Even the best golfers can end up at the bottom of a sand trap every once in awhile and it pays to know how to get out of one. This is probably one of the most frustrating hazards you can run into while you’re golfing, but there are some tips that you can use that will help you keep your score intact. While it’s always best to avoid sand traps, when you do end up in one, these tips will help get you out.

1. Get the right kind of sand wedge.

There is a lot of variation in clubs, especially with different manufacturers. Ideally, you’re going to want to purchase a sand wedge that has a degree of 55 to 58 in loft. 57 or 58 is the best, but if you’re really a good player, you can get away with a 55. Simply by purchasing the right kind of sand wedge, you can conquer just about any trap. The bounce rate is also important here, and can have a big impact on where you end up on the green. Look for one that has a bounce rate on the lower end of the spectrum for greater control.

2. Correct your position.

If you are standing wrong, you’ll be putting the wedge too far underneath the ball, and the only place you’re going to go is down. It is important to open up your stance, and make sure that the club face is not closed. Work on this at home or in a practice trap until you develop the right feel. You should be able to see most of the club face when you are looking down at it from above.

3. Work on your swing.

It can be tempting to get really choppy with your swing, but this can spell disaster. Even though it is a pitch shot, you’re going to want to stay as fluid as possible. Work on bringing your club back slowly, along a straight line. The power will come when you connect with the ball, not with your backswing.

4. Learn how to snap your wrist.

We mentioned above that the point of impact is where you want to focus your power on this swing. Practice snapping your left wrist so that your hand is bent to left. Put your hands together without a club in a praying position and then snap them to the side. Add the club and make the same movement. That’s what it will feel like at the point when you are ready to hit the ball.

5. Putting it all together.

When you practice your sand trap shot, try to put all of these tips together so that it is one fluid motion. Start by working on the backswing and then add the snap at just the right moment. It can take a few tries to perfect this, but once you do you should see a big change in the way you play in the sand.

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Originally posted 2008-08-18 05:12:13. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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When it comes to golfing, a lot of attention to paid to the feet, the entire stance and the swing, but the moment of impact is possibly the most critical. Whether you are trying to hit a ball 200 yards or 2 inches, it’s that moment of impact that will determine how successful you are. Here are some tips on how to fine tune how you impact the ball.

Long Shots

The long shot is all about the power and learning how to channel energy from your swing into a strong impact with the ball that will send it hundreds of yards through the air. While much of this is handled simply by the nature of swinging the club and hitting the ball, there is a reason why some players can hit much further than 200 yards, while others struggle for 50.

It’s about knowing when to release that stored up energy from your swing through the club and into the ball. It sounds quite complicated, but it all comes down to the wrists. In fact, if you aren’t using your wrists properly, chances are you won’t be able to hit nearly as far as you would like. In order to properly channel that power into impact, you have to be able to keep your wrists straight on the backswing, straight on the downswing and break them right as you hit the ball.

This is a timing issue that can be worked on at home, or out on the driving range. Instead of focusing on your stance or swing, spend an hour or so really focusing on what happens when you actually hit the ball. You’ll be able to pick up the feel of what is right and what isn’t right. Work on breaking your wrists without the club, then add the club and try it again. Finally, put it all together in one fluid motion. With time, you’ll get the feel down.

Short Shots

The short shot is all about finesse. In these instances, you generally don’t want to power the ball too much, or you’ll end up over the green. Learning how to tone down that energy from your swing and channel it into the right amount of distance is what keeps many golfers from perfecting their short game.

Once again, we look to the wrists for guidance here. In this case, it is the forward wrist that should be focused on. This is the only wrist that will break when you are hitting a short shot. Put your hands together in front of you. Now, still keeping them together, snap them both to the left. Your left hand should be horizontal, but your right wrist doesn’t really move all that much.

You can do the same thing with a club since this is generally the motion that you’re going to need to perfect. It will feel a little differently since you are now holding your hands downward, but practice snapping those wrists until you learn to control how hard you snap them. This is the secret to getting those short distances just right.

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Originally posted 2008-09-01 05:47:30. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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• Correcting Your Backswing While many golfers focus on fixing their swing, it’s often the backswing that is forgotten as part of the equation. If you are finding that you are having difficulty with accuracy, or you are not hitting the ball as far as you would like, it may be due to your......

