Soon open on Fridays

Golf Rx is growing so to better serve our increasing customer base we will be open Fridays beginning March 22nd. The hours on Friday will be from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Whether it's instruction, custom fitting or club repair our award winning service is available six days a week. We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you soon at Golf Rx.

This year's new grip styles just arrived

      We just received this year's new grips from Golf Pride, Winn and Lampkin. Lot's of great colors, styles and textures to suit any player's preference and hand size. Come check them out.

      With warmer weather here now is the time to get your clubs ready for the season. Remember we offer same day service on re-gripping and loft and lie adjustment, and next day service on re-shafting.

     Perhaps this is the year you've decided to upgrade your old equipment. If so we proudly custom fit Ping, KZG, Taylor Made and Adams golf equipment. You wouldn't buy a suit off the rack without trying it on, nor should you invest in new clubs without having them custom fit for you. Call or stop by to learn more.

Ineffective Practice

20 Most common shot problems

Lesson 20 of 20

Diagnosis:  Ineffective Practice

Unlike professionals who make a living playing golf most weekend players live busy lives that doesn’t allow for as much practice time as they would like. This fact makes it all that more important that your practice time emphasize quality rather than quantity. Effective practice should include these elements:

1.      Be goal oriented:  Limit yourself to one pre-swing thought and one swing thought. If you are working on swing techniques use a 6 or 7 iron rather than a driver, and choose a target at a closer distance than normal. This creates a slower tempo allowing your mind and body more time to absorb the command they are unfamiliar with. Stay focused on the specific technique or thought until you begin to feel and sense it.  

2.      Be organized: Effective practice helps you to develop the skill you’ll need on the course. Hitting 150 balls with only your long clubs may be fun, but it isn’t sensible considering your short game constitutes nearly two-thirds of your score. Create a schedule to work on different areas of your game. Spend the first half of your allotted time on the full swing and technique. Devote the second half to your short game including pitch shots, chipping, putting and bunker play.  

3.      Create a realistic environment: When hitting full shots visualize you are on the golf course. Always choose a target and make note to the distance to each target. Go through your set up process on every shot so that you’re using the same routine in practice as on the course. Work on specialty shots that you may encounter on the course such as low punch shots, slices or hooks around an imaginary tree, uneven lies, etc. The key is to create a practice environment as realistic as possible making for an easier transition to the golf course.

When you do have the opportunity to practice make the most of it. By having specific goals in mind, organizing your practice regiment and creating a realistic environment you’re using your time more effectively resulting in better performance on the course and lower scores.

    

To schedule an appointment with Steve call Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539

Playing from slopes - Ball above feet or below feet

20 Most common shot problems

Lesson 19 of 20

Diagnosis:  Playing from slopes – ball above feet or below feet

     Players are often faced with shots from sloped lies that make a relatively easy shot suddenly more challenging. By making a few adjustments to your stance, alignment and swing you can successfully hit these shots solid and more accurately. 

Side hill lie – Ball about your feet

When playing a ball that is above your feet you will need to stand more erect at address and stand farther away from the ball. This posture creates a more rotary swing and a flatter swing plane. This swing path often produces hooked shots because of the added rotation of the hands and arms. This action added to the toe up lie angle of your club will cause the ball to go left so aim right of your intended target.

Side hill lie – Ball below your feet.

This type lie requires you to bend over more to reach the ball. Because you’re standing closer to the ball your swing plane will be more upright than usual. This posture somewhat restricts your body turn causing your swing to be predominantly an arm and hand movement. This steeper swing plane combined with the toe down lie angle of your club will cause the ball to go right so aim left of your intended target.

To schedule an appointment with Steve call Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539

Playing from slopes - Uphill and downhill lies

Lesson 18 of 20

Playing from slopes - Uphill and downhill lies

      Players are often faced with shots from sloped lies that make a relatively easy shot suddenly more challenging. By making a few adjustments to your stance, alignment and swing you can successfully hit these shots solid and more accurately.

Uphill lie - hitting up the hill
      When faced with an uphill lie stand perpendicular to the slope which will position your right shoulder lower than normal. This allows you to swing parallel to the slope so you won't hit into the ground after contacting the ball. Swing down the slope on your backswing and up the slope on your forward swing. Your weight will remain on your rear side, and because we tend to hook the ball from this position aim slightly right of your target. This position also creates more loft so you'll generally want to use more club.

Downhill lie - hitting down the hill
      With a downhill lie you will also want to stand perpendicular to the slope. This stance will put more weight on your left side and your hands will be ahead of the club. Pick the club up on your backswing and swing down and through on the forward swing. Feel that you are chasing the ball down the slope with your club head. Downhill shots are easier played with more lofted clubs. Because the ball will fly lower and run farther you will want to use less club than normal.

To schedule a lesson with Steve call Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539.

No confidence on shorter putts

20 Most common shot problems

Lesson 17 of 20

Diagnosis:  General Poor Putting – No confidence on shorter putts

Explanation:    The common thread among good putters is they consistently have the putter face square to their intended line at the moment it impacts the ball.  When we lose confidence in our putting we start trying to “help” the ball in the hole resulting in our head and body moving out of position. This disrupts the alignment of the putter face leading to inconsistent contact with the ball and little control over the direction or speed of the putt.

            Although putting is the most individual component of the game, the better modern day putters use a pendulum type stroke. The player forms a triangle with their arms and shoulders at address which stays intact through the stroke.

Correction:    In general the fewer moving parts in our putting stroke the more consistent we will be. Developing a shoulder stroke pendulum action minimizes those moving parts. To feel this stroke take your stance then place your palms together forming a triangle with your hands, arms and shoulders. With a steady head and lower body rock your shoulders so that you move the triangle back and through. Make sure to keep your chest square to the target line rather than opening your shoulders and body to the hole.

     Your left shoulder should work down on the backstroke and up on the forward stroke. Your shoulders now control the path of the putter head and keep the putter on line through impact. A good habit for shorter putts is to not look at the hole until you hear the ball fall into the cup.

    If you are struggling with your putting spend more time practicing this method and you’ll soon be making more putts and restoring your confidence.

To schedule an appointment with Steve call Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539

Poor long putting

20 Most common shot problems

Lesson 16 of 20

Diagnosis:  Poor long putting

Explanation:    The biggest reason weekend golfers so often three putt longer putts is they simply don’t practice them. Because of this they haven’t developed a feel or touch for putts of longer length. They end up hitting the ball and hoping rather than stroking the putt with a level of confidence.

      

     Through regular practice great lag putters have developed a keen sense of feel for longer putts. They also have set more realistic goals when faced with longer putts. Rather than thinking about making the first putt, they focus on leaving their first putt close enough to the hole to have a short second putt. This strategy along with their developed feel results in fewer three putts.

Correction:   I would first recommend visualizing a larger target. Imagine a three foot diameter circle around the hole, and focus on leaving your first putt within the circle. If successful the longest putt you’ll be left with is 18 inches.

           On longer putts stand slightly taller at address and make a longer stroke with more relaxed hands and wrists. This allows you to sense and feel the acceleration and release of the putter head. Develop a habit before each long putt of making a number of practice strokes to help you sense the length of the stroke and pace needed for the required distance. 

           There are no shortcuts in becoming a good lag putter. If you’re not already doing so add longer putts from various positions and slopes to your practice regiment. With continued practice you’ll see far fewer three putts on your scorecard.

To schedule an appointment with Steve call Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539