Bloody Sand Bunkers

I can't believe how many times over the years I have heard the cry "bloody sand bunkers" from a golfing partner after a poor bunker shot. Sand play is elementary physics. I was never a science whiz at school, but I learned enough to know that if you push the sand beneath the ball in the correct manner it will transfer your energy and lift the ball in the way you want it to fly.

Let me give you an example: think about splashing around in a pool. When you want to splash someone way on the other side of the pool, you whisk your palm across the top of the water with a flat skimming motion, creating a long, low splash.

When you want to splash some close to you, you slap down on a sharp angle onto the water for a high cresting splash. Picture your golf ball riding the tops of those splashes and you will have a good idea of the basic forces at work in bunker play.

Instead of water, your ball rides out on the sand and instead of using your hand you have used the golf club.

Be good and safe into Christmas and the New Year,
See you at the 19th hole.

By Bruce Smith - BruceSmithGolf.com

Photo by Simonecwb

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Golfers who stand up the best to the pressures of the game face the same fears and doubts as you and me. The difference is the Pros have learnt and practised the mechanisms to best deal with these pressures.

Dr Brian Hemmings (leading sports psychologist and big help to yours truly) says, there is a phrase in psychology called the “IRONIC” process. This means we think about the things we fear most at the times when we least want to think about them.

It is important to realize this process is a natural one. Golfers who have thoughts and feelings of doubt think this represents a frailty in themselves in pressure moments. This is NOT the case. Accepting this is the first step in starting to feel COMFORTABLE when you’re UNCOMFORTABLE.

Players who deal well with PRESSURE experience the same doubts as those who do not. The difference is the ones who deal well with pressure shift their focus to what the next shot demands.

To cope with the fear, “STAY” with the shot at hand and not focus on the consequences of what may go wrong.

REMEMBER it’s all about getting “COMFORTABLE being UNCOMFORTABLE”.

See you at the 19^th Hole.

By Bruce Smith - Brucesmithgolf.com

Bruce’s Top Five Stroke Savers

1. Par 4’s and 5’s are not automatically a driver from the tee. Check the dangers left and right i.e. out of bounds fences or markers, dams, creeks, hazards and bunkers that may come into play if you hit the Driver. These hazards can be taken out of play by using a 3 or 5 wood or maybe even a long iron. Remember to keep the ball in play.
2. When chipping, keep the ball as low to the ground as possible. I.e. don’t automatically use a wedge or sand iron, this club selection leaves little room for error. Choose an 8 or 9 iron - Remember the quicker you can get the ball down on the putting surface and rolling the better.
3. Get to know how far you can hit each club without forcing the shot or swinging too hard. Eg. the pitching wedge- 95 metres, the 9 iron -105 metres, the 8 iron -115 metres and so on. Remember to swing within yourself, allow for outside agencies such as the wind, and allow 2 to 3 clubs extra if hitting into a strong the wind.
4. How do you practice? Just smashing a bucket of balls with the driver at the practice range will not do much to improve your game. Most pro’s spend more than 70% of their practice time on their short game, chipping, putting and bunker shots etc. Remember over 70% of the game of golf happens within 100 metres of the putting green.
5. If you can manage to hit 12-13 greens in regulation you have had a reasonable day. This will leave you with 5 or 6 times you will have to get up and down to save par or play to your handicap.The short game is so important!  Remember “Hit for show, putt for dough” an oldie but a goody.

If the above tips fail to help, Remember look on the bright side, there is always the 19^th hole to look forward to.

By Bruce Smith - BruceSmithGolf.com

Golf Tips: Chipping

I see many amateurs waste a lot of shots around the green. Remember when chipping, do not let your wrists break down during the impact area of the shot. Most good chippers of the ball use a "break and block" type of action i.e a slight hinge of the wrists on the backswing, holding this position of the wrists on the downswing and after impact. This means after the ball is hit, the position of the club face will be square to the hole and not closed or rolled left. Remember: position hands slightly ahead of the ball at address for a nice crisp chip shot.

Good golfing and enjoy the 19th.

By Bruce Smith - BruceSmithGolf.com

First blog post/my new website!

Welcome to my blog! I must admit I am not the most technically savvy bloke, but everyone's doing this, right?!

My first blog post is attributed to the construction of my new website - www.brucesmithgolf.com. It is currently under construction and its basic form should be online within the next few days. From there you will be able to keep up with the latest news on all things golf - from booking lessons or coaching clinics with me, to other valuable online resources to improve your game.

Here is a little preview of my site:



I look forward to establishing my online presence and conversing with golfers from around Sydney, Australia, or any other big place!

By Bruce Smith - BruceSmithGolf.com