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ALSO IN THIS SECTION
Yoga for golf:This month, we learn how to do the Surya Namaskaar, the most complete set of exercise known to humankind, and how it helps your golf.
Going hi-tech:We are doing something completely different this month — giving you the low-down on hi-tech equipment on the golf course.
50 56 60Tuition:In an exclusive to ME Golfer, Dubai-based Asian Tour pro Yasin Ali gives you some top tips on how to improve your chipping — from the right set-up to drills.
APRIL 2009 Middle East Golfer 49
50 Middle East Golfer APRIL 2009
RAISEYOURGAME
Chipping away your problemsI have played with many amateurs who can actually hit
the ball a country mile off the tee, but their chipping and
pitching are so inconsistent, they are just not able to put
up a good score.
If I have to rank the usefulness of each and every shot
on the golf course, I’d say chipping and pitching is the
second most important area of your game after putting.
The three most common mistakes I see are wrong
Jebel Ali touring pro Yasin Ali shares basic tips on how to become better around the greens
set-up, distance control and lack of creativity around the
green. While the first two are self-explanatory, what I mean by
lack of creativity is that most amateur would either head
straight for their sand wedge/pitching wedge, or, at the most,
their putters because they are not very confident of playing
the chip shot.
This month, I have tried to give you some basic tips on
improving this extremely important aspect of the game.
RIGHT: Instead, what you need to do is keep almost 60 per cent of your weight on the left leg. This will help your club get under the ball better, and hence stop the chances of skulling it.
WRONG: Many amateurs tend to either evenly distribute their weight on both legs, or even shift it towards the right because they feel they can get the ball airborne better.
SET-UP
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That would be the easiest thing to do.
If you can practice for 24 hours a day,
you’d definitely become a better
player. But if you can’t practice round
the clock, at least you can practice
like the clock. Believe me, this is one
of the best drills to improve your
distance control with the wedges.
Imagine your hands to be the hands
of a clock. Now hit your wedge shots
stopping your hands at the 9 o’clock
position, and completing the follow
through at the 3 o’clock position.
Once you have hit a few shots this
way, take your backswing to the 10
o’clock position, and finish at the 2
o’clock position. Finally, try the
complete swing. Of course, do try the
8 o’clock to 4 o’clock as well, and the
dainty 7 to 5.
With every different swing, keep an
eye on the distance you carry with
both the sand wedge and the pitching
wedge.
Practice around the clock...
APRIL 2009 Middle East Golfer 53
RAISEYOURGAME
THROW IN THE TOWEL!
Obviously, each of us
understand that the pitching
wedge will get more run on
the green than a sand wedge
because of the lower
trajectory. Once you have the
right set-up (remember: 60
per cent of your weight on
the left leg), practice hitting
balls in such a manner that
they drop on a towel placed
near the hole.
Try doing this drill till you hit
five balls out of five on the
towel. Your chipping would
have improved dramatically.
Well…I mean you do that literally. When you are close to the green, the most important part of the chip shot is where you land the ball.
STROKE DRILLS
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RAISEYOURGAME
BE CREATIVE
And not only that, there are times when you have to hit
the ball in technically incorrect fashion to get the best
result. I have even seen players coming out of the
bunkers with a putter.
The one problem amateurs have is when the ball has
come to rest against the fringe of the green. Putting it
out from there is not always the best option as the grass
behind the ball can hinder the backswing of your putter,
or get in between the ball and the putterhead.
Try these two different clubs when you are next against the fringe:
When you are near the green, you can use almost any club in your bag for chipping – right from the traditional sand wedge, to the driver.
FAIRWAY WOODThe fairway wood will give you a much better contact with the ball, and because it has more loft than a putter, it will also help your ball skip across the first cut of the green.
WEDGEThe shot is called ‘Belly Wedge’. You basically use the wedge and try to hit the equator of the ball, better known as its belly. This is an easy shot and one that I frequently play when in similar situation. The execution is almost like a putting stroke. I would definitely recommend practicing this shot before you try it on the course.
RAISEYOURGAME
56 Middle East Golfer APRIL 2009
YOGAFOR OVERALL STRENGTH, FLEXIBILTY & ENERGY!
In this month’s article, we learn about Surya Namaskaar – or Sun Salutation. Surya Namaskaar is a more than 5,000-year-old exercise routine, and even today, it is the most complete workout known to mankind. Surya Namaskaar improves flexibility and cardiovascular capacity, enhances strength of the whole body and re-energises the practitioner through the balance of the body’s chakras (energy centres).
STEP 1
Stand straight, feet •
together, palms joined
in front of your chest.
Breathe normally.•
STEP 2
Inhale, keep palms •
together and bend
back,
Stretch your arms over •
your head.
STEP 3
Exhale and bend •
forward.
Place palms on floor •
and head on knees.
Keep knees straight.•
STEP 4
Inhale, take right leg •
back and bend other
knee.
Arch back and look •
up.
1 2 3
4
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5 6
7 8
9STEP 5
Exhale, take left leg back. •
Keep body straight, toes tucked in and •
fingers pointing forward. Body weight
should be balanced on toes & palms.
STEP 6
Hold breath, drop knees, then chest and •
chin to floor. Keep hips raised as shown.
STEP 7
Inhale and stretch body upwards. •
Straighten elbows, arch back look up.•
STEP 8
Exhale, push back on arms, raise hips. •
Tuck chin towards chest, look at navel. •
Keep heels flat on floor.•
STEP 9
Inhale and bring left leg forward, arch •
back and look up.
In subsequent rounds, alternate between •
left and right leg in steps 4 and 9.
HOW IT HELPS YOUR GOLFFor the modern-day golfer, all these benefits are necessary. In
fact, Surya Namaskaar has helped many professional golfers
and sportspeople improve their body’s functioning, and more
importantly, their ability to deal with stress. Since the science
of yoga in general, and Surya Namaskaar in particular, works
with an understanding of the body’s energy fields, its effect is
one of recovery and rejuvenation.
Go on to learn and adopt this centuries-old exercise into
your daily routine. You need to practice a minimum of 11
rounds daily and soon you’ll find a complete transformation
in your energy levels throughout the day. The best time is to
practice early in the morning while facing the rising sun, but if
that is not possible, then practising at any time will also help.
Enjoy Yoga! Enjoy Golf!
RAISEYOURGAME
58 Middle East Golfer APRIL 2009
Manish Pole is the Director of Instruction at Yoga-for-Sports, which is a one-of-its-kind sports fitness and well being initiative founded by Dubai-based Alok Khanna dedicated to the various sports disciplines. The Yoga-for-Golf clinics are created by Yoga Guru - Bharat Thakur, and are taught at leading golf clubs in the UAE. To find out more, contact: [email protected], or text Y4G to 050 3641613
STEP 10
Bring right leg forward, stand upright, exhale and bend forward, placing •
palms on floor.
STEP 11
Inhale, keep palms together and bend back, stretching arms over head.•
STEP 12
Exhale and come back to position 1.•
10
11
12