Golf instruction: Where to position your ball when you putt

Here’s how to position your ball when you putt.

Many golfers struggle with putting, and often times this can be resolved with proper ball alignment in the setup. It’s common to think that the putting stroke is the root of the problem, but where you are striking the ball in the stance can really shake up your putting.

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This week, Golfweek‘s Averee Dovsek explains a simple tip to help position your golf ball properly in your stance. This will keep you from hitting behind it or chasing the ball and keeping your club face square.

If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.

If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.

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Golf instruction: How to gain more clubhead speed

Let’s hit bombs.

Most golfers are on the hunt to gain more clubhead speed. We know that increased clubhead speed generally means more distance on the course — and who doesn’t want to hit it farther? There are a lot of key components to hitting bombs, but your hands, arms and wrists do the majority of the work.

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This week, Golfweek‘s Averee Dovsek explains what she does to improve and increase her clubhead speed when practicing for competitions and in her improvement season. Hint: it’s all about repetitions and building confidence.

If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.

If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.

Golf instruction: Tips to play better golf in cold weather

Averee Dovsek explains what she does when temperatures are low when it comes to club selection, layering and being prepared.

Temperatures are dropping in various parts of the country and winter is finally upon us. If you are lucky enough to sneak in a round during the chillier months, there are a few key tips that could help keep you warmer and playing better.

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This week, Golfweek‘s Averee Dovsek explains what she does when temperatures are low when it comes to club selection, layering and being prepared.

If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.

If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.

Check out some cold weather pieces:

Adidas Full-Zip Vest – $110

Chervò Walda beanie – $77

FootJoy Beanie – $30

Golf instruction with Steve Scott: Keep your hips and hands together

Activate the lower body first to find more fairways.

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Steve Scott, Golfweek’s director of instruction, is back once again at Sleepy Hollow Country Club just north of New York City, this week with a tip to hit more fairways.

Most amateur golfers, in an effort to add more distance off the tee, swing primarily with the upper body. Now, what does this cause in the golf swing? Most of the time, this move will result in an over-the-top action, producing huge pulls or a ball flight that closely resembles that delicious yellow fruit.

How do you fix it? Scott explains his “hips and hands together” swing thought, and how the feeling of your hips firing, then your hands, can get your swing back on plane.

“We always want this lower body to turn out of the way first,” said Scott, “and that allows the upper body to follow suit.”

Watch the full video above.

Coronavirus and golf: Don’t forget extra water if you’re heading to the course

Golf courses might not be providing one of the keys to being able to play in the heat: Water.

After one of the milder springs in several years – a mild spring that added to the frustration of golfers who might not be have been allowed to play golf – things are starting to really warm up across the country.

People have been longing to get on golf courses that had been closed because of coronavirus. And as of the week ending April 26, 58 percent of U.S. courses were open, based on a survey of more than 1,200 courses. That’s up from 49 percent open the week before.

However, here’s something to consider if you’re heading back to the links —  golf courses might not be providing one of the keys to being able to play in the heat: Water.

Restrictions on golf courses that allowed them to reopen have caused some courses to change the way they do business. In some cases, that includes taking water coolers off of carts and not providing larger water cooler on the courses. It’s a way to make sure there is less contact with other people, just as taking rakes out of bunkers mean people aren’t touching and sharing rakes.

Lee Westwood wipes away sweat during a golf tournament.

But in the heat of the summer golfers need access to cold water or ice to stave off the heat. Hydration is perhaps the key element in being able to play in the warmer areas like Arizona, Texas and the California desert during June, July or August.

So golfers are going to have to be smarter about hydrating in the coming weeks than they have in the past. They are going to have to bring their own water in many cases. It’s important to call the golf courses you will be playing to see what is and isn’t available. If they don’t have water coolers on their carts, make sure they let you bring your own.

And hydrating before getting to the course will be important, too. Most people don’t do this, but having water before you even get to the course makes it easier throughout the round to stay hydrated.

There are other things to remember as you scurry back to the golf course to get in those precious rounds golfers were missing in March and April. For instance:

1. Sunscreen: Scorching temperatures can cause a lot of skin troubles, including skin cancer. And the sun can turn your skin into leather pretty fast. Sunscreen is practically mandatory. You can pick your own protection number, though most people will tell you 30 SPF should be a bottom line.

2. Other precautions: Yes, this seems obvious, but wearing a hat helps. It keeps the sun off of your face and neck a bit (if you are wearing the right hat), and it will make you more comfortable. Another tip is to keep a cold towel around (perhaps in a cooler). Toss that towel around your neck two or three times a round and you’ll be amazed at the cooling effect.

3. Play early, if possible: The heat of the day is at 2 or 3 p.m., and in some areas, you can’t be on the golf course then. If you play at 7 a.m., you can get around in three hours and not have to face the crushing heat of the day.

4. Don’t be stupid: A round of golf is not worth your life or worth even short-term damage to your health. If you feel dizzy or can’t focus or you notice you’ve stopped sweating, get in your cart and get off the course immediately. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real things, and you shouldn’t risk either of them for a round of golf.

So stay off the course if you can’t follow those simple rules. And remember that better playing conditions are on their way … eventually.

Larry Bohannan is golf writer for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, where it can get awfully warm. He can be reached at larry.bohannan@desertsun.com. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at Sun.@Larry_Bohannan.

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