BEN HOGANS THAILAND GOLF SECRET

Many Thailand golfers wonder if Ben Hogan really did have a secret. It's not possible for most golfers playing golf in Koh Samui to gain Hogan's accuracy from just a single golf tip because Hogan's secret was in the process he used to control his golf swing to become one of the most accurate Thailand golfers of all time. This is also the very reason his secret has been an enigma for over 40 years.

Ben Hogan's secret was his extraordinary ability to focus. This was not a gift from heaven. No, Hogan spent long hours perfecting his focus technique, probably in preparation to play at Chiang Mai’s newest golf courses – Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai.


Hogan would take hours to hit just forty balls. He would hit a ball and spend a few minutes to rewind the shot in his mind and go over every aspect of it. Before he hit the next ball he knew everything he did right and wrong with that shot and was ready to hit the next one even better.

Hogan fine-tuned every swing until it was perfect. He didn't want any bad swings to creep into his system and create any bad habits while preparing to play golf in Phuket. His swing is not one to emulate unless you are built like him, but his methods will make any Thailand golfer strike the ball well.

If you read very carefully, you can see in Hogan's books just what he did. The problem is that you must understand the swing and his process before you can properly interpret what he wrote and take it with you on your next Thailand golf vacation. It was only after discovering and perfecting Hogan's system that I re-read his books for probably the tenth time, and realized that he did share his secret, but that he was looking at it from a stand point of someone who already understood.


Hogan's swing secret was not just the balance and setup...it's about how he achieved and controlled balance during his swing and how you can get similar results on your next golf holiday to Kanchanaburi.

The key phrase is how he controlled his swing movement. Anyone can make a great swing once in a while, but Hogan was known for doing it almost every time.

Hogan said that the game is played keeping the weight on the inside halves of the feet, but that is as far as he went. It's too bad because this statement is the key and the starting point for understanding Hogan's secret of control. His secret? The swing is controlled from the feet, ironic since the Thai’s consider the feet lowly, which you can read more about in this Thailand Golf Blog.

Most of the Thailand golf pros on tour use his methods, except they use them subconsciously. Hogan took the process to the conscious level so he could monitor and correct his swing in motion.

Today's pros have been convinced that they shouldn't think about anything during the swing, but it has been proven that the mind will not think about nothing. Like it or not, your mind works all of the time, as shown in your dreams. The trick with the golf swing is to focus in such a way so that those thoughts are completely visual, thereby never bothering the brain with any distracting conscious thoughts, and allowing you to play the best golf courses in Phuket at your peak.

Try these Thailand golf swing tips and keep a note of those that seem to help improve your game.

GOLF TECHNOLOGY FOR THAILAND GOLFERS

We are all looking for that little extra something that is going to make this wonderful game a little bit more forgiving. Here are a few suggestions that will help you play Thailands best golf courses:

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #1 . Shorter Driver Length and More Loft Today’s drivers that are sold off the rack are made in lofts from 8-11 degrees, and in lengths of 45” to 45 ½” However, only 10% of all golfers have the required swing mechanics and athletic ability to warrant playing such equipment. If you swing over the top or have an inconsistent tempo, and your wrist to floor measurement is less than 40” then a 45. driver is probably too long for you to play the Phuket golf courses successfully. If you’re swing speed is less than 95 mph and you are using a driver with a loft of 9-11 degrees, then you are probably not maximizing your distance off the tee. If you hit a 3 wood better and more consistent than a driver, you can definitely play golf courses in Hua Hin with lower scores.


