SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PUTTING/CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL

SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PUTTING/CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL

SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION WHAT IS NEEDED? Golf balls: Either 10 modified golf balls or 10 real golf balls per golfer Clubs: Either a modified game putter or a real putter sized properly for each golfer Other: Marker cones for safety Alignment aids, such as H cards, canes and straight-edged timber pieces SESSION PLAN 1 Demonstrate correct body alignment using an H card (see p53). Focus on the importance of lining up to the target 2 Golfers go to their chipping stations (coach to set up prior to the session) and practice lining up using their H cards. Coach to observe and offer advice. Golfers take 10 shots each, checking their alignment each time aiming for set target 3 Bring golfers together; introduce and demonstrate the importance of keeping lower body still when chipping and body when putting 4 Demonstrate chips with non target foot off ground (toe on floor) 5 Golfers return to chipping stations and practice this then alternate with both feet on ground in regular position 6 Finally, golfers to play 5 shots each aiming for targets with full set up. Start off with golfers making some practice chips. Ask them to think about how they swing and whether they stay still. 7 Demonstrate a good putting stroke with head and knees still; head stays still until after the ball has been struck (see p53) 8 Golfers go to their putting stations with H cards in pairs (coach sets up prior to session) and take 10 practice swings concentrating on keeping their head and knees still. One golfer putts, the other watches head and knees. 9 Golfers to then spend 5 minutes taking practice putts (3 feet) rotate them around putting stations twice to give them different targets. Again work in pairs with one observer. 10 Increase the distance of the putts after 5 minutes if appropriate (give different challenges to better putters). KEY TEACHING POINTS Keep the head still Rock the shoulders Keep knees still 52

SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SWING The lower half of the body acts as a steady base. All the movement comes from the shoulders rocking the arms and putter back and forth. The length of the swing should be roughly the same both back and through. The length of the swing together with a smooth repetitive speed should govern the distance the ball rolls. The direction is mainly controlled by the position of the clubface at impact, as well as the direction the clubhead is travelling in. Develop the feel have your student put their palms together in a praying position, and move the triangle back and forth in a pendulum like fashion. RULE & ETIQUETTE Rule: Lifting and cleaning the ball on the putting green. Etiquette: Who plays first? (Order of play) 53

PUTTING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SHARP SHOOTER ACTIVITY Place sets of cones (short distance apart) around the putting area. Players attempt to score a goal by putting the ball between the cones as they make their way around the green. The game can be played individually or in small teams with players taking alternate shots. See how many goals players can score in a certain amount of time. 54

PUTTING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SHARP SHOOTER EQUIPMENT Marker cones Putters Balls SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Ensure only putting stroke is used KEY TEACHING POINTS Keep the head still Rock the shoulders Keep knees still EASIER Make the goals wider Decrease the number of goals HARDER Make the goals narrower Increase the number of goals 55

CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION ARTILLERY COMMAND ACTIVITY Split players into 2 teams. Set up two target bases a suitable distance from the hitting area. Players attempt to shell the opposition s target base by landing a ball in their area. The team who has landed the most balls in the opposition s target base at the end of the game is the winner. SAFE ZONE 56

CHIPPING: ALIGNMENT & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION ARTILLERY COMMAND EQUIPMENT Marker cones 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 Club should be swung no higher than waist height KEY TEACHING POINTS Keep the head still Rock the shoulders Keep knees still EASIER Make target bases bigger Move closer to the target bases HARDER Make target bases smaller Move further away from the target bases 57

SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL SESSION PLAN 1 Ask golfers what they did differently when they had to hit a longer chip/putt? 2 Golfers to return to their putting stations and try hitting longer putts. First try hitting harder, second swinging faster and third bigger swings. 3 Ask golfers which worked best (should be bigger swings) 4 Demonstrate how bigger swings work by rolling balls golfers to watch your arm swing and see how far the ball rolls 5 At putting stations, golfers to try practice swings with longer backswing and follow-throughs 6 Golfers each to aim for three different targets (10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet) with three consecutive balls using increased back and through swing 7 Repeat for golfers to develop a feel for the length coach observes KEY TEACHING POINTS Long swing (clock face 8-4) Body still Chipping Weight 70% on target foot Short swing (clock face 7-5) 58

SESSION 5 PUTTING/CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL HOMEWORK How high do your hands go back and through on a full swing? How does your body move when putting/chipping? 59

PUTTING: DISTANCE CONTROL SNOOKER ACTIVITY Split players into small teams. Place a line of markers to represent the different colours of snooker balls with red being placed closest to the target. Starting from red the first player attempts to putt the ball in the target, if successful they then play from a colour and the points they get depends on the colour yellow 2, green 3 etc. The player keeps alternating between red and colours until they miss and their total number of points is calculated. SAFE ZONE 60

PUTTING: DISTANCE CONTROL SNOOKER EQUIPMENT Marker cones (or different colour objects to represent the snooker balls) Putters Balls SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area Ensure only putting stroke is used KEY TEACHING POINTS Long swing (clock face 8-4) Body still Short swing (clock face 7-5) EASIER Use larger target Decrease the distance between markers HARDER Use smaller target Increase the distance between markers 61

CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL GRAND NATIONAL ACTIVITY Split players into small teams. Set out a series of jumps using marker cones in the practice area. After a player clears a jump the next player in the team attempts to clear the next jump. The first team to clear all the jumps is the winner. SAFE ZONE 62

CHIPPING: DISTANCE CONTROL GRAND NATIONAL EQUIPMENT Marker cones 6,7 or 8 iron Balls (softer sponge balls for players who struggle to get the ball SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area Club should be swung no higher than waist height KEY TEACHING POINTS Long swing (clock face 8-4) Body still Chipping Weight 70% on target foot Short swing (clock face 7-5) EASIER Reduce the number of jumps Increase the distance between jumps Allow players to move on after a certain number of failed attempts HARDER Increase the number of jumps Reduce distance between jumps Team starts again once a jump has been missed 63