Mullingar Golf Academy

⛳ STUCK IN THE FESCUE? 😳

With The Open Championship here, there’s no better time to learn one of the toughest shots in golf.
At MoyValley, we’ve got plenty of thick fescue—just like you’ll see on a true links course. Here’s how to give yourself the best chance of escaping it:

🌾 Steepen your backswing slightly – helps the club cut through the grass.
💪 Grip the club firmly – don’t let the rough twist the clubface.
🏌️ Keep the face open through impact – let the loft do the work and get the ball back into play.
🎯 The goal isn’t perfection—it’s escape.

If you can get the ball anywhere around the green (or even into a bunker) from rough this thick, you’ve done your job. Take your medicine, save your bogey, and move on.

Practice this shot now, and you’ll be far more confident whenever you find the thick stuff. 👊

Have you ever had to play out of fescue like this? Let me know below! 👇

🚨 STOP GETTING STIFF OVER YOUR PITCH SHOTS 🎯

If your pitching feels forced, heavy, or inconsistent… you’re probably too tense.

One of the biggest differences you’ll see in great short-game players? They’re constantly keeping the club moving before they start. That little waggle isn’t just a habit—it’s a way of keeping the hands, arms, and shoulders relaxed.

When you tighten up:
❌ You lose feel
❌ The club can’t release naturally
❌ You start “steering” the shot instead of swinging it

Instead, focus on this:

✅ Add a small waggle before you pull the trigger
✅ Keep your arms soft and relaxed
✅ Let the clubhead swing freely
✅ Trust the motion and accelerate through the ball
🎯 Relaxed muscles create better rhythm. Better rhythm creates better contact. Better contact gets you closer to the hole.

The next time you’re practising your pitch shots, don’t just think technique...
Think: Loose. Smooth. Committed.

💬 Do you waggle the club before your pitch shots, or do you stand over the ball too long?

⛳️ Follow for more simple tips that will help you shoot lower scores.

🚨 STRUGGLING WITH THIN OR HEAVY SHOTS? Try this simple drill... 👇🏌️‍♂️

🧥 Tuck a towel (or spare top) under BOTH arms and make your normal swing.

🎯 Why it works:

✅ Gets your arms and body moving together
✅ Stops your arms from taking over
✅ Improves your low point control
✅ Creates cleaner, more consistent ball striking

This is one of my go-to drills for golfers of every level.

🏆 Even tour pros like Jon Rahm and Charles Howell III have used versions of this drill to improve their connection.

💡 Challenge yourself:

Hit 10 balls without letting the towel drop. Then remove it and feel how much more connected your swing becomes.
Save this for your next range session and tag a golfer who needs to try it! 👊⛳

🚨 STRUGGLE WITH BLOCKS OR SNAP HOOKS? TRY THIS... 🎯

Tee it low. Hit a pull fade. 💥

This is one of the most reliable tee shots you can have under pressure—and it’s my go-to when accuracy matters.
✅ Tee the ball lower
✅ Swing slightly left
✅ Feel like you’re hitting down on the ball

Why does it work? 👇

🎯 A slightly left swing direction helps start the ball on line.
🎯 Hitting down gives you better clubface control through impact.
🎯 The result? A controlled fade that finds more fairways and takes the left side of the course out of play.

⛳ If you’ve been battling blocks or hooks off the tee, give this a try on the range and watch how much tighter your dispersion becomes.

💬 Would you trust a pull fade on a tight driving hole? Let me know below! 👇

⛳️ STOP FLYING EVERY CHIP! 🚨

🎯 The Chip & Run is your secret weapon for lower scores.

James Quinlivan here from Moyvalley Golf Club! 🏌️‍♂️

With the ground firm and the weather warm, this is the shot you should be using more than ever. Let the ball roll like a putt instead of trying to fly it all the way to the hole.

✅ Setup Keys:▪️ Narrow stance▪️ 60–70% of your weight on your lead side▪️ Ball positioned under your sternum▪️

💡 Keep it simple. Less loft = more control.

📉 Fewer chunks.📉 Fewer skulls.📉 Lower scores.

💾 Save this post for your next round.📤 Share it with your golfing buddy who always reaches for the lob wedge!

🎯 Want to understand why you hit a fade or a draw?
This simple alignment stick drill is one of the best ways to feel the difference in your swing plane.

⛳ Set an alignment stick in the ground so it matches your club’s lie angle.

⬆️ Swing above the stick → encourages a fade (left-to-right)
⬇️ Swing below the stick → encourages a draw (right-to-left)

This drill is fantastic for developing awareness of your swing plane and understanding how it influences your shot shape.

⚠️ Remember: Swing plane doesn’t create the curve on its own. Your clubface angle relative to your swing path is what determines whether the ball fades or draws. Think of swing plane as setting the stage, while the clubface decides the final result.
Give this drill a go on the range and let me know...

💬 Are you naturally a fade player or a draw player? 👇

🔴STOP TOPPING YOUR FAIRWAY WOODS 🔴

There are usually 2 reasons you’re topping it:

1️⃣ Too shallow / in-to-out → catching the top of the ball
2️⃣ Too steep / over-the-top → catching the top of the ball from the other side

The fix: Your angle of attack should sit between -2° and -4°.

Here’s how 👇
✅Take a practice swing and actually brush the grass
✅Feel like you’re sweeping it — even though you’re still hitting slightly down
✅Match that same feeling into your real shot

That’s it. Nail the angle, catch it flush. 💥

⛳️ STOP GUESSING WITH YOUR WEDGES ⛳️
Want to shoot lower scores? Master 12 wedge distances.
🎯 The system:

Take 4 wedges and learn 3 swing lengths with each:
👌Half swing
👌3/4 swing
💪Full swing
That gives you 12 stock yardages you can trust when the pressure is on. 🔥
🌬️ Into the wind or to a back pin?
More club + shorter swing.
⬇️ Lower flight
⬇️ More control
⬇️ More predictable roll
⬇️ Safer shot to back pins
🔑 Setup Keys
Ball in middle of stance
Weight favoring lead side
Turn through to the target

One important note I very rarely hit my wedges full speed