"Keep Your Head Down" Is Bad Advice for Chipping

Keeping the head down causes most amateur to get wristy with chip shots.

Keeping your head UP allows the body to turn while chipping. Most amateur get wristy with chip shots which results in poor contact. When the body stops turning the wrists become more active. Keep your head out of the way so the chest can turn freely towards the target. After some practice, you should start to make crisp contact and not even think about your head.

Correct example of keeping your head up.

Foolproof Chipping

Nothing will help you lower your scores more than chipping close to the pin around the green. Try these tips next time you practice your short game. Most golfers put little time into chipping and get frustrated. I guess I would too! I hope this serves as a start for proper form in the chipping stroke and inspiration to put more time into your short game.

Ball back in the stance

The ball placed back of center allows the hands to stay ahead of the club. Proper contact between the club face and the ball is the key to controlling the distance desired. This can only be achieved if the handle leads the club head at the point of impact. Without proper form feel cannot develop.

Weight forward

Having the weight of the body favoring the front leg encourages a descending blow on the ball rather than scooping it. If you are struggling with inconsistent contact, put more weight on the front leg and get ready for crisp chip shots.

Bobby Hinds is a Teaching Professional at Woodley Lakes Golf Course with over 10 years of teaching experience. If you have questions about your golf swing, email Bobby atbobbyhinds@aol.com He is available for lessons through the Pro Shop. For more information, go to BobbyHinds.com.

How Wii Golf Can Help You Improve Your Game

The great teacher Eddie Merrins wrote a classic instructional book titled,"Swing the Handle." This concept immediately entered my mind after playing a few holes of Wii Sports Resort Golf. The sensor in the remote is sensitive and accurate enough to encourage the player to learn touch and ball flight control. Watching the screen while feeling the necessary stroke is great indoor practice, in my opinion.

The Wii Sports Resort video game can help golfers of all levels understand the relationship between swing path and club face by the interactive nature of the program. In a rather short time you can increase your distance and accuracy while having fun at the same time!

Here's my latest golf tip video on YouTube that shows us you an easy routine to ensure a great putting stroke and easy steps to a better putting grip. Any questions, visit me at http://www.BobbyHinds.com.

Tips To Help You Make More Putts

Let’s talk a little about putting.

All top professionals stress how great putting is necessary to win tournaments. Whether a major championship is on the line or a two dollar bet among friends, it all comes down to making putts. As a teaching professional, people ask me all the time, “how can I lower my handicap?” The answer is simple. Make more putts. It might not be the answer they want to hear, but it is the truth. I think 30 putts or less per round is an achievable goal for everyone.

I have been through thousands of putting thoughts and very few have stood the test of time. I am always trying to simplify the game. If your putts are not dropping, try these simple thoughts.

1. Stick to your putting routine. (if you do not have one, we need to talk).

2. Always visaulize the ball dropping into the hole.

3. Have a small forward press to start the stroke.

4. Hold the finish.

Here's a technique to ensure a good putting grip:

With the left hand on the club, leave the index off of the grip and slide the right hand down:

In the completed grip, the left index rests over knuckles of the right hand. This grip minimizes any breakdown of the wrists.

Bobby Hinds is a Teaching Professional at Woodley Lakes Golf Course with over 10 years of teaching experience. If you have questions about your golf swing, email Bobby atbobbyhinds@aol.com He is available for lessons through the Pro Shop. For more information, go to BobbyHinds.com.

Don't Skip the Grip

It has been said many times over that a good swing starts with a proper grip. I am always pleasantly suprised when I meet a new student on the tee line that has a sound grip. These students usually have few compensations in their swing and tend to adjust to swing changes with much less difficulty than those with poor grips.

With the proper grip, a free release (and longer and straighter shots) come easily

Here is a checklist that you should pay close attention to if you are serious about improving. I like to keep things simple I am a firm believer that if you improve your grip, you will improve your golf swing. The best view of your grip would be to hold the club directly in front of you with your arms extended and your hands chest high (fig. #1). The web­bing between your left thumb and forefinger should be together with the thumb pad on the right center of the shaft. Notice how the second knuckle of the forefinger and the thumb nail are even with each other. A very common error I see is when the left thumb is extended down the shaft. This causes the club to lay in the palm of the hand which increases grip pressure and decreases club head speed.

To check your grip, place a tee between your thumb and forefinger

The fleshy part of the right hand should cover the left thumb nail (fig.#2). The webbing should be close together and the thumb nail should be on the left center of the shaft. If these positions are accomplished, it does not matter which of the three grips are used (vardon, interlock, or ten finger). You should never see any of the grip from this view. All you should see is hands and fingers.

The left hand is on the club properly, thanks to use of the tee

Bobby Hinds is a Teaching Professional at Woodley Lakes Golf Course with over 10 years of teaching experience. If you have questions about your golf swing, email Bobby at bobbyhinds@aol.com He is available for lessons through the Pro Shop. For more information, go to BobbyHinds.com.

Hold Your Finish For Better Balance In The Golf Swing

A great drill to teach you better balance during the golf swing which will result in straighter shots on the course.