Month: December 2022

Top Golf Putting Tips – How to Master the Greens

No Comments

If you fall into the recreational golfer category, there is a good chance you are neglecting your putting practice. Don’t worry, it is a common thing. Most of us tend to prioritize our swing over putting all the time. With that being the case, check the top golf putting tips below in order to help you master the greens.

There is no shortcut to getting better at golf, that is the truth. In the same way, there is no shortcut to getting better at putting. However, there are things that can help you on the green.

It takes time to see results when you start changing your golf game.

We all have some routines when it comes to putting. Sometimes we have to change them to see better outcomes.

There is a reason why professional golfers seem to be putting with such ease. Besides all the hours they put into practice, they do certain things that help even more. Some are related to putting techniques and others are related to knowing the greens better. You will find a few of those things as you keep reading this article.

Image by Courtney Cook on Unsplash
Image by Courtney Cook on Unsplash

Learn to Read the Greens

Reading the greens the right way is the recipe for lower scores. You can be great at controlling the putting pace, but if you do not get it on the right line all is for nothing. Now, there are things recreational golfers do to read the greens and there are additional things the professionals do.

You will not have enough time to do the reading thoroughly as the pros do, since you can’t spend that much time on the green due to the pace of play. Nonetheless, there are a few things you can do to read them better. Walking around the green and reading it from different positions is one of them.

Additionally, you can walk your putting line and stop at certain spots to see if it tilts either way and how much it tilts. It is also a good idea to observe other golfers in your group when they putt. That will give you an idea of the green speed as well as where the putts are moving toward. You can also find other ways that can work to improve your green reading skills.

Use Practice Greens to Your Advantage

Usually, the golf course has a practice green where you can warm up before your tee time. What I notice a lot is that not that many golfers take advantage of that. It is a shame because it is complementary. On top of that, it can help you a lot for the round of golf you are about to play.

First of all, it is a good way to warm up. There is nothing worse for your body but to start hitting balls cold. Any form of warm-up is good, this one included. Besides that, it can give you information on the current greens’ condition. You can see how fast the greens are so you can adapt your putting for the day.

Image by Frederik Rosar on Unsplash
Image by Frederik Rosar on Unsplash

Rotate Your Shoulders

One of the things that lead to putting inconsistency is using arms or wrists. That way is harder to control the stroke pace and the putter head. If you have a look at the tour pros you will notice how they move their shoulders and arms in sync. It almost looks as if their putter is an extension of their arms.

When you move only your shoulders and arms while putting you leave less room for errors. It might feel weird in the beginning, but once you get hold of it brings more consistency. Everything should be basically locked in with no separate arms or wrist motion. Start doing that and you will see better results.

Strike the Ball Firmly on Short Putts

Greens can be very tricky and sometimes short putts are harder than long ones. For one, you feel more pressure in making a 3-foot putt compared to a 20-foot one. As simple as it seems, it can be far from that. There are a couple of reasons for missing short putts. One is missing the line and the other is the pace.

If you have a look at the pros they rarely make a short putt that dies off by the time it reaches the hole. They always strike the ball firmly on those occasions. Assuming that their line is correct, those firm putts will end up in the hole. That leaves less room for a mistake that can happen if the putt is too soft.

When a short putt is too soft the ball can easily get off the line on the way to the hole. There can always be some slight bend on the way to the hole that you can’t see. Striking the ball firmly eliminates surprises and makes sure your ball goes straight into the hole. Next time find the right line and hit the ball firmly enough to hold the line on its way in.

Image by Lukas Opekar on Unsplash
Image by Lukas Opekar on Unsplash

Find the Most Comfortable Grip

As trivial as it sounds, the grip is very important when it comes to putting. There are many variations of it and it can make a difference. The last thing you need on the green is a grip that does not feel comfortable. Not just that, but it is also important that it brings you consistency putt after putt.

You can try classic grips, unconventional grips like the claw, or even the lead hand lower grip. Play around with it and find the one that suits you the most. On top of that make sure you are using a putter that matches your stroke in order to feel complete comfort while putting.

