News

Ask Dr Dave

DRS View

IMHO

Computers & Business

Personal Finance

Legal Angles

Practice Tips

The Apothecary

Yarns

Wine

Yoga

Golf

How to start playing golf

Internet Golf Lessons

Rules & Etiquette

Monthly Golf Tips

Bunker Shots

Chipping

Developing a Sound Grip

How To Achieve Correct Alignment

How to hit a draw

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Golf Instruction

How To Improve Your Rhythm

How to Read a Green

How to Stop the Shanks

Playing With What You Have Got

Practice

Seven On Course Tips for Improving Your Score

The fairway bunker shot

When You Really Need To Bust One From The Tee

With it, you can get away with many swing faults and still hit some reasonable golf shots. Without it, you are a walking time bomb. Disaster is just around the corner.

Good rhythm starts with good practice habits.

• When practicing I recommend swinging at about 80% of your power. Change your clubs regularly. Hit no more than 10 - 15 shots with any one club. The more balls you hit with the same club the more inclined you will be to try to hit a little further, increasing the chance of a loss of rhythm.

• If you are having trouble gaining rhythm, try to count in your head, during the swing, like 1,2,3,4 in a regular beat, much like a metronome. Some of my students have found it easier to say the word back on the backswing and through on the downswing. Once again with a regular smooth, beat.

• Another way of improving your rhythm is to let one hand control your entire swing. If you are right handed let the right hand control the swing.

• Have you ever noticed how well you seem to hit the ball if you go and play after watching a golf tournament on television? This happens because you have an imprint of good rhythm in your brain. The same effect can be achieved by watching a tape of a golf tournament with the sound turned down. Or even better a Sybervision tape featuring Al Geiberger.

• Practice your golf swing with your eyes closed. This enables you to feel your swing better as there are no visual distractions. You are more aware of changes in speed or jerkiness in your swing.

• When I was on tour I used to do the following exercise every day. Find a quiet spot and close your eyes. Try to visualize and feel what your best swing is like and try to do 5 of these swings in your head. Now focus only on your clubhead, and watch the speed your club head as it travels through the swing. When it is traveling at the right speed, duplicate it 5 times.