Golf POC

The golf push shot is one of the most common swing faults. The golf push shot most commonly occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path and/or when the swing follows an excessive in to out swing path. Here are the common faults and fixes of the golf push shot.

What Causes the Golf Push Shot

The golf push shot is a shot that starts right of the target and continues straight right. Typical causes of the golf push shot include one or of the following poor body alignment; weak grip; open club face; and/or in-to-out swing path. One or all of these swing faults can contribute to a golf push shot. For instance:

1. Your body is aligned too far right of the target which may cause you to swing the club from in to out causing the golf ball to start and stay right of your target.
2. Irrespective of body alignment, you swing path can be in-to-out or worse, in-to-out with an open clubface which compounds your golf push shot.
3. Your grip could be too weak which means your grip position is left of neutral which tends to open the clubface.

How to Fix the Golf Push Shot

So how do you fix your push? For some, one or two adjustments is all that is needed. For others, it will be a process of elimination. What is clear, however, is that your ability to fix the golf push shot is greatly enhanced if you execute the following golf push shot fixes.

1. Square your stance relative to your target. To help visualize, think of standing on a railway line where the ball is placed on the furthest rail (the target line) and your body is set up parallel to the target line along the closest rail (the body line).
2. Strengthen your grip to a neutral position with a square clubface.
3. Take a slow motion practice swing and ensure that your swing path is not in-to-out but rather down the target line toward the target.
4. Check your impact position and make sure that your clubface is square at impact.

Perform a few slow motion practice swings with the above golf push shot fixes in mind until the proper movements feel natural. Then hit a few half swing golf shots building up to a full, fluid swing. If you practice and ingrain these fundamentals, your golf push shot will be history.

Golf is an odd game. The basics of the game are simple, of course, but incredibly difficult to master. The only way to become a great golfer is through practice, but finding the time to do so is often difficult. After all, something as simple as the rain can ruin the possibility of a good game for days. Even if you do find a sunny day on which to play, you may actually do your game harm by repeatedly using the wrong form of swing. As such, it is important to look for a way to golf that will not only allow you the necessary time to practice, but will help you make the changes necessary to excel.

The biggest advantage that an indoor golf simulator has over a real course is its ability to be played in any weather. It is never too dark to play a virtual golf game, nor is it ever too hot or too rainy. This can allow golfers the unique chance to work on their games on a regular basis, allowing for practice time that may be impossible to find in the real world. This is especially useful for those who live in a region that has seasonal weather during a large portion of the year, as non-simulated games may simply be impossible to play for months at a time.

Virtual golf also allows golfers the chance to experience more variety on the links. If you have been playing the same course for years at a time, it may be easy to fall into a rut. After all, one might think that he or she is a great golfer in general, but the reality of the situation may be that he or she has only adapted to the course. An indoor golf simulator will generally come equipped with a wide variety of courses, allowing golfers the chance to play untested links on a regular basis. This can be a great way to experience a bit of variety, and an even better way to work on the weak parts of ones own game.

Finally, an indoor golf simulator carries the benefit of swing analysis. Every golfer knows the importance of the swing in the game, but few take the time to visit a professional for tips. A virtual golf program can provide the same kind of coaching and analysis as a professional, but is capable of doing so during the process of a game. This can not only help new players learn how to keep control of their own swings, but can help skilled amateurs to keep track of how their swing changes over the course of the eighteen holes.

Have you observed your long irons usually are not as consistent as they once were? You do not hit your three iron with the same crispness which you did just a short while ago? The answer to this dilemma has been around for several years now, but some golfers still are not wanting to give in to an undeniable trend and purchase rescue clubs. There are several reasons why rescue golf clubs will aid you, so let me address a few.

While rescue clubs are not new (these were first produced in the 1930s in Birmingham, England), they’ve come into importance only in the last few years. What are a few of the reasons why rescue golf clubs are a marked improvement over traditional irons?

1. Club head shape. Using a lower and deeper center of gravity will help you to hit the ball with a greater trajectory. You no longer will feel the need to lift the ball, therefore you’ll have more confident in striking the ball and allowing the club do the work. Also, they are easier clubs to hit out of rough, since the head will slide to the ball, as opposed to the hosel or leading edge of the traditional iron grabbing the grass.

