The post Arnold Palmer shares the secrets to hitting pure shot with long irons appeared first on Golf.

The post Arnold Palmer shares the secrets to hitting pure shot with long irons appeared first on Golf.

If you’re anything like me, hitting long irons with any sort of consistency is an uphill battle. No matter how much practice I devote to the low-lofted irons, I never seem to master the art of hitting them pure. When I find myself struggling with something in golf, I like to turn to those who make it look simple: the pros.

Pros make most things in golf look easy, but hitting long irons well is something I find extremely impressive. As we all know, being able to hit the green from distance is no easy task.

For help with the task of hitting pure long irons, we are turning to one of the all-time greats, Arnold Palmer. Back in 1969, The King joined GOLF Magazine to share some of his secrets for hitting pure long irons. Check it out below.

Palmer’s keys for hitting pure long irons

Most golfers become easily depressed when they consistently fail to get off a good shot with the long irons. And I suppose that watching me tear a ball out of a tough lie with a two-iron may depress them further! They figure they might just as well leave their long irons at home, for all the good they do. Well, it just doesn’t have to be that bad. The long irons have little loft, it’s true, but even the one-iron has just as much loft as the average three-wood. And the two and three-irons have proportionately more. Also, the long irons are much shorter sticks than the woods, so that they ought to be easier — not more difficult — to control.

Most golfers frighten themselves to death over a long iron shot before they even start. Maybe they’ve hit a poor tee shot and feel they have to make up distance with their long iron. At any rate, they’re really going to bust this one! The result — one or more of these disastrous faults: 

1. They rush their backswing, fail to complete their pivot, and get a weak, early hit with all their power dissipated well before impact. 
2. They try to take a superhuman turn, which results in lost balance and probably lost timing. 
3. They loosen their grip at the top of the swing, which means they have to re-grip on the downswing — an unnecessary and dangerous movement which often throws the clubhead off line.

Setup

The way you should play a long iron is just the reverse. Your grip must be firm, your stance secure, and your swing the same as usual.

I can’t overemphasize the importance of a good grip. Probably the most important single element in hitting a long iron comes from a grip that remains firm from start to finish. Occasionally, you might get away with looseness on the woods or short irons. You cannot, however, expect to hit the long irons successfully unless you hold on to that grip.

The stance for the long irons should not be too wide — otherwise you will restrict the full turn of the body so necessary to develop maximum power. I place my feet about shoulder-width apart and have them in a square position, parallel to the line of flight. I stand up to the ball in a comfortable position but prepared to turn easily and smoothly.

I position the ball slightly more toward the middle of my stance than for my wood shots. On the woods, you want to hit the ball near the bottom of the arc. With the irons, you must strike the ball with a downward blow, with the bottom of the arc being somewhat ahead of the ball in your divot. But my swing remains much the same for both woods and irons.

Takeaway

Getting the right start is half the battle. The hands begin the action, taking the clubhead straight back from the ball for about 12 inches. Keep your wrists firm, as early breaking of the wrists is apt to impair the smoothness of the backswing, causing the head to move. On the other hand, the one-piece backswing — with the body following the lead of the hands — will keep the head in place. There should be “no breaking of the wrists until the hands pass the right hip.

A lot of people ask me, “How far should I take the club back?” This is a difficult question, because it varies from individual to individual. When any further movement back causes you to loosen your grip, bend your left arm, or lose your balance, that’s as far back as you should go. Every player has to find out that critical point for himself.

Downswing

Coming back to the ball, I have a definite feeling of pulling the club down with my left hand. At the same time, there is a distinct weight shift to the left side. You should be able to feel the weight shifting to the left side before you start thinking of hitting the ball. This will prevent the quick un-cocking of the wrists known as “hitting from the top.” If you execute this vital first movement of the downswing correctly, then by all means, let the clubhead fly. Pulling down with the left hand sets you up properly so that you can apply the power in the right hand at the right time — as you enter the hitting area.

One of the things I think of during my swing is, “hitting under the chin.” I turn the left shoulder under the chin on the backswing. Coming through the ball, I concentrate on moving the right shoulder under the chin. I don’t allow my head to move until it is pulled up by the follow through. I like to feel that I’m keeping the right side under through the shot. So much has this become a part of my life, that I still have a high left shoulder and a low right shoulder when I take my wife out dancing!

Shot-shaping

Not every shot I hit with the long irons is a simple straightforward full swing. Sometimes you are stymied by a tree from hitting directly at the green. This calls for hitting an intentional hook or slice.

First, let me advise you not to play these shots unless you are a low handicap golfer. It’s far better to chip out onto the fairway and sacrifice one stroke than run the risk of getting into deeper trouble. But if you have a good, repeating swing, these shots should be in your bag.

For the intentional slice, open your stance and swing from outside-in. Start the club off outside the line and bring it back to the ball in the same plane, hitting as hard as possible with the left hand. For a hook, do the reverse. Close your stance and start the clubhead back inside the line. In the hitting area, allow your right hand to dominate this shot. I don’t believe in changing the grip, because you may start using a “hook”  or “slice” grip when you want a straight shot.

If you can’t go around the trouble, what about over or under? To play a low shot, I play the ball back in my stance and keep my hands in front of the clubhead throughout the swing. Make an extra effort to swing smoothly on this one, as the tendency is to jerk the shot and get only half the ball. Attempt to stay on your left side throughout the swing.

Sometimes, you can’t take a full shot in these circumstances. You have to go under the trees, but the green is only 150-170 yards away. Obviously, a full, low three-iron will carry over the green. What you do is choke down a few inches on the grip, take a half-swing, and hit firmly into the ball with a “punching” action, restricting your follow through. This will produce a low trajectory and the desired distance.

In this situation, the distance can be governed by the length of your backswing and by the amount you choke the grip. As you become more skillful in controlling the club, you will be able at will to vary the length of the shot.

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The post Rory McIlroy’s 5 ‘game-changers’ for improving your ball striking appeared first on Golf.

The post Rory McIlroy’s 5 ‘game-changers’ for improving your ball striking appeared first on Golf.

Rory McIlroy grabbed a piece of history over the weekend. With his Masters victory in a playoff over Justin Rose, the Northern Irishman became just the sixth golfer ever to complete the career Grand Slam.

The journey to reach that milestone didn’t come easy. There were plenty of obstacles and heartbreaks along the way. Back when McIlroy completed the first three legs of the Slam in 2014, that would’ve seemed absurd to suggest. With three legs of the Slam complete in just three years, it appeared as though he’d be on golf’s Mt. Rushmore in no time. As we all know now, it wasn’t quite so easy.

