Golf Tips from Chris George

For many players the combination of distance and accuracy has been illusive while hitting tee shots with the driver.  First, distance and accuracy are a result of a good set up position and the proper angle of approach into the ball.  In order to be efficient in your set up, you must:  1) play the ball forward in your stance 2) Tilt your upper body slightly away from the target, and 3) Allow 60% of your weight to be on your trailing foot.  This set up position allows you to launch the ball on the proper angle and achieve a proper low point behind the ball.  The average player should try to achieve an upward swing from low point to impact of approximately +5 degrees. (See Fig. 1)  In applying this set up and technique to your motion, you will launch the ball higher and reduce the amount of sidespin on the ball. 

 I would encourage all players to be fit for their driver.  The dynamics of the shaft and head design can play a huge roll in your success with the driver.  A driver fitting should consist of: 1) an experienced P.G.A. professional with extensive knowledge in shafts, club head designs, and teaching 2) launch monitor technology, and 3) multiple driver fitting systems with a wide range of shafts and head designs.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

There are several key ingredients to becoming the best player you can be. These ingredients revolve around developing consistency, efficiency, and repeatability of your golf swing. I would like to focus on specific golf fitness in regards to balance and stability. During the golf swing the body moves on three different planes of motion at the same time. These planes are the Frontal Plane (includes all movement from side-to-side), the Saggital Plane (includes all movements that occur front-to-back or perpendicular to the line of the body), and the Transverse Plane (includes all rotational movements throughout the body). As a result of these motions, it is imperative that there is balance and stability in the foundation. Creating this solid foundation can be done in the gym by focusing on balance techniques and stability exercises. Improve your ball striking consistency by working with a Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor who can develop and implement an individual workout for you that keeps your strengths current and turns your weaknesses into strengths.

If you would like additional information on the Titleist Performance Institute or to enroll in any of our programs, please contact the golf academy at 757-253-3998 or e-mail golfacademy@kingsmill.com. or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Most round analysis consists of fairways hit, greens hit, and number of putts per round. Tracking only these statistics is limiting your ability to truly focus and practice what is hindering your game. Analyzing your round is a big component to improving your player level and it should be done with detail. For example: In putting, your statistical categories should be on a specific distance, attempts, and putts made (Success).

Each area of your game should have a statistical tracking sheet measuring your success rate. Tracking your round with detail gives you a very clear picture on what areas in your game is limiting your scoring ability. You should keep your strengths current and make your weaknesses strengths. Areas in your game that have a low success rate percentage should be where you spend the majority of your practice time. For this type of analysis to be effective, you should look at each round individually and then combine seven rounds together to get an overall assessment. When you utilize detailed analysis and incorporate the information into your practice, there is no doubt that your scoring average will get lower.

If you would like more information on putting or would like to enroll in our Putting Academy, please contact us at golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

While observing players on the golf course during the round, it becomes obvious why golfers have a great nine holes and then a poor nine holes or play six holes great, six holes poorly, and six holes super. The underlying factor is golf course management. Quality golf course management can be a great asset to your overall scoring.

Golf course management starts with making the appropriate decision for the shot at hand. For example: Your drive is in the right rough and there are some trees between your ball and the green. The distance to the green is 225 yards. Your decision here is crucial, in that, you have to determine the “risk vs. reward” factor. If you choose to go for the green, you have to ask yourself “Is there a 90% chance that I can pull this shot off successfully?” If your answer is no, then you should play into your strength. Your strength may be a 100-yard shot. Knowing that strength, you will then select a club that hits the ball 125 yards and gets the ball back in the fairway 100 yards from the green. In doing this you now have a shot you have confidence in and feel comfortable hitting. The objective of this scenario is for you to get the ball back in play and not let one poor shot hurt you more than once. You will soon find that playing into your strengths has great benefits.

If you would like more information on putting or would like to enroll in our Putting Academy, please contact us at golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Practicing the game of golf is often described as going to the range to work on your swing.  Many players wonder why they hit the ball great on the range but do not hit the ball well on the course.  The reason for this is that players practice their golf swing but do not practice playing golf.

In order to have a positive practice session you must first define what area of your game you are going to practice.  For this example, we are going to say you are practicing playing golf on the driving range.  After warming up, you pick your favorite golf course and visualize the first hole.  You then select whatever club you would hit off the tee and go through your routine and hit the shot.  Next you select the club you would be hitting into the green.  You go through your routine and hit that shot.  If you feel like this shot missed the green, you take out your wedge and hit a short pitch shot just like you would play golf.  You continue this process for 3, 6, or 9 holes.

