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Wedge Distance Control

by | Instruction, Short Game

Wedge Distance Control

One of the things I am often asked is:  “How do I get better distance control on wedge shots?”

At Boyne Mountain Resort we have installed Northern Michigan’s first Wedge Range.  This area is specifically designed for hitting wedge shots.  There are 8 targets place in the ground spread out every 10 yards in a baseball diamond fashion from 30 up to 100 yards.  It’s a quiet unique place to work on your short game.

Distance control is so important in every faze of golf especially inside of 100 yards.  I often see handicaps drop significantly as I work with players on their short games.  In the video above Mike gives you three tips to help you control your distance:

→Length of the Backswing

→Speed of Your Arms

→Ball Position

Of course these elements must be blended together to produce a shot with the right trajectory, distance, and spin to land on the green and stop quickly.  Really it all comes down to practice.  There’s no doubt, having the Wedge Range has made my players practice more, because it’s fun.

For more information on adding spin to your wedge shots to control your distance please click here.

Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

Play Faster Golf

by | Beginners, Instruction, Mike Fay Golf Channel

Play Faster Golf

 

A movement across America in the last several years has been finding ways to play faster golf.  One of the main reasons why golf has been on the decline lately is because people don’t feel they can dedicate the time needed to play the game.  Such programs as “Play It Forward” and “While We Are Young” have been launched.  If you have watched any golf on TV you are sure to see these ads.  Here are a few tips that might help you move it along.  If we want golf to grow, it is up to all of us to speed it up!

In the video above, Mike discusses some of his favorite ways to make your round faster and more enjoyable.

Fay’s Top Tips For Playing Golf Faster

1.  Play Ready Golf-Playing when ready and not “waiting” for others to play will automatically speed up play.

-Who ever is first to the tee, tee off.

-Switch cart drivers-if your cart partner’s ball is not near you, drop your partner off with a couple of clubs.  By the time you reach your ball, your partner should have already hit.

-Lost balls-When looking for lost balls, it should be last all others hit first to keep the game moving.  Note on lost balls:  Allow two minutes to find it.  The rules allow 5 but if it takes you that long, then you probably won’t like your next lie anyway.

-Putt when ready, it’s not necessary to wait until someone who is on the way to the green and furthest away putts.

-Club in hand when it’s your turn.

2.  Pre Shot Routines

-Pre shot routines should not include practice swings.  The only place you should use practice swings is on uneven lies to find the ground or chips and pitches around the green.  Practice swings with all other shots don’t really matter much and can tire you out.

-Get a range/yardage finder.   Don’t waste time looking for sprinkler heads and yardage plates.   In fact, at Boyne Mountain we have an app for your phone that includes a GPS yardage finder.  Use it.

-Read the green before you putt, not when it’s your turn.  It’s a misconception that the players on TV walk around and read the the green when it’s their turn to putt.  You should have already done that before it’s your turn.

3.  In Between Shots

-Mark your scores on the scorecard at the tee while someone else is teeing off not when players behind you are trying to hit the green.

-Make sure you have fueled your body before the round.  Food and liquids should be taken before you tee off and brought with you to be used as the round progresses.   This will keep you from stopping at the turn and holding up play.

-Talk while walking not while stopping.

-During a walking round, place your bag on the side of the green nearest to the next tee.

-Get the rake before you get into the bunker.  Then you hit your shot, rake, and exit.

4.  Play It Forward

The PGA of America’s Play It Forward campaign is excellent and I highly encourage everyone to incorporate it’s ideas.   It encourages players to play the golf course at their level of play.  For instance, if you are a beginner you don’t necessarily have to start at a tee box.  It’s OK to tee up at the 100, 150, or 200 yard markers or closer.  As you progress with your game, move back to those plates.  Essentially, those are your tees.

5.  Big Numbers

If you are about to put up a huge number, pick it up.  The USGA handicap system allows for equitable stroke control.  Unless it’s a stroke play event, take your maximum you can take on that hole and move on.  If you don’t hold a USGA handicap, double the par is a good rule of thumb.

