JohnHayesGolf.com Newsletter Golf Tip – March 2018
For your golf game: It is very helpful to lay a club down parallel to your target line, somewhere between your feet and the golf ball, in order to train your eyes and mind to align the club correctly at the target. The first thing you will need to do to set up this practice station is to lay a club on the ground right on the target line so it points through the golf ball directly to your target. Go back and check to see that it points straight at the target! Then lay another club down parallel to the first club and check to see that it is parallel. This club should be about midway between your stance and the golf ball. Obviously you need to pick up the first club laying on the target line next to the ball so you don’t hit it when swinging.
Now begin to hit your practice shots by first setting your clubhead either on or right next to the parallel club laying on the ground. Check to see that the lines on the clubface and the shaft are perpendicular to the target line. Now slide the clubhead over to the golf ball and rest it at to your address position and, again, check to see the lines on the clubface and the shaft are perpendicular to the target line. Now take your stance and then look out at your target. Remind yourself that this is what lining up the clubface on target should look like. It may not appear to you that you are lined up correctly but, knowing that the club on the ground is parallel to the target line, you know that this is correct alignment and your eyes and mind need more training.
One practice session where every shot is preceded by correct alignment of the clubface will go a long way to training your eyes and mind to seeing this correctly. And it will help build your routine so it is not plagued by incorrect alignment that will require some other compensation in the swing to get the ball on target.
Upcoming clinics and events: My next LADIES-ONLY GOLF CLINIC will be held on 3 consecutive Wednesday mornings – MARCH 7, 14 and 21 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Cost is only $50 total for 4 and a half hours of instruction! It is good for beginners or newly dedicated golfers.
My next specialty clinic will be a SHORT GAME BOOT CAMP for 2 hours held on Saturday, MARCH 24th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. I will cover pitching/chipping, bunker play, putting, and fun games to practice effectively! Men or Ladies welcome. This is NOT for new beginners. There is a limit of only 3 students so call or email to sign up. Total cost is only $55.
I will conduct a GET GOLF READY LADIES BOOT CAMP from Thur., APRIL 12th through Sunday, APRIL 15th. There will be 4 hours of golf clinics (Thur. & Fri. from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Sat. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and then we will finish on the golf course on Sun. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is perfect for beginners who want to feel comfortable on the golf course in a short time. Total cost is only $99 and includes everything!
Please call/text (727) 692-4679 or email, jh@johnhayesgolf.com, to sign up as space is limited for all clinics. Go to www.johnhayesgolf.com for more details.
** I will be conducting the Adult Golf Clinics every week on Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and on Saturday afternoons at 12:30 p.m. There is no sign up, just show up and cost is only $20 which includes a large bucket of range balls.
As always, please contact me with any questions or comments and I hope to see you soon on the lesson tee at the Chi Chi Golf Range & Sports Complex in beautiful Clearwater in the Tampa, FL area.