game – Golfing Agency https://golfingagency.com Golf news & updates Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:43:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://golfingagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cropped-GA_favicon-32x32.png game – Golfing Agency https://golfingagency.com 32 32 TV documentary shines a light on women’s experience of golf at all levels of the game https://golfingagency.com/tv-documentary-shines-a-light-on-womens-experience-of-golf-at-all-levels-of-the-game/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:43:37 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/tv-documentary-shines-a-light-on-womens-experience-of-golf-at-all-levels-of-the-game/
A TV documentary that examines the hidden histories and untold stories of women in golf is currently airing of Sky Golf, with input from some of the sport’s leading players, including Dame Laura Davies and Georgia Hall.

The documentary, called Women in Golf – Breaking with Tradition, which premiered on Sky Golf on December 12 – and is being aired again multiple times over the next six weeks – touches on a wide range of topics covering the women’s game from the perspective of Tour professionals, industry experts and amateur golfers.
Dame Laura Davies is one the many players interviewed for the documentary

The 52-minute documentary was produced by filmmaker Sandra ML Mesrine and industry expert Nicole Wheatley and is narrated by Sky Golf presenter Iona Stephen.

Mesrine said: “When we set out to make this documentary we wanted to break down barriers and show people what golf is really like. Having met so many incredible people who share the same passion, to get more women working and playing golf, has been so refreshing. Their stories deserve to be told and I have no doubt that they will surprise, shock and inspire.”

Wheatley added: “Over the course of three years, more than 60 men and women shared their insight and personal experiences of golf. It’s been a fascinating project as we have uncovered stories that have never been told such as the very first steps taken towards what we now know as the LET as told by the women who were there.

“We examine the impact that golf’s heritage continues to have on the sport and look at how the industry, governing bodies, golf clubs and golfers themselves are shaping the future of golf.  There are stories that will make you laugh, but there are also important messages that we will inspire and motivate people to continue to champion the women’s game.”

The documentary, which has been supported by The PGA, The British Golf Industry Association and the Cave Golf Resort in Kent, includes interviews with Laura Davies, Keith Pelley, Georgia Hall, Meg MacLaren, Aaron Rai and Inci Mehmet.  There are many firsts in the film including a previously untold story of the day 12 women gave up their amateur status to fulfil their lifelong ambitions to play golf for a living, forming what was to become the Ladies European Tour.

Tour players across three generations provide honest insights into the harsh realities of the modern professional game. Dame Laura Davies explains how the female game has been unexpectedly and irretrievably damaged by the phenomenal success of one golfer – Tiger Woods, while IMG’s Vicky Cuming, and Tour stars Meghan McLaren and Inci Mehmet describe how discrepancies in prize money, sponsorship and media exposure are all linked and can determine the fate of so many outstanding players.

The archival element of the film is made up of a mix of personal and press photographs, museum paintings, home-made videos provided from the interviewee’s personal archives, professional videos archives and print documents.

‘Women in Golf: Breaking with Tradition’ is being Sky Golf throughout December and January. Check your TV channel guides for further showings. It can also be viewed on the Sky Sport’s YouTube channel –  https://youtu.be/KdH9PMGxCas

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]]> How to Play Wolf (The Golf Game) & Tips to Win https://golfingagency.com/how-to-play-wolf-the-golf-game-tips-to-win/ Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:44:04 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/how-to-play-wolf-the-golf-game-tips-to-win/
How to Play Wolf (The Golf Game) & Tips to Win

One of the best things about playing golf with a group of buddies is the fun betting games you can play against each other. One of the most entertaining golf games is Wolf, which can be a refreshing break from standard stroke play.

If you’ve never played Wolf before, you’re in for a treat! Let’s go over the rules and basic strategies of this incredible game.

 

How to Play The Wolf Golf Game

Wolf is a type of match play where each hole is worth a set amount of points or dollars. Because of this type of scorekeeping, no person or team is ever really out of the match. There are many variations of Wolf, but let’s cover the basic rules first.

1. Decide The Wolf Rotation

Line up your crew on the first tee box and toss a tee into the air. Whichever golfer it points to gets to be the wolf on the first hole. Continue throwing the tee until the rotation is set. This will remain the same until the end of the round.

2. The Wolf Tees Off

After hitting his tee shot, the first player gets to decide if he wants to play as the lone wolf or with a wolf partner. If he chooses the partner route, he’ll then watch the second golfer tee off.

After that shot is completed, the wolf must decide whether to partner with that person or to pass and watch the third player hit. If the wolf doesn’t like the tee shot of the third player, he’s automatically paired with the fourth player.

3. If Partner Format is Chosen, Each Team Plays Their Best Ball

You know what Best Ball means if you’ve ever played in a golf scramble. If not, it simply means that you and your teammate will hit your shots and play whichever ball is the best.

4. The Team or Player With the Lowest Score Wins the Hole

So, if Team 1 scores a 3 on the hole and Team 2 scores a 4, Team 1 is declared the winner, and each player will receive 1 point. No points are awarded if there is a tie, whether in team format or lone wolf format.

5. Lone Wolf Holes Are Worth Triple

Now, before you get cocky and choose to go lone wolf each time you can, remember that each lone wolf hole is worth triple the points. This means that if the lone wolf wins, he’ll receive 3 points while his other non-wolf partners will get 0.

However, the inverse is also true. If the lone wolf doesn’t win the hole, the other three golfers get 3 points while the wolf gets 0. In other words, going the lone wolf route is a huge gamble.

 

How Many Players Do You Need to Play Wolf?

The Wolf golf game is typically played with four golfers, but some variations allow for three golfers to play. All that’s needed is a few modifications to the rules. With three golfers, there’s no predetermined order for who’s going to be the wolf.

After all golfers hit their tee shots, the one with the second longest drive automatically becomes the wolf. The other non-wolf partners become the wolf hunters. The rules are slightly different for par 3 holes, however, as the wolf is awarded to the player that is the second closest to the hole.

The scoring system for a threesome is also a bit different. After all three golfers have finished the hole, the wolf’s score is doubled and then compared to the combined score of the wolf hunters.

The team with the lowest net score wins. If the wolf wins, he gets two points, but if the non-wolf golfers win, they get one point each.

Players can also decide if they want the points to carry over in the case of a tie. For example, let’s say the wolf and the wolf hunters tie on the second hole. Those points will carry over to the third hole and make it worth double the amount.

 

3 Tips to Help You Win at Wolf

Now that you know how to play Wolf, the next step is to learn how to win! We’ve compiled this list of 3 tips to help you win more often at Wolf. If you take these tips to heart, you’ll win more bets on the golf course.

1. Play with Confidence

Playing wolf on the golf course is a lot like playing poker at the casino. The golfer who isn’t afraid to take big risks exudes lots of confidence. This can psych out the other golfers in the crew and make them even more nervous.

One way to show confidence is to announce yourself as the blind lone wolf before you even hit your tee shot. This is known by many in the golfing world as the wolf hammer, and it carries a 4x multiplier of points instead of just 3x! This will shake your buddies up and let them know that you aren’t messing around.

2. Team Up with a High Handicapper

This tip only applies if you are playing Wolf with full handicaps involved. When that rule is instilled, it makes a lot of sense to team up with a high handicapper because they’re given at least one stroke per hole.

That means if the high handicapper scores a 5 on a hole, their score is actually recorded as a 4. This can make it easier for you to rack up points, especially if you happen to hit a poor tee shot as the wolf.

3. Don’t Take The Game Too Seriously

This may be the most important tip of all. While there’s nothing wrong with being competitive, remember that Wolf is supposed to be much more fun than regular stroke play. You aren’t playing for millions of dollars like on the PGA Tour, so just lighten up and have a good time out there!

 

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.



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]]> How To Break 80 The Next Time You Golf (And Start Loving Your Game) https://golfingagency.com/how-to-break-80-the-next-time-you-golf-and-start-loving-your-game/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:21:26 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/how-to-break-80-the-next-time-you-golf-and-start-loving-your-game/
How To Break 80 The Next Time You Golf

Golf Workout Program is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 

Learning how to break 80 in golf can be a painful process.

