Weekly Golf Tips by Bruce Lewis
My background as a newspaper golf column writer (14 years), Fox TV weekly golf tips (4 years), monthly radio (12 years) and golf instructor for Pebble Beach and the Jim Flick/Jack Nicklaus Golf School (4 years), allows me to share my career of tips learned from many of the greats. If you have any specific golf tip requests, please let me know.
Why Improve Your Golf Game?
Before you practice or take a lesson, ask yourself why do you want to improve? Do you want to improve or maintain your level of play? Do you want to lower your scores or will the improvement help you enjoy the game more? To help with these decisions, try to be as specific as possible for the area of improvement needed. Will a bunker or putting lesson bring the most improvement? Do you just want to get the ball airborne and in the fairway more often? Are you tired of playing “recovery golf” all day? Once you have decided exactly where you need help, sign up for a lesson. There are plenty of unhappy golfers on the golf course because they do not know what area to improve. They may think a putting lesson is needed because of too many 3-putts, when the real problem is that their chipping is not getting them close enough to the hole. If you need help with any area of your game or swing, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce A. Lewis, PGA
Certified Club Fitter
Better to Putt Sooner Than Later
If you think your memory is bad with remembering names, it is even worse with putting! Many times we stand over our putts and really try to concentrate on those important putts. We focus on making the perfect stroke and keeping our head still. Researchers have found the longer we look at the ball before putting, the more our memory of direction and distance to the hole deteriorates. Many golfers think the pros are still reading their putts as they study the line. Actually, the pros’ eyes are looking at the putting line from the hole to the ball for better judgement of distance. Pros will putt quickly after looking at the hole for the last time. Start your putting stroke right after looking at the hole for the last time and see if your number of successful putts increases. For more help with the timing of your putts, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce A. Lewis, PGA
Certified Club Fitter
Play Better Golf, Think Less
Tommy Bolt, PGA Tour Legend, once said “The mind messes up more shots than the body.” We need to realize thinking is only the first step, not the entire journey to good golf. There are times to think and times to trust. The time to make good decisions is before we swing. We must decide what type of shot we want to make and the correct club selection. We must evaluate the conditions, the risks, and the rewards. Once we have addressed the ball, our brains must trust we have made the right decisions and trust our swings. Trust eliminates tension and enables us to produce our best swings. So think your shot through, then trust your swing to better golf. If you need help with the time to think and the time to trust, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce A. Lewis, PGA
Certified Club Fitter
Longer Drives for Slower Swings
I watched a very interesting video regarding the difference in distance between teeing off with a 3-wood (16.5*) compared to a driver (10.5*). Golf.com swing robot showed than for the slower swing speeds, the 3-wood gave golfers more distance off the tee than the driver! If your swing speed is 60 miles per hour, the 3-wood will outdrive the driver by 4 yards. If your swing speed is at 70 miles per hour, your 3-wood will outdrive your driver by 5 yards. If your swing speed is at 80 miles an hour, your 3-wood gives you the same distance as your driver. Finally, if your swing speed is 90 miles an hour, your driver outdrives your 3-wood by 3 yards. You will have more carry yardage with the higher loft at a slower swing speed. This is where your Certified Club Fitter can help match the correct loft to your swing speed. For help fitting you to the perfect driver loft, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
Don’t Throw Away That Old Putter
With all the new putters on the market these days, some golfers are throwing out “Old Faithful” when their putting goes bad. If your old putter never worked that well for you in the first place, let it fly. If you are just going through a bad phase with a putter that has been good for you in the past, keep it for another day or season. Most good golfers and tour players have a favorite putter, but sometimes need a break or a different look for a short period of time. When buying a back up putter to “Old Faithful,” make sure your second putter has a different look and feel. There is nothing wrong with switching putters occasionally, but limit the switching with two putters only. Having a collection of 20+ putters will only lead to confusion and constant experimentation. If you need help finding the right putter for you, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
The Easiest Golf Tips for More Distance
Iron, Steel, and Titanium are harder than grass and dirt. When you hit a shot with dirty clubs, you will lose distance. Have you noticed how the caddies always clean the pros’ clubs after every shot? Clean clubs hit longer and straighter shots than dirty clubs. Another dirty area on your clubs causing loss of distance are your worn or dirty grips. The slicker your grips are, the more you must squeeze your grips to hold on to the club. The firmer your grip, the more restricted your wrists become. Your wrists are speed producers for your club and thus you lose distance. You always see Freddie Couples cleaning his grips for each shot to remove the hand oils from the previous shot. For more easy golf tips, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
Suitcase Golf Swing
“The golf swing is like a suitcase into which we are trying to pack one too many items.” – John Updike. A good key to a successful round of golf is to stick with the swing you brought to the golf course that day. Trying to redesign our swing or trying to swing like somebody else usually fails.
