The importance of “Angle of Attack” with your Driver!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Every golfer knows that we need to hit the driver on the upswing. Unfortunately, not every golfer succeeds with this motion. To get you to feel the proper angle of attack (the way the clubhead approaches the ball), Alex Fortey of The Art of Simple Golf gives you an easy drill to get that feeling. If you hit the headcover (or even the ball hits the headcover), your attack angle is too steep. A quick and easy drill to help your golf!
This is a nice drill to help you hit your driver on the upswing which in turn will hopefully give you longer and more consistent shots with the driver.
When you have this feeling it stops you hitting AT the golf ball so much in the hope of longer drives and more distance because it promotes a smooth upswing and tempo.
Lifting your lead heel on the backswing can help add distance!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Lifting the lead heel was the answer!
I recently practiced my driver using a Flightscope Launch Monitor to see how my swing could increase my distance. I experimented with various changes, but nothing seemed to increase my clubhead speed. At one point, I started lifting my left heel (I am a right-handed golfer) and immediately noticed a 4 mph increase in clubhead speed. This translated to almost 20 yards in increased distance. As I have aged, my flexibility has diminished, along with my shoulder turn on the backswing. Raising the left heel on the backswing helped me add distance. When I saw this video by Alex Fortey of The Art of Simple Golf, I simply had to share!
This is a very important and simple golf tip that will give you more distance especially with your driver. Increasing your swing speed is not about swinging harder or trying to swing faster let alone buying new drivers…
I know you want more power, and here is a simple golf lesson for more distance.
I am fortunate to still be in good shape for strength and mobility in concerned but fitness for golf and life has been a priority of mine since I was young. Because of this, my swing does not need to allow for many restrictions or compensations but I still want it to flow for a natural golf swing that generates power and is consistent and very importantly is safe for my body to keep playing for many decades to come.
Too much golf instruction is focussed on the young whippersnappers like Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Fowler but these PGA tour players are a far cry and age away from many golfers who spend too much time sitting and do not have the time to practice or train for golf even 5% as much as the top players.
Stay connected with your golf swing using the “Paper Drill.”
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
We have all seen or even tried using a towel, glove, or headcover under the armpits to help the body understand how to stay connected in the golf swing. Those drills seem to be very restrictive, says Alex Fortey of The Art of Simple Golf. Using two pieces of paper seems to do a better job. Check this drill out and try it the next time you are on the range!
Golf Swing Thought For Connection and Smoothness -Paper Drill.
Looking for greater Consistency in your golf game?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
One of the 4 questions I ask every student at the start of golf school is “What are your goals in golf?” I get pretty much get the same answer from everyone “I would like to be more consistent.” But when I ask “How often do you play and how often do you practice?” the answer is usually “Once a week and no practice.”
Folks, you cannot improve at anything if you do not work at it.
If you were to be more consistent on the golf course, meaning less erratic shots, eliminating the really fudged golf swings, reducing the amount of slightly mistimed strikes leading to missed fairways and greens would you be a better golf player?
Of course it would.
The thing you really want to know is… how?
How can you get a consistent golf game and get better at golf?
Well I am sure you have been sold on the latest revolutionary piece of golf equipment that will give you dozens of more yards and have you splitting fairways like an arrow as well as irons that pepper the pin like a laser.
Maybe the latest edition of the Golf Channel teaching show provides a few golf tips that will see all of your shots go straight every time. Perhaps you are following one of our simple golf swing methods or one of the golf lessons and training programs we have here at The Art of Simple Golf providing you with the drills, tips and instruction to develop a golf game through practice and / or golf fitness to help you perform your best possible golf swing.
However a consistent golf game will never be achieved and bordering on pointless if consistency and committed application is not the golf course.
You need to be consistent with your practice on the range, short game area and putting green. As well as avoiding long lay off from playing if you want to yield good scores on the golf course. But here’s the thing…
Do your work out like a Tour Pro to play better golf!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
You don’t have to be a Tour Player to work out like one!
If you do a similar program to what these top players do, you will definitely play better golf, because your strength and flexibility will help your stability and balance. You will turn back and through the ball with more strength and speed! These are the elements needed to play golf at a higher level. The higher your handicap, the more important these golf programs are. Check out the video below and get to it!
The PGA Tour pros are good, very good in fact. But what is the common thread that binds them together that makes them so good when seemingly they all swing really quite differently and approach the game in various manners? Well obviously their are common denominators such as talent, practice, focus and following simple golf tips that work specifically for them but there is something that they all know is important to playing good golf and improving not just in the coming months but for years to come.
Today I want you to realize what this simple golf tip is.
Start applying it to your own golf improvement because it will, I promise give you results a lot quicker than you think.
One of the most simple golf tips I can give you is to look after your body and your golf swing will look after you.
A lot of people over the years ask me similar questions time and time again, such as; ‘what is your best simple golf tip ?’ or ‘who has the best golf swing?’
Maybe ‘what is the best mental trick for competitions?’ or ‘what is the best driver, ball or irons?’
Then there are questions about the fitness regimes or diets they follow and how much they practice, the questions are endless.
The answer has always been and always will be…
There is no secret.
No one-size, club, mindset, swing, workout, diet-fits-all ideological holy grail or secret.
If we just think for a moment, of even swings on tour, let us name some players now who are playing well
recently on the PGA Tour and in major events;
Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Kevin Stadler, Berhard Langer, Luke Donald, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose.
All of of these players do certainly have one thing in common; they are all different.
Physically, mentally, the power they produce, the swing mechanics, the tempo, the ball flight the brand of golf clubs or golf balls they use… the list goes on.