For some it takes a year, others a lifetime.

Whether you want to learn how to break 80 more consistently, or for the first time, there are a few things that will give you a better chance to every time you step on the golf course.

Here are the most popular tips for how to break 80.


These tips can be used whether you’re trying to break 100, 90, 80 or even 70.

Will they guarantee that you shoot the greatest round of your life tomorrow?

No.

But they will give you your best chance to.

Let’s dive into them.

1. Warm-up (Answer the 3-Warm-up Questions)

100-straight-putts

It should be obvious but if you want to play your best golf you need to warm up.  I don’t care about “that one time”, that you played without warming up and shot the best round of your life.  I promise you that wasn’t the reason.

A good warm up not only gets your body ready for the course but also your mind.

The #1 reason you need to warm up is to figure out what your golf game is doing that day.

Are you hitting a fade or a draw?  Hook or a slice?  How’s your distance control? How far are you hitting your wedges?

These are all questions that can change from day-to-day.  While you may know that you play a fade or draw, getting a feel for how much it is moving that day will give you the confidence to hit your best shots on the course.  Save working on developing a proper golf grip for after the round.

Three things to note during your warm up before the round:

1. What shape is your ball flight? When you don’t think about anything and make a natural, smooth swing, what is your ball flight?

2. How far are you hitting your wedges? What are your 120 and-in swings in 10 yard intervals? Golf is a game played from 150 yards and in. Use these chipping drills to dial in your short game distances.

3. From 30 and in what’s going to be your go to shot? What club? Low runner? High-pitch? etc.

The simple fact is that most of us can only hit a certain amount of shots (if any) with absolutely confidence and minimal errors.  While I understand having multiple “high-skill” shots can save you when you end up in that bad situation.  For the typical golfer who is trying to break 80, they are not necessary.

Having your go-to, high percentage shots will keep you out of trouble, and making a lot of pars.  Which in turn, leads to a lot of rounds in the 70’s.

Think the about the classic saying KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

2. Practice Your Lag Putting

One of the quickest way to improving your golf game and learning how to break 80… phenomenal lag putting.

It sounds funny but it’s true.  You know what fun golf is? Hitting the green regulation, rolling your 30-foot putt to within 2-feet and tapping in for par.

Can you say “Stress free golf”?

Get to the practice green and starting practicing your lag putting.  It’ll take pressure off your irons, and make the game a whole lot easier.

These putting drills & hacks below are a great place to start.

3. Manage Your Round

golf-management

“Golf is a game of misses.”

You may have heard this before and it’s true.  You’ll never go through a round and hit all perfect shots.  The pros don’t, Arnold didn’t, you definitely will not.

Being able to manage your game and avoid the big mistakes will make sure you have a chance to break 80.

What am I referring to when I say big mistakes?  Maybe a story will help.  Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re on a Par 4 and you hit a bad drive into the trees on the right.  You punch out to the middle of the fairway and are left with 130 yards into the green that is surrounded by water on the left side.  The greenskeeper (knowing the sucker that you are) placed the pin just 8 yards from the water.  You take aim at the pin, and hit what you think is a good shot.  It feels great coming off the club, you just pulled it “a little”.  This “a little” that would normally still end up on the green and be a decent shot, splashes in the water and you take a double.

Avoid the big mistakes.  See the sucker pin, aim for the middle of the green and try to make the long putt.  If you miss it, take your bogey and make it up on the next hole.

4. Trust Your Game

sam-snead-golf

Who plays better?  The hack who is thinking about his swing the entire round, or the hack who plays his 30 yard fade with confidence?

No matter your skill level, trusting yourself the entire round is guaranteed to lead to a better result.  Keep this in mind when you go out to play your round.

If you’re hitting big fade with your driver during warm-ups, don’t try to fix it.

You won’t be able to figure out how to fix a slice in 10 minutes and it won’t do anything but lead to worse results on the course.

Instead, shoot the best score you can with the golf game you brought to the course that day.

If you have a 20-yard fade with your driver during warmups, great, play your drives up the left side the whole round with confidence.  Take your shorter drives for the day then head to the range after the round to fix it.

Key takeaways to trusting your golf game:

1. Never try to fix your swing during warm-ups or your round.  Practice is meant for the practice range.

2. If you need to fix something do it after your round or on an off day.

3. Warm-up and know what shots you’re hitting that day. If you’re hitting a fade, play your fade all round.

4. Keep it simple.

Have only 1 swing thought maximum.  I like to use “smooth”.

Stop complicating things.  Trust your game and put smooth, natural swings on the ball.

Practice at the range, play on the course.

Recommended read: 

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

5. Practice Distance Control (with Measurement)

golf-distance-control

“I would rather hit my 7-iron 130 yards EVERY TIME, than 200 yards every once in a while.”

One of the most important aspects of playing good golf is distance control.

I don’t care what club you hit, what shape your ball flight is, how ugly your swing is…

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY.

It took me a while to realize this.

That was until I started to get my ass kicked by the 60-year olds who drove the ball 220 down the middle, every single time.

How to improve your distance control:

“If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.” – Lord Kelvin

1. Start practicing with a trackman (or any distance tracking device).  Getting instant feedback on every swing will start teaching you which swings produce what distances.

2. Stop swinging so hard.  Finding a consistent, smooth, tempo will result in more consistent distances with every club in your bag.

3. Focus on distances from 130 and in.  They are the most important scoring shots in golf.

Improve your distance control and you’ll be sticking it close in no time.

Use these tips and learn how to break 80 (or any score) the next time you step on the course.

Playing good golf consistently isn’t easy.  If it was, everybody would be a scratch golfer.

If you’re serious about breaking 80, you need to put the work in.

Good things don’t come easy.

Prepare for the golf that you want to play, then go play it with confidence.

And remember…

you play better golf when you’re having fun.

August Noble

August Noble was first introduced to golf at 7 years old. In 2013 he started seriously working on his game and was able to reduce his handicap from 19 to 3.4 in less than two years. He’s been helping other golfers do the same ever since.



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]]> What is a Neutral Grip and Can It Help Your Game? https://golfingagency.com/what-is-a-neutral-grip-and-can-it-help-your-game/ Sat, 05 Nov 2022 11:08:19 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/what-is-a-neutral-grip-and-can-it-help-your-game/
What is a Neutral Grip and Can It Help Your Game?

Did you know that a proper golf grip is arguably the most important part of the golf swing? 

We know that may sound crazy but think about it for a second. The grip is the only thing that connects you to the golf club.

There are several reasons why golfers adopt a neutral grip. We describe the pros and cons of the neutral grip here along with how it can help your game. Hopefully after reading this you’ll be able to decide if the neutral grip is right for you.

 

What is a Neutral Golf Grip?

The neutral grip is the most commonly used golf grip. Most golfers feel that the neutral grip is much more comfortable than the strong or weak grip. With a neutral grip, the palms face each other with both thumbs resting on the top of the shaft.

If your grip is truly neutral, you’ll be able to see two knuckles on your left hand (for a right-handed golfer). Also, with a neutral grip, the thumbs of both hands will be pointing almost directly at your face. The position of the right hand depends upon whether the golfer prefers an interlocking or overlapping grip style.

When using an interlocking grip style, the pinkie finger of the right hand ‘interlocks’ with the index finger of the left hand. Most ladies or golfers with smaller hands prefer the interlocking style because it allows the hands to act as one.

With the overlapping grip style, the pinkie finger of the right hand simply rests on top of the index finger of the left hand. Golfers with larger hands often prefer this style since it allows for maximum wrist rotation at impact.

The neutral grip works best for golfers who have all other aspects of their swing in order. The majority of players on the PGA Tour use a neutral grip because it allows for them to hit a wider variety of shots like cuts and draws.

 

Is a Neutral Grip Good in Golf?

Each type of golf grip comes with its own different set of strengths and weaknesses. As a general rule, neutral grips tend to work well for most golfers. However, keep in mind that all golfers have different body types, swings, and hand sizes. 

As with most things in golf, there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to choosing a grip. Let’s go over a few pros and cons of the neutral grip.

