Group Performance Clinics

Zach’s performance clinics are back. This will be all on course looking at different ways to improve your score on the course. Zach will use his previous experience and knowledge at breaking down how to tackle a hole to get the best possible score.

Each session will be followed by refreshments back at the pro shop with a debrief from Zach. Start your improvement program today and don’t wait to be great…!

Monday 5th February: 1:00pm - 2:30pm

This session we will look at approach shots.

We will identify important areas with shots into the green. Identify our target line into greens depending on our club, distance from the hole and our dispersion with that club. This is often overlooked and can really change how we approach that shot. We will also give you real life examples and delve into how the very best golfers play from differing lies out on the course.
BOOK HERE

Monday 5th February: 3pm-4:30pm:

This session we will look at Undulating lies.

We will identify the main areas we need to address when we have an undulating lie. We will learn how to hit shots off a downhill lie, uphill lie, ball above your feet and ball above your feet. We will also look at on course examples at Ross on Wye to help you improve your score and how club choice can make a huge difference.

BOOK HERE

Friday 9th February: 1pm-2:30pm:

This session we will look at the importance of tee shots.

This will be looking into how to approach what club to take off the tee depending on the hole and conditions we face. Where we should tee the ball up on the tee area depending on the hole, wind and our shot trajectory. How to identify dangers on the hole and play away from the trouble. How to pick confident target lines and commit to our shot!

BOOK HERE

Friday 9th February: 3pm-4:30pm

This session we will look at green side shots and how to play to our percentages (longer shots/pitches)

We will look at varying lies and different scenarios on the course and talk through what shots we can play to get the ball closer to the hole. We will talk through what shots we can play and potentially new techniques to play different shots and get better results

Friday 16th February: 1pm-2:30pm

This session will look at how to calculate a ‘playing’ yardage.

We will look at a step by step guide just like tour professionals use to work out how far the shot is playing and the shot needed to get the best result. We will look at how different scenarios and conditions affect the ‘playing’ yardage of the shot and how we can play or not play a certain shot because of the environment.

Friday 16th February: 3pm-4:30pm

This session we will look at green side shots and how to play to our percentages (shorter chips and intricate shots)

We will look at varying lies and different scenarios on the course and talk through what shots we can play to get the ball closer to the hole. We will talk through what shots we can play and potentially new techniques to play different shots and get better results

BOOK HERE

FEB MOT's - NEW FOR 2024

MOT your golf game and make 2024 your best year EVER….!!

Our February MOT. We have learnt so much from previous years, we now believe we have the perfect pre season model to offer all our THSG Pupils.

We see February as a key time of the year to analyse our all round game and a great time to help our pupils hit their goals. The MOT's are designed to offer a platform for improvement, we review and analysis all areas of your game from your equipment to your performance out on the course. This really is the first stepping stone to improving your mindset both on and off the course.  

New for 2024

We are excited to announce we now offer trolley repair services at the THSG. We are now offering a full and comprehensive trolley repair service here at the club. There’s never been a better time to offer this type of service with power trolley prices at an all time high. Prolonging the life of your power trolley with a basic yearly service can save you £’s in the long run. This service will allow you to proactively look after your trolley and flag up any potential issues before they become too serious. Our basic service is £55. 

Golf Trolley Servicing - £55

Our servicing includes the following - 

·       Remove wheels. Check condition and ensure correct operation of locking system.

·       Remove lower covers. Clean

·       Assess condition of wheel bearings Lubricate.

·       Replace front bearings if worn (£10 supplement). Advise if rear bearings need replacement. 

·       Remove drive motor, re-grease.

·       Check wiring and connections in lower case.

·       Lubricate all folding joints.

·       Remove handle. Check circuit boards and wiring, tighten control switch as appropriate. 

·       Reassemble and test

We will also check for - 

·       Golf trolley water damage repair

·       Golf trolley wiring repair

·       Golf trolley accidental damage

·       Golf trolley battery inspection and testing

·       Golf trolley charger inspection and testing

·       Golf trolley electrical faults

·       Golf trolley mechanical faults

The only other cost of getting your golf trolley serviced will be the parts required.

A full report will be sent to the customer before any major work is carried out.  

We recommend that your trolley should be serviced every year with a worst case scenario of every other year.

This year we have devised 3 grades of MOT. 

The Silver MOT (30 minutes) cost - £15

This is designed to give you a basic overview of your game, you will walk away with a report on your equipment including grips, suitability of clubs and a loft/lie check on your most used irons. We will also review other key areas of your equipment including golf shoe analysis which is fast becoming a key area to improving performance. 

The Gold Package (60 minutes) cost - £55

This a comprehensive cover of your overall game including a 20 minute swing check in the performance lab. We will cover all aspects of your game and review your performance through 2021. We will also set SMART goals for the coming year. You will receive a full loft, lie, grip and shoe analysis and receive a gapping analysis on your scoring clubs (PW, 9, 8 & 7). 

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

The Platinum Package (120 minutes) cost - £110

This bespoke package is the ultimate solution in our program. You will receive a 4 hole playing assessment out on the course followed by a swing assessment held in the performance lab. We will give you a comprehensive analysis on your loft and lies of every club and also take your through a grip fitting. Other aspects such as shoe analysis will also be covered.  SMART goals will be set and swing advice sent to your email. You will also receive a free voucher for a gapping session for your whole bag, worth £30.

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

This years Feb MOT's are in conjunction with Masters Golf, for all your golf accessories and re-gripping needs. Book any MOT and receive a special 15% OFF discount on all repairs and re-grips. We will be stocking all grips this year including Golf Pride, Lamkin, Superstroke and Ping

** Please note pre-booking is essential as we only have a limited number of appointments with each professional through February. **

TO BOOK YOUR SESSION PLEASE EMAIL - thsgproshop@gmail.com and quote your package. 

How to Drill your Game to the Next Level

As the weather is keeping us indoors and we are spending less time on the course, there are still plenty of things you can do to improve your game. Here is a dive into what you can do to keep yourself busy and make some subtle improvements to your game ready for the course (when it is dry).

Do you struggle to implement changes from your coach or make changes that feel natural?

Do you want to improve your game but don't know how?

Do you want more consistency in your game?

Here are a few drills and games to help you.......

1. Ball Striking - Strike the line - Improve your strike and consistency of ball first contact with irons and even wedges. You can use a line (like above) or use a strip of tape on the ground. Use this drill to contact the ground in the correct area by improving your low point control. Set up with the line in the appropriate ball position for the club of use, then strike the line. This is a skill in itself and if you can aim for 7/10 striking the line. (Top right picture)

2. Putting - Start line drill - 2 cups - improve your start line to improve your short putts. Set up 2 cups 55mm apart (1 pink tee apart) and place a ball 14 inches apart. This will give you a 1 degree tolerance in start line. If you hit the ball between the cups, you have started that ball within 1 degree of your target line. Try and hit the ball between the cups as many times in a row (Bottom right picture)

3. Short game - Coin drill - Put 2 coins down, one in front of the other. Set up to the 1st coin (coin furthest back) and try and strike the middle of the 2nd coin (Coin furthest forward). Try and do this 3 times in a row. (Beware that there is nothing expensive or could break in front of you) (Picture on left)

4. Consistency and Tempo - Connection Drill - Use a towel and place under your arms. Start off by hitting some half swings whilst keeping the towel under your arms. Increase the length and speed of your swing up to full length whilst still keeping the towel under your arms.

