Topping the Ball?
You may not be standing up. But what else causes a topped shot?

By Scott Orban, PGA Executive Professional
Following a topped golf shot, I have often heard golfers comment: “I came up on that one.”
This may be the case, but quit often this is not true. This can also be caused by an early release of the golf club prior to impact. I call this the “hit impulse” or “flipping your wrists”. This is that impulse of overusing the hands and /or wrists prior to impact thus changing the clubs depth. This can result in a fat shot, topped shot, or if your timing is perfect a good shot. Check out the video to learn how properly strike down on the ball with your irons.

Quick Tip - Translate the Slap Shot into a powerful Golf Swing
By Scott Orban, PGA Executive Professional

Do hockey players have an advantage when it comes to learning to strike a golf ball? Power and consistency may be improved if can learn from them. 

A hockey player understands that in order to shoot the puck harder the player must strike down at the ice and compress the shaft. The harder and faster the player hit's down, the harder the shot. To create this force the hockey player turns faster utilizing core strength muscles. It is not a swinging of the hands and arms which creates the power.

A similarity in a golf and hockey shot is that at the point of impact the club and stick shafts  are leaning: meaning that the hands are in front of the blade or the clubface at the point of impact. If golfers can learn this key fundamental they will be learning to utilize their core body strength to generate more speed, power and consistency. This results in better consistency because the golfer will not be trying to find the speed with their hands and arms, thus stabilizing the club face through impact.


Quick Tip - Square Clubface
By Scott Orban, PGA Executive Professional

Beginners need to know what that is. And everyone else needs to practice this.
New golfers love woods. You just set them down and they are square. The loft on the irons can throw off beginners who may be unsure of what a square club face is. The leading edge on your club and its relationship to the target line defines this.
Avid golfers also need to train their perception of the square clubface. Check out the new quick tip video and share it with a new golfer and change their game.

Greenside, heavy rough, downhill lie, close pin. Now what?

By Scott Orban, PGA Executive Professional
This situation takes a lot of confidence. A little practice would be good too. When we are this close we often want to use our Chipping technique, but with deeper rough this would be the wrong selection. You need to use you Pitch technique (this is a small version of the full swing) and commit to this. You also need to use your sand wedge and open the clubface. When you do this re-align clubface so that it is aimed at the target. Take a practice swing to convince yourself of the swing technique that you are going to use. Now go for it! Have a look at the video to get a better sense of how to accomplish this.

CTV News with Glen Campbell and Scott Orban PGA