Sunday, October 7, 2007
Golf Tips 13-14
13 HOW TO HIT IT HIGHER THAN AN OAK TREE
BY JACK NICKLAUS
Growing up in the Midwest, playing on courses like Scioto with its small, elevated greens and having to navigate tall, mature trees, I learned to hit the ball very high, even with my long irons. I just thought it was the right way to play golf. I didn't think there was a lot of trouble in the air, but there's a lot on the ground. To hit the ball high, you have to hit it from a shallow angle, drive with your legs, keep your head and upper body behind the ball and create clubhead speed. Also, position the ball farther forward at address, open the clubface, allow for a fade and hit hard with your right hand, making sure to work it "under" the left through impact.
14 HOW TO DRAW THE BALL FOR DISTANCE
BY BOB TOSKI
Making the ball curve from right to left is as simple as changing your setup. First, make sure your eyes, shoulders, hips and knees are parallel to the target line. Then, move your right foot back, closing your stance (or foot line) so that it is pointed slightly to the right of the target.
You can check this by putting three clubs on the ground when you practice--one parallel to the target line in front of your left foot, and another just in front of that, closer to the target line, and a third along the target line, just inside the ball. Use the first club to line up your shoulders, hips and knees, the second to line up your eyes and the third as a reference for the target line.
BY JACK NICKLAUS
Growing up in the Midwest, playing on courses like Scioto with its small, elevated greens and having to navigate tall, mature trees, I learned to hit the ball very high, even with my long irons. I just thought it was the right way to play golf. I didn't think there was a lot of trouble in the air, but there's a lot on the ground. To hit the ball high, you have to hit it from a shallow angle, drive with your legs, keep your head and upper body behind the ball and create clubhead speed. Also, position the ball farther forward at address, open the clubface, allow for a fade and hit hard with your right hand, making sure to work it "under" the left through impact.
14 HOW TO DRAW THE BALL FOR DISTANCE
BY BOB TOSKI
Making the ball curve from right to left is as simple as changing your setup. First, make sure your eyes, shoulders, hips and knees are parallel to the target line. Then, move your right foot back, closing your stance (or foot line) so that it is pointed slightly to the right of the target.
You can check this by putting three clubs on the ground when you practice--one parallel to the target line in front of your left foot, and another just in front of that, closer to the target line, and a third along the target line, just inside the ball. Use the first club to line up your shoulders, hips and knees, the second to line up your eyes and the third as a reference for the target line.
Golf Tips 11-12
11 HOW TO BECOME A TV GOLF ANALYST
BY JIM NANTZ
The idea of sitting in a tower at golf's greatest events and capturing the story for everyone watching at home is something that piqued my interest since the age of 10. I was always spellbound by the voices and erudition of golf commentators. I loved the way they told a story, and I wanted to be just like them.
How did I get there? I credit much of my success to a maniacal attention to detail, a thorough knowledge of the sport and an unabashed passion for broadcasting that dates to my youth. It's true that I recorded every word uttered during golf broadcasts in the 1970s. By listening to them over and over, I became attuned to the cadence, the style and inflections of all the top commentators.
That other vital ingredient for me was, and still is, passion. My job, especially in golf telecasts, is to be a storyteller. It's the most conversational sport I broadcast, by a mile. That's why I tell youngsters to study language and read obsessively. Listen to the great storytellers in your lives, whether it's a teacher or an uncle, anyone with a knack for holding an audience. For example, when I lived in Colts Neck, N.J., our pastor, Reverend Samuel La Penta, could deliver a sermon of interest, drama and emotion that often left me feeling downright touched.
No two paths to a job in broadcasting are alike, but I'm thankful mine worked out the way it did. It also helps that my dear father gave me his soothing voice.
12 HOW TO ESCAPE THE SAND IN ONE TRY
BY ERNIE ELSE
You might not realize how much you can get away with on a bunker shot. Play the ball forward in your stance, open the face of your 56-degree wedge and hit anywhere between an inch and three inches behind the ball. You don't have to be overly precise. Just as long as you make an aggressive swing down into the sand and finish the shot with the club up and over your left shoulder, the ball will come out of there. So be aggressive with your swing and thump the sand.
BY JIM NANTZ
The idea of sitting in a tower at golf's greatest events and capturing the story for everyone watching at home is something that piqued my interest since the age of 10. I was always spellbound by the voices and erudition of golf commentators. I loved the way they told a story, and I wanted to be just like them.
How did I get there? I credit much of my success to a maniacal attention to detail, a thorough knowledge of the sport and an unabashed passion for broadcasting that dates to my youth. It's true that I recorded every word uttered during golf broadcasts in the 1970s. By listening to them over and over, I became attuned to the cadence, the style and inflections of all the top commentators.
That other vital ingredient for me was, and still is, passion. My job, especially in golf telecasts, is to be a storyteller. It's the most conversational sport I broadcast, by a mile. That's why I tell youngsters to study language and read obsessively. Listen to the great storytellers in your lives, whether it's a teacher or an uncle, anyone with a knack for holding an audience. For example, when I lived in Colts Neck, N.J., our pastor, Reverend Samuel La Penta, could deliver a sermon of interest, drama and emotion that often left me feeling downright touched.
No two paths to a job in broadcasting are alike, but I'm thankful mine worked out the way it did. It also helps that my dear father gave me his soothing voice.
