As we previously studied, once you take a golf club position to produce a shot, you’ll find yourself balanced on your left foot. Because of this it will become essential for you to shift your weight to the right foot by using a one-two movement; the forward press and then the reverse press.

Right Golf Club Position

Through these two movements the weight will be shifted to the right foot, you will be set to raise the club to the top of the swing using your right side and at that very moment your hands must be ready to set the club into the desired position to create the desired outcome.

As your right hand applies the sharp pickup action to the golf club, the left hand must simultaneously be able to perform its own crucial action; that is the setting of the golf club into the desired position. It’s very vital that you remember that it is actually the left hand that will determine exactly how the golf club will be set.

You see, if the left hand turns inward toward the body, a plan can move the golf club to an open position. This pronating movement will permit the face of the golf club to be moved toward the sky while at the same time tilting the golf club shaft to the outside of the line of flight. This mixture of movements will create slices and high flying shots.

If; however, the left hand is turned away from the body, then quite naturally the golf club face will subsequently be closed and turn towards the ground. Simultaneously, through this supinating movement, the golf club shaft will be tilted to the inside of the line of flight towards the right shoe. For that reason, you’ll be able to make shots running, fly low and hooks.

If your left hand moves toward a middle course and neither supinates or pronates then the golf club face is going to be instantly squared to the line of flight and will also be capable of producing straight flying shots. Recognize that throughout all of these three different gof club positions, both hands remain active. The action of the right hand; however, remains the same throughout each of the three different gof club positions; a sharp pickup action of the golf club. It’s action of the land which differentiates in each position. A pronation can occur; a downward thrust through an inward move or a supination may result; an outward move. One may also make a straight in-between position.

Therefore, the key to understanding and producing consistent results lies in an awareness of what the left hand is doing. This failure to know and properly utilize the land hand is what often makes golf such a difficult game for many people. Your left hand can work no better than your right hand will allow. While the technique of setting the golf club into position is most definitely a 2-handed action; which originates with the right hand; the final result actually depends on the left hand.

The final finesse of being able to make the ball fly low or high, make it run or stop or make it slice or hook is entirely dependent on the golf club position. That critical golf club position is entirely dependent on the action of the left hand. Without correct body action and footwork it’s difficult; however, to maintain the hands working in the right golf club position.

Having mastered this push and pull action in playing golf, you should know that you are able to maintain control over exactly what the golf ball does by properly setting it into one of three golf club positions. These three positions into which the golf club can be cocked or set will produce three separate results.

1.    You can curve the golf ball to the right-known as the fade or slice
2.    You can curve the golf ball to the left-known as the pull or hook
3.    You can drive the golf ball perfectly straight. Regardless of if the golf ball hooks to the left, flies absolutely straight or slices to the right completely is dependent upon the positioning of the golf club upon impact.

Three Positions in Setting Golf Club:

By using your hands at the outset of the back-swing it’s totally possible to cock or set the golf club into a certain position in which it’s going to be in the desired position upon impact. The position into which you set the golf club on the back swing will determine precisely what the position of the golf club is going to be at impact with the golf ball. The 3 positions into which you’ll want to set the golf club are:

1.    The open position. This position will make a slice. The face of the golf club needs to be turned towards the sky while the shaft of the golf club should be tilted toward the outside of the line of flight; moved away from the right toe. Any time you need a high flying shot that will stop just short of landing, the open face golf technique needs to be used. A word of caution; nevertheless, if the position is simply too open it will resolve in a curve or slice to the right. It’s also possible to use the open position to play shots out of deep sand traps.

2.    The closed position. which will deliver a hook. In this particular position the face of the club will turned towards the ground while the shaft will be tilted toward the inside of the line of flight toward the right toe. You can use the closed face technique for playing low shots that will run. Beware; however, that if the position is overly exaggerated, it’ll result in a curve to the left.

3.    The square position. This position will produce straight flying shots. In this position, the face3 of the club will be kept square to the line of the shot. Remember, it’s always best to keep the shaft of the golf club tilted somewhat to the inside of the line of the shot to be able to offset an inward pull of the left side as the golf club is brought through the golf ball.