One of the worst habits and one of the most enjoyable vices of this game of golf is to constantly tinker with our swings. We think by making a small change, we will hit the ball 25 yards further and straighter. Sometimes these brilliant ideas come to us in the middle of our swings! We need to keep in mind that old saying, “Dance with the girl you brought.” Swing changes need to be tested on the driving range, not the golf course. If you need help testing out your new swing ideas, come up to Highlands Golf Course, I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
See No Evil
One of the main problems for even good players are those visually intimidating shots. Are you hitting over water, out of bounds along the side of the fairway, huge bunkers, large trees, and other obstacles? While working with the Jack Nicklaus/Jim Flick Golf School, Dr. Smith, Sports Psychologist spoke about focusing on the positive to help your mind. Say to yourself to hit the ball on the right center of the fairway. Say to yourself to land on the green, not to stay out of the water. Focus where you want to land your shot, not where you do not want to land your shot. Occupy your mind with a positive direction of ball flight, not where you could get into trouble. Successful players will only see the good and not focus on the bad. For more help with your game management, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
A Chicken or a Pig?
Improving your golf game and swing takes a commitment. Many of us start out with good intentions to practice and take lessons, but soon give up like some of our diets. There is a big difference between being involved in practicing and being committed to practicing. As the story goes with a ham and egg breakfast, the chicken is involved with the breakfast but the pig is committed!
Have your teaching professional help you design a practice routine, play schedule, and a lesson to establish your needed areas of improvement. Your goals need to be realistic based on your practice/play time availability and desire to improve. If you need help establishing your plan for golf success, come up to Highlands Golf Course, I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
One Handed Putting
I had the honor and privilege to know and play golf with the 1969 Masters Winner, local legend George Archer. During several of his PGA Senior Tour years, George would visit his grandchildren in Hollister and practice at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. George holds the PGA Tour Record for fewest putts in one round at 18 putts. He would practice his putting with only his left hand and his righthand resting behind his back for up to two hours. This built up his hand and wrist strength to prevent getting flippy or wristy with his putts. If you have a problem with being too wristy with your putts, try practicing with just one hand (left hand for righthanded putters) or try a firmer grip if you don’t have as much time to practice as George. If you need help with your putting, come on up to Highlands for a putting lesson, I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis, PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
Know Your Distances for Each Club
It is important to know how far you hit each of your clubs and the gaps of distances between each club. I use my launch monitor to help measure the carry distance of each of your clubs and how solid you are striking the ball (smash factor) for each distance. You want to know how far you hit each club with a normal swing. You will learn the gaps of distances between your clubs and may find there is no difference between your two longest irons. This is where adding a hybrid or a higher lofted fairway wood to your bag will fill in the gaps nicely. For help learning your distances of each club and if you need to switch a long iron for a hybrid or higher lofted wood, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis,PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
Correctness over Comfort
We naturally prefer comfort over correctness, especially with our golf swing and putting strokes. A Comfortable swing or stroke with bad results means it is time for a lesson. Comfort can disguise faults in our game without us realizing what is wrong. Learning the correct way during a lesson and repeating the correct way during your practice will soon make correctness become your new comfort. Only when correctness becomes your comfort will you improve on a regular basis. For help with correction and a new comfortable correct swing or stroke, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis,PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
High Heels Not Allowed
I am not talking about the dress code for golf courses, but this could help you hit the golf ball further. Many golfers lose distance from lifting their heel too high off the ground on their back swing. Especially seen with beginners and high handicappers, they lift their heel so high that only the toe of their shoe is touching the ground. By trying too hard to shift their weight, this extra effort actually prevents a weight shift and causes a locking of the opposite knee.
Please raise your heel only slightly above the ground and keep both of your knees slightly bent throughout your swing. This will keep your swing in motion and give you back some distance you have missed. For more help with your footwork, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bruce Lewis,PGA
Golf Instructor
Certified Club Fitter
Hit More Greens
A logical way to make more birdie putts is to have more birdie attempts. The key to more birdie attempts is to hit more greens in regulation. Try to aim at the center of the green rather than aim at the flag. Johnny Miller used this method after watching Jack Nicklaus win so many tournaments by playing to the center of the greens.
Do not fall for the thought you must be three feet from the hole to score a birdie. You will make the same percentage of birdie putts as you make for par and bogey putts from ten to fifteen feet away. For more help hitting the center of the greens and making those ten to fifteen foot putts, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Finding Lost Golf Balls
One of the most common penalties in golf and a major reason for slow play is looking for lost golf balls. We know golfers known for losing three or more golf balls per round. If this applies to you or your playing partners, here is an idea to help you find your golf balls.
Practice watching all your shots land, especially on the driving range. Most golfers do not follow the flight and landing on the driving range and this habit carries over to the golf course. Practice watching every shot land and suggest your foursome watch each other’s shots as well. Eliminating those lost ball penalties will lower your scores and speed up play.
If you continue to lose golf balls because they simply land too far off the fairways or greens, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Do You Struggle with Balance?
