The Everything Golf Instruction Book: From Teeing Off to Sinking the Putt, All You Need to Play the Game

348 Pages·2003·2.36 MB·English

by  Rob Blumer

The
Golf Instruction Book
Dear Reader:
Most golf books are written by the world’s finest golfers who have long
forgotten what it’s like to shank half a dozen consecutive shots.
However, this book is written by an ex-hacker who wakes up in a cold
sweat every now and then from a dream about incurable slices and
topped shots, and a golf coach who’s seen the frustrations of scholarship
athletes who have tons of talent, but scant ounces of patience. That’s a
long way to say we know your game.
We can help you learn the swing for the first time or put new keys in
your brain to help you find that elusive swing that’s just right for you.
We can teach you how to take what a course gives and execute the
surest shots to get out of trouble and avoid disaster.
Golf is the perfect blend of physical and mental challenges. Success
comes not from perfect mastery of the game—all golfers are doomed to
fail in such an attempt—but from taking pleasure in the pilgrimage, from
straighter shots and better lag putts to improved distance control and
wiser decisions.
You can do it, and we’re glad to help.
The Series!
Editorial
Publishing Director Gary M. Krebs
Managing Editor Kate McBride
Copy Chief Laura MacLaughlin
Acquisitions Editor Eric Hall
Development Editor Lesley Bolton
Production Editor Khrysti Nazzaro
Production
Production Director Susan Beale
Production Manager Michelle Roy Kelly
Series Designers Daria Perreault
Colleen Cunningham
Cover Design Paul Beatrice
Frank Rivera
Layout and Graphics Colleen Cunningham
Rachael Eiben
Michelle Roy Kelly
Daria Perreault
Erin Ring
Series Cover Artist Barry Littmann
Interior Illustrator Kathie Kelleher
Visit the entire Everything® series at www.everything.com
THE
GOLF
INSTRUCTION
BOOK
From teeing off to sinking the putt,
all you need to play the game
Rob Blumer and Dr. Rex Chaney
Contents
Top Ten Things You Will Learn after Reading This Book
Introduction
1
Learning the Game
Golf Course Terminology
Rules to Get You Going
Golf Etiquette
Playing at the Local Course
Keeping Score
A Handicap Primer
2
What You Need to Get Started
Developing the Right Mental Game
Clubs and Balls
Putters and Other Gear
Finding a Foursome
The Power of Playing Alone
Building Confidence on the Practice Range
3
The Basic Swing Motion
Positioning Your Body for the Setup
Club Height and Shaft Angle
Distance from the Ball
Gripping the Club
Reduce the Target Distance
Keep Both Eyes on the Ball
Putting the Body in Motion
4
Teeing Off
The Raised Ball
Hitting Up
Positioning the Body to Hit Up
Weight Transference
Avoiding Danger from the Tee
When to Leave the Driver Alone
5
Improving Your Accuracy
Swinging Inside-Out
Swinging Outside-In
A Word about Shanks
The Open Club Face
The Closed Club Face
The Square Club Face
Combining Swing Path and Face Angle
6
Swinging with Power
Start with Balance
Motion of the Hands
Muscle Coil
Turning Speed
Club Face Angle and Power Loss
Whip Cracking—The Braking Mechanism
7
Keeping Your Swing Consistent
Shoulder Tilt
Left Arm Turn
Left Arm Alignment
Right Elbow Tuck
Myths about Weight Shift
Truths about Weight Shift and Balance
The Tilt
The Finish
8
Shot Making
Footwork
Wrists and Club Face Angle
Learning to Draw the Ball
Learning to Fade the Ball
Using Backspin
Surrendering the Impossible Shot
9
Playing Your Irons
The Difference in the Clubs
Changing Ball Positions for Different Irons
When More Than One Club Will Do
When More Than One Distance Will Do
Short Shots
Wrist Action
10
Chipping and Pitching
A Whole New Set of Rules
The Right Clubs to Use
Weight Shift
Stiff Wrists
The Constant Club Face
Hitting Down for Height
Warnings
11
Playing from Bunkers
Different Types of Bunkers
The Problem with the Soft Lie
Fairway Bunker Shots and an Embedded Ball
Fairway Bunker Shots and a Good Lie
Greenside Bunkers and the Lie
Greenside Bunker Shots to Elevated Greens
Greenside Bunker Shots with a Close Pin
12
Putting
Great Putting Makes a Great Round
Reading the Green
Developing a Pre-Putt Routine
Finding Your Best Putting Stroke
Keys to Accuracy
Rules about Marking Balls
Etiquette on the Greens
13
Troubleshooting
A Novice’s Definition of Hook and Slice
Correcting a Hook
Correcting the Slice
Stopping Tops
When Your Club Hits the Ground First
Raising a Low Trajectory
Lowering a High Trajectory
14
Lies and Hazards