3 Keys to get you Ready for Spring

Last month I participated in the Toronto Golf and Travel Show. I worked for the Ontario PGA providing 15 minute lessons to golfers of all levels for the three days of the show. Looking back on the many lessons, I found myself working on 3 main things with all golfers.

Posture
Grip
Rhythm and Timing

During my six years as a tournament professional on the Canadian Tour, I struggled with over thinking about swing mechanics and neglected the importance of these 3 basics. The truth is, most poor shots from a tour pro to a weekend golfer result from these key components.

1. Posture – Golfers are unaware of how important proper athletic posture is. Proper athletic posture will:

• help you swing in balance
• maintain your spine angle throughout your golf swing which is vital to hit solid shots
• engage the core muscle groups to increase power and stabilize your golf swing
• allow your hands and arms to hang naturally so that a proper grip and grip pressure can be maintained

Correct Posture

• Bend from the hips
• Weight on balls of your feet
• Back is straight
• Core muscles engaged
• Arms hang naturally

2. Grip – 90% of all golfers grip the club incorrectly. The most common fault is gripping the golf club in the palms and not in the fingers. The top hand is the most important because it controls the golf club. For right handed golfers, this is the left hand.

Correct left hand position from golfer’s view:

• club placed in the fingers of the left hand
• see the logo of your golf glove or three knuckles without a glove
• thumb and index finger make a V pointing to right shoulder

Correct right hand position from golfer’s view:

• right hand grip is in the fingers
• palm of right hand faces the target
• thumb and index finger make a V pointing to the right shoulder

3. Rhythm and Timing – Over-swinging is the most common fault that leads to poor rhythm and timing. It is a certain killer of any consistency. The most effective drill I use to improve a golfers rhythm and timing is the Feet together Drill.

Feet Together Drill

• use a 7 iron with feet together
• correct ball position is in the middle of the stance
• feel like you are squeezing a tennis ball between your knees to stabilize lower body
• swing smooth to stay in balance and hold the finish facing the target

When interviewing most of my students their number one goal is more CONSISTENCY. By adding this timing drill to your practice routine you will develop the consistency you are looking for and be on your way to lower scores.

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Ed Maunder, Canadian PGA Eddie is an Apprentice member of the Canadian PGA and currently teaches out of Deerfield Golf Club in Oakville. Eddie also played the Canadian Tour for 8 seasons where he was considered one of the top Canadian touring pros on that circuit. For more info on Ed or to book a lesson check out his website www.eddiemaundergolf.com
Note: The teaching methodology solely reflects the views of the author and may not reflect the views or opinions of the Ontario PGA or GolfScene About the Ontario PGA Established in 1927, the Ontario Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 1,300 golf professionals from Belleville to Windsor with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. For more info, visit www.ontariopga.com

May Also be of Interest:

• Do You Really Want To Improve In 2008?
• It all Starts with the Grip
• Reader Question 4
• It is a Game of Fundamentals
• Keys to Better Bunker Play