Do you find yourself stepping back after your swing as you watch your shot fly high and with a slice? Do you find yourself stepping forward after your shot as you watch your shot fly low and hooking? These are signs of improper balance during your swing. To regain your balance during your swing, try practicing on the driving range hitting shots with your feet close together. Swing easy at first until you have regained your balance throughout your swing. Slowly widen your stance as your balance comes back to your swing. If you still struggle with your balance, you might try as I did after a recent fall and have your balanced checked with Jason at North Idaho Physical Therapy in CDA. With a few exercises after testing, my inner ear balance returned quickly.
Grip It and Rip It
John Daly’s famous method of Grip it and Rip it has been well accepted for decades. The key to John Daly’s method is the fact that distance comes from faster clubhead speed. Many golfers assume that John is squeezing his grip as hard as he is swinging his driver. Your driver is the lightest club in your bag! A softer grip allows you to swing the driver faster than a tightly squeezed grip. Just as you can run faster with relaxed muscles over tight muscles, your relaxed hands and wrists will swing your driver faster.
If you need help with your grip pressure for more distance, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Look Out for Sucker Shots
They say there is a sucker is born every minute, and we certainly have our fair share on the golf course. I wish I had a dollar for every golfer suckered into going for the tucked flag on the corner of the green, or tee shots cutting the dogleg hole with tall trees.
Golf courses are designed with challenging shots and sucker shots, and we need to know the difference. Check to see if there is room for error or if the advance is worth the risk. The best location to check for the true landing areas on the fairways and the greens is from behind the green looking back towards the fairway. So, play it safe the first time, but plan your strategy for the next round.
For more help understanding course strategy and game management, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Bounce and Roll
We can learn quite a bit from the landing and roll of our golf balls on the greens. Some golfers never see their ball bounce or roll as they walk to the cart or are throwing a tantrum. Watch to see which way your ball rolls on the green when you chip to see how your putt will probably break. Did your ball roll fast or slow? If your ball bounced high, the green is probably hard and fast. Don’t limit your learning from your own shots. Watch how your playing partners’ golf balls bounce and roll. For more help reading the bounce and roll of shots on the green, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
The Right Shot vs The Correct Shot
Making this decision is one of the toughest calls in golf. With all the golf magazines, tips (including mine), lessons, and golf videos, we usually know the correct shot. Our problem is deciding between the right shot and the correct shot.
The correct shot is what we have been told and the right shot is what we are capable of executing. The best strategy to use when playing is the right shot. You should go to the range and/or practice green to add the correct shot as one of your future right shot choices. Until you can execute the correct shot, don’t ever try it on the golf course. IF you are playing a round without any bets or in a tournament, you can certainly try a new shot and have some fun with it.
For more help with learning the correct shots, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Downhill Lies
Hitting from a downhill lie is one of the most difficult shots in golf. Most golfers try to help lift the ball, but this only hurts the situation. The keys to playing this shot are to keep your hips and shoulders parallel to the slope of the ground and to play the ball from the normal position in your stance. The downhill lie will deloft your club, so use one less club than normal. Never swing hard on these shots because keeping your balance is difficult from uneven lies. For more help with downhill shots, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Hitting out of a Divot
Don’t you hate walking up to a perfect drive only to find your ball in a divot? No need to panic, simply use one more club than normal (i.e. use your 6-iron when you would usually use your 7-iron). Now hit a punch shot, striking the ball first and driving the clubhead towards your target. This way you will hit the ball firmly without having to swing hard. Practice this shot on the range – you will find how easy it is to master this shot in just a few minutes.
For more help hitting shots out of divots, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
How to Become a Great Putter
To become a great putter, you must first become a good putter. This all starts with a good attitude, commitment, and patience. Stop complaining about your putting; always tell yourself that you are a good putter, and make the commitment to practice your putting. Consider taking a putting lesson to get you started in the right direction. Practice does not make perfect, practice makes progress.
If you have a problem with 3-putts, work to eliminate the 3-putts before you start trying to make all 1-putts. Great putters are simply good putters having a great day or week. Great putters are consistently good, not consistently great. Give yourself the time to develop into a good putter. Even good putters occasionally 3-putt. After 3-putting a green, don’t assume you will putt poorly for the rest of your round.
For more help with your putting, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
A Reduction in Flexibility is a Loss of Distance
As some of us start to lose our flexibility, we start to lose some of our distance off the tee and other shots. We tend to shorten our swing and try to make up for the shorter swing by swinging harder. Here is a tip to increase your flexibility: try the Duck Feet Stance. Narrow your stance slightly, then turn your feet outwardly about an inch. You will find your backswing and follow through will be much easier. Try it without a golf club first. Stand with your feet straight ahead and turn until you feel resistance. Now slightly narrow your stance and turn our toes outwardly about an inch and turn until you feel resistance. You should experience the ability to turn both ways much further and easier. If this does not help, it may be time to go to a physical therapist to help with a program to regain your flexibility. I have received great help with my flexibility and regained lost distance off the tee from the North Idaho Physical Therapy here in Post Falls. They also have locations in Hayden and CDA.
