The shanks strike fear into the hearts of golfers. Most don’t dare even speak the word. I’m not afraid. Shanks. Shanks-shanks-shanks. SHANKS!
I’m not afraid because I know the cause, and I know the cure. I had a serious bout five or six years ago, so my immune system keeps me from becoming infected again.
For those unaware, the shanks are the result of a swing flaw that causes the ball to be struck on or [...]
posted in Ball Striking Tips • 2 Comments
Since I mentioned the flop shot yesterday, this seems like a good time for a how-to.
The purpose of the flop shot is to get the ball in the air very quickly, have it carry a minimum distance, and stop very close to where it lands. This is a perfect shot when you’re close to the green hitting to a pin that’s close to the edge and you have to fly the ball over a bunker or keep it from [...]
posted in Short Game Tips • 2 Comments
A while back, I referenced one of my favorite golf quotes, a gem by Sam Snead. “Ya gotta dance with who ya brung.” What Sam was telling us is, keep the experiments in the laboratory, and keep your laboratory on the range (or practice green).
If you’re playing a round and making an attempt to score well, then the last thing you want to do is be experimenting with new techniques or trying to fix big problems on the [...]
posted in Practice Tips • 3 Comments
As we all know, practice gets somewhat tedious and boring. Sometimes it’s nice to turn it into a game with a purpose to help keep you mentally engaged. I like to do the three in a row game to help keep me interested.
The premise is simple. Choose a shot to hit, any shot at all. Depending on your skill level, you might choose to hit a draw or fade, high or low. Make it as [...]
posted in Practice Tips • 0 Comments
Some of my swing problems come from the fact that I don’t get to a full finish in in the follow through, like you might see players on TV doing. Intuitively, you might be wondering why the finish is important. After all, once the ball is struck nothing else you do matters, right? Wrong.
The golf swing is a complex system that involves your body, a golf club, and a golf ball. How you perform is directly [...]
posted in Ball Striking Tips, Fitness • 2 Comments
I was interested to read an article at the Grouchy Golf Blog this week about the topic of hitting drives with an ascending blow. Golf Grouch dug up an article from the January 2008 issue of Golf Magazine that shows, via scientific launch monitor testing, that a ball struck with an ascending blow will carry several yards further than a drive struck with a level blow and even further than a drive struck with a downward blow. This holds true [...]
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My name is Mike Gray and I'm a software engineer pursuing my dream to become a golf pro.
Life in the Rough is a chronicle of my journey. It covers my progress, my successes, my setbacks. I'll share everything I learn and do along the way, including reviews and tips. Maybe what I learn can help you too.