Strengthen Your Putting for a Lower Score

If you were ever wondering ways you can lower your score besides hitting the ball further, putting is one of them. Think about it for one moment. When you putt with an average of 2 strokes per hole, you end up with 36 putts in a round. If you lower that to around 1.7 putts per hole, you are now at 30 or 31 putts for the round. That is 5 to 6 strokes less on your card.

Who would not like to shave off a few strokes of their scorecard? It may take some time and persistence but it is achievable. The chances are it won’t happen every single round even when you do improve. But when it starts happening more often than not, it will be a good feeling. It is definitely worth working on your putting in order to lower your score.

You may also like:

Golf Putting Tips for Beginners – How to Putt Better

What Is the Correct Putting Stroke – The Different Types

Categories: Gameplay Golf Tips Putting

Most Common Golf Swing Mistakes – How to Avoid Them

No Comments

The golf swing can be described as one of the most complex continuous motions in sport. In other words, it is pretty hard. There is no universal formula to follow that will make you swing perfectly. Just ask the professional golfers on the PGA and LPGA Tours. However, the most common golf swing mistakes are avoidable.

On average, recreational golfers do not have much time to practice nor access to world-class coaches and training equipment.

For that reason, there are some swing adjustments you can do yourself to make it better. It may take some time, but improvement will happen.

Image by Virgile Donadieu on Unsplash
Image by Virgile Donadieu on Unsplash

If you go into details, there are many things you can work on when it comes to your swing. Among all those things there are some caused by common mistakes that are avoidable. Once you know what they are, you can see if they are happening to you. When you identify one or more, you can start working on fixing it and improving your swing.

Read more: Most Common Golf Swing Mistakes – How to Avoid Them

Trail Side Slide

This move happens often, especially when you just start playing. It is basically when you slide toward your trail side during the backswing. Your body follows the club weight as you move it and causes the rest of the body to follow it. As a consequence, you have to compensate on the downswing to get back into a balanced position.

That sequel of events contributes to a lot of mis-hits in the form of thin or thick shots. In order to change that you can try some exercises that will keep your lower body steady. For one of them, position yourself in the initial swing setup, just without the club. Now, without the club, put your hands across your upper body and rotate without sliding.

There are different variations of this and similar exercises you can find. The key is that you get the feeling of separating your upper and lower body during the backswing without sliding. Once you get that feeling without a club, start introducing it slowly into your swing. Go slowly in the beginning and as you become more comfortable start increasing the swing speed.

Outside to In Club Path

One of the two causes for slices is very common, particularly among new golfers. Besides the ball going in the rough or out of bounds it also contributes to less distance. It is hard to detect unless someone sees you swinging or you film your swing and check it yourself. There are a few possible reasons the club moves from outside in.

The first reason can be if your backswing ends too much inside and to compensate your downswing moves your club too much outside. This can be solved when on the takeaway you move your club and arms in sync without your club moving behind you. As the outcome, your downswing will move the club from inside out or on a more neutral path.

The second most common reason is when your arms detach from your body during the swing. That causes your club to travel too far from your body ending up in an outside-to-in path. The fix here is to keep your arms close to your body, especially in the upper arm area. Try to tuck in a piece of your shirt under your lead armpit and keep it there through the swing.

Image by Erik Brolin on Unsplash
Image by Erik Brolin on Unsplash

No Forward Shaft Lean

This is the cause of less power in the swing and lack of distance. If you look at any professional golfer’s swing, you will notice the forward shaft lean at impact. It is one of the things all of them have in common. That way they are de-lofting their club and adding distance to their shot.

There are a couple of main reasons preventing forward shaft lean. Those reasons are early club release and no weight shift. The early club release usually happens when the weight is shifted too much to the trail side at impact. Another thing that can cause it is the early extension. That happens when the golfer stands up before the impact.

When the weight is not transferred properly or when is not transferred at all, there is no shaft lean at impact. That way the ball goes shorter distances and too much in the air, especially with shorter short irons and wedges. Ideally, the club handle is inside the lead thigh area at impact which creates enough shaft lean for solid contact.

