Tip of the Month

Putting Drills When you step onto the putting green, do you do the same there as you would on the course? Do you direct your put with intent? Many players tend to put the ball aimlessly in the practice area, and are disappointed when they miss! You should use your time in the putting green to practice accuracy when putting. There are many drills you can use for improved distance and confidence. In this edition we aim to share practice drills to sharpen your putting skills

		Compass Point Drill The first drill is for aim and confidence as it will give you four different points to putt from for the same target. Place several balls at varying points that cause you to turn a different direction each time. You may also place your ball downhill or uphill from the target. This drill should be done from 3, 6 and 9 feet, as these are the distances from which you are most likely to put on the course.

		Tee Peg Drill Confident putting from 2-3 feet is always important, and using the tee drill narrows your focus for less missed putts. For this drill, find a straight shot on the putting green at 3 feet and place a tee peg in the back of the hole and putt to that target. The tee peg is a much smaller target so you will be more confident and no longer scared of those short putts.

		Fringe Putting Drill Distance control can be practiced by putting to the fringe of the green. This stops you from thinking too much about the target and more about the distance. Take 4 or 5 balls and start from 6 feet and go up to 30 feet start with the shortest one and slowly move along the line hitting the putts in turn. Doing this a couple of times on the green a week will sharpen your touch on the greens in no time.

		Line It Up When you look at your golf ball on the green, how do you line it up? You will notice that the writing on the ball is usually in a straight line; use this to line up your shot with the intended target line, then square your putter up to it.


Tee your ball up on the right side and aim at the left side of the fairway.		Managing the Course This month is about course management, and ways to plan your way around the golf course. First of all, what do you do on the Golf Course apart from aim at the fairway and just hit it? When stepping onto the tee, you should know what shape of shot you intend to hit, and with this you can use the tee to its full potential.

		You shouldn’t just position yourself at the middle of the tee and hit to the centre of the Fairway. If you play a fade or a left to right shot, that means that your target or landing area is very small. In the picture at left, there are bunkers on the left side of the hole and a hazard to the right, so what happens here if you play your Tee Shot from the middle of the tee at the centre of the fairway and hit a fade? Your ball will miss on the right side of the fairway or even go into the hazard. The correct approach is to tee your ball up on the right side of the tee and aim at the left side of the fairway. This increases the landing area of your ball by a large margin.

		Aim When aiming at a target, it is a good idea to pick a specific target. Since a fairway can be 50 yards wide, aiming generally at the Fairway (a 25 yard wide target) can mean missing your intended target by a large margin. Make the target as small as possible, such as a single palm tree in the distance, so your misses are smaller and your golfing frame of mind is more focused.

		Reaching the Green So what happens when you hit a bad tee shot and still have 300 yards to the green? Do you take out the fairway wood and smash it as close to the green as possible? Inevitably, you miss your shot, causing you to take another two shots to reach the green. So why not just relax and take a 7 iron down the fairway at the onset, and then another onto the green. This keeps you relaxed and it’s only one shot lost—not to mention you won’t be focused on the previous poor shot!

		Getting over water When playing to a green with water in front, the yardage may tell you it’s a 6 iron distance if you hit it well. So you take a 6 iron and put it in the water. Think about the shot; where is the trouble? Short of the green. The simple solution is to take an extra club since there is no penalty for being long, and if you don’t hit it well it is still more likely to get over the hazard.

		Bunkers The above is also true for greens surrounded by bunkers. Identify the hazards, and think about where is the best place is to miss the green. If the hazards are on the right, aim at the left of the green. If you push it a little, it will be in the middle of the green. These simple strategies can reduce several shots off your score.


		Paying Around an Obstacle

		Ever been faced with an obstacle on the course that you aren’t sure how to get around? Here we tell you have how to shape the ball around the obstacle to get around to the green. The shots called for in this situation are draws and fades. A draw shapes the ball from right to left (for a right hander) and a fade shapes the ball from left to right.

		The Fade Here a tree blocks the path to the green. To make the ball move from left to right to avoid the tree and get it on the green, it is necessary to change a few things in the setup so the ball moves in the air. • First, aim the body and shoulders further left of the target in an open stance. • The aim of the clubface should also be opened up before taking the grip. The clubface should aim slightly left of the target as if it is aimed at the target. The spin will take it right of the flag.

		The idea is to keep the swing smooth following the line of the feet, causing an out to in swing path in relation to the club-face. This will impart sidespin on the ball. The club selection will need to change as, in opening up the club face, loft has been added to the swing, so be aware that you need to take 1 or 2 clubs more depending on how much you are trying to manoeuvre the ball.

		The Draw The draw comes into effect when causing the ball from right to left as the draw gives a stronger flight than the fade. • In set-up, close the stance or aim the shoulders and feet right of where we want the ball to go. • The clubface is closed to the swing path, but again we don’t want to aim directly at the target as the spin will take the ball left of said target.

		Again the swing should be kept smooth and along the line of the feet, giving an in to out swing path which helps move the ball from right to left. The club selection will also need to change as the loft has been decreased on the ball, which will also make the ball run more, and the flight path of the ball will be lower

Playing in the Sand

What do you expect to see when you come to Egypt? Pyramids and lots of sand? I know that when you go in a bunker it can fill you with fear. In this edition we explain how to play the greenside bunker shot and what to do when the ball is plugged or buried in the sand, so you don`t spend all day on the beach even if you want to.

The Greenside Bunker Shot
This is also known as a splash shot, named on the way in which we play the shot in that it comes out on a cushion of sand. This should be the easiest shot to play as it is the only time that you don’t hit the ball. The set-up at address is important so that you get a consistent shot out of the sand. Also, be sure to use the sand wedge club, which is perfectly designed to glide through the sand with something called bounce.
At the address position, a few things need to be altered:
• The clubface needs to be opened up or pointed to the right, and then the grip applied.
• Aim the feet 30 degrees left of the target, this promotes an out-to-in swing path.
• The ball needs to be more towards the left foot and the weight should be more on the left foot, this allows the club to enter the sand steeply but then propel the ball out on a shallow sliver of sand.

On playing the shot, aim to enter the sand a few centimetres behind the ball and be sure to accelerate through impact. Distance is controlled by the length of the swing and also how much you open the clubface. The more you open the club, the higher and shorter the shot will go. When the ball comes out of the sand it will tend to land softly and with very little roll.

The Buried Lie
When you approach the bunker and see the ball in what is commonly known as a fried egg lie, your head goes down as you wonder how to get it out. Well this is a favourite of mine, though it can be a tough shot to control as it tends to roll more on coming out of the bunker.

Some minor alterations need to be made at address:
• Rather than opening the face of the club at address, you should close it slightly.
• Stand square to the ball-to-target line.
• Similarly to the greenside bunker shot, your weight should favour the left foot, but have the ball slightly further back in the stance.

For the swing, again you should hit the sand a few centimetres behind the ball and sure to accelerate. The club head will open up at impact so the ball will pop out of its plug and onto the green. Don`t worry about follow through as the club tends to get buried in the sand.

Difficult Lie Positions

Around the course you can come across some difficult lies, be it either the ball being on a down slope or a side slope. Here we explain how to play these shots to give you a better understanding on why and how the ball-flight changes.

First off, the side hill lies involve having the ball either below the feet or above the feet. I bet you wonder why the ball moves in the air when you try and play the shot as normal. Well, this is because the face angle changes with the slope as shown in the pictures below.

When the ball is above the feet for a right handed player, the face will point left. And the player’s face will point right when the ball is below the feet.


Flat lie	Ball Below the Feet	Ball Above the Feet

Above the feet set-up position	Alterations with the address position should change for the ball above the feet • Grip down on the club and stand a little closer to the ball than normal. • The weight should be more on the toes to maintain balance. • With this at set up you will tend to stand a little more upright causing you to swing on a flatter plane which influences a in to out swing path. • Aim further right with the clubface and also the body this can depend on the severity of the slope (Steeper slope aim further right). • The ball will tend to run more when it lands due to the draw so allow for this.

