Swing-tips
How your grip influences your swing to the top!
Last month we demonstrated the three variants of hand positions on the club and promised we would de-mystify the effects of these positions on your takeaway. Steph believes it is of vital importance to understand this correlation in order to gain awareness of your own swing. STRONG GRIP With this grip position the clubface will be shut or closed during the takeaway and again at the top of the ...
THE RIGHT KNEE SYNDROME
This month our GARY PLAYER SCHOOL FOR CHAMPIONS coach, Steph Spies, shows by means of pictorial illustration the importance of a stable right knee in the golf swing. The angle from behind illustrates that - My right leg maintains its angle at address and through the backswing. At the top of the backswing, I am loaded and ready to initiate the downswing from a solid right leg base. This cor...
Step towards a better downswing!
The most important awareness you should have regarding your downswing is correct sequencing, which is the key to consistent ball-striking and improved accuracy. Before we examine this, it is important to understand that the upper body takes the club back, but the lower body initiates the downswing and is responsible for returning the club to the impact zone! If you can execute the drill d...
Understanding Weight Transfer
Although you feel you are swinging well, your club is grounding or bottoming out before making contact with the ball. The big muscles of your lower body MUST initiate the forward swing! This will improve your weight transfer and help to increase club-head speed, and therefore distance. A more efficient weight transfer will also encourage a slightly later un-hinging of the wrists, thereby improvi...
Set Up For Power With Your Driver
There are two major principles in the set-up at address position for gaining distance off the tee box with your Driver… Launching the ball for maximum carry Preparing your body for that power turn in the backswing The Launch: Your ball position must be forward (inside your ankle of the front foot) to ensure your club makes contact on the up. (PIC 1) Tilt your front shoulder highe...
Swing Wide for Distance!
This month our GARY PLAYER SCHOOL FOR CHAMPIONS coach, Steph Spies, suggests a simple swing thought to help you to hit the ball longer. The first principle is that you can create more club-head speed by making a wider swing rather than a longer swing. It is then important to understand that your left arm determines the width of your swing. In this picture you can see that my left a...
Control your ball flight in the wind
When playing in windy conditions, do you change your technique, or do you just struggle to control your ball flight the ball like most Highveld golfers?Scotty has some advice for you to help deal with windy situations, but as with all other tweaks to technique, it will require some solid practice sessions at the World of Golf before you take it onto the course.The first fundamental is club selecti...
Dont keep your head down
You’re on the range and someone says “Keep your head down!” This is what will happen if you follow this well-meaning but ill-advised advice: At address, your chin will be tucked into your chest, causing your posture to be too crouched. Keeping your head down at impact will block the natural release of the club-head and your weight transfer, resulting in inconsistency. ...
Fixing poor contact
The next time you hit balls, place a pile of grass one club-head in front of the ball on the practice mat, then on each swing try to hit the ball and then the grass. Why it works… When you practice off mats, you're hitting off a very cushy lie, which gives you a wide margin for error - even if you hit slightly behind the ball, you still get good distance and feel, which tricks you int...