Reading Greens
Reading greens is not something you never forget, like riding a bike. You need to continually practice reading greens. Many golfers often play the same golf course and learn the beaks by trial and error. When you play a different golf course for the first time, reading greens can be very difficult if you do not practice reading greens at your own course. When you practice your putting, practice reading your putts as well. Greens will break the same direction water would run off the green. Look for the high and low points of each green to help read your putts.
For more help with reading your putts, come up to the Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
The Recovery Shot
A good recovery shot is a combination of landing on the green and giving yourself the easiest putt possible to help make up for the shot you lost getting into trouble in the first place. When addressing this shot, aim for a place on the green that sets up your best putt you are comfortable with, such as uphill, downhill, left to right break, or right to left break.
Of equal importance is that you resist the temptation of trying to make up your lost stoke by attempting to chip in or pull off a miracle shot. Most failed recovery shots come from players being too aggressive or taking high risk shots that leave their golf ball in the 3-putt range, over the green, or dumping into a bunker. Practice your recovery shots as even good golfers need at least two recovery shots a round. For more help with your recovery shots, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Punch Out-Then Recover
Today’s players often overlook the skill and sensibility of the punch-out shot. Many try to make the punch-out shot their recovery shot as well. When you are in trouble, your first priority must be to get your golf ball back safely on the fairway. Do not try that difficult high risk shot to the green, between two trees several feet apart on a day your skill and control has put you 20 yards into the trees. Even if you need to hit your ball backwards to get to the fairway, that’s okay. It is not how close you are to the green with your shot, rather can you still match your target score for that hole with a one putt.
For more help with your punch out shots, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Lay Up or Lay Back
Many golfers try do the right thing by hitting their shot short of the lake or creek rather than trying the high risk shot of flying over the water towards the green. But for some strange reason, these same smart golfers try to lay up as close to the water’s edge as possible. The truly smart golfer will lay back away from the water to protect from the penalty of landing or rolling into the water. The key is to lay back away from trouble, not lay up to it. Lower scores come from smart play and dry shots. If you need help with game management, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Don’t miss Club Demo Day at Highlands on Saturday, April 30th. Bring your Driver, 7 iron, or whatever club you are considering replacing. This way you can compare your club to the other new clubs available at the Demo Day.
Hook or Slice on Command
Hitting a hook or a slice on command is not as difficult as you may think. Aim your body and swing in the direction you want your shot to begin and aim your clubface where you want your ball to land. Your ball flight will curve as consistently and dramatically as you set up. The larger the curve needed, the more difficult the shot results become. For more help with controlling your hook or slice shot on demand, come up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
Don’t miss Club Demo Day at Highlands on Saturday, April 30th. Bring your Driver, 7 iron, or whatever club you are considering replacing. This way you can compare your club to the other new clubs available at the Demo Day.
Maximum Distance for Your Drives
You have a maximum distance for every club in your bag, including your driver. We must learn to accept our driving length just like we accept our personal distance for our 8 iron or 5 iron. For some reason, we all believe there is never a maximum distance for our driver. We need to work on controlling our driver at maximum distance like we do with our 8 iron. The pros know their distances and hit to the area of the fairways that best suits their driver. Know your distances and plan your round according to YOUR driving distance, not Tiger’s. With the use of my launch monitor, I can record and report to you all of your personal distances with every club in your bag. Want to find out? Come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a personal measuring. You may consider being fitted for a driver to see if that may add distance to your drives. I would love to help you.
**Don’t miss Highlands’ Demo Day on Saturday, April 30th. Check out Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, and Henry Griffitts golf clubs!**
Tee Off with Your Fairway Wood
Using your fairway wood from the tee can improve your accuracy, distance, and lower your scores. The fairway wood will improve your drives because of the shorter shaft and the increase in loft. The shorter shaft is easier to control and the greater loft will reduce the amount of hook or slice on your tee shot. For those with low tee shots, distance may be added by using a fairway wood. When the wind is at your back, the higher flight from your fairway wood will carry further. With less hook or slice, you will be playing from the fairway rather than playing recovery golf from the rough. By keeping more of your drives in the fairway and out of the woods or out of bounds, watch how your scores begin to drop immediately. When the fairways are wet from rain, your fairway wood drives will fly further, as the roll is usually limited on those wet fairways. For more help with your driver or driver options, come up to Highland Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
**Don’t miss Highlands’ Demo Day on Saturday, April 30th. Check out Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, and Henry Griffitts golf clubs!**
Keep the Ball Forward on Bunker Shots
If you are having trouble getting out of bunkers, I have a couple of tips for you. Many golfers play the ball too far back in their stance. This will decrease the loft of your sand wedge causing a lower flight out of the bunker. Also, with the ball too far back in your stance, you are hitting too sharply down towards the ball eliminating the bounce on the bottom of your wedge. Your bounce is what helps your club swing through and out of the sand. The old saying is if your club does not get out of the sand, your ball probably will not get out of the bunker. Play your ball center to slightly forward in your stance and your shots will fly higher and the bounce on your wedge will help your shot out of the sand. For more help with your bunker shots, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
**Don’t miss Highlands’ Demo Day on Saturday, April 30th. Check out **Don’t miss Highlands’ Demo Day on Saturday, April 30th. Check out Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, and Henry Griffitts golf clubs!**
Playing Golf in Cold Weather
With colder temperatures, one of the big questions golfers have is how to keep warm without affecting their swings. We cannot bundle up without restricting our swings, but there are ways to beat the cold. My favorite tip is using hand warmers by keeping them under a wristband. Keep the warming pad under a wristband right where you would take your pulse. You can use hand warmer pads in your socks as well.