Too Long Backswing

Yes, this can actually happen. You can have a too-long backswing. It does not mean you should not swing long, it only means it should have some limitations. What I mean by that is that the backswing structure should be solid. More precisely, as soon as your lead arm bends too much in the backswing it is not going to produce the best results.

A lot of times recreational golfers overcompensate for the limited flexibility by overly bending the lead arm in the backswing. That is a big cause of less power and inconsistency in the swing. You should not try to have a longer swing that way, but instead, have a solid swing within your limitations.

When you finish the backswing with the lead arm straight or just slightly bent in the elbow, it will give you the best results. Even if that means your swing is shorter, it will produce the best outcome. Your swing will have more power and it will be more consistent.

Image by Samantha Gades on Unsplash
Image by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Open Clubface at Impact

Unless you are trying to hit a specific shot, an open clubface at impact will lead to unwanted results. Those results will usually be uncontrolled slices missing the fairway. There are a couple of possible reasons the clubface is open at impact. The reasons are related to the grip and to the wrists’ position during the swing.

When it comes to the grip, a weaker grip will lead to the opening of the clubface. If your hands at setup are turned more toward your lead side, you have a weaker grip. There are golfers who have weaker grips and that works for them. If you are in the category where that does not work, it is time for an adjustment. Try turning your hands toward your trail side until you find a grip that works better.

Even if you have a neutral grip, your wrists’ position through impact can open the clubface. That happens when your lead wrist is cupped and your trail wrist is bent. Ideally, your lead wrist is straight or slightly bent at impact in order for the clubface to be squared. Again, the best way to find the sweet spot is to try until you find the best position for yourself.

Lifetime Learning Process

Golf is hard, that is reality. That is also something that is never going to change no matter how hard we try. However, we can make it more enjoyable if we keep working on our game. You might not have a lot of time to practice but always try to make the best of it. When you do practice do it with a purpose.

Make a plan and stick to it. Do not jump from drill to drill, do one until you master it then move on. Have a positive attitude and set realistic objectives. Even professional golfers try to improve each segment of the game their entire careers. It is a lifetime learning process for both them and us. That is also never going to change.

You may also like:

How to Fix a Golf Swing Slice – Hit It Straight

How to Master a Golf Swing – Is There a Formula?

Categories: Golf Swing

Tips for Playing Golf in the Winter – How to Be Ready

No Comments

In case you have never experienced golfing in the wintertime, it is something completely different. If you fall into the category of golfers who do golf year-round, you know what I am talking about. Tips for playing golf in the winter will help you to be ready to golf in more challenging conditions.

To be clear, I am not referring to golfing in areas of the world with mild to non-existing winter conditions. I am talking about cold and wet weather.

It is when you have to make changes in your game approach to have a decent round. To put it in simple words, it is another game.

Image by C. Shii on Unsplash
Image by C. Shii on Unsplash

However, there are ways to adapt your game to changed conditions. It goes from dressing up appropriately, choosing the right clubs, ensuring your equipment is clean, and potentially changing the golf ball you play. If you want to keep golfing after the nice days are over check below what can help you with that.

Read More

Categories: Gameplay Golf Tips

2020 Vice Drive Golf Ball Review

No Comments

I have been doing golf ball reviews for almost two years now. This one will be the first one that involves a direct-to-consumer product. Vice Golf has been around for some time and has established itself as a quality golf brand. In the 2020 Vice Drive golf ball review, I will let you know how the most affordable ball from the Vice lineup did on the course.

As per the official Vice Golf website, this two-piece golf ball is designed for beginners and occasional golfers. It is constructed with the DuPont Surlyn and the new 312 large dimple pattern.

The soft Energy Speed Core and lower compression contribute to more distance. One of the characteristics also states that its cover is extremely tough and cut-resistant.

Vice Drive Box
Vice Drive Box

All that I read made me excited to go out and give it a try. To be fair, it does not say anywhere the ball will make you a better golfer or that it will go the longest distance. I find it very nice when the information about balls is on the realistic side like in this case. Like all my reviews, this one is also based on the ball’s performance on a par 3 course.

