| 
 Eliminate
Near Misses
With Ramon Kesur
If you have reached a single figure
handicap and become more proficient at hitting the ball, the tendency
is to make smaller mistakes. Usually it will be an iron shot that
just misses the green left or right, or a drive that flies just
off the fairway.
In most cases, these misses can be attributed
to a lack of connection or timing between your arms and body.
This lack of connection will see your arms travel too close to
your body on the backswing and the shot will fly to the right
(for right-handers). If your arms get too far away from your body
on the follow-through, the ball will go to the left.
Holding the butt
of a club against your midriff as you swing will help give
you a better idea about the ideal connection between your
body and arms. |
Here is a drill you can work on at home –
or even during a round – if you feel your swing is becoming
disconnected. Place the butt of the club up against your midrift,
so it touches your navel.
Next, extend your arms in front and grip way down the shaft as
you assume your address position. Start the takeaway by keeping
your arms the same distance from your body as they were at address.
If done properly, the butt of the club should still
be in your navel (pics 1 & 1a).
Now lift your arms vertically away from your body. This will put
you in the correct backswing position (pics 2 & 2a). Try the
same thing for the followthrough.
Swing through, keeping the butt of the grip in your navel
(pics 3 & 3a).
Then lift the club vertically to a balanced finish position
(pics 4 & 4a).
With practice, this drill will help you stay connected
during the swing.
Ramon Kesur is a teaching profesional at Tempe Driving
Range, NSW.
From the November 2005 issue of Golf Australia magazine. If
you missed the November 2005 issue on the magazine stand, order
a back copy at
www.mymagazines.com.au
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