Improve Your Iron Shots in Winter

Do you struggle to get consistent ball strike? Is your ball striking as good as in summer time? As the ground gets wetter and wetter, we must make sure our strike is good with the use of good technique and concept. 

If we watch any world class golfer hit an iron from wet conditions, the strike will still be just as good as hitting from a perfect lie and will not lose any distance. How do they do this? ……….

There are 4 ways to get the best strike on your irons just like the best golfers in the world:

1. Strike Location - no matter what club you are using, hitting the ball out of the centre of the clubface is of the highest priority. Without a consistent strike location in the ‘sweet spot’ of the club, no matter your ability, you will be extremely limited in producing a consistent shot (shot shape, accuracy and distance control).

• Practice your strike using a strike tape (shown in picture) or strike spray (athletes foot spray or dry shampoo). See where your strike is and if it in a consistent location.

• Practice striking the ball off the heel, middle or toe on demand. This will give you awareness of strike location and help feel where the club face is at impact. (Great to try and move strike location from e.g. heel to centre if miss striking shots)

2. Concept - I see many be afraid of hitting the ground in wet conditions. This causes fat and thin strikes due to the angle of attack becoming more shallow where players are trying to pick the ball off the ground by making no divot. They also see that the golf ball has no roll out when it lands so try and help the ball up to help increase carry distance but strike is compromised.

• Understand that it is a non-negotiable to hit down on the ball (negative attack angle) when hitting an iron shot when the ball is on the ground.

• The club is designed to hit the ground and the club meets the ball on its downward movement into impact with an iron (don’t be afraid of hitting the ground - it does not need to be a divot).

• Changing your intent on where you hit the ground and how you hit the ball and ground can be a huge way to make changes to your impact without thinking about technique.

3. Low point Control - The optimal strike with an iron is when a player hits ball first then the ground. Having control of hitting ball first then turf on demand will improve consistency of strike and distance.

• No matter if you are steep or shallow, hitting the ground before the ball will cause inconsistent strike thus inconsistent ball flight and distance.

• Practice hitting after the ball through correct weight transfer and rotation into impact

• Practice drill - Draw a line in-line with the golf ball. Practice landing the club on the line to ahead of the line to avoid heavy strikes.

• Practice drill - place a towel/card 4 inches behind the ball with a 7 iron and simply miss the towel/card whilst still hitting a good strike.
  

4. Depth of Arc - This is where the lowest point of your arc is and how low/high this is relative to the ground. A misconception is that you can have a deep divot so must be steep or the opposite, if you hit the ball thin you must be shallow. This is not always the case.

• Controlling how deep the club goes into ground can help reduce the club slowing down drastically in wet conditions.

• Make sure posture is not changing too drastic in swing and you can control your lowest point of the arc

• Practice drill - hit some irons off a tee whilst keeping the tee in the ground with your normal ball flight produced. Test with a higher and higher tee to make it more difficult.

• Practice drill - lowest point in your arc with a 7 iron is roughly 4 inches ahead of the ball. If on a mat, place a tee 4inches flat ahead of the ball and strike the ball and tee with your shot.

As always, enjoy golf

Zach

THSG

Create a Practice Plan

The Three Thirds

Many find practice boring and struggle to have the motivation to practice for an extended period of time.

Here is a way of splitting your practice to maximise your time and enjoying your practice:

Split your practice into 3 thirds: 1/3rd block practice, 1/3rd randomised practice, 1/3rd performance practice.

Block practice is a great way to practice technique and make technical changes by hitting the same shot to the same target. e.g. pitch shot with a sand wedge from 20 with same trajectory.

Randomised practice is a great way to practice from different lies and learn how to adjust to the situation in front of you. e.g. drop 10 balls around the green in different lies (good/bad) and try and hit it as close as you can

Performance practice is getting you ready for the course and testing your game under pressure to simulate real course scenarios. e.g. Par 18 - 9 different locations and lies, try and get the ball up and down in the least amount of shots. Par is 18 (professional level).

A great scenario for when you practice would be as follows:

1 hour practice:

20 minutes on block practice - practice your technique and work on areas needed from your last lesson

20 minutes randomised practice - 10 balls around the top short game area working on contact from different lies and learning to read the lies and play different shots

20 minutes performance practice - skills test. Par 18 on the top short game area. Go through full routine with every shot to try and shoot the lowest score.

Score

15-21 - Pro level

21-23 - 0 - 10 handicap

24-26 - 10-20 handicap

26+ - 20+ handicap

Record your scores and re-test once a month

THSG

Vision 54 - Think Box, Play Box, Memory Box

Vision 54 have created a systematic process to help players create a go to pre-shot routine process to enable them to consistently approach every shot with the same process and also help them to gain as much confidence ready for their next shot.

The three different stages of their pre-shot routine process are called the Think Box, Play Box and Memory Box. This is where you have an imaginary line that divides each area.

Think Box

First area - behind the ball. This area is where you do all your thinking and strategy (Far left picture). This is where you will be doing all your processing of all the variables of the shot: lie, elevation, conditions and wind, hazards/where you want to hit the ball. Then you will verbalise your intensions and use your senses to get into the shot before visualising/imagining the shot you want to hit. This is the only time you are allowed to have indecision. If this occurs, either re-create the process and imagery to become more comfortable and trust your plan or alternatively a different shot must be selected and therefore go back to the Think Box. You may take longer in this area whereas once you step into the Play Box, we must be decisive.

Play Box

This is the area where you simply hit the shot (the Play Box). Once you enter the Play Box, you must never hesitate or became distracted, there must be total commitment to the shot. The goal is to go through your routine, create a great setup or we at the THSG call it the PGA (posture, grip alignment fundamentals), trust your technique and pull the trigger. Do not linger over the ball at setup as there is more opportunity for doubt and tension to build. Leave the thinking behind in the Think Box and commit to the task at hand of hitting the best shot you can in that moment.

Memory Box

This area is often overlooked and can be a huge learning area and to help build confidence for your next shot. The memory box is where a player after they have hit their shot/left the Play Box, they ask questions about the shot they have hit (What was good? What did you learn? What would you change?). After these questions, you would rehearse what you would change or your ideal shot/swing if you could have this shot again. We often see professional golfers after a good shot or a bad shot rehearse their swing again to help ingrain their ideal movement and this is them in their Memory Box. This helps build your confidence and trick the brain to “remember your last shot/swing” which was your ideal shot/swing in your Memory Box.