What they do have in common is they perform golf fitness or golf-specific strength program and workouts.
Could your address position be causing your back pain?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Most golfers with chronic back pain can, with some self-analysis, trace the cause to the address position.
If the address position is incorrect and the spine is curved and not in a neutral or straight position, then throughout the swing, the back is subjected to unnatural moves to the proper movement of the spine. Alex Fortey of The Art of Simple Golf does a good job of explaining in a simple yet effective manner what is causing your back pain in golf!
It’s nearing the end of the golf season for many of you and by now, back pain in your golf swing is a common occurrence. So you can improve your consistency and increase your golf swing speed as well as reduce and even avoid back pain during or post round, I wanted to share a really effective and important simple golf tip that you can apply no matter your level or age.
So many golfers today have a lot of pains throughout their body. From rotator cuff, to ankle, to shin splints, to lower back pain.
If golf is approached correctly, with a strain-free, natural, and simple golf, swing pain should not be present.
To prevent lower back pain, one crucial principle must be applied and you can see that simple tip for your golf swing below.
I am very particular with working on my golf flexibility and mobility in many key areas such as the hips, hamstrings etc. Also, I spend 5 days in the gym working on weight training to keep myself strong and develop my core strength.
But alas… back pain due to my tall stature and build still can occur.
This is very frustrating for me as my swing is smooth, and avoids the common mistakes of resistance that most golfers face. (if you want to learn a big distance and back killing swing instruction myth ) Check the distance myth and pain causes swing fault here.
When I set up to the ball, I have a little too much curve in my lower back. During my fast swing, this causes even further tension on the extensor muscles. Something that is not good for my back (or my golf swing!)
Paul Laurie’s Three Most Simple Tips for Better Golf!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Paul Laurie has won 8 European Tour victories, including the 1999 British Open Championship.
He has appeared in the Ryder Cup in 1999 and 2012. So advice from him has always been sought. Alex Fortey of The Art of Simple Golf cornered Paul at a European Tour event to get his comments on the 3 most simple tips for the amateur golfer?
Paul Lawrie golf star shares his best and most simple golf tips that you can use right away.
For golfers who are tight in the upper body – try “disassociation” drills.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
I am always looking for exercises to increase flexibility and “turn” in my golf swing as I have gotten older.
I have trouble getting a “full” shoulder turn on my backswing. So when I saw these tips on disassociation of the upper and lower body, I had to try them – and I loved them!
These exercises can be done at home, do not need any fancy equipment, are great for both men, women, and seniors. Just do them at your own pace (but do them correctly)
Today you will see a golf fitness workout circuit that will help you improve your swing sequence and also increase your swing speed with some fun dissociation drills.
This golf workout is great for golfers and really good for your fitness too.
Dissociation or upper/lower body dissociation or separation is really important in the golf swing to kind of minimizing unwanted swing characteristics and optimize swing efficiency and driving distance and accuracy.
So, separation’s basically upper body and then lower body separation. Both really important for improving your golf swing and we’re going to give you drills to do both of those.
First up, a great, cool one.
We’re going to do a plank with an upper-body dissociation.
So normally you have a plank and we’re going to keep our hips facing the ground and just turn to our side. I’m pressing the stomach. Give that a go, 30 to 60 seconds.
Another great fun exercise…
American football drill.
Get into an American football wide stance, quick feet, keeping the shoulders facing forward. You’re going to twitch, turn the hips. Go as quick as you can. Gets me warm, too.
Next up is mountain climbers.
You’re really looking to drive the knees to the opposite elbow. So I’ll show you from here. Really getting that hip turning. Upper body’s locked in place. Other side. Quick cool work out, that one too.
For golfers who are tight in the upper body – try “disassociation” drills.
Banded Step And Rotations
Next one, we ideally need a golf band.
For this you don’t need a band at all but it adds resistance and makes the golf exercises more challenging. Put the band around your ankles, around your knees.
We’re just going to take little steps in golf posture, hands across the chest, and turn in both directions. You can do this whilst moving to the left and right too. I also think of it as like a space invader drill. Turn, back the other way. Now you’re good for dissociation, got your glutes too.
Next one, I’m going to use a golf band again.
Again, you don’t have to. It’s not needed. I should show you a slightly harder version, so what we’re going to do is we’re going to keep a nice sort of base, hips facing forward, and we’re going to turn around, bounce the tennis ball and back the other way.
Look and bounce it right behind you, as quick as you can, from one side to the other. Turn the upper torso and keep the hips facing forward.
Here is the video for the golf fitness workout to improve your golf swing and increase distances.
Improve your golf with this effective workout routine!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Most golfers would like to play better golf, but a lot are hindered not by their swings but by their strength and flexibility.
Improve those two things, and your swing will feel a lot easier and more powerful. A workout routine will not only improve your golf but make you feel younger and live longer! Here is a simple but effective workout routine from Alex Fortey, founder of Athletic Golf Training.
Even Phil Mickelson has got his act in gear this past off-season with many reports of him following a golf training program and working out to improve his conditioning, power, and probably some fat loss too!
Here is the breakdown of the golf workout. All of the moves you see in the video can be tweaked and adjusted to suit your needs, ability and equipment. You just need to think a little laterally, so instead of cables, use resistance bands instead.
Medicine Ball Slams 1 Arm DB Snatches SB Table Tops Seated MB Figure Of Eights Upper Body Walk In And Outs DB Squats Lunge and Lateral Raise Explosive Spidermans Pull Ups Alternating Cable Pull Downs 1 Arm DB Rows SB Push Ups Bosu Push Up With Shoulder Reach Or Burpees
