Danny Harvanek
PGA Master Professional

PRESENTS…
FORE LADIES ONLY…

Over the years, I have worked with numerous ladies. I have identified several common problems that seem to show up. These issues are not just common with ladies starting golf but are often evident even with very accomplished players.

This brochure addresses a dozen specific issues along with a brief analysis and a practical solution for each.

1. Carrying the Club

In an effort to be careful while swinging, ladies often carry the club. This manner creates topped shots. The solution is to allow the club to hang freely in your hands and not hold up the club. Feel the weight of the club at address and during the swing.

2. Closed Clubface at Address

This is very common. This situation makes it difficult to get the ball in the air because a closed face has less loft. Also if the ball does get in the air, it goes left. Solution: grip the club off the ground so you can see the scoring lines on the face are at right angles to the ground before placing the clubface behind the ball.

3. Straight Left Arm

I think everyone has heard to keep the left arm straight. The action at address or during the swing closes the clubface. Again, this de-lofts the clubface making it difficult to get the ball in the air. The solution is flexibility at address. Then, allow the momentum of the backswing to create tautness in the left arm.

4. Exact or Perfect Address Position

This manner usually freezes the freedom of motion. One of the most difficult parts of golf is that the swing starts from a static position. When motion stops, tension sets in. The solution is after your practice swing, get on with the shot before the feel you created in the practice swing dissipates.

5. Pulling or Pushing the Club

Distance is usually an issue and in effort to get more power in the swing, quite often, EXTRA effort is induced. This effort is attempted by pulling or pushing the club during the forward swing. Once this action of pulling or pushing exists, power/speed is diminished and the path of the swing is distorted. The solution is easy to say and, quite often, difficult to achieve. That is, when the forward swing starts, LEAVE IT ALONE. This effortless power will generate greater results than you can imagine. Sometimes it is hard to convince the mind…effortless power is powerful effort.

6. Trying to Make a Perfect Swing

Sometimes it is hard to throw caution to the wind. However in effort to make the swing perfect, your personal rhythm is lost. The solution is to free swing the club over your back shoulder and then forward over the forward shoulder. Be completely responsive to the momentum generated by the weight of the club. Throw caution to the wind. You'll be surprised.

7. Attempt to Lift the Ball

The anxiety of getting the ball up is what makes the ball roll along the ground. Allow the club to swing brushing the grass and letting the loft of the club and the momentum of the swing generate ball flight.

8. Tension in the Arms and Shoulders at Address

The result of this tension is that most shots will roll on the ground. This resistance doesn't permit the club to touch the ground. You will find brushing the grass is difficult. Also when the backswing starts, the tension closes the clubface and restricts the fullness of the backswing resulting in making it very difficult to get the ball in the air. The solution is flexibility at address and during the swing. Swing the club away from the ball and feel the weight of the club while allowing the momentum to create your backswing position.

9. Change Ball Position at Address

Many ladies move the ball back in their stance as the club number gets higher. Think this out for a moment. You've selected a lofted club out of the bag and when you move the club and ball back at address, you have de-lofted the clubface. The result makes it difficult to get the ball in the air. The solution is simple; play all clubs in the center that is the bottom of the swing arc.

10. Clubface Closed in the Backswing

Often, the perception of the backswing is that when starting back you should attempt to keep the clubface facing the ball. The solution is to free swing the club away from the ball. Then check to see if the toe of the club is facing the sky at waist high in the backswing. If not, it should be.

11. Keep Your Head Down

We all have heard this more often than we can stand. This attitude restricts the forward swing and often creates topped shots to the right. Yes, keep a fixed stare on the ball but permit your eyes to follow the ball after contact. You can't look up if your eyes stay on the ball during the swing and after contact.

12. Grip is too Strong

Somewhere along the way, a teacher must have thought that ladies needed a strong grip because of a lack of strength. A strong grip closes the clubface; that makes it very difficult to get the ball up. A closed clubface creates less loft. If your grip is strong, I suggest a very, very gradual change so the hands are in a more neutral position.

"The free and easy golf swing also produces the best results, and that comes only when you remove from your mind those cluttering details which make for PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS."