Fault Fixer With ADRIAN BISHOP Swing and Coaching Tutor for the National PGA and pro based at Wells GC
Luke has a beautifully balanced address position, with slight knee flex, bending from the hips and the shaft bisecting the belt line.
Everything moves away together with the arms and club swinging perfectly up the original shaft plane.
The shaft is parallel to the target line and clubface matches his spine angle. It doesn’t get any better than this.
The right elbow has returned to a position close to the right hip and the right forearm and shaft are lined up perfectly with the ball.
Luke has a little jump move at impact that can add power, but also leads to a slight loss of his body angles. Further proof of this is the fact the handle of the club is around 8° higher than it was at address.
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Luke has great control over the club by keeping the shaft plane above the right forearm. If the shaft was any lower he’d be in danger of getting the club “trapped” behind him, leading to hooks and pushes.
THE POSITIONS YOU NEED TO CREATE THE CLASSIC SWING
L
uke Donald has always possessed one of the best short games on the planet and it was an improvement in his long game that propelled him to world number one in 2011. But he still wasn’t as competitive in Majors as he’d have liked and a disappointing 2013 season prompted him to start working on his long game. His work with new
coach Chuck Cook is more about refinement than wholesale change. In simple terms, he’s trying to swing a little more with his body and a little less with his hands and arms. This should make him less reliant on timing and improve the consistency of his ball-striking. He’s already seeing the benefits with three top 10s in six starts.
Saving you shots every time you play This is evidence of a slight change. His left arm is now a little deeper than it used to be, which is an indication of a slightly more rounded swing.
The left arm and shoulders are very close to matching up, left wrist is flat and the clubface is slightly closed.
The shaft is on plane and pointing at the ball to target line. Luke has very active leg and footwork and his right heel is already rising.
The problem with this type of release is that it uses such a large amount of forearm and wrist rotation and can be a little too reliant on timing.
Luke’s trademark composed and balanced finish is one that we can all learn from.
2 The high shaft at impact has led to a rapid closing of the clubface post-impact. This is something Luke is trying to change.
3 Three things you can learn from Luke’s swing
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Play to your strengths
Donald will never overpower a golf course. But he’s outstanding from inside 100 yards, so he will lay up to his favourite yardage rather than taking on a risky second shot to a par 5. Use intelligent course management and play to your strengths.
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Commit to improvement
Donald uses stats to identify weaknesses and works hard to improve them. If you keep basic stats you can highlight areas of weakness within your game and get advice from your PGA pro on the best way to improve.
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Don’t forget your short game
Even as Luke has improved his full swing, he hasn’t lost focus on the strength of his short game. Go to your short game area and experiment by trying to hit as many different types of shots as possible to ensure you become well-rounded.
LUKE’S 2014 STATS 69.89 Scoring average (9th on the PGA Tour) 55.93% GIR from over 200 yards (6th on the PGA Tour) 92.86% GIR from inside 100 yards (5th on the PGA Tour) 66.25% Scrambling (4th on the PGA Tour) 0.82 Strokes Gained (putting) (7th on the PGA Tour)
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Trade in your old wedge and get £25 off a new Cleveland 588 wedge. Details www.clevelandgolf588.co.uk
GET A WEDGE UPGRADE
Cleveland Golf is again running its popular wedge trade-in promotion again in 2014 – over 20,000 wedges were traded in across UK and Europe in 2013. It means you can get £25 off any new Cleveland Golf 588 wedge when you trade in your old wedge, regardless of make, model or age. You can trade-in up to three wedges and the promotion runs until July 31, 2014. n Visit www.clevelandgolf588.co.uk
MARTYN RANDALL Handicap: 24
PAUL LEATHERDALE Handicap: 20
DAVID HAYDEN Handicap: 16
CHRIS FIELY Handicap: 12
MICHAEL BLAKEBROUGH Handicap: 8
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
ANDREW MURRAY Former European Tour and current European Seniors Tour player
WELCOME TO THE WAY TO CHIP IT
STONE DEAD EVERY TIME
Join the Scoring Academy and improve your chipping with six readers who improved theirs
DEREK RAINBOW Handicap: 21
There’s a direct correlation between how close you chip the ball to the hole and your score – so improving this key skill is a great way to lower your scores and your handicap. In simple terms, good chippers are good scorers. But being a good chipper isn’t just about developing a solid and repeatable technique. It also takes creativity and vision to imagine the best way to get the ball close to the hole with the lowest risk. The different clubs available to you and the huge variety of shots you’re able to play with them coupled with the natural contours and conditions of the chips you face often give you a decision to make. Electing to play the correct shot, understanding how to perform it and doing it under pressure are the keys to saving par – or making birdies. The first step towards better chipping is to evaluate your current performance with a simple test that you can complete in just a few minutes at a short game practice area. This will help highlight your strengths and weaknesses with different clubs around the greens – you’ll immediately find which clubs you’re most effective with and it provides a starting point for your practice and improvement. Once you’ve done this test, you can use the tips at www.todaysgolfer. co.uk/scoringacademy and the six drills here to improve your chipping performance. Retaking the test at regular intervals and keeping a record of your scores will help you monitor your progress and increase your confidence. Plus, you’ll also discover which wedges and balls suit your technique, and why it’s important to get the right bounce. All six readers at our Scoring Academy increased their chipping repertoire around the greens and improved their test results in just two days with the help of European Senior Tour player Andrew Murray. You could improve too if you invest a little time and effort in specific chipping practice.
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Kit Alexander, Instruction Editor TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 32 3
Trade in your old wedge and get £25 off a new Cleveland 588 wedge. Details www.clevelandgolf588.co.uk
CHIP AND GRIN!
Five tips and drills to help you control trajectory and spin around the green
1. HIT YOUR LANDING ZONE
N OW H C T A W ING P P I H C FREE TIPS AT VIDE.TOODAYSGOLER.COY.UK/
Focus on where you want the first bounce to be for accurate distance control
WWW RINGACADEM SCO
A YARD ON THE GREEN
Try to land the ball about a yard on the green and get it running as quickly as you can wherever possible – it’s much easier to control the ball along the ground then through the air. Pick a flat spot safely on the green so the first bounce is more predictable.
RELEASE TO THE HOLE
CLUB BASED ON RUN
The club you should use is determined by how far the ball needs to run when it lands just on the green. A good yardstick is that a pitching wedge has 50% carry and 50% run, but you should experiment with this and other clubs for yourself.
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Many of us want to make our chips check up with spin on the second or third bounce like the pros do on TV. But this is very difficult to achieve with any consistency. You will achieve better and more consistent results by letting the ball release to the hole.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
TECHNIQUE TIP
CHOOSE THE RIGHT BALL To help, use the Srixon Ball Selector at www.srixon.co.uk/make-the-switch Srixon Z-Star This three-piece ball offers tour feel and spin for fantastic performance around the greens. It has a high launch and is ideal for golfers who swing at 90-105mph. n £50 per dozen
SET OPEN TO THE TARGET Address the ball with your feet, hips, shoulders and clubface slightly open to the target. Opening the clubface helps engage the bounce for a crisper strike and opening the body offsets this, so you still hit the ball at the target.
TECHNIQUE TIP
Srixon Z-Star XV The four-piece XV is as good as the traditional Z-Star around the greens and enables golfers who swing over 100mph to generate more distance. n £50 per dozen
Srixon AD333 Tour The newest ball in the range has threepiece design that combines excellent feel and spin with good distance for anyone who swings over 80mph. n £36 per dozen
Srixon AD333
PRACTISE LIKE IT’S REAL You should always try and replicate the exact swing you want to make with every practice swing you do, but this is especially important with chipping. Develop the feel you want and familiarise yourself with how the club interacts with the grass you’re in.
The UK’s best-selling two-piece ball doesn't have quite as much spin and feel around the greens, but helps slower swingers launch the ball high and long. n £30 per dozen
Srixon Soft Feel You will lose some spin and feel around the greens with this two-piece ball, but it helps golfers who swing at less than 90mph gain greater distance. n £30 per dozen
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New Gear Ernie Els opened the Adams room at Wentworth.
Get fitted like a tour player New centres provide the ultimate experience all over the UK ADAMS GOLF SECOND SHOT CENTRE
TAYLORMADE PERFORMANCE LAB
Where: Wentworth Club, Surrey What it offers: Adams’ first global Second Shot Fitting Centre provides the opportunity for golfers to dial-in their second shot clubs, namely those from 250 yards in, with Adams’ TG testwinning hybrids and woods. How to book: www.adamsgolf.eu/ secondshotcentre; 01344 846306
Where: Wentworth Club, Surrey; Turnberry, Ayrshire What it offers: They use “Motion Analysis Technology” (MAT-T), a state-of-the-art 3D motion capture fitting, to give a real-time view of you and your swing. It lets the fitter fully understand your swing and launch characteristics to accurately recommend the best clubs to improve your game. How to book: www. experiencetaylormade.eu/ performance-lab
NIKE PERFORMANCE FITTING CENTRE Where: Archerfield, East Lothian What it offers: A range of packages tailored to your needs, including the ultimate three-day stay which includes a full club and ball fitting, game-assessment, physical fitness consultation and a playing lesson on either the Fidra or Dirleton Links. You can also get access to Archerfield’s coaching panel that includes former Ryder Cup star Andrew Coltart and European Tour coach Gary Nicol. How to book: 01620 897050 (opens on July 7). IS SUE 32 3 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
CLEVELAND GOLF/ SRIXON CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Where: Studley Wood GC, Oxon; Rockliffe Hall, Co Durham What it offers: Fine-tune your wedge set-up with 10 different wedge heads and six shafts. Plus you’ll get advice on the best Srixon ball for your game via TrackMan. How to book: Studley Wood 01844 215400; Rockliffe Hall 01325 729987.
