Squash the Sponge to Start Down

Squash the Sponge to Start Down

One of the most common questions asked about the golf swing is how best to start my downswing? The change over from backswing to downswing is referred to as the transition and what most people will agree with is that...

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General Putting Thoughts

General Putting Thoughts

A lot of golfers would like to be better players, but for all those who are motivated by this a good number will not have a plan of where or how this improvement could be made. Putting is one of...

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Go Back to Your Basic Fundamentals

Go Back to Your Basic Fundamentals

Let’s start with a definition: Fundamental (adjective) - forming a necessary base or core; of central importance. At its simplest the most basic of fundamental ideas in any golf swing is the set-up position, almost every movement pattern we make...

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A Picture of Impact

A Picture of Impact

As inventions that have had a major impact on our lives the mobile smart phone will certainly rank at the top end of the list. Technology is now used in golf in many ways from equipment research and design to...

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Accuracy off the Tee

Accuracy off the Tee

Accuracy off the Tee...... How important is it? When referring to “off the tee” I mean shots hit on par 4’s & 5’s, holes that are predominantly played with longer clubs particularly the driver. On a “typical” 18 hole course...

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Build good chipping around this skill

Build good chipping around this skill

Are certain things more important than others when trying to improve our game? Using a simple example – is long driving distance more important than accuracy? Obviously this is going to depend on a good number of factors for any...

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Making a Swing Change

Making a Swing Change

Efficient technique is only one of a number of components that will produce a desirable golf shot, but for a great number of us who play the game this technique will provide the limitation of our shot shape and patterns....

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The “Governor”

The “Governor”

I was asked a question recently in relation to the distance some players hit the ball off the tee and their strength as people. The query pointed out that most of the top players in the game today appear to...

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Slowly does it – A way to change

Slowly does it – A way to change

Imagine yourself holding a pebble and another pebble is placed in your hand you will notice an increase in weight. But if you start off holding a very heavy rock you probably won’t detect an increase in weight when the...

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“Why does my ball do that?”

“Why does my ball do that?”

“Why does my ball do that?” Ultimately the efficiency of our swing movements and effectiveness of our skills will be shown up in those 400 micro seconds of the club making contact with the ball at impact. During the time...

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How to hit low shots

How to hit low shots

I was watching some of the preparations for “The Open” on TV the other day and Pádraig Harrington was being interviewed on the range and the question of “how he hits it low” was asked of him. His reply was...

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Set up your Putting

Set up your Putting

You have a putt that is about 6 feet long, dead straight and on as good a putting surface as you can have. The requirement from your putting technique is only to be able to strike the ball with enough...

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Backswing Shoulder & Hip Move

Backswing Shoulder & Hip Move

For the purpose of this article I shall reference the position of a right handed golfer. More specifically I am going to look at the position of the right shoulder and hip going into the backswing. Rotation as a general...

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Punch to go low

Punch to go low

  Golfers can spend a lot of time at the range hitting long shots trying to master their usual full swing, but it is important to remind ourselves that when playing golf we will be called upon to play a...

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What Controls Direction

What Controls Direction

How far we hit the ball and in what direction are very simply and obviously what this game is all about. However behind this simplicity can be a whole lot of complicated physiological & psychological reasoning to any individual’s golf...

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What Controls Direction

What Controls Direction

How far we hit the ball and in what direction are very simply and obviously what this game is all about. However behind this simplicity can be a whole lot of complicated physiological & psychological reasoning to any individual’s golf...

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Transition Step

Transition Step

The change over from backswing to downswing is referred to as the transition and in my experience is one of the more difficult areas of the swing to understand. In this case the understanding is not just a cognitive understanding...

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Putting Tips

Putting Tips

I have seen putting described as many different things from “the simplest part of golf” to “a game within a game”. Whatever way you see and approach putting could be completely different to your golfing buddies. Just watching golf at...

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Is Your Balance Dynamic?

Is Your Balance Dynamic?

It is widely accepted that balance is essential not just in golf, it’s a major factor in most sports, but how well do you understand the details of balance and how to apply it? Often a definition of balance is...

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Meet Paul Thompson, our Golf Professional

Meet Paul Thompson, our Golf Professional

An article on our Fellow PGA Professional at Powerscourt Golf Club, Paul Thompson recently appeared in an article in Golf 2015, a PGA publication. Below is an excerpt from the article. Background to my work as a Professional. I have...

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