Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a brand new GOLF.com sequence wherein we’re sharing enhancements, learnings and takeaways from newbie golfers similar to you — together with among the velocity bumps and challenges they confronted alongside the best way.
How many instances do you take your practice swing from subsequent to the ball previous to hitting your shot? Probably about 75% of the time, proper?
While this would possibly really feel snug as a result of we’re all desperate to shortly go from practice shot to executing the shot — with out shedding that swing really feel — GOLF Top 100 Teahcer Trillium Rose says this isn’t one of the best ways to do it.
As I proceed my quest to break 80 for the primary time ever, Rose and I not too long ago met up for a 3-hole lesson, with the highest teacher giving me all kinds of pointers alongside the best way.
So take a have a look at the video and practice swing suggestions, with some additional rationalization under.
Why to all the time take your practice swing from behind the ball
While breaking 80 is my purpose, there’s no means I’m simply magically going to shave 8-10 strokes off my recreation in only one given spherical. Sure, miracles occur, however to immediately lose that many strokes is an excessive amount of to ask.
That’s why it’s essential to chip away at my purpose, progressively seeing progress by altering up my habits — which incorporates my pre-shot routine as properly, which helps me consider and commit earlier than addressing the ball.
In the video above, Rose walks me by means of the significance of taking my practice swings from behind the ball.
“Do your practice swings back here,” she instructs me as I’m making ready to setup for my second shot.
Doing this in your practice swings could make you hit it longer
Zephyr Melton
“[We do this] for a wide range of causes. One, it simply retains the pondering away from the precise hit, so that you get a way of what you’re really attempting to do and you retain it separate from the precise hit. Thinking right here [behind the ball], feeling there [at address].
“The second reason is because, if you do your practice swings [from over the ball], then you need to realign yourself; which just takes too much time.”
Rose says that, by taking practice swings behind the ball, it helps present confidence in your intention and alignment by offering a a lot wider lens. By scanning the grass in entrance of you, you’ll be able to determine attainable hazards to keep away from in addition to secure touchdown areas.
She additionally says that you should utilize one thing like a leaf to position just a few inches in entrance of the ball to assist with your intention.
“I see a little leaf, so set your face up exactly where it needs to go,” she continues. “Set your face up, set your feet parallel to that, give one last look, and then you pull the trigger.”
Finally, Rose says that taking my practice swing from behind the ball offers me a greater alternative to really feel the lie of the ball.
In this occasion, the ball is just a little bit beneath my ft, so taking practice just a few ft farther again helps me work on brushing the grass with the underside of my membership, guaranteeing I make flush contact.
“You can feel like you’re low, and you can pick up a couple cues from the environment,” she provides.
Using my 5-iron from about 205 yards out, I hit a clear shot that goes straight to my goal. On a protracted par-5 like this, I can now confidently stroll to my third shot with an opportunity to knock it on the inexperienced and make birdie.
Rukket Sports Pathfinder Impact Mat™
$69.99
Are you looking for a golf training mat to help your golf game? The Rukket Pathfinder Impact Mat™ was designed with input from professional golfers and golf teachers to help players of all abilities improve their game. The strike mat tracks club face alignment and helps ensure clean contact with the ball while the foam pylons can be used to keep your swing on plane. Use all four pylons to practice hitting straighter shots or remove pylons to practice hitting draw or fade shots. It’s the most versatile golf swing practice mat available and works with every club in your bag!
Features
2-in-1 golf swing training mat combining the features of an impact mat / strike mat and a swing path trainer to help golfers quickly identify and correct common swing problems like hooks and slices.
It’s a golf swing impact / strike mat to help identify and correct club face alignment. Use the “velvet” turf to ensure you’re making clean contact with the ball.
It’s also a golf swing training aid to help with swing plane alignment. Use it to fix a slice or a hook, and to practice hitting draw and fade shots.
What’s in the Box
(1) Rukket Pathfinder Impact Mat™
(4) Foam Pylons
(1) Instruction Booklet
Product Specs
25in x 13in x 0.8in
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