Game Improvement Plan - Is It Fit For You?

Great time to sit down and list the areas of your game that you would like to improve for the 2010 golf season. Think about 1 or 2 areas where improvement would make a difference. Has putting been a problem...do you average 2 Putts or less per Hole. If not think about why? Did you hit at least 50 - 75% of the fairways from the Tee box? Is this a skill issue or is your Driver not Fit properly to help you?
What about those long Iron shots...should you add Hybrids to your clubs and replace the hard to hit long Irons? Are your Wedges calibrated with no distance Gaps in between? Maybe you need a Gap Wedge or need to check the lofts of the Wedges.
Whatever it is...write it down and build a Plan. The ultimate Golf Insanity is expecting things to change but not changing the things!

Are Your Clubs fit for the new Season?

It's a good time to check you golf equipment for a new year of golfing enjoyment. First, cehck the grips. Are they warn and the right size? Next check the Iron grooves. Do they need cleaning? What about your golf Shoes...need new spikes? If your Woods had adjustable weights..do you need to alter the set up or tighten the weight screws?

Check you golf Bag...clean it out (probably find a couple of dollars in change!). sit down with a 3 x 5 card and right down you game improvement goals, Get a head start!

Too Short Too Long Is All Wrong

Improper golf club length is very common. Many golfers buy their clubs "off-the-rack" or pay little attention to getting clubs with the proper length. It is not just that a set of clubs that are too long can result in hitting the ground too soon before the ball or that a club that is too short may cause thin shots or loss of distance. It is what improper length does to your swing fundamentals.
You have to adjust your swing to counter the results of the wrong club length. This can cause you to be too upright in your stance or two bent over. You swing plane gets to upright and vertical or too flat and horizontal. You lose control, distance or proper hip turn. Your swing just isn't natural. Get you club length checked on your entire set.

Driver Distance Can Kill Your Game

The efforts most golfers make to find clubs that will hit the ball farther are totally misguided for the majority of amateurs. We all would love to have more Driver distance...IF we could be assured of hitting the Fairway.

Hey, you want more Driver distance? Get a Driver with lower loft, lengthen it to 48 inches or more and get a $300 super light shaft! Now you will be set up to hit the ball farther into the rough or farther out of bounds!!! You need to have a Driver custom fitted to your unique needs with one goal. Hit the Driver into the fairway. You can get very adequate distance by getting the Driver set up so you hit it in the middle of the club face most of the time.

For most of us, hitting a lot of fairways will reduce scores better than long shots out of the fairway.

Fitting Clubs To Your Goals

As all golfers move into the new year, it is a good time to set some goals for game improvement linked to proper clubs. You may know by now my motto....you deserve golf clubs that fit your unique skills and abilities.
Pick out the top three problem resulting from various golf shots you are experiencing. Start with the top issue and make that a goal you will deal with first. Suppose it is hitting a lot of Iron shots Fat...digging in too much.
In this example, check your Irons for how much "bounce angle" the Irons have and how thin the leading edge of the Irons is set up. Both of these can cause the club to dig in if the bounce is too low and the leading edge to thin/sharp.

Custom Fit Flexibility for Your Golf

It has become very clear as I get older that you loose a lot of flexibility. Even younger golfers may lack flexibility. Just like I promote custom fitting your golf clubs, I believe we need to custom fit our bodies flexibility for golf.

Key areas for sure are you Hips, Shoulder turn, hamstrings, legs and shoulders. Injuries, pulled muscles and sore backs can be helped by gradually increasing your flexibility through stretching exercises, Yoga and working out. I suggest asking the trainer at your Gym or going on line and searching "stretching exercises", "flexibility techniques" or "Yoga" (yoga for golf). find some drills or stretches that work for you, go easy at first and consult your physician if you have injuries or medical issues.

Fitting The Golf Ball To Putting Stroke

This may sound like an unusual title but there is a school of thought regarding putting that recently caught my attention. We have all heard the term "paralysis by analysis". Basically, some of us may become too technical particularly when putting. I think I may fall into that category. My approach is pretty disciplined for putting, find the line, pick a spot or "arc" in the case of a big breaking putt, take 3 practice strokes at set up, point the line on the ball at the spot or top of the arc line. It works prettey well for me but maybe there is "less" to it?

For many people, approaching putting from a "feel" point of view may be better. Try this out. Get your line, take your practice strokes for distance feel from behind the ball not at set up. Remove the putting alignment mark most of us draw on the golf ball (so you don't get too technical at set up). Set up and aim at your spot, relax and stroke the Putt.

Fitting Questions To Consider Before You Buy Clubs

Before you run out an buy a new set of clubs, you need to consider each of the following:

• Have you made a list of the 2 -3 swing problems you would like help to improve with the proper clubs?


• What is your "swing-speed" with a Driver & 5 Iron?


• Where do you "Release" the golf club during the downswing, when the natural 90 degree angle between the left arm (right handers) and the club start to release? If you release early, mid-way down or late in the down-swing.

If you don't know these three things at a minimum, you really are not ready to layout your hard earned dollars.