By Adam C. Smith, PGA

Golfers often question the difference between the pitch shot and the flop shot. In my opinion, there is very little difference except that the pitch shot can be hit high or low into the green with a lot of bite, whereas the flop shot is always going to come into the green from a high trajectory and land softly. So, here's how to hit a flop shot. First, select the highest lofted club in your bag. If you have a sixty degree lob wedge, this is ideal. Next, evaluate the shot you have ahead of you. Only use the flop shot when you have to. In another words, the flop shot should be a forced, high carry onto the green. The amount of distance a player can carry his or her lob wedge varies based on the player's ability. Try not to hit your lob shot farther than your average range of distance. So, if you have to flop a shot longer, club up to the sand wedge or gap wedge. Okay, you are thirty yards from the green, in the first cut of rough with a bunker in front of you and the pin is cut close to the front. This is a good time to flop the ball. Play the ball in the middle of your stance. Angle your body line (stance, hips and shoulders) a little to the left of your target line. Lay the club face "open" so that it is on line with your target line. Keep your grip pressure soft, like you are holding a full tube of toothpaste with the top off, but you don't want any to come out. Swing the club back with your hands, arms and shoulders all working together. Cock your wrists into a ninety degree angle immediately. Your left arm should be straight and the golf club shaft should be at a right angle. After a slight pause at the top of your backswing, the club should fall back to the impact position and you should follow through with as much length and force as with the backswing. Use good tempo. Tell yourself, "one… two." Keep your grip soft so that tension stays out. The length of the backswing controls the distance of the shot, so be sure to follow through in order to complete the swing and carry the ball the desired distance. Believe me when I say that the only way this shot will fail you is if you don't trust your ability to execute. Too often, players feel doubt and they "look up" too soon. Or they doubt themselves because of some danger past the hole and they begin to squeeze the grip. This makes the player's muscles tense up and they flinch and skull it into the danger. Just concentrate and follow these simple tips. After a few days of practice in the short game area, you will feel confident about your flop shot skills. Once you get this shot down, you will have another approach into the green. Enjoy the tempo and high flying shot that lands softly, just as you planned.

By Adam C. Smith, PGA

Are you shooting the lowest scores you can shoot right now? It's all about putting! How many putts do you average per round of 18 holes? How much time do you spend hitting range balls? Now ask yourself why you don't spend at least thirty minutes a day rolling putts on the practice green. Let's face it, 40 to 50% of your score is putting. Let's get together on the putting green for a lesson soon. I want to show you how to practice putting. I have some good drills to go over after evaluating your stroke. If you want to shoot the lowest scores you can, then you should spend more time with learned practice drills on the putting green and spend less time hitting range balls. Practice more efficiently and it will pay off on your scorecard.

By Adam C. Smith, PGA

When you go to the driving range to hit a bucket of balls, think "swing," not "hit." Too many times, our golf practice is too intense. Usually, the grip is too tight. The shoulders are too tense. The arms are swinging the club and there is not enough hinge in the wrists. The result is a high velocity, off balance, forceful hit. This is no way to practice. You have to relax. Take a practice swing before each range ball you hit. Take a deep breath and exhale after the practice swing. You should focus on a target out there in the landing area more than you focus on the range ball in front of you. Feel a loose grip and let your arms hang loosely. As you take the club away, use your wrists to cock the club into a 90 degree angle. Your left arm and the golf club shaft become the lever that gets released at impact. This lever is your source of power for your swing. Let the lever swing, don't force it. Keep your grip soft so that your wrists can release at impact. Again, don't force it to happen. Don't be a hitter, be a swinger. Stay loose and let the club do the work.

http://www.pgamagazine.com/page/369-21466.htm?article_id=5372

By Adam C. Smith, PGA

Experts in the field of psychology suggest that in order to learn what is on someone's mind, you should follow three steps: make a statement, ask a question, and listen. As a PGA golf instructor, I like this approach for teaching golf lessons. During a short golf cart ride back to my lesson tee, I often follow this method. Listening is the most important part of learning what the student needs. As an instructor, I have the responsibility of finding out what the player's weakness is. The student will often tell me the area that needs work. Within the first few minutes of the lesson, the work is discovered. The rest of the time is spent with strategies to fix the swing flaw and to improve ball flight. I suggest taking a golf lesson very soon. Tell me what part of your game needs work. Golf instruction can be a healthy learning experience for both the student and the teacher. When both student and instructor practice good listening, we have a good learning environment.