Are you struggling with your golf swing?  There are probably very few golfers on the course today who would say that they aren’t struggling with their swing because of one problem or another.  Whether it’s a hook or slice or lack of distance or balls that fly too low, most golfers have one or more problems they want to address.  While it’s true that very often a poor golf swing is the result of a poor technique, sometimes it’s also due to a bad choice of clubs!  A golf club is not like a football where you need to adjust yourself to its shape and size but instead, your clubs should be a good fit for your own particular abilities, physical build, and so on.  Your technique is important when it comes to your golf swing, but using the wrong clubs is like trying to make a wedding cake with a frying pan – the best techniques in the world will not make the end result any good!  Technique and equipment need to work together when it comes to a good golf game.

So how can you be sure that you’re choosing the right clubs for your own golf swing?  For one thing, you don’t want to choose your clubs based on what anyone else uses or because of a slick marketing campaign.  Clubs are as personal as shoes – imagine trying on the shoes of a friend or buying a pair that Tiger Woods wears.  They would work for that person but probably not for you!  Your golf swing is affected by the clubs but your own physical strength, height, coordination, flexibility, and so on.  As an example, the loft of clubs refers to the angle of the clubface.  A higher number on a club means more loft which means more arc or trajectory of the ball when it’s struck.  Someone with shorter arms may need that addition loft to assist with their golf swing, whereas someone with longer arms may actually overdo it if they use a club with too much loft.

Golf clubs are also made from many different materials and these are usually meant to address specific problems with a golf swing or to fit the golfer’s individual needs.  A person with less physical strength may need something that’s lighter so that there is more flex, which creates a whip effect on the swing.  Someone that’s physically stronger might actually cause the ball to go too far when using a club with a lot of flex and may lose control of the ball’s direction.  The materials used for different clubs will greatly affect one’s golf swing but it’s important to make sure that you’re using what is right for your swing.

Choosing the right clubs is something that should be done with patience.  Rushing into a decision to purchase or just grabbing a club from your bag without really sizing up your shot will mean a poor game and a poor golf swing.

As a senior golf player, you want to keep up with the younger players and keep your handicaps right where they are or better. To do this you need to have a few tips on the strategies that other senior golfers use. The first one is the club. The club is important for distance as well as how the ball sails down the fairway. If you have the right club with the proper amount of flex, you are going to keep with your game. If you do not make adjustments, as you get older, you may see your game and handicap slip away.

The most important thing to remember about strategies is the course you are playing. Not all golf courses are created equally. Many courses are going to require you to adjust your swing and distance. Some of the best golf courses are the ones that require some degree of thinking and planning your drive. If you are playing against a wind, or on a drizzly day, you are going to have problems no matter how good you are in the game. Plying against the wind might require a different flex shaft because the wind is going to push the ball backwards.

The next strategy that senior golf players need to consider is the stance. If you are a little older, the way you present yourself to the ball will have a big impact on the game. You are going to stand differently as well as move differently when you swing. You should always keep this in mind when you are trying new clubs. If you have back problems, you will probably stand and move your body differently, which will great affect the distance you get with the ball as well as how you use the golf club.

The entire game is going to depend on how you tee off. As you age, you will have to change the way you position yourself over the ball. You may need to continually change this as the years go by. You can play golf for years after reaching fifty, you just have to realize when you need a change in your stance and positioning. Your distance not only comes from the club, but also from your presentation to the ball. Hit the draw is a term many golfers use to describe how you stand over the ball and how you will hit that ball

The best strategy is the tactical and practical strategies rather the mechanics. This is the thinking of many of the senior golf pros including Jim Hartley, who wrote a book about just that way of thinking. Golfers also have to have the mental image of the course in their minds in order to play more efficiently and know how many hits they need to make the putt easier and closer. Keeping all this mind should allow you to play the game and keep your handicap the same or better as you enter into your senior golf years.