In honor of McIlroy’s grand achievement, we are looking back to our October 2014 issue of GOLF Magazine when he shared his five keys for improved ball striking. If you implement them in your own games, we can’t promise you’ll win the Grand Slam — but you will be hitting the ball better than ever. Check them out below.

Rory’s 5 keys for long drives

Michael Bannon is the only coach I’ve ever had. It’s scary — he knows my swing better than I do. So when things started sliding south 18 months ago, he knew exactly what to do: Get back to the basics that rocketed me to No. 1 in he first place, using checkpoints and feels that Michael taught me when I was a little kid. Now my driver, iron and wedge swings are again on autopilot. My performance stats are about the same as last year, but I can sense a difference. Every shot feels flush. Copy my fixes and you, too, can rediscover your best swing.

Game-changer No. 1: Activate your address position

You’d think I’d be able to get into a solid address position without thinking, considering the tens of thousands of swings I’ve made in my lifetime. The truth is that it’s as easy to fall into bad habits here as it is in any other part of your swing. So l work on my address every time I practice. 

The key: Settle in so that your arms hang freely and are far enough in front of you to whip the club through the impact zone without your body getting in the way.

Michael’s fix: A sloppy setup leads to a sloppy swing. The best thing Rory did to improve his address position was to increase his hip tilt. Try this: Get into your setup with your hands on your hips and your knees flexed as shown. Use your fingers to push your hips back. Your rear end should “pop” out a bit, creating a crease in your pants just below your belt. You’re doing it correctly if your belt buckle points just beyond the ball, not straight out in front of you. The right amount of hip hinge stabilizes your turn for a tighter coil during your backswing.

Game-changer No. 2: A 1-piece takeaway

The first two feet of my swing are critical. If I start the club back on plane, I won’t have to reroute it on the way down, so I can just rip it without fearing a mis-hit. Granted, my takeaway isn’t perfect. I occasionally yank the club too far inside (then come over the top in the downswing), or “lift” it up and out (which gets me “trapped” coming down). But I can fix those flaws. 

The key: “Push” the club straight back. Picture a wall running parallel to your toe line and straight up through your hands  As you start your swing, keep your hands and the clubhead on the wall.

Gear

Michael’s fix: Get into your address position without a club, then crisscross your arms, left over right, so your palms face away from each other. Start your swing by pulling your right hand straight back. See how this forces your left shoulder to turn, and how connected your arms feel to your upper body? If you notice the same feeling when you take real swings, you’ll make a perfect takeaway.

Game-changer No. 3: Turn and load

I’m flexible enough to turn as far back as I want without discomfort. In fact, I often turn too much. I can rotate my shoulders past 90 degrees without thinking, which makes it difficult to get everything back to where it needs to be at impact. I’m not doing that as much this season. 

The key: I stop my swing when my left shoulder hits my chin. If that’s plenty of turn for me, then it’s plenty for you. If I stop my shoulder turn at 90 degrees while keeping my right knee flexed — which lets me load a lot of energy — there’s not a par 5 on earth I can’t reach in two. Your swing will feel tighter, not shorter — a great feeling to have.

Michael’s fix: We always work on limiting Rory’s turn, but you should work on rotating more — and not just your shoulders. The next time you practice, turn your lower body more than you normally would. Try to get your belt buckle to point away from the target when your reach the top. This extra hip turn is what allows your shoulders to rotate a full 90 degrees. The only rules? Keep your right knee flexed and your hands on the right side of your head. If your hands end up behind your head, you’ve lost control.

Game-changer No. 4: Hit irons with your lead knee

When I’m hitting driver, reaching a solid W top position is my only goal. If I’m good at the top, all l have to do is unwind and the ball will go far. When the ball’s on the ground instead of teed up, however, there’s an extra step. 

The key: To hit solid irons, move down and forward from the top as you unwind, so that the bottom of your swing occurs slightly in front of the ball. It’s easy to do if you start your downswing by driving your left knee toward the target, then straighten it as you approach impact. This gets your energy and swing power moving in the direction of the hit, so you leave nothing behind.

Michael’s fix: To feel the way Rory leans into his irons, make your regular backswing but allow your left heel to come off the ground as you reach the top. When you start back down, replant your left heel. Do it hard — so hard that you feel your weight move immediately to your left side. Once you plant, push off the ground with your left foot, firming up your left leg. This creates a post strong enough to support a strong turn through the ball.

Game-changer No. 5: Wedge it close with your body

If there’s one area of my game where the stats show obvious improvement, it’s my full wedges. Last year I ranked 153rd in proximity to the pin on shots from 125 to 150 yards. This year I’ve moved up 139 spots to No. 14! And I’m knocking shots from this range almost four feet closer to the hole. 

The key: Move your body and arms as a single unit. This turns your normal power swing into a control swing, and control is far more important than power from short range. Here’s a visual that’ll help: At address, your shoulders and arms form a triangle in front of your chest. Your goal? Keep the triangle intact and in front of your chest from start to finish. It helps to swing with “dead arms” and use your torso, not your legs, as the engine of your swing.

Michael’s fix: To get a feel for connecting your arm swing to your body turn on full wedges, hold a wedge in each hand at address and swing them simultaneously. The trick? Keep the shafts parallel to each other the whole way while also keeping your arms and hands in front of your chest. At the end of your backswing and your finish, both shafts should point straight up and down. If you have trouble, try feeling as though your chest turn is hitting the shot, and that your hands, arms and club are coming along for the ride.

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The post 10 simple (& brilliant) pieces of golf advice from Arnold Palmer appeared first on Golf.

The post 10 simple (& brilliant) pieces of golf advice from Arnold Palmer appeared first on Golf.

There’s no course that features a challenge quite like Augusta National. We’re reminded of that fact each spring when some of the best golfers in the world visit the hallowed grounds. This week, the ladies will face that challenge at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, followed by the men at next week’s Masters Tournament.

Earning a green jacket is one of the grandest feats in all of sports. Once you slip on that coat, you join a fraternity that few else can claim. And winning four times? Well, that’s rarified air.

Just three players have ever won more than three green jackets — Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus — with each being among the game’s greatest ever players. Palmer, the first to ever exceed three jackets, won his fourth Masters title in 1964. And just two months before, he shared with GOLF Magazine 10 easy swing tips for our readers to learn from.

Read them in full below.

1. Grip: Your hands tell a story

When your grip is correct, your hands are unified and act as one throughout the swing, yet each has separate functions: the left hand is the guide, while the right supplies the power. The pressure points are the last three fingers of the left and the thumb and index finger of the right. The club should be gripped firmly as if you were carrying a fishing pole to the water. Never exert extra pressure. Squeezing the club or adjusting the hands once they are placed will tend to throw the original grip off-line. | recommend a strong grip with the thumb of the left hand along the side of the club.

The right hand should approach the club as though you are about to shake hands and, when you close the right, the tips of the index finger and thumb touch, which forces you to extend the forefinger down the shaft and thus cradle the club in the two pressure fingers. This grip should produce a hooking action as the left thumb along the side of the club will force you to take it back inside and come back to the ball the same way. Do not alter your grip to correct or produce a hook or slice. The grip must remain consistent if the results are to be consistent. Alter your stance. It is more effective.

2. Dial in your practice

Advancement to the highest possible degree is almost impossible without practice. I’ve known persons who have played for many, many years and have improved only slightly, while others who have allotted time for lessons and practice were rewarded by getting their games up to levels they had not previously thought possible, and in little time. You can learn more about the game on the practice area than anywhere else, if you use the time wisely. Concentrate on what you are doing and always keep the important fundamentals in mind. Start off easily by using a 9-iron or wedge. The biggest mistake you could make would be to take the driver and begin booming the ball out of sight. Your body is not ready for the demands of a big hit, and your golf game would be hurt, not helped, by it.

Select a target and hit to it. I’ve seen many golfers stand on the practice tee and hit shots aimlessly. This carelessness is bad, because the oversight is often carried on to the course. I remember a good friend of mine hitting a perfectly executed iron shot on a par-three hole back home and, as the ball went straight off the clubface, he said, “There’s one of the best shots I’ve ever hit.” But then he looked up to see the ball go straight out of bounds! He had failed to align himself properly, a fault that originated on the practice tee. It’ll pay to analyze your strong points as well as your weak ones and then to satisfy any curiosity about the mechanics of the game through practice. It is this approach that is responsible for the high degree of expertness now in the game.

3. Nail your stance

The start of the golf stance is the most natural thing in the world. Just stand with the weight evenly distributed between both feet that are spread approximately the same distance as the width of the shoulders. To make certain you are aiming correctly, place a golf club on the ground with the head of the club pointing in the direction you want the ball to travel. Place the toes of both feet in line with the club and you have a square stance, which is the normal one for any shot in which you desire distance. | walk up to the ball and take a stance before choosing a club. When an imaginary line from my right toe to my left points at the target, I can visualize the line of flight.

Now, to get ready to start the backswing, flex the knees as if you were going to dive off the edge of a swimming pool. You should have the feeling that you are about to sit down in a chair. I have noticed from time to time that when a player wants to hit the ball a long way, he unconsciously widens his stance. Actually, this is exactly opposite of the correct way, for when you widen your stance, you restrict the turn and the result is a short backswing and a smaller arc. So, stand naturally and concentrate on distributing the weight evenly for firm and proper foot action during the swing when the weight shifts to the right foot and then to the left.

4. Keep your head still

For a good golf swing, the head must remain motionless. Any movement will throw the swing out of alignment. For instance, if the head is moved to the right side at the start of the swing, the circle of the clubhead will move back, too, causing the clubface to expend its maximum speed before making contact. Many are confused after a bad shot because they insist they have kept their eyes on the ball throughout the swing. It is possible to keep the eyes on the ball and still move the head, either from side to side or up and down.

A good checkpoint to proper head position is the left heel. It should be anchored to force the body turn to be correct. With the left heel on the ground, the pivot will move in one piece. You can practice without a club in your hands by concentrating on moving the left shoulder under the chin and then coming back with the right shoulder replacing it. The position of the head must be behind the ball from start to finish. If it gets in front, it will force you to scoop the ball —  hit it almost entirely with the arms and hands — and will restrict the follow-through since the body will be in the way. Distance is gained by a long arc of the club that generates clubhead speed. 

The bigger the turn, the more chance for a power swing even though the hands, the hips and the feet also have to perform their functions. But the turn should be the primary concern because then all components are positioned and the chances for a long hit are increased.

5. Nail shots from uneven lies

The uneven stance of hilly lies creates a push or a pull that must be counteracted if the shot is to come off properly. When the ball is on a sidehill lie, higher than your toes, the swing flattens, and thus, the danger of hooking is dominant.

Instruction

Choke up on the club and shorten the backswing, play the ball a little right of center and change your stance to allow you to aim a bit to the right of target. When the ball is lower than the toes, the reverse is true: the downward pull will lead to a push or a fade. Line up so as to aim to the left, with the weight more on the heels than usual. With an uphill lie, the left side is naturally withdrawn a bit. From an open stance, take the club straight back and hit down and through as you would for any regular shot. Normally, however, the ball will travel in a higher trajectory, so compensate by using a little longer club, and keep your balance. Offset the awkwardness of a downhill shot by bending the uphill knee so that the hips are level. Keep the swing smooth and uninterrupted, let the clubhead follow the ground’s contour, and hit down on the ball without raising the body at impact. Especially the shoulders, the hips and the head.

The hilly lies may not seem like real problem shots, but it would be well to prepare yourself for these eventualities in advance of your round, because, unlike the straightaway conditions of the practice area, the course you play is seldom level, and these situations, which may not be your personal problem when you’re reading about them, might suddenly confront you.

6. The secret to a perfect takeaway

If a poll were taken among the touring pros, undoubtedly the club picked as the most important would be the putter, overwhelmingly. However, I have yet to see a player who could score if he didn’t consistently drive the ball accurately and with distance. It is the big tee shot that puts you in position to attack. In this respect, it seems odd that the most important part of the drive is the 12 inches away from the ball at the start of the swing. 

The club should be taken back slowly, parallel to the ground for the first 12 inches, the hands doing all the work. Then, in unison, the shoulders, hips and knees turn together with the left shoulder and arm bringing the club back to the top of the backswing. | cannot emphasize too strongly that this movement has to be slow and deliberate. The downswing is begun by shifting the weight back to the left side with a pulling of the left hand guiding the club into hitting position. The left hip, meanwhile, must turn out of the way to ensure a proper follow-through. The follow-through is just as important as the hit and ensures the clubhead speed will keep generating while the clubface is contacting the ball. It will also force the player to shift all of his weight to the left side, where it rightfully belongs.

7. Bomb it long

As a youngster, | used to swing at the ball so hard both my feet would leave the ground. From the very beginning, I wanted to hit the long ball, and I still do, I might add. But I am often guilty of that common error, too fast a backswing, with the result that I lose, not gain, yardage. The lesson is clear. There is more to the big hit than brute strength. You cannot get distance with the woods if you are impatient to swing and, in the process, do not set yourself up properly to ensure a smooth, rhythmic swing. Timing is the key to the long ball. 