Pro #1: Comfort Level

The neutral grip feels natural to most golfers so that is a definite benefit. It’s virtually impossible to play good golf if your hands are in an uncomfortable position. If you asked a person who has never played golf before to grip a golf club, more than likely they’d use a neutral grip.

Pro #2: Clubface Control

Golfers who use the neutral grip love the extra freedom that their wrists have at impact. Most folks feel that the neutral grip helps them easily control the clubface. More clubface control leads to more accurate shots, which is always a good thing!

Pro #3: Easier to Hit Shaped Shots

Do you know those extra tough holes where you need to be able to hit a high draw or a low fade? The neutral grip makes it much easier to hit shaped shots like those. Again, this is because the hands are in a more relaxed position.

Con #1: Can Lead to Slicing in Some Golfers

Newer golfers usually don’t have all aspects of their swing in order. For that reason, the neutral grip may cause beginner golfers to hit more slices than they would with a strong grip.

Con #2: Too Much Wrist Freedom

While wrist freedom feels great during the golf swing, having too much of it can lead to inaccurate shots. Some golfers who use a neutral grip struggle with hooking the golf ball because of overactive hands. 

Jack Nicklaus had an insightful quote about the hands. Mr. Nicklaus said, “the hands are the swing wreckers.” 

Golfers who want to try the neutral grip should make sure that they can keep their hands quiet enough to hit accurate shots. If a golfer’s hands often remain open or closed at impact, the neutral grip may not be the best choice for them.

 

Professional Players Who Use a Neutral Grip

Like we said above, most PGA Tour players use a neutral grip so there are a plethora of examples to choose from. Here are some of the most famous pros who use a neutral grip.

Jack Nicklaus

“The Golden Bear” is considered by many to be the best golfer of all time. Nicklaus won 73 times on the PGA Tour, which ranks 3rd on the all-time list.

His 18 major championships is a record that may never be broken. Nicklaus employed a neutral grip his entire golf career.

Tiger Woods

Tiger’s an interesting case because he’s changed his grip a little bit over the course of his career. Woods had a slightly stronger grip during his younger years but changed to an almost completely neutral grip a few years back.

No matter what grip he utilized, Woods will go down in history as the most dominant golfer of his era. He is currently tied for 1st in PGA Tour wins with 82. His 15 major championships are 2nd only to Nicklaus.

Adam Scott

Scott has used a neutral grip his entire PGA Tour career and it has served him well. The Australian native has won 14 times on the PGA Tour, including the 2013 Masters Tournament. Scott has a smooth swing with almost perfect mechanics.

Ernie Els

Els has one of the most fluid golf swings on the PGA Tour and he’s a big fan of the neutral grip. The 52-year old primarily plays on the PGA Tour Champions but he won 19 times on the “Big” Tour during his prime. Els has won four major tournaments during his career and is one of the best South African golfers of all time.

 

Who This Grip is Best For

The neutral grip is a great choice for anyone who feels comfortable with it. Most beginners should start out with a neutral grip since it is usually the easiest grip to teach.

Golfers with medium hip speed often find that the neutral grip is a great fit for them. Folks that have trouble closing the clubface on impact will also benefit from the neutral grip.

Advanced golfers who want to shape their shots will also benefit greatly from the neutral grip. Golfers who are trying to increase their clubhead speed may find that the neutral grip helps them in that aspect.

 

The Other Type of Golf Grips

Strong Grip

With a strong golf grip, the golfer will be able to see three or more knuckles on their left hand (for right-handed golfers). This type of golf grip works best for golfers who have an inside-out swing and fast hips. With a strong grip, both the left thumb and the right thumb are pointed at the right shoulder.

Golfers who tend to slice the ball can often remedy that problem simply by switching to a strong grip. This is because the strong grip naturally closes the clubface at impact. Lots of taller golfers with large hands prefer the strong grip because they feel it gives them more power on the downswing.

Weak Grip

With a weak golf grip, the golfer will be able to only see one knuckle on their left hand. Keep in mind though that when we say “weak” grip, we are not referring to grip pressure or how hard you squeeze the golf club. The Vs of each hand is pointing more towards the left shoulder with a weak grip.

Golfers who struggle with a hook often find that the weak grip helps them hit the ball straighter. This is because the weak grip keeps the clubface from shutting too much at impact. Many golfers also find it easier to hit the ball higher with a weak grip.

 

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.



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]]> What is a Strong Golf Grip and Can It Improve Your Game? https://golfingagency.com/what-is-a-strong-golf-grip-and-can-it-improve-your-game/ Sat, 05 Nov 2022 09:00:47 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/what-is-a-strong-golf-grip-and-can-it-improve-your-game/
What is a Strong Golf Grip and Can It Improve Your Game?

I’ll never forget when I learned what a strong grip was from a golf instructor. During our first lesson, he noticed that most of my golf shots tended to slice to the right. He proceeded to tell me that the simplest fix for my slicing was to start using a strong golf grip.

There are several reasons why golfers should use a strong grip. We describe the strong grip here along with how it can help your game. After reading this you’ll be able to decide if a strong grip may work for you.

 

What is a Strong Golf Grip?

A strong golf grip has nothing to do with how hard you grip the golf club. Instead, it has to do with the position of your hands. A strong grip requires the golfer’s hands to be rotated away from the target.

strong golf grip

Image courtesy of Golf Distillery

How do you know if your golf grip is already strong? Check the position of your knuckles on your left hand. If you can see three or more knuckles, you are already using a strong grip.

Folks with a strong grip normally use one of two finger patterns: the interlocking grip or the overlapping grip. 

With the interlocking grip, the golfer takes the right pinky and interlocks it with the left index finger. With the overlapping grip (aka the Vardon grip), the golfer takes the pinky of the right hand and simply rests it on top of the index finger of the left hand. The choice to overlap or interlock all comes down to the golfer’s personal choice.

 

Is a Strong Grip Good in Golf?

No golf grip is inherently good or bad. It all depends on what type of golf swing you have. The most important thing is to match your swing type with the correct grip. It’s best to spend lots of practice time using each grip to see which one works best for you.

Just as with the weak and neutral grips, the strong grip has its own set of positives and drawbacks. Here is a brief list of the pros and cons of the strong grip.

Pro #1: Could Lead to Increased Distance off the Tee

Switching to a strong golf grip puts the hands in a more powerful position. This could lead to more yardage off the tee with the driver. The ability to hit the ball further can lead to lower scores on the course.

The strong grip also makes the golf club feel much lighter, which helps generate a little more clubhead speed. With the club feeling lighter, the golfer has better control of the shaft. More control of the golf club often leads to more accurate shots and extra distance.

Pro #2: Helps to Straighten Out Slicers

Most amateur or beginner golfers fight a slice, especially with the larger clubs like the driver, fairway woods, and hybrids. A strong grip helps remedy this common problem. Here’s how:

The strong grip makes it much easier to close the clubface on impact. This is in stark contrast to the weak and neutral grips, which usually make it too easy to hit the ball with an open clubface. The open clubface is what causes the slice. 

Pro #3: Promotes an In to Out Swing Path

The strong grip also encourages an in-to-out swing pattern, which not only helps remedy a slice but makes it easier to hit draws. This is because of the aforementioned closed clubface at impact. The ability to hit a draw can be a huge advantage on the golf course, especially on the holes that have a dogleg left shape to them.

 

Con #1: Can Result in Hooking

For golfers who have no trouble closing the clubface at impact, a strong grip can lead to hooking. This is not a good thing on the course and can result in lots of lost golf balls and frustration. A wicked hook is just as bad as a nasty slice because neither one will end up in the fairway.

Con #2: Lower Ball Flight

While most golfers, especially slicers, may welcome a lower ball flight, that is not the case for all golfers. The closed clubface that the strong grip promotes usually leads to less trajectory. This isn’t such a problem with the longer clubs but it can negatively affect some golfers’ approach shots with wedges.

Con #3: Less Comfortable

This one comes down to personal preference, as some golfers think the strong grip is more comfortable than the weak or neutral grips. However, some golfers report that their hands get quite a bit sore after switching to a strong grip. This could be due to the extra wrist rotation that occurs with a strong grip.

