Driving

There are a few things you always need to remember when you are on the tee.  One is grip pressure.  This is very, very important.  Most people grip the driver too tightly.  Make sure you’ve got the club nice and light in your hands, with no more tension than is needed to hold the club.

Secondly, you want to hit something that you can get off the tee and in play.  Do not be concerned with that extra ten yards you may get if you hit the driver perfectly.  It you can hit a 3-wood on the sweet spot more consistently, go ahead and hit that in situations where you may have a dogleg or a narrow fairway. 

Another thing is, when you have the driver in your hands, the object is to get a nice, full shoulder turn.  So when you take the club away, the butt end and your belt buckle need to go in unison.

And finally, you need to pose on your right toe at the finish.  That will ensure that you hit the ball with all your weight.

Pitching

Here are some things you need to know to make the right motion to get the ball closer to the cup so you can make more up and downs. 

First off, I want the ball right in the middle of your stance.  Now there are variations off this, depending on your lie or stance, but for the most part, the ball should be centered. 

Next, I want you to think of hands on a clock.  Your backswing generally mirrors your follow through in regards to length.  Now on occasion you’re going to follow through a little more to keep the momentum of your swing going. 

But in general, think of nine to three on the clock when you’re hitting a pitch shot.  This will help you get a nice motion, good contact, and get the ball going at your target.

Lastly, the back of your left hand is going to mirror your club face, and the resulting action will affect your shot.  So if that hand turns over, you’ll likely hit the middle of the golf ball, or pull it, or put topspin on it.  Not what you want with most pitch shots. 

At the end of your swing, you want to be able to put a cup of coffee on the face of your club.  It should be going right at the target. 

Keep these in mind when you’ve got a pitch shot of 60 yards or so and in.  This will help you be more accurate, and in turn, make more putts.

Tips from the staff at the Broadmoor can be heard each week on the “Tee to Green” radio show, which airs each Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m.  They can also be found on the show’s website at www.teetogreenradio.com.