Nike’s new centre in East Lothian.
TITLEIST NATIONAL FITTING CENTRE Where: St Ives, Cambs; Kings Acre, Midlothian; Carton House, Co Kildare; Celtic Manor, South Wales What it offers: Titleist National Fitting Centres employ highlyskilled fitters who utilise TrackMan launch monitors and Titleist Pro V1 golf balls to provide a premium fitting experience. How to book: Through your local Titleist stockist. CALLAWAY PERFORMANCE CENTRE Where: Chessington, Surrey; St Andrews Links, Fife; Whittlebury Park, Northants What it offers: In 90 minutes, you’ll cover woods and irons, and
if required, go through the rest of the bag to assess your wedges, putter and recommend the right ball for your game. How to book: www.mycallaway. eu/custom-fitting MIZUNO NATIONAL FITTING CENTRE Where: Burhill Golf Club, Surrey What it offers: As well as TrackMan, Mizuno uses Swing DNA, a clever gadget which tells you the best shaft for your game in just three swings. How to book: http://golf. mizunoeurope.com/store PING CUSTOM FITTING CENTRE Where: Gainsborough, Lincs What it offers: The three-bay centre, plus two 18-hole courses, is equipped with TrackMan launch monitors which work alongside Ping’s own fitting software, N-Flight. iPing, the putter fitting software, is also available. How to book: Through an authorised Ping retailer.
On our shopping list this month... Latest Ecco shoes, Scotty Cameron putters and Batman’s golf bag...
ECCO BIOM HYBRID What it is: ECCO has expanded its best-selling BIOM Hybrid shoe with two additional styles. Why you might want it: Famously worn by Fred Couples, the BIOM Hybrid is now offered in all-new GoreTex and textile versions, an updated design combining Tibetan yak leather with ultra-soft nubuck, and the existing yak leather version. The details: HYDROMAX £165, Gore-Tex £185. www.ecco.com/golf
OGIO GOTHAM AQUATECH BAG What it is: A new take on waterproof bag design. Why you might want it: Designed to reduce the number of zips used – an area prone to water entry – while increasing storage. Like Batman’s cape, two main zips allow the larger pockets to expand once opened, exposing a generous and easy-to-access space. Weighs less than 5lb, too. The details: £249. www.ogio-golf.co.uk
WIN!
LAMKIN I-LINE GRIPS What it is: A highperformance “crossline” pattern is combined with a softer elastomer to create a grip ideal for golfers that want a soft feel grip without sacrificing control and slipresistance benefits. Why you might want it: This fusion of technology delivers a grip that is said to be both very secure and very comfortable. The details: Available in a variety of colours. £7 per grip. www.lamkin.co.uk
SCOTTY CAMERON SELECT DUAL BALANCE What it is: Two of Scotty Cameron’s most popular, tour-proven models – Select Newport 2 and GoLo 7 – are now available with “Dual Balance” technology. Why you might want it: The heavier head, shaft weight and a larger grip create a counterbalanced effect and stabilise the stroke, reducing common faults like over-active hands. The details: 38” shaft. £315. www.scottycameron.com
VOICE CADDIE VC300 What it is: An ultracompact GPS that clips to your cap or belt. Why you might want it: One click and it tells you the distance to the centre of the green; one swish across the touchscreen and it gives the distance to the front of the green; a swish in the opposite direction provides an accurate measurement to the back. Contains 30,000 courses. The details: Black or white. £109. www.voice-caddie.com
SHOTSAVER’S NEW GPS UNIT
We’ve got two feature-packed Tour Pro S340 Revolution GPS devices to give away We’ve teamed up with Shotsaver to give you the chance to win two brand new Tour Pro S340 Revolution GPS units worth £249.99. Featuring a sunlight readable three-inch LCD touch screen, the Tour Pro S340 Revolution displays detailed course graphics and is packed full of sophisticated tools including hole fly-overs, 2D and 3D hole views, Dynamic Green View and lay-up view, as well as all European courses professionally mapped. The device’s lay-up feature lets you calculate the distance required to any point on the hole and also
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gives yardages to front, centre and back of the green. It also has a built-in club distance recorder, to track your longest, shortest and average distance with each club. If you’re not lucky enough to win, you can take advantage of an exclusive TG discount price of £199.99, using the code TODAY340. Visit www.shotsavergolf.co.uk and enter the code at the checkout.
HOW TO ENTER Visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/win, and enter your e-mail address. Entries close on July 9. Terms and conditions can be found on the website.
ENTER AT WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK/WIN
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