Hope these tips help you speed up your round.  Please leave your comments below.  If you have any tips that you might find useful, please share.  We are all in this together.

Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

How To Repair A Ball Mark

by | Beginners, Instruction, Mike Fay Golf Channel, Short Game

How To Repair A Ball Mark

 

The USGA has released a great video about repairing ball marks we wanted to share with you.  In the following video, find out why it’s important to fix a ball mark and why doing it incorrectly can do more harm than good.

Taking care of the course is our responsibility to the game.  It’s recommended that all players to fix yours and one other.  See if you fix ball marks like this.

Special thanks to the USGA for producing this video.  Thank you for watching and please leave your comments below.

Source:  USGA

Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 25 years of teaching experience, it’s easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Player Performance at the Boyne Golf Academy in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

Factors of Controlling Golf Ball Spin

by | Mike Fay Golf Channel, Short Game

Factors Of Controlling Golf Ball Spin

 

We all watch the pros on TV and think:  How did they get that golf ball to stop so fast?  How about back up? What makes that golf ball spin so much?

Making the ball spin is cool, but using the spin and knowing how to do it to lower your score is very important.

Spin=Control

Yes, the more you can control the spin, the more you can control your distance, the closer you hit the ball to the target.

So, what influences spin?  A number of factors but mainly:  FRICTION

Friction?  Yes friction created with club to ball contact. Ever wonder why when you are next to the green in the rough and your ball won’t stop on the green?  This is because grass gets trapped between the clubface and the ball and….less friction….less spin….less stopping power.  This is also the reason why a golf ball spins more off a tighter cut of grass.

Another factor effecting spin is speed.  The more speed you can have around the green, typically the more spin you can create.

So now you know the some factors you need to create spin.  The more spin, the more control.

Here’s a video by NBC Learn and the USGA with high speed video of what ball and club contact actually looks like.  Awesome stuff!

 

 
Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

Chip The Ball Better

by | Instruction, Mike Fay Golf Channel, Short Game

Chip The Ball Better

 

In this video from the Mike Fay Golf Channel, Mike explains what good players with excellent short games do when they chip the golf ball.  This is what a chip shot looks like and feels like.  We all want to chip the ball better right?  It lowers our scores.  Where the ball is positioned and how the ball should come off the club face.  Do you have a comment?  Leave it below.

Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

Bad Takeaways Can Lead To Bad Golf Swings

by | Full Swing, Instruction, Mike Fay Golf Channel

Bad Takeaways Can Lead To Bad Golf Swings

 

Staying connected is a major source of power in the golf swing.  We usually see two different faults that can cause you problems with connection and they both are rooted in the takeaway.  Both can rob you from solid contact and power.

The first of these faults is shown below.  The path of the club on the right shows a takeaway that is way above the desired line of the backswing.  This usually leads to lifting of the body on the backswing, sometimes a reverse spine angle, and lack of rotation of the shoulders and torso.  From this position at the top, without a serious re-routing of the club, tends to lead the player to bring the club back down on the same very steep “over the top” path.   Making for non-solid golf shots and a ball that travels off line.

The next fault we often see is a disconnection of the upper lead arm and hands on the takeaway.  A “handsy” takeaway that leads the club too far under the plane line on the backswing.  This also causes a lack of rotation of the shoulders because the lead arm is running into the torso to quickly.  The trail arm needs enough space on the downswing.  Without creating that space on the takeaway, you are doomed from the start.  This can also lead to a “over the top” motion.

Above is a video where Mike describes a drill that will help you get that club started on the right path and keep you connected.

Thanks for reading and please comment below.

Mike Fay

Mike Fay

PGA Director of Instruction

With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of golf instruction. Everything from cutting edge social networking techniques to having his own podcast, Mike has helped to change the face of teaching golf.  He currently is the Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Michigan.

Email:  [email protected]

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