Many golfers find the strong grip to be very uncomfortable while chipping and putting. For this reason, lots of golfers will use a strong grip for normal shots but a neutral grip for short game shots.

 

Professional Players Who Use a Strong Golf Grip

There are tons of golfers on the PGA Tour that use a strong grip. Many of which are some of the game’s biggest stars. This just goes to show that a strong grip is not just for beginner golfers.

Dustin Johnson

DJ is one of the best players in the world and has been for quite some time. Johnson has racked up 24 PGA Tour wins, two of which are major championships. The 37-year old uses one of the strongest grips in pro golf because of his 6-4 frame and very large hands.

The strong grip helps keep Johnson’s hands quiet, which allows for his brute strength and extreme flexibility to pummel the golf ball well over 300 yards. Johnson’s strong grip enables him to keep his connection with the golf club throughout his entire swing. 

Zach Johnson

Though Zach Johnson has no relation to Dustin Johnson, they both employ a strong golf grip. The 45-year old has won 12 times on the PGA Tour, including two major championship titles. What is interesting about Johnson’s grip is that it is even stronger than DJ’s, as both of his thumbs are pointed at his right shoulder. 

Johnson may not be one of the longest drivers in pro golf, but he is one of the most accurate. The strong grip and excellent body rotation help Johnson make consistent contact, both off the tee and with his approach shots.

Bubba Watson

We had to put a lefty on our list and Watson is one of the best out there. The former University of Georgia star has used a strong golf grip his entire career. Watson turned pro in 2002 and has won 12 times on the PGA Tour.

Watson’s greatest achievements are his two victories at The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Watson keeps his hands in an extremely strong position, which is pretty uncommon amongst left-handed golfers. Being unconventional has never bothered Watson.

Fred Couples

Couples was one of the most dominant golfers on the PGA Tour in the 1990s. “Boom Boom” won 15 times on the PGA Tour and captured the coveted Masters Tournament title in 1992. Couples still plays on the PGA Tour Champions and his grip is so strong that his wrist cups.

Though he uses an extremely strong grip, Couples only grips the golf club with a small amount of grip pressure. By lightly holding the club, Couples is able to generate his signature smooth swing. This proves that golfers with a strong grip can still have a nice smooth rhythm to their swing.  

Paul Azinger

We can’t mention strong grips without talking about the man with the strongest golf grip of all time. “Zinger” had what is called an ultra-strong grip, which is where you can see all four knuckles on the lead hand. Azinger’s right hand was much more underneath the golf club than most golfers.

The extremely strong grip didn’t hurt Azinger’s career in the least. The Florida State University alum scored 12 wins on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship. Azinger is now one of the most popular commentators on the Golf Channel.

 

Who This Grip is Best Suited For

Lots of golfers can benefit from trying out a stronger grip. However, a strong grip is not for everyone. Check out the below list for the folks that may benefit the most from a strong grip.

  1. Golfers who struggle with a slice
  2. Golfers who want to increase their driving distance
  3. Folks who want to hit more draws
  4. People who want more control during their backswing
  5. Golfers who have trouble closing the clubface
  6. Those who need to make more consistent contact
  7. Those who want a swing that relies less on timing
  8. Folks with fast hips

 

The Other Types of Golf Grips

Have you tried the strong grip in the past and didn’t feel comfortable with it? If that is the case, consider using a weak grip or a neutral grip. Here’s a brief rundown of each of those.

Weak Golf Grip

The weak grip is the exact opposite of the strong grip. Instead of both the right thumb and left thumb pointing at the right shoulder, with the weak grip they point at the left shoulder. With a weak grip, the golfer will only see one knuckle on their left hand while addressing the golf ball.

Golfers who love the weak grip claim that it helps them hit the ball a lot higher than the other two grips. PGA Tour pros like Jon Rahm use the weak grip to hit those long, power fade drives. A weak grip normally works well for golfers with slow hips.

Neutral Golf Grip

The neutral grip is a happy medium between the weak and strong grips. With a neutral grip, the thumbs point right at the golfer’s face instead of either his right or left shoulder. Golfers with a more medium hip speed may benefit the most from a neutral grip. 

When using a neutral grip, the golfer will be able to see two knuckles on his left hand during his setup. The neutral grip usually works best for golfers with excellent swing mechanics. PGA Tour legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are both big proponents of the neutral golf grip.

 

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.



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]]> What is The Double Overlap Golf Grip & Can It Help Your Game? https://golfingagency.com/what-is-the-double-overlap-golf-grip-can-it-help-your-game/ https://golfingagency.com/what-is-the-double-overlap-golf-grip-can-it-help-your-game/#respond Sat, 05 Nov 2022 03:39:54 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/what-is-the-double-overlap-golf-grip-can-it-help-your-game/
What is The Double Overlap Golf Grip & Can It Help Your Game?

If you’ve been around the game of golf for any length of time, you are probably familiar with the overlapping grip (also known as the Vardon grip). 

However, most folks have never heard of the double overlap grip, the overlapping grips cousin. Though it’s not as popular, there are a few golfers that feel like the double-overlap grip is the best grip for them.

There are several reasons why golfers adopt a double overlap grip. We describe the pros and cons of this grip here along with how it can help your game. After reading this, you’ll be able to decide if you want to try out the double overlap grip for yourself.

 

What is the Double Overlap Golf Grip?

As you might have guessed, the double overlap grip is similar to the Vardon grip. However, the double overlap grip takes things to a whole new level. Here is how it works:

Instead of simply resting the right pinkie on top of the left index finger like in the Vardon grip, with the double overlap grip, the right pinkie rests on top of the left middle finger. Also, the right ring finger laps over the top of the left index finger.

the double overlap grip

This grip may be uncomfortable at first but don’t give up on it too quickly. Dave Pelz, one of golf’s best short game instructors, recommends using the double overlap grip during pitching and chipping drills to get a better feel for it.

 

The Benefits of This Golf Grip

Now let’s review some of the benefits golfer’s notice when switching to this grip…

Makes the Golfer’s Hands Act As One

Many club golfers struggle with their dominant hand taking over the golf swing. Surprisingly, some golfers on the PGA Tour struggle with this same problem. The double overlap grip helps remedy this problem because it makes the hands act as one unit.

For example, if you are right-handed, your right hand may tend to take over your entire swing at times. With the double overlap grip, the right hand is forced to simply act as a guide for the left hand. 

Gives the Golfer Better Feel

The double overlap grip gives the golfer a better feel and much more control at the top of the backswing. Since the golfer no longer has to worry about his dominant hand taking over, he is free to let the leading hand do its job. 

The better feel and increased control lead to a more effortless, fluid golf swing. This is because the double overlap grip makes the golfer let the club do the work.

Fewer Hooks and Slices

The double overlap grip can be a great option for folks that have directional problems like hooks and slices. Those annoying duck hooks off the tee box are usually caused by the right hand taking over and flipping the golf club just before impact. Since the double overlap grip minimizes the right hand, this is less likely to happen.

Most of the time a slice is caused by overswinging and too much grip pressure. How many times have you tried to kill the golf ball and ended up slicing it into the next fairway? The double overlap grip makes you lighten your grip pressure, which may help straighten out your slice.

 

Pro Golfers Who Use The Double Overlap Grip

Curious which pro golfers actually use this grip? Here’s the list…

Jim Furyk

Furyk has used the double overlap grip his entire career and it has helped him achieve 17 PGA Tour wins, including the 2003 U.S. Open. Furyk’s nickname is “Mr. 58” since he is the only person to shoot a 58 in a PGA Tour event. 

The double overlap grip gives Furyk a high amount of control over all his golf shots. Furyk, now 51, plays on both the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. His unique, figure-eight swing is highly entertaining to watch.

David Leadbetter

Leadbetter did not play on the PGA Tour but he did play professionally on both the European and South African Tour. Leadbetter is known as one of the best golf instructors in the world and he’s worked with some of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars like Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Greg Norman.

The 69-year old Englishman is a big proponent of the double overlap grip. He says the double overlap grip helps reduce tension in the wrists and hands, which leads to a more fundamentally sound golf swing.

