PRO'S CORNER
BOOK
A
TEE
TIME
> C L I C K H E R E T O V I S I T I N D I A N W E L L S O N L I N E F O R D E TA I L S O N G O L F C L I N I C S , L E S S O N S , A N D M O R E
I
f you're a Coachella Valley resi-
dent or frequent visitor, chances
are your clubs grow a little dusty
during the summer months.
And while it's still warm in
September, cooler tempera-
tures are on the way.
So, if your clubs and your
game have been a bit dor-
mant, here are a few ways to
ease back into the golf mentality and
physicality, courtesy of Tom Burley,
PGA Head Golf Professional at In-
dian Wells Golf Resort:
MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY
One of the things I tell all of my
students is to make sure you've been
taking care of your body and stretch-
ing regularly. Little things like chip-
ping around the house or yard, even
if it is a whiffle golf ball for indoor
use. Keeping the mind and the body
fresh with golf motions will help you
familiarize 'golf techniques' without
being on the course.
FOCUS ON THE SHORT GAME
Amateurs have a much harder time
gauging shorter shots and dialing the
right distance on chips, pitches, and
greenside bunker play after a layoff.
Lag putting also suffers.
If you haven't been on the course
in a while, chances are whatever time
you have prior to teeing off will be
spent hitting balls on the driving
range.
I would encourage also visiting the
chipping area and stroking a few long
putts as the more time we take off the
more our distance control and touch
on the green tends to fade.
FULL-SWING ADVICE
Maximizing distance is all about
solid impact and striking the ball of
the center of the club face. You would
optimally like to reduce the amount
of side spin on your tee shots.
Golfers are always looking for high
launch and low spin, and if you are
hitting off-center shots that add
sidespin, your overall distance will
suffer.
I would recommend getting some
face tape for your clubs and checking
to make sure the impact you are mak-
ing is in the center of the club face.
DON'T FORGET PUTTING
Here's a simple drill I like to incor-
porate into my teaching:
Drop 6-8 golf balls in a circle
around the hole from about 3-5 feet.
This is sometimes called Around the
World.
The goal is to hit putts from all
sides and angles around the hole. It
pays to familiarize yourself with
putts that break left and right as well
as uphill and downhill.
SHAKING OFF THE RUST
Tips to help you come back strong from a summer break
<< The Around the World drill can help you
make more 5-foot putts under pressure.