Who Is This Ball For?

When it comes to the targeted audience, I have to agree with the manufacturer. Due to its low compression and emphasis on distance, this ball will suit beginners and occasional golfers. One of the main reasons is new golfers usually swing the clubs slower, and this is where the low compression component comes into play.

The other two points that add to this are the price and durability. No matter if you are a new golfer or an occasional golfer, you will be losing balls (you will even with more experience, just less frequently). It is easier to cope with the loss of a less expensive ball than a premium one. If they are durable as well, it adds to the overall value for money.

However, there is one more category that can benefit from these balls. That category is senior golfers due to their slower swing speed. Vice might be not familiar to you, and that is understandable. Sometimes we have to give a chance to less known products, they may surprise us. Check below to see how the ball did through different segments of play.

PROS

  • Beginner Friendly
  • Distance
  • Durability
  • Price

CONS

  • Not Suitable for Faster Swing Speeds
  • Only White Color Available

Vice Drive Golf Ball

Review by golfballsworld.com

Distance Control
Chipping and Pitching
Putting
Durability
Appearance
Price

On the Green

It felt nice with this ball. I will not exaggerate when I say it was one of the nicest feelings I have experienced since I’ve been reviewing golf balls. That being said, it did take me a bit to get used to how the ball reacts on the green. Because of that, I left it short of the hole a few times.

Nonetheless, once I got used to it all was fine. It became easier to control the pace on both long and short putts. After the adjustment, the putts were finishing mostly in the 3-4 foot proximity to the hole. Some longer ones even went in which was great. Overall, putting was a very positive experience.

Around the Green

When it comes to chip and pitch shots this ball did a decent job. Bump and run chip shots are the ones I go to the most when in proximity to the green. Here the ball performed with mixed results. Most of the chips were all right with a passing grade for distance control. The feel off the club face was very soft on each shot.

One thing that this ball is lacking is a bit more greenside spin. This was noticeable with bump and run chip shots, and even more with higher trajectory chip shots. Less greenside spin does not give the ball enough stopping power so you have to rely more on your feel. Nevertheless, it is still very manageable to play this ball around the green.

Approach Shots

Approach shots are very important, especially on a par 3 course since every shot is an approach one. This is the category where the ball performed the best. First of all, the feel off the clubface vas very soft. It just felt so good to hit it every single time. Secondly, the distance control was all right, with no particular adjustments needed.

Once the ball would land on the green it would stop rolling fairly quickly. The main reason for that was the high flight trajectory. That is good because it compensates for less spin. When you add a good overall distance the ball was reaching, you get a very solid performance.

Appearance and Price

This golf ball looks simply nice. There is absolutely nothing that looks bad when you check it out. The Vice logo is written in their signature cursive which looks modern. When it comes to the alignment arrow, it is straightforward. A black line that resembles a line drawn with a sharpie and the ball’s name in white letters on it.

Regarding the price, it is hardly beatable. For a ball of this quality to be that affordable is very rare. Vice explains the price as a perk of the direct-to-consumer approach the company has. They just cut out all the middlemen and give the consumers quality balls for less money. The only shame is the ball is available only in white color. Maybe Vice can consider adding a couple of color options in the future.

Durability

I would not classify this ball as extremely durable like Vice describes its construction. That being said, I would still place it among the more durable balls in its class. After a full round, there were some visible marks on it, and maybe a scuff or two. There was nothing too concerning that would affect the performance whatsoever.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, I was very satisfied with the overall experience this ball offered. There is nothing to point out about it that would suggest a bad product. It is worth noting this is the only two-piece golf ball Vice offers. Perhaps that explains why they have created such a solid recreational ball.

As I have mentioned above it is a great option for beginners, occasional golfers, and senior golfers. There are a lot of things to like about it, but the price is possibly its strongest selling point. In case you are looking for something affordable and reliable, you may not have to look any further. This ball could be it.

You may also like:

Bridgestone e 6 Golf Ball Review

Titleist TruFeel Golf Ball Review