In this initial golf tip we are going back in time to 1976. This tip comes from an article written in Golf Magazine April 1976. It was entitled Six Steps To A Fast Spring Start BUT these exercises can and should be used all year round to keep your self in "golf shape". It is our intention to give you a new golf tip every month so let's get started!

For all the following exercises a 5 iron is recommended.

EXERCISE 1 - Free Up the Muscles

Hold the club in front of your body at waist height with one hand on the grip and the other hand about 4-6 inches from the cluhead. Get into your normal stance and posture. Turn your shoulders as you would in the backswing until your bellybutton points directly away from your target. Hold this position for a count of 5. Then turn foward as you would on the swing until your midsection is facing the target. Hold for a count of 5. Do this 5-10 times each direction until you feel loose. Try to gradually extend the stretch until you are able to go both directions and your clubshaft is parallel to the target line. This is an excellent warm-up and stretching exercise. Be careful not to stretch too far in the beginning - gradually work up to the final goal.

EXERCISE 2 - Lift & Shift

Take your regular address position. Swing back as you would a regular swing But when you get half-way back lift your front foot off the ground. Complete your backswing and hold for a count of 5, standing on your back leg only. Place your front foot back on the ground and swing through to the finish position. As you reach the impact area lift your back foot off the ground so that when you finish your swing all your weight is on the fron foot. Hold the finish for a count of 5. This is an excellent drill and exercise for getting the feel of correct weight transfer.

EXERCISE 3 - Windup-Release

This exercise will get you into the correct colied-at-the-top postion. Swing to the half way point (shaft of the club parallel to the ground) and STOP. You should have been able to get into this position without lifting your arms or cocking your hands - this is called a one piece takeway and almost EVERY professional and good amateur player uses this to begin the swing. Using your upper front arm and front side (especially the big back muscle below your front shoulder) push the club back over your rear shoulder. This will take your hands out of the swing. Use these same muscles to swing through. You'll get a good feel for using the larger, stronger muscles of the swing.

EXERCISE 4 - One Hand Swings

The first step in developing the feel of the swinging action is to swing one-handed, first with the front hand and then with the back. In each case start with a 1/4 swing, back and through. Gradually progress to 1/2 then 3/4 and finally to full swings. If you're a better golfer (12 handicap or less) it would be a good idea to hit some balls with this swing. All the ahnds do in the swing is to hold the club in the correct position so you can square the clubface at impact.

EXERCISE 5 - Feet together for Rhythm

The most important gain from swinging with your feet together is that it forces you to do all the right things in order to make solid contact with the ball:

• You'll make an arm and shoulder swing rather than a hands swing .
• You'll improve your balance
• You'll improve your rhythm and tempo
• It corrects most major faults the average golfer makes
• You'll stay centered better (you're head won't move as much)

EXERCISE 6 - One foot for Balance

The one foot swing is the graduate course in true swinging motion and perfect balance. Start by resting the tip of your back foot on the ground and gradually work up to where it is off the ground. Also, strat with a 1/2 swing and gradually work up to a full swing. Address the ball directly off the foot you're standing on. Swing smooth and you'll find this drill will improve your contact tremendously!

STAY TUNED FOR NEXT MONTH'S ARTICLE!