Quarry One Minute Clinic: Short Game #3

What better way to start off the new year and kick-start those golf-related resolutions than with free video tutorials by PGA Professional Jim Barker! You know you're getting sound advice, too, because Mr. Barker holds the course record with a solid 64. Par is 71 at The Quarry.

Each video segment and mini golf lesson will be approximately one minute long and will include at least one key to success on while golfing.

Come out to The Quarry Golf Club and join us for one of the most unique rounds of golf you will ever experience (and apply some of the tips you'll master here).

Thanks, Jim! Jim is also the director of instruction here at The Quarry, so if you are interested in taking lessons from him, or any of our other talented instructors, call 210.824.4500.

Quarry One Minute Clinic: Short Game #1 & #2

The Quarry One Minute Clinic is a service offered to help you improve your golf game. Every week, The Quarry will upload a different video focusing on helpful techniques.

This week's segment builds on a previous segment from last month (and last year, technically) by director of instruction Jim Barker, PGA Professional. So watch them both together!

Enjoy!

SHORT GAME #1

SHORT GAME #2

Thank you Mr. Barker!

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #9

Fore Right!!!

Tips for taming that slice from Quarry Head Golf Pro Sean Etheredge

Sean Etheredge, Quarry Golf Club Head Golf Professional

Does your ball fly to the right of the target each time? Does it start right of your target and curve even further off to the right? Chances are—you suffer from a common ball flight problem called a “slice.” This means you are sacrificing both accuracy and distance in your quest to swing for the fences and outdrive your friends…Review the tips below to help banish that banana ball for good!

It is important to realize what causes the slice before we address how to fix it. This way, you can begin to understand everything you do with your grip and set-up impacts your swing, and therefore, your ball flight. Balls that slice by starting and curving right are caused by an open clubface and a path that crosses the target line.

Grip:

The first step is to check and make sure the grip is in a neutral to strong position. This means the creases formed between your thumb and index finger are pointing towards your right shoulder or just outside of it slightly. Check this in a mirror from the face-on position to be sure!

Set-Up:

In a standard alignment, you want to have the feet, hips and shoulders parallel to your intended target line. However, if you are already struggling with a slice, you need a bit more help with the path. The best way to start out feeling this is to set-up with your body lines pointed slightly right of the target. Start out by setting up parallel, then pulling your right foot, hip and shoulder about 6-8 inches away from the target line. Now when you swing along your stance line, it is aimed more from the inside to help the path, as opposed to across the target line.

The Release:

For slicers, the feeling needs to be more of letting the club head release or rotate through your downswing and into your follow through.  This means that the toe of the club must pass the heel, allowing the clubface to “square up” to hit the ball.  My favorite way to judge this is to feel like the right palm is in control. Imagine a card dealer who wipes his hand around the table laying out cards. The dealer’s palm is always facing down at the ground and rotating away from him. This is a great way to feel the rotation needed to square up the club and get those shots back on line. 

Visualization and Understanding the Concept:

To put this all together, it is sometimes easier to understand why things must happen and why they feel so different.  Well, I believe it is because most golfers try to swing “up and down a target line” instead of swinging around their bodies. When you go out to try these tips, try to imagine swinging around your body. Let the shoulders turn, let the arms swing and try to make that ball turn to the left!

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #8

Prepare yourself for windy fall conditions with the “knock-down shot”

Fall is certainly in the air this week and after Tuesday’s north-wind cold front, you might be wondering how to battle windy fall and winter conditions.

Here is a quick lesson on how to execute the lower trajectory wind shot, otherwise known as a “knock-down shot” or “punch shot.”

This shot is a favorite and a necessity among golfers wishing to score well on a windy day. The basic premise of this shot is to intentionally lower the trajectory of the ball flight in order to reduce the amount the ball spins and lifts into the breeze.

Adding this useful shot to your repertoire can save you valuable strokes in your game as it offers two things most golfers struggle with

·        solid contact and

·        control of the ball

The basic technique is as follows:

First, move the ball back in your stance. It is best to experiment with different clubs and ball positions to get the desired effect, but generally in the center of your stance is a good place to start.

Next, select one or two lower-lofted clubs than what you would actually need for the yardage (for example, choose a 7-iron instead of a 9-iron).

Lastly, the shape of the swing will be slightly shorter, as to reduce the spin here as well. Making this abbreviated backswing and follow-through helps you control the height of the shot as well as the direction.

Making these simple adjustments will help the golfer gain better control of the ball in the wind and will help to navigate those blustery autumn days.

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Thank you Sean Etheredge for this one minute clinic.

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #4

Eat right to play well!

Starve off the bogeys with my favorite game time snack!

Most golfers I know love to stop at “the turn” (between holes 9 and 10) and grab a drink or snack. Most do it out of habit or necessity, but if you’re looking to play your best, this snack should be chosen for optimal performance. Snacks for performance? Huh??

Yep, you read right. What you choose as a snack can actually help or hurt your game and, if it’s not smart, a poor choice could hinder your performance throughout your round. Sugary candies, non-filling chips or crackers, or caffeinated/ alcoholic beverages can all slow digestion, spike your insulin and/or blood sugar levels and impair your senses! Good luck with that tee shot on #18 under those conditions!

For the best results with your in-round snacking, try to keep the portions in manageable sizes. Combine proteins, simple or complex carbs and a little healthy fat. My choice? PB&J on whole wheat bread with a thin layer of granola. It’s a simple recipe you can throw together or grab at the turn. The whole wheat bread is a nice, slow-digesting complex carb for energy, while the jelly provides some sweetness with a touch of sugar. The peanut butter (or almond butter if you’re feeling super healthy) provides some healthy fats and the granola gives it a nice crunch. Cut it in half and you can eat ½ before and ½ at the turn. Bring on those birdies!!

This One Minute Clinic Brought to you by: Sean Etheredge, Quarry Head Golf Pro.

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #1

The Quarry is here to help you improve your golf game (as well as provide you with entertainment, beautiful banquet facilities & casual dining). 

So every week be on the look out for advice from The Quarry with tips and tricks to improve your game. Tips are provided by our very own Head Golf Professional, Sean Etheredge, PGA.

This Week's Tip:
It's a scorcher out there! Make sure you are being safe while enduring the last few weeks of the hottest days of summer. Two great ways to keep your game on point while giving a nod to your health are:

1) controlling your body temp

2) staying hydrated

Don't wait until the third hole to start drinking water; by then it's too late. Try this: I pop two Nuun tabs in a water bottle and start drinking it a couple of hours before. If it's really hot, I sometimes use a couple more tabs during the round to stay ahead of the heat. They are great; like sugar-free Gatorade, so no crash!

Also, use plenty of sunscreen and a chilled Frog Togg towel to cool off your head and neck between shots. In addition to making you feel cooler, it might even make the bad shots feel less painful.

You can check out the Pro Shop for these beat the heat products and more. Stay hydrated!

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Thanks Sean! Be on the lookout for more advice coming your way via this blog every week.

Want tailored advice for your game? Call the Pro Shop and schedule a golf instruction appointment with one of our instructors: Sean Etheredge, Jim Barker or Carla Spenkoch. 210.824.4500.

E-mail Courtney Lewis with specific questions you'd like addressed in The Quarry One Minute Clinic.