Pro Tips

The 1998 Australian Masters - 24 under par RECORD SCORE

Thanks for visiting my tips section! I'm Bradley Hughes, born in Melbourne, Australia and have played in professional golf tours throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and my homeland Australia since 1988.

I have been fortunate to have some success as a golfer winning some important events and representing my country in International team events. I decided after 20 years of travel to spend more time at home with my family. I now look forward to teaching golf and passing on many of the lessons I have learned from the greats of the game to people who are searching to improve their golf ability, whatever their standard of golf.

Visit my site at bradleyhughesgolf.com and enjoy the journey as I talk about the many facets of this great game of golf. I will give you some insights about life on the road and about the many people I have met and great golf courses and cities of the world I have had the pleasure of visiting throughout my travels.

Other Achievements in Bradley’s career:

When having clubs fitted for you...ALWAYS....have in mind how you want your swing to be in the future....not just as it is right now as to how your lie angles should be made for you. All clubfitters want to give golfers sets of clubs that are set up around how you are swinging at the moment of fitting. This shouldn't be the case. Too many golfers are given clubs with TOO UPRIGHT a lie angle. This is a deterrent to good solid striking of the ball. The club should be swung AROUND our bodies ...NOT up and down....therefore flatter lie angles are much more beneficial long term to a golfer and his future swing mechanics than the upright clubs that companies want to thrust into our hands on every given occasion.

The golf industry has recently told golfers to tee the ball high with the driver. I don't care for this line of thinking. Our objective in the golf swing is to always hit down and through the shot. Teeing the ball high alters our visual and makes us want to hit up on the ball. An upward approach actually imparts topspin on the ball and makes the ball nosedive bringing about loss of air time and improper connection on the ball more often than not. Having no more than half the ball above the top of the clubface when teed up is the more sensible approach to more solid and consistent drives.

The main concern when chipping is to ensure proper contact. This allows us to gain control of our distance for these shots. Most amateur players tend to lift the ball in the air by scooping upwards on the ball. All golfers would be better advised to have the ball back towards their right foot and their weight leaning forward. This will encourage a downward strike into the back of the ball, with the hands leading the clubhead. The ball then runs up the face and imparts the necessary lift and spin to enable us to have a good strike and better distance control.

Buying Clubs:

Before you buy your clubs and spend a lot of money, ask your pro shop if they have a trial set or ask a friend to see how their clubs feel to you. Also, some stores have driving nets to allow you to get a feel for a club and some tips on buying clubs.

There are three components to buying clubs.  The most important is how it works for you.  Second, you want to make sure you feel comfortable swinging the club, and last of all is the look of the club.

Another club to have in your bag:

Other clubs more manufactures are offering are hybrids for women.  These clubs take the place of the longer irons (3, 4 & 5).  They are easier to hit the ball and allow for more miss-hits so that your ball gets airborne with more accuracy.  But don't let these hybrids fool you with your stance.  You should still stand the same way you would with your irons with the ball more to the middle of your stance instead of off the front foot as you would with your driver.

Loosen up with your clubs:

Don't forget to take practice swings with your clubs.  This will loosen you up and give you a comfort level before hitting the ball.  One or two practice swings should be enough.  You don't want to slow up the group behind you.

Cleaning the Clubs:

Don't clog up the grooves in your club heads.  You should clean your clubs after use or after each shot wipe your club head with a wet towel.  Dirty club heads will affect the way your ball spins and lies in the air.

Club distance:

Clubs are used to achieve different distances.  These are the approximate distances women can hit with each club:

• Driver 200 plus yards
• 3 Wood 180 yards
• 5 Wood 160 yards
• 7 wood 150 yards
• 9 wood 140 yards
• 5 iron 140 yards
• 6 iron 130 yards
• 7 iron 120 yards
• 8 iron 110 yards
• 9 iron 100 yards
• Pitching wedge 90 yards
• Sand wedge 80 yards

Have fun this summer on the course!

Have you ever shown up to the course knowing you are going to have a great round today, but then you get to the first tee and the ball doesn't do what you thought it was going to do? Your attitude goes sour!

Tip:  Step back and shrug off the shot with your shoulders.  Don't get angry.  If you don't have fun and understand you have another 17 holes to go, you might as well call it quits because it will make for a long day of golf.  Change your mind set and except the situation!  Always stay ahead and focus on your next shot.  Focus is very important in the game of golf.  Remember your head is the 15th club and is one of the most important.

Have you ever shown up to the course knowing you are going to have a great round today, but then you get to the first tee and the ball doesn't do what you thought it was going to do? Your attitude goes sour!

Tip:  Step back and shrug off the shot with your shoulders.  Don't get angry.  If you don't have fun and understand you have another 17 holes to go, you might as well call it quits because it will make for a long day of golf.  Change your mind set and except the situation!  Always stay ahead and focus on your next shot.  Focus is very important in the game of golf.  Remember your head is the 15th club and is one of the most important.

Over Acceleration too fast from the of the swing is the number 1 disease of poor golfers.  We need to not rush the downswing… the ball is not going anywhere!

• Acceleration too fast too soon throws away all the good angles that need to be created to propel that ball far and straight.
• If we start down fast the hands will want to take over the shot and we will have NO control of the clubface.
• Slow down and then go fast through the ball with body speed is the best option to a more consistent game.
• Don’t forget the brain is the 15th club in your bag and probably the most important.  Keep your mind focused on your game not what’s happening around you.