Golf Spring Tune-Up

Very soon this winter's snow will leave, temperatures will increase and the 2010 Golf Season will be upon us. What a tough, long winter this has been. A lot of us, myself included, have suffered with severe cabin fever and anxiously await this coming season.

A few tips to ready yourself for the season are in order.
First, check your equipment. Do your golf shoes need to be re-spiked? It's an inexpensive procedure, and one that pays big dividends especially in wet spring conditions.

Second, how about your club grips? The average player should re-grip their clubs each year. How long has it been? New, properly sized grips benefit your game by helping keep proper grip pressure on the club without over-squeezing and creating flaws in your golf swing.

Okay, now on to the swing itself. Know your swing faults. A PGA Pro can help you identify them. Swing fundamentals typically needing improvement include: Proper grip and alignment, the backswing and a balanced finish. These three fundamentals need to work together for a proper swing and a desired outcome.

The correct grip is probably the most important aspect of your golf swing. An improper grip can cause a host of swing flaws and discourage the golf student. When I work with new golf students establishing the proper grip is job one. The proper grip does not always feel correct or comfortable for the first week or two. I tell students if it doesn't feel proper it probably is!

Most golfers tend to 'slice' the ball and the correct grip can help solve the problem. While getting into position to strike the ball, look at your grip. Right handed golfers should take note of their left hand. You should be making the letter'V' between your thumb and index finger. The "V" should point to your right shoulder. If it points to your chin or left shoulder you're set up to 'slice' the ball. With the 'V' in the proper alignment the club should be positioned more in the fingers of your hand and not in your palm.

Alignment is next.Golfers who habitually slice the ball will find themselves aiming more and more to the left of the fairway to compensate and keep the shot in the fairway. Doing this actually amplifies the problem by producing more left to right spin on the ball. After taking the proper grip, aim the clubface first. The clubface should be aimed at the target and your body positioned parallel left of your target line. If done correctly your body and clubface should be parallel to one another, like railroad tracks, two lines that never meet!

Finish off with 'swinging in balance'. Most players attempt to hit John Daly type distance by swinging much too hard and fast. The body just will not work in unison when that much strength and energy is expended. Control and balance is the key. Take note the next time you complete a golf swing. If you find the majority of your weight on your right foot at the end of your swing you are simply swinging the club too hard. At the end of your swing the weight should be on the left foot with the right toe in the turf and right heel in the air. And all this while you're watching a beautifully struck ball sail toward the target.

Golfers are eternal optimists. Each of us hopes for a better game this season than we experienced the season before. By taking the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, preparing a practice schedule to correct any deficiencies, you'll be rewarded by achieving your goals. Remember, it's not the Quanity of practice time but rather the Quality of practice time that yeilds results. If you strike 1000 practice balls incorreclty you've achieved nothing, but strike 100 balls correctly and your game will soon improve.

Brad Sponseller, PGA Professional, Westwood Golf