PGA Golf Professional Brad Hauer offers a video golf lesson on how to hit a long iron better by maintaining your posture throughout the golf swing. To prevent losing power in your golf swing, golfers must maintain their posture.  When golfers lose their posture, there is a tendency to lift up and straighten the knee. Envisioning yourself as a discus thrower will allow the golfer to better maintain their posture and maximize power.

Some of Brad's simple golf thoughts can help you swing a golf club and hit your long irons better.  Currently, Brad is the Director of Golf at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida.

I’m often asked how to hit a down hill shot, especially after our members play the Conservatory.  As you know, the Conservatory can be very challenging with the down hill, up hill, and side hill lies.  For today’s tip, let’s get started with how to hit a down hill shot on the golf course, which I believe gives people the most trouble. 

Posture and stance are very key to the success of this shot.  Our overall goal is to make your body feel LEVEL to the slope of the ground throughout the whole swing, even beginning in the set up.  First, take a little wider stance so that you can keep your balance easier.  Next, feel the overall weight of your body positioned more towards the front leg.  You will have the sensation that you are slightly open to your target.  In regards to club selection, choose a club that is one less, so in other words, if the shot requires a 7 iron, hit an 8 iron.  The downward nature of the slope will automatically take off loft of the club you select.  The shaft of the club should feel as if it is leaning forward.

Are you struggling with your chip shots?  Are you finding yourself hitting way behind the ball or sculling the ball over the green?   These miss hits can totally destroy your confidence and cause your frustration levels to rise.  There is an easy fix and it can be corrected with just a few of the following key tips.

First, we must identify and understand the problem and the reason why this happens. These miss hits are a result of improper positioning with your weight and improper positions your head and spine.  To better clarify, please refer to the following photos and you will be able to see what an incorrect and correct position would be at set up and at the impact position.  The incorrect photo shows a set up with my weight favoring the right side of my body with the spine and head tilted back to the right.  This position will increase your chances to hit behind the ball or to come up and catch the middle of the ball with the club head resulting in a sculled shot.

Getting into the correct backswing position is very critical for hitting a great golf shot.  If you are inconsistent and find yourself either pulling the ball and/or blocking your golf shot to the right, you may want to try this golf tip. 

At the completion of your backswing, feel like you are holding a tray in your right hand.  By doing so, you will create the proper rotation of the arms that will allow you to have a square clubface at the top of your backswing.  A square club at the top of the backswing equals a square clubface at impact as well.  This position will increase your chances of hitting your ball more on target.  This is an excellent tip to feel the correct position at the top of the backswing.  When people get into a rut where the ball is going way left or right, it’s because they are either in a closed position or open position at the top of their back swing.  Holding the tray is a great way to feel the correct backswing position and this is a tip that is easy to take onto the golf course.