Dexter Yarbrough

Dexter Yarbrough
has a Master of Public Administration from the Illinois Institute of
Technology and a Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University.

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This month we are focusing on a very important part of your golf
play, the short game. Many times golf requires less than a full swing.
This aspect of the game is called the approach. It consists of pitch
and chip shots. The primary goal for approach shots is direction. These
shots require the upper body to be more compact and controlled while
the lower body stays fairly stationary, which creates stability. The
choice of which shot to use is dependent upon distance from the green
and the terrain around the greens.

A pitch shot is a high lofted shot that lands softly on the green
and has little roll to it. The clubs that should be used for this shot
are an 8 iron, 9 iron, pitching wedge, or sand wedge. This shot
requires the hands to be higher on the grip. The stance a little less
than shoulder width apart and the weight equally distributed between
the two feet. This allows weight transfer when the swing is longer due
to the shot being of further distance. The length of the swing depends
on the distance from the green. The speed of the swing should remain
consistent throughout. This shot usually requires a longer stroke, but
shorter than a full swing with some wrist involvement and weight
transfer.

A chip shot is a low lofted shot that lands hard on the green and
has lots of roll to it. The clubs that should be used for this shot are
a 5 iron, 6 iron, or 7 iron. This shot requires the hands to be lower
on the grip with hands ahead of the ball. The stance should be narrow
and slightly open with the weight on the target foot. The length of the
swing depends on the distance from the green and how far you need the
ball to roll once it hits the green. The speed of the swing should
remain consistent throughout. This shot usually requires a shorter
pendular stroke with the lower body stationary allowing the upper
target side of the body leading throughout.

With this knowledge, try practicing both shots from different
distances and using the different clubs to see what will work for you.
Practicing these shots should allow for some sort of comfort when you
need to execute such shots on the golf course. Good luck and keep on
swinging.

Dexter Yarbrough News

Over the years, I have been flooded with health and fitness
questions from golfers of all ages and physical challenges. In this
segment, I share with you a common concern of many golfers.

Here is a recent question from a reader:

"I am a 56-year-old man, with compromised flexibility. Other than
my weekend golf game, my activity level has become sedentary. I spend
hours sitting on my computer and have become very inflexible in my
shoulders and upper back. My rounded shoulders are affecting my posture
(making me look older than my age), causing discomfort and neck pain,
and presenting numerous challenges in my golf swing. Any suggestions?"

- Stiff in Dallas

Because so many golfers experience pain in the lumbar spine, many
fitness professionals have a tendency to focus only on this area. As a
yoga teacher, I don't focus on just one area of a student's body. I
take the entire structure into account. Often when one part of the body
is compromised, the entire body is affected. Flexibility training for
the upper back or thoracic region will affect flexibility of the lower
back as well. The upper back is important for maintaining a correct
spine angle and for supporting the head in the proper position.

The following exercises will create more turn in your swing,
support better posture in your stance and give you a greater sense of
strength in the upper body.

Cat/cow pose

While on all fours, place your hands directly under your shoulders,
spreading your fingers as wide apart as possible. Inhale while drawing
the navel toward your spine and pressing the spine to the ceiling,
allowing your neck to completely relax. Exhale while pressing your
spine toward the floor, rolling the shoulders away from your ears and
lifting your head slightly. Press the thoracic spine toward the floor.
Repeat 10 times.

Twisting tabletop

Begin on all fours, with your hands directly under your shoulders.
Gently slide your left arm under your right, bringing your shoulder to
the floor. Be gentle: You should not have any discomfort in your neck.
Hold for five to 10 breaths. Switch sides.

Arms behind your back with strap stretch

Place a strap or towel in your right hand. Lift your arm with your
palm facing you, then allow your forearm to fall behind your back.
Place your left hand on your right elbow. Press down and hold for five
breaths. Then reach around your back, grabbing onto the strap. Lift up
while looking toward the ceiling. Repeat on the other side.

Chest opener - Optional forward fold

Place your feet 4 feet apart, bend your knees and draw your navel
toward your spine. Reach behind you while either clasping hands
together or using a towel to get the hands as close together as
possible. Roll your shoulders open and hold for five to 10 breaths. For
a deeper stretch, begin folding forward and allow your arms to fall
over your head. Hold for five breaths.

Dexter Yarbrough Info

Ask professional golfers on tour what swing mechanics they work on
the most and the majority of players will say ball position and
alignment.

