Following the success of the Ryder Cup in Paris last month, the world of golf (literally) is reporting a mini-boom in participation!

World of Golf London, one of the busiest driving ranges in Europe with an average of 13 million balls hit each year, is enjoying a record period and has seen its business boosted by Ryder Cup fever following Europe’s victory in Paris…

Already 20% up on the same period last year, the floodlit facility at New Malden in south-west London was packed during the week following the winning performance by the European Team with queues forming to access many of its 60 bays.

Visiting golfers can now have a haircut or take a lesson, as well as drive the balls from a two-tier setup and play virtual courses such as Pebble Beach with Toptracer technology to define each shot.

“We’ve bucked an industry trend with business booming in recent months and it was topped off by golfers turning out after the thrilling Ryder Cup contest” said Tom Roberts, Marketing Manager at World of Golf London.

“There has been an exceptional rate of return on the range this year as we’ve also ventured into new business opportunities to provide the ultimate customer experience.”

He added, “Virtual golf is constantly growing thanks to modern-day technology. It’s a fun way to enjoy the sport, while still staying in the warm and spending much less time than you would if you were out on the course”

As well as the state-of-the-art driving range, World of Golf London offers golfers an in-depth analysis of their game at the Performance Centre, where top-of-the-range launch monitors are used to analyse swings with verifiable accuracy.

Group lessons have also played a key role in golf participation at the busy facility with its exclusive ‘Learn to Play Golf Free’ offering popular with beginners – 40% of which are women.

These lessons are conducted by fully qualified PGA Professionals, including teaching guru Jon Woodroffe who recently returned to the facility by popular request.

“We deliver around 2,200 hours of free coaching to beginners and juniors every year,” said fellow PGA Teaching Professional Kevin McDonald.

“We firmly believe that everyone no matter what age or ability, should have the opportunity to learn the basic skills to get started in this wonderful sport and what we offer here is far less intimidating than stepping straight onto a golf course.”

“Following the European success at the Ryder Cup, more and more people are taking an interest in golf and we’re so proud that the World of Golf can be a part of their journey and offer the very best in coaching and facilities,” he added.

World of Golf London also incorporates one of the biggest golf retail stores in the UK.

In addition, as well as an 18-hole Jurassic Adventure miniature golf course; a Costa Coffee shop; a Jacks of London barbers; and nine brand-new fully serviced offices available to rent.

By Ian Mullins

Which Golf Ball is right for me?

It’s a pretty simple premise that using the same golf ball in practice as you do in competitions, will help heighten your feel.

It also makes for a more reliable short game but what golf ball will suit your best? And what do you need to consider?

We asked Scott from Premier Lake Balls for his thoughts…

Which golf ball is right for me – Soft or firm? 

A lot of the best golf balls 2018 has to offer come in alternative versions that spin slightly less for players, who prefer a firmer feel or more control off the tee.

Try both types from a range of distances to find your preference. As a guide, the softer the ball, the higher the price tag will be!

Which golf ball is right for me – Cover material?

Urethane covers offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more.

Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to validate the extra cost, you may find losing 20 yards off the tee for more spin does not benefit your game.

After all, spinning an 8 iron rather than a wedge is tougher even for the better players.

Which golf ball is right for me – Long game or short game?

With conflicting fitting messages from different brands, consider if your game will benefit most from extra yards off the tee or better feel and control around the greens.

A mid-range ball that offers a bit of length and also a little bit of spin is quite often the best way to go.

Receive 5% discount on all purchases at Premier Lake Balls by click on this link…

For more information on the type of golf ball you should be using… email scott@premierlakeballs.com or visit www.premierlakeballs.com 

Popular online golf club The Social Golfer & FORE! WOMEN(the website dedicated to guiding women who want to give golf a go) have got together with Bletchingley Golf Club in Surrey to celebrate Womens Golf Day on 6th June 2017….

The day is designed to give those attending and who are new to the game a fun ‘taster’ for the sport.

The Social Golfer team will host the event on their Event pages and task its male members to bring at least one female friend or family member to the day, thus growing the sport.

