End of the Week Tip: Improve Ball Striking

One of the most important things needed to play good golf is to be able to hit the center of the club face (aka the sweet spot) with some regularity. The benefits of hitting the center of the club are many, but none as big as it simply feels good when you make solid contact.

If you can improve your ability to make center contact, you can begin lowering your scores to levels you may have never imagined.  Here are some things to consider when trying to improve your overall ball striking:

·       Pre-swing fundamentals like grip, aim, alignment, and posture can be difficult if you’ve never had instruction to guide you.  But compared to the intricacies involved in a full swing, pre-swing fundamentals are a simple, necessary step to make sure your ball striking won’t suffer.  A lesson with your local PGA professional is well worth the investment just to make sure your game isn’t suffering from simple, fundamental mistakes.

·       Find the sweet spot.  It still amazes me how many golfers there are that aren’t sure when their ball hits the center of the clubface.  When feel isn’t providing enough feedback, it is important that you find a way to see where the ball is hitting the clubface.  Impact tape applied to the clubface has been used for a long time to get proper feedback, but it can be expensive and can influence the feel you get at impact.  Try covering the clubface with a dry erase marker or foot spray (like Dr. Scholl’s) as an inexpensive way to see where the ball is contacting the clubface.

·       Get in shape.  You may have the best golf swing in the world, but for it to hold up for 18 holes, especially under pressure, your body needs to be in good condition.  Today’s stars on the PGA Tour prove this point day in and day out.  Golf specific fitness programs like the Titleist Performance Institute are great ways to get in golf shape.  But if you’re unable to start those programs, simply walking the course more often will begin building your endurance.