On The Tee with Hank Johnson

YOUR OFF SEASON PROGRAM
Segment one in a series
Step one
Do an honest review of the past season.
What things were good? What things were not so good? This review must be based on accurate data, just like an accurate Profit and Loss statement on a business. You just can’t depend on instinct or memory.
I encourage all of my students to use Shot by Shot and require my tournament players to use the system. It is very reasonably priced, easy to use, accurate and compares results against a large data base.
www.shotbyshot.com or www.dewsweepersgolfshow.com
Your data is broken down into facets.
PUTTING
CHIPPING/PITCHING
SAND
LONG GAME
You are actually assigned a handicap for each facet. This gives you a real world basis for developing your off season plan. I sit down with my students and review their data. This becomes the basis for their off-season improvement program.
The bottom line is simple: If you really want to improve your golf performance next year, START RIGHT NOW!

Wedges
Controlling Trajectory
Segment Five in a Series.
Trajectory Control
If you have good technique and a consistent low point for your swing, you can control trajectory on your wedge shots by adjusting your ball position before you swing. The general concept is as follows: The more up toward your front foot you position the ball, the higher the trajectory of the resulting shot. Conversely, the farther back toward your rear foot you position the golf ball , the lower the trajectory of the resulting shot.
The low point of your swing should occur as the club head passes your front foot. This means that a bit inside your front heel is as far forward as you should position the ball. You can move the ball back in your stance until it’s even with the inside of your back foot but that’s about the limit. As you move the ball back you may need to open your stance slightly as a rear ward ball position tends to cause the ball to start more to the right.
Another note to keep in mind: Moving the ball forward or back in the stance dictates the amount of angle in the back of the right wrist and therefore the toward the target lean of the club shaft. This controls the loft of the club face and therefore the trajectory of the shot. You must leave this angle in the back of your right wrist to get the predicted trajectory. Any release of this angle will result in a scooping motion with the club face and give you inconsistent trajectories from shot to shot.
Now you have a great set of wedges and advice on how to use them. Go out and do the work required to be a Great Wedge Player!
Hank Johnson, PGA