CRAIG BUTFOY
LADIES GOLF TUITION
Informational Website

CONTENTS

CRAIG'S TIPS

Contact Craig

Tuition Programme

Craig's Tips

This site is best viewed using Microsoft Internet Explorer. Click below to download your free copy.

Click here to visit
SURREY JUNIOR GOLF
for the best in junior golf tuition

Below you will find some guidance notes for various types of golf shots. At the end of the list are some of the basic rules and types of play which have been summarised. Try to remember the basic rules for each shot and this should help you to achieve the best results.

Click on the hyperlinks below to find the type of shot you need guidance on, then click on INDEX to return to the top of the page.

The Golf Swing Basic Set Up	Tee Shots & Woods	Putting	Greenside Bunkers	Fairway Bunkers
Pitching	Chipping	Rough Shots	Fairway Woods	Playing the Ball Low with Distance
Putting - Sloping Lies	Plugged Lies	Types of Lies	Types of Play	Swing Paths & Shot Making
Rules & Etiquette

Type of Shot	The Golf Swing Basic Set Up
Aim	The position of the club face.	Bottom edge of the club needs to be pointing straight at target. Pick a spot just in front of the ball to aim over.
Grip	Hand position.	Left hand first. Right hand second. Thumb sits left.
Posture	Position of your body, spine angle and distance from ball.	Stand up straight with the club parallel to the ground and tip forward from the waist until the club touches the floor. This is now the distance to stand from the ball and from the ground.
Stance	Feet position.	Feet position parallel. Shoulder width apart.
Body Alignment		The aim of shoulders, hips and toes parallel to the aim of the club face.
Ball Position	The position of the ball in relation to your feet.	7 to SW in middle of feet every other club half a ball width closer to left heel. Woods - opposite inside left heel.
Hints	Stand behind the ball and pick a closer target on the floor aiming at the hole a few inches in front of the ball and aim over it. Always set up to the ball in the order listed above. Reach out low and long. Keep tall and let the club sweep the ball off the ground. Try not to help the ball up. Let the clubs do all the work for you.

Type of Shot	Tee Shots & Woods
Aim	Normal
Grip	Normal
Posture	Normal exercise but you will be taller and further away naturally because of the length of the club. Try and feel your right shoulder is behind your left, and your right shoulder lower than your left, and 5 to 10% more body weight on the right. Let your body be behind the ball.
Stance	Normal
Body Alignment	Normal - maybe 5 degrees slightly to the right.
Ball Position	Opposite inside leading heel.
Swing	Keep as tall and as still as possible. Let the club do the work and reach out down the line to the target. Finish with high hands close to the left ear. Sweeping through on the up-swing is the key. Avoid flicking, stabbing and lifting.

Type of Shot	Putting
Aim	Ensure the lines on the putter are pointing through the middle of the ball and straight at the hole with the head of the putter flat on the ground. Then ensure that the putter travels over that spot all the way through the swing. This keeps the ball rolling straight into the hole.
Grip	Normal
Posture	Keep shoulders over toes and stand around a hand's width from the ball.
Stance	Keep feet close together. Keep a nice compact set up.
Ball Position	Between the middle and left foot.
Swing	The swing is like a pendulum. The same distance back and the same distance through. 2 mph back and 2 mph through and the ball will travel 1 foot for every 1 inch of swing. Keep it smooth and keep it the same each way.

Type of Shot	Greenside Bunkers
	This shot is mainly used for getting over an obstacle such as a bunker, a hill, a ditch or stream, area of rough, etc.
Club Choice	A sand wedge.
Aim	Club head straight to target. Open club head for higher lift.
Grip	Slightly down on the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball with an extra 5% of weight on leading foot.
Stance	Feet slightly closer together and wiggle them 2 inches into the sand for grip. Open stance to allow aim of club to target.
Body Alignment	Parallel to stance not club face.
Ball Position	Middle to left foot.
Swing	Similar to a pitching swing. Purely half an ordinary swing. Keep the club accelerating through to complete your follow through. Always pushing the ball forward. Think of brushing the ground or brushing a tee away. Avoid digging, flicking, stabbing, lifting and quitting. Again let the club do the work for you.

Type of Shot	Fairway Bunkers
Club Choice	Whatever the lip of the bunker allows you.
Aim	Normal
Grip	Lower down the club.
Posture	As tall as possible.
Stance	Feet slightly closer together.
Weight Position	50/50
Ball Position	Middle to left foot.
Hand Position	Opposite the ball.
Swing	Always look on top of the ball for this shot. Keep as tall as possible all the way through the shot. Avoid following through with legs and feet. Try to hit using just hands and arms. A full swing is fine. You are trying not to hit the ground but just skim the ball on the flat swing.

Type of Shot	Pitching
	This shot is mainly used for getting over an obstacle such as a bunker, a hill, a ditch or stream, area of rough, etc.
Club Choice	Usually a 9 Iron, pitching or sand wedge.
Aim	Club head straight to target.
Grip	Grip down the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball with an extra 5% of weight on leading foot.
Stance	Feet slightly together by 50%.
Body Alignment	Parallel to target line.
Ball Position	Remain normal, middle of stance.
Swing	Purely half an ordinary swing. There is nothing special with this shot. Keep the club accelerating through to complete your follow through. Always pushing the ball forward. Think of brushing the ground or brushing a tee away. Avoid digging, flicking, stabbing, lifting and quitting. Again let the club do the work for you. The percentage of bounce and roll is the same as for chipping.

Type of Shot	Chipping
	Used when just off the green or when there is flat ground between you and the hole. The ball is hit low with a long roll, 0 to 45 yards.
Club Choice	Usually a 5, 7 or 9 Iron.
Aim	Club head straight to target.
Grip	Grip down the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball with an extra 5% of weight on leading foot.
Stance	Feet slightly closer together by 50%.
Body Alignment	Parallel to target line.
Ball Position	Normal. Middle of stance.
Swing	Try to keep back-swing and follow-through same distance and just push the club back and through brushing the ball into the air. Avoid, flicking, stabbing and lifting. Percentage of bounce and roll for short game. Due to the loft of the club the ball will fly a certain distance and roll a certain distance. These are a rough guide to the percentages:- 5 Iron 20% bounce 80% roll 6 Iron 30% bounce 70% roll 7 Iron 40% bounce 40% roll 8 Iron 50% bounce 50% roll 9 iron 60% bounce 40% roll PW 70% bounce 30% roll SW 80% bounce 20% roll

Type of Shot	Rough Shots
Aim	Normal
Grip	Lower down the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball.
Stance	Feet closer together.
Weight Position	Keep weight 55% on left foot.
Ball Position	Opposite middle to right foot.
Hand Position	Opposite middle to left foot.
Club Choice	Heavy Rough (3 ins+ / 75 mm +) SW/PW Medium Rough (1½ins / 37mm) 7 or 8 Iron Light Rough (1 in / 25 mm) 6 Iron or 5 Wood
Swing	Always focus on the bottom back of the ball (i.e. as if there was a ball marker behind the ball). 3/4 to full swing, trying to create a steep swing angle, and then a big punch to the back of the ball only following through a foot or so. Ensure you keep weight on the left foot all the way through the entire swing or you will hit too much behind the ball.

Type of Shot	Fairway Woods
Aim	Normal
Grip	Normal
Posture	Normal exercise
Stance	Normal
Body Alignment	Normal
Ball Position	Middle to left
Hand Position	Opposite the ball - always look on top of the ball for this shot.
Club Choice	3 Wood / 5 Wood / 7 Wood - whatever the lip of the bunker allows you.
Swing	Keep as tall as possible all the way through the shot. Avoid trying to help the ball up and flicking. You are trying not to hit the ground but just skim the ball on the flat swing.

Type of Shot	Playing the ball low with distance (into wind & under tree branches)
Aim	Normal
Grip	Lower down the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball.
Stance	Feet closer together.
Weight position	Keep weight 55% on the left foot.
Ball Position	In between middle and left foot.
Hand Position	In front of ball.
Club Choice	Into wind - 2 to 4 clubs more than you would normally. Under branches - enough loft to keep the ball under - normally a 5 Iron
Swing	Always focus on the bottom back of the ball. As much back swing as you are able and then a hard punch down and through. Follow through only to about waist height.

Type of shot	Putting - Sloping lies
General	For every 10 degrees of slope hit 1 inch (25 mm) more if uphill or 1 inch (25 mm) less if down hill. Roughly - for every 10 degrees of slope from right to left aim 1 inch (25 mm) to the right. Roughly - for every 10 degrees of slope from left to right aim 1 inch (25 mm) to the left.
Uphill	Remember the ball will turn up the slope and then will stay rolling straight on that angle.
Downhill	Remember the ball will roll straight at first and then bend down the hill towards the hole.

Type of Shot	Plugged Lies (Rough and Bunker )
Aim	Normal
Grip	Lower down the club.
Posture	Closer to the ball.
Stance	Feet closer together.
Weight Position	Keep weight 55% on left foot.
Ball Position	Opposite middle to right foot.
Hand Position	Opposite middle to left foot.
Club Choice	Sand Wedge.
Swing	Always focus on the bottom back of the ball, (i.e. as if there was a ball marker behind the ball). 3/4 to full swing, trying to create a steep swing angle, and then a big punch about 1/2 inch (12 mm) behind the ball only following through a foot or so. Ensure you keep weight on the left foot all the way through the entire swing or you will hit too much behind the ball.

Type of Shot	Types of Lies

Lie	Uphill	Down Hill	Ball Below Feet	Ball Above Feet
Ball Turns	Right to Left	Left to Right	Left to Right	Right to Left
Aim	Right	Left	Left	Right
Grip	Normal	Normal	At Top	Lower
Posture	Normal but Perpendicular to Slope		Normal - Get Down to Ball	Stand Tall
Stance	Normal but Weight on Lower Foot		Normal but weight will be on Toes	Normal but weight will be on Heels
Body Alignment	Always Parallel to Aim of Club Face
Ball Position	Towards Higher Foot		Normal for that Club
Swing	Avoid Follow-through with Legs		Swing with just Hands & Arms
Club Choice
Ball goes higher so:	More
Ball goes lower so:		Less
Ball is on flat ground so:			Normal

Game Knowledge	Types of Play
Foursomes	Team game - two players play alternate shots and alternate tee shots.
Greensomes	Team game - Two players tee off. Choose the best drive then play alternate shots.
Better Ball	Team game - 2, 3 or 4 players - All players play the hole and you only record the best net score.
Matchplay	Singles game - Best nett score per hole, playing for each hole. Winner is when there are not enough holes left to win by more than you are losing.
Medal Play or Stroke Play	Singles game - Add up the scores - take away the handicap at the end and the best nett score wins.

Game Knowledge	Swing Paths & Shot Making
Wherever the ball starts is determined by the swing path. Out to In - Starts Left In to Out - Starts Right Wherever the ball finishes is determined by where the club face was pointing at impact.
OPEN = Clubface pointing right in relation to target CLOSED = Clubface pointing left in relation to target SQUARE = Pointing straight in relation to target
Ball starts Left	Ball starts Right
*Out To In*	*In to Out*	*Club face in relation to ...*
FADE	-	Square to target
-	DRAW	Square to target
SLICE	-	Open to target
-	HOOK	Closed to target
PULL	-	Square to that swing path
-	PUSH	Square to that swing path
PULL HOOK	-	Closed to that swing path
-	PUSH SLICE	Closed to that swing path

FADE	- LEFT TO CENTRE
DRAW	- RIGHT TO CENTRE
SLICE	- LEFT TO RIGHT
HOOK	- RIGHT TO LEFT
PULL	- STRAIGHT LEFT
PUSH	- STRAIGHT RIGHT
PULL HOOK	- LEFT TO FURTHER LEFT
PUSH SLICE	- RIGHT TO FURTHER RIGHT

Game knowledge	RULES & ETIQUETTE
Out of bounds & lost ball	Player must go back to last place the ball was hit.	Penalty 1 Shot
Unplayable ball	Drop ball within 2 club lengths - no nearer the hole or Keep the ball in line with the obstacle and the flag and walk back as far as you want. or Go back to last place ball was hit.	Penalty 1 Shot Any choice
Moveable obstruction	Move obstruction. Play the shot and replace the obstruction. (e.g.. bins, signs, benches, etc).	No Penalty
Immoveable obstruction	Free drop 1 club length from the nearest point of relief - no nearer the hole. (e.g. fences, benches, tractors, etc).	No Penalty
General obstruction & ground under repair	Free drop 1 club length from the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. (e.g. sprinkler heads, winter greens, drains, white GUR areas).	No Penalty

Hitting flag whilst putting		Penalty 2 Shots
Touching sand in bunker before downswing		Penalty 2 Shots
Hitting someone else's ball whilst putting		Penalty 2 Shots

Lowest handicap plays first
Furthest from the hole plays 2nd shot first
Winner of previous hole (after 1st hole) plays first
Flag must be out whilst putting
Mark your ball with a coin if in someone's way
Never walk across someone's putting line
Always stand either opposite the player or 10 yards behind

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT CRAIG

Copyright © Craig Butfoy Junior Academy of Golfing Excellence - Informational website