Thailand Golf Technology Factor #2 . Closed Wood Face Angle Wood face angle is the BEST equipment correction device for driver accuracy. Face angle is the direction the face points when the head is placed in playing position or soled.
It is a design factor that helps correct minor swing path faults or the inability of the golfer to square the clubface at impact. How many Thailand golfers do you think have that problem? Most golfers with driver problems either push or slice the ball off the tee. Yet, when you purchase “off the rack” drivers at Bangkok Golf shops you have very little opportunity to alter the face angle. They just don’t offer that as an option. Most drivers will only have a closed face angle of 1 degree. A face angle with a 2-4 degree closed face angle will cut down a slice from 5-15 yards – excellent for playing Phukets most difficult golf courses.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #3 Set Make-Up. Today’s 7 iron has the same loft as a 6 or 5 iron of 15 years ago. Ever wonder why it is so difficult to hit today.s 3 and 4 irons? With today’s stronger lofted long irons, many Phuket golfers are going to higher lofted woods or hybrids. Which one is best for you when on your Phuket golf holiday? That depends. If you are currently having success with higher lofted woods, then staying with woods makes perfect sense. However, if you are not consistent with the fairway woods, then the shorter lengths of the hybrid. clubs may make you more consistent on courses such as The Vintage Club in Bangkok. Each option has its pros and cons. The lower and deeper center of gravity of the wood heads will tend to hit the ball higher and are easier to hit. But the shorter lengths of the hybrids should be easier to hit on center and with more control. Either way it is probably time to get rid of your 3 and 4 irons and take a serious look at higher lofted fairway woods or hybrids and make your Phuket golf package more fun.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #4 . Use the Most Flexible Shaft You Can Control when playing golf in Thailand By using a more flexible shaft, you will probably hit the ball a little higher, the shot will feel a little bit more solid, and the face might close a little more at impact. These are all things that will allow you to score better at Bangkoks best courses such as Summit Windmill Golf Club. By using a stiffer shaft you will probably hit the ball a little lower and with less distance, and the impact will be slightly harsher while the clubface may remain slightly open. Therefore, consider dropping down a flex and you might just be rewarded with a tighter shot dispersion and lower scores at all of Thailands best golf courses.


Thailand Golf Technology Factor #5 . Use Cavity Backed Irons during your Phuket golf vacaction. Cavity backed irons truly are more forgiving on off center hits. You have probably heard this before, but take a cavity-backed iron and muscle-backed iron to any Phuket golf course and take a 10 shots with each and plot the results (when the greens keeper is not around). Plotting these shots will show you which type of iron performs best for you. I’m sure you will see better results with the cavity-backed iron and score better at places like Red Mountain Golf Club and Loch Palm Golf Club in Phuket.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #6 . Go With a Wider Sole on the Sand Wedge when playing golf courses in Thailand. If you tend to leave the ball in the sand from digging too deep under the ball, look for a sand wedge with a much wider (thicker) sole than on your current sand wedge. Also, if you tend to have a very steep downward swing plane, look for a wide sole angle and more bounce to get out of the sand more consistently. Sole angle will allow the club head to create lift as it travels through the sand to get the ball out of bunkers at Thailand’s more difficult golf courses. Bounce allows the leading edge of the head to glide through the sand because the trailing edge is actually lower than the leading edge. Having a wider sole angel and more bounce together creates favorable conditions to get out of the sand consistently.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #7 . Add weight to your Putter. More Thailand golfers are starting to notice a more consistent stroke with a heavier putter. But not just by adding weight to the head. I’m talking about counterbalancing your putter by adding weight to the grip end and sinking more putts at some of best golf courses in Chiang Mai. I will be talking more about this in future articles, but many of my customers are noticing huge performance gains by adding weight to the butt end of the putter.

Try these on your next Thailand golf vacation!

THAILAND GOLF PRE-SHOT ROUTINE

When playing golf in Thailand you might ask yourself, "Why do I need a pre-shot routine?" Or for that matter, "What is a pre shot routine?" A pre-shot routine is quite simply the habits or actions one takes in the few seconds before the golf swing is made.

So, why is a good routine necessary? It is important because it allows us to relax, and it enables us to develop something that is repeatable in a game where even the best players in the world struggle with constancy, accuracy, and repetition.

The next question to ask yourself is, "Do I have a pre-shot routine?" If the answer is "yes", is it a good one? If the answer is "no", your golf game in Thailand will benefit from developing one.

Let's take a look at some components of professional's pre-shot routines vs. amateur's routines to see how yours measures up.



The difference that I see between most amateurs and professionals lies in the quality of their pre-shot routines and their ability to repeat their routine time in and time out. Most Thailand golf amateurs will hastily walk up to the ball and then make two practice swings, then one time they will make no practice swings, and then waggle three times the next. These random actions breed inconsistency which is something you don’t need when playing a course such as Alpine Golf and Sports Club in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, professionals will go through the same repeatable course of action each time. This enables them to put their mind at rest. By knowing you have done your routine thousands of times, it allows the mind to focus on the actual shot at hand, thereby eliminating negative thoughts, which wreak havoc on most amateur golfers who love to golf in Thailand at places like Thai Country Club. A good pre-shot routine will also distract you from the pressure of each shot. You can concentrate on repeating your routine, rather than worry about the possible negative outcomes of the shot at hand.

