SHORT GAME STANCE

“BETTER GOLF WITH THE GOLF DOCTOR”

Mike Calbot

Tip: Short game stance.

All golfers realize that the quickest way to lower their handicaps is by improving their short game. Having a dependable short game will allow any golfer to attack difficult hole locations because they have a great short game to save them if they are slightly off or overly aggressive.
The average golfer struggles around the green because they try to incorporate several styles or techniques which actually complicate the simplicity of the stroke. The stroke begins with a short game stance seen here in photo “C”. The two sticks at the feet indicate the position of the ball and the target line. The golfer is standing open with his feet, knees, hips and shoulders open and parallel to each other. Most golfers have open feet and square shoulders which causes inconsistent impacts. The golfer is using a short game grip (a weak grip) and the ball is forward in the stance to allow that point to be the bottom of arc for solid impact of the ball. The stroke will be straight back on the line of play not the stance line with soft arms and no wrist action. The no wrist action allows the ball to track more accurately and better control of the distances.

In photo “B” you can notice the golfers left side is out of the way and no rotation of the blade was made due to the weak or short game grip. In photo “A” you will notice that the arms are soft and that no wrists were used to make the stroke. I know this will help you with your short game.

Better golf with The Golf Doctor Mike Calbot.

http://www.golfdoctorusa.com/

SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE GOLF DOCTOR

Don't Forget!

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 am, listen to Mike, The Golf Doctor, on the radio show. Pick up some great golf tips and game improvement ideas.

Avenue 1410 / 1660

Just click on this link and listen!

http://www.avenuefla.com/

HERITAGE BAY BIRDIE BASH!

Heritage Bay Golf Club - Birdie Bash!

Hello All Fans:

Come on out for some great fun! Enjoy a Trick Shot Show by Mike Calbot. There will be food, entertainment, prizes, and trolley rides.
(click on picture)

Where: Heritage Bay Golf Club, Naples

When: March 20, (Saturday) 11am - 3pm

Schedule of Events:

11:00 am - noon (Short Game Clinic)

12:30 pm - 1:30pm (Trick Shot Show)

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ( Tips From The Pros)

See you there! Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

PITCH v/s CHIP

Golf Tip: Pitch v/s Chip
By Mike Calbot

For those of you who are having difficulty with what club or shot to use when just off the green this tip may just be of help.

All statistics show that a ball that is rolling has better speed and directional control. This is why so many people putt when just off the green. The golfer who when only a few feet off the green pull out the sand or pitching wedge and end up well short due to spin and bite on the ball or much to long because they counted on this bite and it did not happen.

The simple solution for more consistency is to go to the chip. Next time you go out to practice take ten balls, drop them several feet back off the green, take your 6,7, or eight iron and try to find for that situation which club gives the best and most consistent result. Repeat this from various positions around the green.

You should find that the good shots improved and the missed shots are more salvageable than the missed shots with your wedges. In order to make such a change in your golf shot thinking it will require practice but the pay off you will enjoy through lower scores.

Have more Fun,

Mike Calbot
“The Golf Doctor”, Director of Instruction, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

SHORT GAME GRIP

Improve your short game with the proper grip.

By Mike Calbot - The Golf Doctor

Golfers often struggle with the short game around the greens because they try using their normal golf grip for the short game. The grip is as different for the short game as the grip is for putting. You would not use your putting grip to hit a driver so why would you use the driver grip to hit a chip or pitch shot.

First let us understand the function of the full swing natural grip. The hands need to be placed on the golf club grip to supply leverage for power and speed along with the ability to re-square the club face during the release back through the impact zone. This is best accomplished with the more conventional grip which is held more in the fingers and diagonally across the palm of the left hand. Notice from the front view that the left thumb is at about 1:00 o’clock on the club grip and that the left thumb is only down to the second joint of the index finger. The “V” that is formed by this position is indicated by the blue line in the picture. When the right hand is placed on the club both “V’s” form a parallel line to the right side of the face.

The short game grip in function, is to eliminate wrist action and for the clubface to stay more square through the impact zone. Generally most golfers use an open stance and the short game grip which allows the ball to track better and offers a softer impact for better feel and control. Notice in the short game grip photo that the left thumb is on top at 12:00 o’clock and that the thumb is more stretched down the grip. This is because the club is held slightly more in the palm of the hand. When the right hand is placed on the club you can clearly see that on the short game grip the “V's" point towards the left side of the face.

The next time you go to the practice range give the short game grip a try and you will be amazed with the results.

Enjoy,

Mike Calbot, Director of Instruction, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

MOVE THAT LEAF!

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PRESHOT ROUTINE

This tip was inspired by one of my playing partners this past weekend. Many thanks to him. Here is what happened:

One of my partners had a putt of about 2 feet in length. He had gone through his entire routine and just seconds before he hit the putt, a leaf blew right into his line. Rather than taking the time to move the leaf and regroup, he chose to hit the putt, which he missed. When we were walking off the green, I asked him if he saw the leaf. He replied, "yes."

When something like a leaf enters your preshot routine, it is very disruptive to your concentration and can ultimately cause you to lose your focus altogether. Situations like this happen all the time. When golfers encounter disruptions like this, they usually will just go ahead and hit the shot. This is because they are concerned about taking too much time if they back of shot and go through their routine again. What they don't realize is that hitting the shot once, and in this case a putt, will take less time than having to hit the shot twice because of a miss.

So remember, when that leaf or distraction enters your thought process, take the time to fix the situation so you can be completely focused on your target. Just a little discipline can go a long way to shooting lower scores. Good Luck, you can do it!

Jay Kragh, PGA Professional, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools

FIX THAT SLICE!

STILL TRYING TO GET RID THAT ANNOYING SLICE?

Try thinking about it in these terms. Your ball flight is determined by only 2 things. That is, the clubhead's face position and path at impact.

FACE - This is the angle or position of the clubhead at impact. This will

determine the initial direction that the ball travels.

PATH - The path is the direction that the clubhead is moving toward the target on the forward swing. It is the path of the clubhead at

impact that puts spin on the ball. The spin will cause the ball

to curve during its flight.

So, with that in mind, lets focus on PATH. When your ball slices, the path of your clubhead is cutting across your intend line of flight. Furthermore, the clubhead is coming from the outside to the inside. To make the ball stop slicing, we must get the clubhead to swing in the opposite direction. Which is, to swing from the inside to the outside. In order to accomplish this, try focusing on the inside corner of your ball. Then, just try to hit that corner with the clubface.

This thought about path and focusing on which part of the ball to hit, will get the clubhead swinging in the right direction. You can do it! Just remember, FACE and PATH. Hit the inside corner of the ball. Good Luck!

Jay Kragh, PGA Professional, Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools