Bobby Eldridge Golf

Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Swing Instruction

The best kept secret in golf is to make sure you aim your golf club first then your body.  This game is tough enough without making it more difficult by aiming your body first.  Let me explain what happens when you aim your body first.

When you walk up to the golf ball and plant your feet in the ground and aim them AT the target, along with your knees, hips and shoulders, from the get-go, you are in big trouble.  Everything would be OK, except, you have to place the club behind the ball.  When you sole the clubhead it is going to be aimed MILES to the right of the target.

Now let me tell you what is has to happen from here.  You will have to compensate in order to get the golf ball to fly towards your target.  You will have to hook or pull it back on target.  That my friend is one tough way to play golf.  Don’t get me wrong, it can be done that way but it is very difficult.

Now I am going to tell you an easier way to play golf.  When you walk up to the golf ball you should sole the club first, aiming it at your target. 

Once you have done that you can begin to grip the club.

As you grip the club you can walk into the shot with your right foot behind you and then swing your left foot around so it is parallel to where you want the ball to start.

Once you have placed your feet parallel to the intended target line then your knees, hips and shoulders will follow.

From this position you look down the target line and “See” the target instead of turning your head back to the left to see it.  From this position you NEVER have to compensate during the golf swing.  You can make a full turn in the backswing and smash it from there. 

SO, repeat after me…golf club first then your body when you address the golf ball and not…body first, then golf club.

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Golf Lesson, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots by admin
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Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Swing Fixes

If you want to add 15 more yards to your tee shot-in three months, do what I did.  I have a confession to make.  Less than 24 months ago, my great friend Harvey Mackay asked me if I wanted to play 18 holes the following week.  I had cut way back on my golf both playing and practicing for the past couple of years and I was not looking forward to this round of golf.

By the time I reached the 12 hole he (74 year old) Harvey had outdriven me four times.  Harvey was playing to a 9 at the time and he is a great driver of the golf ball.  I should say straight driver of the golf ball with an average of 225 yards.  If I hit it well I was maybe 15 yards past him.  However if I missed the tee shot a tiny bit, I was hitting first onto the green.

When I walked up to the 13th tee, I remember it as thou it was yesterday, I decided that I was going to do something about my golf game.  The first thing I needed to do was start practicing and the second thing was to CATCH UP with the game.  It was passing me by.  The game was changing (getting longer) and I was stuck in neutral.

The next moring I ordered a Momentus Heavy Hittable Driver off of the internet with overnight delievery.  I could hardly pick it up.  I took it to the range, swung it five times and almost feel over.  That is when I decided that I needed to come up with a routine so I could take advantage of my new club.

I decided that I was going to swing the club 25 times, three days a week whether I was at the golf course or not.  In the backyard I went every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Once I started using it at the practice facility I then came up with another way to use it.  During practice sessions I swung it three times for every six balls I hit.  I like to hit three draws, three fades, three straight shots and then three swings with the heavy driver.

On days that I play, I have another routine that I have used for years.  I hit three shots with every club in my bag.  Now my routine includes swinging the heavy driver one time every time I change clubs.

OK, I know you are dying to hear the results.  The only reason I am not going to tell you how much further I am hitting the ball is that everybody is different.  The one thing I will tell you is that I am back.  I have caught up with the sport and…well ok, I am at least 20 yards further off of the tee and 1.5 clubs longer with my irons.  BUT, I have been VERY committed to this process.  I have not missed a day in two years.

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

#1.  Warm up before you pick up a heavy driver and start swinging it

#2.  Even thou it says it is a HITTABLE club, make 200 practice swings with it before you start hitting balls.  You have to get use to it first.

#3.  This is NOT an overnight fix for short tee shots.  Stay committed to see results.

#4.  I added 15 yards in the first three months, I kept going so I can keep what I have!!!

#5.  Harvey Mackay (USE YOUR HEAD TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR) is a genius at dishing out great business advice.  I took advantage of his lesson to me.

Start using a HITTABLE HEAVY DRIVER today and you will add 15 more yards to your tee shot-in three months, like me.

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Fitness, Golf Instruction, Golf Training Aids, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots, Training Aid by admin
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Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Online Golf Instruction

One of these days I am going to send out a survey to all golfers and it’s going to ask one question, “What starts the downswing?”

You can not believe some of the answers I have heard over the past 30 years.  Today I will tell you my answer and then I will tell you why I believe it to be.  The first thing you have to remember is that before you finish your back swing the golf club is already beginning to swing back towards the ball.  That is a fact.  I have a camera that takes 1000 fps and I have seen it on new golfers and Tour Professionals.  It is really cool.

Let’s put that fact aside and talk about the question as it relates to our swing thoughts.  No matter who you ask they will give you an answer.  The answer might start with the feet, ankles, hips and work it’s way up to the shoulders or chest.

You either believe that it is the upper body and arms or the lower body, the hips, knees, legs, ankles or feet.  Somewhere in the back of your mind you believe one or the other.  Upper body or lower body.

My take on it is a little different.  It has everything to do with your own golf swing.  If you are someone that hits a large number of pulls and hooks, you are going to have to move the bottom half of your body first.  If you hook or pull the golf ball the golf club is arriving at the bottom of the golf ball sooner than your body.  Instead of slowing down your arm swing you should speed up OR start your bottom half of your body first.

On the other hand.  If you are someone that hits pushes or slices, you are someone that is getting the body to active to soon in the downswing and the golf club is falling behind you.  Instead of changing your body action, try speeding up your arms and hands OR start them first.

Lastly, if you are someone that hits most of your shots in front of you.  STOP READING THIS ARTICLE.  It is not for you.  Seriously, if you are hitting the ball solid and you don’t struggle with shots to the right or left, then your timing is great.

If you stop and think about it, if the club arrives before you, your shots will start left, most of the time.  If the club arrives after you, your shots will start to the right, most of the time.  The next time someone asks you what starts the downswing, you can tell them-it all depends.

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots by admin
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Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Download Video Fixes

I am going to give you some great golf swing advice.  If you want to hit the golf ball further, you are going to have to use your wrists.  Before you run out to the practice facility, I have to tell you exactly “how” to use your wrist to benefit your golf swing.

Let’s start at the address position.  When you grip the golf club your wrist are unhinged.  As you start the club back the toe begins to roll open and so do your wrists.  When you reach the 9:00 o’clock position the back of the left hand should be parallel to your target line.

This is where you have to pay close attention to your wrists.  From this position to the top of the backswing the wrists have to start (folding, breaking or unhinging) call it what you want, they have to have some play in them.  By the time you reach the top of the backswing the shaft has to be parallel to the ground.

I know some of you struggle with arthritis, stiffness or the inability to turn like you use to.  When you reach the top of the backswing and your shaft is pointing to the sky, you are going to loose a lot of yardage.  The key here is to make sure you soften up the wrists and let them fold.  Do not keep them in the same position as they were in at address.  You are going to need as much sling in the downswing as you can muster up.

The best tip I can give you so you know for sure that you are folding your wrists at the top of the backswing is called the thumb pad drill.  When you address the golf ball your left thumb is on the top of the golf club.  When you reach the 9:00 o’clock position your left thumb is still on top of the golf club.  As you continue to turn your right shoulder out of the way and swing the club to the top of the backswing, your thumb pad is now UNDER the golf club.  In other words your left thumb pad is supporting the club at the top of the backswing.  That is how you can tell if you used your wrist.

I know this golf swing advice will help you hit longer shots the next time you tee it up.

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots by admin
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During my younger years playing golf in Southwest Florida I struggled with a swing mistake early on.  I use to slide-sway my right hip and (legs) back in the backswing and then slide-sway my left hip and (legs) towards the target in the downswing.  I am convinced to this day that it was due to my size.  I was tiny little guy growing up and back then we didn’t have junior golf clubs.

The only way I could get the golf club to move either way was to use my legs sliding back and forth.  Don’t get me wrong, I could really play with that method, until I lost my timing.  Once there was a little heat on me and my timing changed, my shots were going LEFT and I mean way left.  My lateral move had to be in sync or I was in trouble.

Once I realized my mistake I began to practice at home in the living room at night.  I would move my mom’s favorite rocking chair next to the couch and then stand between them.  WIth the rocking chair on my right and the couch on my left I would practice TURNING without touching them.  I would stand there forever until I could make a backswing and downswing without (sliding) touching them with my hips.

On the practice range there was an old aluminum garbage can that I would stand next to and hit balls.  I placed the garbage can next to my right side and hit balls without touching the can.  As the years passed I carried to golf shafts in my bag with me at all times and I would place one in the ground just outside my right foot and one in the ground just outside my left foot.  Using the two stakes trained me to turn in the backswing and not slide.

In recent years I keep two plastic stakes in my bag.  I rarely hit balls without using those stakes as a training tool to remind me to not allow the right side to slide in the backswing and to make sure I turn through in the downswing.

Bobby’s bit of wisdom:  The golf swing is a turning motion not a sliding move.  For immediate feedback stick two sticks to insure a TURN and not a SLIDE.

Tags: Full Swing, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots by admin
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There is a lot to be said about the amount of pressure you use to hold onto a golf club.  As a matter of fact there is grip pressure can also apply to most sports.  Keep in mind whether you are swinging a baseball bat, shooting a basketball, hitting a tennis ball or swinging a golf club; the tighter the muscles the more loss of speed and touch. 

Since there is no measuring device to gauge how tight you are gripping the club, you are going to have to go OLD SCHOOL with me on this one. 

If you slice the golf ball or hit shots to the right, you might be gripping the club too tight. If you grip the club too tight then your arms and shoulders will not be relaxed.  When you swing the golf club with a grip that is too tight you will not RELEASE the clubhead on time or with much speed.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that you might grip the club with the correct amount of pressure during your weekly round of golf with your friends.  Unfortunatley when it is tournament time, that might change.  Standing on the 17th tee with a one stroke lead in your club championship might cause the old “white knuckle grip” to raise it’s ugly head.