That is why you see so many players who are not as physically endowed as the strong boys hit the ball a long, long way. These players have practiced endless hours in perfecting a smooth swing. Some of them have fast backswings, to be sure, but those long hours on the practice tee have made them do things correctly, even though they may do them fast. For the average player who doesn’t have time to go to the practice tee daily, the main concern is to slow down. If you start fast, there is a tendency to jerk the club away from the ball with the hands, and the body cannot move as fast as the hands. Think of the body turn throughout the swing, and it will automatically slow you down and give the body a chance to stay in tune with the hands. There will be no loosening of the grip at the top of the backswing, and the weight shift will become routine and assure good contact with the ball.

8. An easy trick for long irons

Because his drives are not long enough, the average player faces long shots to nearly every green, and it is a struggle just to reach the putting surface. As a result, a pessimistic fear of the two-, three- or four-irons builds up in his mind. 

This psychological affliction causes a preliminary worry and reduces to the bare minimum the chances of getting off a good shot. Although hitting with the long irons is the same as hitting with every other club in the bag, the player feels he must hit harder than with the shorter clubs to gain more distance. That is a false notion. The clubs are made so that if you use the same swing with all irons, comparative distances will result. Trying to hit the long irons harder with an exaggerated power swing makes it impossible to hit the ball the same way twice. It ruins the timing and produces a half-hit. Swing right down into the ball, and don’t worry about the ball getting airborne; the club will do the work. It is not necessary to try to lift at impact. 

The value of learning to play this shot with the same swing as with the shorter irons is the biggest single thing in the transformation of a high-handicapper to a low one. Aim for the middle of the green, hit down into the ball, and it will go up as your scores go down. Of this you can be absolutely sure.

9. Learn to work the ball

It is not a crime to hit a “crooked” ball. Being able to produce a hook or a fade around a partial stymie, or a high shot over one, or a low ball into the wind is the mark of an advanced player who is on his way to more confident golf and more pleasant rounds. I do not change my grip to hit type shots. 

For a hook, I close my stance and hit from the inside out, closing the face of the club according to the degree of hook needed. To fade the ball, I open the stance slightly and take the clubhead a little on the outside. A return to the ball in the same plane will make it move from left to right. The lofty shot is best obtained by playing the ball up forward, with the hands a bit behind the clubhead, and to hit it low, I keep the hands in front of the clubhead throughout the swing, which, by the very nature of this shot, must remain smooth. The ability to hit type shots can be the difference between a fair golfer and an outstanding one. 

You’ll never know when a ‘maneuvered’ stroke will win a tournament for you. Most championship courses are designed to feature holes protected by a fairway tree, which rewards a tee shot with a draw, a pin hidden behind a trap that requires a fade or a high, floating approach and an undulating green that opens only to a well-placed tee shot. When faced with these challenges, knowing how to manipulate the ball can be the winning difference.

10. Flag your short irons

The short irons are the control clubs and are regarded as scoring weapons. Accuracy with them has helped reduce more scores than an oversized handicap. The closer you can plant these shots to the hole, the less reliance there is on the putter, a fickle stick at best. The feet are positioned close together with less than a foot of daylight in between and the left is drawn back from the ball so that the left side of the body is pointing to the target. Place the clubface squarely behind the ball before the start of the swing and restrict the backswing to a point where the hands are somewhere between the hips and the shoulders at the top.

The backswing is much shorter than with the other clubs, but there is a concentrated hitting action with a full follow-through to force the club down and through the ball. Moving back into the ball, do not attempt to speed up the swing but let the left hand pull the club down. The feet stay firmly on the ground throughout the execution of short iron shots, and the weight shift is negligible. Unlike the long irons and woods, distance is not a factor to be considered, only a clean, crisp hit. The weight is concentrated on the left side during the shot, so there is less margin for error than on the longer tries where a shift of weight from left to right and back again is an integral part of the swing.

The post 10 simple (& brilliant) pieces of golf advice from Arnold Palmer appeared first on Golf.

The post Major winner shares 10 keys for splitting every fairway appeared first on Golf.

The post Major winner shares 10 keys for splitting every fairway appeared first on Golf.

Getting off the tee without trouble is a crucial skill in golf. No matter your talent level, you’ll always have an easier time scoring when you are playing from the short grass.

The pros do this better than most. This year on the PGA Tour, players are hitting nearly 60 percent of the fairways — and that’s while many are playing with ball speeds over 175 mph. Simply put, if you want to shave some strokes off your scores, learn how to game a reliable tee shot.

For more on that, we turn to 1983 PGA Championship winner Hal Sutton. Back in 2001, he joined GOLF Magazine to share 10 tips on hitting more fairways. Put them in action and you’re sure to become a more accurate driver off the tee.

Sutton’s 10 tips for driving accuracy

Everybody wants to pull out the driver and rip a tee shot down the fairway. And on the PGA Tour, no one has hit the  driver with more consistency over the 20 years than Hal Sutton.

Sutton is at the top of his game right now with five victories in the past three seasons. He consistently ranks at or near the top of the Tour’s rankings in Fairways Hit and Total Driving (a statistic that combines driving distance and accuracy). The secret to Sutton’s swing is really not much of a secret at all: He makes a relatively simple motion and repeats it day after day. Most golfers — including many amateurs — are physically capable of making a swing similar to Hal’s. 

Here’s how he does it, along with the keys every golfer should copy to hit more fairways.

1. No manipulation

Before you can put together the parts that make a repeatable swing, it is important to understand what that motion looks like. The photo above shows how Sutton’s club moves along the target line with the face square to the target for only an instant. Great drivers know this, and don’t try to steer the clubface along the target line. Many amateurs try to manipulate the clubface so it faces the target at impact, but this actually inhibits a consistent motion. The best drivers have complete trust in their swing. They let it happen. Because the driver’s swing arc is almost a circle, the trick is to position the ball where the clubhead will be facing the target, This spot is even with the outside of the left hip socket. 

2. Addressing accuracy

At address, relax the arms and hold the club lightly but securely in the fingers. This gives the swing a smooth start, leading to a repeatable rhythm and pace.

Sutton’s stance is relatively wide, his shoulders fitting between his heels. This creates a very stable base. The more stable the foundation, the less likely you are to reverse pivot (lean toward the target at the top of the backswing). A reverse pivot kills power and accuracy.

3. Gradual acceleration

As noted earlier, Sutton understands that the clubhead swings on a nearly circular path. He also knows that for this motion to be consistent, the clubhead must gradually build up speed on the downswing. If you rush the transition from backswing to downswing, or try to hurry the downswing, the timing between the body and the arms is thrown off and disasters occur.

Golfers with poor timing try to manipulate the club through impact and steer the ball toward the fairway. But trying to control the club forces the arms and hands to tighten, so the clubface is in a different position on every swing. Tightness also means tension, which cuts into both accuracy and distance.