Incorporating this type of practice allows you to visualize the target, feel the swing that is going to let the ball go to the target, and trust in your ability to execute the shot.  You are now practicing playing golf and you will be more prepared the next time you play golf on the golf course.

golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Consistency in your ball striking from a fairway bunker starts with proper club selection and set-up. It is important to set up with stability, because sand is an unstable environment. Select the club that has the proper loft for the ball to clear the face of the bunker. Your key set-up essentials include the following: 1) Ball position is one ball ahead of center; 2) take your stance with the insides of your feet lower than the outsides and your heels slightly lower than your toes; 3) hover the club slightly above the golf ball with your weight being slightly on your heels and your posture feeling tall. From this efficient starting position, you are now ready to make your golf swing and enjoy the positive result.

If you would like more information on putting or would like to enroll in our Putting Academy, please contact us at golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Approximately 70% of your shots in a round of golf occur inside 100 yards. Many players wonder why they continuously hit thin and heavy shots around the green and there are two main reasons for this inconsistency. First, you may need some fundamental correction in order to hit the desired shot, and second, your wedges may not be fit properly to you.

Wedge fitting plays an important role in developing the desired consistency. Wedge players fall into two categories, sweeper/sliders and digger/drivers. A sweeper/slider is a player that tends to use more hand action and has a shallow angle of attack in which he or she slides the club under the ball. A digger/driver tends to use less hand action and has a steeper angle of attack in which the player traps the ball at impact. Inconsistency develops when a sweeper/slider is playing a wedge design that has a wider sole and a lot of bounce. As a result, this player will tend to hit thin shots or skip the club into impact creating a bladed shot around the green. On the other end of the spectrum, a digger/driver that is playing a wedge design that has a thinner sole and less bounce will tend to hit shots heavy or fat. It is extremely important to have your wedges fit so that the design of the wedge (loft, bounce, sole width, and camber) meets your individual wedge player style.

Apply these 3 rules for better wedge play:

1. Be fit for your wedges
2. Apply specific set up positions for your wedge players style
3. Focus on distance control and trajectory control utilizing a range finder or GPS system

If you would like more information on putting or would like to enroll in our Putting Academy, please contact us at golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Putting accounts for 42% of your total strokes in a round of golf. The question is…are you spending 42% of your practice time on putting and is it efficient? Here are three keys to allow you to make more putts.

Practice speed control

Putt to a small towel or the edge of the green from 15 – 40 feet. The goal is to stop the ball on the towel or the edge of the green

Practice making putts

When putting to a hole in practice you should make 80% of the putts you hit toward the hole. If you are not making this percentage, you are to far away. Start at 2 feet and move farther away as long as you can maintain the 80% rule.

Simulate playing golf

Putt to 18 different holes Your goal is 27 putts for the 18 holes See how many holes you can play before running out of putts. When you attempt a one putt the ball must be placed 5 – 12 feet from the hole, every other putt must start from outside 20 feet.

If you would like more information on putting or would like to enroll in our Putting Academy, please contact us at golfacademy@kingsmill.com or 757-253-3998.

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

Watching a tour event in person can be one of the best learning experiences that any golfer can enjoy. In order to maximize the learning experience you need to understand what to look for while the players are playing or practicing.

When watching a tour player, focus your attention to what the player does before they hit the shot. A tournament player’s routine is the key component to great golf shots. Almost all tour players have a set routine, in which they are trying to accomplish three main objectives. These objectives are: visualizing the target, feeling the swing that will allow the ball to go to the target, and trusting in their ability to execute the shot.

During the player’s routine, you will see them stand behind the ball. They are getting their alignment and visualizing the shot they want to execute. Next, the player will make several practice swings, trying to feel the swing that will allow the ball to go to the target. The final step in the routine is for the player to totally commit to their decision and trust in their ability to execute the shot.

Watching a tour player’s routine can be very beneficial to all golfers. You now understand that a practice swing is not just a practice swing; it allows the player to visualize the target, feel the swing that will allow the ball to go to the target, and trust in their ability to execute the shot. Watch for the players that “see it, feel it and trust it.”

By Chris George
Head of Instruction
Kingsmill Golf Academy
golfacademy@kingsmill.com

When playing golf, precise pitching can be a great asset to your game. To improve your pitch shot, we first need to get into the correct set-up position.

• The stance is slightly narrower than the full swing with sixty percent of the body weight on the target side foot.
• The hands are slightly ahead of the ball, which is placed in the center of the stance.

Obtaining this set-up position will allow the ball to be struck on the downswing, providing a large margin for error.

Now that we are set-up correctly we can start to work on distance control. On each shot we want to use a consistent tempo and match up the distance on the back and forward swings. The easiest way to accomplish this is to relate three different swing lengths to the face of a clock. (See figures A & B)

• A swing that travels back to the 8 o’clock position will travel forward to the 4 o’clock position.
• A backswing to the 9 o’clock position corresponds to a forward swing to the 3 o’clock position,
• And a club taken back to 10 o’clock will follow through to 2 o’clock.

Matching the length of the forward and backswing in this manner will allow you to find a standard distance for each length swing. Club selection for the pitch shot should be a gap wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge depending on the type of trajectory you desire.