http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-backspin-tips-how-to-properly-apply-it.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-backspin-tips-how-to-properly-apply-it.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600 Most people will have watched Golf on TV and seen the professionals hit golf shots onto the green and seen the ball back-spinning towards the pin.

I have lost count of the amount of times people have asked, how do they do that?
The amount of backspin that the professionals apply is considered an advanced technique; however with application of the correct swing keys and practice anyone can do it.

The key to developing maximum backspin is how you apply a very precise strike on the golf ball. The trick is to make sure that you strike the ball before you hit anything else. A lot of amateur golfers try to scoop the golf ball upwards off the fairway not knowing that the correct way is actually to strike down and through the golf ball.

To encourage a clean strike of the ball, focusing on the very top instead of the back of the golf ball can help. Play the shot with a slightly open stance to encourage more of an out to in type of swing.

Try to take a divot, remembering that you should be hitting down and through the ball, contacting the ball first. A note of caution here, hitting down too steep can cause you to chop into the ground before or after hitting the ball.

To engage maximum backspin you should ideally have a slightly open stance, with your weight more on your left side.
During the club take away it should be initiated by the arms with an early wrist break so as to enable a sharp descending strike onto the golf ball. You should only use a half or three quarter swing for this shot.

It is also essential that your ball and clubface are kept clean to apply backspin. Make sure when possible that you clean your ball and keep your grooves and clubface clean. Get into the habit of regularly using a groove cleaner and always clean the clubface before putting it back into your bag.

Your priority with this type of shot is not to be trying for distance; it is to strike the ball as clean as possible. Keep your swing shorter and more compact will help you make a more precise strike of the ball. With your weight more to your left side this will help you to naturally hit the ball with a descending blow.


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Alistair Thomson is a golf writer enthusiast from the Kingdom of Fife Scotland.
He gives free Golf, advice, tips and tricks in his Free Newsletter at http://www.acegolftips.com This Free subscription also includes 3 Free Golf e-Books to start your golf game improvement now.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-slice-golf-tips-to-cure-the-problem.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-slice-golf-tips-to-cure-the-problem.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
The pro's will hit a hook spin shot or Draw the ball to provide a shot that can hold straight in a left to right wind and when it hits the fairway it will roll for ages on the grass due to the type of spin imparted on the ball.

The slice spin shot or Fade is used to hold a ball straight in a right to left wind and this shot will land and check quite quickly on the green. For the high handicapper these shots are big mistakes.

In this article I will give you some tips to cure your slice.

The slice is a very common mistake that 90% of amateurs have to live with. Every golfer has experienced this shot. The slice is so common that every magazine will have an article on the subject.

So what causes the slice?

It is caused by an out to in swing path and the club face is open at impact with the ball. The big mistake that most high handicap players make to try and stop their slice is that they aim their body to the left of the target hoping that the ball will land on target.

What they fail to realise is that they are lining themselves up for an even bigger slice shot.
A Big mistake.

Before anyone can hit a perfectly straight shot you need to line yourself up square to the target line. A handy way is to lay a golf club on the ground aimed at the flag. Set yourself up with your toes against the club and your shoulders and hips in line with the target.

The next thing to do is lay a club on the ground behind the ball as you are looking at it. It should also be lined up to the flag and parallel with the club laid down at your toes.

As you start your golf swing downwards, aim to strike the actual ball, but also try to keep the club travelling along the line of the club laid on the ground. This is done to try and keep the swing on a straight path.


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Alistair Thomson is a golf writer enthusiast from the Kingdom of Fife Scotland.
He gives free Golf, advice, tips and tricks in his Free Newsletter at http://www.acegolftips.com This Free subscription also includes 3 Free Golf e-Books to start your golf game improvement now.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-draw-shot-tips-how-to-execute-the-draw-shot.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-draw-shot-tips-how-to-execute-the-draw-shot.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
The two factors are club face alignment and the swing path at impact. Having an understanding of these principles should make it easier for you to shape the golf draw shot.

The draw can be a useful shot to use especially in windy conditions. The ball tends to fly lower and when it lands it runs a lot longer on the fairway.

At set up the club face should be aimed at the target, your feet, hips and shoulders should be aligned slightly to the right of the target. Please note that consideration should be made for club selection as the ball will run further than normal with this type of shot.

The left hand grip required should be strengthened just a fraction, i.e. by twisting the left hand clockwise. When looking down at your left hand on the club you should be able to see at least three knuckles rather than the normal two.

During the backswing concentrate on initiating a good turn. At the top the club should be pointing to the right of the target by the amount that your body was aimed and also by the amount you intend to shape your shot.

When you swing down at the ball, attack the ball from inside of the line. The club face should be aiming at the target; however the club face will look closed in relation to your stance. It is this setup that imparts the necessary side spin on the ball for this shot.

Because the draw shot is more of a feel type shot it is better to start practicing this shot with a six or seven iron. You will also find that by the very design of the irons it is a lot easier to draw the ball with these clubs. It is a little bit more difficult to execute with fairway woods.

Many of the world’s top players use the draw shot to give them the added control to their game. With some practice this is a handy shot to master and especially good if mastered with the driver.


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Alistair Thomson is a golf writer enthusiast from the Kingdom of Fife Scotland.
He gives free Golf, advice, tips and tricks in his Free Newsletter at http://www.acegolftips.com This Free subscription also includes 3 Free Golf e-Books to start your golf game improvement now.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-etiquette-your-guide-to-proper-golfing-etiquette.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/golf-etiquette-your-guide-to-proper-golfing-etiquette.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Because of the very social nature of the game of golf you are playing with either partners and or opponents and they are entitled to play without any hindrance or irritations caused by you, here are some tips.

If someone is playing a stroke try and stand behind and out of their eye line, making sure not to stand too close. When on the green make every effort not to stand or walk across the line of another players putt. When a shot is being played keep as still and quiet as possible.

One of the biggest bugbears these days is Slow Play and holding up of all the play on the course. If for instance a ball is lost during your round and you are helping to look for the lost ball, you should call the following match and allow them to play through
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Two ball matches have precedence over three and four ball matches and are entitled to pass them. If you are a single player, you have no standing on the course and must give way to any match of any kind. If you lose one clear hole on the match in front of you, you should invite the following match to pass through as you are holding up play.

No one wants to rush their shots; however there are a few steps that can be taken to prevent slow play. While your partner is playing their shot you can be preparing by thinking about your shot, making club selection and being ready to take your shot just after your partner. After your group has putted out you should clear the green promptly, mark your score cards off the green, you will have ample time to mark cards on your way to the next tee.

Care of the fairways and greens is another must on the course, failure to do so is unforgivable. It is an essential part of etiquette to always replace divots on the fairways even if it wasn’t caused by you. Divots are often moved off their spot by birds and rabbits so it is good practice to replace them and firm them down with your golf shoe.

You should always repair any pitch marks left on the greens. Use a pitch mark repair fork and work your way around the edge of the pitch mark and tamp the area down with the sole of your putter.

Studies have shown that it takes at least 21 days for an untreated pitch mark to fully recover. It has been said that the best policy is to repair as many marks as you can when on the greens. If everyone repaired at least one additional pitch mark there would never be any problems.

You should always place the flag gently down on the green never throw or drop it. You should never lean on your putter when bending down to remove your ball from the hole as this can leave a mark on the grass.

If your ball unfortunately ends up in a bunker it is your duty to rake the sand and smooth over any holes or footprints you have made. If there is no rake you should try and smooth out any footprints and holes prior to leaving the bunker.

Following these simple guidelines on your part will ensure that others will enjoy their golf as much as you.


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Alistair Thomson is a golf writer enthusiast from the Kingdom of Fife Scotland.
He gives free Golf, advice, tips and tricks in his Free Newsletter at http://www.acegolftips.com This Free subscription also includes 3 Free Golf e-Books to start your golf game improvement now.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/beginner-golf-tips-the-importance-of-a-pre-shot-routine.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/beginner-golf-tips-the-importance-of-a-pre-shot-routine.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Their pre-shot routine is a series of moves which helps them set up for a correct position at address to make sure that they are lined up correctly to their intended target. There is no point firing the gun if it’s not aiming at the target.

One of the best tips that I ever learned was to get myself into a routine. The one person that I loved to watch was Jack Nicklaus and this is the routine that he taught.

This pre-shot routine goes for every shot, putting included. Before the club is selected the first thing that should be done is to stand behind the ball and imagine the shape of shot you want to play. It’s important to have a vision of the shape of shot that you are going to execute.

The next thing that should be done is decide on the line of the shot that you plan to take. Standing behind the ball you should follow the imaginary line and pick out something that stands out on the grass within that line.

It may be a distinctive blade of grass or a weed or a blemish, it doesn't matter so long as you find something within two to three feet from the ball that is on your line.
The clever part now is to place your club head behind the golf ball square to the target line that you have selected, using your mark on the grass as your guide.

Once you have lined up your club head to the intended line, you now need to line up your feet, hips and shoulders in perfect parallel alignment to your intended target line. You should now have given yourself the best chance of positioning your club behind the ball to your intended target.

It is important now once you are set up to relax by giving the club a waggle back and forth a few times to ease any tension in your hands, arms and shoulders. The relaxation should promote fluidity of movement in your backswing.

Get yourself into the habit of using a pre-shot routine; it should also be used even when at the practice ground or driving range.


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Alistair Thomson is a golf writer enthusiast from the Kingdom of Fife Scotland.
He gives free Golf, advice, tips and tricks in his Free Newsletter at http://www.acegolftips.com This Free subscription also includes 3 Free Golf e-Books to start your golf game improvement now.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>