Golf swing tutorial on YouTube (10-min)

How to... ...like Tiger Woods
You'll find thousands of golf tutorials on the web claiming "How to... ...like Tiger Woods". I suspect the latter may not be that happy with how his name is abused by every second aspiring golf coach. All the same, there's some really handy tips and instructions available online at no cost - except for your internet data costs off course.

One way of quickly finding very helpful golf swing information is to search for 'swingvision' on YouTube.

Attie, a golfing buddy of mine, from the Attie Heunis Says blog, sent me a hyperlink earlier today for a YouTube video titled 'How to swing a golf club like Tiger Woods' (the video follows below). There's that name again! The 9-minute 'VideoJug' video, which does not feature Woods..., is very instructive - even if experts and not-so-expert commentators may argue about some of the finer points therein. The only advice I would add to the video is not to try all of the steps they mention at once, you have to be a genius to process and execute all of that information in the short space of time that a golf swing lasts. By all means follow a string of setup routine steps. But when you get to the actual swing look at one or two pointers per phase - i.e. address (pre-backswing), backswing, downswing, follow through.




My personal pointers / swing routine
I adjust my routine continually to try and address issues in my swing as they arise. This is off course not a perfect science, as any golfer would appreciate. At present my routine and personal pointers are as follows:

• Setup
  - I stand a few steps behind the ball in line with the target, which is not necessarily the pin. Then I try to find a closer object (e.g. a leave, knoll of grass) to aim at - which will put my shot, if well executed, on the target line. Then I step up to the ball and align my feet to be parallel to the line between the ball and the closer target object I've just chosen.
  - I like executing a practice swing or two before I actually address the ball, it helps me to get a feel for the weight and rhythm of the shot I'm about to play.
  
  
• Address
  - Straight left arm & eyes on the back of the ball.
  - Relax, breathe deeply and don't hurry.
  
  
• Backswing
  - I move the club face back on the imaginary extension of the target line, i.e. parallel with my feet, keeping my left arm straight for as long as possible. I do this by rotating my shoulders to a position 90deg to the ball (I don't worry about my hips, they'll follow my shoulders), which means that I'll be looking down at the ball over my left shoulder (I'm right-handed).
  - Easy does it, I try not to hurry the back swing.
  - Eyes on the back of the ball.
  
  
• Downswing
  - At the top of my backswing I pause briefly to consolidate control and thoughts, I try not to hurry into the downswing.
  - In the downswing I keep my eyes on the back of the ball, at least up to the point of impact.
  - I try to rotate my body through the swing, which extends into the follow through (personally I focus on rotating my shoulders - although most instruction videos will emphasize rotating from your hips up).
  - I endeavour to once again return to the straight left arm position at the point of contact, as I was during the 'address' position above.
  
  
• Follow through
  Strictly speaking you're thinking about your follow through during your downswing, it's impossible to adjust your swing once you get to the follow through itself.
  - I endeavour to swing through the ball, i.e. not to hit the ball.
  - The club needs to swing through more-or-less on the target line, i.e. not around my body.
  - Complete a full swing (aborting halfway up my body is a 'half-swing', which probably either mean that I have 'hit' the ball as opposed to swinging through it or that I've swung around my body).
  - Complete the rotation of my shoulders so that they end up 90deg to the target.
  
  
• Cut yourself some slack!
  I'm not a professional, which means that sooner or later I will hook / fade / dovetail a drive. It's no use to punish myself over it. Analyse what went wrong, e.g. I fell backwards after the swing - did I swing around my body? Then make a mental note not to repeat it - even work through a mock / practice swing to address the issue. But very importantly accept that you had a bad swing and that it DOES NOT MEAN that the rest of your game is going to fall apart. Keep your composure, refocus and most importantly relax. The best way for me to sink my game is by stressing up.
  

Trevor Immelman characteristically sober on US Open prospects

News24.com reports today on comments by South African, Trevor Immelman on his prospects of winning the US Open (enroute to a possible 'grand slam'), at a press conference leading up to the tournament. Since winning the first (golf) major of 2008, the US Masters, in mid-April 2008, Immelman has been flung into a different tier of attention in the golfing world. (More on his Masters win here).

