Golf Tips: Never Hit the Ball Until You Know Where It’s Going – the Crucial Role of the Target Line
Paul Thornley asked:
The first step to playing fantastic golf is realising that there is an essential part to the game that has been there since the first round was ever played by shepherds with crooks and stones on the links of the Scottish Highlands.
That essential part, the vital thing to remember at all times, is the intended line to the target, from the ball to the hole or the fairway. Now commonly known as the ‘target line’, its importance is a critical thing that you simply must understand if you are going to develop your game.
The point at which you make the commitment to hit every shot down the target line you is the point from which your game will start to improve.
The great Jack Nicklaus never hit a golf shot in his whole life without making sure that he stood behind his golf ball and picked a point just two to three feet in front of his ball that was on the target line.
The essential part of the pre-shot routine is to stand behind the ball, looking down the target line and picking out the intended spot for the ball to end up, then starting the ball down your target line.
World snooker champion Cliff Thorburn, a highly competitive golfer, played off two and was incredibly difficult to beat. His concentration was incredible and it came from his involvement in matches in Canada during his youth where players were competing for prizes thousands of dollars and because of this, every single shot counted.
It was when I asked Cliff what made him so competitive, and how it was he holed so many putts just when he needed them, that I realised the importance of the target line.
Cliff said he would never, ever hit a shot until he knew where it was going; it was as simple as that. Whether he was playing golf or snooker, he would never make a pass at the ball or attempt to hit it until he was absolutely convinced that he knew where it was going. He was meticulous; always knowing in his mind where the ball was going to end up.
And that is the crucial lesson that I learned and focused on all the way through my golfing career, and it is the lesson that I share with everyone I coach. If you want to turn your game around from this point onwards then bear in mind those words that Cliff Thorburn said: never hit the ball until you know where it is going.
Caffeinated Content
The first step to playing fantastic golf is realising that there is an essential part to the game that has been there since the first round was ever played by shepherds with crooks and stones on the links of the Scottish Highlands.
That essential part, the vital thing to remember at all times, is the intended line to the target, from the ball to the hole or the fairway. Now commonly known as the ‘target line’, its importance is a critical thing that you simply must understand if you are going to develop your game.
The point at which you make the commitment to hit every shot down the target line you is the point from which your game will start to improve.
The great Jack Nicklaus never hit a golf shot in his whole life without making sure that he stood behind his golf ball and picked a point just two to three feet in front of his ball that was on the target line.
The essential part of the pre-shot routine is to stand behind the ball, looking down the target line and picking out the intended spot for the ball to end up, then starting the ball down your target line.
World snooker champion Cliff Thorburn, a highly competitive golfer, played off two and was incredibly difficult to beat. His concentration was incredible and it came from his involvement in matches in Canada during his youth where players were competing for prizes thousands of dollars and because of this, every single shot counted.
It was when I asked Cliff what made him so competitive, and how it was he holed so many putts just when he needed them, that I realised the importance of the target line.
Cliff said he would never, ever hit a shot until he knew where it was going; it was as simple as that. Whether he was playing golf or snooker, he would never make a pass at the ball or attempt to hit it until he was absolutely convinced that he knew where it was going. He was meticulous; always knowing in his mind where the ball was going to end up.
And that is the crucial lesson that I learned and focused on all the way through my golfing career, and it is the lesson that I share with everyone I coach. If you want to turn your game around from this point onwards then bear in mind those words that Cliff Thorburn said: never hit the ball until you know where it is going.
Caffeinated Content
Tony Jacklin Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Sarfaraz Khan asked:
Golfing great Tony Jacklin will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his triumph in The Open by playing in the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall near Solihull in August.
Jacklin, who will also celebrate his 65th birthday this year, will join other PGA professionals, European Tour players and a host of celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment.
Jacklin, who uses Slazenger golf clubs, played in the event 12 months ago when home pro Mark Mouland won the Pro-Am with fellow European Tour professional, Lee Slattery finishing.
The four days of golf, from August 4 to 7, will include two Celebrity/Am team days followed by “Black Tie” charity party nights.
40th Anniversary Open Champion Celebrity-Amateur Challenge: 5th August, kicks off the tournament with a bang, when teams of 3 amateur golfers are paired with a celebrity personality. In the evening a sensational black tie gala will take place celebrating the 40th anniversary of Tony Jacklin CBE winning the title ‘British Open Champion’ at Royal Lytham.
The Pro-Am Championship: 5th & 6th August, consists of 36 holes across 2 days. Amateur golfers those using golf equipment are paired with a PGA or European Tour professional, who are competing for the title ‘British Par 3 Champion 2009,’ there is also a fabulous prize for the best Pro-Am pairing. The evening of 5th August will be celebrated with a stunning V.I.P Players Banquet to unwind and prepare for the next days golfing. The 2 days are closed with a wonderful prize giving ceremony, where the ‘British Par 3 Champion’ will also be announced.
The Grand Finale Celebrity-Amateur Golf Day: 7th August, is the sensational concluding event of the Par 3 Championship during which, teams of 3 golfers those are uses amateur golf sets enjoy 18 holes of golf with a celebrity personality from the world of sport or entertainment. He is a person who create the history and make own state of art, every new golfer can go ahead with follow him and his golfing tricks. Following the Golf Day a spectacular Grand Finale Black Tie Ball will take place in the wonderful setting of Nailcote Hall. This concluding celebration will be hosted by Tony Jacklin CBE and will also include delicious food and superb entertainment.
Last year European Tour players Graeme Storm, David Lynn, Tom Whitehouse, Simon Lynn, Sam Walker, Jamie Spence joined Mouland and Slattery alongside celebrities including Peter Schmeichel, Jasper Carrott, Kris Akabusi, DJ Spoony, Lee Sharpe, Peter Shilton and snooker player Willie Thorne.
Kansieo.com
Golfing great Tony Jacklin will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his triumph in The Open by playing in the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall near Solihull in August.
Jacklin, who will also celebrate his 65th birthday this year, will join other PGA professionals, European Tour players and a host of celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment.
Jacklin, who uses Slazenger golf clubs, played in the event 12 months ago when home pro Mark Mouland won the Pro-Am with fellow European Tour professional, Lee Slattery finishing.
The four days of golf, from August 4 to 7, will include two Celebrity/Am team days followed by “Black Tie” charity party nights.
40th Anniversary Open Champion Celebrity-Amateur Challenge: 5th August, kicks off the tournament with a bang, when teams of 3 amateur golfers are paired with a celebrity personality. In the evening a sensational black tie gala will take place celebrating the 40th anniversary of Tony Jacklin CBE winning the title ‘British Open Champion’ at Royal Lytham.
The Pro-Am Championship: 5th & 6th August, consists of 36 holes across 2 days. Amateur golfers those using golf equipment are paired with a PGA or European Tour professional, who are competing for the title ‘British Par 3 Champion 2009,’ there is also a fabulous prize for the best Pro-Am pairing. The evening of 5th August will be celebrated with a stunning V.I.P Players Banquet to unwind and prepare for the next days golfing. The 2 days are closed with a wonderful prize giving ceremony, where the ‘British Par 3 Champion’ will also be announced.
The Grand Finale Celebrity-Amateur Golf Day: 7th August, is the sensational concluding event of the Par 3 Championship during which, teams of 3 golfers those are uses amateur golf sets enjoy 18 holes of golf with a celebrity personality from the world of sport or entertainment. He is a person who create the history and make own state of art, every new golfer can go ahead with follow him and his golfing tricks. Following the Golf Day a spectacular Grand Finale Black Tie Ball will take place in the wonderful setting of Nailcote Hall. This concluding celebration will be hosted by Tony Jacklin CBE and will also include delicious food and superb entertainment.
Last year European Tour players Graeme Storm, David Lynn, Tom Whitehouse, Simon Lynn, Sam Walker, Jamie Spence joined Mouland and Slattery alongside celebrities including Peter Schmeichel, Jasper Carrott, Kris Akabusi, DJ Spoony, Lee Sharpe, Peter Shilton and snooker player Willie Thorne.
Kansieo.com