Build a process that is unique to you that you can trust and see if this can help build your confidence and lower your scores.

THSG

How to Calculate the Playing Yardage of a Shot

This is a step by step guide into how to consistently pick the correct club and know the yardage of your shot at hand. Follow this steps in order to make sure we can easily and accurately create an educated guess. This will increase your chance of hitting the ball closer to the hole and limit the shots you hit in the wrong area.

Process

1.     Lie – the lie is the first and most important thing we must analysis because the lie dictates everything and no lie is the same. The lie can determine how much control we have on the ball and how the ball will react at impact. When you look at the lie, you must ask yourself:

• Will the ballspeed increase/decrease?

• Will it launch higher/lower?

• Will it spin more/less? Will strike be easier/harder?

• This can help you to determine club selection, ball position and relative distance you want to hit it.

2.     Elevation

• is there any elevation change between where the golf ball is and where the ball lands?

• If so, by how much? Is it 5 yards, 10 yards or more.

• Alternatively you can look at the elevation change as a percentage as the longer the shot, the greater the percentage change will influence the shot distance.

3.     Environment

• Altitude can change how far the ball travels. The higher the altitude, the thinner the air meaning the further the golf ball will travel.

• More humidity, the more dense the air, the shorter the ball will travel

• Temperature - the hotter the temperature, the further the ball will travel (reminder, most will get their club yardages at room temperature, 20 degrees and therefore if it is freezing, the ball will not travel the same distance as normal.

 4. Conditions

• Wind - wind can affect the ball causing it to go further or shorter. The more spin on the golf ball, the more the wind will influence the golf ball and its distance or direction

• Rain/snow - generally we will not swing as freely in these conditions and therefore not hit the ball as far (reminder: rain/snow will reduce the friction between club and ball and therefore reduce spin on the shot causing more roll out, potential flyers and inconsistent distance).

• Clothing - poor weather may cause you to wear more layers and therefore will not turn as easily and potentially reducing distance

5. Target

• Target zone (dispersion circle) - yes we want to hit the ball as close as we can on every shot but we also must be realistic.

• We must alter our target on certain shots to give us the correct margin for error for that given shot. e.g. the flag is front right on the green, close to the water on the right of the green. Our target may be 5 yards left of the flag and also 5 yards past the flag which will change how far we need to hit our intended shot

Summary:

1. Lie. 2. Elevation. 3. Environment. 4. Conditions. 5. Intended target

Follow this step process to help identify how far the shot is playing. We have have 150 yards to the pin, but the shot may be playing 180 yards to our intended target (+10 yards uphill/elevation, +5 yards cold/conditions, +10 yards into 15mph wind/conditions, +5 yards intended target).

Hope this helps and here’s a short game drill to practice analysing the lie.

Drill: To help analyse the lie more consistently, practice with a purpose and instead of doing block practice (same shot again and again), perform random practice. Around the green, throw 9 balls off the and where they land you play from that lie. You will have all different lies and will have to adapt your club choice and technique to get the best results. Hole out from these 9 locations and record your results:

Scores:

• Professional = Less than 19

• 0-5 HCP = 20-22

• 5-15 HCP = 22-25

• 15-28 HCP = 26-29

THSG

Feb MOTs are BACK!!

MOT you golf game and make 2023 your best year EVER….!!

Our February MOT. We have learnt so much from previous years, we now believe we have the perfect pre season model to offer all our THSG Pupils.

We see February as a key time of the year to analyse our all round game and a great time to help our pupils hit their goals. The MOT's are designed to offer a platform for improvement, we review and analysis all areas of your game from your equipment to your performance out on the course. This really is the first stepping stone to improving your mindset both on and off the course.  

This year we have devised 3 grades of MOT. 

The Silver MOT (30 minutes) cost - £15

This is designed to give you a basic overview of your game, you will walk away with a report on your equipment including grips, suitability of clubs and a loft/lie check on your most used irons. We will also review other key areas of your equipment including golf shoe analysis which is fast becoming a key area to improving performance. 

The Gold Package (60 minutes) cost - £55

This a comprehensive cover of your overall game including a 20 minute swing check in the performance lab. We will cover all aspects of your game and review your performance through 2021. We will also set SMART goals for the coming year. You will receive a full loft, lie, grip and shoe analysis and receive a gapping analysis on your scoring clubs (PW, 9, 8 & 7). 

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

The Platinum Package (120 minutes) cost - £110

This bespoke package is the ultimate solution in our program. You will receive a 4 hole playing assessment out on the course followed by a swing assessment held in the performance lab. We will give you a comprehensive analysis on your loft and lies of every club and also take your through a grip fitting. Other aspects such as shoe analysis will also be covered.  SMART goals will be set and swing advice sent to your email. You will also receive a free voucher for a gapping session for your whole bag, worth £30.

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

----------

This years Feb MOT's are in conjunction with Masters Golf, for all your golf accessories and re-gripping needs. Book any MOT and receive a special 15% OFF discount on all repairs and re-grips. We will be stocking all grips this year including Golf Pride, Lamkin, Superstroke and Ping

** Please note pre-booking is essential as we only have a limited number of appointments with each professional through February. **

TO BOOK YOUR SESSION PLEASE EMAIL - thsgproshop@gmail.com and quote your package. 

How to Adapt Your Short Game for the Winter

As the ground gets wetter and wetter, do you struggle to be as consistent around the greens as in summer time? There are 3 types of shot you need to master to make sure you get the best results every time you are around the green. The lie of the ball and what type of ground it is laying on (wet/dry or long/short grass) is the most important thing to analyse and enable you to pick your designed shot.

The reason why it is more difficult or less consistent to judge trajectory, distance control, spin control is due to the margin for error we have in the wet. With less optimal technique, our margin for error becomes smaller giving a greater demand to control the low point of the club (where the club hits the ground and also how deep we go down underneath the ground). Players who can strike the ground where they intend are more consistent in wetter conditions and poorer lies.
Here is 3 shots to practice to help get the most consistent results depending on the environment and the shot you have in front of you - set up for all these shots are KEY!:

1. The Anti-duff chip Shot

   This shot is great for when you have a poor/wet lie with room between yourself and the pin. This shot can be used when in the fairway but can be very effective in longer grass or bare/muddy lies.

   Set-up the ball close to your trail foot, 2-4 inches back and hands in the same poisiton (under lead chest with butt of club pointing at lead hip) of your normal chip shot ball position. Narrow your stance which will help control and produce a downward strike to the back of the ball. The intent here is to hit ball first to reduce the chance of duffing the ball, keeping hands ahead at all times and producing a low flighted running shot. The ball will come off quicker than normal with this club so bare that in mind with length of swing. Great shot with any club from LW to 7iron.

2. The Flop Shot

   Ball position forward with a wide stance allows for a shallow angle of attack. In this shot, we would to brush the grass limiting the amount of divot we take. Open the clubface with your most lofted club and take a longer and slower tempo swing, allowing the clubhead to release at the bottom of the arc. This will produce a higher flight, utilise the bounce and maximise the margin for error on where you hit the ground. This shot is great when needing to go over something, or you have limited room between yourself and the pin.