While many golfers focus on fixing their swing, it’s often the backswing that is forgotten as part of the equation. If you are finding that you are having difficulty with accuracy, or you are not hitting the ball as far as you would like, it may be due to your backswing. Here are some easy fixes.

The first thing to focus on isn’t actually the swing, but how you are standing. In order to get more power in your downward arc, your stance needs to be correct. The best position for most golfers is to stand with your knees slightly flexed. Practice this position at home until it feels natural. There should be a slight bend if your knees, but they don’t actually need to be bent.

You can think of your knees like a spring. If they are too flexed, the spring will pop around wildly when the pressure is released. If there is not enough flex, nothing will happen. Picture squeezing a small spring together just a little bit with your fingers. That is the right amount of flex to have in your knees.

Now, let’s move onto the rest of your body. Your shoulders and your torso will have a big impact on your swing, both back and down. Work on aligning them properly and you should see a big difference in accuracy. If you are pulling your shoulders one way or the other, it will pull your shot. Work on getting them square in your stance and then gradually and smoothly bring that right shoulder back as you bring the club back. Keep trying this until the motion feels fluid.

Your torso is the next area to target. If you are twisting too much, once again, you’ll be pulling that shot. Every motion needs to be fluid. Perhaps the best way to correct torso and shoulder problems is to swing in slow motion. Slow everything down until you can feel that exact moment when you twist the torso too far or move the shoulder too far. Then, take steps to correct it and try it again.

Last but not least, the hips also matter in the backswing. They should be facing forward in your stance and they should not move much during the backswing. In fact, if you are pulling them, this can reduce the overall power in your backswing, since much of it will be coming from your hips.

Imagine a straight line coming out from both of your hips. This line should remain straight all through the backswing and then through the downswing. Slow everything down again and focus on keeping your hips straight. Once you have that moment pinpointed, again, correct and redo until the right stance feels natural.

By working on your backswing and breaking down each component, you can be assured that you will find any areas that need improvement and you’ll have the ability to tell just when you’re going wrong. Practice at home and see if you can’t put together the perfect swing.

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Originally posted 2008-09-03 05:38:29. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Are you just starting to learn the game of golf? Here are some tips designed for beginners when it comes to golfing. Golf swing basics are the most fundamental pathway to enjoying this sport. Learning the basic swinging techniques that professional golfers are using will bring you from golfing beginner to golfing amateur, and eventually to golfing professional. Here are a few tips for swinging that absolutely must be learned to bring you from newbie to professional.

1 - Club handle grip.

Your grip is what is going to determine how the ball is going to react for you. If you have a grip on your club handle that is light and loose, then your shot will slice in most circumstances. If your grip is too tight on the other hand, then you are almost always going to hook your shots. You need to be able to find middle ground on the club handle grip situation. This is going to take some time and practice, but when you do finally find you sweet spot, you will be able to remember it from that point on in order to improve your game significantly. For a point of reference you should know that the left hand is the top hand if you are right handed, and if you are left handed then your bottom hand is your top hand.

2 - Teeing off in your head.

After you perfect your grip you need to work on teeing off. This is where your focus is really going to come into play. You need to learn how to tune out or block out every potential distraction so that you can focus on where you want the ball to go. Take a few seconds before you hit the ball, mentally visualizing where the ball should go, and you will notice an improvement in your hits.

3 - Fundamentals of Backswing and Downswing.

There is a lot confusion for new players regarding backswing and downswing fundamentals understanding. The downswing is designed to create the momentum of the club and the power behind the ball. You accomplish this by swinging your arms in one single, fluid motion. This is an arm motion, meaning that you need to resist the desire to make the swing with your hands or with your wrists instead. The backswing concept has completely different mechanics behind it. The backswing should be a lot slower than the downswing, but it should be just as powerful and it should compliment the golf swing. You should always keep in mind that your downswing should be between 25 percent and 35 percent faster than your backswing.

4 - Finally, it's all in the motion.

Your backswing motion should have your left shoulder and your hips in correct alignment, especially as you transfer your weight to the right. This motion is going to be the opposite, however, for left handed players. If you practice this motion then it will become natural for you over time.

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-01 05:52:23. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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