Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Over the past few weeks, I have received a number of messages from my friends in the UK complaining about the weather disrupting their golfing plans!
As a golfer, there is nothing more frustrating than waking up to find out that it has snowed the night before a competition and the course is closed. Whereas in the UK, lots of white snow can have an adverse effect on your golf, I want to show you how the white stuff (or something similar) can help improve your game here in Bahrain!
The next time you are heading for a practice session, take with you a bag of salt, flour or talcum powder. In the middle of the driving range mat, use the powder to draw a thin line (perpendicular to your target line) about 10cm long. Now, place your ball roughly two inches away from this line so it is closer to the target.
As we know, in order to successfully strike an iron shot, we need to deliver a descending blow that lands on the back of the ball and then drives into the turf. To help us achieve this, we are taught to transfer our energy down and towards the target and ensure that our hands do not ‘flick’ at the ball.
The goal of this practice drill is to use a mid-iron, address the ball as normal (in the space between the ball and the line of powder) and hit a few balls. If you carry out the drill properly, you will be able to strike your shots correctly, without disturbing the line of powder.
If you find that your club is making contact with the powder before the ball, it is likely that you are either, leaning back into impact OR flicking your wrists in order to help the ball into the air. To combat this, grab a wedge and practice the same drill with some chip shots and half pitch shots where you are really focused on making perfect contact with the ball. As you become more efficient with the short clubs, go back up to the longer ones and try again.
This drill is very effective because it gives you instant feedback that you can work with. If you can improve your ability to complete this drill, you should notice that your ball-striking becomes much more consistent and your distance control is much better as a result.
For more information on this drill or for information on the golf coaching services offered at Awali Golf Club, please contact me on 39761873. Good luck and happy golfing!
