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.
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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.
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Sports and Fitness Equipment
Bob asked:
That Australians love sports is obvious from their thriving outdoor culture. If you are fanatic about your fitness and want to get quality sports equipment and fitness equipment, look no further than BIGShop.com.au. We cover a wide spectrum of sports equipment both for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, cycling, or fishing and for indoor games, like golf or snooker.
Camping outdoors or hiking are fun. When you have in hand some of the best camping and hiking equipment such as tents, camp chairs, and cooking vessels, it is all the more exciting. At BIGShop, you can get them all under one roof. If cycling is your kind of activity, BIGshop.com has bicycles for all terrains. Get the right bicycle for you and hit the roads or the mountains.For all those who love fishing, we have a variety of fishing rods to will help you catch a rich haul.
But, if you are not much of an outdoor person, and love staying indoors and work on your fitness, there is no dearth of fitness equipment either. With a host of products such as treadmills, abdominal machines and exercise bikes you’ll be spoilt for choice.
If you like to unwind playing golf, there is golf equipment also to be had at BIGShop with a variety of golf carts, bags and personalised golf balls on offer to make you feel like a pro. For those who are into snooker or pool, you can get the entire package, right from the table to the cues.
Sports and games should be an integral part of our lifestyle as it helps one stay healthy and fit. So never think twice about buying sports equipment from BIGShop. The fitness equipment as well as the sports equipment offered are all priced reasonably and there are offers from time to time too. So go ahead and bag yourself a deal at BIGShop.
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That Australians love sports is obvious from their thriving outdoor culture. If you are fanatic about your fitness and want to get quality sports equipment and fitness equipment, look no further than BIGShop.com.au. We cover a wide spectrum of sports equipment both for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, cycling, or fishing and for indoor games, like golf or snooker.
Camping outdoors or hiking are fun. When you have in hand some of the best camping and hiking equipment such as tents, camp chairs, and cooking vessels, it is all the more exciting. At BIGShop, you can get them all under one roof. If cycling is your kind of activity, BIGshop.com has bicycles for all terrains. Get the right bicycle for you and hit the roads or the mountains.For all those who love fishing, we have a variety of fishing rods to will help you catch a rich haul.
But, if you are not much of an outdoor person, and love staying indoors and work on your fitness, there is no dearth of fitness equipment either. With a host of products such as treadmills, abdominal machines and exercise bikes you’ll be spoilt for choice.
If you like to unwind playing golf, there is golf equipment also to be had at BIGShop with a variety of golf carts, bags and personalised golf balls on offer to make you feel like a pro. For those who are into snooker or pool, you can get the entire package, right from the table to the cues.
Sports and games should be an integral part of our lifestyle as it helps one stay healthy and fit. So never think twice about buying sports equipment from BIGShop. The fitness equipment as well as the sports equipment offered are all priced reasonably and there are offers from time to time too. So go ahead and bag yourself a deal at BIGShop.
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