If you’re planning on heading south for a winter golf vacation, you may need a little help with your swing.
To brush up on your technique, it’s best to start with the basics, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, says Sandra Post, eight-time LPGA Champion, golf instructor and founder of the Sandra Post Golf School in Caledon, Ont.
> Take a lesson
As a financial advisor, you know the value of professional advice.
Without lessons your golf game will “plateau,” never exceeding a certain level, says Post.
Men are generally more resistant to the idea of taking lessons, partly because they are usually strong enough to hit the ball — somewhere. Women, on the other hand, play a game of accuracy and are usually a little more open to seeking instruction. Either way, working with an instructor will help you identify your weaknesses and improve your swing and, therefore, your game.
> Set achievable goals
Find a good indoor driving range and practise regularly.
In a perfect world, you could improve your swing by visiting a driving range once a week, Post says. But in the real world, few of us can spare even that much time.
Instead, try to set up a commitment or routine that gets you to a range even if it’s only once a month. This could include a monthly lesson. Or, try setting up a date with friends to meet for lunch and a half-hour at a range, Post says.
> Get a grip
Take a look at how you’re holding your club; it may be affecting you’re swing.
If your grip is too loose, you could be slicing the ball, says John Irwin, head teaching professional at the Canadian Golf Academy in Stratford, P.E.I. Tightening your grip will help keep the ball straight.
> Take aim
If the ball is still going to the left or the right, it could be because you’re aiming that way, according to Irwin.
“If you want to hit the ball straight,” he says, “you have to aim straight down the middle of the fairway.”
> Place the ball correctly
Make sure you’ve teed up properly for the perfect swing.
Placing the ball too far forward or too far back will affect your performance, says Irwin. Make sure the ball is placed at the lowest point of the arc of your swing, which is generally on the outside of your lead foot — the foot closest to the hole.
IE