Bobby Eldridge Golf

There is one thing about the game of golf: score cards don’t lie.  Ok I will agree with you on one point.  I have played a number of rounds in my life where I hit the ball very well, putted great and got nothing out of the round. 

On the other hand there have been many rounds where I couldn’t find the golf course.  I was lucky no one got hurt.  However at the end of the day when I added up the score card I was very pleased with the number. 

You have to keep in mind that golf is NOT one round.  It is a lifetime experience.  The only way you are going to improve is to continue to punch holes in your score card and find out what part of your game needs work.  That does not happen in one round of golf.

I know you are wondering where you should start.  There are a couple of stats that jump out at me.  Start with the driver.  You have to track every tee shot.  Keep a blank score card in your pocket and after every tee shot record whether you hit the fairway or missed to the left or right. 

The next statistic that will help you lower your score is did you short side your approach shot?  It doesn’t matter if it is the first, second, third or even fourth shot of the hole.  Did you short side yourself?  The definition of short siding is when you leave your approach shot in a position where you don’t have any green to work with. 

Everytime you prepare to approach a green you have to ask yourself the 10 million dollar question.  What side is the short side?  The safe side might leave you with a 30 yard pitch shot with nothing but a tiny fringe and then the putting green in front of you.  The short side might leave you with a 7 yard LOB shot over a bunker with a 12 foot lip and a slope running straight down hill to the hole.  You do the math.  It doesn’t take many of those a day to ruin a good round of golf.

Lastly, grade your attitude before you tee off, when you make the turn and when you walk off of the golf course.  It is a great stat to keep track of.  If you can maintain an upbeat and fun attitude your scores will reflect it.  I have gone on record for years as saying that I haven’t found a more enjoyable place to spend four hours than a golf course-when I am playing well and having fun.  On the other hand it is the most miserable place to be for four hours when you are struggling and not having fun.

Remember, if you use them correctly, score cards don’t lie.

Tags: Chipping, Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Green Side Bunkers, LOB Wedge, Pitching, Putting, Short game, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots by admin
No Comments »

There are tow huge mistakes that amateur golfers make when they are using their LOB wedge.  One of them is always leaving the ball short of your target.  The reason is easy to understand and simple to fix.

The main reason you consistently come up short when you use your LOB wedge is because you SLOW in the downswing.  For starters let’s admit it, the LOB wedge is  weird little head with a ton of loft.  Sometimes you think the ball might come up and hit you in the head right after it leaves the clubface.  It takes a ton of confidence to not try and scoop the ball in the air.

On the other hand with all of that loft why are we still trying to scoop the ball?  What happens in the downswing is you get a little apprehensive and you try and hit a delicate shot.  The one thing you have to keep in mind is that you have to really excelerate the clubhead to make it work. 

Remember this Bobby-ism-The harder you hit a loft club the HIGHER it goes.  The harder you hit a flat faced club the further it goes.  When you have a LOB wedge in your hands you have to smoke it most of the time.  If you try and hit a delicate little shot or if you slow the clubhead down in the downswing, the golf ball is not going to have enough clubhead speed to get it where you want to go. 

Speed up in the downswing-don’t slow down.

Tags: LOB Wedge, Pitching by admin
No Comments »

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
No Comments »

To many golfers the LOB wedge is not what it is all cracked up to be.  They tell me that all they see is disaster.  Well, I have to right up front with you.  My story behind the LOB wedge is pretty funny.  I will cut to the chase.  I used my LOB wedge for one year before I competed with it in my bag.  I practiced with it, I used it to putt and chip with.  I used it EVERY chance I could whether I needed it or not.

Do you get it?  It looked more like a CLUB than a GOLF CLUB.  As a matter of fact, I bought four of them the first year until I found the one I liked, and I still have it.  Now, let me share something with you that will stop you from topping it to the right.  It is pretty easy to understand. 

If the club head is swinging UP at impact you will top the ball to the right forever.  The easiest way to make sure you are going to hit DOWN on it is to address the golf ball FORWARD in your stance (across from your left foot) and put 75% of your weight on your left leg (LEAVE THE WEIGHT THERE FOR THE ENTIRE SWING).

DO NOT TRANSFER YOUR WEIGHT IN THE BACKSWING.  Finally, follow through LOWWWWW!!!!

Tags: LOB Wedge, Pitching, Short game by admin
No Comments »