This month’s tip will help ease the frustration of the transition from the summer grass to the winter grass. The good news is that the grass growing during the winter is much less abrasive than the grass of the summer season. Here are a number of tips that will help you transition easier.

1. When driving, especially on the fairways that are overseeded, tee the ball higher. You want the ball to stay in the air for as long as possible.

2. Fairway shots should be positioned more toward the front of your stance. This will enable you to sweep the ball and launch it in the air.

3. Pitch and chip shots are very difficult; tend to position the ball further back in your stance. This will eliminate the tendency for the golf ball to squirt off of the clubface.

4. Putting is always a matter of feel. Work on your feel by putting to smaller targets like a tee or a coin from various distances. Stay away from the hole when practicing and you will improve your game faster.

Keep all of these simple tips in the forefront of your practice and playing time and you will ease through the transition period.

This month’s tip will help you chip the ball closer to the hole when you miss a green. I don‘t know about you, but I miss at least half of the greens that I attempt to hit. The short game, specifically chipping is the cornerstone of low scoring. That is very evident when we watch the pros on television. Follow the guidelines below, practice each step and you will chip closer to the hole and therefore lower your score and handicap. Good luck and practice!

1. Position the golf ball opposite your right big toe.

2. Position the grip end of the club in front of ball.

3. Position the majority of your body weight on your front foot.

Those are the three mechanical pre-shot requirements for successful chipping. The ball position ensures quality contact. The positioning of the grip in front of the ball creates the proper angle on the downswing into the back of the ball. The placement of the majority of your body weight keeps you stable throughout the shot. Please keep in mind that your must keep your body weight on your front foot throughout the entire swing. Do not shift your weight!

If you follow these tips you will create a more consistent short game which in turn will allow you to be aggressive and score better.

This month’s tip will help you gain a few extra yards. Most of us are using our practice time to get more distance. The following instructions will help you gain a few yards and make better contact with the golf ball.

Begin by addressing the golf ball, now move the golf ball opposite your left big toe. Next, slightly raise your hands. This will create an arch in your left wrist. Grip the club firmly in your left hand and almost as firm in your right hand. Do not make the mistake of using extra light grip pressure with your right hand. If you make that mistake you will always grab the club coming back to the ball. That is an unrecoverable error!

Start your swing extra slow; try to take as much time as possible to the top of your backswing. Ease through the transition, keeping your arms as far away from your face as possible. Do not force the acceleration until you feel contact. After contact, swing the club as fast as possible to a balanced finish. A good thought is to keep your right thumb as far away from your face as possible throughout the entire swing. Good luck!

Drill of the Month

This month’s drill will help shallow out your downswing. The advantages of a shallow downswing are many. A shallow downswing enables better contact with the golf ball. A shallow downswing allows the golfer to swing the golf club faster, later in their swing. Please follow the drill outlined below and the benefits of a shallow downswing will be evident.

1. Take your normal address position. Position the golf ball opposite your left big toe.

2. Move the golf club to a position opposite your right big toe.

3. Begin your swing from this position.

This is a very simple drill that will have an enormous impact on your golf game.