 

Other Common Golf Grips

The double overlap grip style has a ton of benefits but it’s not for everyone. Some folks just aren’t able to get fully comfortable with the double overlap. Fortunately, there are several other golf grips that they can try.

Interlocking Grip

The interlocking grip was made famous by two PGA Tour megastars, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. With the interlocking grip, the right pinkie interlocks in between the left forefinger and left middle finger. 

This keeps the hands together throughout the entire golf swing, which is why many golfers prefer it. The only downside of the interlocking grip is that it may not be very comfortable for golfers who have larger hands.

Baseball Grip

The baseball-grip, or ten-finger grip, is a good grip for kids or beginners. Those who are used to gripping a baseball bat will find the ten-finger grip comfortable. 

With the baseball grip, the right pinkie and the left index finger touch, but there is no interlocking or overlapping. The main downside of this grip is that it makes it too easy for the golfer’s dominant hand to take over.

Reverse Overlap (Putting)

This is the most common putting grip in the game of golf. Lots of golfers feel this grip style gives them a ton of control of the putter. With the reverse overlap grip, the right index finger laps over the left pinkie.

Claw Grip (Putting)

Golfers who aren’t comfortable with the reverse overlap putting grip often switch to a claw grip. One of the main benefits of using a claw grip is that it makes the shoulders lead the putting stroke instead of the hands. This often results in better ball speed on the greens and more accurate putts.

 

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.



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]]> https://golfingagency.com/what-is-the-double-overlap-golf-grip-can-it-help-your-game/feed/ 0 The 9 Best Short Game Drills To Help Lower Your Handicap https://golfingagency.com/the-9-best-short-game-drills-to-help-lower-your-handicap/ https://golfingagency.com/the-9-best-short-game-drills-to-help-lower-your-handicap/#respond Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:42:22 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/the-9-best-short-game-drills-to-help-lower-your-handicap/
The 9 Best Short Game Drills To Help Lower Your Handicap

Our regular readers will know that my shoddy long game forced me to master the art of scrambling and my short game. Had I failed to succeed in those departments, I would never have played at the level I did as a youngster. So, in this guide, I introduce you to the 9 best short game drills to help lower your handicap.

Since we already have a guide on the 8 best putting drills, this review will focus more on pitching and chipping. In addition to providing drills, I will teach beginners and high handicappers how to play different types of chip shots.

 

1. Posture And Ball Positioning Drill

The first drill to undertake when you reach the practice green is arranging your posture and ball position. Your short game drills will not improve your chipping skills if you get this part wrong.

This drill requires 2 alignment sticks. Place one on the ground and then connect the second one at a 45-degree angle.

The ball should be just ahead of the vertex, and your nose should align with it. Next, the toes of your back foot should be 2 inches from the alignment stick pointing towards you. Conversely, the heel of your front foot should remain a couple inches from the same stick on the other side.

When you are in this position, your body positions the weight forward to allow your clubhead to get under the body and generate spin. If your nose is not above the vertex, your weight distribution is off, and it will impact the low point of your chip.

You can read our detailed guide on how to improve your stance for added consistency in all areas of your game.

2. Swing Path

The second drill to execute before hitting a few balls is your swing path. An in to out or out to in swing will cause your ball to curve away from the target. It is vital to square the face at impact for optimal accuracy.

James Sieckman from Titleist recommends employing 2 alignment sticks to undertake this task. Position one stick on the floor, aiming parallel to your target. Then set up the other three-quarters back of the first stick, and angle it parallel to your shaft:

Take 10 practice swings without striking the ball, and focus on not hitting the second alignment stick. Once you have had 10 practice swings, start chipping or pitching without touching the angled alignment stick. You will notice a big difference in the accuracy.

3. One hand shots

Your short game often revolves around feel. There are no distance markers around or on the green, meaning you need to rely on your feel and experience for optimal distance control.

Over the years, I have found one-handed shots to be a great way to warm up and get a feel for your clubhead, the turf, and the conditions. In addition, one-handed shots help you understand the bounce of your wedges and how it enables you to get under the ball and generate optimal spin.

Besides learning to trust the bounce of your wedge, this chipping drill helps you improve your ball striking ability. The cleaner that you strike a chip shot, the higher the spin, control, and accuracy will be.

4. Coin chipping drill

Staying with ball striking, we turn attention to the coin chipping drill. The purpose of this exercise is to understand where your clubface should be at the low point of your swing. If your low point is too early, it could cause your club to take a chunk of turf, resulting in a fluffed chip.

Conversely, if your low point is too late in your swing, you may struggle to launch your ball and optimize your spin. Leading to a loss of control and accuracy.

The solution involves a coin, and it is one of the great chipping drills. Place a coin slightly in front of your ball, and take a swing. You want to catch the ball cleanly but get under it enough to generate spin. If you execute the swing successfully, the coin should launch into the air with the ball.

If you miss the coin and there is a divot behind your ball, your low point is too early. Conversely, if you touched the coin, but did not get it airborne, you reached your low point late.

5. Hula Hoop Chipping Drill

This is one of the fun chipping games for amateurs to undertake and reminds me of the mobile game Golf Clash. The idea is to get as many shots as possible into a hula hoop, which helps you master where to land chip and pitch shots.

Identify various locations on the green where you would like to land the ball and place hula hoops on the ground. This drill also helps enhance your muscle memory to know how hard to hit each shot. Increasing your chance of landing the ball in the desired zone, when you are on the golf course.

You can even make it into a challenge with a golf buddy. Each player hits 10 shots, and you get a point for every ball that remains in the hula hoop. Naturally, the player with the most points after 5 attempts wins whatever you are willing to wager.

My golf coaches were less forgiving and made me practice a similar drill. However, they placed a 1.02-inch South African five Rand coin on a spot and made me attempt to hit it as many times as I could. If I did it 20 times in 50 shots, I got a sleeve of Maxfli Noodles.

6. Lines In The Sand

A Bunker shot is the worst enemy of many amateur golfers. For example, my playing partner. He was a scratch golfer in his youth, now he struggles out of the sand. As a junior, I spent hours working on my bunker play, and I love the challenge of these shots.

A drill that worked for me was a combination of lines in the sand and the hula-hoop practice routine. European Tour Pro Matt Nixon demonstrates how to set up for this drill, but I will take you through the steps:

Firstly, draw 2 parallel lines in the practice bunker, spaced one to 2 inches apart. The front line is where you place your ball, and the backline is where the low point of your downswing occurs. You need to catch the sand first and allow the bounce to push it through the dirt and connect cleanly with your ball.

Once the lines in the sand are drawn, corkscrew your feet into the sand. That increases your traction and enables you to lower your center of gravity to get your sand wedge under the ball.

Next, ensure that you open your clubface to increase your chance of getting the ball airborne and aim a yard left of your target. An open clubface is likely to start the ball right of where you were aiming. That is why you need to shift your feet left slightly to compensate.

7. Square face drill

I mentioned the importance of keeping your face square on-chip and pitch shot. Now, let me show you how to improve this aspect of your swing. Follow the steps provided in the one-hand shots drill, but focus on striking the ball with a square face.

Grip the club with your strongest hand, take an easy backswing, and follow-through. Don’t worry about the distance. Pay attention instead to the position of your clubface at impact. As well as where the leading edge is facing on your upswing.

If you execute this drill successfully your ball will launch straight at the target. Plus, the leading edge should face the pin after your upswing. Basically, the aim is to avoid turning your clubhead over at impact for a straighter launch.

8. Prevent Fall Back

No guide to short game drills would be complete without including the wise teachings of Butch Harmon. The legendary coach has mentored some of the world’s best golfers and knows his way around a short game drill.

He advises that you work on positioning weight on your front foot to prompt the clubface to strike the ball at the low point of your downswing. If your weight is on your back leg, it becomes difficult to attack the ball and generate sufficient clubhead speed to prompt supreme spin.

Harmon recommends that you place a ball under your back foot, forcing you to position more weight on your front foot. Therefore, it sets you up for an aggressive impact, which will deliver the spin, apex, and control you desire.

