Shot of the week
Date : 26th of July 2011
Location: Roquebrune golf course – 17th hole
Shot : Greenside bunker shot
Club: 56 Degree Sand wedge
Align you body, feet knees and shoulders left of the target; the clubface however should be square to the target. The more left you aim the body, the more the clubface will be open, and the higher the ball will come out of the bunker. Play the ball just inside your left heel and twist your feet into the sand.
Get comfortable by waggling the club and maintain a soft grip pressure. Twist your feet into the sand and keep the weight back on the heels
Swing up along the feet line and break the wrists early on the backswing. Never make a full swing only a ½ to ¾ backswing.
At impact make contact with the sand approx 5cm before the ball, the clubface must remain aiming at the target or open to the body alignment if you prefer. Hit down with enough force to get the sand on to the green this will ensure the ball will also get on to the green.
Accelerate smoothly to the finish allowing the body to open and finish in balance facing the target with the left arm in a chicken wing position.
Date : 18th of July 2011
Location: Sainte Maxime golf course
Shot : low trajectory 3/4 punch shot
Club: - 6 Iron
The shot that really helped Darren Clarke win the British open was the low trajectory 3/4 punch shot. Its a shot that is used when you want to keep your ball under strong winds or beneath low hanging branches.It also just happens to be one of my favourite shots.
Aim slightly to the right of the target as the ball will have a tendency to fly to the left. Take 1 or 2 clubs more you would normally take for the distance required. Example: 8 iron distance take a 7 or 6.
Grip down on the handle and position the golf ball in the back of your stance, near your right foot. Your hands are now well ahead of the ball and this will take loft of the clubface and consequently give us the low trajectory ball flight we want.
Swing the club back normally but make a shorter three-quarters backswing
Swing down to the ball and through impact making sure you keep your hands ahead of the ball and therefore a delofted clubface
The follow-through through should mirror the backswing and should be a 3/4 finish with very little unhinging of the wrists
Date : 13th of July 2011
Location: Sainte Maxime golf course - Behind the 11th green
Shot : Steep uphill slope approx 15m from the flag
Club: Sand wedge
Set up with a lofted club, PW or SW both feet should be together with the body weight favouring the left side.This will help your balance. Grip down on the handle and play the ball opposite the left foot if you want a high trajectory or opposite the right foot for a low trajectory.
Keep your wrists firm on the backswing............
keep them firm at impact too while striking down in to the back of the ball and the turf
Rember to keep your balance during the action with the weight always on the left side
Date : 5th of July 2011
Location: Roquebrune golf course – 14th hole
Shot : Uphill slope approx 50m from the flag
Club: Pitching wedge
Set up with the spine at right angles to the slope. This will naturally tilt the shoulders parallel to the slope and shift the weight on to the right leg.
Make a slightly longer backswing then normal to compensate for a higher ball flight and little or no roll when the ball lands on the green.
Make sure you swing up the slope and not into it.
Date : 27th of June 2011
Location: Sainte Maxime golf course – 18th hole
Shot : Ball above the feet approx 80m from the flag
Club: Pitching wedge
