Putting Lessons at The Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy

Over the next 6 weeks we will be conducting putting lesson using the exciting SAM Putting system.

SAM PuttLab is “the ultimate putting training system”. Using state of the art Ultrasound it is able to give you incredibly accurate measurements which can help greatly with both training and analysis. By tracking 28 of the most important factors in your putting stroke such as rotation, acceleration, impact and swing duration, it is able to give you feedback on the smallest detail of your stroke within seconds; and all in an easy to understand graphical report.

In using Ultrasound technology and certain mathematic algorithms SAM Puttlab is far more accurate than other systems on the market. And would highlight key areas on how to improve your game such as sweetspots or club face angle, to allow for a more effective training session.

The lesson will also include a video of the current putting action and of the changes that are made. You will also receive an email of your lesson with a before and after of your stroke.

This is normally priced at £99 per hour, this will be available to the first 10 people at the special rate of £75. Please contact Matt Woods on mw@golfjy.com for a booking or more details.

Golf Lesson 4: Putting

I love being on the driving range. Not only is it good practice but it is also quite relaxing to just go out there and whack 60 balls as far as I can. Sadly, this week’s lesson was going to be spent on the green instead of on the range. I was a little disappointed at first but Matt explained that a large proportion of your shots are taken on the green so you should spend an equal proportion of your practice time putting. That’s logic you can’t argue with and besides it was probably time for me to learn how to putt so that I can actually play a full hole.

We went to the practice green and Matt showed me how to get a feel for the distant and slope of the green by getting me to roll a few balls towards the hole. This routine helped me figure out the amount of power needed to get the ball where I wanted it to go. We did this from different angles so I could see the impact of having to putt on different gradients and how this affects the amount of power needed. It was a very simple exercise but it was really useful.

Then we got onto the putting itself. Just as when I learnt how to tee off, I found there was more to it than meets the eye. Putting is more of a pendulum motion which means your distance from the ball is very important. Too far or too close to the ball and you’ll send it the wrong way. Once your distance is set, draw your elbows into your rib cage so your arms and your torso are connected allowing for that smooth pendulum motion. All you have to do now is remember how much power is required to make the distance, and then just take a nice smooth stroke. Simple, right? Let’s just say practice makes perfect.

If you would like to use any of the practice facilities or would like to book some individual or group golf lessons, call 01653 581 000.

Golfing for Beginners, Lesson 3, Practice Makes Perfect

Things were starting to take shape, my grip was alright, my posture was strong and my swing was getting there. The only problem was that my head kept getting in the way. From the start of the lesson Matt could clearly see that I was over thinking every shot. Before I even hit the ball I would go through a mental check list on every shot. Are my hands high enough; am I gripping the club too hard; are my arms straight enough; are my arms too straight?! The longer I focused on all of these different elements the tenser I became and this really had an impact on my swing.

Matt decided we needed to do some practice drills so that my shot become more instinctive and natural – just like riding a bike. He teed-up three balls in a row and I would set up in front of the first ball. When Matt said go I would hit all three balls, one after another without pausing to think. This actually worked as I didn’t have the time to stiffen up between shots. We did this a few time until my shots become more relaxed.

Now the balls were beginning to fly – unfortunately instead of going straight they were flying off to right. To get over this Matt had me hit a few shots with my feet together letting my hands rotate as the swing followed through. It actually worked and once my shots were heading in the right direction I went back to placing my feet in the normal stance.

The next thing I have to work on is distance, but I’m sure I will have plenty of time to practice. If you are interested in golf lessons contact Matt Woods by emailing matt.woods@donnington-grove.com or call 01635 581000.

Golfing for Beginners, Lesson 2 Back Swing & Posture

After all the fun of my first lesson I could not wait to get back out on to the range. However when I turned up to the lesson Matt informed me that due to the weather we would be spending this week’s lesson in the practice room. I was a bit disappointed but in fairness to Matt, it is pretty difficult to play golf when you can’t feel your hands and arms. Plus, this was an excellent opportunity to video my swing and focus on perfecting my technique.

This lesson was all about getting my back swing in shape cause if there is one thing Matt has taught me it is that if something is wrong with the back swing then there is going to be something wrong when you follow through.

I started by taking a few practice swings to see what I had remembered from last lesson. My grip was fine but my posture could have been better. Matt was quick to remind me to keep my back straight and to not let my shoulders slouch forward. The correct way to stand is with your legs shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, bum slightly sticking out, back straight and shoulders back.

The next problem was a very obvious and very big one. Instead of hinging my wrists I was bending my arms and bringing them too far behind my back. This meant that when I brought the club back down to complete the shot I wasn’t striking it at the right angle or worse I missed the ball all together. Matt told me that my arms must stay straight during the back swing and shouldn’t go up past my chest. The most important thing is to make sure to hinge the wrists to create an L shape and then be sure to follow through.

Below is the swing analysis video from my lesson. There was definitely a huge improvement from the beginning of the lesson. Got any tips or questions? Then leave a comment on the blog!

If you would like a one on one or group golf lesson contact Donnington Grove’s resident instructor Matt Woods on 01635 581000 or send a request at our Golf Academy page.

Top Golf Tips – Putting

Five things to remember when putting

After a smashing tee of shot and a great chip onto the green, you need to be able to have a great finish in order to keep your score down. Here are my top five things to remember when putting to help improve your final swings.

•    Keep the wrists out of the stroke. Shoulders, arms and hands move together as a unit in a good putting stroke.

•    Keep your head still. Just like in pool or snooker you must keep the head still during the stroke. Listen for the ball to go in the holes; don’t look up to watch it.

•    Keep the rhythm of your stroke like a metronome. Count ‘one-two’ to yourself to keep the stroke smooth. Rhythm in a putting stroke
is just as important as rhythm in a full swing.

