Tip From the Archives
Umbrella Drill
Problem
Due to poor weather conditions, you cannot practice outside.
Cure
Keep your game fresh during the off season by practicing your swing at an indoor driving range, inside your home, or swing a weighted practice club to improve your turning ability and muscle tone. Practice your putting on various carpets inside your home or on a putting mat.
Therapy
You do not have to worry about hitting the ceiling during your short game because you should not be making a full swing. Work on your low lob shots by hitting foam or wiffle golf balls into an upside down umbrella. This can be rewarding because if you miss the umbrella, the ball is more likely to have extra roll but if you hit it in, it is more likely to stay in or reduce the roll over all. If the ball is hitting the ceiling or you want to work on your full swing, try practicing indoors by going to a gym, an empty lobby, or pretty much anywhere that is open enough for you to complete a full swing without hitting anyone. Just be sure you use a mat to hit off of and soft practice balls to prevent any kind of damage.
Even if using sponge balls, it is a good opportunity to check where your balls are striking the club face. Hitting on the heel or toe of the club costs strokes and distance. I use wet chalk to on the balls and wipe the clubface with a damp sponge to ensure a 'strike' mark is visible after the stroke. A large piece of recycled cardboard will show where the ball impacts.This is excellent for ascertaining if the balls are striking the sweetspot or not. Chalk marks left on the cardboard tell of direction and trajectory. I use it every day here in North East China, as play outside is a forlorn hope at -8degC!
@Michael Henry How do you use the cardboard? Lay it out on the floor?
No Ronald, I have it on a wall in front of me. It stands about 5feet high by 3feet wide. It is execellent for showing strike marks from the sponge balls on it's surface. I wipe them off with a damp sponge. It shows me if the ball is being pulled, pushed, sliced or hooked. It also shows me if using say the 9,8,7 irons, the separation between them. I measured a steady 10cms, or 4 inches between my irons, something I had never thought about previously, but it shows the set is properly matched. Another thing I have done of late, is I found I was 'hitting at the ball' and not through it,my tempo I fealt had quickened up.The strike marks were hitting near the heel of the club. Cure? Don't ask me why but I did two things I didn't even know why. I closed my eyes after I had completed my set up and was about to commence the swing! Results, smack back in the middle of the sweetspot. Then I replicated that feeling with my eyes open. Results all 13 clubs spot on the sweet spot. With my eyes open now, at address, once I have set up, just as I am about to make my swing, I focus on a spot 1" in front of the ball. Magic. Give it a try. PS. I mark 4 spots on the equator of each ball when I finish my practice and allow it to dry until the next practice. A quick wipe over the face of the club with a damp sponge and I am ready to rock and roll. Hope this helps you as it has helped me?
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