Work the Ball - Have More Fun

Golf courses were designed for players to test their skills by using water, out of bounds, trees, fairway and green side bunkers, as well as rough and elevation. Besides enjoying the outdoors, fresh air and beautiful scenery, the golfer should be tested and rewarded, based on ball striking ability to maneuver the ball around the course, and enjoy hitting fun and rewarding golf shots.

In order to do this, a player needs to learn how to work the golf ball in different directions. Whether the shot needs to go  left-to-right, right-to-left, or straight, the player who has this ability will score better, win more bets with their buddies, and have a heck of a lot more fun. This is because the player who can work the ball will have the advantage. 

Let's explain a pure fundamental of golf ball flight, which is the path of the club and the club face at impact. The impact position will make the ball fly right, left, straight or curve in both directions. The sixteen inches of path and importance, this is eight inches in front of the ball and eight inches past the ball, will have the most direct influence on the flight of the ball. Two things occur at impact -- the position of the club face can be straight or square, open or closed, and the club path can be straight, inside/out or outside/in.

John Nelson is a South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional and Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at The County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page: www.ccofcs.com.