Below the feet set-up position	When presented with the ball below the feet , the following adjustments should be made: • Have the stance a little wider so you get closer to the ball. • More weight on the Heels as to maintain balance. • With the ball below your feet the body tends to be over the ball giving a more upright plane influencing an out to in swing path. • Aim the body and clubface left of the target how much depends on the severity of the slope. With both of the side hill shots it is important to swing in control as if you swing too hard you can lose your balance it can prove costly.

Down slope set-up position	Down slopes and up slopes... Well, how many people fear this type of shot and wonder why they don`t strike the ball well? Simple changes need to be made as to strike the ball well. Alterations for the down slope which need to be made are: • Move the ball further back in the stance than normal so the club comes in steeper to the ball. • Have the shoulders perpendicular with the slope • Keep more weight on the back foot as not to sway towards the target • Most important is to take a more lofted club as on a down slope the club is de-lofted so the ball tends to go further. • Stay down on the shot swinging down the slope.

Up slope set-up position	The following changes should be made for the upslope : • This is the opposite of the down slope so the ball position should be moved forward giving a shallower angle of attack. • Again have the shoulders perpendicular to the slope. • The weight should be more on the front foot leaning into the target. • The club selection also is important here as with the slope extra loft is added so you will need to take more club than normal.

Pitching
Stance and ball position Backswing Downswing	A pitch shot is generally characterised by the ball flying further though the air than it rolls along the ground. Club selection A pitching wedge or sand wedge is the normal selection for this type of shot. Grip The hold can be shortened to reduce the distance and increase control. Stance Stance can vary depending on distance from the green but normally just under shoulder width and the weight distribution approx 60-40 favouring the left foot for a right handed player. Ball position Place the ball in the centre of the stance to encourage the correct downward angle of the approach through the ball. Swing The standard length should be where the left arm is parallel to the ground and the shaft is at a 90 degree angle to the left arm. During the downswing the club should smoothly accelerate and the follow through will be at least the same length as the backswing. The weight will finish more over the left foot with the right foot being brought round and up slightly.
The Grip
Left Hand Right hand	When a player comes for a golf lesson, whether it is a low handicap player or a complete beginner the first thing we look at is his grip! A good swing starts with a good grip as the player’s hands are the only connection to the club. If the club is held incorrectly, the golfer is at a disadvantage and will be more likely to make compensations in their swing. A good grip should: - position the hands in a neutral position - create the correct grip pressure - move the hands up and down the grip for control or distance - encourage the clubface to return square at impact - encourage maximum club head speed through impact - enable the swing to be a fluid continuous motion All of these elements will affect the Direction, Distance and Ball Flight How to grip Left hand preparation Before gripping the shaft with the left hand, start with it hanging naturally to the side of the club alongside the area of intended hold. At this point the fingers should be pointing downwards and the palm ready to be brought onto the shaft handle. When the left hand is applied from this position, the left palm is positioned on the left side of the shaft grip which allows the hand to fold over the club with the thumb just right of the club centre line. Right hand preparation Once the left hand is secure on the grip, the right hand should be brought into line with it but sufficiently below the left hand so that either the little finger of the right hand interlocks over the left index finger or sits comfortably between the index and second finger of the left hand. Two handed unit In the similar way to the left hand, the right hand should fold around the shaft grip. Folding the right hand hold over the left thumb which should be located in the palm of the right hand (for over lapping grip) giving the look of the two hands forming one unit. Summary Acquire a correct grip... *and stick to it* , no matter what. If your grip is correct and your shots are still going off line you must look to your swing to discover the error. *Get your grip right, and then leave it alone.*

