Hello Blog!

         I practiced hitting golf balls Friday. During the 20% class time, I took my wiffle balls and a couple short irons and went to the practice field to hit a few. I made contact with at least 65% of the balls I swung at, but I hit probably five perfect and straight balls out of 35. Then later that day, I went to the driving range! It was so official; I saw business men and everything typical at a golf course. I actually improved within the few hours spent in between practicing at school and practicing at the range. I tried to focus on contact with the ball instead of power, and every time I did that I got a contact with the ball. However, any time I tried to swing the club hard, I missed or cut the ball hard right. I learned that I have a problem with closing the face of the club for a straight shot, watching the club hit the ball for a clean impact, and swinging the club straight along the target line during impact with the ball. I had a great time at the range! This upcoming week, I will probably review during the week or the morning of 20% time day and then go out to the practice field again to try out my swing. Also, I have my first lesson with an instructor this week. I hope that he can improve my game 5,000%.  

Good warm up at the range:

1) Swing at a dozen balls with your feet together. 

Swing the club in between 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock.

This warm-up drill makes the golfer focus on watching the ball and gives the golfer a bit of confidence.

2) http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/golf-mechanics-exercises?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_200084&cid=partner_zergnet

Remember:

1) Try to keep the thumbs in neutral position- which means after setting up the grip, make sure both thumbs line up straight down with the shaft of the club. 

2) Keep the club in your fingers, not your palms. 

3) Keep the grip pressure to a 5- based on 1 to 10 scale.

Visit this link:

http://blog.golfhelptips.com/page/3/

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2007-07/tigerupclose_gd0707

Oh Blog,

      I forgot my putter and mug Friday morning. I asked a friend to give me a few golf balls she found on the course, so that I may use them during 6th period in the computer lab for my putting practice. But in the end, I wasted her efforts because I forgot the club and coffee mug-target-hole. I ended up watching videos from previous weeks to brush up my memory of what I learned. Also, I realized that I read all these articles, but I never remember the full on details that the article goes in depth to describe. I am hoping that reading articles over and over will instill a vague memory on how to perform each task- swing, stance, ball set- up, etc- correctly.   

Good review:
http://video.about.com/golf/Golf-Swing-Basics.htm

http://video.about.com/golf/Hit-Longer--Straighter-Drives.htm

http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/tp/golf-instruction-video.01.htm

http://video.about.com/golf/Correct-Golf-Ball-Position.htm

http://video.about.com/golf/Correct-Golf-Posture.htm

 http://video.about.com/golf/Grip-a-Golf-Club-Correctly.htm
http://video.about.com/golf/5-Common-Problems-Golfers-Have-with-the-Grip.htm

Dear Blog,

         Putting accounts for about 40% of the strokes a golfer takes. As last week, I researched on golf.about.com. It had a whole section about putting tips. When holding a putter, there is a cross-handed grip and a claw grip. Also, just like before, the putter needs to be square during the swing. The website suggests to practice putting by making 50 shots in a row. This drill suggests that the golfer set up four feet away from the hole and practice swinging straight back and forward along the target line. It apparently helps with pressure. When the golfer gets up to 47,48, and 49, it would be crucial for them to get the ball in the hole, and therefore this drill is great practice with critical high pressure moments. Golf.about.com also stresses the importance of being able to read a course. In general, it is super important to be a great putter. Maybe I should go play some mini golf as a warm up before I hit the course.
          Next week in class I will be practicing my putting game. Like in movies, how the president will be in the oval office practicing his putting skills over the presidential seal rug with a coffee mug, putter, and golf ball, I will be in the computer lab doing the same.



http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/a/tips_putting.htm
http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/ss/puttingstrokedr.htm
http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/ss/reading_greens.htm

Dear Blog,

        This was the week where I researched the famous golf swing! Just as I have complained in my other blog posts. This is too much information to learn. The swing is a motion of beauty, and there is a lot that goes into it. I am so scared that when I start practicing I will miss the ball completely and do a 360. In the end, the ideal contact happens when the club hits the ball with a square face. A square face (also called square clubface) refers to the position of the face of the club relative to the target line at impact. A golfer wants the clubface to hit perpendicularly with respect to the target line which is an imaginary line from the ball to the spot where the golfer wants the ball to go. To read about the basics of a golf swing take a look at the links below! Next week I am going to work on my putting game. Who cares if I can hit the ball if I can never finish the hole. Now that I think about it I guess I did my research backwards. I should of researched putting first, but oh well.

More links for you to visit:
http://video.about.com/golf/Golf-Swing-Basics.htm

http://video.about.com/golf/Hit-Longer--Straighter-Drives.htm

http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/tp/golf-instruction-video.01.htm

http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/ss/balancetempo.htm

http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Westchester-Magazine/Golf-Guide-2014/5-Beautifully-Basic-Golf-Swing-Tips-Every-Player-Should-Know/

http://golf.about.com/od/golfterms/g/bldef_squarefac.htm