Encinitas Golf Shop

One of the most difficult things for many amateur golfers to do is consistently hit straight drives. Not only do many golfers struggle because of this accuracy, or lack thereof, but they also struggle because of how they do not understand tendencies in their swings. In order to hit the ball straight, by either utilizing a fade, draw, or straight shot, hours need to be spent in practice. The importance of hitting the ball straight is exemplified in the following quote:

“In baseball you hit your home run over the right-field fence, the left-field fence, the center-field fence. Nobody cares. In golf everything has got to be right over second base.” ~Ken Harrelson

Practice on golf driving range mats, golf hitting mats, or golf driving mats will give golfers a more consistent swing. With this consistency, a golfer now could either play the fade or draw their shot tends to, or use a straight drive to hit straighter, often further, drives.

One of the most difficult things to do for many golfers is to get their swing back after a long layoff from playing, or following an injury. One of the best examples of this type of recovery is Tiger Woods, who had surgery last year to repair his acl and knee. Upon returning to the golf course, his swing took some time to recover because he actually had to compensate for his knee in the swing. This quote from Teddy Greenstein of the Los Angeles Times accurately sums up how far Tiger’s recovery has come:

“He (Woods) said Tuesday he actually had considered holding off on the ligament surgery so he could compete in the 2008 British Open. One problem: “I could have played the British, but I probably would have re-broken the leg.”

Woods said the knee is “night and day” compared with how it felt in late March, when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 15-foot putt on the 72nd green.

“Like everyone says, if you think you feel great after surgery, just imagine what you’ll feel like in six months,” he said.

It has been 12 months now. Woods feels great. No change needed.”

Tiger’s road back to recovery did not just come as a result of his pre-injury status as an elite player. Hours on the putting green, on driving ranges, and practicing on golf practice mats have gotten him back to being golf’s best player, and on track to repeat this weekend at the US Open.