To learn the feeling of gradual acceleration, make six practice swings with out stopping between swings. Start slowly and gradually increase the speed until you sense the centrifugal force pulling on your hands. At full speed, this sensation should be strongest just after impact. It means you are swinging along the proper arc at the proper pace without excessive tension or manipulation. The clubface will be square at the same place in every swing. If yo can feel this in your real swing, you’ll hit more fairways.

4. Body turn supplies power

To generate maximum clubhead speed while maintaining control, the body must turn in the proper sequence. Many golfers try to start the club back by turning their hips rather than the arms and shoulders, which leads to inconsistent contact and a less powerful coil.

The body should coil from the top down during the backswing, then uncoil from the bottom up during the downswing. Sutton uses shoulder rotation to lead the move away from the ball.

To feel this proper coil, you don’t need a club, just sit on a bar stool to immobilize the hips. Practice swinging back until the club would be parallel to the ground; you should feel the shoulders — not the hips — rotating the spine. If the hips don’t push the stool back, they are stable and the coiling action is incorrect.

5. Hands stay between elbows

Nearly every poor driver starts the swing by pulling the hands and clubhead too far inside. From here, the only way to return to the proper path is to reroute it, and unless you do it the same way every time, you’re guaranteeing inconsistent results.

The hands should remain in front of the chest all the way to the top of the backswing. As you look at Sutton, imagine two thin walls jutting straight out of his shoulders: Notice how his hands stay within these two walls.

6. Shaft points inside the target line

About halfway back, when the left arm is parallel to the ground, check that the butt end of the shaft points at or inside the target line (but never outside the line). This position means that your wrists are hinging correctly and that the arms are swinging the club up, rather than around the body, to the top.

7. Pick the best angle

Create the best angle for hitting the fairway. On this hole — a dogleg left — I’ll tee the ball near the right tee marker to open up a better angle around the corner. Notice that I’m not teeing up against the marker; this is because it’s important to swing from a level area. In general, if you fade your drives, tee the ball on the far right side of the tee and aim to the left edge of the fairway, If you draw the ball, tee up on the far left side and aim to the right side of the fairway.

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8.Think before you drive

For consistent, accurate drives, build consistency and accuracy into your pre-swing strategy and routine. Here’s how.

First, stick with one shot shape for every drive. If you’re more comfortable hitting a fade, use it every time. If you prefer to draw the ball, always plan to hit a draw. Making, and sticking to, this decision will eliminate tension. 

Second, pick a target that you can hit eight out of 10 times with your average swing. Make finding the fairway your first priority; distance second.

I try to incorporate the pre-swing keys before every drive. If you do the same, you can’t help but hit more fairways.

9. Use the same tee height

I want the equator of the ball even with the top if the clubhead at address. This provides the best opportunity of making square, solid impact as the clubhead passes the bottom of its arc. A trick I use to tee the ball the same — and preferred — height is to push the tee into the ground with my ring finger extended; when my fingertip touches the ground, the ball is at the right height.

10. Choose an intermediate target

I never hit a drive without choosing an intermediate target directly on the ball’s flight line and within three feet of the tee. Once I’ve chosen my target from behind the ball, I keep my eyes on that spot as I walk up to the ball and step into address. I don’t look away until my clubface is perfectly aligned. Then it’s time to start the swing and hit the fairway.

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The post Johnny Miller’s ‘single best tip’ for hitting pure irons appeared first on Golf.

Johnny Miller might not have won as many major titles as some of his contemporaries, but that doesn’t mean he was a slouch. Far from it, in fact.

Over the course of his career, Miller won 25 times on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open title at Oakmont in 1973 that featured a final-round 63. In fact, Miller was one of the best ball strikers not just of his era, but of all time. That said, when Miller shares his insight on how to swing a golf club, it’d be wise to listen.

Back in 2013, Miller contributed an instruction article to GOLF Magazine that featured what he called his “single best tip” about ball striking. Check it out below and give it a shot. Chances are, you’ll soon start hitting the ball better than ever before.

Johnny Miller’s single best tip

Even today, I still get nervous on the first tee or if I’m playing with people I don’t know that well. When I first came up on Tour, I was nervous all the time, especially when faced with a tough shot, such as hitting a half wedge over water or a long iron off a tight lie. So I came up with a drill — maybe my single best tip! — to help me feel the most important parts of my swing and instantly build the confidence needed to pull off the shot. I call it the “brush-brush” drill, and I’m certain that if you try it, you’ll hit better shots.

On the range, use the toe of your club to make a line in the grass, then set up centered over the line. Make a half swing and try to brush the grasss on the target side of the line — not a huge divot, just a slight brush — then repeat. I do it twice in a row, because it instills good rhythm: “brush-brush.”

Approach Shots

It sounds simple, but you actually have to do so many things right to brush the grass in the right place that, when you do, you’re grooving good mechanics. Plus, success in this drill will prevent you from catching the ground behind the ball, which is the fastest way to hit a really bad shot.

The trick is to get the butt of the grip even or ahead of the line before unhinging your wrists and brushing the grass with the clubhead. Most amateurs make the mistake of unhinging their wrists when the butt end of the grip is still behind the line, and some players release the hinge when the butt is still behind their right leg. But if you lead the clubhead with the handle and delay the unhinging until the last possible moment, you get that crisp, Tour-style impact with the shaft leaning slightly toward the target with any iron or wedge. 

Not only does this drill get you into a better impact position, it gives you ball-first contact regardless of your lie. Anyone can make decent contact on a flat range, but on the course you’ll encounter uphill lies, downhill lies and lies where the ball is either above or below your feet. Slopes like these tend to exacerbate impact problems, and if you have the type of swing that brushes the grass behind the ball, you’ll have no chance on anything but a perfect lie. Lead with the handle, then brush. I’ve been around golf for 60 years, and this drill beats them all.

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There are some swings in golf that just look smooth. Think Jake Knapp. Fred Couples. Nelly Korda. Sam Snead. All of these swings are as graceful as they are effective, and they’re the moves that many of us aspire to copy. Best of all, these swings aren’t just smooth — they’re also powerful.

One of the first-ballot hall-of-famers in the smooth tempo discipline is Ernie Els. The big South African carved out a heck of a career gaming his smooth and powerful move, and it even earned him the nickname “The Big Easy.”

Back in June of 1995, ahead of his U.S. Open title defense, GOLF Magazine ran a feature on many admirable elements of Els’ swing. One such portion focused on his envy-inducing tempo and powerful driving, broken down by legendary instructor Jim Flick. Check it out below.

How to swing like The Big Easy

Watch Ernie Els swing a golf club and you can’t help but think of a taller version of Sam Snead. Perhaps no one since Snead has owned such an explosive, yet graceful swing. Like Snead, Els nears perfection in his balance and timing. Everything is in the right place at the right time without a hint of excess effort at any point from start to finish.