Immelman showed typical humility (as most South African players tend to) and realism when asked about his chances of winning a 'grand slam' in 2008:

I would be the happiest guy on earth if I did it over the span of a career ... We can safely say that if I do it this year I will retire, okay? There's no chance of that...
(news24.com article)

On the Torrey Pines Golf Course, where the US Open will be played June 12-15, Immelman had this to say:

It reminds me a lot of Cape Town where I grew up and where I'm from. The coast line, the vegetation, everything is similar to where I grew up. I love it here.
(news24.com article)

Immelman downplays his chances of winning the US Open, but relishes the idea. He also gained confidence from making it into a three-way playoff at the St. Jude tournament last week. That was after some disappointing performances following his US Masters win. Who knows, maybe he hit form just in time (again) for another major win? His win at the US Masters was also preceded by less impressive form.

In the press conference he did acknowledge that in winning the US Masters "...I proved to myself that if I play my best golf I can win any tournament". I and many others believe that as well Trevor!

Other notable South Africans teeing off in this year's US Open include Ernie Els (winner in 1994 & 1997), Retief Goosen (winner in 2001 & 2004), Richard Sterne, Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini.

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (14.04.2008)

Playing my regular Wednesday round today and having played in an informal competition on this past Saturday meant that I played 18 holes two times within five days - an unusual but welcome occurrence.

Summary
I was disappointed not to break hundred and ended on 102 again (Stableford 25), as was the case on Saturday. I scored 50 (Stableford 11) on the easier first nine and 52 (Stableford 14) on the latter.

Today's round was once again a learning school. Firstly I was reminded that I do have it in me to play at a higher level. The ease with which I parred the first hole is very encouraging. My driving with the 3-wood was mostly satisfactory, with the exception of one or two instances where I only gained about 50m after getting my swing horribly wrong. Most importantly I realise that if I'm more than 140m from a hole with danger lurking (a narrowing fairway and bushes - especially to the right of the fairway / green) I must lay up. Ending up in the bushes is a terrible result.


Hole by hole

1. 'Hugh Kelly'. par 4. score = 4 for 3. (strokesaver)
   I really enjoyed this hole. Everything seemed so easy. My 3-wood drive ended 110m from the hole on the left edge of the fairway. That's approx. a 190m drive from an elevated tee. I played a 9-iron onto the green, ending about 6m from the hole. My first put ends 10cm left of the hole and I two-put for a par 4.
   
   Conclusion: Well played!
   
   
2. 'Hippo's Bath'. par 4. score (stroke 4) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
   I manage swing the club head low scooping the ball up with my 3-wood. However the result is not that bad. I end up in the right-hand rough about 40m past the start of the fairway. Not great, but no disaster. The ball's lie is not great and I opt for a safe 6-iron shot, aiming to get onto the fairway rather than gain a lot of distance. I connect the ball better than expected and actually end up in the rough on the other (left) side of the fairway... I'm 90m from the hole. A full pitching wedge swing works well in distance, but my direction is crooked and I end on the 'semi-green' on the right while the flag is on the left. I play the first put way to soft, not giving it any chance. This results in me 3-putting and scoring 6.
   
   Conclusion: I must give myself a chance on the first put.
   
   
3. 'Thalassa'. par 4. score = 6 for 0. (strokesaver)
   At this point a four ball of very friendly retired folk waves me through. I hurry along, not wanting to keep them. Predictably I mess up the hole - a hole on which par should be a real possibility for me... My 3-wood drive was quite good and I end up 110m from the hole, that's a 180m drive from a non-elevated tee. An easy nine ends up 30m short, probably the right club selection but I should have given a full swing from the rough... I badly miss-hit the chip from a bad lie in a grass bunker. My next chip, from the grass bunker, ends on the green. The first put is not too bad, but in my haste to get ahead the second is wasted and I ring the hole.
   
