Written by Soren Hansen on Thursday 9 July 2009
Ryder Cup star Soren Hansen is widely thought to have one of the game’s smoothest wings. Here, he demonstrates how to maintain the same tempo through the swing’s key positions. The Basics What you need to be doing and feeling during the six crucial stages of the swing. The Start At address I am not thinking about my tempo. Before I...
Written by Camilo Villegas on Thursday 9 July 2009
I try to do everything during a round with a purpose and do it as best I can. I don’t let up, not even for one shot. That’s who I am. I think this philosophy has helped me improve my scoring every year I’ve been on tour. From a mechanics standpoint, my coach at the University of Florida, Buddy Alexander,...
Written by Oliver Wilson on Thursday 9 July 2009
Perfect Posture So often, amateurs have great posture at address, but then lose it during the swing. They might “stand up” and straighten the spine or hunch forward; either way, the clubhead is unlikely to come back to square. On the practice ground you will often see me with a tee in my mouth. I point this at the ball...
Written by Mikko Ilonen on Friday 5 June 2009
The takeaway has to be one of the most important moves of all in the golf swing because if you get that wrong then you are fighting the rest of the way. I have a habit of moving the arms and club away from the ball without turning the body. This means I’m immediately out of sync, get ahead with...
Written by Scott Cranfield on Monday 1 June 2009
Why balance, relaxation and sequencing are all vital components of building great swing rhythm – and how you can achieve them. Based at the London Club, Scott Cranfield has worked with more than 30 Tour players during a coaching career spanning 20 years. He is currently Setanta Golf’s face of coaching and runs his own academy which preaches an holistic approach...
Written by Simon Khan on Wednesday 27 May 2009
I carry the yellow stick you see here everywhere I go because as a practice aid there is nothing better. Lots of pros now carry them in their bags. I could give you any number of uses, from laying it on the ground as an alignment aid to checking out the plane of your swing. Magic Wand The yellow stick...
Written by Lee Westwood on Wednesday 27 May 2009
It’s no secret that Lee Westwood has put an awful lot of work in over the last few years in an effort to raise his game to the next level. Building up his core strength has been a primary objective and, from the outside looking in, it is immediately evident that the exercises and drills he has been doing have had...
Written by David Leadbetter on Thursday 30 April 2009
When I give a 30-minute corporate clinic, I’m usually speaking to hundreds of people of varying abilities. I just don’t have time to delve deeply into my whole approach to the golf swing, plus the audience typically doesn’t have a lot of time to play or practice — so my rule is to communicate simple “basics” a player of any...
Written by Padraig Harrington on Tuesday 28 April 2009
1. Watch other golfers I have an understanding of who I am and what makes me tick. I am intrigued by watching other people and I think I have learnt a lot about what makes guys do well. I am fascinated by watching other people and wondering why a player can win one week, look like the best player in...
Written by Tom Watson on Monday 27 April 2009
I like to play fast, but it isn’t always possible, as you know. I deal with delays by focusing on one thought. A good example is the 1983 British Open at Royal Birkdale. I had a one-stroke lead going to the last hole, a long par 4. I hit a good drive, got to my ball and saw that the group...
Written by Hugh Marr on Friday 27 March 2009
The 100-yard pitch shot has always been associated with backspin, and yet the hard thing with this shot is to get the ball back to the pin. That’s why the most effective pitch takes backspin off the ball, allowing it to pitch and move forwards. Here’s how to play it. Club: Any wedge Rhythm: Quiet Key concept: hit forwards, not down Set-up Stay...