FULL SWING: REINFORCING HOLD FULL SWING: PRESHOT ROUTINE
FULL SWING: REINFORCING HOLD WHAT IS NEEDED? Practice area at course, spare or unused fairway at the course, driving range, local park Golf balls: Minimum 20 real golf balls per golfer Clubs: 2 out of appropriate size 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8-iron per golfer Other: Marker cones for safety; ample stock of golf tees, alignment aids such as H cards, canes and straight-edged timber pieces SESSION PLAN 1 Ask all golfers to demonstrate the hold that they have learnt to date. The coach asks - Where on the club do the hands hold the club? Where the hands go? Where the thumbs are positioned? How tight the club is held? Where the V s point? 2 They should show the 10 fingered baseball hold check this. If some of the golfers hold it by the interlock or overlap method check that their hands/thumbs are in a good position and encourage them to continue holding the club that way. 3 Golfers go to hitting stations (coach to set up prior to the session) and hit shots using baseball (or their interlock/overlap) hold. Award points for each of the 5 coaching point answers the group gave (to the questions above) to encourage the golfers to repeat the same hold for each shot. Get the golfers to try different clubs awarding bonus points if the ball passes a set distance. 4 Using their favoured grip, golfers return to hitting stations and hit 20 balls to set target check grip positions for each golfer; reinforce coaching points. KEY TEACHING POINTS Reinforce thumbs, V s and knuckles 124
FULL SWING: REINFORCING HOLD EXAMPLE OF A ROUTINE FOR TAKING THE HOLD V s point between the chin and non target shoulder Thumbs positioned slightly to each side RULE & ETIQUETTE Rule: Markers responsibilities, using scorecards, local rules Etiquette: The awareness of others on the course. 125
FULL SWING: REINFORCING HOLD A GAME OF TWO HALVES ACTIVITY Mark out a line of cones a suitable distance down the practice area. Split the players into small groups. Players select a shorter iron and make a full swing and attempt to hit 3 balls before the line of cones. Then players take a mid-iron or wood and attempt to hit 3 balls past the line of cones. SAFE ZONE 126
FULL SWING: REINFORCING HOLD A GAME OF TWO HALVES EQUIPMENT Marker cones Clubs 4,5,6,7 or 8 iron Balls SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area KEY TEACHING POINTS Reinforce thumbs, V s and knuckles EASIER Bring the line of cones closer HARDER Move the line of cones further away Players must hit 3 shots in a row before and after the lines of cones to complete the game 127
FULL SWING: PRESHOT ROUTINE SESSION PLAN 1 In pairs golfers to think about and agree the sequence of moves that they make to address the ball. 2 Ask each pair to say one thing they do and then agree a sequence within the group explain why this routine is useful and important use your influence as coach to ensure the right sequence is agreed. 3 Go through the sequence with group to ensure all understand. 4 Golfers go to hitting stations to try out the agreed sequence hit 5 shots with coach calling out the routine; golfers then hit 10-20 shots themselves. 5 Bring group together to address any points/ questions and explain that this is a pre-shot routine and is important to prepare golfers for each shot. 6 Golfers return to hitting stations to practice in their own time. At the conclusion of this session, coach should encourage golfers to go away and practice their full swing on the driving range with a variety of clubs before the next session. If appropriate, a coach (or club), could facilitate an additional practice session on the range before the next formal coaching session to help the young golfers practice in a safe environment. KEY TEACHING POINTS Aim the clubface to the target Align the body like a railway track Pick a target to aim at 128
FULL SWING: PRESHOT ROUTINE Aim clubface at right angles to the target Pick a target to aim at Feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to the ball to target line. (railway track) HOMEWORK What are the differences between putting and chipping? What things are the same? 129
FULL SWING: PRESHOT ROUTINE GREEN HUNTER ACTIVITY Split players into 3 teams. Set up hitting tees a suitable distance from a green or target area. One player in each team hits their shot towards the target, the closest ball is awarded 5 points, the next 3 points and the furthest ball 1 point. Each team plays 10 balls and keeps their score. 5 points 3 points 1 point SAFE ZONE 130
FULL SWING: PRESHOT ROUTINE GREEN HUNTER EQUIPMENT Marker cones Clubs 4,5,6,7 or 8 iron Balls Flag/Target SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area KEY TEACHING POINTS Aim the clubface to the target Align the body like a railway track EASIER Move the target closer to the hitting area HARDER Move the target further away from the hitting area Introduce hazards in the practice area and deduct teams points for landing in them 131