   Conclusion: Playing through I can play fast by walking quickly between shots, not by rushing my shots :-).
   
   
4. 'Atherstone'. par 4. score = 6 for 0. (strokesaver)
   Once again I rush to get away from the old guys and pay the price! My first drive is miss-hit and travels 40m into the rough short of the fairway. The 3-hybrid from the rough doesn't work to well but takes me to within 145m from the hole. However the lie in the rough is bad, I try a 5-iron, the ball loops off to the right - 50m from the hole and far into the right-hand rough. From a hard surface I hit the pitching wedge in the teeth and the ball travels over the green and 5m into the rough. The next chip is quite good from 30m out I end approx. 2m from the hole. However, I only have one put left and I don't sink it. Ring.
   
   Conclusion: Slow down, don't worry about the guys coming up behind you!
   
   
5. 'Mullins'. par 4. score (stroke 2) = 5 for 3. (strokesaver)
   My 3-wood drive travels quite far (190m on downhill), although ending up in the right-hand rough. The lie in the rough was quite good, with the ball elevated by the grass. Thus I try a 3-wood, I didn't connect it well and played a very flat shot. However the line was perfect - straight at the flag and the ball rolls downhill on the fairway. I end up 40-50 from the hole... My chip is hit in the teeth and the ball rolls 1.5m of the back of the green. I opt for a 7-iron put to lift the ball over the first bit of thick grass. It works perfectly and I end 10cm left of the hole. I 1-put.
   
   Conclusion: Hitting the fairway on this hole is clearly beneficial as the ball tends to roll nicely down the slope. Don't worry too much about making the ball travel far through the air - rather go for accuracy!
   
   
6. 'Happy Valley'. par 3. score = 5 for 0. (strokesaver)
   Oh my! How many more times is this hole going to get the better of me. I should score three or four easily! The markers are placed to the front of the tee, 115m from the hole. I opt for a full 9 - in retrospect I should have gone for an easy 8. The first ball is out of bounds towards the drinking hole. The 2nd drive (3d shot) is also short, on the slope below the bunker. I manage a good chip over the imposing bunker and end up a metre short of the green. I opt for the 7-iron again and end up 2.5m from the hole. I miss the put and ring the hole...
   
   Conclusion: Course management failed me. On this hole I should rather end up playing long than short. Thus I should opt for a longer iron with an easy swing. E.g. from 115m I should be playing an easy 8.
   
   
7. 'Shelly Beach'. par 5. score (stroke 6) = 7 for 1. (strokesaver)
   
   
   Looking back to fairway from 7th green.
   
   
   My 3-wood drive, while not played too well once again provides satisfactory results. I'm on the fairway - close to the right-hand rough. I opt for the 3-hybrid aiming for the left of the fairway in the distance and I end up in the right rough... I'm 150m from the hole which makes the combined distance of the first two shots 306m (/2 = 153m each). I play a 4-iron from the rough, which from a better lie should produce 150m - but which I now hook onto the left rough 50m from the hole. The ball lies below my feet on a hard surface and I have to play across a nasty bunker. My chip is sliced and ends up short of the green to the right. My chip and run from there is 10cm short, which makes it just short of the green, and it ends up 2m short of the hole. My put is pulled left. I two-put.
   
   Conclusion: I think the 3-hybrid on the second shot is not a bad selection, provided the lie is OK. The 4-iron from the rough should rather have been a lay-up with a 6 or 7-iron. My chip and run would have been less risky with a 7 or 8 iron.
   
   
8. 'Keith Grainger'. Par 3. score = 4 for 2. (strokesaver)
   
   Nicholas, not my caddie on this round, on the 8th tee, the green is in the distant
   background, just in front of a small tea-house.
   
   
   The markers are placed 140m from the hole. I decide on a easy 5-iron. It was the right selection, but I play the first shot poorly and it ends up short in the bushes. I play a provisional drive, again with a 5-iron, but well executed this time. It ends up 10m past the hole. Arriving at the green we discover that my first drive, though in the bushes, is playable. It's a tough call - do I play the ball already on the green or take a chance on the 1st ball. I opt for the latter. There's a tree in line with the flag and I aim just past the left of it, playing from a firm, twig-strewn, surface. I play a flat 5-iron and end up 2m short of the green. I opt for the 7-iron again to lift the ball over the first thick grass in front of the green. It works well and I end up 1.5m from the hole. I sink the put.
   