The hand warmers in our pro shop have a 10-hour lifespan and are activated by the oxygen in the air. Once you’re finished with your round, simply seal the hand warmer in a Ziplock bag (heavy-duty freezer Ziplock’s work best), and it will deactivate when deprived of oxygen. When you’re ready to use again, just remove the hand warmer from the Ziplock, shake, and it’ll provide hours more warmth! For more tips on staying warm on those early Spring morning tee times, come on up to Highlands. I would love to help you.
**Don’t miss Highlands’ Demo Day on Saturday, April 30th. Check out Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, and Henry Griffitts golf clubs!**
Holiday Golf Tip for Everybody!
Back in my 20’s, I loved to eat corn on the cob, but I never had two corn holders at a time. While burning the ends of my fingers, I noticed some golf tees on my kitchen table and stuck one in at the both ends of my ear of corn. Just a quick tip for how you can use your golf tees for home use or parties.
This is my last golf tip of the year and will be back with more tips next March. Don’t forget to stop by the pro shop for some great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.
Let Santa Help Your Golf Game
Let Santa help your golf game. Tim, BJ, and Jess have a special connection with Santa, so leave your Gift List with them to make any special orders for Santa to pick up. Suggestions like a new Driver, putter, wedge, shoes, lessons, golf balls, and so much more. Gifting a wedge or putter fitting and a golf lesson is a good way to start off the year. The Pro Shop Holiday Sale will be Saturday and Sunday, November 20th and 21st, from 9am to 3:00pm with great discounts!
After Work Golf Lessons Available
Interested in golf lessons after work from 5:00pm to 8:00pm? I will be offering 45 minute golf lessons in the cooler later afternoon and evenings. If you would like a lesson after work or dinner, please e-mail me at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
Put Greenside Bunkers in Their Proper Perspective
Many golfers tell me that greenside bunkers and their golf balls must have some magnetic attraction to each other. “If there is a bunker, my ball will find it.” Try this different perspective on viewing bunkers the next time out on the course. Could you land your ball from 125 yards away onto a green as small as a bunker? Don’t let a small bunker distract you from landing on a much larger green. The truth is, greens are at least 10-20 times larger than the bunkers. If you are good enough to land your ball in a small bunker, surely you are good enough to land your ball on a much larger green. When we put bunkers in their proper perspective, we see that the fear of finding them was much larger than their actual size. For more help blocking out trouble and focusing on your true target, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
The Texas Wedge
What is the number one choice for off-green short shots? The Texas Wedge, better known as your putter! Whenever possible, use your putter from off the green, because you will have more control and better distance judgement with your putter. Your putter is the club you use most often, so the odds in your favor using your putter for getting closest to the hole. There are three factors to help you determine if you can use your putter from off the green. First, your ball should have a good lie with nothing to impair your stroke. Next, the condition of the turf should be in good condition as well as cut smoothly and evenly. Finally, the distance between your ball and the edge of the green should not be too far as to hinder your judgement of ball speed. The rules for off-green shots are: whenever possible, putt. If you can’t putt, chip. If you can’t putt or chip, pitch. If you have very little room and the pin is close, use the flop shot. If you need help with off-green putts, chips, pitches, or flop shots, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
If The Shoe Fits….
If you and I were to have a 40-yard foot race, you would probably beat me. If on the second race, you had to wear Shaquille O’Neal’s size 23 shoes, you may still beat me, but you could not run at your best. Also, you would need to change your natural running stride and probably stumble a few times. The same is true with playing with misfit golf clubs as your missed shots would be more frequent and go much further off line. As you would lose speed with misfit shoes, you will lose distance with misfit golf clubs. You will have larger slices, more fat and thin shots, and play much more recovery golf. Now, having properly fitted shoes does not mean you will be running in the next Olympics, but you will run naturally to the best of your ability. Having properly fitted golf clubs does not mean you will be playing on the Tour next year. However, with properly fitted clubs, you will play to the best of your ability, have fewer miss hits, and your misses will not be as severe slices, thin, or fat shots. I am a Certified Club Fitter and if you would like to be properly fitted for the right size clubs for longer and straighter shots, come on up to Highlands Golf Course, I would love to help you.