This exercise helps you optimize shots off tight grass, such as from the fairway. Placing your weight forward enables you to drive the clubface under the ball to get it up in the air. When you play a shot off of fluffy ground, this position causes the clubface to connect too far beneath the ball, leading to a whiff.

9. Master the grain

Drill 8 focused on preventing fall back to get under the ball. In this final drill, the aim is to adjust your weight depending on the grain of grass you hit from.

When you play from a tight lie in the fairway, you must keep your weight on the front foot to get under the ball and launch it.

Conversely, when you are on a fluffy lie, you need to reposition the weight to your back foot.

Placing your weight on your trail leg prompts the club’s bounce to take over at the bottom of your swing arc. That propels the face towards the ball to induce a clean strike for consistent spin and distance.

To practice this drill, employ Harmon’s golf ball under the necessary foot to get used to the feeling of forward and back mass.

If you execute this drill successfully your ball will launch straight at the target. Plus, the leading edge should face the pin at the completion of your upswing. Basically, the aim is to avoid turning your clubhead over at impact for a straighter launch.

 

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.



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]]> https://golfingagency.com/the-9-best-short-game-drills-to-help-lower-your-handicap/feed/ 0 10 Super Fun Golf Range Games That’ll Also Improve Your Game https://golfingagency.com/10-super-fun-golf-range-games-thatll-also-improve-your-game/ https://golfingagency.com/10-super-fun-golf-range-games-thatll-also-improve-your-game/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:37:45 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/10-super-fun-golf-range-games-thatll-also-improve-your-game/
10 Super Fun Golf Range Games That’ll Also Improve Your Game

Concentration has never been my strong point. 

When I was 6, my teachers wanted me on Ritalin, but my free-thinking parents resisted. I could not focus for long, which made the driving range a boring endeavor. However, over the years, I learned various range games. They optimized my training and made it more exciting.

Instead of aimlessly whacking golf balls, you practice with a purpose. As a result, your game is better for it, and the range becomes a place of enjoyment rather than boredom. The practice range games in this post are ideal for friendly competition and betting folk.

Before we fall into game mode, you might want to review our golf alignment stick drills to ensure you are set up correctly. There is no point in playing games if you are not executing the tasks correctly.

 

Long and Mid Range Games 

1. Longest Drive

This is a simple challenge where a launch monitor is a handy accessory. Determine the boundaries of your imaginary fairway, and start bombing drives. You could use the naked eye to determine the winner, but a launch monitor offers the most accurate results.

You no longer need to fork out thousands on a device. There are highly affordable options. For example, the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor or the FlightScope Mevo.

The idea is to hit 5 drives each, and the longest yardage inside the boundary wins. Those struggling to maximize distance off the tee can find solutions in our golf driving tips guide.

 

2. Fastest Ball Speed

The fastest ball speed range game allows you to channel your inner Kyle Berkshire and reign supreme over your buddies. Like the longest drive drill, each player swings 5 times, and the golfer with the fastest ball speed takes the crown.

Unless your superpower is a doppler radar, you need a launch monitor to provide feedback on the numbers.

 

3. Fastest Clubhead Speed

This challenge also requires a launch monitor to determine the velocity of your clubhead. Everybody bombs 5 drives from the hitting bay, and the player with the quickest clubhead speed is the victor.

A driver should produce the fastest clubhead speed, but your party can use a variety of clubs. As long as you are on equal terms. For example, if one player hits a fairway wood, everyone should use the same club. Otherwise, the results will be wildly erratic and defeat the purpose of the drill.

Golfers with slower swing speeds may find that a change of equipment can slightly boost velocity. Start with these golf balls for players with slow swing speed.

 

4. Play The Dogleg 

Just because you are an adult, it does not mean you cannot channel your imagination. I use this drill to work on my shot shaping and boost my creativity on the golf course. I picture a dogleg hole on a link I know well and pretend that I am playing the hole.

If it is a dogleg right, I attempt to fade the ball off the tee and land it in a zone the size of the fairway on that hole. Depending on the distance of my drive, I use the relevant club for the approach shot. Obviously, I cannot putt. However, it helps you with positioning and distance control.

Learning how to play different types of shots also trains you to escape trouble. When you drive it into the trees during a round of golf, you have options at your disposal to recover and limit the damage.

 

5. Horse

You can play horse in a variety of forms and even switch out the letters for points. That is what my buddies and I do. The game I play is a variation of the original but offers twice the enjoyment. The only downside of this version is that a launch monitor is required for data on select challenges.

Each player hits a total of 10 shots. However, before you hit the next shot, the winner of the previous point chooses what to do. We usually include the following challenges:

  • Longest drive
  • Ball Speed
  • Clubhead Speed
  • Straight Shot
  • Biggest Draw
  • Biggest Fade Curve
  • Highest Apex
  • Closest To The Pin

The winner of each challenge gets a point, and the highest score after all the tasks are complete wins. You will need a launch monitor for these drills to avoid any debates or uncertainty among your mates.

 

6. Flagstick Challenge

Another elementary golf drill that does not require any technology. If your driving range contains flags, it presents the perfect opportunity to test your iron accuracy game. Pick out the various locations you wish to hit, and away you go.

Each participant hits 5 shots to get it as close to the flagstick as possible. The closest to the mark wins the round while the others receive zero points. You can offer extra points for hitting the stick, but that complicates matters.

The best approach is to pick 4-flags and hit a 4, 7, 9-iron, and pitching wedge.

 

Short Range Games

7. Closest To The Pin

Moving out of the hitting bay and onto the putting and chipping green. These drills lead to better golf, a lower handicap, and fewer total strokes. Closest to the pin works similar to the flagstick challenge. 

Pick 5-holes on the green, and try to get your ball closer to the cup, and claim a higher score than your opponents. Every golfer chips five balls to each hole, and the closest earns a point.

You can also use the same hole but chip from varying distances. It is irrelevant whether you use a sand or lob wedge for this drill.

 

8. Around The World

Around the world is a putting challenge, similar to a basketball drill I did in high school. You place ball markers around the cup, approximately 5 to 7-feet away. The participants decide on the start and end point, and you are all set.

You cannot progress to the next marker until you have successfully drained a putt in your current position. The player to successfully journey around the world first claims top honors.

Our guide to improving your putting stance could boost your performance in this challenge, helping you dominate your mates.

 

9. Manilla Folder Challenge 

Place a folder or piece of paper on a specific point, and attempt to get the ball to stop on the marker. Every player has 5-putts, and each time your ball stops in the zone, you claim a point. The player with the most points wins.

manila folder putting drill

 

10. Down The Drain 

I love this challenge, and it boosts your confidence on the putting green. Place markers down at 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30-feet intervals, and start with the closest point. This time, every player putts 1 ball. If you drain the putt, you card a birdie, and a 2 putt is a par. 3-putts are bogey, and a 4-putt is a double.

Tally up your scores, and the player with the lowest round is the champion with the flatstick.

 

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.



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]]> https://golfingagency.com/10-super-fun-golf-range-games-thatll-also-improve-your-game/feed/ 0 11 Fun Ways to Practice Your Golf Game in The Backyard https://golfingagency.com/11-fun-ways-to-practice-your-golf-game-in-the-backyard/ https://golfingagency.com/11-fun-ways-to-practice-your-golf-game-in-the-backyard/#respond Mon, 31 Oct 2022 18:17:44 +0000 https://golfingagency.com/11-fun-ways-to-practice-your-golf-game-in-the-backyard/
11 Fun Ways to Practice Your Golf Game in The Backyard

Growing up in a rural town gave me the gift of space, which is a paradise for aspiring golfers.

My parents had an acre of property, which allowed me to explore and concoct golf challenges. Using my childhood experience, I have outlined 11 fun ways to practice your golf game in the backyard.

From simple chipping tips to hand-eye coordination and swing mechanics, you can work on every element of your game in backyard golf.

 

Chipping Net

This is the easiest backyard practice drill to undertake. You do not need loads of space, although it doesn’t harm. Set the net up in a central part of the yard and chip to it from different positions.

Playing from a different spot changes the scenery and the approach to your shot. It may impact the trajectory, alignment, and spin rate required to hole your shot. It also means you create your own 6 or 9 hole par 2 course. See what you card, and challenge yourself to beat the score next time out.