Experienced TSG PRO members can opt to play 18 holes while their female guests will join Felicity from FORE! WOMEN and the TSG team, where they will receive an introduction to the basic skills of golf: putting, chipping, pitching and long shots.

They will also be provided with plenty of opportunities to ask questions of us about their potential golfing journey.

Bletchingley’s General Manager Steve Cookson has also offered his Golf Pro to be on hand to give additional coaching and advice during the day.

There will also be prizes to encourage a fun atmosphere followed by a light lunch.

Women will be able to attend the day for only £20 including lunch, making the day both affordable and welcoming.

Taking TSG’s PRO members as an example, if 1 in 10 brought along a non-playing female guest to the Womens Golf Day at Bletchingley, this would mean that we would be able to send a positive message to all male golfers.

Womens Golf Day – What’s it all about…

Womens Golf Day is keen to remove as many barriers to golf as possible and it does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation – everyone is welcome.

The Social Golfer’s, Ian Mullins said “We take equality in golf very seriously and actively encourage both Ladies and Mixed golf on the site! Our online golf club can play a huge role in encouraging women to participate in golf.  We want to support each new female who participates in the day by giving them a 3 month free PRO membership to the website including in the cost of attending our day!”

He continues, “When we learnt about Women’s Golf Day from PR agency Medi8 whilst at the PGA Show in Orlando, we knew immediately that we wanted to get involved. This is an opportunity for any girl or woman to try golf for the first time in a fun, non-intimidating environment alongside existing golfers.”

Founder of FORE! WOMEN, Felicity Dunderdale said. “A recent report found that one of the top reasons for female golfers taking up the game is due to influence from a male peer.  So we, The Social Golfer and FORE! WOMEN, decided to take part in the day together to test the claim that men can play a huge role in encouraging women to participate in golf; to exercise their potential, free of fear and judgment.”

She went on to say “78% of male players,’ in this report, stated that their partners do not play’.

Medi8’s Emma Ballard, Women’s Golf Day Ambassador in the UK, showed her support by commenting “It’s great to see a different approach being taken by The Social Golfer team, FORE! WOMEN and Bletchingley Golf Club. Women’s Golf Day sets to engage, empower and support women who are looking to get into golf and for those that already participate in the sport. This doesn’t just have to come from other women and this event will prove how influential a male role model can be. I’m looking forward to supporting this event on behalf of Women’s Golf Day.”

Join us at Bletchingley – Click Here

The Business Golfer –  What Can you Learn From Your Scorecard?

Golf and Business has long been good bed fellows but what can you learn about business from playing golf…

Golf is more than a good metaphor for life or a mirror for a person’s character away from the golf course, it’s a fantastic ‘game’ for learning how we approach getting better at something (or not).

Most of what is talked about are keeping track of the ‘stats’ on our game: Fairways hit, greens in regulation, up and downs, the number of putts etc.

But there’s more to learn from the round, and it’s scorecard. I recently played a Stableford competition. Playing off 15, I was level par after the first 8 holes!

Totalled 23 points and still grossed 39 for the first time on front nine. The back nine was not as brilliant, but a ‘solid’ 15 points leaving a total 38 points which still included two blobs.

It would have been easy to end up disappointed after such a brilliant start but regardless of whether I think about my rounds in the clubhouse,  I have learned its really helpful to review the round fully, within a few hours.

Especially if it hasn’t gone as I would like, but even when it has been a good one. What I found, surprised me…

When I replayed every shot later in my mind to see and record what happened, I noticed a pattern I didn’t see during the game or even straight afterwards.

I knew that several of my tee shots had gone left, but on closer inspection, twelve of my tee shots went right – drawn or straight right (as a left hander) with only two going to the left. Considering I’ve ‘fought’ a fade for years after playing too much cricket, this was a big shift!

When this result is also put into the context of the swing and set up changes I’ve been working on, this was a distinct improvement.

But I wouldn’t have spotted it unless I’d replayed the round later in my head, when I had some time/distance on it, to be able to review it from a helicopter perspective as just a neutral observer.

