Golf should be just a game, yet competition strives and learning never ends. Whereas lessons with golf professionals will implement good habits and help a player improve, golf tips are available from television, magazines, and golf schools.
Hit the Ball Farther with the Pivot Technique
Debbie O’Connell, LPGA Teaching Professional in Stuart, Florida, and co-founder of Ladies Links Fore Golf magazine, knows about the common swing problem created by an unstable back leg. Although the Pivot Pro Training aid will help correct the problem and achieve farther distance, she recommends the following practice:
Set up
Brace your back
Move the knee of your back leg toward your left leg
Feel the weight shift to the inside of your back foot
Swing back while keeping the weight on your bent back leg
Feel the resistance created as you fully turn your shoulder
Uncoil to a powerful strike from a more stable backswing
“Turn to Swing,” Says Six-time Champion Sir Nick Faldo
On the hotel channel of any Marriott, Nick Faldo gives mini lessons from the Faldo Golf Institute at Marriott Vista Grande Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Nick Faldo’s first recommendation is to stretch and warm up before subjecting your body to the abrupt motion of the swing. As for the swing itself, he demonstrates how “a pitcher turns on his right leg and then throws to release.”
Choose the Appropriate Golf Equipment
Golf journalist Rick Young reminded in one of the earlier issues of Golf Canada magazine that “Part of playing better golf is finding equipment that fits you instead of trying to fit the equipment.”
If you are new to the sport and in need of equipment, don’t get into intricate considerations. But, it is wise to get advice from a pro-shop or a golf equipment store before buying online a set of clubs that might never be right for you. One rule of thumb is to try different clubs until you know which feel best.
Learn from Golf School Manuals
If you haven’t attended a golf school, you might find such a manual on eBay or perhaps at a garage sale. Keep it in view or put it in your car, and visualize the tips as you get a feel from the illustrations.
You will soon experience that repetitive reading and visualizing of a shot will come to your mind when you are at the practice range or on the golf course.
Get Free Lessons from Golf Magazines and the Golf Channel
Past and current issues of golf magazines are good tools to become aware of bad habits as they show the good ones. As for the golf channel, demonstrations can really guide practice at the range.
Jack Nicklaus’ quote about the golf swing: “The simpler you keep it, the better it will work.”
World’s Greatest Golfers and Pros in History
With some great free lessons, let us have a brief look at some of the greatest golfers in the history.
World’s Greatest Golfers – Bobby Jones – Ethos of Fair Play
Sources like ToponlineCasino.com.ph website reveals Bobby Jones was the first golfing superstar. Although he never turned professional, he became idolized by the golfing public. Winning seven Major Championships, he was the most successful amateur golfer of all time and has had an influence on nearly every tournament professional since.
Bobby Jones designed and built the Augusta National golf course where the US Masters is played every year. Much of the games ethos of fair play came from Bobby Jones.
Greatest Golf Swing- Ben Hogan – Father of Modern Swing
Hogan was a tough man after having had a tough upbringing. He was a fighter. In his early years he struggled with a hook but never quit and managed to win events on the US Tour. In 1949 he had a terrible car accident that almost crippled him for life.
But Hogan fought back, reinvented his swing, with a ‘magic’ move, and went on to dominate world golf winning the ‘Hogan Slam’ in 1953. Known as one of the greatest strikers ever, he wrote a book called ‘the Modern Fundamentals’ which became the bible for all aspiring pros. Hogan wasn’t the most charismatic man, but he was the father of the modern swing.
World’s Greatest Showman – Arnold Palmer – Most Charismatic
Good looking, charismatic and wild. After the precision of Hogan, Palmer was a breath of fresh air. His fans adored him and became known as Arnie’s Army.
Sponsors loved his swashbuckling style, and more than anyone, he was responsible for the modern day media interest in golf. Palmer would take on shots no one else would consider. Hitching up his pants, he’d look the shot in the eye, and attack.
Greatest Achiever – Gary Player – Hardest Worker
Small, energetic and the grittiest golfer of all time. He was the first golfer to really exercise with weights to build up power. From South Africa, he travelled the world to play tournament golf, and claims he is the man who has flown more miles than anyone else – ever!
His bunker play was incredible but his fighting instinct saw the better of many bigger men. Player was responsible for showing the world of golf what hard work could achieve.
Greatest Talent – Jack Nicklaus – Most Majors
Jack had an advantage in his early years – tremendous power, and it led to many tournament victories. Often, however, in his early years he beat ‘the King’ Arnold Palmer and was not popular because of it.
In the late sixties he reinvented himself, and with blonde hair flowing became ‘The Golden Bear’.
Nicklaus had everything; power, touch, intelligence and bottle, and the golfing public learned to adore him. All combined it made him untouchable for nearly thirty years, during time which he accumulated 18 Majors. He could well turn out to be the best ever.
Greatest Technician – Nick Faldo – Modern Teaching Methods
Faldo struggled to win major events in his early years blowing up spectacularly several times. In the early 80s he disappeared to find the answer and eighteen months later came back with a new swing. For eight years Faldo dominated world golf and had such an influence he changed the way the swing is taught.
There are players who have won more than Faldo’s six majors, but no one, apart from Hogan, has had such an influence on the game. Pre-Faldo there were many unorthodox swings on tour. Now, an unorthodox swing is as rare as a missed putt by Tiger Woods.
Possibly the World’s Greatest Ever – Tiger Woods – The Complete Professional
The golfing world holds its breath to see if he can overhaul the record of 18 Majors that Jack Nicklaus currently holds. It is a record that could never be beaten; yet Woods has it in his grasp with 14 in the bag already.
He has everything; touch, power, humility, guts, diplomacy and mystique. The recorders of golfing history wait with poised pen, he could be the best ever – he probably will be.