At the tender age of 25, Els has already harnessed the three components for a controlled, repeatable swing: Rhythm, balance, and timing. Every golfer has heard these terms but here are my definitions. Rhythm is the harmonious movements of the body and club; balance is the ability to keep all of the parts of the body under control; and timing is the proper sequential movement of the body parts and the club for maximum efficiency.

But don’t think that good rhythm, balance, and timing occur simply by swinging the club at a controllable pace. There are certain mechanics in the setup and swing that must be present to set the proper sequence in motion and deliver the clubhead squarely to the ball.

Within these mechanics, adjustments may be necessary to accommodate individual needs. Els has made a few modifications from the standard setup to better accommodate his height. The results are spectacular. Here’s what you can learn from the U.S. Open champion to improve your swing’s balance and timing.

Start in balance, stay in balance

What happens during the swing is largely a reflection of what is created at address, and Ernie has a nearly perfect setup. Notice that his spine is angled away from the target. This promotes a full, upper-body coil at the top of the backswing with the weight over the right foot. I also like the wide platform he has created. Notice that his heels are shoulder-width apart, not his toes, and he uses slightly more knee flex than most good players. This wider stance and extra knee flex lower his center of gravity slightly, which is helpful for improving balance in a tall player. Also notice that his weight is evenly balanced in front and behind the balls of his feet. Again, this creates perfect balance at address / and to swing in balance you must start in balance.

Don’t go inside

Tall golfers, in particular, tend to pull the club inside the target line too soon on the backswing. When the club gets too far inside, it feels heavier, which adds unnecessary tension in the arms and hands. Els avoids this problem by keeping the clubhead outside his hands well into his backswing.

The correct arc makes things easier

Notice that a line drawn from the end of Els’s shaft to the ground points inside the target line while the shaft is positioned between his arms. This puts his clubhead on the proper arc for his height. The correct arc is important for a rhythmic, balanced swing because the more vertical the arc, the lighter the clubhead feels and less effort is needed to control it. The lighter the clubhead feels, the less tension is created in the hands and arms.

Start with a swing, not a turn

Rhythm and timing are enhanced by a swinging motion. Swinging doesn’t create tension, whereas turning does. That is why almost every great golfer begins his motion by swinging the club back rather than by turning his body. Ernie has started his motion by swinging his arms. His body turns in response to the arms’ lead. The proper sequence has been established, resulting in a slightly flatter clubhead arc on the downswing. This helps deliver the clubhead to the ball from slightly inside the target line and promotes a draw — Els’s preferred shot shape. Remember this by thinking: “Take the high road up and take the low road down.”

The payoff

At impact Els’s nearly perfect combination of superb timing, balance, and rhythm has delivered the clubhead squarely to the ball. His body looks relaxed even when his clubhead is moving more than 100 miles per hour. There is no excessive lower-body twisting or sliding and his weight remains between his feet. With the driver you can see that Ernie’s head has moved slightly backwards. This accommodates a slightly ascending clubhead path into impact for a ball that is teed-up. On an iron shot, his head doesn’t move as far back so he can make a descending blow. Els understands that controlling the club is the key to hitting the ball close to his target. He doesn’t fight the club to control it, but rather creates a swing that minimizes tension and maximizes clubhead speed. It’s a swing that — like Snead’s — should serve him well as long as he plays.

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Breaking 80 is no easy feat. Most people who pick up a golf club will never come close to posting a score in the 70s — but everyone keeps the goal in mind.

There are many ways to reach this elusive goal, but there are some baseline stats you should aim for if you want to accomplish it on a consistent basis. One of them is the average number of greens in regulation you need to hit.

Back in our March 2003 issue of GOLF Magazine, we published a story outlining the target number of greens you need to consistently hit to break into the 70s — along with some tips and tricks on how to get there. Read up on them below and before long you’ll be one of the lucky few who posts scores below 80.

Hit more greens to break 80

Ask yourself this: What is the one factor that most directly impacts your score? According to Lucius Riccio, president of the Golf Analyzer, it’s the number of greens hit in regulation. 

Riccio studied more than 1,000 rounds, and his findings led to Riccio’s Rule: A golfer’s score is equal to 95 minus two times the number of greens hit in regulation. For example, if you hit five greens, the formula predicts you’ll shoot 85, or 95-(2 x 5). And that means, unless you average five greens per round, you’ll never consistently shoot in the mid-80s.

So, how can you put yourself in position to hit this magic number? Start by following the tips listed below.

Find the short grass

Hitting more greens starts with hitting more fairways. To do this, try swinging your driver at 80 percent. The smoother the tempo, the better your balance and the better your contact. To groove good tempo, finish your warm-up with this drill used by the late Payne Stewart. Hit five tee shots with a full swing, but try to hit them only 150 yards. Then repeat this feeling on the first tee; you’ll naturally pick up the tempo due to your adrenaline but will swing more within yourself.

Take an extra club

Take one more club than usual on approach shots (e.g., a 5-iron instead of a 6) and make your normal swing. You’ll be surprised how many times your ball finds the green. The longer club allows more room for error, so the shot can be less than perfect and will still get there. It also makes up for the average golfer’s tendency to choose a club based on a perfectly struck shot, not his or her average shot with that club.

Paint a bullseye

Jack Nicklaus made a nice career out of shooting for the middle of the green. Follow his lead and don’t go for sucker pins; instead, imagine a bull’s-eye in the middle of the green, and aim dead-center. Rarely will you be penalized for hitting the middle of the putting surface. And if you hit the ball a little offline or slightly misjudge the distance, you still have a reasonable chance of getting somewhere on the green.

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Golf is a game that can be played for a lifetime — but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be able to swing the same way. As we get older, our bodies change, and these changes can make certain movements from our youth nearly impossible.

This is a truth that every golfer faces at one point or another. Even if you’re a bomber now, once you reach retirement age, you won’t be able to touch 120 mph of ball speed. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have success on the course as you get older. You just need to make the necessary swing adjustments.

Back in 1981, former U.S. Open winner Johnny Miller joined GOLF Magazine and shared some of his best tips for keeping his swing — and body — healthy as he aged. Follow them, and your golden years could become your prime.

Johnny Miller’s keys for keeping your swing healthy

There’s been a lot of talk about my “new” golf swing, and how well I’ve been playing with it. Actually, it isn’t “new” in the strict sense of the word. There’s nothing revolutionary about it. However, it is new to me because it is a departure from the way I’ve swung the club in the past.