By Adam C. Smith, PGA

It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to what happens to you. This way of thinking is what can make you mentally strong on the golf course. Such was the case last month, when I shot a shot sixty-eight, in a tournament, with no bogeys. I tied for second place. The winner shot 67. As I recall one hole played in this round, it is easy to reflect on how mentally challenging golf can be. On my twelfth hole of the day, I stood on the tee at five under par. I hit a very good drive down the middle of the fairway. Then, I decided to go for the green in two. I hit a good shot with my eighteen degree hybrid club. I and my playing partners watched the ball bounce next to the green and then bounce into some deep grass, past the green. When we got to the green, we couldn't find my ball. After 5 minutes of searching, I had to declare my ball lost and go back to the place where I hit my second shot. I returned to the spot from where I last played and dropped another ball. This time, I hit a three iron and my ball hit the green and stuck. I three putted for a seven. I wrote that number on my scorecard and realized that it was my first mistake of the day. Now I was three under par. I really wanted to shoot under seventy. I cleared my mind before approaching the next tee. I told myself to forget about that seven on my card. I pared thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen and birdied the eighteenth. Looking back, everyone in my group was perplexed when we could not find my ball on the twelfth hole. If I had played the three iron the first time, I would have made a par and shot sixty-six. Sixty-six would have won the tournament. But such was not the case and this is just an example of why golf can be a great mental challenge for us. After the double bogey on twelve, I cleared my mind and focused on the next shot and the holes ahead. With a clear, focused mind, I could concentrate on the rest of my round. This is how I played the last six holes one under par. No matter how well we play this game, we can always reflect on how our game could have been better. It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to what happens to you.

By Adam C. Smith, PGA

Recently, a student asked me how he could better play the last five holes of his eighteen-hole golf round. He said he usually looses energy and makes bogeys down the stretch. It's easy to turn a good round into a lousy one, I told him. But if you snack, every hour, during your four hour round, you won't loose energy. Let's face it, golf is not fatiguing. It's our bad habit of not eating or drinking during our round that makes our body lose energy. I gave him some insight on how I snack.

Before you play a round of golf, make sure that your golf bag is full of healthy snacks. I like Nature Valley Granola Bars. Quaker Oats makes some tasty ones, too. Stick an apple and a banana in there with your granola. Get some trail mix, you know, peanuts, raisins, almonds, cranberries, the good stuff! Have a bottle of water in your bag. Some say Gatorade is good because of the "electrolyte replacement," but I think that some sports drinks have too much sugar. Too much sugar can make you excited on one hole and mentally crash a few minutes later. I recommend you stick to water, the universal solvent. Water: two atoms of hydrogen, one atom of oxygen. Just like your putts (two putts and one putts), how nice?

The important thing is that you snack before you get hungry. Eat an apple after the fifth hole, one hour into your round. Then, eat a granola bar at the turn, two hours into your round. Don't eat a hotdog, a bag of chips and a coke at the turn. This will fill bloat your belly, grease your hands and give you indigestion by the tenth green, hiccup! Have a banana on the fourteenth hole. Then, eat another granola bar before you tee off on seventeen. As for the consumption of water, drink a sip on every hole. The key is to stay hydrated. We have all heard this before. But here's how to stay hydrated, drink before you get thirsty. That's right, sip some on every hole. Use a bottle that has a cool pop up top. Squeeze the water in your mouth or suck it down. Just get some into your system slowly and don't stop! Refill your water bottle at the turn. Be careful of the on course water coolers, since some of them have algae and bacteria on the spout below the button that you push. Look at those spouts closely. If they are green, that a red light for you! It's always safer to take your own water bottle to the course. Besides, most of today's golf bags have a cool water bottle holder. Some of them are even insulated to keep your drink cold. I don't want to sound paranoid about the algae on the on course coolers, but some golf course superintendents don't bleach their coolers regularly or buy new coolers quarterly, like they should. Just be smart and don't get sick.

So, now you know the tips to good energy levels on the course. The game of golf is ninety percent mental… the other ten percent is mental. Feed your body with healthy snacks and water. This will give you the competitive mental advantage you need on the links. The strong mental edge is necessary to finishing your good round of golf with a bang, not a boom!

Off Season Golf Instruction with Adam Smith, PGA Director of Instruction, Salisbury Country Club

Cooler temperatures and perfect seasonal turf conditions make the fall a great time of year for golf instruction. Please choose from the following lesson plans or take them all for your total game improvement.

Chipping vs. Pitching

We will cover how to hit a low "bump and run" chip or a high "flop" shot. We will maximize ground time and minimize air time for the chip shot, using stiff wrists. We will use our wrist lever to hit the pitch shot. This will make the ball launch upward, to maximize air time and minimize ground time. You will learn why and when to use each shot. Bring your lob wedge and your pitching wedge.

Putting

The most over-used part of your game is also the most under-practiced! I will show you all of the important parts of the grip, stance, posture and ball position. We will cover the "straight back, straight through" stroke. I will show you several drills that will give you instant feedback. These drills will be the main focus for your after lesson practice.

Sand Shots

Open the clubface, open your stance line and play the ball forward in your stance. We will make soft, slow motion type swings to get the ball out of trouble and onto the green. This is not a forceful type shot, I will teach you finesse. Short distance shots require a "small swing." The longer the shot, the longer the swing, not a more forceful swing. We'll cover all these situations.

100 yards and in… to the pin

These are important distances to be very confident with. I will show you what clubs to use from distances of 100 yards, 75 yards, 50 yards and 25 yards from the green. There are four wedges in the advanced golfer's bag, the pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge. These clubs can get the job done for you, too. I will show you which club to use and how to swing them for each distance.

Driving Distance

If you want to hit the ball further and keep it in play, I will show you some tips in your set up that will make a big difference. Then, we will practice my favorite teaching approach, TEMPO. We all know that trying to kill the ball gets us nowhere. I will show you how to "swing easier" and thus gain more leverage on the downswing. Leverage and timing are the keys to efficient impact and more power. This lesson often needs to be repeated to really train the muscle memory. We can do it; it just takes patience and practice.

Call the golf shop to book your fall golf instruction now!

Chip vs. Pitch, what is the difference?

Trajectory:
The chip shot has more ground time than air time.
The pitch shot has more air time than ground time.

The chip shot stays low.
The pitch shot flies high.

The chip shot rolls greater distance than it flies.
The pitch shot flies a greater distance than it rolls.

Style:

Chip shots are hit with firm wrists (a one lever swing).
Pitch shots are hit with a cocking of the wrists (a two lever swing).

When to use the chip vs. pitch?

Chip:
Use the chip when your ball is near the green, but you cannot putt. Keep your wrists stiff and stroke the club like you are putting.

Pitch:
Use the pitch when there is a large expanse of turf to carry and the cup is cut close to the fringe. Height is needed on this shot, in order to reduce the roll on the green. Take the club back by cocking your wrists; this is a two lever swing.

Putting tips for success

1. Eyes over the golf ball.
2. Position the ball two inches forward of center in the stance.
3. Set the club face square to the target line.
4. Keep the body still, swing the shoulders and arms.
5. Use an accelerating stroke.
6. Be comfortable and be confident.
7. Hit the ball in the center of the putter face.

Reasons for putting trouble

1. A bad attitude.
2. A bad stroke.
3. A bad system of reading putts.
4. No pre shot routine.
5. The wrong type of putter.

Putting Drills

The Three Ball Drill:
1. Place three golf balls three feet from the hole.
2. Mark this distance with a golf tee.
3. Putt all three balls, in a row, into the hole. Follow a routine:
a. Take your time.
b. Read the line.
c. Do a practice swing before each putt.
4. If you miss one, relax and go through your routine for the next putt.
5. Once you make all three putts, in a row, move to six feet.
6. Repeat from six feet, then nine feet, then twelve feet, etc.

*This drill teaches students the importance of a pre shot routine and patience with each putt.

Lag Putt Drill:
1. Place three golf balls 30 feet from the hole.
2. Follow a routine:
a. Take your time.
b. Read the line.
c. Do a practice swing before each putt.
3. Envision the hole as large as a trash can lid.
4. Practice putting each ball to within two feet of the hole.
5. Repeat this drill from 40, 50 and 60 feet.

*This drill teaches students about distance control and helps build confidence in two putting.

Do you need a golf lesson, but cannot make time to get out to the instruction tee? No problem! If you own your own video camera and have a tripod to mount it on, then you can video tape your golf swing and send it to me. Simply send me an email and attatch your video clips. Once I get your email, the golf lesson will begin. I will open your attatchments and analyze your swing using my golf instruction computer software. I will respond to your email and video by setting you up as an adamsmithgolf member. You will get your very own username and password. This is your login to the heart of my instruction engine. You will be able to read golf instruction notes and see your swing online. All it takes is a few minutes with your own video camera on the driving range and an email to my website. I look forward to hearing from you and assisting you with your golf instruction needs!

Junior Golf Instruction, on the lesson tee.

I video taped my son, Logan Smith, age 7, early in this year's spring golf season. We had a cool, crisp afternoon hitting balls together. Later that evening, after dinner at home, I played Logan's video for him on my laptop computer. I used my computer software program to play it in slow motion, over and over for him to watch. Then, I used my "split screen" function to play his swing next to mine. We studied the similarities and differences together and made notes. My philosophy on teaching my kids has always been, "copy daddy!" I like to keep things simple for them and always make it a fun experience. Logan and my other two children, Carter and Ellie, began learning golf at age 2. They think it is a very fun thing to do with their dad. Making golf fun for kids is easy! We always have a fun time and we always learn something in the process.

By using the split screen comparison to daddy, Logan learned how to keep his backswing in a parallel position at the top and how to stay in a more seated, athletic posture during his swing. This important lesson really helped to kick start our spring and summer golf training.

One of the best ways to learn what your PGA golf professional has to say about your golf swing is to watch yourself swing on video, as your pro deconstructs your move. You can better interpret what you are told when you can see what the pro sees. I highly reccommend having a video golf lesson and watching yourself swing. Book a video lesson with me today and you can begin the exciting procss of reviewing your golf swing video and typewritten notes online at adamsmithgolf.com. After your lesson, you will receive an email within 24 hours, inviting you to the adamsmithgolf website in order to review what you learned that day. You will be given a customized username and password, for your eyes only. Enjoy your golf lesson, over and over online. Book future lessons and begin the cataloging process that helps make your golf tips easier to remember! Imagine reviewing your golf lesson from your blackberry, five minutes before you tee off. How about going over your golf game notes and watching your golf swing viedo during your work day, from your office computer? I look forward to coaching you and beginning the process of online golf instruction. Call the Salisbury Country Club golf shop at (804)794-8255, to book your golf swing viedo lesson today!

Timing is everything! The next time you go out to practice your golf swing, work on your tempo. Keep your grip soft. Take the club back slowly. Pause at the top. Begin the downswing with a the lower body starting first and a gradual building of clubhead speed towards impact. Stay down with your head and eyes as you strike the ball. Follow through and hold a balanced finish. Do not "hit" at the ball. "Swing" the club, instead. Let the equipment do the work. Say to yourself, "one-two" for tempo. "One" goes back slowly and "two" begins the downswing. Enjoy these helpful swing thoughts, as you practice TEMPO, TEMPO, TEMPO.