January 31, 2012 by 4 Comments

Hybrid golf clubs explained

Hybrid Clubs-why the fuss?
 
What’s up with these new hybrid clubs?
 
Everyone is talking about ’em these days. Are they really the game saver that all the hype seems to say? 
 
The fact is, clubs like hybrid type clubs have been around a long time. They used to go by names like baffler and rescue clubs or just plain utility woods.
 
So are they really something new? Well, yes and no. 
 
The hybrid as we know it today was actually developed with the help of Gary McCord, the TV announcer and former PGA pro. He saw his golf buddies back home struggling with their long irons, so he thought maybe something could be done to make them easier to hit. He went to his sponsor, TaylorMade and suggested they come up with something new. 
 
The result was the TaylorMade Rescue. The first of a new breed.
 
So what the heck did they do to make this new club? 
 
Well, it’s called a “hybrid” because it a combination of a wood and an iron. They basically took an iron shaft and and put a new kind of head on it. That head would have features of a wood.
 
Features like a wide sole, low-back center of gravity, and more mass. So what’s so different about that? Why not just get a 5 or 7 wood?
 
The big difference is that shaft. The loft of a 2 iron and a 5 wood may be about the same…but the shafts are way different.   The shaft length on a 2 iron for an average height player is about 39 inches. The length on a 5 wood is about 42 inches. Hybrids are somewhere in between.
 
The longer club will always go farther because a longer club will produce more clubhead speed. That extra speed will also tend to make the ball go higher. The problem with that extra speed is it can make the club harder to control.   Iron shafts are also thicker than wood shafts. I bet you didn’t realize that.
 
Not a lot (.03 inches), but enough to make the shaft more stable which adds up to a bit more accuracy.  Starting to get confused?
 
Well here’s the bottom line.  Compared to a comparably lofted wood, a hybrid club is:
 
  • more accurate
  • won’t go quite as far
  • easier to hit because it’s shorter
 
Compared to the same long iron, a hybrid is:
  • easier to hit because the head has more mass and a lower center of gravity
  • will make the ball go higher, carry further and land softer
  • better out of sand and bad lies
Hopefully that clears up any confusion. 
 
So which ones to buy? 
 
Today’s hybrid clubs are actually quite varied. In addition to a choice of lofts, you can also get different sole widths and face heights. You can get lengths that are longer than standard irons and shorter or just as long as woods.
 
In short, some hybrids offered are more like fairway woods and some are more like irons.
Just remember the basic rules of club design–the lower and farther back the center of gravity, the higher the ball will tend to fly.
 
The longer the shaft the farther the ball will go but the extra length may make it harder to control.
 
Make your selection based on what your game needs.  Price ranges for brands are in the $150 to $250 range. You can find custom clone versions for under $50.
Give those hybrids a try. They’re bound to help your game. 
Filed Under: Clubs, Fairway
January 31, 2012 by 8 Comments

Free Tips for Golf Swing

Free Tip 1. Straight Talk

Even the best players sometimes forget the first step to hitting any successful golf shot. You have to know where your target is. To drive the point home, I’ll interrupt students after they’ve set up to the ball and ask them to point at their target without looking up.
You’d be surprised how many times the fingers point right or left. Try this drill yourself to make sure you’re keeping your mind connected to the target on each shot.

Getting your shots to fly on line is the next step to success. Once you’ve started hitting your shots on line, you need to be able to control how those shots curve. And when you can do that, it’s time to learn how to make trajectory work for you. One of the fundamental concerns for golfers trying to break 100 is getting the ball started on the right line. Often, the problem is a poor swing path. Before you worry about fixing golf shots that are curving too much, get your ball started on your intended line. That makes the next steps to lower scores simpler.

Tips 2. Iron Play

A lot of golfers try to reach or use their hands to hit the ball  with their irons. What they don’t realize is that you need to  maintain a natural, free shoulder tilt or angle throughout your swing.  This angle is created because one of your hands is lower than the  other when you grip the club. So if you move your hands to reach or  catch the ball, you’ll change that angle and mis-hit your shot.

Concentrate on making a balanced movement forward to the target  with your body. As you move forward with your swing, feel your body  turn and face the target while keeping your balance. It’s as easy  as walking forward, and the golf club will naturally stay out in front  of you. By not reaching, your shoulder tilt will remain at the same  angle throughout the entire swing.

Try this drill and then take a  look at your position when you finish. You’ll see that your balance  has improved, and you’ll begin hitting crisper and more accurate  shots to the green. Free tips for golf swing will take easy when you try !

Tips 3. Swing through the Ball

An all-too-common mistake made by golfers is To let up on the swing after impact. It is essential  to maintain a firm grip and swing through the ball With good extension toward the target.

Tips 4. Golf Swing Myths

One of the biggest myths about the best golf swing is that you must keep your head down during the swing. Actually, what’s more important is keeping your chin up as you swing. This is so your shoulders can pass freely under your chin, allowing your head to remain still and focused on the ball. Another myth is the so-called swing to right field. This is to help some golfers achieve a square-to-square swing path. Instead, you should concentrate on not bringing the golf club inside of your target line too fast. Think of your swing as a ferris wheel, not a merry-go-round. Finally, make sure you follow through with your right shoulder over your left foot to complete the swing.

Filed Under: Fairway, Full swing, Irons, Uncategorized
January 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

How to hit fairway woods

Fairway Woods Most golfers who have trouble hitting a wood from the fairway typically
have the same faults. The problem usually can be traced to one of three areas — the
position of the ball, the shifting of your weight on the backswing, and left-side
control on the forward swing.

When hitting a fairway wood, position the ball about
two inches inside your left heel so you can sweep the ball off the turf. Then,
remember to shift your weight to the right foot by turning back with your left
shoulder and arm. Finally, as you unwind and transfer your weight on the forward
swing, you must maintain control of your left side as you hit through the ball in
order to make consistent shots.

Here’s a drill that will help you do this: Place a
tee about six inches in front of the ball. When you swing, use the tee as a reference
point as you extend the club through the ball. Keep practicing this, and you’ll start
hitting long, accurate shots with your fairway woods.

Fairway woods are often described as ‘game savers’. On long 4s,  these useful clubs
allow the average golfer to ‘get home’ in two  shots with an excellent chance at par
or birdie. A basic ‘long  club’ swing is used with only the position of the ball
being  slightly different:

Avoid leaning back and trying to ‘scoop’ the ball. Take back the  fairway wood low
and slow. Play the ball 2 inches inside the left  heel.

Relax the forearms and shoulders. A low take-back will help you  sweep the ball of
the turf.

Hit slightly down into the ball and let the loft of the club get  the ball airborne.

Filed Under: Fairway