Most of the changes in my swing have come about as a result of the changes in my physique. When I was younger I was extremely flexible, and my legs were the strongest part of my body. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve lost some suppleness (as almost everyone does) and I’ve become stronger from the waist up. I think my slump was, to a large degree, the result of trying to perform my “old” swing with my “new” body.

The “new” swing is the product of a lot of thought and trial and error. And in the same way it’s helped me, it can help a lot of amateur golfers who aren’t as supple as they once were or would like to be. Here’s how it works.

Takeaway

The first change I made was in my takeaway. Until recently, I experimented with fanning the club open during the takeaway, as Gary Player does. And before that, in my early Tour days, I used an early set of the wrists . This helped me establish an upright backswing plane, from which, using my suppleness, I could lay the shaft onto the downswing plane starting down. Finally, I settled on starting back in one piece, a coordinated movement of the arms, shoulders, hands and club, while keeping the clubface square. This method is simplest and best for golfers of all levels.

Backswing

The changes in my backswing were actually corrections of faults I had developed. When I was younger, one of my best backswing keys was to feel as though I got behind the ball on the backswing. With the degree of flexibility I had then, I could get behind the ball while still making a good, full turn. But as I gained weight and strength in my upper body and lost some suppleness, this key led to a “false” backswing turn. In fact, I didn’t turn at all. I just moved my hips and upper body laterally to the right and sort of lifted my arms up to the top. This move got the club to the top, but there was no coiling of the muscles of the upper body. This is a fault of many golfers who are stiff or heavy. 

Approach Shots

I corrected the error by working on staying more over the ball as I turned during the backswing. The feeling of this reminds me of that old instructional saw, “Feel as if you’re turning in a barrel during the backswing.” The result has been a genuine backswing turn, with an improved use of the large and strong muscles of my upper body, instead of a false turn. If you’ve developed a false turn as a result of trying to get behind the ball, try this: Set yourself behind the ball at address, so that your head is slightly to the right of the ball, then key on a full turn of the body from there.

Downswing

One of my favorite downswing keys during my younger days was “stay behind it and hit it.” I was flexible enough then to do that effectively. But this key became less and less effective in time, and I began to push long shots off line. The push was the shot that truly fueled my slump, although I wasn’t hitting every shot that way. I hit most of my shots well, but on one or two key holes a round, I’d get nervous, hit the push, and wind up with a double bogey. That led to a lot of 73s and 74s.

I stumbled across the solution to this fault when I was playing at the Silverado course in Napa, California, near my home, about two years ago. I wanted to see how far I could hit the ball to the right by moving forward instead of hanging back during the downswing. I hit a shot keying on moving hard onto my left side, and the ball went about 15 yards right of where I was aiming. I thought, “Gee, I’m sure I can do better than that.” I hit another shot and tried harder to move onto my left side. The ball only went about 20 yards right of where I was aiming. From that experience, I learned that in trying to stay behind the ball, I had been hanging back on my right side. As a result, I couldn’t get through the ball with my arms. That was causing the pushes. 

I also found that as long as I made a solid move back to the ball in the downswing, I couldn’t push the shot too far to the right, and that as long as I didn’t exaggerate the move, the ball wouldn’t go to the right at all. As it turned out, the solution was the opposite of what I first thought it was. This move has made my swing look a little different. Since it is more upper body oriented, my right side comes through the ball higher than it used to. But that’s a trait I now share with a lot of other fine swingers. And with this type of swing, my head doesn’t drop the way it used to. All in all, it’s a simpler, more repeatable and, therefore, more dependable, downswing.

Instruction

No matter what his method, every good golfer has a good weight shift. Practice making a solid move to your left side to start the downswing and you’ll hit straighter and longer shots.

Follow through

I’ve always thought the follow-through was the result of the swing that came before it. And as you can see here, my follow-through reflects the changes I’ve made in my swing. As a result of the solid move onto my left side at the start of the downswing, my weight has shifted completely to my left foot. In fact, that’s one of my new follow-through keys, feeling as though I’ve shifted all of my weight onto the little toe of my left foot at the finish. Before, when I was hanging back, I’d finish with my weight distributed between my right foot and my left heel. Now my weight has shifted to the left side so completely that when I follow through on shots with the 4- iron through the wedge, I feel I can lift my right foot off the ground.

The other change in my follow-through is that I don’t have as big a bend in my back as I used to. As you get older, finishing in that big “reverse C” position becomes increasingly difficult. Coming through the ball with the right side higher, and swinging more with the upper body instead of the legs, results in a straighter back in the follow-through.

Use these keys as checkpoints for your own follow-through. By ingraining the feel of the correct finish, you’ll make it easier to correctly perform the moves that precede it.

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Most of us will never experience the nerves that come with competing on the PGA Tour, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some pressure-packed matches between average joes every weekend. At just about every club around the world, high-stakes money games take place on a daily basis.

Sure, the stakes aren’t as high as they are on Tour, but they still produce plenty of adrenaline — and if you don’t know how to handle yourself, it can be hard to perform. If this sounds like you and you’re looking to become a better money-game player, you’ve come to the right place.

Back in 2005, Chris DiMarco — fresh off back-to-back major championship runner-ups — joined GOLF Magazine to share some of his best tips for becoming a lethal money-game performer. Check ’em out below and you’ll soon be pocketing your friends’ cash every weekend.

Chris DiMarco’s money shots

I’m not a range rat. Just like you, I’d rather be out on the course than spend hours on the driving range. So how do you prepare yourself to go out there and score your best? I focus on my money shots — short approaches, a reliable tee shot and mid-length putts. Those are the same shots that will make or break your round. If you execute them well, you will score well.

For me, they’re the difference between ordinary rounds and the kind that end with me holding an oversized check. For you, they can be the foundation of a career number or for consistently smashing a scoring barrier that’s been your goal. Follow the advice here and the only two words you’ll ever use again are “cha” and “ching.”

1. Fire darts with your short irons

Just like you, I want to hit my short approaches close to set up scoring chances. You shouldn’t think too much about mechanics when you swing, but I find this thought helpful when I’m in attack mode with scoring irons: As the clubhead approaches impact, feel like you’re pulling it all the way through with your left hand. Step aside from the ball and make practice swings with this thought in mind. This will help you make ball-first contact, and that helps distance control. Many players struggle with short irons because the right-hand takes over to try to add loft. Lead with the left, and your approaches will track to the pin.

Big tip: To hit any shot flush, you have to accelerate into a full-finish position. Watch any Tour player, and you’ll see us take much shorter backswings than a lot of amateurs. It’s much better to be long on the follow-through than on the backswing. That also goes for when you’ve got a yardage that puts you in between clubs. In those cases, take the longer club, but rather than trying to let up a bit on the speed of your swing, you should grip down an inch or so and swing full throttle.

