Ohio Golf Journal August 2020

Tips for Better Practice By Fred Altvater Ben Hogan famously found his secrets “in the dirt,” but you may not have time to spend hours on the range tinkering with a different grip, stance, posture, or alignment. Do you have a plan for improvement, when you go to the range, or do you just beat golf balls into oblivion until you have a sore back? Many golfers go to the range, grab their driver out of the bag and begin swinging for the fences, “Chicks and Golfers Dig the Long Ball.” If you want to lower your scores and have more fun on the course, that may not be the best course of action. 1: Warm Up & Stretch Let’s prevent injury. Don’t jump out of the car, grab your sticks and start ripping drivers down the range. Do a few stretching exercises and lazily swing a couple of clubs before you begin taking hacks. 2: Start Your Practice Session with a Pitching Wedge The wedge is the easiest club in the bag to hit. It helps a player develop a rhythm and gain confidence, when they see balls actually getting into the air. Stop killing innocent worms and losing range balls by slicing them off into a neighboring corn field. The wedge is the shortest club in the bag, with the most loft, plus the swing is a shorter segment of the same swing you use for longer irons and woods. Besides most shots are saved from 100 yards in on the course. Improve your wedge play and it will immediately lower your scores. Ohio Golf Journal