I want to leave you with a great way you can practice gripping it lighter.  Take out an 8 iron and after you address the golf ball and grip the club, I want you to grip it as tight as you possibly can.  Now I want you to hit three shots.  Make sure you keep the tight grip during the address, backswing, downswing, impact and follow through.  (That is how you grip it on the 17th tee.)

On the fourth shot I want you to go through the same routine, grip the club as tight as possible and then relax your grip as thou the club was going to come out of your hands.  I want you to hold it as thou you were holding a babies hand.  Now hit three more shots and compare the results. 

Remember:  Grip it as thou you were holding a babies hand, not holding on for your dear life!

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Hybrids, Solid Iron Shots by admin
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I know many of you love to use practice drills that will enable you to FEEL the correct way of making a change.  I have used this drill not only for my teaching but I have also used it myself over the years.  

Keep one thing in mind.  When you hit a shot to the right you either hit the ground behind it OR you catch the ball on the upswing and hit it thin or topped.  The reason you hit it thin is because the golf club is traveling too far from the INSIDE and is headed OUTSIDE. 

When you swing the golf club on an arc it travels from INSIDE to SQUARE (at impact) back to the INSIDE on the follow through.  The other thing you have to keep in mind is the flatter the club face the less divot you will have.  When you hit a thin 4 iron (it hurts) you will never see a divot unless you hit the ground behind the ball. 

Now, on to the drill.  Grab a 7 iron and lay two straight edges on the ground, (one for the target and one for your body line).  Lay a towel on the ground about 12 inches behind the ball. When you swing the club back make sure you miss the towel in the backswing and in the downswing. 

Another way to think of it is the golf club has to swing UP in the backswing and DOWN in the downswing.  When you hit it thin you swing to much UP in the downswing.  Start with a 9 iron and progress through your set of clubs.

Tags: Bunker Shots, Chipping, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Green Side Bunkers, Hybrids, LOB Wedge, Perfect Golf Swing Drills, Pitching, Short game, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots, Wedges by admin
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I am going to put a really different twist on why you struggle with your long fairway clubs-woods or hybrids.  The club in your bag that imparts the most backspin is highest lofted wedge (LOB, sand or pitching).  The club in your bag that imparts the most side spin is your driver. 

The reason we tee a driver up is to accomodate the loft.  If your driver has 10 degrees of loft and you tee it up, the effective loft on your driver has about 15 degrees of loft.  If you didn’t tee it up the effective loft would be about 5 degrees.

Has the light come on?  When you take a 15-20 degree fairway wood/hybrid and try and hit it off of the fairway it becomes a very difficult shot, even at our level of ability.  On top of that if you are trying to hit it off of a tight lie things can really get ugly.

The most common mistake is to hit tops to the right or ground behind the ball.  The reason is simple-you are swinging the club to SHALLOW…another weird golf word.  When the club head reaches the bottom of the arc the sole is swinging too level to the ground.

You have to have a bit more of a STEEP angle in the downswing.  The best way to practice this shot is to lay a towel 8-10 inches directly behind the ball and practice missing the towel in the backswing and downswing.  If you miss the towel the club head has to swing DOWN into the bottom of the ball and not UP on the ball.

Tags: Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Hybrids by admin
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Stop Slicing Your Driver…Today

Yesterday I told you there are two ways of slicing a golf ball.  Either the face is open at impact or the path the golf club is swinging on is coming to much from outside to inside.  Before I tell you how to fix this mistake I should tell you in a bit more detail what an out to in swing path is. 

When we address the golf ball we have to stand to the side of it.  If you draw a line on the ground from your target (the flag) straight through the middle of the golf ball and pass through it for three more feet that line is referred to as our target line.  It also represents one more thing.  When we swing a golf club back away from the golf ball the club head has to swing away from that line on an arc.  When you swing the club head back down to hit the golf ball it has to return on the exact same path back to the golf ball.  At the moment of impact it is square to that line (only for an inch or two) and then it has to swing past the golf ball on the arc again. 

If you swing the golf club back and forth on an arc (with a square club face) the golf ball will start straight and fly straight at your target.  However if you swing the golf club too far OUTSIDE the target line in the downswing the club head will swing too much to the INSIDE after impact imparting left to right spin on the golf ball.

That is exactly why your golf ball starts off in the left hand rough and ends up in the right hand rough.  OK, now how do you stop it?  #1. Check your ball position.  It is probably too far forward in your stance.  #2.  Check your shoulder alignment.  They are probably aiming too far to the left of your target.  #3 Check to make sure you swing the driver back down on an arc. Draw an arc on the ground behind the golf ball so you can follow it in the downswing.

There is one last thing to keep in mind.  Because the driver has a flatter faced club in your bag, it slices the most.  If you make the same swing with a five iron, the five iron won’t slice nearly as much as the driver.  If you make the same swing mistake with a five iron it will start left but it will fly straight left.  The five iron puts more BACKSPIN on a golf ball and not as much SIDESPIN.

Come back tomorrow and I will have the next couple of steps for creating backspin.

Golfingly yours,

Bobby

Tags: Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Hybrids by admin
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