3. Utilising the bounce with a short chip shot

   *Demonstrated above in the photo of set-up*. This shot is a great way to hit a similar flighted chip shot with your LW or SW but produce more consistent results.

   Similar to the flop shot, we want to utilise the bounce and therefore will have the ball position forward which allows for a shallow angle of attack. We want to have our weight more forward, 70-30 on lead side which will help us hit ball first. The key is to use a less lofted club with more bounce. Generally our SW/Gap/Pitching wedge has more bounce on the club than our lob wedge so we use one of these clubs. Open the club face to increase the bounce further and aim a little left with body and shoulders. Hit the same shot/technique with similar swing length you would with a straight faced more lofted club, ie. LW or SW and watch the club skid through the grass instead get stuck. Great shot if you don’t need a high shot and want to increase your margin for error to give you more confidence.

How to Flight the Ball

There can be multiple combinations to hit the ball lower depending on the task in hand. How low would you like this shot to go? Is it 10 feet or 20 feet lower than your normal ball flight to control your trajectory in the wind or is it extremely low to get underneath overhanging trees.

Here are some ways to lower your ball flight. The more combinations you incorporate into the pre-swing set up or during the swing will reduce the trajectory more and more. This can be implemented with any club in the bag (reference here will be 7 iron).

1. Ball Position - Moving ball position further back in your stance (closer to trail foot) will decrease the initial launch angle of the ball. *Beware, putting the ball extremely far back in your stance can influence swing path and therefore start line and curvature. A tendency, if it is too extreme, is for you to hit a push or draw'/hook

2. Club Selection - decrease the loft of your club will decrease the launch. E.g. instead of hitting a 7 iron, hitting a 5/6 iron. The ball will launch lower and produce less spin all things being equal.

3. Grip position - Gripping down lower on the club (a couple inches) makes you stand closer, have a steeper attack angle and reduce your clubhead speed. This will decrease launch and spin as you won’t swing it as fast

4. Weight - Position weight on front foot 60/70 percent. This will allow the sternum to move more forward and maintain/increase your hands being ahead of the ball at address. This will influence attack angle causing the ball to launch lower.

5. Swing Length - decreasing swing length decreases clubhead speed and therefore reduces spin. It will also reduce the amount of wrist action you use in a swing and that also reduces spin. This can be great when hitting shots in the wind

6. Impact - have the goal of having the shaft lean forward (towards the target) at impact. This will result in your hands being ahead of the ball at impact which decreases loft on the club, compresses the ball more and will launch the ball lower

7. Finish Position - Tiger Woods would always say that if he finishes high, the ball will have a tendency to go low, and finishing low (abbreviated follow-through) will make the ball go lower. This is because it will influence his impact position and loft when striking the ball

8. Grip - An extreme way of influencing wrists positions is to have the grip in the palm of your hands instead of the fingers. This will influence swing length, wrist conditions and therefore launch angle and spin of the ball.

To summarise, prioritising a few of these factors will be the easiest to create the biggest difference and be a full proof way of flighting the golf ball: Position the golf ball further back in your stance (1), reduce length of swing (5) and try and get hands ahead of ball at impact (6).

How To Curve The Golf Ball

Many people come to us with limited understanding of why they hit a fade or draw. Understanding why the ball curved can be a great way to learn from your mistakes or missed shots or how to get out of trouble by hitting your desired shot shape. 

There will be a few terms used in this blog. Here are some and their definitions:

Swing Path - “This is the direction the head of the club is moving in immediately before, during and immediately following impact in relation to the target.”

Clubface angle - “This is the degree to which the leading edge of the clubface is at right angles to the swing path.”

So lets clarify some misconceptions. To understand how the ball curves, this statement will help:

“The Face sends it (the ball), the swing path bends it (the ball).”

For example, with a 6iron the clubface angle at impact has a 75% correlation/influence on where the golf ball starts and swing path is 25%. The clubface angle has a bigger correlation on less lofted clubs. E.g. With a driver the clubface angle accounts for 85% of the start direction and with a putter (typically 2-4 degrees of loft), accounts for 95% of the start direction. In simple terms, when putting if the ball starts left or right of target on a short putt, there is a high probability it will be caused by clubface angle at impact.

So how does the ball curve?? Simply if the clubface angle is to the right of your swing path at impact, the ball will curve to the right (fade for right handed golfer) and vice versa for a clubface to the left of your swing path (providing you hit it out of the centre of the clubface).

It becomes more difficult to understand why the ball curves if you don’t hit the centre of the clubface. Heel strikes will tend to start the ball further left and curve the ball more to the right (for a right handed golfer). This will also increase backspin and reduce your efficiency. A toe strike will start the ball further right and curve the ball more to the left (for a right handed golfer). It will also produce less backspin but still lose ball speed compared to a centre strike.

So how do we plan to hit a draw or fade?

Draw: (For right-handed golfer).

To hit a draw that finishes on our desired target, the ball must start right of target and curve back on to target. To do this our swing path must be to the right of target (in-to-out), our clubface left (closed) to our swing path BUT still marginally right of our target. To hit this shot, I would recommend setting up square to the target initially, then move in a circle with your body so your body alignment is right of target (This is to maintain our correct ball position for optimal strike). Have the clubface still aim close to our desired target, just slightly to the right of target. Our job for the shot is to then swing down our body alignment with our clubface left of our swing path.

Fade: (For right-handed golfer).

To hit a fade that finishes on our desired target, the ball must start left of target and curve back on to target. To do this our swing path must be to the left of target (out-to-in), our clubface right (open) to our swing path BUT still marginally left of our target. To hit this shot, I would recommend setting up square to the target initially, then move in a circle with your body so your body alignment is left of target (This is to maintain our correct ball position for optimal strike). Have the clubface still aim close to our desired target, just slightly to the left of target. Our job for the shot is to then swing down our body alignment with our clubface right of our swing path. Typically this shot will reduce distance relative to a draw so to hit a desired distance, we must change to a club that goes further.

To Summarise:

• The ball always starts off between swing path direction and clubface aim direction.

• The ball always starts off nearer to the clubface alignment

• A strike on the clubface that is not from the sweet spot or centre of clubface complicate these

• For a fade (or draw) the swing path must be out to in (in to out), with the clubface open to the swing path (closed to the swing path) but to the left of the target line (right of the target line).

Fun drill to test your ability when you go and practice next. This will be a performance test which will closely related to on course playing environment instead of working on technique in a block practice environment.

