Most amateurs swing with all the power they have but with no balance. Next time you watch professionals on television you will see that golf is all about finesse, timing and balance. Watch how every professional finishes their swing with great balance. They are in control of their swings and have the discipline of not exerting anymore effort than is needed for a great shot. To learn how they do this, first watch and study how they finish in balance each time. Try this in your own yard without a ball. Imagine how it looks and feels. On a few swings, close your eyes so you will heighten the sensation and balance. Once you can finish in balance each time than take it to the course. Always think how you will finish each swing before making your actual swing through the ball.

I've found that you need to be a kid at heart to teach juniors. I find anything to make them remember what we're learning at the time. I've had them hit water ballons, long drive with marshmallows, time contest on how quick they can tee five balls up, straightest drive, tossing balls in a circle on the green, and hitting rubber ducks out of the sand. Make it fun at younger ages until they're ready to make real changes.

Hit the ball further, get fit, and lose some weight that may be holding you back. In order to build strength and power in the golf swing, there are a series of training steps to help with your progress. Following a strict diet and staying committed to your daily work outs will be vital to your success. Do you want to remain fat and out of shape? If not, get with the program! Go for a jog to get the blood flowing. You don’t need to run a sub 4 marathon, just jog enough to get your heart rate moving. Run for two minutes. Side Steps. Start with your right side and switch to your left side. In golf, it is important to have strong hip flexors and this exercise will help with that. I know it sounds old school, but do 50-100 Jumping Jacks. Not only does this stretch out your entire core, arms, and legs- it allows for a constant motion and momentum gain. Laying flat on your back, lift your butt in the air. These are called hip raises. Do it One of my favorite exercises is the spine angle test using a stick or broom. Holding it with both hands above your head, go down into a squat- keeping your chin up and back as straight as possible without falling forward. This is a great way to test your flexibility and strengthen your hamstrings, back, neck, and core. This is also known as the overhead squat.

The release Many people try to swing their entire body to get the golf ball in the air. It is no secret, that the release of the golf club is one of the most impactful aspects towards the trajectory and distance of your swing. The release is when you allow the club to rotate through the hitting zone, staying square to the golf ball. I like to think of it as the toe up in the backswing and the toe up in the forward swing. The release occurs into your downswing and out through your follow through. At impact, your body would be square/facing the golf ball, this is where staying square is crucial. If the hips are not square and they are to the right, that means you're going to push the ball or release the club too soon or hook it. Allowing your hands to release the club properly, will also allow your body to be in the correct position and stay square. This is the period of time that last seconds before impact and your follow through. If you do not release the club face properly, and you leave the face open with a slow release, you will end up with a slice or block (a right shot). If you obtain these two positions, you will have the proper release and nothing will be compromised. If you would like to build your release, I suggest going to see a local golf professional or by watching videos of tour players. A slice is due to no release in the golf club, which is occurring in almost 90% of beginners. I trained eye will be able to help build a proper foundation. For more information on the release of the golf swing, stay tuned.

Have you ever sliced the ball so bad, you want to walk off the tee box or just go home all together? The slice seems to be the most popular miss I’ve seen in golf, especially for beginners. A slice is a golf shot that goes far right because you have a swing flaw that keeps the face of the club wide open. I will describe this in further details below and give you a couple things to work on that may help. The Slice- When the ball curves to the right. The Cause- When the clubface is facing right in relation to the path of the golf swing. You’re swing line can also be redirected to the left with the face open. They are working against each other, creating a missed golf shot. Sometimes, the ball can be too forward in your stance. Make sure it’s in the center. Also, the grip must be working together as a team, the hands facing each other pointing toward the right shoulder. The Effect- A missed golf shot and uncomfortable swing path. The ball has little to no chance once it’s been sliced. If you can control this type of shot, you’re golden! The Cure- Release the club and allow the club to turn over through your swing. You are NOT swinging a baseball bat, so allowing the club to release. If you do this correctly, it allows the clubface to rotate and the ball will follow. Drills are a great way to reinforce this action into your swing. Stand with your feet together and take half swings at 50% of your usual swing speed. Over emphasize the rotation and release the club. Do this 5 times then hit one full regular shot. Then repeat. I think this is a great way to create the straight shots you want to shoot lower scores and feel more confident.

Understand that the club will do most of the work, as long as you have the correct set up. This is key to consistent and solid chipping in golf. Creating a thought process before your chip shots will also help build confidence around the green. Here are some fundamentals of chip shots! Technique The ball position should be back in your stance (off your back foot). The feet are closer together and the weight is on your forward foot. NO WRIST ACTION! Keep your hands and wrists working together, minimally breaking your wrists. Rotate with your upper body, leaving your lower body a bit still. Keep your leading wrist flat toward your target, and DO NOT let your wrists break down in the through swing. The distance from the hole is the determining factor for which club you chip with. You are free to chip with any club in your bag. The rule of thumb is, the more green you have to work with, hit a higher club. For example, a flop shot will require a 60 degree wedge and a bump/run shot may allow for an 8 iron. Feel your chips shots out the same way you would a full swing! More tips to follow on this topic!

