Continued...

Question
QUESTION: Since there were too many follow ups I decided to post a new question :P

I totally forgot about that alignment thing that i learned! I'll remember to do that next time. I usually pick out like a blade of grass or something along the alignment I'm aiming for, then I setup.

I'll tell you what happens next time I play :]

One more thing I remembered... on the front nine that day (I was doing horrible) I hit some 30-50 yard pitches really thin. I don't know if I was trying to use my wrists or something, but it went away totally in the back nine... It also tends to happen in the fairway. when I'm in light rough it never goes thin.

Thanks!!

ANSWER: Jeff,

Thin or "bellied" pitches are usually the result of the club ascending (moving in an upward direction) at impact. This is caused by the early release of the hands and wrists.

To hit this shot correctly, the club must be moving in a downward fashion (a descending blow) to make solid contact with ball and get the trajectory desired. The hands must be ahead of the clubhead at impact.

Let me know how it goes and keep the questions coming.

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional
pgapro@[email protected]

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QUESTION: Not sure if you got my email.. i'll just post it here then:

I was just at the range today and I was badly pulling my driver (it was going low and went way left). I tried what you told me (alignment), and it sort of helped.

Here is what I do when I go through my backswing (or try to):

1. Try to maintain a slower backswing following an imaginary line from behind the golf ball.
2. Keeping my chin up and not lifting up....

I'm not sure what's making me do this, but I was wondering if you could give me some tips...

Another pga person at my golf course I asked said that my clubface was too closed on five wood shots off the ground, and that helped it go up in the air. but for driver shots it just makes the ball slice...

I just watched a video on how to stop pull shots as well...

I also took some lessons from a pga pro and he said at the top of my backswing (we recorded this on a video thing) I sort of have another little turn that goes a bit over the top.. could that be the problem?

thanks!

ANSWER: Jeff,

If the club at the start of the downswing is being initiated by your upper body, arms or hands (referencing the little turn you saw in the video) the club will likely be on an outside to inside swing path. This move will deloft your club and with that path the ball will be pulled to the left.

You need to start the downswing with a shift of your weight using your lower body toward your front foot. This will allow the club to come into the area from the inside. This would be the ideal path.

Give this a try and let me know if it helps.

Thanks again,

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, I'll try that method next time I play.

I just played yesterday as well, shot an 88, but it was basically like the EXACT same thing that happened last time. on the front nine, I was doing horrible, but on the back nine it was like perfect :o

Anyways, I was just wondering if you had any tips on hitting iron and hybrids more solid on the course. I usually hit my irons and hybrids decent, but most of the time I feel that I'm hitting a little bit thin (mostly with my hybrids) and not getting a divit. Is this because I am lifting up?

Thanks!

Answer
It sounds as though once you are warmed up, your game improves. Spend some additional time on the practice range prior to your tee time. Properly stretch before you hit some practice balls. This should have you properly warmed up to go to the 1st tee.

As far as your hybrids are concerned the motion at impact should be more of a sweeping motion. If your hitting them thin it's possible that you are losing the knee flex at impact, or standing up. Have someone take a video of your swing to evaluate your motion.

Thank you,

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional