Play Like You Practise

By Dean Claggett Director of Golf

The golf season is in full swing (so to speak). You’ve played a number of rounds and you’ve been to the range. So let’s ask the big questions.

• How is your swing?
• Are you just practising old habits?
• Have you improved your scores?
• Is the ball going where you want it to go?

We all want to get better. We all have stories to tell about our best shots over a cold one with our golfing buddies.

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Golf shows and magazines

Many amateur golfers with a passion for the game have a favourite PGA pro to study in televised tournaments. We eagerly watch golf channel infomercials and read golf magazines looking for the latest swing tips. But here’s the thing. In my experience as a teaching professional I know that most golfers have little awareness about what creates a good shot, a bad shot or how to practise to improve. The result is a never-ending and often frustrating search for golf swing magic.
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All professional sports teams go through some sort of training camp prior to the start of the regular season and they practise (often daily) throughout their schedule.

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A short training session every time you go to the range

Learn to understand your starting position. Let me show you. 

• Begin by standing tall with arms relaxed by your sides

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• Push your hips back creating a forward  tilt in your spine towards the ball

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• Put a gentle bend in your knees

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• Put a gentle bend in your knees

Now, look into a mirror to get a feeling for how athletic, ready and balanced you are to start your golf swing. At the driving range, go through this routine after each shot for the first 10-15 balls in order to create a positive habit.

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Alignment ​

• Place two clubs in front of you like railway tracks

• Either use two individual clubs or alignment sticks that can be purchased at any retailer
• Position your knees, hips and shoulders on one track and the club face and golf ball aiming at your target on the other

• Combining swing position with alignment, now you’re ready to hit the ball.

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Ball flight

Next, you’ll need to understand what the club face does to the direction of the ball and also how the path of your swing influences the ball flight in the direction of your target. Please pay attention if the ball goes in a different direction than where you thought you were aiming. Here are the questions. (photo of female golfer swinging club on the range)

• Was the club face open or closed
• Did the ball slice or hook
• Challenge yourself to do the opposite and create a new feeling in your swing

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One more thing

Finally, let’s talk about your hands and your arms.

• Play around with aiming at different targets and different distances under 150 yards
• Feel the contact with the ball and assess your finishing position
• Are you balanced or not?
• Do you still have control of your grip or have your hands moved down the handle?

​All the little assessments are important because they allow you to understanding your patterns of behaviour or your habits. This knowledge along with solid practise routines will enable you to improve your golf swing.