   Conclusion: For markers set 140-150m from the hole on the 8th a well executed easy 5-iron is the right selection.
   
   
9. 'Phillipson'. Par 5. score = 7 for 0. (strokesaver)
   My 3-wood drive, aimed at the left of the fairway, ends up in the right rough approx. 40m beyond the start of the fairway. It's a rather bad lie and I opt for a 6-iron. I hit a very poor shot and end up with an even worse lie in the rough. this time I opt for the saver 7-iron and play a good shot. I end up in the middle of the fairway 140m from the hole. Opting for a 5-iron I hit the ball on the head - the ball rolls well but it is a shot wasted. I play the PW from 60m out, the distance is slightly long but I pull it well right of the green. The following chip I mess up completely and there's no chance of making the hole with my remaining shot. I ring.
   
   Conclusion: Apart from playing better executed shots there's not much else to improve on. The 2nd shot I should probably have opted for a 7-iron. Even a shorter iron. I should rather end up playing slightly shorter but onto the fairway than hoping to get distance from a bad lie in the rough. I should consider playing a 7 or 8-iron if the ball is resting on a hard surface.
   
   
   
10. 'Whale Back'. par 4. score (stroke 3) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    Although fading badly, my 3-wood drive is quite good. I end up 160m from the hole in the rough just off the fairway on the right. That's a 166m uphill drive... I opt for the 3-hybrid from a not-too good lie in the rough. I hook the ball badly to the left and end up 60m from the hole on an uncomfortably hard surface. They chip is sliced and 30m short of the hole to the right. My 8-iron chip and run works very well and I'm a metre from the hole. I miss the put! I two-put.
    
    Conclusion: When I'm more than 140m from the hole with a bad lie, or approaching a protected green I should lay up! A 7-iron or shorter is the better option! Poor putting also cost me dearly.
    
    
    
11. 'Punch Bowl'. par 3. score = 4 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I opt for my 3-hybrid. I force the shot and it fades badly. I'm very lucky to hit the open incline behind the bush-line. The ball actually rolls down it to within 4m of the green, but I have a very uncomfortable lie. The chip is poor but ends up on the green, 3m from the hole. I pull my put and sink the next one.
    
    Conclusion: I should rather aim some way left of the flag on this hole - it's a much safer option. I must give myself a chance with my first put.
    
    
    
12. 'Greenmantle'. par 4. score = 6 for 1. (strokesaver)
    I play a average drive to end up 160m from the hole - from the lower tee. That's a 170m from an elevated tee - not very impressive. On the caddies advice I attack the hole with my 3-wood. That was shortly after I commented to him that I should lay up more... I pay the price ending up in the bushes to the right. Damn. I drop 15m back from the bushes and70m from the hole. I play a very good 9-iron to end up on the green. I two-put.
    
    Conclusion: Unless there is no danger, don't attack the hole from more than 140m - LAY UP!
    
    
    
13. 'Doug Dold'. par 3. score = 5 for 1. (strokesaver)
    I opt for an easy 3-wood. In my effort to slow down my swing I end up in the deep rough short of the fairway! A 2nd practice shot works fine and ends up flag-high (178m), although to the right of the green. I play my first ball from a bad lie with a 5-iron, the poor result sees me ending just short of the fairway! I play a 9-iron from 90m out, the length is perfect but I'm in the rough on the right of the green. A good chip and run ends up 2m from the hole. I sink the put.
    
    Conclusion: A easy, yet full swing, with a 3-wood is the right option for me on this hole. From a bad lie in the rough I should not be attacking the green, but should rather lay up with a 7-iron or shorter.
    