This has led me to want to experiment a bit more with my ball position at set up to see if this corrects the over left bias that showed up.

The Business Golfer –  The Lesson I’ve Learnt?

I’ve now realised that performing ‘a review’ of the working day in my business life, also leads to better understanding of performance I learn from my mistakes.

I’d encourage you to experiment with a delayed review of your round after a few hours, you might be surprised too. If we are not prepared to change things, I’m reminded of the well-worn phrase…

“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you’ve always got!“

….Food for Thought?

By Steve Sharpley (Business Coach aka The Business Golfer  ) – Author of Success Is a Mind Game

                                Mark Crossfield

YouTube sensation Mark Crossfield, whose golf coaching videos have received more than 90 million views, will host August’s London Golf Show and will give away six free lessons every day via his social media channels.

Mark Crossfield – Background…

Crossfield is one of social media’s most popular golfing figures, with almost 200,000 followers on YouTube, in excess of 34,000 Twitter devotees, and nearly 60,000 Facebook ‘likes’.

He is also one of the presenters of the new Sky Sports show Golf Juice. His videos cover coaching, equipment and course reviews, all delivered in his individual – often irreverent – style.

And he will be joined at the show by PGA professional Matt Lockey, who also enjoys a substantial following on social media, where he’s better known as ‘Coach Lockey‘.

The duo often work together to produce YouTube videos and will be reunited once more to entertain visitors at the show.

Mark Crossfield – Meet the man/men…

                     London Golf Show 2015

Six lucky show visitors will, each day, win the chance to have a 30-minute lesson with Crossfield and Lockey, which will be recorded and shown on the former’s YouTube channel.

Mark Crossfield, who has been coaching golf for more than 20 years, will also host the daily ‘Innovations in Golf’ section on stage, which focuses on gadgets and equipment new to the market.

Welcoming Crossfield to the show, Events Director Simon Jones said: “Mark is the epitome of the social media star: somebody with excellent knowledge to impart, in an engaging way, on a specialist subject.”

He went on to say “In just a few short years, his ever-expanding fan base has enabled him to become an established part of the modern golf media landscape and a ‘golf guru’ to the digital generation. His unique, enthusiastic style will enhance the event and add another interactive level to the show.”

Mark Crossfield added: “I love golf shows. I love the excitement and the buzz about them, and the enthusiasm for the sport that visitors generate. So I was delighted to be asked to work with the guys from the London Golf Show.”

He added “It will give me the opportunity to meet some of the many people who watch us on YouTube and to give a few lessons to show visitors. Also, and this is a great one for me because I love playing with gadgets. I’ll also be presenting the ‘Innovations in Golf’ section, which will highlight some of the great new ideas in the game – and also some of the wackiest. I can’t wait to get started.”

London Golf Show 2016 – August 26-28th…

Launched in 2005, the London Golf Show is the UK’s longest-running consumer golf show and was designed to appeal to golfers – and potential golfers – of all ages and abilities.

With myriad interactive stands – including Nearest-the-Pin, Long-drive and Long-Putt contests; free PGA tuition; a massive indoor driving range featuring the majority of golf’s best-known club brands; custom fitting; club testing; trick-shot displays; simulators; the latest golf gadgets; extensive retail; and the opportunity to win everything from a packet of tees to an exotic golf holiday, it is the ultimate day out for any golf enthusiast.

London Golf Show – Purchasing Tickets…

Tickets to the London Golf Show, which takes place at Glow, Bluewater, in Kent are FREE for accompanied under-16s, and also for lady golfers, until August 25th.

Book your tickets before the 31st July and get them for the discount rate of just £7.50!

Entry will cost £15 on the door.

The London Golf Show takes place at Glow, Bluewater, in Kent, from August 26-28, 2016.

Tickets can be purchased from www.londongolfshow.com/buy-tickets

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For information on the show or on Mark Crossfield on Twitter at @4golfonline, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AskGolfGuru.