Don’t Forget Your Driver
We need to practice our putting and short game, but don’t forget to practice your driver. Most bad scoring holes started with a bad drive. When you practice your drives at the range, have specific targets or create fairways between yardage signs and range flags. Your driver is usually used on 14 of 18 holes at most golf courses. The average golfer can have great scoring results if only he or she started with a drive in the fairway. Your short game can save you strokes, but just think how your putting and chipping can lower your scores if you are not in trouble off the tee. Practice your tee shots at the driving range with an emphasis on control by aiming at a specific target or lane on the range. Concentrate on direction control and solid contact rather than trying to hit the ball 300 yards. For help with your driver, come up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Judging Distance for Long Putts
The one time distance is more important than direction is with putting. Very rarely are we more than a foot off-line, but it is very common to be 3 or 4 feet short or long with your putts. We like to read our putts from behind the ball looking towards the hole. This view is helpful for reading the break, but a side view is better for judging distance. For example, if I were to point a golf club directly at you and ask how long the club is, this would be more difficult than if I held the club sideways and ask you how long the club is. After reading your break, step to the side of your putt (the downhill side) to give you a better idea of the distance of your putt. You should also see more of the cup if you are on the downhill side. If you see less of the hole, try setting on the other side of your ball. If this view gives you more of the hole, you probably misread your putt. If you need more help with judging the distance on your long putts, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Practice Swing Divots
Does your practice swing feel better than your regular swing? This is a fairly common feeling, but not incurable. Next time you golf, look where your practice swing divot lines up with your stance. Many times the practice swing divot will show you the natural bottom of your swing. Try lining up even with your golf ball for your practice swing and see if your practice swing divot is even with the ball. If your divot is either behind or forward of your ball, make an address adjustment and set up accordingly on your next shot. If you need help finding the turn bottom of your swing, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Fairway Woods
Although the fairway wood is good to use as a driver for most players, its number one function is from the fairway. For those needing to use their fairway wood for most of the par 4s, all of the par 5s, and some of the par 3s, make as much effort to find a good fairway wood as you did for your driver. Your fairway wood should be easy to swing, give good height to your shots, and give you the ability to hit the difficult lines. Control is more important than distance from your fairway wood. Be sure to check the sole of the fairway wood shaping to play through heavy grass. There are plenty of fairway woods to choose from with all kinds of playing features. For help choosing your next fairway wood, come on up to Highlands Golf Course and let us fit you for your perfect fairway wood. I would love to help you.
Easy as Shaking Hands
Are you one of those golfers twisted like a pretzel during your swing? Having trouble keeping your balance? Well, the golf swing is as easy as shaking hands! On your backswing, simply turn like you are shaking hands with a person behind you. On your follow through, turn like you are shaking hands with a person in line with your target. It is really that natural for you to turn, keeping your balance, with a tension free swing. Slowly practice swinging with an extra golf glove on the end of your club head to help give you the feeling of shaking hands. For more help with your hand shake to better golf, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Elvis Sighted at Highlands Golf Course
Elvis would be proud of some of the moves our golfers are making on the driving range and golf course. Hips, knees, and arms have been seen flying in all directions as the golfers try to hit the ball further. The pros swing with effortless power and many amateurs swing with powerless effort.
Golfers need to keep in mind what parts need to make most of the moves. The club head travels 16 feet, our hands move 5 feet, and our body moves about 6 inches. With this in mind, we should concentrate our efforts to move the club head more and our bodies less.
Our body is to support our golf swing, rather than the golf club trying to keep up with our body. This is why the pros look like they are swinging so easy and hitting the ball so far. If you need help with your swing, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Bend at the Joints
Keeping our left arm straight (for right handed golfers) is one of the worst words of advice a golfer can receive. Your body should be bent at the joints and allow centrifugal force to straighten your arms at impact. You should have the ability to hinge at your wrist, elbows, hips, shoulders, and knees at your address position and throughout your swing. Just as a runner would never run with their knees locked, we should not swing with our elbows locked. Locked elbows will slow down your swing, cause you to lose distance, and bring on the slice. For more help with your address position, come up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Slicers: Pick up 20 yards on your drives
If you are a slicer and looking to pick up 20 more yards off the tee, help is just 10 feet away! Right handed slicers should tee off from the right side of the tee blocks and aim towards the left side of the fairway. When your slice lands on the fairway, it should roll towards the center of the fairway rather than sideways. If you are left handed, tee off from the left side of the tee blocks and aim towards the right side of the fairway. You have always had that extra yardage on your tee shots, but the problem was the direction your ball rolled after landing. If your slice is so bad that you must aim out of bounds or towards the trees lining the fairway, it is time to come up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Lost your Putting Stroke?
There are times we just lose our putting stroke completely. Nothing feels right, we jab, we jerk, we push, and we pull. The 3-step way to get your stroke back starts with no hole and no golf ball! We are so target oriented, we will do anything to get the ball in the hole. You should not work on your putting stroke and try to make putts at the same time. The first step is to practice stoking your putter without a ball or target AND with your eyes closed. Keep stroking your putter until you can feel the putter head and your tempo return. Now open your eyes and stroke some putts with your eyes open with a golf ball, but no target. Third, once you are stroking the ball on the sweet spot of your putter, add a target (cup) and stroke a few putts at the hole. You should have your stoke and tempo back and return to being the normal good putter that you are. For more help to find your stroke, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Build your Stance from the Ball Back to You
The average golfer usually takes his or her stance and then reaches out to the ball with their club. This is a major problem as they don’t stand the proper distance from the ball on each shot. Start by placing your club behind the ball facing your target with the sole of your club flat on the ground. Set up to your club and let the club show you where to stand. This works for every shot and you will see all the pros do this on Tour. If you take your stance first, many times you are too far from the ball and change your posture to reach the ball. If you are too close to the ball, you simply lean too far back from the ball. This will be a balance problem for you if you are too far or too close to the ball. Don’t blame your swing if your stance is off balance. For more help with your address position, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you.