The goal is simple, get the ball into the net. The golf net I used when I was a kid looked like a basketball hoop with an enlarged circumference. It was nothing special but still provided a target to aim at.

Callaway has refined the design of the original to increase the challenge of the net. Their Chip-Shot Golf Chipping Net contains 3 square slots for you to aim at. See how accurate your aim and distance control is, and try to get the ball into the hole on the full.

Alternatively, you can practice your pitch shots and attempt to bounce the ball into the net. Whether you have an acre of space or a few square feet, you can work on these basic chip shots.

Those not gifted with a large backyard should consider foam golf balls. These reduce the risk of window breakages and scuffs on your ball. Should your backyard comprise concrete, you will need a hitting mat.

 

Floating Green

When the ball went into my pool, it resulted in a 10-minute intermission, as I needed to turn off the filter and backwash the pool to get the ball out of the pipe system. That is why I used it as an obstacle, to hit over or avoid completely.

Fortunately, floating golf balls allow you to bring the pool into play. In 2020, GM Golf built a floating putting green for $167 (see video below). It is an ideal option if your garden space is limited. They made a square frame from PVC pipes and connected them using PVC elbows.

Then, they employed ratchet traps to increase the stability of the pipes for optimal flotation. Next, the team added artificial turf and secured it to the pipes, with ratchet traps. Finally, they cut a hole in the turf to act as the cup, and they were good to go.

This drill boosts your accuracy and distance control. If you leave it short or generate excess power, your ball ends in the drink. In addition, it helps you achieve a consistent rhythm to improve your ball striking, launch angle, and spin.

 

Flop Shot Practice

Space is needed for this drill to avoid damaging your property or the neighbors, as I did. Since my garden was littered with fruit trees, I employed them as obstacles to practice the flop shot, one of my favorites in my repertoire.

I became fascinated with the shot when I was 4-years old. A family friend who is relatively unpopular on the PGA Tour taught it to me. I watched him send the ball to the heavens with ease and land it a few feet ahead of him.

If I could recommend one player to learn the flop shot from, it is undoubtedly Phil Mickelson. That man is a wizard with the flop.

The aim of the drill was to get the ball into the air rapidly and land it just on the other side of the tree. I also practiced this shot over my pool, pretending that the pin was a few feet from the water and I had no green to work with.

Higher handicappers and average ball-strikers may prefer a foam ball for this exercise because it can lead to wayward results. I broke several windows and roof tiles working on this drill, so approach with caution.

 

Golf Hitting Net

Owning a golf-hitting net (pays) affords you the chance to work on your long and mid-game from home. Set the practice net up 7 to 8-feet from your intended strike zone. I suggest acquiring a hitting mat to keep the grass intact

In addition, you should leave a foot or 2 of space behind the net to absorb the impact of your strikes. The best golf net for practice is the WhiteFang, which comes with a hitting mat incidentally.

I recommend looking at launch monitors to complete your practice. Otherwise, you hit golf balls aimlessly without knowing your shot shape or carry distance.

This technology offers detailed insight into your game to ensure that you address the issues with your swing. Therefore, you practice with a purpose and don’t just hit golf balls. An accurate launch monitor that doesn’t break the bank is the FlightScope Mevo.

Regularly improving your swing mechanics boosts your muscle memory and increases the consistency of your shots. As a result, you should hit fewer hook and slice shots, enjoying increased accuracy.

 

Putting Mat

The quickest way to lower your handicap is to master your putting. You don’t need to head to the driving to sharpen your flat stick skills, only a putting mat.

Obviously, it is difficult to replicate the break on an actual green. However, it allows you to work on your distance control and putting-stroke path.

Furthermore, a putting mat allows you to practice both outside and inside, in case it ever starts raining and you want to practice inside. The PUTT-A-BOUT Par Three Golf Putting Green

is easy to set up, and built in sand trap cutouts catches any missed shots.

 

Bunker Practice

If your kid has a sandpit, it’s time for the little one to move out. Turn it into a bunker. The house I grew up in had 3 sand pits in different corners of the property, which meant I had multiple bunkers to practice from.

You don’t need a massive construction. A few feet all around is sufficient. Position your chipping net and try to get the ball into the hole.

Having a sand trap in the backyard helps you hone your bunker play to boost your up and downs and save multiple shots. I spent hours every week hitting balls out of my self-constructed bunkers.

Those who have the gift of a beach nearby can have endless fun with bunker shots. Here is an example of a casual me practicing fried egg lies with the Atlantic Ocean at my back.

 

Golf Swing Tempo

You don’t need a ball or acres of space for this drill. Pull out your Orange Whip swing training aid, take it back, and swing through. Do 10-repetitions of this, then take a 30 to 45-second break and repeat the process.

This drill improves your tempo, swing plane, path, and weight transition. Plus, the added mass in the swing stick requires you to activate all the muscles in your body to maximize your power on the downswing.

Therefore, using the stick enhances every aspect of your mechanics to encourage a square clubface at impact for maximum distance and accuracy.

 

Golf Simulator

Nothing stops you from using your golf hitting net set up to craft a simulator. However, I suggest doing so inside, given the electronic components required to run the system.

A golf simulator allows you to play virtual rounds of golf against your buddies and other users worldwide. It also allows you to work on most aspects of your game besides putting, and provides detailed insight into your shots.

Swing speed, spin rate, club face angle, ball speed, apex, and distance are typically measured by the launch monitor in a golf simulator.

These products are not the cheapest golf equipment, but their prices have been reduced. For example, you can pick up an OptiShot 2 Golf In A Box simulator for $850. It includes everything you need, except a laptop and projector.

In essence, simulators provide a platform to practice, play virtually and entertain your friends and family.

Golfers on a budget may find my review on the 10 best golf simulators under $1000 helpful. These options enhance your home practice experience without burning a hole in your pocket.

 

Bouncing The Golf Ball

You may look at this as a mundane drill that achieves nothing other than breaking a personal record. However, bouncing a golf ball on the club works wonders for your hand-eye coordination and ball striking.

Whenever I was bored as a kid, the simplest activity was to see how many times I could bounce the golf ball off the club’s face without it dropping on the ground. This worked wonders for me before a round, as I would use it to warm up and get my eye in before venturing to the 1st tee.

If there was nobody else in harm’s way, I would attempt to pull off the Tiger shot, where he hits the ball into the air and takes a backswing. Like a soccer player catching the ball on the volley, the Big Cat catches the ball cleanly on the descent and sends it flying.

I found the Nike Commercial, which is of poor quality given its age. But, it is well worth seeing the talent and skill of Eldrick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oTMosZ76b8

I do not suggest completing the Woods follow-through for this trick. That is asking for trouble. You could hook, slice, or catch the ball thin, sending it uncontrollably towards a fragile object.

 

The Lefty

Now that I live in an apartment in the bustling city of Buenos Aires, I don’t have the luxury of backyard golf training facilities. I miss training in private and having the freedom to work on your game.

One area I went crazy with in my backyard was recovery shots. If I practiced them at the range, I would look outrageous. One shot I worked on was what I term the Lefty, since I am right-handed. Left-handed golfers would call this the Righty.

You set up for a left-handed shot. In other words, your right foot is now your lead. Take the clubface and turn it so that the toe points directly at the ground. Then take a quarter swing and try to connect the ball. Naturally, you will experience numerous freshies. However, the more you practice, the easier it becomes to strike the ball cleanly.

I practice this shot to help me escape scenarios where my ball is up against a tree, wall, or fence, and I cannot execute my standard swing. If you can pull off this shot, it will get you back into play, especially if your long game is erratic like mine.

 

Clean Strike (chip ball off the gravel)

I have Tiger Woods to thank for this as well. In the 2003 President’s Cup at Fancourt, he played an approach shot off the cart path, and struck so cleanly to give himself a chance to get up and down for the par.

Seeing how pure he struck the ball inspired me to hone my skills. So, I purposefully began chipping off the concrete at home. I am sure my coaches and other golf pundits would be mortified, but there was a method to my madness.