For further information please contact Dave Bowers (dave@theazaleagroup.com) or Andy Barwell (andy@theazaleagroup.com) at the Azalea Group on +44 (0) 1730 711920.

Last week saw the start of the third annual National Golf Month…

The initiative, created by golf event specialist Doug Poole and the British Golf Industry Association (BGIA) aims to increase the participation in golf getting the 100,000 new or lapsed golfers to try golf in May 2016.

Funded by the ‘Grow Golf’ Trustees and in partnership with amongst others Bauer Media (Today’s Golfer & Golf World)  + all the major Golf Unions and Associations, Golf Clubs, Driving Ranges, Golf Manufacturers and PGA Professionals – the aim is to reverse the trend and get more people playing golf and having fun …

Firstly, there is a new National Golf Month website promoting the month hosted by newly launched activity booking site – www.fibodo.com. This will host all the offers available at your nearest club/range.

Secondly, free coaching will be available at selected venues. And finally, there will be plenty of other golf discounts to take advantage of.

In order to get this event in the public psyche, there will also be a media campaign combining radio, magazine and social media hitting over 25 million people, creating customers who wish to return to golf or learn to play.

However, there are also some heavyweights putting their names behind the cause, including Paul McGinley, Ian Poulter and new kid on the block Charley Hull.

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National Golf Month – Here’s what some of them had to say:

Paul McGinley – Ryder Cup Winning Captain

“I am delighted to be supporting National Golf Month of May 2016. Golf faces many challenges in these times as competition with other sport and social activities intensifies. Golf is a game that has given me, and my family, great pleasure, health benefits and opportunities to meet some amazing people. I would encourage everybody to get behind this”

Ian Poulter – Pro Golfer

““I’m fully behind the great initiative that is National Golf Month. The more people we can get out playing, the better, and hopefully this will help people realise that it’s a fun, healthy and sociable thing to do!”.”

Georgie Bingham – Sports Presenter

“I’ve always been quite sporty but I didn’t find my match until I found golf – I am now a complete addict! Golf is the ultimate leveller; a sport that caters for all abilities – a sport you’ll never be good enough at to be satisfied AND one that is sociable, outdoors and as much about playing against.”  

Charley Hull – Pro Golfer

“I am delighted to be able to support National Golf Month (NGM2016) again this year. It is great to be a part of an event which raises awareness and participation of golf across the UK. I hope to inspire more people to try golf this year. Keep an eye out for all the deals on offer and enjoy getting out on the course!”

Melissa Reid – Pro Golfer

“National Golf Month is a great initiative and I am excited to support it in 2016. Golf is an incredibly rewarding sport and I have been lucky enough to travel the world and make lifelong friends through it. I look forward to being a part of NGM2016 and introducing more people to this great game.”

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As we approach the new season, we start with the year discussing the  ‘Psychology of Golf’ and how to prepare yourself mentally for the season ahead.

Psychology of Golf – The basics…

I’m not going to give a lesson in ‘winning‘ or ‘how to get in the zone‘ here (although if you would like to improve that side of your game, I can help!).

Here I am going to give you some ideas about playing smart – i.e. course management.

Golf being the frustrating, euphoric, and mind boggling game it is, (and that’s just one hole!) you will find yourself in many different situations.

Too many to cover in this blog, but I will cover some common scenarios you may find yourself in.

Psychology of Golf – Thick Rough…

This can be your friend or your foe, all depending on your lie.

If the ball is sitting up and the grass around you isn’t too long, you may want to hit a wood or hybrid and get the ball as far up the hole as possible, as it is effectively sitting on a tee.

This assumes you are far enough away from the green that you need a fairway wood.

If the grass is really thick and/or long (think, The Open) and you have a bad lie, your first point of call is to look for the fairway and the shortest possible route to the fairway.

Sometimes this may be backwards or even onto another fairway, an option I see few amateurs use. In terms of club selection, get some loft in your hands; use a sand wedge or pitching wedge.

If your lie is average you need to assess how much thick rough you can go over and get up the hole and still get the ball on the fairway – but DO NOT bite off more than you can chew.

