by South Florida Golf Pro | Nov 1, 2022 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Golf Lessons, Golfing, Golfing Tips
“Slicing” in golf is when a sidespin is put on a ball, which means golf shots go right for a right-handed player and left for left-handed players. It is known as one of the most common faults in golf. It is not as destructive as the hook (a ball that curves during flight,) but it still does not help one to get a good score in their game. Unfortunately, it is not always a quick or easy fix, either.
Deer Creek Golf Club has seen and worked with many golfers over the years that have overcome this fault in our golf school. With this experience, we are able to offer some advice and tips on how to not slice a golf ball.
Tips to Stop Slicing
There are a few factors at play when a golfer continuously slices. No one wants to waste a tee time on slices and bad shots. Here are ways that work for some, including our professionals’ basic tips and things you can work on.
#1 Work on Proper Weight Shift
A common theme among slicers is having incorrect or insufficient weight transfer in their swing. When players get to the top of their backswing and the first move is made by the shoulders and arms is where the expression “coming over the top” comes from. The feet get stuck because the player is putting too much weight on the back foot.
A good weight shift comes from the proper sequence of movements starting in the lower body, feet, knees, then hips. Then the upper body follows the upper torso, arms, and hands, all in that order. This means that the hands, which control the club, will stay more inside the correct path for a decent swing.
#2 Turn Through the Impact
Good golfers who have proper weight will shift and turn their bodies through the impact and, more often than not, won’t slice. If professional golfers are analyzed, it will often be seen that their shoulders are about 15 to 30 degrees left of the target, and hips are between 30 to 60 degrees leftward.
Tips #1 and $2 are about correcting the motion of the body as a way to stop slicing.
#3 Don’t Aim for a Slice
Many golfers who are dealing with a slicing problem attempt to aim more left as a fix for how to correct the right slice in golf. That is not the answer! If a round is being played with a left-to-right wind, then aiming more left will just further exaggerate the slice. A wind that is coming off the left may stall the ball’s forward motion, meaning it’s going nowhere.
By working on correcting the swing and path of motion, golfers learn how to get the clubface and stance more squared up, which helps overcome the slice regardless of the wind patterns.
#4 Try Stronger Grips to Make It Easier to Square Up the Clubface
The face of the club naturally rotates closed as it approaches impact. A common problem that golfers have is being able to allow this to efficiently happen. Some players overdo it, and suddenly, instead of slicing, they’ve pulled insanely left.
A way to square the clubface up to avoid either of those bad shots is to strengthen the grip a little. For right-handed players, stronger grips mean more knuckles of the left hand and, if necessary, dropping the right hand slightly under the shaft.
#5 Use Softer Flex Shafts
As golfers swing down, the club head is initially lagging behind the hands. With stiffer and heavier shafts, it makes it harder for it to catch up correctly, while light and flexible shafts help the club head kick forward before impact. This creates more rotation of the face which then helps square up the face and adds loft to the face, which minimizes the headspin on the ball at impact.
Softer shafts should be used by players who slice, while heavier ones should be used by those who struggle with the hook.
Contact Deer Creek Golf Club
We hope our tips for how to not slice a golf ball have helped and if you are interested in our golf school, tee times, or rates, contact us today! If you are in the area, you can also check out our pro golf shop, filled with all the attire, accessories, and equipment you’ll need to look like a pro golfer.
by South Florida Golf Pro | Nov 1, 2022 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Golf Lessons, Golfing, Golfing Etiquette, Golfing Tips
Deer Creek Golf Club has helped and taught many players golf strength and conditioning workouts to better their game. Focusing on this type of fitness is a great way to target specific areas that could be affecting your golf game. Golf fitness involves a lot of mobility work and balance that can translate into a better swing. There are four main areas that should be focused on when thinking about golf fitness:
- Balance
- Stability
- Rotational strength
- Power
Adding these elements together and into your regular fitness routine will only be beneficial to your swing and overall golf game. In addition, keeping up with proper fitness can prevent your body from feeling pain which can be caused by incorrect form or weaker muscles. Practicing this type of fitness can target all the muscles needed when playing golf.