    
    
14. 'Southern Cross'. par 5. score = 7 for 1. (strokesaver)
    
    View from clubhouse. Practice green in front.
    14th tee just beyond and below, and 14th
    fairway stretches out towards the ocean.
    
    
    My drive with a 3-wood is not bad. About 190m from an elevated tee. According to strokesaver that puts me about 280m from the hole. My second shot with a 3-hybrid ends up 150m from the hole in the middle of the fairway. What do I do? I attack a protected green from more than 140m out..... My 4-iron shot ends in the bushes to the right, and 35m short of the green! I drop = 4th shot. My chip from a hard surface is not great but actually reaches the green. My put is slightly hard and ends up a metre beyond the hole - at least I gave myself a chance. I sink the 2nd put.
    
    Conclusion: Lay up on this hole! If I can get on top of my 1-wood this is a good hole to use it.
    
    
    
15. 'Graham'. par 4. score = 6 for 1. (strokesaver)
    My 3-wood drive has good distance but fades a lot. Luckily it carries well over the bushes and hits an incline which throws it back onto the fairway. I'm 115m from the hole. I make the right decision to play an easy 8-iron, but end up in the bunker protecting the green on the right. I have to carry over a lot of sand but am quite satisfied to clear it, even though I end up on the right of the big green while the flag is downhill to the left. I have difficulty judging the weight of the fast downhill put and end up 5m short from 25m out. The 2nd put is very well executed but just runs past the left edge of the hole. I 3-put.
    
    Conclusion: With an uphill hole such as this an easy 8-iron from 115m out is the right option. On another day I would have had a better result on this hole.
    
    
16. 'Vroom'. par 4. score (stroke 1) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    My 3-wood drive is scooped again, but the result is not too bad. I'm on the fairway - but as is often the case on the hole there's a downhill slope to contend with. I opt for a save 5-iron. I'm off balance falling backwards at the end of my swing. It's a rather poor shot but the result is fine. I'm on the fairway a 100m from the hole, but on a hard surface again (I'm not fond of the present dry course conditions). A not-so-well easy 9-iron shot ends up 10m short of the green. My chip is too soft, onto the green but 5-6m short. I play my put too soft but manage to sink the 1m put thereafter.
    
    Conclusion: Using a 7-iron for the chip and run may have been an option. I must give myself a chance on the first put.
    
    
17. 'Connaught'. par 4. score (stroke 5) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I lost my notes for this hole... From what I remember my drive was OK, but ended with a bad lie in the right-hand rough. From there I played a short iron onto the fairway and then another onto the green. I then 3-putted.
    
    
18. 'Settlers'. par 5. score = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I play a fairly good drive with my 3-wood and end up on the edge of the fairway with the rough interfering with my next shot. I play a safe 5-iron and end even further in the rough on the right. I have a fairly good lie and my 3-hybrid shot works well taking me to 90m from the green. My 9-iron shot takes me onto the green and 20m from the hole. I 2-put to end a somewhat disappointing round on a high.
    
    Conclusion: I played the hole well.
    

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (10.04.2008)

I joined two golf buddies of mine, Sven and Christoph, in playing an informal competition at my home club, Royal Port Alfred, today. A guy I don't know brought fourteen of his buddies from Port Elizabeth (PE) down to our area to celebrate his 40th birthday with a weekend long bash. We were netted as a local bunch of guys to provide opposition (testosterone requires that competition be part of golf...). I'm not into competitions, not yet anyway. However, it was quite enjoyable.

Christoph and I ended up in a team against one Kevin and Paul (from PE). Kevin is a member of the Humewood Golf Club, which hosted the South African Open in 2007. It is supposed to be a great, typical coastal links-type, course. He's a 14-handicapper. Paul is a civil contractor who works on water infrastructure (I think) projects in the former Transkei - these days part of the Eastern Cape province. Christoph is a viciously good golfer (in my books) with a 6 handicap at present, which gives him a competition allowance of 5. For his handicap and most recent scores go here.

Paul had a terrible day, something which happens if you haven't played golf in ages. The sole impressive aspect of his game was his drives and length in general. Wow! He would generally hit two to three irons longer than the rest of us. Something to behold. However, the rest of his game wasn't up to scratch. In the better-ball format we played the scoring (Stableford) was left up to his team mate Kevin.