Playing from the Desert / Hard Pan
	The key to playing from the desert or a hard pan lie is to hit the ball with a descending blow. But before we do that, have you made a wise decision in club selection? Loft can be your friend or enemy. The manufactured loft helps determine the trajectory or how high the ball will fly. In short: low loft - low flight; high loft - high flight. If distance isn’t an issue and you are just trying to get the ball back in play, control the length of your swing. Swing half way or waist height with your hands; this will produce a low, short ‘punch’ shot. The longer carry required should be attempted with a longer, but not full, swing. Swing until your hands are shoulder height but you’ve made almost a full turn on both sides. We sometimes refer to this as a three-quarter swing. Keep your weight more left foot to enhance the downward blow at impact. Don’t make any other changes to your swing; your new setup will do the trick. Enjoy the crisp contact; BALL FIRST, then desert. Check what obstacles are in front of you and choose enough loft to fly! Course Management You have a risk-reward decision to make. Generally, when you are in the desert you want to take the safest and easiest route back to the fairway. If you choose to play a difficult shot, there needs to be a good reward for the risk. In other words, reaching the green would be a reward, but having a 9 iron instead of a 7 iron would not. You need to learn your comfort level with these shots to assess when to take the gamble and when to play safe. Taking a little power off the swing can also give you more stability. You should swing at about 80-90% of normal, so take one more club for the shot.

High Tech Addition to Academy Facilities
Golf Analysis System for Professionals (GASP)	The Golf Academy is proud to announce the availability of curing-edge golf training aids to provide an up-to-date coaching facility for all golfers from beginners to professional standard. The academy has established a GASP (Golf Analysis System for Professionals) facility, the leading golf video analysis programme incorporating the latest and most advanced technology. GASP is used by Sky Sports and many leading professional coaches and is a computer system which is at the fore front of to-days Golf Tuition. This uses digital video techniques that can compare your swing to the world’s great players such as Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. This system can identify exactly where your golf swing faults lie, making it easier for our Teaching Professionals to help you correct your mistakes. Your swing is analysed using GASP, which highlights problem areas and uses corrective practices to improve your swing and start you on the journey to lowering your handicap.

Explanar Golf Training System
Explanar is a unique training system offered by the Taba Heights Golf Academy	The Explanar is a unique golf swing training aid that will get the beginner and established golfer to move their body and hands in the correct fashion. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, 10-handicapper or scratch player, everyone can benefit from using the Explanar. Any golfer knows that taking your swing from the practice ground to the golf course is rarely easy. This coaching aid teaches the golf swing by turning swing thoughts into feelings. Explanar gets your swing on the correct plane and enables you to practice intentional draw and fade shots as well.

Tip: Playing into the Wind
Ball position	Ball Position Firstly spread your feet further apart at address than you would normally. You must play the ball further back in your stance. With the driver, play it at least a few inches inside your left heel. With fairway woods and the longer irons, play the ball in the middle of your stance. For the middle and short irons, align the ball to the right of the middle a few inches. If the wind is really strong, go a few inches back with all the clubs. Playing the ball back in your stance helps prevent your body from moving. It also promotes catching the ball first. The more solidly you hit the ball, the more it will fight the wind, get distance and go where you want it to.

Short back swing	The Swing Itself You should shorten the length of your backswing. The club does not get to parallel in the backswing, even with a driver. The best example is Tiger Woods' "stinger swing," in which he uses a 2-iron (usually) and with a shortened backswing and follow-through, drills the ball low. It's important not to swing as hard as on a regular swing (about 80% of normal). We are looking to keep the spin down on the ball and keep the flight down. It is human nature to think that you would need to swing harder into a head wind. This is where many amateurs make a vital golf swing mistake. Swinging harder, you will have a tendency to miss-hit golf shots. In addition, the harder swing will place more back spin on the golf ball. The backspin will take the golf ball up into the wind, resulting in a shot that balloons up into the air.
Short follow through	When playing a tee shot into the wind many golfers believe they should tee the ball low in order to keep it under the breeze. This usually produces the exact opposite effect. When the ball is teed low, especially when playing with the driver, the lack of loft on the clubface can make you want to ‘help’ get the ball airborne by chopping down on it. When playing into the wind tee up the ball at normal height, swing smoothly and concentrate on sweeping the ball off the tee peg. That way you will be able to get the full face of the club into the back of the ball and drive it forward with a penetrating trajectory through the wind. Remember the famous words of Greg Norman: "Swing with ease into the breeze”
For more information on Golf Lesson programmes contact our pro at +2 017 418 5828 or via email .

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