Flamingo Drill
One of the keys to good chipping is keeping your weight on your forward foot. Many golfers make the mistake of thinking their weight is forward, but when their head is behind the ball, their weight stays behind the ball as well. This can lead to those round-wrecking “fat” or “chili-dip” chip shots. To rid yourself of these frustrating wasted strokes, try the Flamingo Drill during your next practice time.
It’s very simple. Just practice chipping with all of your weight on your forward foot and keep your back foot in the air, giving you a flamingo stance. If you have trouble keeping your balance, start with your back foot toe on the ground. This drill will keep force you to keep your weight forward during your chips. This keeps body from swaying. It is important to keep your body “quiet” and allows your arms, shoulders, and a firm grip to do all the work.
For more help with your chipping, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you. You may e-mail me at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
You can be as Good as Jack Nicklaus!
I worked 4 years with the Nicklaus/Flick Golf School when they were at Pebble Beach 4 – 6 times a year. Jack Nicklaus would always say that all golfers can be as good as him before they start their swing, but very few are. Many times golfers would say their shots tend to go to the right or the left and wanted to know what was wrong with their swing. Most of the time the golfers were aiming to the left of the right of their target and blamed their swing without checking their address position. Golfers believing the problem is within their swing and not checking their address position, start changing their swings. This usually ends up with golfers trying to make two wrongs make a right. You also may be standing too far or too close to the ball causing problems for your shots. If you want to be as good as Jack Nicklaus before you start your swing, come up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you. You may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
Fired, Divorced, and Alone
Have you ever listened to how some golfers talk to themselves on the golf course? If you talked that way to your co-workers, spouse, and friends, you would be Fired, Divorced, and Alone! After hitting a bad shot, many golfers will tell themselves what an idiot they are and how they will probably continue to hit bad shots for the rest of their round. Can you believe after talking that way to themselves for 200 yards, they are surprised when they hit the next shot poorly? We need to be our own best friend and personal cheerleader on the golf course. You really did not come out to the golf course and pay money to yell at yourself. Please come out and have a great time and allow the others playing with you to enjoy their round of golf as well. Golf is just a game… let’s have some fun with it.
Downhill Chips
One of the toughest chips in golf is from a downhill lie. Most players try to “scoop” their chip thinking they are helping lift the ball. Scooping is the worst thing you can do on downhill chips. First, you must realize the ball will fly lower and with less backspin than your normal chip. Just plan to land the ball further from the hole to allow for the added roll. As you address the ball, keep your weight on your forward foot. Try to stand parallel to the hill as possible with your shoulders level to the ground. Use a steep angle of attack striking the ball first, then the grass. This is a great time to use your Sand Wedge or 60 degree Lob Wedge for added loft. If you need more help with your downhill chips, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you. You may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
Have you tried a Yellow Golf Ball?
I attended a TaylorMade Custom Fitting and Product Seminar recently at Lake Merced Golf and Country Club. One of the interesting things I learned is why golfers are playing more yellow golf balls than ever. The reason is that yellow is the only color easier to see than white. This is why you see so many yellow softballs and tennis balls in sports. If you are having trouble following your ball flight or finding your ball, try using a yellow ball and see if it helps you.
What are the Effects of Groove Wear on Performance?
Titleist tested used wedges for 125 rounds, 75 rounds, and a new wedge with fresh grooves.
After 125 rounds : 24 feet of roll out, after 75 rounds : 18 feet of roll out, and Fresh grooves : 10 feet of roll out. This means you cannot blame our Superintendent if your wedge shots don’t hold of the greens like they used to. If you have over 125 rounds and normal practice, it is time to consider replacing your wedges or continually adjusting your wedge shots. For more help with your new wedge, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you.
The Driving Tip for More Distance that Golfers Hate to Hear.
Golfers are always looking for more distance with their drives. You can swing as hard as you like—as long as you make solid contact with the ball, your clubface is square to your target, you strike the center of your clubface, and you maintain your balance throughout your swing. If you swing harder, you may pick up 5-7 more yards. If you are just ½ inch off the center of your driver’s clubface, you will lose at least 7% of your distance. This means you are losing 7 yards of distance for every 100 yards off your drives, or 17 yards off of your 250 yard drive! If you need help finding how you can hit longer drives, come on up to Highlands Golf Course. I would love to help you. You may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
¾ and ½ Wedge Shots
One of the most frustrating shots is the ½ to ¾ wedge shots. Many golfers try to take a full swing, then decelerate when the club is about to hit the ball. This can result in a “fat shot” or if you do not decelerate, you may find that you fly the green. Another fatal attempt is the “wrist swing” in which you hinge your wrist for the ½ wedge shot, but never move your arms. This results many times as a skull or fat shot. Use an arm swing where your hands go waist high for the ½ shot or your hands go shoulder high for the ¾ shot. Practice this shot on the range and you will learn your distances fairy quickly. If you need help with your ½ and ¾ wedge shots, come on up to Highlands golf Course for a lesson. You may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com. I would love to help you.
