Let’s face it, golf is a game of control. It’s a head game. Being in the right frame of mind with calm and relaxed emotions is everything. Watching the US Open reminds us that you need a positive mental attitude to start with but on the course like Pebble Beach anything can go wrong at any time. Mental recovery after every mishit with a solid swing plan is exactly what we all need.
The pros know that a CONSISTENT SWING SPEED for every club in their bag will allow them to produce the same swing results. Their POWER SWING is consistently swung at 80% of their swing speed. In order to maintain the same POWER swing speed they make slight adjustments to compensate for distance with every club in their bag:
Gary Woodland used a tight grip and brute strength to get through the rough at the US Open.
1/ Grip Pressure: If they are in deep rough, they have no choice but to increase their grip pressure to prevent club head rotation. They know that a tight grip will steal distance out of their hit but direction of the ball is the critical concern for a safe hit.
2/ Grip Down: There is about a 10 to 20 yard distance change between each club so the pros know that they can’t get more distance out of a club without risking disaster. They always choose the club that they know can reach their target and then grip down slightly to reduce the distance that they want to hit WITHOUT changing THEIR SWING SPEED.
A Slower Swing Demands a Change in your SETUP:
In the sand, on a side slope, in the rough and especially within 50 yards of the green, you have no choice but to reduce your backswing and your swing speed. To maintain the direction of your hit you should compensate with your ball position and body positions to ensure that your release at the point of impact is straight up your target line.
Slowing down your swing changes everything. The timing for your arms, your body rotation and especially your wrist lag. Without making setup changes for a slower swing you will end up spraying your shot away from your body as you leave your club face open or hit off the toe of your club.
Gary Woodland had it all figured out to win the US Open with 4 superb rounds of golf. Brooks Koepka could not catch up.
Adjust for a Slower Swing (It’s a lot different than your 80% POWER Swing)
1/ EXPECT that your slower swing will be LAZY: That’s right, without a crisp swing through the ball, you will tend to leave your club-face open as your body rotation will be out of sync with the speed of your hip, shoulder and arm rotation.
2/ Put More pressure on your Leading Foot: A slower swing will mess up your weight transfer from your back foot to your leading foot. You can’t afford to “drift” back in your backswing so start with 60% of your weight on your leading foot.
3/ Adjust Your Footing for your Slower Swing: You need to adjust for a swing below your normal 80% Power Swing. Don’t flare your trailing foot and consider opening up your stance to ensure that you will impact squarely on the ball and to help your complete your follow-through.
4/ Make Sure to Impact your Ball First: [A GREAT PRACTICE TIP] laying a tee on the ground about 3 or 4 inches before your ball. Allow your hips to move forward OR use more pressure on your leading foot during your setup so that you swing to miss the tee and hit your ball before you skim the turf.
Adjust for your swing speed by practicing with GOLFSTR+ with every club in your bag. Buy one today www.golfstr.com
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