Lessons from the Pros
Learning to play or looking to improve your game? Read below for some tips.
Bernhard Langer – “When hitting balls on the range before a round, I would encourage everyone to warm up with one or two clubs on the ground, facing the target. This would help them with their alignment, both feet and shoulders as well as their ball position. Most high-handicappers start their day with a faulty setup and never have a chance to make a decent swing on the course. “
Jay Haas – “Sometimes the elements don’t cooperate during a round and it becomes difficult playing in inclement weather. Here are a few things to keep in mind if bad weather moves in. The first thing is you’ve got to keep your grips dry. It’s also important to carry the proper gear in your bag like a good waterproof rain jacket, one that is comfortable and gives you plenty of room to make a swing in. Obviously, you should also have an umbrella to protect you when you’re not hitting a golf shot. One extra thing that I like to have is a little hand or face towel. You can keep that in the ribs under your umbrella for instance and use that to wipe off the grips and your hands when they get wet. Remember, if it’s raining while you’re playing, have at least one towel dry at all times and at all costs, keep your grips and hands dry.”
Mark Wiebe – “From time to time, I see amateurs running to the first tee to make their tee time. Once they get there, they’re out of breath and automatically pull the driver out. Without a proper warm-up session with the big stick, there’s usually some anxiety built up and more often than not, that opening tee shot ends up somewhere other than the fairway. If you are running late and don’t have adequate time to warm up properly, I would suggest taking a 3-wood or rescue club instead of the driver. You should think about rhythm rather than distance. If you do that, I think you stand a better chance of getting the round off to a smooth start. “
Larry Nelson – “I have a little drill that I do from time to time to keep from hitting from the top or releasing the club early. Most amateurs try to build up clubhead speed with the hands. For the first six inches down, I try to maintain the same angle I have created at the top of the golf swing between your left forearm (right-handed player) and the shaft of the golf club. If you can keep this same angle and do this drill slowly, you’ll delay your release and increase your clubhead speed. Maintaining that angle is the key to getting power back into the swing. “
D.A. Weibring – “I think proper grip pressure is essential to any good golf swing. The grip pressure has to be light enough to feel the clubhead. The tighter you hold the club, the slower and shorter the club will travel. To hit it farther, you have to actually grip the club looser. On a scale of 1 to 10, grip pressure should be about a 3! If your hands get too tight, you never can really develop a consistent rhythm.”
Scott Hoch – “For right-handed players, it’s important to maintain some flex in the left knee through impact in the golf swing. Most amateurs straighten the left leg in the transition and that leads to a multitude of problems. With a flexed left knee, you’ll develop some consistency and make solid contact more often.”
Mark McNulty – “Most golfers or amateurs when they play in a pro-am kind of forget they have a handicap. I always tell them, if you have a 15-handicap, utilize it. Don’t try to be an 8-handicap that day because you’re playing with a pro. It is important they use their handicap to their advantage and I’m sure they’ll have a good day.”
Loren Roberts – “Putting is all about speed control. To help with this, the first thing you have to do is visualize making the stroke you have to make based on the distance of your putt. Invariably, I see amateurs make a totally different practice stroke from the stroke they’ll need to make when they actually hit the putt. If you have a 30-foot putt, don’t make a practice stroke like you’ve got a four-foot putt. Visualize the putt you have, get a feel for the length of that putt and then make the practice stroke that matches the stroke you’re going to need to make the putt. “
Jeff Sluman – “If you want to hit the ball farther, play the ball up in your stance, much further up than you imagine you should. Most amateurs I see in pro-ams play the ball too far back in the stance when they hit the driver. Also, if you want to get better and hit it longer, play off the back tees for a few weeks. People are a product of their environment and if you play a longer golf course, you’re going to have to hit it longer.”
Curtis Strange – “All amateurs lose most of their shots around the greens. The fault I commonly see is that they use the most-lofted club in the bag, the sand wedge, almost all the time. Instead, get the ball on the ground as soon as possible whether it be with a less-lofted club or even a putter. There’s more room for error. It sounds simple but you can get the ball on the green in your first attempt, you’ll save some strokes over the course of the round.”