A great example of this would be David Toms' performance during the 2001 PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Toms had a 12-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win his first major championship. Toms was able to focus on the task at hand by relying on his pre-shot routine. It enabled him to put his pounding heart and shaking hands aside and concentrate on his speed, line and stroke. When the ball was halfway to the hole, Toms knew he had sunk the putt and won his first major championship. I bet he wanted to take a golf holiday in Thailand and play great courses such as Chiang Mai Highlands and Blue Canyon Country Club

A good pre-shot routine is beneficial to players of all abilities. Not all pre-shot routines should be the same, but yours should be one that is repeatable and relaxing. Here are a few tips to work with to develop a good pre-shot routine while playing golf in Phuket.

Start behind the golf ball and envision your target. Once you have focused on a target, make a practice swing with your eyes remaining focused on your target. As you swing, envision the perfect result from your shot. Now step up to the ball and take your address. Once you are comfortable with your address, take a deep breath, releasing the tension in your body as you exhale. Finally, take one last look at target to improve focus and let it rip. This will definitely make your Thailand golf holiday much more enjoyable.

GETTING OUT OF FAIRWAY BUNKERS IN THAILAND

Let me cut right to the chase of this Thailand golf tip. To get out of a bunker in the fairway you should hit the ball not the sand first. If you hit the ball cleanly and pick it, it will fly far, if you hit the ball and pinch it against the sand, the golfball will come out and fly lower than normal.

Imagine staring at a wall of sand or railroads ties 8 feet high, and a pin 150 yards away! How in the @$%@$% are you going to get out of that one? Quite often players will have to reverse course and pitch the ball out either sideways or back towards the tee.



A guaranteed lost stroke on the hole, and quite often the majors are won or lost by a single stroke. Fortunately for golfers playing at any of the great golf courses in Thailand, pot bunkers are uncommon hazards, especially when it comes to fairways bunkers. Occasionally you will see pot bunkers around the greens, but only a few golf courses in Thailand feature pot bunkers in the fairways.

Fairway bunkers in Thailand tend not to be to deep and have a small lip if any. But what is the best way to advance the ball forward? It actually is quite easy. Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, and a few other pros have shared their secrets that can help you on your Thailand golf holiday! First off, a fairway bunker is completely different than a green side bunker. Green side bunker shots require you to open the clubface, open and place the ball forward in your stance. You will .bounce. the club and hit sand before the ball. This is not the case in fairway bunkers.



A fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball and not the sand. Here is an easy way to set up properly for a great fairway bunker shot. Select the normal club for the distance of the shot you are hitting. I would suggest staying away from fairway woods unless you are a very low handicapper. Place the ball in the middle of your stance. Plant your feet firmly in the sand. Thick sand will require you to choke down on the club slightly to compensate for your feet digging in the sand. Align your clubface, feet, and shoulders towards your target. You are now in the proper position to hit a fairway bunker shot. At this point take your normal swing path and attempt to hit the ball only. The key to the swing is hitting the ball first and not the sand. Try it on your next golf holiday to Pattaya, Hua Hin or any of the other superb golf destinations throughout Thailand.

THAILAND GOLF PUTTING TIPS

This Thailand golf putting tip works only if you are using a conventional putter. ( 34-35 inches or so ).

The preshot putting routine is different ( or slightly different ) for every golfer. Why? Because each golfer has a slightly different and unique physiology. This difference means that each golfers shoulders, arms, hips, knees, hands, and neck all make up a different set of size and mass. No two wrists are exactly the same size. The process that will square one persons shoulders will open anothers, and close yet another persons shoulders.

Try this routine to see if it helps you putt better on the many great golf courses in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. You may find that some or all of the components of this routine may be incorporated into your routine to assist you in putting better. First Get into an Athletic Golf Setup to Putt the Ball into the Hole. How? You have heard this many times. Do not bend forward from the waist!



You get into an athletic golf position by bending forward from the hips. Grip the putter in your left hand to start while standing behind the ball. Pass the putter back and forth between the left and right hands two times finally stopping with the putter in your right hand. Then, take your left arm and push it straight out from your body and let it drop comfortably to your side. This has the effect of "tightening the rope" ie the muscles in the lead arm. Watch the pro's - most all of the good putters do this including Vijay and Tiger. Next, keep your left hand in front of your body and push the putter with the right hand into the left hand. Do not move the left hand to the right hand, move the right to the left. When you grip the putter handle grip first with the top of the palm pad nearest the pointer or index finger, then the rest of the fingers. This is an important setup key as there is a direct relationship between this grip position and the rocking of the shoulders up and down on the spine.



