Golf Tip - Mirror Image
by: Perry Andrisen
How 10 Minutes in Front of a Mirror Can
Improve Your Golf Fundamentals
Mirror, mirror on the wall, what do I really see after all?
The truth is in what you see, not in what you feel.
It might be raining or snowing outside where you're at, or
maybe you've been unable to play for a while for other reasons.
But that doesn't mean you can't still work on your game. So
here's what you do: get your clubs re-gripped and your loft
and lies checked. When you get your clubs back with fresh
new grips, get off to a fresh start with some basic fundamentals.
You can work on them using nothing more than a mirror and
a club.
Set up a mirror in a high-ceilinged room in your home (or
the garage, or wherever). Bring or sneak, depending on your
situation, a 6-iron into the room. The mirror will give you
an observer's perspective on your swing and set-up. Practice
the fundamentals outlined below in the mirror for 10 minutes
a day.
Go slowly and observe what you are doing in the mirror. And
every time you see something in the mirror you do not like,
say, "Thank you, mirror, for showing me what I'm really
doing." It's a kick! Especially for those of us easily
entertained.
Grip
Find a good book and try to match your grip to the
pictures in the book, based on what you see in the mirror.
Club Face
Take your grip and face the mirror. Look at the clubface
in the mirror. Is it square, open or closed?
Stance
As you sole your 6-iron on the ground, your feet
should be slightly wider than shoulder width and the left
foot (for right-handed players) flared open about 20 degrees.
Your right foot might also be flared depending on your flexibility.
The less flexible you are, the more open your right foot should
be. Your balance is 50-percent on each foot.
Ball Position
Place your club in the middle of your stance with
the ball slightly forward. With your ball position slightly
forward, your head should appear behind the ball.
Posture
Place your club behind you and along your spine.
Touch your rear end and your upper back to the club. Keeping
the club on your back, stick your butt out, and bend from
the knees and hips until your belt buckle points at the ball.
Balance on the middle of your feet (front to back, and right
to left). Then, without moving your spine, hold the club in
front of you and let your arms hang relaxed. Take your right
hand off the club and let it hang to reinforce this concept.
Take Some Swings
Facing the mirror, take five swings (careful not
to hit anything), starting with about 30-percent of your normal
effort. Before each swing, go through your pre-shot routine
and check your set-up in the mirror.
Then switch to a down-the-line view (swinging toward the
mirror). Take five more swings at about 30-percent effort.
Go through your routine and check your posture before each
swing.
After five swings with each view, increase swing speed for
several more swings. Make sure that as you swing, you maintain
the same tension on the grip from start to finish. Are you
able to swing without adjusting your grip each time, or is
the club moving in your hands? Close your eyes: How's your
balance? Do you feel in sequence? Can you tell where the clubhead
is and whether it is open or closed through impact? Is your
swing path on the correct swing plane or outside-in (a k a,
over the top)?
Swing Path
Let's say you can't feel if your swing path is correct
or incorrect ... hmmm. Maybe, just maybe, if you could see
your path you could learn to feel it. And if you could feel
it, you would be able to correct it.
Here's a great swing-path drill for those of you who swing
outside-in: Set-up as if you are going to hit the ball through
the mirror. Make a very, very slow swing and stop halfway
through the follow-through. The clubhead should appear to
cover your nose in the mirror (as in the photo). Try to accomplish
this position with several slow swings, gently stopping your
follow-through halfway through. Then, take swings watching
the blur of the club pass through your eyes (in the mirror)
on the follow-through. Note: If your head is down, you will
have no chance of seeing the path of your swing.
Ten minutes a day in front of the mirror is time you'll be
glad you spent. You'll be able to hit the ground running when
you're ready to play golf again.
About The Author
Perry Andrisen is a PGA Teaching Professional at The Bridges
Golf Club in San Ramon, California. He teaches over 2,000
lessons a year. He has previously worked at Montreux Golf
Club and Hazeltine National Golf Club. Perry has coached players
from the PGA Tour, Nationwide, Hooters, Teardrop, Spanos,
Pepsi, Dakotas, and Golden State golf tours. Among his PGA
Tour clients is his former college teammate Aaron Barber.
Perry has found a Profession that he absolutely loves, and
it shows in every lesson he gives. For more information, visit
Perry's Web site at www.perryandrisen.com.pa@perryandrisen.com
May 14, 2008