Curtis Hughes PGA

Thank you to St Ann’s Old Links for hosting me and my player Henry.

Henry has travelled from the US for the week for an intensive golf lesson/ experience for this week.

Lessons covering all aspects of the game as well as experiencing different course types

GRIP CHANGE TO HELP WITH FACE CONTROL

If you interlock your grip too much and have little face control have a look at this video!

Low pitch shots give you more control.
High pitch shots give you more variables.

The lower the ball flies, the less time it spends in the air… meaning less effect from wind, spin variation, and strike inconsistency.

A lot of golfers automatically try to throw the ball high around the greens, but unless you HAVE to go over something, keeping it lower is often the higher percentage play.

Think:
- Lower launch
- More predictable roll
- Better distance control
- Simpler motion

The best short game players can hit it high… but they choose low whenever possible.

Master the low one first. 💥⛳️

Most golfers try to rotate harder…
But better ball striking often comes from learning to move laterally first.

That small shift towards the target in transition helps:

* Move pressure forward
* Shallow the club
* Improve low point control
* Strike ball then turf more consistently

Too much spin with no shift often leads to:
❌ Steep downswing
❌ Early extension
❌ Fat or thin strikes

Feel the pressure move… THEN rotate.

The best ball strikers don’t just turn well — they shift well too.

From fat shots to ball striking….

Find me on for a free swing analysis

If you can’t control the strike… nothing else matters.

The gate drill isn’t just for putting — it’s one of the best ways to train face control in your full swing too.

On the greens:
A tight gate gives you instant feedback on face strike. Miss the middle = pace will suffer

In the full swing:
Place the same gate either side of the club head
Start it clean through the gate = centred strike + better control.

Same skill. Different shot.

Most golfers separate putting and full swing…
The best players train the same fundamentals across both.

Message “strike” for free swing lesson on

If you slice it… learn to hook it.
If you hook it… learn to punch it.

Sounds backwards, but it’s actually how you build real control 👇

Most golfers try to “fix” their miss by avoiding the opposite…
That just locks you into one pattern.

👉 Slice = open face, out-to-in path
So you NEED to learn how to close the face and deliver from the inside

👉 Hook = closed face, too much in-to-out
So you NEED to learn how to control the face and reduce curvature

The goal isn’t to eliminate one shot…
It’s to own BOTH sides so you can live in the middle.

That’s how you build a stock shot you can trust under pressure.

💡 Control both ends → find neutral → repeat

If you want help building your stock shot and controlling your ball flight…

📩 Message “swing” and I’ll send you a free swing analysis

🏌️‍♂️ PITCH SWING vs FULL SWING — STANCE WIDTH

Most golfers use the SAME stance for every shot…

That’s costing you control 👇

⸻

📏 PITCH SWING (narrow stance)
Feet closer together = more control, less movement

✅ Better low point control
✅ Cleaner strike
✅ Less unnecessary body motion
✅ More consistent distance

Think: quiet body, controlled strike

⸻

📏 FULL SWING (wider stance)
Feet wider apart = more stability & power

✅ Better balance at speed
✅ More ground force
✅ Easier to rotate through
✅ More distance potential

Think: stable base, full rotation

⸻

🚫 The mistake:
Using a wide stance for short shots → poor strike
Using a narrow stance for long shots → no power

⸻

🎯 Simple rule:
Short shot = narrow
Long shot = wider

⸻

If your strike feels inconsistent…
your stance width might be the first thing to fix.

⸻

Want me to fix your strike in 24 hours?

📩 DM me “STANCE” or
📲 Upload your swing on Skillest for a full breakdown

STRUGGLING WITH FACE CONTROL? YOUR GRIP MIGHT BE THE FIX 👇

If your clubface is all over the place — slices, blocks, weak fades — there’s a good chance your grip is too weak.

👉 A weak grip (hands turned too much towards the target):

* Leaves the face open through impact
* Forces you to flip or manipulate the club to square it
* Creates inconsistent strikes + spinny shots

⸻

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO STRONGER?

👉 A stronger grip (hands rotated slightly away from target):

* Helps the face naturally close through impact
* Reduces the need for last-second timing fixes
* Improves compression + strike consistency
* Promotes that “start right, curve back” stock shot

⸻

WHY IT WORKS 💡

The clubface is heavily influenced by your lead hand.

A stronger grip puts the face in a more stable, square-to-closed position earlier, so you don’t have to “save it” late.

Less timing = more consistency.

⸻

KEY FEEL 🎯
Feel like:

* Your lead hand knuckles are more visible (2–3)
* The clubface wants to rotate naturally, not be forced

⸻

BUT DON’T OVERDO IT ⚠️
Too strong = hooks / low left missiles

This is about neutral to slightly strong, not extreme.

⸻

If you’re unsure what your grip should look like…

Send me a picture of your grip for a free check up

Most golfers think they need to hit wedges higher to get more control…

It’s actually the opposite.

Lower wedges =
✔ Better strike
✔ Better distance control
✔ More predictable spin

If you struggle inside 120 yards, this is probably why.

The goal isn’t to hit it low forever…
It’s to build a stock flight you can trust under pressure.

⸻

If you want help with your wedges:

📩 Message me “WEDGE”