Shot Shaping Game: The Tiger Drill

9 shots with a 7 iron or Driver: Try and hit:

- Low Flighted Shot - Fade, Draw and Straight

- Medium Flighted Shot - Fade, Draw and Straight

- High Flighted Shot - Fade, Draw and Straight

Write down how many shots it takes for you to hit all 9 desired shots

The THSG 2022 Short Game Weekend

Its one of the most anticipated weekends of the coaching calendar for THSG pupils, yes the Short game weekend is back and this year…..BIGGER and BETTER. We are so excited to bring you the very latest theory behind making all shots from 100 yards and in easier for you!! Don't forget the average golfer takes around 75% of his/her shots from 100yards and in......Don’t you think its time to get good at this part of the game!?? 

If your serious about improving, this weekend simply can not be missed!! Our THSG short game festival which runs from Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd October is your ticket to improvement. 

The THSG team have designed an improvement program that caters for all golfers that need help from 100 yards and in. Our sole focus is to offer clinics both on and off the course that cover all aspects of approach play and the short game.

Our clinics will be held in a group format that will be limited to just 6 golfers. Sign up will be on a first come first serve basis. We want to create an interactive learning environment that will help us work closely with each pupil within the group. Our group clinics are always well subscribed so if you want to sign up to any of the below please don't hesitate. We will be charging our normal group clinic of £10 p/p, per clinic. 

All weekend we will be doing demonstrations using the new Ping 2023 putter range and the state of the art wedge fitting kit provided by Ping, showcasing their Glide 4.0 and Glide Forged wedge range. If you would like to book a VIP fitting over that weekend, please get in touch.     

Here is the Itinerary of the weekend - 

Friday 21st October

10am-11am - The Only Bunker Lesson You Will Ever Need..!  
If you struggle out of the sand and want to learn more about how easy this shot can become then sign up to this clinic. We will take you through the basics and give you an insight into how the tour players play this shot so well. 

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up

11am-12pm - Improve Your Bunker Mentality - Problem Shots  
We will cover all shots from greenside bunkers with just one club and explain the reasons why the pros on TV make it look so easy. We will cover plugged ball, high/low shots, playing out of different sands and varying the length of shot.

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up

1pm-2pm - Putting - Learning From The Pro’s  
We will take you through the attributes of a great putter and what we can learn from the worlds best. He will explain how you can take these attributes and apply them in your game, helping you hole more putts and improve confidence in your all round game.

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up

2pm-3pm - Putting - Practice Properly Don't Waste Your Practice Time
We are massive on making everyones practice time more useful and new research has certainly showed us that there is a real skill to practising properly. Don't waste you practice time on the putting green, we will take you through the perfect 60 minute practice session.

Coached by: Zach
Full

3pm-4pm - How To Use Bounce When Chipping & Pitching
Understanding the term 'Bounce' and using it in technique could be the secret to unlocking your short game. We will cover all shots in and around the green (inside 30yards) with just one club and explain the reasons why the pros on TV make it look so easy. You will walk away from the session with clarity and a formula that is easy to understand. 

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up


4pm-6pm -On Course Problem Shots & Q&A With Zach
Zach will be taking this session out on the course, where it matters…!! He will be covering all shots from 40yards and in. This session will be all about those problem shots, bad lies, low, high, medium shots, in bunkers, over bunkers…..you name it, we will go through it. We will also leave 30minutes for a Q and A back in the clubhouse talking through those key decisions.

Coached by: Zach
Full

4pm-6pm - On Course Approach Shots & Q&A With Tim

This session will be out on the course, looking at approach shots. This will help to tackle wedge shots from the fairway, rough and even trees and help you get the ball closer to the hole and hit the green more consistently from all kind of lies and understand what shot and club to use. We will also leave 30minutes for a Q and A back in the clubhouse talking through those key decisions.

Coached by: Tim
CLICK HERE to sign up

Saturday 22nd October

10am-11am - The Only Bunker Lesson You Will Ever Need…!   
Same as above.....

Coached by: James
CLICK HERE to sign up

11am-12noon - How To Use Bounce When Chipping & Pitching
Same as above .....

Coached by: James
CLICK HERE to sign up

1pm-2pm - Distance Wedges - Know Your Numbers   
Distance Control is King!! The pros are dynamite when it comes to wedges and distance control is the most impressive part of this and this doesn't just come down to feel, they have a bullet proof system which we will cover in this session. We will cover all shots from 30-100 yards. During this session we will be working with our GC Quad launch monitors so you will have accurate information on your yardages from the key the distances. 

Coached by: James
Full

1pm-2pm - Learn how to play the “Putt Chip” Chipping Technique
Ever wondered why it is difficult to putt from off the green and need a bulletproof system to make these shots from just off the green easier. Learning this chipping technique and mastering it with not only a less lofted club like a 7iron but implementing it with any club in the bag can help you get the ball closer to the hole consistently and eliminate some of the dreaded… uh oh shots.

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up

2pm-3pm - Putting - Is your grip holding you back
We see a whole range of grips on the PGA tour, but which are better than others. Zach will take you through the pro's and con's of the different grips in putting. He will explain the importance of grip pressure, placement and how this has a direct influence on the outcome. He will touch on the importance of green reading, positive visualisation, positive self talk, breathing and our think/play box theory. 

Coached by: Zach
CLICK HERE to sign up

3pm-4pm - Putting - Green Reading
There are many different methods in how to read greens and this session will look into many different systems in how to read greens. This session will identify a system that works for you and how this can be implemented on the course. This session will also go through difficult breaking putts, double breaking putts and how to read these types of putts. One of the most popular green reading systems on tour, Aimpoint Express will be discussed.

Coached by: Zach

CLICK HERE to sign up

Sunday 23rd October

1pm-2pm - Putting Under Pressure
Take your 'A' game to the course, its what the PGA Tour players do so well!! James will give you an insight into the processes on how to hole those important short putts under pressure and give you tips on how to start the ball on Line more consistently.

Coached by: James
CLICK HERE to sign up

2pm-3pm - Zone In Your Approach Play
Distance wedges is often overlooked in practice but is an area I get asked about all the time. During this session we will cover distance control and give you a system that suits your game, we will delve into the importance of set-up and the key roles they play in controlling shot trajectory. We will also touch on the basic swing principles that we look for in this unique stye of shot.

Coached by: James
CLICK HERE to sign up

3pm-4pm - Improve Your Bunker Mentality - Problem Shots   
Same as above

Coached by: James
CLICK HERE to sign up

How To Hit The Ball Longer and Straighter Off The Tee

Hitting the ball further is shown to have a huge advantage when it comes to shooting lower scores. We only have to look at the moves the players on the PGA Tour such as Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy searching for distance to improve their scores. Mark Broadie, creator of Strokes Gained found that a gain of 20 yards off the tee will gain 1.4 strokes per round. How would it feel to hit 2 less clubs into the green (9iron compared to 7iron)?

Here are some key tips to help influence distance:

1. Ball Position

   When hitting a driver, to optimise distance we want to hit up on the golf ball (positive attack angle). Therefore having your ball position forward of middle, adjacent to lead heel to allow the club to square up and to hit up on the ball is beneficial

2. Stance Width

   Comparing a driver to an iron, we want a wider stance width with a driver. This will help us keep stable and keep a good balance when generating a faster clubhead speed. E.g. try and picture Rory McIlroy and his fast clubhead speed whilst holding the finish and keeping in balance. Also, having a wider stance width (up to a point) will also increase clubhead speed and therefore distance. This is due to to the player creating more torque by using the ground more effectively.

3. Shoulder Tilt

   As we would like to hit up on the golf ball, allowing us to influence this by getting our trail shoulder slightly lower than the lead shoulder will help us. This can also help produce a wider backswing and influence a more in-to-in or in-to-out swing

4. Backswing Length

   The backswing is there to create power. The longer your backswing, the greater the chance of creating more clubhead speed. Think of it like an elastic band. The more you pull back on the elastic band (until it turns white), the further the band will go. In the backswing, try and increase your rotation and get more pressure into your trail side creating a bigger backswing. Once completed, be an athlete and hit a powerful golf shot.

5. Ball Flight

   The optimum flight for a driver would be to launch the ball high (this launch changes depending on how far you hit it), and low spin. This will optimise carry distance and total distance. Players who hit a slice will produce higher spin and lose distance as a result. Focus on the curvature you produce and try and change this to optimise your distance and also accuracy.

6. Strike

   The biggest drop off in distance can be found with off-centre strikes. No matter what clubhead speed or ability, centreness of strike is of high importance. If we do not consistently strike the middle of the clubface we can lose distance and accuracy. Use foot spray/dry shampoo or face tape to identify your strike location when practicing.

Zach,

THSG

The Importance of Grip

Grip can be a very important factor then many overlook. Below are some things to think about to improve your game.

The grip is the only contact you have with the club. Make sure your grips are looked after by cleaning them or by getting new grips. A worn grip can result in a few potential limitations:

• Reduce clubhead speed (Reduce distance)

• Increase grip tension (reduce feel)

• Reduce clubhead rotation (potential increase in slice ball flight)

• Decrease consistency of strike

There are many different grip models. Here is some information to consider when choosing what grip to use.

• Rubber grips such as a tour velvet (most popular grip on Tour). This grips is soft in texture giving more feel, reducing vibration up the club but is not as good as other in wet conditions or those with sweaty hands.

• Half cord/half rubber such as a multi-compound grip (multicoloured grip such as red and black). This grip is popular for being a mix where the top half is cord providing a firmer feel and more grip in wet conditions under the glove hand, and the softer texture under the non-glove hand.

• Full cord such as the Z-cord grip. This grip is most popular for those who play in all weather conditions, have sweaty hands or want a firmer feel when they grip the club. The dampening of vibration up the club is limited with this grip type but the grip has a tendency to last the longest (less susceptible to wear) than other grips.

How do your hands grip the club?

There are three different types of functional grips (Full Swing):

The overlap grip - Also called the ‘Vardon Grip’. This grip is where the trail hand pinky finger overlaps the lead hands index finger. This grip is know for being a neutral grip with no bias towards hitting a fade or draw.

The interlock grip - The grip of use by Tiger Woods. This grip is where the trail hand pinky finger interlocks with the lead hand index finger. This grip is popular as many feel more connected when using it. This grip has more of a draw bias if interlock is deep but can be different on a case by case basis.

The 10-finger grip - Also called the ‘Baseball grip’. This grip is where all eight fingers are connected but not overlapping or interlocking. This grip is popular for beginner golfers as the grip can be difficult to grasp straight away. Players have a tendency to have thumbs down the centre of the grip which tends to promote a weak trail hand grip, promoting a fade bias.

With all grip types, it is recommended to have the grip in your fingers and not in the palm (lifeline) of the hand. The lead hand thumb will be on the opposite half of the top of the grip (e.g right handed golfers left hand thumb will be on the right half of the top of the grip).

Strength of Grip

The strength of the grip can affect the functionality of the grip, ball flight and wrist movement.

Neutral grip - A neutral grip is where the players lead hand has 2-3 knuckles showing when addressing the club (Your head should not move or tilt when looking down at your grip to check its strength). Providing you have a neutral lead hand, the player will have a tendency to have a flat lead wrist at the top of the backswing. If this happens, this means your clubface is neutral (square) at the top of the backswing giving greater chance of hitting a neutral (straight) ball flight. For the trail hand to be neutral, the player will have the V-shape (V-shape occurs between the trail thumb and index finger) points towards the trail shoulder with the trail forearm in a relaxed position.

This set up promotes a straight ball flight providing other variables in the swing such as wrists, shoulders and lower body movement match up.

Strong grip - A strong grip is where the players lead hand has 3-4 knuckles showing when addressing the club. If the player has a stronger lead hand, the player will have a tendency to have a cupped lead wrist at the top of the backswing to get the clubface in a square position. For the trail hand to be strong, the player will have the V-shape point behind the trail shoulder with the trail forearm in a relaxed position. This set up promotes a more draw bias ball flight providing other variables in the swing such as wrists, shoulders and lower body movement match up.

Having one hand or both hands in a stronger position can help a golfer who has a tendency to slice the golf ball to reduce the curvature and hit the ball straighter.

Weak Grip - A weak grip is where the players lead hand has zero or 1 knuckle showing when addressing the club. The lead hand thumb will typically be on the middle of the grip. If the player has a weaker lead hand, the player will have a tendency to have a bowed/flexed lead wrist at the top of the backswing to get the clubface in a square position. For the trail hand to be weak, the player will have the V-shape point towards the sternum or lead shoulder. The trail forearm will tend to be above the lead forearm at address in a straight/more tense orientation. This set up promotes a more fade bias ball flight, promotes a more out-to-in swing path as many tend to have shoulders open to the target as a result.

Having one hand or both hands in a weaker position can help a golfer who has a tendency to hook the golf ball to reduce the curvature and hit the ball straighter. It can also be a major cause in promoting a slice ball flight.

* To note, many players can have a combination between lead and trail hands of neutral/strong/weak grip conditions. Players must note that one grip may not be correct for everyone but must match up to their swing characteristics and body movement. If you believe this could be an issue, please talk to your PGA Professional.

*Putter grip is different and will be covered in the future*

Any questions, please speak to any of the THSG Team

Thanks

Zach

FEB MOT'S ARE BACK...!

MOT you golf game and make 2022 your best year EVER….!!

Our February MOT. We have learnt so much from previous years, we now believe we have the perfect pre season model to offer all our THSG Pupils.

We see February as a key time of the year to analyse our all round game and a great time to help our pupils hit their goals. The MOT's are designed to offer a platform for improvement, we review and analysis all areas of your game from your equipment to your performance out on the course. This really is the first stepping stone to improving your mindset both on and off the course.  

This year we have devised 3 grades of MOT. 

The Silver MOT (30 minutes) cost - £15

This is designed to give you a basic overview of your game, you will walk away with a report on your equipment including grips, suitability of clubs and a loft/lie check on your most used irons. We will also review other key areas of your equipment including golf shoe analysis which is fast becoming a key area to improving performance. 