Your goal here is to make sure your next shot, IS from the short grass!

Psychology of Golf – Trees…

Anytime you go in the trees, look up, you may find an apple to eat.

You may also see a gap in the trees to hit through! It is time to assess your situation, can you punt the ball up the fairway (or even reach the green)?

And if so, how big is the gap?

You need to be very honest with yourself in this situation, can you see yourself being able to hit the ball through the gap?

If there is any hesitation in your answer or a hint of a no, it is onto option 2.

Option 2, is chip the ball out sideways, it is rare you cannot find a big enough gap you feel confident chipping the ball through and back onto the fairway, but there are times there isn’t.

You need to look at maybe hitting onto another fairway or going slightly backwards.

Club selection in the trees is important, more than likely you want to keep the ball low under the branches (including chipping out).

So make sure you take a longer, lower lofted club to make sure your ball flies out the trees untouched.

Psychology of Golf – Fairway Bunkers…

Course designers like to play with our emotions and see our high soaring drives take a dodgy bounce and end in a bunker.

If this happens to you, make sure you get the ball back in the fairway.

As with all these shots, it is about ensuring you do not have the same shot again. So get your sand wedge out and play it like a greenside bunker shot so you are back on the fairway, ready to hit the green.

So there you have it, thinking about the game or the ‘Psychology of Golf’ before you start the season –  the mental part of the game is just as important as your swing!

Andy Clissold – TSG Head Pro

By Andy Clissold – Head TSG Pro.

If you have a specific shot you struggle with contact Andy at andrew_clissold@hotmail.com

There are plenty of golfers who describe themselves as ‘fair weather golfers’. However, is this the reason behind the growth in indoor golf over the last ten years?

Or is it due to advances in technology or the reduction in the amount of time available in modern society but there’s no doubt that we will see more indoor golf clubs opening in the next decade.

We asked ‘Director of Golf‘ Harry Varney at CityGolf in London’s busy square mile, on the benefits of using a Sim and on how the industry will evolve.

Indoor Golf – The History…

Golf Simulators have been around in one form or another since the 70’s.

The first simulators were very simple and TV based using a joystick or gaming control but as both the software and screen technology developed in the 80’s, it was not long before the handheld games were replaced by the golf mat and golf club.

Early on, the sensors measured the movement of the hands and fed the information to the video game. However, the overall experience was rudimentary, to say the least.

It wasn’t until the mid-late 90’s that we started to see real advancements made.

Relying on a battery of environmental sensors, the new software tracked each shot, from impact to how the ball bounces visually on screen.

In this way, the golfer has a detailed analysis of the entire flight of the ball which can be used for practice or training.

There are several types of measurement system used in golf simulation to achieve this, such as Simulator Mats, Sonic Sound systems, Optical Sensor arrays, Radar and Camera ball tracking systems.

Indoor Golf – The Technology

Golf has always found itself at the heart of ‘gaming’ with some of the first computer games simulating Putting…

However, it was the invention of the PlayStation that really saw the potential of indoor golf albeit using a ‘controller’ rather than an actual golf club.

At the moment, there are lots of different ‘Sims’ on the market including Trackman, Golfzon and probably the most well known, GC2 launch monitor. The latter, being preferred by CityGolf.

This industry-leading technology that redefined performance analysis outdoors has also proven to be a game changer for indoor simulation.

Powerful enough to drive the world’s most cutting-edge commercial simulation studios, the GC2 is as flexible as it is accurate.

Two high-speed, high-definition cameras give you a true measurement of performance without compromise, delivering the most realistic virtual golf experience possible.

“We chose to go with the GC2 product, as we felt this had an edge of all the other as it calculates over 10k images of ball and its position on impact!” said Varney

“The GC2 gives you exceptionally precise understanding of both the club head speed and ball trajectory, meaning we can also provide a very accurate ‘ball fitting’ service too”

Varney went on to say….”In addition, of the four GC2 Sims we use, we have two advanced GC2 HMT (Head Measurement Technology) meaning we can cater to both the beginners and single figure handicap“.