The proper ball position and alignment start when you address the
golf ball. If you are lined up incorrectly, your body feels this and
makes you change your swing path to correct this faulty alignment.
Also, if you have the ball positioned too far forward or too far back
in your stance, it leads to inconsistent and poor golf shots.

Most golf instructors agree if you start your swing with the proper
alignment and ball position, you have an excellent chance of hitting
good shots. So, if you are out of alignment and the ball is positioned
incorrectly, it is almost impossible to consistently hit quality golf
shots.

Here are a few tips that will effectively help adjust your body into the correct position at address:

First, face your target and take a step toward it with your left
foot (for right-handed golfers). Now, from this position, turn your
body to the right until your shoulders and chest are aligned parallel
to your target. You will now be properly aligned to the target, and
your feet will be the proper distance apart at the address position.

Next, hold you arms out in front of your chest shoulder width apart
and clap. Where your hands come together is where they should be at
address position and also where the ball should be played in your
stance.

Now, using your normal grip, take your 5 iron and hold the club
straight out in front of your waist. Next, bend over from the waist
until the bottom of the club rests squarely on the ground. From this
position, slightly bend your knees like you are about to sit on a
chair.

To get a feel of what I mean, practice leaning forward from the
waist so your arms hang straight down in front of you - remember to
keep your back straight, don't hunch over. From this position add some
knee flex. (This is where you grab your 5-iron to judge how much lean
and knee flex you need when addressing the ball.) In your golf swing,
as you swing back and through the ball, it's critical that you try to
maintain this position (spine angle) during the golf swing.

When you hear golf announcers on TV talking about how tour players
retain their spine angle through impact, they are commenting on how
these players are returning the club to the same position they started
with at address. This is why it is so important to start with a good
set-up, proper alignment and proper ball position.

Dexter Yarbrough Comments

Harvey Penick, one of golf's greatest instructors, always said the
best way to improve your score was to improve your short game. You can
see this week in and week out on the PGA Tour as the players who win
usually have the best short game stats for that week. Here are a few
tips to help you lower your scores.

On chips and pitches around the green use a club that gives you
confidence. I play golf with a friend who is very good around the
green, and he always uses his eight iron for these shots. He opens and
closes the face according to the type of shot he wants to hit, so I
have suggested he try wedges instead of that one club.

On occasions when he does use a wedge, he very rarely gets the
results he does from that trusty old eight iron. Why? Because he has
confidence in that club, he relaxes and hits good shots.

Phil Mickelson uses his high-lofted wedges around the green for
most of his chip shots for the same reason. The lesson here is play the
club or shot you feel most confident with and you will be more
consistent.

When chipping or pitching from around the green the first rule to
follow is "always get the ball on the green." How many times have you
been faced with a pitch shot, over a bunker, with a closely tucked pin,
only to flub your pitch shot into the bunker? Better to have a 25-foot
par putt than be in the bunker with double or triple bogey staring you
in the face. Always play the safe shot; in the end it will save you
many strokes.

Practice that short game!

Practice that short game! Before each round go to the putting or
chipping area and practice. Get your golf buddies to engage in some
short game contests. Be creative and practice unusual shots. Practice
in your backyard. The players with the best short games practice these
shots more than others. That's why they usually shoot the lowest
scores.

Dexter Yarbrough News

With today's oversize drivers, it is much easier to hit the ball a
long way. But if you suffer from a slice, that extra distance will
probably have your tee shots not only missing the fairway but also rob
you of your new-found distance.

A sliced shot is mainly caused by two factors: starting the
downswing from an over-the-top move - causing an outside-in downswing -
and a clubface that's open at impact.

For a quick fix, start by gripping the club with a baseball grip,
and address the ball as you would hitting a baseball. From this
position, make a few full swings as though you were hitting waist-high
baseball pitches. It's important to keep the arms and hands relaxed so
you encourage a full release (turning over) of the hands through the
impact area. This drill will encourage your hands and arms to rotate as
they pass the center of your body.

By taking these baseball practice swings, above the ball, you're
experiencing the feel of how your hands and arms should rotate though
the hitting area. This release movement effectively helps speed up the
hands through the impact zone enabling you to increase your power.

Try this drill as a practice swing before all your full shots the
next few rounds, and you'll see and feel longer and straighter tee
shots in no time.

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