I finally got golf lessons as a Christmas present! For each of the golf lessons we have been going through various clubs learning the proper technique and swing. Up to now I had avoided using the driver, as I really couldn’t hit a decent shot with it, but after having the teacher watch me and give feedback and from practicing with the driver in the lessons, I can now hit a more consistent and decent shot up to about 200 metres. I found that previously I had been bending my left arm quite a lot with the driver, but now my left arm is staying pretty straight and so I can strike the ball with more power and more on the sweet spot.
Also I was really having troubles with chipping the ball. When I would try and chip it, I would strike the ball half way up and it would shoot across the green. In the lesson for chipping I learnt about keeping my weight forward and also not having any movement in my wrist, as well as not trying to lift the ball up into the air but hit more down on it. Another key was going the same distance back and through and just being more smooth in the swing. I would sometimes try to go through the motions too quickly and this would cause me to top the ball or misthit it. By practicing every week so far and alternating different clubs for each shot when I go to the driving range, I have increased my consistency with different clubs.
This week we learned how to use the hybrid club. So far I had hit the hybrid maybe a couple of times at the range and I couldn’t get the club head to line up and so the ball would always go far to the right. After practicing for 30 minutes, I was hitting the ball consistently and actually enjoying using the hybrid.
Next round that I play I’m going to use the driver, hybrid and be more confident in my chipping. I did play a round a few weeks ago and from using the 7 iron in my lessons, I was hitting that pretty straight and getting a consistent distance. But my chipping and putting was causing me trouble and is an area that I need to keep working on. But I’m happy to not be topping the ball that much any more.
Key improvements that I have been working on recently in the golf lessons
- My head was moving up when I was on my down swing. This was causing me to miss or top the ball. To try and fix this I focused on keeping my chin level and imaging that my chin is resting on a table, and that I can’t move it.
- My left arm was bending on my back swing. By working on keeping my arm straighter my shots have been more consistent.
- My swing plane was pretty flat. I was swinging the club far behind me. To fix this I worked on bringing my club back and up higher. Imagining that I’m against a wall and need to swing up to avoid hitting the club against the wall.
- Keeping my grip on the club light and being more smooth through the swing.