Indoor Golf – The Benefits

The advantages of using a golf simulator is the ability to conveniently play and practice in a controlled ambience.

Often this means the ability to play without any pressure while still bringing many of these competitive and social aspects into the simulated game.

For those who live in a cold and wet climate or in urban areas (that’ll be most of us), golf simulators offer the ability to play and practice year-round or within the confines of their locale.

The next important advantage is the player’s ability to see each facet of their swing.

Many golf simulators measure: angle of attack, angle of the club face, club head speed, spin, club path (inside out or outside in), and more.

These measurements help both students and teaching professionals identify exactly what a player needs to know to improve their swing.

You also get to choose where you want to play, including some great UK courses. Courses available at CityGolf include Celtic Manor, The Belfry and Haseltine Golf club (the home of the 2016 Ryder Cup).

Indoor Golf – Teaching

Sitting chatting to Harry, I soon find myself forgetting that I am not on a standard golf range and concentrate purely on what he is telling me.

In addition, he is quick to tell me why he and his colleague Liam McGrossan, ‘Director of Instruction’, have a different approach to teaching.

Firstly, the first hour’s consultation rarely involves hitting a club but concentrates more of what ‘your’ understanding of the game is.

He tells us that most teaching Pro’s, immediately start critiquing your swing, long before it is understood how much you know about both the dynamics of the golf swing and the physics of the game.

To be fair, this is a fresh approach and given that I am slumped into a big leather sofa, while sipping a coke as I learn this, I really can see why Indoor Golf has taken off.

Coupled with the fact that often, that if you work in London, the chance of getting to the range or out for nine holes after work midweek, in today fast world of living, is difficult to achieve.

Indoor Golf – Custom Fitting

Getting ‘Custom Fit’ for your clubs is vital towards improving as a Golfer.

Just as a suit is made to measure, so it is fits an individual’s body shape, a Custom Fit is vital towards ensuring that the correct equipment is matched to the each individual to suit their personal needs.

The team at CityGolf have extensive knowledge and experience and are committed to helping each individual find the best equipment for them.

The guys are adamant they have repeatedly seen the benefits that personalised equipment does for a Golfer towards improving distance, accuracy, shot making, and overall enjoyment of Golf.

The cost of this service starts from as little as £50 and last an hour.

Indoor Golf – Entertainment

Putting the technology, the courses and the teaching to one side, there is another advantage to golf simulators….

In most indoor golf centres, there will a couple of ‘simulators’ available to book but in the bigger clubs like CityGolf there could be six or more.

Thus meaning you could realistically hold an entire golf event in one place, with all your golf mates and you, all playing the same course.

Not only does this mean additional availability for the visitor but it means indoor clubs like CityGolf can hold events and fun nights, regardless of the weather conditions. You can have a beer while you play.

Yep, many Golf Studios also have a bar or refreshments on site; it can make for a very entertaining evening. Consider it….

Hire two golf simulators for an afternoon or evening (from £60ph each) and invite seven golf buddies to join you. You’ll find that three hours flies by.

You’ve played a Texas Scramble at Wentworth, enjoyed a drink and not a speck of rain in sight and you’ve still got change out of £50.

Of course, if you book an evening out at a golf studio, you’re even beating the lack of daylight.

Indoor Golf – CityGolf

And finally, having visited CityGolf and seen their set-up, we were impressed!

As such, from April 2016, ALL TSGers are invited to try their facilities and receive a FREE one-hour ‘Performance Analysis’ (worth £90!)

Yep – that’s a FREE golf lesson in the City of London.

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For more information on the benefits of Indoor Golf and claiming you free lesson at CityGolf go to: www.citygolflondon.com or call 020 7796 5960

Alternatively, email the guys at harry@citygolfclubs.com or liam@citygolfclubs.com

Opening Times: Mon-Fri – 6.30am – 9.30pm

London Golf Show 2015

Oh yes! The London Golf Show 2015 is back from the 13th-15th November at Glow, Bluewater (Jct 2 on the M25), and we’ll be there look for the latest gadgets and coaching tips to share with you in the TSG November Newsletter.