Christoph and I got off to a good start 'winning' the first two holes and halving the third. We were slightly ahead until about four holes from the end. At that stage below par play from both of us allowed Kevin through the back door and 'they' ended up beating us by two points. Some of the other locals did better, but the last group also folded and sadly the locals lost :-). At least we showed the city boytjies a good time!

I played 102 (with more than a couple of rings...), but because of the competition format - better ball - did not get to add up my Stableford score. I'm pretty sure it's for the best though...

For Christoph a poor day meant playing 86. No comment.

Fish River Sun's amazing greens

In my previous post I briefly described a round of golf I played at the Fish River Sun Golf Course on 30 April 2008. One aspect of that round that really amazed me was the incredible quality of the greens. While my putting on the day wasn't great there was no way that I could blame the greens. I have never played on more true or firmer greens. With the help of a good caddie, or if you have a really sharp eye, the right line to play is discernible. There's no luck involved, you either put correctly and sink the put or you don't. That's great. At my home course in Port Alfred the greens are also of a very good quality, but nothing like this. Another course in my region, the Alexandria Golf Course, putting is a nightmare. Every put rides on luck - a good put my bounce off to the left and miss the hole or a poorly executed put may end in the hole. Not nice.

About a year ago I was told that Fish's greens were in very bad shape. Apparently the grass picked up some or other disease. However, something has clearly been done about it. While the course's fairways are slightly dry as is the case with all the over courses in the region the greens were made in heaven. Well done to the green keeper and management!

18 holes at Fish River Sun (30.04.2008)

I played 18 holes at Fish River Sun yesterday. It was a painful experience. My inexperience with my new clubs haunted me this time round, after a good first time out last week at my home club. I scored 105 for 15 - Ouch!

In retrospect I was my own worst enemy, as is often the case in golf. I paid a rare visit (only my 2nd) to our 'local' driving range some 40km from my home village. I experimented with my 1-wood a bit, a club I normally avoid, and worked out how to hit it. Mainly it was the old basic of teeing the ball high and in line with my left foot. However, come yesterday's round I ended up out of bounds a couple of times. But instead of just bagging the club for the rest of the round I persisted in trying it out. I'd see what looked like a broad fairway and decide that I can't possible get in trouble here...

All things considered I'm not to distraught with the experience. I need time to try out the new clubs. I'll try the 1-wood again in future rounds, but will need to be much more disciplined. I can only use it when a hole is very forgiving on either drawing or fading and where distance from the tee is a real advantage. Otherwise my 3-wood should do just fine - for one thing I'm mostly hitting the fairways with it.

Strokesaver website a valuable tool

I've only encountered the printed version of 'Strokesaver' at one course in my very limited golfing career - Fish River Sun. Before returning there for another game yesterday I was reminded of how helpful I found the course guide they provided for that particular course and had a look on the net to see if they provided a similar service there.

The Strokesaver home page.

Walla - www.strokesaver.co.za. The site's main selling point is once again the course graphs they provide - other than that a basic overview of each course is quite interesting. What is missing for me is hole-by-hole advice for the average golfer. But all the same, the hole-by-hole distance and layout guides are there and that's the main thing I'm looking for from Strokesaver.

Strokesaver overview page on Fish river Sun Golf Course.

They don't cover that many courses, featuring only seven in the Eastern Cape. Although it has to be said that it's probably some of the seven best courses in the province.

Strokesaver distance graph for hole 1 at Fish River Sun.

One confusing aspect of the distance graphs in Strokesaver is that measurements are from the front of the green - where most of the golf clubs I play at provide on-course measurement signage with distances from the middle of the green. That means that Strokesaver may tell you that you're 150m from the green and the on-course signage may suggest 170m... But once you figure this out the two resources combined can actually strengthen your knowledge on which to base your course management.

The site provides the option to print out distance guides or to save it to pdf format. I look forward to utilising their service in future.