How To Play Better Golf Start To Finish

Hello Golfer,

The game of golf is beyond the physical. There is a spiritual angle, dimension or part of the game. Golfing is basically a mind game. To play better in a game of golf from hole 1, you start by first developing the correct mental mindset. This mindset is applied in every aspect of the game.

I mean before your body does anything you want it to, you first think about it. Whether it is a golf swing, putting or bunker shot, it’s no different. You calculate the whole process before every movement.

In developing the correct mental mindset, you start by visualizing where you want the ball or your shot to land. Go ahead and see perfectly where you want the ball to land eventually. Don’t dwell on your common faults in the game.

I mean, “you tend to slice the ball always” and other such self faults. Don’t dwell on these your faults while visualizing. Instead see the ball where you actually want it to be at all times and all stages of your game.

The reason is that, such thoughts will cause you to lose confidence, you will not have the correct mental picture of where you want your ball or shot to land. You will have a distorted picture.

As soon as you have accurately visualised your shot, create a feeling of accuracy and act it. Put that feeling of emotion into your swing or shot. Be bonded with your action. I mean, let there be a connection between your mind, swing, ball and target. Sustain this feeling and connection until you have made your shot and watch it land on the target.

Let me summarise the whole tip by saying.....Relax yourself before you take any shot, then visualize the shot you wish you take, feel the shot and put the feeling into your action or shot, finally, sustain the visualization and feeling until you take the shot. Clear your mind of any negative thoughts or shortcomings and focus only on your strengths and the positive.

Adopt this approach from start to finish hole 18. The important thing is that golf is a Game Of Love and Friendship. I try to enjoy every game no matter the outcome. The friendship, fun and jokes on the fairway are the things that make me happy and not the outcome of the game essentially. I win some............I lose some...........That’s is the game.

Happy Golfing

Chijioke Onwunle

P.S. - Get a good golf instructor and read good golf books. You can't teach yourself golf. Read and practice what you have read under your tutor.Knowledge is power

How To Make A Great Shot From An Awkward Ball Lie In A Golf Game

Hello Golfer

From the perfect lie in a greenside trap, a technically sound, committed swing should see you safely onto the green. But when the lie is awkward or you are approaching the green from a fairway bunker, you will need to make essential adjustments for the best result. Let us look at some tips.

Fairway Bunker

Firing at the flag from a fairway trap is the ultimate test of your ball striking. With a mid iron, anything other than the perfect ball first, sand later hit results in a severe lack of distance. The key is to commit to a controlled, yet familiar swing. Take an extra club and grip about an inch further down the shaft than the normal. This shortens the arc of the swing. Now take a normal stance and make the same swing as you would if you were playing from the grass.

Plugged Lie

Any towering approach that finds sand is likely to plug. You will need to adjust your technique and make a powerful punch through the sand. Use a pitching wedge, place the ball back in your stance and close the clubhead. Make a steeper swing than usual, driving the ball out of its lie. As the sand slows the clubhead, a shorter follow-through is inevitable. It might feel as if you are about to fire the ball low into the face but the loft of the club will help the ball up.

Let me give a tip for reading this post

If you are playing on an unfamiliar course for a competition, take time to hit some practice bunker shots. This offers important feel for the sand before ypu start playing for real.

Happy Golfing

Chijioke Onwunle


P.S. - Get a good golf instructor and read good golf books. You can't teach yourself golf. Read and practice what you have read under your tutor.Knowledge is power

Progress Check On Your Golfing

Hello Golfer,

I have been giving you tips on how to improve your golf. Can you tell me how far the tips have assisted you in your quest to be a "Tiger" in your game.

Anyway, in the coming days I will churn out more tips just to help your game. The aim is to ensure you have access to good information or instruction that will help you lower your handicap.

Happy Golfing

Chijioke Onwunle

P.S. - Get a good golf instructor and read good golf books. You can't teach yourself golf. Read and practice what you have read under your tutor.Knowledge is power

How To Produce The Correct Angle Of Attack Using The Wedges

Hello Golfer

I will continue the essential tips on preparing your golf game plan by discussing how to produce the correct angle of attack in to sand, wrist flip and striking the sand.

Hinge Early

To produce the correct angle of attack into the sand, hinge your wrists earlier than usual in the backswing. This is essential to alter your normal in-to-out swing path, enabling you to slide the blade of your sand wedge underneath the ball for a high flighted escape. Rehearse this movement before playing for real to help focus your mind on delivering the ideal angle of attack into the ball.

Wrist Slip

Sliding the blade underneath the ball requires a precise wrist hinge through impact. As the clubhead leaves the sand, the back of your right hand should point towards the ground. Feel that the palm of your right hand is underneath the shaft, guiding the blade through the shot. It is essential, however, that your weight does not collapse onto your right side in a bid to use extra body movement to force the ball out.

Striking Sand

A splash shot from a bunker is unique – it is the only shot in the game in which the clubhead does not need to make contact with the ball. The blade of your wedge should enter the sand about 2 in behind the ball. Trust that the speed of the clubhead at impact will be enough to force the ball out of the bunker on a bed of sand.

Happy Golfing

Chijioke Onwunle

P.S. - Get a good golf instructor and read good golf books. You can't teach yourself golf. Read and practice what you have read under your tutor. Knowledge is power.

How To Play The Wedges - Splash Shot Basics

Hello Golfer,

Escaping greenside traps with regular success requires a solid, repeatable technique. But many of the laws that govern a successful mid or short-iron swing simply do not apply to a wedge from the sand. Follow these essential tips to master the splash-shot basics.

Alignment

Your feet and shoulders should aim left of the flag to allow your upper body to release powerfully through the sand – ie you should have an open stance. When practising your bunker play, place 2 clubs in the sand. Aim the first at the hole and the second on a 550 angle left of the target. Align your feet and shoulders with the second club and you will have room to slide the clubface underneath the ball, splashing it high into the air and comfortably clear of the lip of the trap.

Ball Position

The correct ball position helps create the optimum trajectory at impact. So have the ball forward in your stance, in line with your left foot. Remember you are looking to produce a sharp “Divot” that is about 8 in long. With the ball in this forward position, you should find it easier to produce the ideal splash through the sand.

Lower Body Movement

Unlike hitting a wedge from the fairway – when a powerful lower body drive transfers your weight from left to right through the downswing – your weight should stay constant throughout the swing in the sand. In the bunker, place slightly more weight on your right side at address and do not let excess lower body movement compromise the correct strike.

Happy Golfing

Chijioke Onwunle


P.S. - Get a good golf instructor and read good golf books. You can't teach yourself golf. Read and practice what you have read under your tutor.Knowledge is power