to be great at a first glance. But you realize that it is a deception in a few seconds post the flowing of the ball in the mid air. Then it slowly and horrifyingly for the golfer, the ball meanders to the right. This is what is meant by a classic golf slice.

How to Correct a Golf Slice

Starting right from the fundamentals of the golf stance and technique, correcting a golf slice involves a number of minute things. Take a look at a few tips to fix a golf slice.

Slice #1
Checking your stance and grip is required as the first thing for rectifying the golf swing slice. More than the stance, a wrong grip can be one of the causes of the golf slice. See whether your grip is too tight on your reward arm. This can indirectly lead to a slice shot. What happens as a result of the tight grip is that the backswing will get too close to the vertical and in turn the downswing will tend to cross the body, eventually culminating in a slice shot.

Slice #2
It can happen that you might be dropping your shoulders a bit too much, leading to the curve and the golf slice. So one thing which can be done in connection with how to fix a golf slice is to emphasize on not dropping shoulders while training. Try this out for golf slice correction. Drop back your shoulders and hit the ball. When the club face is opened, the ball is sent off in the wrong direction.

Slice #3
This method for correcting golf slice might seem funny or weird, but it could work! This involves simple visual imagination. You have to imagine rail tracks moving in a direction away from the ball, in the direction of the hole. Or you can visualize them going in any other desired direction. Picturize that you are stationed on a track and the ball is on another. The mantra here is to ensure that the club face is inside the track while the backswing and follow through is happening. This will improve the body alignment and prevent the golf slice.

Slice #4
The speed with which you strike the ball after your swing is another important factor in making the swing more like a slice. Being swift is crucial but even more significant than that is to have a controlled and smooth swing. A fast and jittery or jerky golf swing will invariably lead to a golf slice, on the contrary to a proper golf swing, which will minimize the chances of the golf slice. » Read more: Golf Slice Correction