A New Drill – Clap your hands for a better extension!
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 thing I work on constantly with students is getting them to have a good extension through the ball, keeping the clubhead on line to the target for as long as possible.
This will produce more accuracy and more consistency in your ball striking.
To better understand the direct correlation of the arms and the body through the ball, I want you to stand up and stretch your arms out in front of you, as in picture #1.
Now, without moving your body, try to clap your hands together.
You will see that you cannot as the right hand comes up short of the left.
There are two ways to make the hands reach each other.
You can bend your left arm, bringing the right hand closer and allowing the two hands to meet.
Or you can rotate your body so that the right shoulder and right hip come around level with the left shoulder and hip, allowing the two hands to meet.
You can see the direct correlation between keeping the left arm straight and rotating the body into a position with the hips and shoulders facing the target.
Now put a club in your hands and try the same thing.
If you do not move your body through, the left arm will immediately break down.
If you allow your body to rotate, it is relatively simple to keep the left arm straight and create a good extension, which, as I said earlier, will produce those long straight shots you’ve been striving for.
So, the next time you go to the range, clap your hands a few times first. I’m sure you’ll love the results.
The “Rib Thumping” Punisher Drill to improve chipping!
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!
In this video golf tip, Mel Sole demonstrates the Punisher Drill–a chipping and pitching drill that helps improve contact and lower scores.
Using a do-it-yourself training aid that provides immediate feedback, you can eliminate “scooping” shots for good.
Mel Sole’s Top 3 Training Aids to improve your 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!
As an instructor who teaches golfers from beginners to Tour Players, I sometimes have to find a way to get my students to “feel” what it is I’m trying to get him/her to accomplish.
As I’ve always said, “There is perception, and then there is reality” Those two things are VERY different. The way I get these students to accomplish the move they are looking for I use training aids. I am a great believer in training aids, and here is my definition of practice. “Focused repetition with feedback.”
1. Focused.
You are focusing on one thing and one thing only. Whether it is keeping your arm straight, weight shift, or balance, you should not be trying to work on more than one thing at a time.
2. Repetition.
Doing the task over and over again to make it a habit
3. With Feedback.
How do you know if you are doing it correctly? With a training aid designed specifically for the fault or move you are working on, you will get feedback (even if you don’t like the feedback you get at first)
Here are my Top 3 Training Aids and why I use them.
1. Arm Tac-Tic – My most used training aid. Really helps students who have trouble getting rid of the dreaded “chicken wing.”
2. Putting Mirror. A “must-have” training aid. This will help you achieve two of the most important aspects of putting that 90% of good putters have. Eyes over the ball and shoulders square to the intended line!
3. Swing Gyde – This training aid is for the golfers who do not swing the club back “on plane” Put the club “in the slot” every time with this training aid.
The importance of your address and ball position in your setup!
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!
Just how important is your address position?
This could make a whole lot of difference to your ball striking! Mel Sole explains that you are setting yourself up for poor golf without the proper address and ball positions! During your address position, you are 100% in control. If that is the case, you might as well be 100% correct 100% of the time!