The Gold Package (60 minutes) cost - £55

This a comprehensive cover of your overall game including a 20 minute swing check in the performance lab. We will cover all aspects of your game and review your performance through 2021. We will also set SMART goals for the coming year. You will receive a full loft, lie, grip and shoe analysis and receive a gapping analysis on your scoring clubs (PW, 9, 8 & 7). 

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

The Platinum Package (120 minutes) cost - £110

This bespoke package is the ultimate solution in our program. You will receive a 4 hole playing assessment out on the course followed by a swing assessment held in the performance lab. We will give you a comprehensive analysis on your loft and lies of every club and also take your through a grip fitting. Other aspects such as shoe analysis will also be covered.  SMART goals will be set and swing advice sent to your email. You will also receive a free voucher for a gapping session for your whole bag, worth £30.

** Professionals available on this package - Zach Galliford & James Dobbs **

----------

This years Feb MOT's are in conjunction with Masters Golf, for all your golf accessories and re-gripping needs. Book any MOT and receive a special 15% OFF discount on all repairs and re-grips. We will be stocking all grips this year including Golf Pride, Lamkin, Superstroke and Ping

** Please note pre-booking is essential as we only have a limited number of appointments with each professional through February. **

TO BOOK YOUR SESSION PLEASE EMAIL - tim@timhallschoolofgolf.com and quote your package. 

The Importance of Custom Fitting

Are you apprehensive about getting a custom fitting? There are a few myths related to Custom Fitting where players will see PGA Professionals trying to sell them clubs to get more revenue. This is not the case. Here at THSG, we use the latest ball data system (GC Quad) to compare data from different clubs and shafts to see what works best for you. If there is no improvement from your current gamers, then simply there is no need to change or buy new equipment. You will put your mind at ease that you have got clubs in your bag that work well for you and can go out and play.

* This time of year more and more manufactures have released new equipment such as Taylormade and their Stealth Carbonwood, Titleist and their new SM9 Vokey wedges and Ping and their Glide Forged Wedges. Do not be afraid to try these out and see what you like or dislike.

You should look at your golf bag like a tool box. You have up to 14 clubs/tools to choose from and each one provides a different job to give you the best chance of improving your game. For example, having a lofted 7/9 wood to help you land the ball softly on the green, or adding a 60 degree to help you get out of jail around the greens. There is always clubs you can recommend but some clubs can be used for a special task that you have on the course often. These task clubs do not need to go a certain distance but need to help you hit a certain shot. Discussing these shots with your Custom Fitter can help them understand the make-up of your bag and what can help you score your best.

As we are all built in different shapes and sizes, we should have clubs that work well for us. Height, strength, flexibility and technique all contribute to a club being right for you. For example, if you have a club too long for you, this could cause inconsistency of strike and loss of distance. Many believe having a longer club increases distance and swing speed. This is correct providing you hit the middle of the club face.

A variable that many players overlook on their clubs is the lie angle (The lie angle of a golf club is the angle that is formed between the club shaft and the ground when the club is soled properly at address). The lie angle can affect start direction, curvature and strike. For example, having a club with too flat of a lie angle will cause the face to point to the right. This causes the ball to start right of target and potentially promoting a slice ball flight (right-handed golfer). Making sure the lie angle is right for you will improve consistency and reduce any compensations you have to make, at set-up or in-swing, to hit a great shot.

Finally, the most overlooked equipment is the Golf Ball. We see many people use varying golf balls and use golf balls that they find on the course. This equipment is used on every shot and therefore it is important to keep this consistent. Changing golf ball changes feel and potentially performance so therefore it is important to stick to one golf ball. A few things to think about when choosing a golf ball:

• Price - Price is a determining factor in relation to golf ball choice. Better golfers generally use the premium golf balls (Titleist Pro V1, Pro V1X, AVX) for example. These golf balls are the most expensive for a reason. They provide distance of the tee but most importantly lower launch with wedges and spin around the greens. No matter what level of golfer, everyone would improve if they used a premium golf ball.

• Ball flight - some golf balls enable players to hit a different ball flight than other golf balls. For example, the Titleist Velocity is a relatively cheaper golf ball which produces a higher launch, soft feel and relatively low spin. This ball can be beneficial for a low hitting player that doesn’t want to spend too much money. Alternatively, you have a Titleist Pro V1X which is relatively harder ball which increases ball speed slightly with a driver but producing the most spin with mid irons to shots around the green. If you struggle to stop the ball on the greens, this can be a great ball for you.

* A new ball has been produced by Titleist which is called the Pro V1X Left dash. This ball is currently in the shop and has a similar feel to the Pro V1X but produces slightly less spin. This ball is worth a try so ask any PGA Professional in the THSG shop for more information.

Any questions, please talk to a PGA Professional or book a fitting with Zach.

Thanks

THSG

How to approach Winter Golf

Many people ask why doesn’t the ball go as far in the winter. And many people ask what should they do differently in the Winter compared to Summer/dryer months. This is not a simple answer if you look at all variables. Below is some key points I would recommend thinking about if you want to get the best out of your game in the Off-Season.

Distance

• Does Distance change due to temperature? Would playing in Spain in the summer months affect how far the ball goes compared to a cold Winter’s day in the UK? To answer those questions, Yes. Yes it does. The amount it changes is player dependent and many factors can affect this:

  • Colder temperature - results in wearing more layers and therefore more restricted. This is likely to reduce your swing speed and overall distance.

  • Thicker air (air density) causes the ball to not travel as far through the air (think of a thick layered cake instead of a pavlova).

  • The golf ball is colder and therefore ball will not be compressed as much as when it is warmer.

  • Slower swing speed produces less spin on the ball decreasing peak height of the golf ball.

  • The ball could lose up to 5% due to the cold temperature. The ball will not roll as far either.

Lies

• The grass will not stand up on the fairway but lay flat causing it to be difficult to get a clean contact. There is a greater chance strike will be low off the face and inefficient, resulting in a loss of distance. Do not help the ball up if this is the case as this could cause more inconsistencies.

• As the ground is wet, some people feel it is necessary to pick the ball off the turf or even try and get the ball airborne as they know they need the maximum carry. Remember with any iron shot, we are hitting down on the ball with the intent of hitting ball before the turf. This will allow us to not have to worry about the wet ground as strike is a given if we hit ball first.

• Poorer lies - we must place the ball further back in our stance to allow us to hit ball first. This helps our predictability of distance control and trajectory.

Club selection

• Some may have more than 14 clubs to choose from. If this is the case, I would be swapping out your longer irons for hybrids and lofted fairway woods. Hitting a wood over an iron in the winter will allow a greater margin for error on strike as the club will not dig into the ground. A bigger clubhead, will generally produce a higher ball flight which is beneficial in the winter due to limited roll and to maximise distance.

• Bare in mind, lies are not as good summer time and this club selection change will limit the distance lost when striking the ball low off the club face as they have more forgiveness on off centre strikes.