Are you too proud to learn?
Struggling golfers often prolong their agony by avoiding professional instruction and continue to try and figure it out on their own. Listen to what some of the greatest golfers have said regarding lessons: “Don’t be too proud to take a lesson, I’m not.” – Jack Nicklaus. “What you might learn in 6 months of practice, your pro can teach you in 30 minutes.” – Ben Hogan. “If you play poorly one day, forget it. If you play poorly the next time out, review your fundamentals. If you play poorly for the third time in a row, see your golf professional.” – Harvey Penick. “No one becomes a champion without help.” – Johnny Miller. If you are in need of instruction, you may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com. I would love to help you.
Do you Top, Skull, or Thin shots, especially Chip Shots?
The obvious answer, especially for beginners, is you looked up before hitting your shot. I have found it is more common with experienced golfers to be looking at the top of the ball during their swing. You should be looking at the back of the ball, not the top of the ball. You eye/hand coordination is better than you think. If you look at the top of the ball, you probably will hit the top of the ball. Most golfers don’t know what part of the ball they are looking at because they have been told to just look at the ball. Try looking at the back of the ball, where you want to hit the ball on all your shots, except your bunker shots. This should help you hit more solid shots. If you need more help hitting the ball more solidly, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson. I would love to help you. You may e-mail me for a lesson at bruce@thehighlandsgc.com.
Under or 6 Feet Under
One of the key differences between good rounds and bad rounds of golf is your putting. The good players are very good putters 6 feet from the hole. The golfers crying in their beers at the clubhouse can’t make a 6 foot putt if their $500 driver depended on it! We must keep our putting skills sharp. Good putting is not like riding a bike; we must practice regularly. Practice your putting by starting at 1 foot from the hole and work your way back, one foot at a time, until you are comfortable making putts from 6 feet. This improvement in your putting takes so much pressure off of your chipping and long putts. Good putting can make up for bad shots, but bad putting will destroy a round of good shots.
Putting Tip Helps Your Tee Shots
Most golfers know to line up the name on the golf ball or use a line on your golf ball in the direction you want to putt. This tip not only keeps your putter face on line, but also encourages you to stroke through the line. This tip is also good for all of your tee shots! When you tee up your ball, use the same line or name on the ball to point in the direction you want to hit your tee shot. To see if this tip will help your tee shots, try it out on the driving range using the stripe on the range balls and swing through the stripe. The stripe also will give you a good guide line for your clubface and body set up. For more help hitting your drives as straight as your putts, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson, or call us at 208-773-3673.
Which is the best club for your chips?
Given there are no obstacles like bunkers or split level greens, you should have one club to use on most of your chips. To find the best club for you, set up a 30 to 40 foot putt just on the practice green. Stroke several putts from this location to know how large a stroke you need from that distance. Now, place a couple of balls just off the practice green at the same distance from the hole. Start with your 7 iron and use the same size swing as your putter to see how close you come to the hole. If you are long, switch clubs down to your 8 iron. If you are short, switch to your 6 iron. Continue switching clubs until your chipping iron matches your putter distance. The added bonus is every time you practice your long putts, you are practicing your distance control with your chipping. Likewise, practicing your chipping will help your distance control on your long putts. For more help finding the best chipping club for you, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson, or call us at 208-773-3673.
Death Grip and the Slice
Do you have the “Death Grip” on your clubs? If so, you are probably squeezing your way to a wicked slice. It’s a simple formula: the harder you squeeze, the more you lock your wrists. The wrists cannot hinge if they are locked from squeezing. When you lighten your grip, your wrists will hinge more naturally and the slice will straighten out. If you lighten your grip even more, you just might hit a hook! A softer grip allows you to feel the position of your club head throughout your swing. Try holding a club with a soft grip and notice how you can feel the club. Now hold the club with a tight grip, and you’ll notice that all you can feel is the grip. If you are having trouble with your grip pressure, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson, or call us at 208-773-3673.
The One Dollar Tip
The most common problem with bunker shots is the golf club not swinging all the way through the sand. Many golfers have a tendency to “jab” or “chop” at the ball rather than taking a smooth, complete swing that takes their club head all the way through the sand.
Next time you are at the practice bunker, place a dollar bill on the sand. Draw a long line at each end of the bill in the sand. Now practice swinging with your sand wedge entering the sand at the first line and coming out at the second line. After you have mastered this drill, place a ball in the middle of the two lines and hit the best sand shot of your life! If you still need help with your bunker shots, come on up to Highlands Golf Course for a lesson, or call us at 208-773-3673.