Brought to you by Adam Trett, PGA Professional – Bury Golf Range
Email: adamtrettPGA@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: ADT Golf Coaching
Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and thank you all for reading this article up until now. It’s been great passing on some tips and ideas to you all and I plan to bring you all bigger and better things in 2015.
It’s at this time of year you can reflect back on your golfing year, whether it’s been good, bad or the same as every year. 2015 doesn’t have to be a normal year for your golf game though, why not make improvements to your game this year and see your golf improve whatever your skill level.
Know your strengths and weaknesses – Know what you need to improve
If you were to ask most golfers what their strengths and weaknesses are, they would give you different answers throughout the year depending on how well they were playing at the time.
It’s important to know if these areas are where you need to practice and improve, an easy way to do this is to keep stats on your games of golf. At first you may find this process a little strange, but after a little bit of practice it will become part of your on course routine.
Example: Fairways Hit From Tee Shots.
On your score card simply mark a tick or cross for a hit or missed fairway. If missed also mark which side you have missed the shot.
This quick and simple tip will show you what whether this area needs improvement or if it’s strength in your game.
There’s an app for that!
FREE GOLF SHOT APP – this is available on both android and apple devices. This allows you to record loads of different stats from your round of golf, it will help to highlight areas that need improvement in 2015. Apps like this help me as a coach, they record vital stats that would make it so much easier to draw up a plan to improve your game. I use this app myself to record data from all my competitions and I would highly recommend it.
Why not get your friends to download it as well and have a bit of friendly competition who can get the highest stats throughout the year.
Coaches Tip – LEARN TO LOVE THE SAND
Bunkers around the green strike fear into the hearts of so many golfers, but with some simple and easy tips to follow you can escape those green side bunkers with ease.
Remember you have so much more margin for error with a bunker shot, it’s the only shot in golf where you are not looking to hit the ball. Having said this it is important to take a consistent amount of sand so that you judge the length of the shot and also make sure that you escape the bunker.
LINE DRILL
The drill shown in the images below highlights a great way to practice your consistent entry point for the club into the sand.
First line up some golf balls up in the bunker, and then draw a line in the sand about a golf ball width behind the line of golf balls. Work your way along the line entering the sand on the line and making a full follow through to a balanced finish.
If you focus on entering on the line and taking a consistent amount of sand this drill will allow you to grow your confidence in the sand and you will no longer fear the bunkers. I would suggest that you hit this shot with a lofted wedge either a sand wedge or lob wedge; this will allow the ball flight to be higher and your ball will escape the bunker with ease.
I hope 2015 is a great year for you all both on and off the golf course but If you do find yourself struggling with your golf game then please feel free to contact me for any coaching advice or to book a lesson.