London Golf Show 2015 – What’s On?

The London Golf Show is designed to provide a truly interactive experience for golfers of all ages, with informed technical advice.

Plus, PGA tuition and education, guest interviews, a huge indoor driving range, custom fitting, club testing, golf simulators and the latest golf gadgets.

Golfing entertainment is set, as once again World Trick Shot Champion, Geoff Swain and partner Kevin Carpenter as The Golf Trick Shot Boys.

And the Dean Davis Trick Shot Show, will wow the crowds with an amazing array of feats, skills and will be showcasing his latest tricks.

Gary Smith England Golf Coach for the last fourteen years will be one of a number of Top 25 Golf Coaches imparting their wisdom to visitors to the show from their dedicated coaching areas and on the stage.

Gary will be joined by European Tour accredited putting coach Andy Gorman whose specialist input has helped Charley Hull reach the top of the European rankings.

The London Golf Show will bring together the leading golf brands, think Titleist, Ping, Cobra, Cleveland, Wilson etc, to create one of the largest indoor demo days ever seen.

London Golf Show 2015 – The Offers

There will be plenty of prizes to be won on the some of the interactive show’s favourite features, such as the Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin and Long Putt.

Every ticket comes with FIVE FREE rounds of golf courtesy of the Pentland golf Group when visitors register at the show. Parking is also FREE and under 16’s go FREE with a paying adult!

Advance tickets £10 + WOMEN & KIDS GO FREE!*

*Book your ticket before 31st Oct 2015.

Visit: londongolfshow.com

Fix Your Swing fig.1

Has your playing partner ever said after a bad shot, “You need to fix your swing! You’re bending your left arm!”?

Well, the good thing about this swing fault is,  it’s very easy to see! So if you heard it, there is a strong possibility you did it. (Note: This is for right handers. If you’re a lefty, it will be your right arm)

Fix Your Swing – What causes it…

The left arm bending can cause a whole host of shots, but mostly I see either a topped shot or a slice.

Why does this happen? Above Right, I’ve ‘set-up’ to the ball and bent my left arm. As you can see the club has raised and therefore, I am going to hit the top of the ball from the bottom of the club.

Great! We now know why we ‘top’ it, but how can the left arm cause a slice?

Fix Your Swing – The Set-up…

Fix Your Swing fig.2

If you bend the left arm in the backswing, after a few missed shots or topped shots, your brain will react and find a way to get the club to the bottom of the ball.

The brain’s fix is to get you to dip the upper body down to the ball. When the body does this in motion, it make the shoulder plane steep and throws the club over plane.

Apologies, some technical jargon there but below you can see from a good set up, I’ve dipped the upper body.

I’ve also lost my height, and you can see the club has moved well out in front of my body. The only place to go from here is to swing across the ball.

Fix Your Swing – How do I send it straight…

Fix Your Swing fig.3

The Grip…

• Firstly ensure the grip is in the fingers of the left hand

• Have a look at the thumb on your left hand – make sure it is “short” i.e. tucked up close – as shown right.

• Both of these will help engage the muscles in the forearm effectively, allowing you to hold the weight of the club in the swing easier

The Swing…

• From waist high in the swing, we need to make sure the wrists hinge (and not the elbow). A thought that works well is to feel yourself push down on the handle of the club.

• This will push the clubhead up and cause the wrists to hinge. Pushing down on the handle engages triceps which will keep that left arm straight!

• 

  Fix Your Swing fig.4

  As you swing to the top, keep pushing down on the handle and turn the right shoulder behind you

The swing section today is quite detailed as failing to hinge the wrists and failing to turn will both cause the left arm to bend.

Fix Your Swing – Practice makes perfect…

Work on this, one swing at a time! Practice the wrist hinge, until you’ve got it and it feels less of a conscious thought.

Make a lot of half swings doing this, so the arm stays straight…..

Then get the shoulders turning!

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By Andy Clissold – TSG Head Pro