Balance Workouts
Balance is often the part of golf fitness that gets forgotten or doesn’t get the amount of attention it deserves. Here are some tips and workouts to incorporate into your fitness routine to focus on balance.
Single-Leg Hip Circles
Stand with your hands on your hips and your feet hip-width apart. Shift your weight over to your right leg and slowly lift your left leg out to the side. After establishing your balance, begin making circles out to the side with your left leg. Try to maintain stability and balance in the knee and ankle of the left leg to reduce too much movement. All movement should be in the left hip. Do it five times clockwise and counterclockwise, then switch legs and repeat.
Highwire Shoulder Raises
This is a combination of shoulder work and balance. Start with a light dumbbell (5 to 10 lbs) in each hand, and your arms should start by your side. Place your right foot directly in front of your left foot as if you were walking on a tightrope or highwire. Once you find your balance, lift your right arm out to the side until it is parallel with the ground. While keeping that balance, lower your right arm and repeat with the left arm. Continue until you’ve completed 10 reps on each side.
Switch legs and repeat.
Single-Leg Chipping
Grab a club and set up as if you were about to knock a 30-yard chip onto the green. Bench your trail knee (right knee if you are right-handed, left if you are left-handed) and lift that foot off the ground. Maintain your balance in this one-legged set-up potion and practice your chip shot. Aim to keep that trail leg up in the air and keep the clubhead from touching the floor for at least three perfect shots at a time.
Once you have mastered this, switch the foot that is in the air and try to get three perfect shots without the front foot touching the ground. As you master the skills, up the distance of the chip shot to 50 yards and so on.
Stability Training
Stability and balance go hand in hand in most sports and workouts. It is no different in any golf training guide. If there is a lack of stability, then the swing of any golfer will be compromised. Here are some stability training workouts to work on.
Shoulder Taps
Starting on all fours, lift your knees off the ground so that you are now in a high plank position. Slowly alternate between one hand tapping the opposite shoulder and placing it back on the ground. This type of exercise strengthens core and cross-body stability. It also helps protect your lower back and helps efficiently transfer force through the spine while maintaining the angle.
Side Leg Side Reach
Get your balance on one foot and keep the opposite foot low to the ground, then reach side to side without losing your balance. Let your head and upper body lean in the opposite direction to maintain a nice long line from the tip of your head to your foot. This will help build up stability in ankles, knees, hips, and spine in the frontal plane and help transition weight side to side like you would in a golf swing. Do this for three sets of 10 reps on each side.
Palloff Lunge
For this exercise, you will use a cable machine or a resistance band. Have the cable or band directly out to your side and hold it in your hands directly in front of your sternum and begin stepping forward and dropping into a lunge. Switch between legs and only lunge as deep as it is comfortable. This will help build rotational stability over a dynamic lower body, which in turn helps with a more efficient transfer of force from the lower body through the core to your arms and club.
Rotational Strength Training
It’s pretty obvious that rotational strength is important for a golfer’s swing. There are a few ways to improve your rotation, which also means improving your swing. Being consistent with golfing exercises and stretches is a big part of golfers being able to continuously improve their rotation and swing. Here are a few ways to do that.
Stability Ball Twist With a Dumbbell
Starting by lying on your back with shoulders on the stability ball and hips off in a bridge position. Keep feet a little wider than hip-width apart, and have the dumbbell straight above at chest level. From this position, maintain a strong core, keep your hips in the bridge position, and slowly rotate towards one side and then the other. Make sure to keep your arms straight and feet pressed on the floor. Repeat five times on each side.
Half Kneeling Cable Lift
In a half-kneeling position with the knee down closer to the cable machine, maintain proper hip, knee, and ankle alignment on the forward leg. It is important to maintain a strong core and bring the weight towards your chest and then simultaneously rotate and push the weight away. Keep bare at eye level upon full rotation, control the movement through your core and avoid twisting through the lower back. Repeat 10 times on each side.
