The Manchester Journal has once again teamed up with local PGA Teaching Professionals to offer weekly golf tips. This week's tip is from PGA Pro Fred Auletta.

Some Classic Myths about Golf

Keep your head still:

The head is not the center of the golf swing, so it need not remain fixed as a focal point. Because the shoulders move around the spine, as the spine moves over and around the right hip (right for right-handers), the weight of the golfer must shift to the right leg. The upper body must also move slightly to the right. If the head does not move accordingly, any number of poor positions will appear, including the dreaded reverse weight shift. Therefore the head can and should move right and left, but NEVER up and down (the dreaded 'top' and 'fat' shots, respectively).

Take the club back straight:

This thought is damaging to anyone who already swings the club on an upright plane. Taking the club back straight only encourages the arms to become separated from the body. A golfer who takes the club too far inside may need to feel like the club is moving back a little straighter, but it is actually traveling on an arc. The shoulders turn, they do not slide back.

Keep your left arm straight (right-handers):

The left arm should be extended but not rigid on the backswing, for fear of inhibiting a good wrist hinge. A proper wrist hinge and right arm position will provide maximum extension without excess tension.

Keep your head down on the follow

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through:

No qualified instructor would ever tell a student to keep his/her head down on the follow-through because the head reacts to the motion of the body (shoulders). The body and arms cannot release naturally f the head stays static. Both Annika Sorenstam and David Duvall both slowly turn their eyes and head to the target just before impact s a result of accommodating the rotation of the shoulders.

Focus on getting under the ball:

When a golfer focuses on trying the 'lift' the ball, he/she becomes susceptible to hanging back and flipping the wrists. Most likely, the results are a thin or skulled shot. The low point of the swing arc (with irons) must be on the target side of the ball.

To request a specific tip, e-mail lread@manchesterjournal.com.