2. Learn to draw a 3-wood

I find today’s larger clubheads difficult to turn over from right to left, so when a hole calls for a draw, I pull out a 3-wood. You should consider this, too: The clubhead is much smaller than a driver’s and therefore easier to square up and close through impact. I like to draw the ball to take advantage of firm fairways and get more roll. Align your feet about 15 to 20 yards right of your ultimate target and point the clubface slightly closed, or at your target (right). As you swing down to the ball, think about rotating the clubhead around to your left (above). That will help you close the face to produce the spin you need to hit a pro-caliber draw. Even though you’re hitting a 3-wood, you might end up getting more yards than you would with a straight driver.

Big tip: If your normal shot shape doesn’t fit a particular hole, there’s no point trying to force it. Gear down and keep your driver in the bag — you’ll be better off sacrificing some distance than making an unsure swing with the big stick.

3. Drain the 15-footers

Whether it’s for birdie or to save par, draining one or two from 15 feet is always a big boost. The first key is to stay steady over the ball. Keep your head as still as possible from address until well past impact, which will help prevent you from twisting the putter face open. There will be plenty of time to look up and watch the putt rolling.

No matter which putting grip you use, feel like the left hand is controlling the motion. This will help you avoid the wrist breakdown that contributes to poor contact and distance control. I spend time at home putting with only my left hand on the club. This helps me strengthen the muscles of that hand so it’s the boss when I take my stroke.

Big tip: Putting can be nerve-racking, so don’t fight it. Instead, simulate pressure situations during casual rounds or on the practice green. For instance, tell yourself you’re not going to leave the practice green until you drain two out of three putts from 15 feet. It’s not easy, but doing it will make your putts during a match seem tame by comparison.

4. Perfect your pre-shot routine

It’s easy to gloss over a pre-shot routine. I’m a quick player as it is, and sometimes I get ahead of myself. That’s why my long rehearsal waggle, in which I practice a half-swing, has become so important. Try it out and it will help relax your muscles before the shot. 

Take your address position and make a small, slow turn, bringing your hands back to about waist height. The long waggle will help you set the club with your wrists the same way every time, which is a big factor in consistency. Watch the club go back and remember that image as you swing for real.

Big tip: I see amateurs glide through their pre-shot routines and then freeze over the ball as a million things go through their minds. That’s a confidence killer! The majority of your shot preparation — visualizing the trajectory, checking the wind, etc. — should be done before taking your stance

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It’s become harder than ever to compete on the PGA Tour as a short-hitter, but at last week’s Mexico Open, Brain Campbell proved it’s still possible to have success with limited ball speed. Despite ranking as the shortest hitter on Tour entering the week, Campbell earned his first-ever Tour win. To make the win even sweeter for the short-hitter, he bested the longest hitter on Tour — Aldrich Potgieter — in a playoff to get his hands on the trophy.

“It’s hard to look at a guy next to you hitting it 60 to 80 yards past you,” Campbell said. “But you’ve really just got to stay focused on what you’re there to do and do the best you can.”

Campbell isn’t the first pro to find success despite lagging behind his competitors in the distance department. In fact, back in 2011, Luke Donald ascended to world No. 1 despite finishing the season ranked 147th on Tour in driving distance.

In honor of all golfers out there lacking in the distance department, we’re looking back at a few tips from one of the most successful short-hitters of all-time in Donald. Back in 2004, Donald shared a few of his tips with GOLF Magazine about how to stick it close with your irons.

Luke Donald’s pinpoint iron tips

By PGA Tour standards, my 275-yard average off the tee isn’t exactly John Daly-esque. But what I’ve learned that a sharp iron game can help me keep pace with the big hitters. I’ve always put a premium on my irons. In fact, I holed out the very first iron shot I hit on Tour — a pitching wedge for eagle at the 1999 Buick Challenge. And I still work hard to keep my iron play sharp. In the final round of the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau classic — my first Tour win — my 8-iron to the par-3 12th hole left a dent in the cup.

How can my iron game help you? In this article, I’ll discuss the swing keys I live by, from posture and swing shape to hitting the ball high or low. Give these tips a try and you may soon be throwing darts, too.

Address: Posture first

A pre-shot routine is critical to establishing good posture. I start by gripping down on the club with my right hand until my spine tilts slightly away from the target. Then, I bend toward the ball from my hips. I want to feel as if my shoulder are directly over my hips. To check this, I sometimes let my arms hang and make sure my palms line up with the creases on my pants.

After I set my posture, I aim the clubface and align my body, then check ball position, inching up or back depending on the shot. For long irons, I play the ball opposite the logo on my shirt; for mid irons, off my left ear; for short irons, just ahead of my sternum.

Backswing: Left shoulder low

My main backswing thought is to turn my left shoulder under my chin. My shoulders rotate on a diagonal plane, which helps me stay in my address posture. If I do this right, the club swings on the correct path and the clubface is square at the top, setting up the proper inside-out approach to the ball.

To work on your turn, find a slope and practice hitting balls below your feet. With the emphasis on staying down to reach the ball, you’ll keep your left shoulder low.

Starting down: Arms wide

From the top, I resist the urge to fire my hips or chest toward the target, letting my arms swing down first. This is key for me, as I have a tendency to get too aggressive with my hips, which makes the club drop behind me.

If your sequence is correct, you’ll swing down on a wide arc. And wider means more speed. To stay wide, try the pump drill. Start with your left arm parallel to the ground and swing to the top. Then, keeping your back toward the target, swing your arms down and try to increase the distance between your hands and shoulders. Stop when your hands are about waist high, and repeat.

Impact: Divot after strike

lf you maintain your forward tilt, the clubhead will swing down on the proper descending angle, cutting a divot after the ball. That’s how you hit pure irons. I focus on keeping my butt out and pointing my chest at the ball through impact. This allows me to extend my arms and swing down and through. Many amateurs do the reverse: They pull their butts in and spin their chests open. As a result, the club either gets stuck behind them (too shallow) or swings over the top (too steep).

In the end, my divots tell me all I need to know about my swing. If my divot is rectangular and about the same width as the clubhead, I made solid contact.

Low shot: drive the elbow

To keep an iron shot low, I position the ball two inches back in my stance, which delofts the clubface. I center my body weight and turn my left elbow out so it points toward the target. This promotes a flatter, more U-shaped swing through the hitting zone. The clubhead stays low after impact and the ball comes out with less backspin

High shot: Make a full release

For extra height, I play the ball two inches forward in my stance, which keeps my hands behind the ball and effectively increases the club’s loft. Then I swing back on a wide arc and focus ona high, full finish. This promotes an earlier release, with the wrists rechecking and the clubhead swinging upward shortly after impact. The shot flies high and stops quickly.

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