Half Kneeling Resistance Band Rotation
In a half-kneeling position, the front knee should be closest to the wall. Place a ball between your leg and wall, grab a resistance band and create a little tension with arms pulled shoulder width apart and slightly lower than shoulder height. With your front knee pushing the ball to the wall, rotate your upper body away from the front leg. There should be little to no movement through your hips. Follow the movement with your eyes throughout the rotation. Repeat 10 times on each side.
Power Training
Power is something every golfer strives for because power can translate to more yards off the tee and to the irons. Here are a few power exercises to add to your workout regime:
- Slam Skater Vertical: Using a medicine ball, stand on one leg at a time and slam the ball side to side, maintaining your balance.
- Split Power Jump: Starting in a lunge position, power through grounded feet and keep your core tight and explode up.
- Weighted Power Jumps: Power up from grounded feet in an explosive move. These can be done with or without weight.
- Squat with Med Ball Rotation: Stand with feet separated shoulder width apart and toes forward. With a slight bend in the knee, engage your belly and keep your arms straight as you rotate slightly and toss the ball to a partner or against the wall.
These exercises will help build strength and control in a golfer’s swing.
Contact us today if you are interested in our golf school, tee times, or rates.
by South Florida Golf Pro | Feb 25, 2019 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Golf Lessons, Golfing, Golfing Tips, South Florida golf course
A nice, relaxing game of golf may be just what you need as an escape from daily life. However, you may be stumped on executing the perfect shots. It all starts with your short game. Short game is all about control. Once you nail it, expect your performance to improve and your confidence to increase. We’re sharing a few golf short game basics to improve your short game at our Deer Creek golf course.
Soften Your Grip for Chip Shots
First things first: loosen up your grip. Most rookie golfers make the mistake of keeping a tight grip, not knowing their grip can make or break their round – especially their short game. As you’re chipping, remember to keep your hands soft and maintain a medium grip. A loosened grip will also ease the tension in the wrists and arms. Once you softened your grip, you can then focus on a basic chipping stance by holding your chin high and your back straight.
Rotate Your Body
Sure, chipping and pitching is all about short shots, but if you want a firm hit on the golf ball, it’s important to rotate your body forward as you swing.
First, swing the clubhead back and then, point the right knee towards your left knee to help maximize your downswing. This method will clear your right side and help you get better rotation through the swing to further improve your short game.
Swing in Tempo
Another rookie mistake that tends to happen on the average South Florida golf course is swinging at the ball with too much speed. Indeed, speed and force are needed to power off the tee, yet, for your short game, it’s another story.
Just relax and pace yourself. Soften your grip, take a deep breath and count off in a “one and” tempo for the backswing, proceeded by “two” on the downswing.
Concentrate on Your Left Arm
When it comes to improving your short game, this strategy is probably the most important. Your whole left side, from the wrist, hand, and arm, must lead the way as you aim for the ball and hit it with the center of the club. This is where your control comes from, so don’t neglect it!
Once you improve your short game, you’ll increase your chances of making a shot when you chip or pitch at our South Florida golf course. Want to learn more tips on how improve your overall golf game? Feel free to reach out to our friendly staff at our Deer Creek golf course.
by South Florida Golf Pro | Feb 16, 2017 | Golf Lessons, Golfing Tips
Every avid golfer knows putting is vital and often overlooked by beginners and amateur golfers. Putting mistakes can cost you an entire game. How many putting mistakes are you making? If you are making common putting mistakes, go out and get some practice on the green of your favorite golf course in South Florida: Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach!
- Lack of Confidence
More often than not, it is the easy putts that we miss. That scene from Caddyshack comes to mind. When Rodney Dangerfield yells just as Ted Knight is about to putt a 3-footer: “A thousand bucks, you miss that shot!” Knight misses and throws his putter. “You can owe me!” What was Knight’s putting mistake? Lack of confidence. He changed his game when everyone was watching and every pro on any golf course in South Florida will tell you: confidence and focus is key. Speaking of focus…brings us to our next point.