What you have done is activate the large golf muscles in your shoulders, neck, lats, arms, triceps, and biceps. This as we know is important because in golf we want to use the bigger muscles for consistency and repeatability. In addition, you have enabled the right side of your body (for right handed players ) to control the putt. This is important because it enables the shoulders to stay square and your head to stay back behind the ball resulting in the proper release of the putterhead down the target line. If you do not stay back on the ball you will most likely lunge a bit forward and push the putt to the right of your target.

Lastly, while staying in your current posture, walk to the golfball, address it and putt it to the hole. If you follow this preshot putting routine you will make more putts. That is the way to score. Practice this technique to build confidence in your putting stroke and enjoy your golf in Thailand!

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Thailand Golf Swing Tips

The following Thailand golf swing tips will help you to build your skill level and your confidence to hit the golf ball more consistently.  Here’s a tip for each of the great golf destinations throughout Thailand.

Chiang Rai Golf swing tip #1: Maintain a positive image of hitting the golf ball. Remember the last time you played this hole and made a good swing at the golf ball. Negative self-talk will adversely impact your game at the best Chiang Mai golf course which is Santiburi Country Club.

Chiang Mai Golf swing tip #2: Develop a good tough mental attitude. Confidence in your ability to put a bad shot behind you and move on, turn the page in the book in your head to hit a good golf shot and then go and book a Chiang Mai golf package with Golfasian.

Kanchanaburi Golf swing tip #3: Practice does make almost perfect. You do not need to go to the driving range to lower your scores when playing golf in Kanchanaburi. You can practice putting and chipping on your carpet in your house. Chipping and pitching to a close target in your backyard are proven to be effective ways to drop strokes from your short game. Practice your full swing in front of a mirror, or in the back yard during a Kanchanaburi golf vacation. Go through your preshot routine many times until it becomes second nature. When you practice your fullswing check to see if you finish the swing in balance, if not make some adjustments in your setup.

Khao Yai Golf swing tip #4: Learn how to play competitive golf in Khao Yai with a playing partner by having a match. This will help you become a tough competitor and ingrain the kill instinct that you need to win while playing the best golf course in Khao Yai – Kirimaya.

Bangkok Golf swing tip #5: Purchase golf swing aids or a golf training aid to help groove your swing. My favorite is the speed stik, and the medicus, both of which can be found at our favourite golf shop in Bangkok – OnlyGolfThailand.com

Pattaya Golf swing tip #6: Take a lesson with a golf pro on your next Pattaya Golf vacation. Ask to have your golf swing videotaped at one of the many driving ranges in Pattaya. This will help if you are a visual learner to see the weaknesses in your swing. If you do not care for the style of the golf pro in Pattaya then find another. There are many Pattaya golf pros and many styles of teaching - find the one that is right for you.

Hua Hin Golf swing tip #7: Reading a golf swing tip website such as www.golfthink.com will help learn new Thailand golf swing tips to practice. Look for new articles and tips that may work for you when playing the best Hua Hin golf courses such as Banyan Club and Black Mountain Golf Club. We are all different and find different tips work well for some and poorly for others.

Phuket Golf swing tip #8: Watch golf video(s) or a PGA tournament during your next phuket golf holiday . By watching a Phuket golf pro you will come to realize the importance of the preshot routine to consistent play. The Phuket golf pros do have many diiferent swing and setup keys, see if you can identify them and then try them out for yourself to see if it makes a difference. When playing golf in Phuket.

Koh Samui Golf swing tip #9: Work on a few golf swing tips each week until you have mastered them on your next Koh Samui golf vaction. Pay special attention to putting tips and practice your putting the most. This is where most matches are won and lost on Koh Samui’s wonderful Santiburi Samui golf course.

Thailand Golf swing tip #10: Focus on your swing Tempo when playing golf in Thailand - say 1,2,3,4 to yourself during your swing. 1 is the target, 2 is the golf ball, 3 is the backswing, and 4 is the downswing.

Come back each few days to get new golf swing tips designed especially for golfing in Thailand.