Warm-up

• It is more difficult or will take you longer to warm up as internal body temperature and outside temperature is cold. This could increase the risk of injury and a huge reason why we would advocate to warm up or perform some dynamic stretches/movements before teeing up on the 1st tee.

• Make sure to stretch - this will increase blood Flow and body temperature before the round.

• If you are not one for warming up, maybe just get a nice hot bacon bap and coffee from the clubhouse as your warm up - to each their own!!!!

Speed of Play

• Play fast - when it is cold, it is not great to stand around getting colder. Keep moving to stay loose, layer up and enjoy your game.

• If you are waiting, keep moving and even swing a golf club. Make sure body extremities are warm as these areas have greatest affect on feeling of warmth.

Finally…..

The biggest improvement I see with golfers scores without having to change anything is them knowing their CARRY YARDAGES with all their clubs (Carry yardages is how far the ball will travel in the air before hitting the ground). This will improve your dispersion, distance control and scoring ability. Yes, it is great know how far in total all your clubs go but more specifically it is more important to know the carry distances with all these clubs.

Thanks, THSG

Winter Programmes with Your Coach

Stop waiting around and hoping for your golf to improve.

See your PGA Professional to improve your game.

Below is a breakdown of a typical Winter Programme Zach will provide for his golfers:

Session 1 - 5/6 Hole Playing lesson (including pressurised game). Games could include worst ball scramble or OOB in the trees to name a few depending on skill level. This helps me understand what a player does when on the course which is where it is the most important. We can then produce a performance plan to address our strengths and weaknesses to improve your game.

Session 2 - We are a big believer in first addressing our physical capabilities which influences what we can and can’t do in our swing. Performing a TPI screening can see trends in movement and in swing characteristics which can help us understand why you hit the shots you do and what we can do to change this. In this session, we will look at the most important factor that’s limiting scoring (e.g. chipping/pitching or long game).

Session 3 - We will build on the area we looked at in session 2, and further look at this area. For example, if we looked at chipping in session 2, we will look at pitching and a variety of short game shots in this session.

Session 4&5 - In these sessions, we will look at areas of the game we have not looked at yet. For example, we can look at the long game by going on the range or in the lab to get some more numbers to help us make sustainable changes to improve performance.

Session 6 - Performance golf (e.g. 5/6 Hole playing lesson or skills challenges). We will get back on the golf course and evaluate our game to see how we have improved from our first session.

*This can change depending on the players wants and needs and whether other issues arise so therefore needs to be adaptable. Time frames can also change depending on the individual but will allow enough time before the season gets underway again.

If you would like to learn more and talk about these programmes with your coach, please call, email or come in to the pro shop and we can help you.

Thanks again,
Team THSG

Play Golf with Zach

NEW FOR 2021……..>

Play golf with Zach.

This winter Zach will be getting out on the course with members to help them improve their game. This will be a great time to ask Zach questions on your own game, how to play certain holes or certain shots, but also to pick Zach’s brain on why he hit a certain shot or his thought process of the hole. This is a chance to give you an insight into how some of the best players in the world think and tackle a course…….. and watch some good golf at the same time.

Here is how it will work - 9 holes golf with Zach and 4 members (5 ball) with a drink in the bar afterwards. We will play a few fun team games to get the juices flowing and have some fun.

Dates are as follows:

Saturday December 4th - 2pm-4.30pm

On this date, Zach will put an emphasis on tee shots and will talk through some driving technique, shots off the tee and where to miss your drive if we can.

Sunday December 12th - 1.30pm-4pm

On this date, Zach will put an emphasis on approach and iron shots. This will include discussing playing yardages, club selection and assessing the lie to influence the best outcome we can…. The process is Key.

Sunday December 19th - 1.30pm-4pm

On this date, Zach will put an emphasis on short game and around the greens. This will include different shots around the green, how the lie will dictate shot choice and our realistic expectations.

The Importance Of Course Management

We at the THSG hope everyone is well and healthy. THSG hope you have enjoyed your time back on the course after so many weeks away by hitting long straight drives and holing putts. We are sure that those practicing while away as not gone unnoticed by your fellow members and playing partners.

As we are sure you are all aware that competition golf is just around the corner. This can be an anxious time for some with having a scorecard in your hand, but we see this as an exciting time to challenge yourself with a scorecard in your hands and hopefully go some way in to helping you do this by achieving your goals and achieving your career best rounds.

Are you nervous when you have a scorecard in your hand?

Do you feel anxious on the first tee?

Do you change your thinking depending on your score?

Course Management can result in a huge difference in the way you score especially if you don’t have your “A game”. Zach has a few tips on how he has used course management to his advantage during his playing career when playing for his country or playing in international tournaments. Zach has used a more analytical approach in his course management to out-smart his opposition to win tournaments or to win matches when the opponent has had better physical attributes such as hitting it 50 yards past him in some cases.

Zach breaks down a course very similar to that of Seve Ballesteros in which he would look at match play as one hole at a time. This enabled him to focus on the task at hand and ultimately be one of the most successful match play players in history. Zach looks at a round of golf as 18 holes, which is 18 individual jobs at hand to combat. Focusing only on that one individual job and ticking that box off once you have successfully navigated it can be very beneficial when counting up your score at the end of the round.

Green - Tee Approach

One way to look at these individual jobs is to break down the hole even further. Zach looks at the hole and identifies that for example, par is the goal (no matter what level par is of great importance which we will discuss in future blogs). For us golfers to have the best chance of making a par, we must find the green in regulation (GIR). If we miss the green , PGA Tour average is 57% which shows that missing the green can limit our chance of making par. This is why we look at the green first and where do we want to place that ball on the green to give us the best chance of making par or better and the best chance to hit that green. Therefore it is vitally important to look at how are we going to hit the green and what is going to give us the best chance of hitting that green….. being in the fairway!

Playing from the fairway can be vitally important as this is when we have the most control of the golf ball in terms of strike, spin and consistency. If we hit it in the rough, we may have a poor lie and the lie may dictate the shot we can play and ultimate loose our control of the golf ball due to us not knowing how that ball will react when it leaves the club face.

Going back further to the tee. For us to have the best chance of hitting the green goes back to hitting the fairway off the tee and how we are going to that. Studies have shown that our longest drive is also our straightest! Therefore it is important to have full commitment in the club you use off the tee whether that is a Driver, fairway wood or iron and also our target off the tee to have the best chance of hitting our longest drive down the fairway.

This may be a different approach to one you utilise or have utilised in the past. I would experiment and try and practice this approach and see if it is for you.

One thing to add is that this can be incorporated to look at where we can error towards whether that be the left side of the fairway or green to give us the best chance of scoring our ball.

We will leave this here for you………. The more patient you are when it comes to course management by not trying to force the issue to try and get the ball close to the hole and make birdies, the less errors we will produce. The more often we think smart and play patiently the higher the percentage we will hit greens and get the ball closer to the hole……. and hole putts that we may not have expected to make!

THSG