12 HOW TO ESCAPE THE SAND IN ONE TRY
BY ERNIE ELSE
You might not realize how much you can get away with on a bunker shot. Play the ball forward in your stance, open the face of your 56-degree wedge and hit anywhere between an inch and three inches behind the ball. You don't have to be overly precise. Just as long as you make an aggressive swing down into the sand and finish the shot with the club up and over your left shoulder, the ball will come out of there. So be aggressive with your swing and thump the sand.
Golf Tips 9-10
09 HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT TEACHER
BY PETER MORRICE
The latest studies indicate that golfers need to focus on three areas: flexibility, balance and symmetry. Before a round, you should concentrate on flexibility—stretching the entire back and shoulders and the rotary muscles of the hips, torso and rotator cuffs. After a round or on days when you aren't playing, focus on strength- and balance-training. Things like mimicking the golf swing with a weighted club or using resistance bands to improve range of motion are great, but they have to be performed in both directions to improve the body's symmetry. For a right-handed golfer, that means swinging the weighted club as a lefty would. Otherwise, a right-handed golfer would have a strong right side and a flexible left side. Sooner or later, injuries will develop from this asymmetry.
Performing exercises while standing on one leg instead of two (don't forget to switch legs between sets) will help improve balance. So will assuming a golf-swing posture as you go through your routine. The final element to improving your golf muscles is to do cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, etc. They will strengthen your legs and improve your stamina, making it much easier to perform the golf swing as you get tired.
10 HOW TO MASTER A SWING CHANGE
BY HANK JOHNSON
When you are trying to learn something mechanical in your golf swing, the ball serves only as a distraction. It changes your focus to performance, rather than learning. It is extremely difficult to concentrate on making a correct golf swing and hitting the ball at the same time. So when you embark on making a swing change, first practice the new move with something other than a golf club (like a broom) and certainly without a ball. After you perfect your new move or position, then practice hitting shots on the range. If you find yourself thinking about your swing as you hit shots, get away from the balls and make rehearsal swings concentrating on your mechanics.
BY PETER MORRICE
The latest studies indicate that golfers need to focus on three areas: flexibility, balance and symmetry. Before a round, you should concentrate on flexibility—stretching the entire back and shoulders and the rotary muscles of the hips, torso and rotator cuffs. After a round or on days when you aren't playing, focus on strength- and balance-training. Things like mimicking the golf swing with a weighted club or using resistance bands to improve range of motion are great, but they have to be performed in both directions to improve the body's symmetry. For a right-handed golfer, that means swinging the weighted club as a lefty would. Otherwise, a right-handed golfer would have a strong right side and a flexible left side. Sooner or later, injuries will develop from this asymmetry.
Performing exercises while standing on one leg instead of two (don't forget to switch legs between sets) will help improve balance. So will assuming a golf-swing posture as you go through your routine. The final element to improving your golf muscles is to do cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, etc. They will strengthen your legs and improve your stamina, making it much easier to perform the golf swing as you get tired.
10 HOW TO MASTER A SWING CHANGE
BY HANK JOHNSON
When you are trying to learn something mechanical in your golf swing, the ball serves only as a distraction. It changes your focus to performance, rather than learning. It is extremely difficult to concentrate on making a correct golf swing and hitting the ball at the same time. So when you embark on making a swing change, first practice the new move with something other than a golf club (like a broom) and certainly without a ball. After you perfect your new move or position, then practice hitting shots on the range. If you find yourself thinking about your swing as you hit shots, get away from the balls and make rehearsal swings concentrating on your mechanics.
Golf Tips 7-8
07 HOW TO HIT IT LOWER THAN A PICKET FENCE
BY RANDY SMITH
This might not be the way you've always heard about hitting it low, but it works great. I learned it through experience, trying to play under wind in west Texas—where we have wind with a capital W. Move the ball back, but only slightly. Don't narrow your stance. Make it wider. You want the arc at the bottom of the swing to be more level instead of steep, to send the ball out on a penetrating flight. Now just rotate your body. Don't drive your legs. Swinging easier and using more club—a 6-iron when you'd normally hit 7-iron—is a good play. Less loft means a lower shot, and an easier swing creates less backspin. Backspin shoots the ball up in the air.
08 HOW TO CHIP OFF HARDPAN
BY JUSTIN LEONARD
You have to play the ball in the back of your stance and set the heel of the club so it's off the ground and the shaft is vertical. To do this, stand closer to the ball. When you swing, keep the face square to your target, and make a putting type of stroke by rocking your shoulders up and down. Be certain you focus on making ball-first.
BY RANDY SMITH
This might not be the way you've always heard about hitting it low, but it works great. I learned it through experience, trying to play under wind in west Texas—where we have wind with a capital W. Move the ball back, but only slightly. Don't narrow your stance. Make it wider. You want the arc at the bottom of the swing to be more level instead of steep, to send the ball out on a penetrating flight. Now just rotate your body. Don't drive your legs. Swinging easier and using more club—a 6-iron when you'd normally hit 7-iron—is a good play. Less loft means a lower shot, and an easier swing creates less backspin. Backspin shoots the ball up in the air.
08 HOW TO CHIP OFF HARDPAN
BY JUSTIN LEONARD
You have to play the ball in the back of your stance and set the heel of the club so it's off the ground and the shaft is vertical. To do this, stand closer to the ball. When you swing, keep the face square to your target, and make a putting type of stroke by rocking your shoulders up and down. Be certain you focus on making ball-first.
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