Golf Tips from the Pro

In order to play Royal St. Patrick’s Golf Links effectively, you must find a way to keep the ball low and under the wind. The key to an effective knockdown is understanding the physics of what causes a ball to rise. The harder you swing, the more the ball spins, and the higher it goes. All good knockdown shots have less spin than your standard strike. Choose one or two more clubs than you would typically use from your given distance. This subconsciously forces you to make a more gentle swing. Choke down slightly and position the ball towards the back of your stance. This naturally puts less loft on the clubface at impact, which assists with a lower trajectory. Now make a three quarter swing, with 75% effort. The result should be a low running shot, void of the usual backspin that would cause the ball to rise. Controlling trajectory and spin are the keys to shooting good scores.