2. Shorter shaft. Swinging a club with a shorter shaft is another reason why rescue clubs will help you, as it means standing closer to the ball at impact, therefore having a more compact, controlled swing. Distance is not sacrificed that much, as lofts with as low as 17 degrees are available, which is about the same as a five-wood. Also, since you will certainly be striking the ball far better, distance ultimately should be improved.

3. Club head size. The self-confidence when hitting a ball with a club with additional mass will inspire a far more confident, controlled swing.

So now that you realize why rescue clubs work, how do you rely on them to your best advantage? Personally, my thought process when I use them is to swing with a slow, smooth rhythm, and let the club do all the work. I have heard golfers say it is easier to shape the ball with them, but I have not found that to be the case. For me, I usually hit them straight as an arrow, and I suppose that is a primary reason why rescue clubs work for me. I remember once having a shot with a tall willow tree directly in my path, and not thinking I had a chance to clear it I tried to cut the shot around the tree. I did not shape the ball, but it proceeded to go directly toward the tree and with the higher trajectory easily cleared it. That one shot made me a believer. As my club head speed has diminished, my two thru five irons have been retired and been replaced by my new weapons.

Do your golf balls just roll along the ground and never get into the air? This is called topping the ball, and happens because your club contacts the ball above its equator. Ironically, many golfers make the problem worse by trying to “help” the ball into the air – trying to lift or scoop the golf ball off the turf. So, what is the correct way to stop topping the golf ball?

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Fundamentally, the problem is that your golf swing mechanics are incorrect in some way. Assuming that you are using the correct golf club, its design will ensure that ball will fly into the air when you swing the club correctly. The fastest way to stop topping golf balls is to consult a golf pro or golf swing coach. He will be able to see where your worst mistakes are and suggest the best drills to improve your golf swing. Once you learn to perform those drills correctly, this embarrassing problem of dribbling your golf ball on the ground will be fixed.

Of course, not everyone has access to a competent golf pro. Before you start surfing the web for a solution, let me give you a warning. Some websites use the terms topping the golf ball, skulling, and hitting the ball thin interchangeably. Not to mention that the golf swing tips contradict each other. Let me suggest a more old fashioned alternative. Go hit your local library for some golf swing instruction books. Look for the books which teach golf swing techniques or show the correct golf swing mechanics. Browse them and borrow the books which you can understand. Read them carefully and take notes. Then go hit a few dozen golf balls and capture it all on video. Analyze what you see, and compare it against your notes. You should see some major deviations from the norm. Once you correct these mistakes, you should have improved your golf swing and stopped topping your golf balls.

Pursuing shortcuts tends to be a hit or miss affair. I must admit that sometimes you just do not have time to do it right. In such cases, you just have to cross your fingers, make a quick prayer and hope for the best. So, here are two quick golf swing tips to stop topping golf balls:

Aim one inch in front of the ball.
Stand with the ball further back in your stance. Swing your club as usual, and you will hit the ball lower.

Some golfers find that they only top the ball with their drivers and low-numbered irons. This shows that they have difficulty controlling the added power when they swing these clubs. Here are three golf swing tips to help you:

Practice half-swings until you consistently hit the ball without topping, then graduate to practicing full-swings
Practice swinging the golf club in slow motion to ingrain the correct movement into your muscle memory. Once you are satisfied that you fully understand the correct golf swing mechanics, gradually increase the speed you swing the club.
Practice your golf swing with old-style blade irons. These old-fashioned clubs have tiny sweet spots. They give you excellent feedback when you do not hit the ball right – the club vibrates strongly and stings your hands. Once you can contact the ball with the sweet spot consistently, you will stop topping the golf ball.

Topping the golf ball once is embarrassing. Topping the golf ball swing after swing is humiliating. The fastest way to stop topping golf balls and improve your golf swing is to ask a golf swing coach to look at your swing. The next best way is to study and understand the correct golf swing mechanics.