•    Make sure you get the golf ball up to the hole. All putts from inside twenty feet should end up past the hole. Make sure you read the green to end up eighteen inches past and not lamely to lag into the hole at dead weight

•    To read a green correctly you must look at the hole from both sides. If you really want to putt well from distance you must take time and look from the other side of the hole. The break often looks different from behind the hole.

Top Golf Tips – Backspin

In order to play a great game any golfer needs to think about the shot ahead. In order to play one step ahead you need to command a great deal of command over the ball, in many situations this means applying backspin to your shot. The principle of backspin is to cause the back of the ball to mover at a higher rate than the front restricting the balls momentum when it lands. This is prevent the ball from rolling forwards when it hits the green or the fairway.

How to apply Backspin
the grooves incorporated on the club face are what you need to focus on to apply backspin. As the face makes contact with the ball, the grooves grip is, pulling it backwards and therby imparting the spin. For optimum performance from  both the ball and the club, it goes without saying the both should be wiped prior to taking the stroke in order to remove any soil or sand an ensure clean contact.

The Top Five Ways To Lower Your Scores and Handicap

1) Move Forward
Try playing from the forward tees. This will hopefully put you in the mental mindset of playing a shorter course and aiming for achieving birides instead of going for par. The thought process behind this drill is that when you move back to your original starting tee, your mindset will continue to push for achieving birdies.

2) Consistent Practise
It probably sounds a bit obvious but you get out what you put in to your game. You may not be able to get down the Golf Course and do 18 holes every day, but even 15 minutes in the back garden working on your swing will massively improve your game.

3)  Equipment
You may need to reassess you equipment every now and then. You don’t need to spend thousands on state of the art equipment but if you’re using an older set that isn’t fitted properly then you may be needlessly holding yourself back.

4) Your Finishing Shots
Forgive my football analogy but there is no point in a team getting to the edge of the box if they can’t score a goal. In a typical game more than half the strokes account for chipping and putting. Therefore you should dedicate a large amount of your practise time to these shots.

5)Make The Most Of Your Game
If you are going to take the time to play a round of golf, then play it seriously. Take the time to concentrate, focus and work on the shots you have practised. Use driving ranges and putting greens to improve your technique than use the course to focus on lowering your score!

Top Golf Tips (8)

Stretching Exercises For Golfers

If you want to increase the power and range of motion of your swing, then you must definitely try out some stretching exercises to improve your game, as well as to prevent any jerks that you may experience during the game. Doing some stretching exercises regularly helps to prevent any internal injury that may occur due to sudden strain while playing golf.

An ideal warm up regime should take between 15 to 20 minutes consisting of some simple but effective stretching exercises. Below are a few exercises that you could try.

Brisk Walking: Walking with low skips for 3-5 minutes warms up the body and prepares and loosens any stiffness in the muscles.

Squatting with the help of a support: Squatting is another form of popular exercise that is helpful for golfers. It elevates the heart rate and increases blood flow in the whole body, thus preparing it for the action.  While squatting, you must remember that you must squat till your thighs are parallel with the ground. Repeat the exercise approximately 15 times.

For a change, you can also try single leg squat using a support. Lift one leg at a time while you use a golf club as a support and place it on the opposite knee. Try to make an angle of 90 degrees. Now squat till the knee of the leg supporting the other leg is parallel with the ground.

Arm Swings: Stand with both your arms by your side. Swing your left arm in clockwise and anticlockwise directions for at least 30 seconds. Similarly swing your right arm. This will help you in achieving the correct swing which you desire in your game to get the required length. It is a great exercise for avoiding any injuries in arms and is a must for all golfers.

Some other popular exercises are waist rotations, bends, shoulder stretching, wrist rotation and leg swings. All or some of the exercise forms if incorporated in the warm up regime will definitely prove useful for any player. So get ready for some warm up sessions before you jump into action.

Top Golf Tips (6)

Learn to Chip with the Water Bottle Trick

Many golfers have trouble with chips and this is more than likely because they are trying to life the ball into the air and end up blading it across the green. Solid chips are achieved by hitting down into the back of the ball and not trying to life it up. Hopefully this drill will help you produce the types of chips you dream about!

Balance a club on the top of a water bottle and place your ball 12 inches behind the middle of the grip. Make your chip stroke without knocking the shaft off the bottle. You’ll need to descend into the call and keep your clubhead low to the group post-impact. If you try to scoop the ball or allow the club to pass your hands, you’ll send the club and the bottle flying. If you practice this but only a few times your chipping will improve dramatically.

The next golf tip is, ‘Drive For Show, Putt For The Dough’

Top Golf Tips (5)

Using Pool Cues to Improve Your Driving

There is nothing more frustrating than having to search through the woods or even wade through the lake to find your ball. All golfers want to have the natural ability to drive the ball off the tee far and straight! This drill will help you too improve your contact off the tee as well as helping you to eliminate the tendency to slice your shots.

The main reasons for these problems are that you can’t make contact on the centre of the clubface with your driver and this is costing you in distance and accuracy. You will know if you are doing this as when you hit the ball it will feel like a brick. If you hit it off the toe, you’ll feel a soft impact, like you whacked an old apple.

Lay four Pool Cues or anything equivalent on the ground vertically. The spaces between the cues should be slightly wider than your clubhead. Address an imaginary ball in the middle lane. If you tend to hit it off the toe, take practice swings making sure your clubhead travels through the far lane after impact. If you hit it off the heel (or tend to shank your irons), your downswing path should go through the near lane. After 10 practice swings, tee up a ball and swing away. Now that you’re slotted correctly, you’ll hit it square and the same distance every time.

The next golf tip is ‘Learn to Chip with the Water Bottle Trick’