Archive for July 2010
Beginner Golfers- Learn The Difference Between Chipping And Pitching
29. July 2010 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
As a professional golf coach, I’m constantly being asked by beginner golf players: What is the difference between a chip and a pitch? The two shots can be defined in many ways, so lets discuss the difference between the two shots and when you’d decide to play them.
The first way a chip or pitch shot can be categorized is by the distance of the shot. Not by the total yardage of the shot but by the distance you are from the edge of the green. A chip shot can be categorized as a short game shot that is played within 10 metres of the greens edge. To futher qualify the difference between the two, the flight of the golf ball must be considered. A short shot with a wedge that carries more than 50% of the total distance is considered a pitch shot. Under 50% will be a chip shot. You need to consider which club you are going to use. Pitch shots are generally played with a lofted club, usually one of your wedges. Chipping can also be done with a lofted wedge but the flight of the shot must be considered when deciding, as per the last rule.
The next thing to consider is the type of swing that is employed. I apologise if this is too technical for new golfers: a chip shot will be a shot where no or minimal wrist movement is employed and the club won’t get past hip height. To take the club back further without employing wrist cock and elbow fold would be extremely uncomfortable for any player. Therefore, to swing further the wrists and elbows must be used to increase leverage. When the club is swinging past the hips it is considered a pitch shot.
Now that all the qualifiers are out the way let’s discuss how to learn each shot. Believe or not a pitch shot is best learnt by doing a chip shot first. In a basic chipping action, little or no wrist or elbows are used. The club is moved primarily from the rotation of the body; back and forward. A pitch shot employs the same body rotation, as the hands move back over the trail foot the wrists and trail elbow start to cock and fold respectively as the body continues to rotate. The club is now levered into a supported position that has enough power and loft to flight the ball for a pitch shot. The same rotary movement is used to deliver the clubhead back to impact and the follow through. At no stage during the downswing does the body stop rotating and the hands flick at the ball. The rotation delivers the blow. This concept is one of the hardest for beginner golf players to grasp. Hopefully now you understand the difference between a chip and a pitch.
2011 Masters Tickets- The Par 3 Tournament
25. July 2010 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
In 1960 Clifford Roberts started the Par 3 tournament as a way of keeping competitors relaxed before the event starts the next day. Some players take this event seriously whilst others use it as a relaxing afternoon of golf before the tournament proper. The par 3 tournament is seen as a celebration of masters folklore, all the legends gather to participate in this event. Have you considered getting 2011 Masters tickets? Did you know you can get tickets to the par 3 tournament? Let’s discuss what makes the par 3 tournament so great.
The holes
This is a nine hole par 3 course set out on land to the east of the original course. The layout incorporates many lakes and ponds and all holes range in distance between the short second at 70 yards right through to the sixth, the longest at 140 yards. The ground staff have the par 3 course in pristine condition, exactly the same as the real course. These greens are very undulating, difficult to putt but with one advantage: most greens have a large tier in them where the ball will funnel to the hole. Each year at least one hole in one is recorded due to the skill of the player and the design of the green. This provides a thrill to patrons and competitors alike.
The caddies
The par 3 tournament has turned into a family affair. The usual caddies have been given the afternoon off and sons, grandsons, daughters and grandaughters are used as caddies. They usually wear caddy overalls that are too big and carry mini carry bags for their father or grandfather. The real thrill and entertainment comes when they are called into action. The young caddies are usually asked to hit shots across the pond and onto the green. Even the smallest caddies are given the opportunity to putt the ball out and convert the tee shots of their player with full sized putters. The crowd enjoys the show, many youngsters show they have a future in the game by hitting quality shots and holing putts.
The myth (curse?)
Since the par 3 tournament has been played, no player has won the par 3 tournament on the Wednesday and gone on to win the tournament. Many of the games best players have claimed victory in the par 3 tournament. The curse is now 50 years old and still to be lifted.
masters tickets practice rounds
Golf Mental Game- Wonderful Benefits From Developing Self- Belief
24. July 2010 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
Life is indeed a game. However, not everyone wins in this game of life. It takes only the most confident and the toughest to win. In the real world of sports, the same thing applies. Only the most confident players as well as the most determined will win every game. To be specific, in golf, only when a player started developing self- belief can the improvement of their golf mental game occur. In this article, you will further discover the amazing effects of developing self-belief in your golf mental game.
When you attempt a swing, several things run into your mind. You might be really nervous if you can come up with a good shot or not.. Given that, you feel both stress and anxiety at once.. It even worsens when the golf shot you are trying to execute will make or break you on that specific game. Having all these in this mind, you might end up trembling that would eventually result to loosening of your grip due to sweaty hands. Consequently, you will strive to end up with a perfect swing.. Definitely, these things are not among the things you want to be placed to life.. Therefore, you really have to find ways in order to improve your golf mental game so that your performance will be enhanced as well.
One of the best ways to develop your golf mental game is developing self belief. When you already feel so much pressure before doing a swing, try to keep yourself focused. Just tell yourself that you can definitely make it.. Nobody can hinder you from achieving your goal.. Just picture yourself celebrating and cheering for joy simply because you were able to make it. Try to recall all the hardships you’ve been through just to make it this far. Therefore, you have no other option but to win. This is exactly how you develop self- confidence.
Developing self- belief in golf has tons of amazing effects.. One of which is the ability to focus more on the goal of winning. If you do not believe much in yourself that you can achieve a particular goal, then you will certainly not do it. There are times when success does not just rely on ability, but on mentality as well.. Many golfers out there have a high amount of talent. However, this talent is not fully maximized given the fact that they do not believe that they can make it. As a result, during their actual game, they are more overwhelmed by pressure resulting to a very poor performance. With self- belief, even if you are not as excellent as other golfers, you have a greater chance of winning. This is mainly because during the actual game you are more determined and you believe more that you could definitely make it.
Aside from focus, another positive effect of self- belief in your golf mental game is love of the craft. When you do golf simply because you want to be famous, you might be successful at once, but you will never last long. Sometimes the secret to staying long in golf is love of the game itself. When you have so much confidence in yourself, then you will never get tired of improving more and more each time you play golf. As a result, you have already learned to love what you are doing and would stay by it for years, decades, and even more.
All these and many others are among the benefits you will reap when you are to develop self- belief in golf.. Rest assured, when you match self belief and talent, you will definitely achieve results that will surprise you.