I never swung full and hard. I took an easy wind up and focused on catching the ball without touching the concrete. Obviously, I miscalculated a few times. However, I became solid at catching the ball cleanly, which improved my general iron play.

I do not recommend attempting this if your ball striking abilities are lackluster because you will damage your golf clubs. But, I feel it can boost the ball striking capabilities of mid handicappers.

 

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.



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What All Tall Golfers Need to Know to Improve Their Game

Over the last two days, I watched my compatriot James Hart Du Preez take on TPC Craig Ranch in the AT&T Byron Nelson.

The 6’9” South African ended on -2 after 36 holes, failing to make the cut. That got me thinking about tall golfers and how they can leverage their height for improved results.

Since we breed giants back home (South Africa), I have watched multiple tall golfers successfully navigate the links. This post looks at the clubhead speed and distance advantages a tall player can unlock. Plus, it teaches you how to optimize your golf game for improved results.

 

Is Being Tall an Advantage or Disadvantage When It Comes to Golf?

The Argument For Neither

In a previous post, I covered 100 golf facts. I touched on the tallest and shortest golfers to play on the DP World or PGA Tour. The shortest professional is Tadd Fujikawa, who stands at 5’1. Conversely, Du Preez and Jon Thomson, who measure 6’9, share the tallest player award.

All three of these golfers have turned professional and competed with the best in the world. The point is that taller and shorter players can both excel in golf. It comes down to how you refine the fundamentals of your golf swing to work for you.

Besides the extremely tall players, several individuals are well over the 6-foot mark. As a 5’8 individual, I consider anything higher than me as tall.

Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Ernie Els, and Davis Love III all exceed 6-feet. These chaps have lifted trophies in over 250-tournaments combined. Based on that success, it is safe to say that they are not significant disadvantages.

Advantages

Clubhead Speed

A top-level review of the fastest clubhead speed on the PGA Tour reveals that taller golfers reign supreme. 80% of the players with the top ten swing speeds this year exceed 6-feet. Only Brandon Hagy and Cameron Young are 5’9.

These are professionals, and they produce consistent shot results. Their swings showcase methodical rhythm and tempo. Unfortunately, amateurs are inconsistent and deliver a different takeaway and swing arc on each strike. The results are frequent erratic shots with varying ball flight.

As juniors, my buddies and I were surrounded by mainly average-height golfers. However, one of my closest friends is a fairly tall lad. He measures 6’6″ and had great success as a teenager.

He managed to develop a fluid single plane swing and actually went on to win our Club Champs in 2007. Since he learned to leverage what he had, he knew how to play the game of golf.

When those lanky arms of his drop the clubhead into position before impact, they do so at speed. This enhanced his energy transfer at impact for accelerated ball speed and optimal distance.

When the club was on plane and his swing was rhythmical, it was a joy to watch.

Disadvantages

Being tall opens the average amateur up to potential disaster. This is because of an inconsistent swing path, angle of attack, and a loss of accuracy. You could say that is a disadvantage, pick up your golf ball and go to the 19th. Or, you could learn to use what God gave you to deliver exceptional results on the links.

Standard Golf Clubs

The main disadvantage for taller golfers is stock golf clubs. These are the options you find on the shelves at a competitive price. Despite their price, they may prove too short for your gigantic frame. That means that you may require longer golf clubs.

A stock club length may cause you to correct your posture, ball position, and swing plane, leading to erratic golf shots.

Address Position

Tall golfers using the incorrect shafts may struggle to get comfortable at address. A shorter golf club set may cause you to stand too close to the golf ball and bend over.

That restricts your swing path and limits the ability to launch the club from the top of the backswing. Therefore, you lose clubhead and ball speed, leading to reduced distance.

Instability

My rugby coach used to say, “tackle the biggest player around the ankles and let the timber fall.” The taller you are, the higher your center of gravity is, which is not ideal for stability. The slightest mishap in your swing can cause you to lose your balance and any power you generated.

Swaying

The taller players I have golfed with over the years had a tendency to sway on the odd shot. Instead of rotating their shoulders and hips to replicate a corkscrew, such golfers sway back and forth.

Their incorrect posture creates instability, and these golfers are not set up to rotate. Instead, they sway from the back to the front, generating limited power and an erratic swing path.

 

6 Tips to Help Tall Golfers Play Better

1. Shaft Length

My first suggestion for tall golfers is to ensure that you have the correct length shafts. If you have no idea how to determine that, there are two options. The most affordable and less effective route is to self-diagnose. You can use a shaft length chart offered by golf brands such as Callaway.

However, if you are a player with cash to burn, consider beings custom-fitted. A fitter will identify the ideal shaft, lie angle, and loft for your swing. This helps optimize your launch angle for superior flight, carry distance and accuracy.

Employing long-length clubs for your swing helps you maintain the desired posture to prompt a fluid swing. Therefore, you enjoy a consistent swing path and increased power for added distance and accuracy.

2. Stand A Suitable Length Away From The Ball

The floor measurement between you and your golf ball is vital, as it impacts every element of your swing. When you stand too close to the golf ball, you leave minimal space for your hands to take the club away freely. Golf coach Clay Ballard highlights this issue in the below video:

This restriction prevents you from swinging freely. As a result, it slows down your clubhead speed and reduces your coefficient of restitution (C.O.R) at impact.

Find a comfortable posture for you and adjust your position away from the ball according to it. Don’t change your posture based on where you are standing, as that is a recipe for disaster.

As Ballard shows in his video, you get your posture correct first. Then you move towards or away from your ball until you are comfortable.

3. Place The Ball Correctly In Your Stance

Once you are satisfied with your posture, address the ball and place it in a favorable position. If your ball is teed up, set it up in line with the heel of your front foot. Position the ball 1.5 to 2-inches back from your driver position when striking fairway woods.

Continue to place the ball 1 to 1.5-inches back in your stance for every club, including your long irons and wedges. Take a practice swing and ensure that the low point of your swing is in-line with the ball for iron strikes. Conversely, your swing’s low point should occur briefly before impact on tee shots.

4. Swing Slower

As a tall strapping individual, you may be tempted to channel your inner Kyle Berkshire. However, if you swing rapidly and lose your rhythm, your swing arc may be as erratic as Pinocchio’s polygraph results.

Take it easy, and slow things down. Ernie Els is an excellent example of this. In an analysis of his swing, the PGA shows that when he generates 113.33 mph of clubhead speed, he hits it 294.8-yards.

It may be 28.7-yards shorter than the longest hitter and fastest swinger on Tour this season. However, 294.8-yards is no reason to stick your nose up.

The point is that the 4-time major winner has earned the nickname the “Big Easy” because he never forces his swing. Focus on striking the ball cleanly and optimizing your C.O.R, for consistent distance.

5. Shorten Your Backswing

I struggled with accuracy in my long game over the last 3 years. It was caused by a bad swing that went on every path except the intended one. The results were numerous slices and lost golf balls. It took me to the brink of wanting to give up the game.

Fortunately, I came to my senses and shortened my swing. This limits the damage of my bad shots but is successful for the most part. I shot my best round in years this week when I returned a +4, 76. It is still nowhere near my glory days, and I have lost several yards, but I will take the accuracy.

Work on a half or ¾ swing on the range to get used to the motion. I swing to the ¾ quarter mark and pause before hurtling my clubface towards the ball. This boosts muscle memory to help you repeat this process seamlessly on the links.

6. Optimize Your Rotation

I spoke about swaying and limited hip rotation. Without it, you lose power and struggle to get your clubface square through impact. Golf Digest Top Instructor Todd Kolb provides a simple drill to work on rotation:

Grip your golf club and address the ball. As you take away your golf club, step back with your trailing leg. If you are right-handed, that is your right leg. Then commence your downswing and step forward. The purpose is to help you feel how your hips rotate and give you a sense of the additional power it provides.

While Kolb provides tips on hip rotation, we have a detailed guide on shoulder turn drills you can practice. Combining these exercises will lead to superior power through impact for a high, long shot.

 

Related: If you are a shorter golfer, read our post on how to tell when your golf clubs are too long. Make sure you attend to this issue swiftly to enjoy better results on the links.

 

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.



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