- Losing Focus
Channel your inner Ty Webb. Chevy Chase’s incredible putting skills in the famous putting scene in Caddyshack are out of this world; but, even he misses a putt. Chase’s Ty Webb is always calm and focused, but he made the common putting mistake of slightly losing focus at times.
- Holding on Too Tight
Ease up tiger! You are on a golf course in South Florida, this should be relaxing! Holding too tight is going to allow your hands to influence the putting swing, when it is supposed to be all in the hips!
- Not Reading the Green
Reading the green may look cool, but it is more than that. Learning to correctly read a green is difficult, and the best way to learn is with a golf pro. It may be best to come to Deer Creek Golf Club to speak with Brian Curran, and learn firsthand how to read a green and avoid simple putting mistakes.
by South Florida Golf Pro | Dec 15, 2016 | Golf Lessons, Golfing Tips
Deer Creek Golf Course in Deerfield Beach shares how to practice putting at miniature South Florida golf courses.
Two things to keep in mind when learning how to golf and practicing your putt:
- You can practice and learn golf anywhere.
- Golf does not always have to be taken so seriously.
Those may not have been the lessons you expected when you decided to read a post on how practice putting at miniature golf, but they are the most important! These tips will eventually help you when you are putting on any championship South Florida golf course in the future.
Use the Terrain
Though the putting you do on South Florida golf courses is vastly different from that of a miniature golf course, the course and challenging terrain makes miniature golf courses a great place to practice putting. Most mini golf courses will have steep inclines, high and low gradients, and deep curves that you won’t find on most traditional, championship golf courses. In order to practice putting at miniature golf effectively, you should attempt to master the insane curves and terrain. They will make any other curves a cinch.
Master Your Hand Eye Coordination
While practicing putting on a miniature golf course, use the opportunity to master control of the golf ball and your hand-eye coordination. Focus on the ball, the small strokes that control where the ball goes, how hard or soft you must hit the ball for distances, and more. Having controlled hand-eye coordination is the key to being a good putter in the sport of golf.
Have Fun
Sure, having good hand-eye coordination is the key to being able to control your putts, but being able to relax is a key element of golf as well. While working on your technique, you must also be able to relax in order to play effectively and efficiently each time. Being too tense may cause you to trip up your focus and coordination.
When it is all said and done, even if someone is great at miniature golf, does not mean that they will be a great, professional golfer when they hit a championship golf course in Deerfield Beach, Florida. You can practice putting on a miniature golf course, but then you should take to a local golf course to really challenge your putting skills.
by South Florida Golf Pro | May 24, 2016 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Golf Lessons, Summer golf trip
Looking for an activity for your kids to do this summer? Summer school and summer camps can be expensive and may not teach your child a skill, sport, and get them physically active during summer – so why not venture out and try something different? At Deer Creek Golf Club, your child can enjoy getting out of the house, while learning one of the most famous sports of all time. Junior Golf Club Memberships in South Florida offer all that and more.
Junior Golf Club Memberships at Deer Creek Golf Club include:
– $20 plus tax cart fee per rounds of golf from May 15 – October 15
– A 10 percent discount on clubhouse food and regular priced Golf Pro Shop merchandise
– Discount on practice balls
– 6-day advanced tee times
– Bag storage and locker ($75 each or $125 for both)
– Handicap services
– Special guest fees
Deer Creek Golf Club’s award winning golf course is suitable for amateurs and challenging to regular golfers alike. This makes their golf club memberships perfect for the avid golfer and teens who want to learn how to play this great game. So, instead of going for the standard summer school and summer camp options, inject some skill and friendly competition into your kid’s summer scene. Sign up for a Junior Golf Club Membership at Deer Creek Golf Club today and let your child get the most out of your summer.
