A golf GPS tracker is a helpful tool that can be used to track your game and identify any areas of improvement. It works by using general GPS (global positioning system) technology to pinpoint your location, as well as that of the ball.
At its core, it might seem like a simple system, but don’t be put off. A good quality golf GPS system can offer you a whole world of improvement!
Golfers won’t just be able to see where they are or where the ball is, but where they are in relation to the hole or any hazards. GPS can provide valuable information in regards to any distances or course features!
If you go into it frustrated, agitated or angry, you’ll be more likely to fluff it. Be confident and trust your own abilities and you’ll be consistently shooting bunkers in no time.
Oh, and you’ll need to practice this one. A lot. Want to make practice easier? You need a golf GPS.
GPS systems
A golf GPS is a fantastic way to not only track yourself and the ball, but to monitor your progress too.
If you regularly monitor how you’re performing, tracking all aspects of the swing in your GPS, you can quickly and effectively identify the areas that need improvement.
Plus – you might not need to!
A good golf GPS system can let you know where you are in relation to sand traps, bunkers and any other hazard you may face.
Different types of trackers
There are a few different trackers on the market, all of which can help you to achieve different results. Before you decide which tracker is best for you, though, you’ll need to identify which TYPE of tracker that you’d like to use, along with which features will benefit you the most. For example, would you prefer a touch screen, or more traditional buttons? What kind of features would you like the tracker to continue? Handheld or wrist-mounted?
Each of these trackers can cater to different individuals, all of who may have different approaches to their game.
Once you’ve decided what type of watch or tracker you’d like, you can begin looking into different brands and products to compare their different benefits.
How to escape the dreaded sand trap
Maybe the wind isn’t reacting how you’d like it to. Perhaps you’re using unfamiliar clubs. You might just be experiencing a new course.
Truth is, sometimes the sand traps are unavoidable for newbies, amateurs and professionals like – but freeing the ball doesn’t have to be an impossible task!
Sand traps and can knock no end of strokes off your game, but don’t worry: here are a few vital tips and tricks that you can use to really improve that final score.
Get a grip
Next up, you’ll need to consider what kind of grip you should use to really make the most of your shot. You don’t want to take it too hard, otherwise, you could risk sending the ball flying – maybe even into another bunker!
The trick to bunker shots is height – and the trick to height lies within a weak grip. Don’t worry. A weak grip doesn’t mean you’ll lose the club – it just lets you release your wrist earlier to ‘chip’ the ball upwards.
Before you take your shot, make sure your arms are soft and your wrists are weak. Play around until you perfect it!
It’s a setup
How you set your shot up is arguably as important – if not, perhaps even more important – than the club you use or the stance you take.
Your set up will anchor you, dictating not only where the ball will land, but how fast it travels and what kind of spin it has too.
First things first: you’ll need to anchor yourself to provide a solid base for the shot. Firmly plant your feet into the sand or the dirt and place your front foot forward – this all helps to boost the height you get.
Next, open up your stance ready to hit that shot.
Weight a minute
Weight distribution is extremely important to nail a shot; it provides the momentum that guides your club and your ball.
As this should be a front-facing shot, you should put around 75-80% of your weight on your front foot – if you pull it off, you’ll add a healthy amount of backspin to the gold ball.
Swing!
It’s all boiled down to this: the swing.
You could have the best clubs, the perfect stance, and an ideal grip, but if you don’t nail the swing, then it’s all for nothing!
Swing patterns are how you guide the club; essentially the pattern that the swing follows. If you’re attempting to guide the ball out of the bunker, it’s probably best to use an ‘outside-in’ swing.
To do this, you should start your swing from the outside of your body before working inwards. You also MUST follow the shot through to ensure success, otherwise, you’ll chunk at the ball – making things worse in the process!
Finishing up
Listed above are four essential tips perfect for anyone who’s struggling with bunker shots. Whilst they provide the foundation for consecutive successful hits, these alone aren’t enough to ensure your success as a quality golfer.
The most important thing – more important than your stance, clubs, and swing combined is your mind-set. You need to be confident in your abilities and really believe that you can pull a bunker shot off!