Whether you're a beginner or professional, keeping solid and stiff wrists is a must to have in your putting stroke. There is something to be said about keeping your arms and wrists connected in one solid line in order to keep the putting stroke consistent and moving like a pendulem. The putting stoke can be thought of as a clock arm, and when it moves back and forth, that is the ticking. The arm on a clock would not break down to reach the next number and the same can be said about the putting stroke! If you break your wrists down, you will have a lack of control and you will have more problems on the greens than neccessary. The left hand on your putter will be the leader and is in accordance with the putter face. Wherever your left hand goes, the putter face will follow. You must learn to control your wrists seperately and together in order to learn how to keep the putter stroke smooth and consistent. Next time you are out on the golf course putting, remember to keep your wrists moving as a team in harmony with the putter blade. The results will prove to be more consistent than being slappy with your hands in the putting stroke.

Staying behind the golf ball is very important to the stability and consistency of your swing. There is no need to overdo this idea, but I will give you some simple steps that will help. Set up- when you grip the golf club, lower your right shoulder so that your left arm is above your right. It will happen naturally when you grip the club. This will trigger a set up, and remember to keep your ball position more in the center of your stance. I like to think of it lined up with the bellybutton or belt buckle. Your spine should be tilted to the right. Next is your backswing. You don't want to move away from the golf ball, you want to rotate. Put the weight of your chest over your right foot, and get behind the golf ball with your shoulders- the left shoulder blade should rotate behind the golf ball. The keyword is PIVOT, not sway. A lot of players hang back, creating a reverse pivot. This is also considered the reverse C, and what you want is a reverse K. Once you've made the pivot from the upper body, creating your reverse K, on your downswing continue to stay behind the golf ball, then once you strike the golf ball follow through on to your left side. Make sure that your right foot is off the ground, and you are standing more upright. Make sure to hold your finish as long as possible. If you were to move in front of the golf ball, you would then be in the land to chunk the ball, or pinch it too soon. The moral of the story, is to stay behind the ball, don't get too eager, and swing through holding your finish!

Would you like to hit consistent tee shots instead of hitting the ball all over the map without any idea of which way it will go? Learn to control your shot by developing accuracy, ball shape, and direction. When taking the club back, you want to rotate your clubface back and allow the toe of the club to point to the sky at hip level. After hitting the ball, you want the clubs toe to be pointing the same way. Think about opening and closing a door. Your wrists need to rotate and release through the shot. Rotation is key. Fade Shot To hit a fade, you want to hold your hands off the shot a bit to allow a delayed hit with your clubface. This is a shot that a more advanced player can pull off consistently. A fade shot is good because you will be able to hold greens more consistently and expect more workability from tee to green. Draw Shot To hit a draw, the key is the correct swing plane and the proper release of your club through the shot. Moving the ball around an obstacle is crucial in golf and the draw shot is superb in enabling consistency. Aim fairly straight with your stance, maybe a bit closed. Think about swinging more to the right and close the clubface at impact.

You should have your feet shoulder width apart. Think like an athlete and balance your stance on both feet. Put the weight in the balls of your feet. When you bend down over the ball, you want to make sure your spine is straight, not curved. It is the axis in which you swing your club. It will feel like you’re sticking your butt out. Allow your arms to hang in their natural position and where they come together at your hands, that is the point your grip the golf club. Distance from the ball should be one hand in between the butt of the golf grip and your belt buckle. Alignment of your shoulders and feet will determine the swing plane on which you swing the club and where the ball goes. Make sure your shoulders and feet are lined up in the same direction toward your target. Your posture and stance will remain the same with every club. The driver and woods stance may change a bit with a tilt in your shoulders due to the loft of the club.

Fat shot: When the club hits the ground before you hit the golf ball. Reasons why player could hit fat shots: 1. Ball too forward in your stance. 2. Leaving your weight on the back foot and not swinging toward your leading leg. Ways to address the problemo! 1. Take practice swings to where you are brushing the grass. Taking smooth divots will allow you to feel the tempo. 2. Keep your shoulders level and don’t drop at impact. 3. Hit 3 practice swings and one golf ball. Repeat. If you are chunking your chip shots, the leading edge is reaching the ground at too steep of an angle. Try keeping your hands low in the take- away and follow through.

Full Swing Tips Plant your feet on the ground and think of your legs being strong as a tree trunk. Put your feet shoulder width apart, allowing the inside of your feet to be in line with the outside of your shoulders. The key is balance. Think of the golf swing in concepts. To build a solid golf swing is to start with the waist down first. To produce a consistent and straight shot, the club needs to stay on the correct plane. Rotate and turn the club around the body, allowing the club to turn on an arc- NOT on a straight line. The problem with thinking the swing is on a straight line, is you will allow steepness and coming over the top. The earth is round and your golf swing should be too. In order to hit the ball straight, you must keep the clubface going straight back and straight through. Return the clubface through the ball, as you have it at set up. The face position should open on the way back and square up at impact, then closing on the way through. NOT straight on the way through. Under rotation causes a block/slice and over rotation causes a hook/pull. If you are just starting in the game, remember that the club should rotate around as your body turns in the golf swing. Think of the concept and allow your body to follow. To start, try rotating in a smooth motion and then work into a more powerful swing. Baby steps in golf can be more productive than trying to achieve all your goals at once.