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Welcome to Mike Paukovits Golf,

Mike is a dedicated PGA Teaching Professional who is passionate about coaching and growing the game of golf. If Mike is not giving a lesson, you will probably find him working on his own game or competing in a golf tournament! He believes in an all encompassing, balanced approach to coaching his students towards reaching their true potential.

 

Mike currently teaches at a few of the area's best indoor golf simulator locations. He teaches at Play-a-Round Golf's two locations in Malvern and Ardmore. Mike also teaches at Five Iron Golf - Rittenhouse in Philadelphia as well as conducting on-course coaching sessions at several public golf courses in the Philadelphia area.  

 

I invite you to learn more about myself, my background, and my teaching philosophy. Please allow me to share my passion with you and help you reach your golfing potential!  

What's New

Certifications

How to Setup and Play Great Shots from Uneven Lies

It is often said the hardest walk in golf is from the practice range to the first tee. One of the reasons that this is true is because on the practice range we are always hitting from a perfectly flat lie. This is great for grooving your setup and your golf swing, but during a round of golf you will always be faced with the non-perfect lie. Even on the flattest courses you will still have lies that are uneven and for a number of holes at most golf courses in our area, uneven lies are simply unavoidable.

You have basically four types of lies besides a flat one: uphill, downhill, ball above feet, and ball below feet. Then, there are varying degrees of slope to make it more or less difficult. The one constant that most players forget to adjust for in the setup of these shots is spine tilt. The most important thing is to try and get your body feeling like you are on a flat lie (even though its not). You want to get your shoulders as parallel to the ground as possible. Now, not only will the setup have to change, but we also need to be aware of changes in the shape of your swing, ball flight, curve, and trajectory of the golf ball.


Here are a few things you need to know and do when playing from different lies (we will assume a right handed player):

1. Ball Above Feet: Stand taller at address with a little less knee flex and less tilt from the waist. Choke up on the grip to make the club shorter. Your swing should feel flatter or more around (like a baseball swing). Remember to make a three-quarter backswing for control, and aim to the right because the ball will tend to go left.

2. Ball Below Feet: Bend more from the hips and try to feel more weight back on your heels to maintain balance. Aim a little to the left because the ball will tend to go right. Your swing should feel more upright in order to help you hit down.

3. Uphill Lie: Your shoulders should be parallel to the slope (tilt your spine back to the right). Aim further right because the ball will tend to go left, and swing along the slope. Play the ball slightly more forward than normal, and be sure to take one more club because the ball will tend to go higher and a little shorter.


4. Downhill Lie: Your shoulders should be parallel to the slope, feel like your left shoulder is lower than your right. Move ball position slightly back of center and aim a little to the left because the ball will tend to go right. Take one less club because the hill de-lofts the club face. Make a three-quarter backswing for balance and control; chase the ball down the slope with your club.

Notice how Dustin Johnson is swinging the club down along the slope and actually has his hands ahead of his left thigh just after impact.

So to recap, we need to setup properly in order to hit better shots off of these challenging uneven lies. Always make sure to get your shoulders as even with the slope as possible and swing along the slope. Rather than fighting the difficult downhill lie and falling back on your trail leg, make sure to go with it and stay down through impact.

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies."

~ Bobby Jones

Indoor Coaching Locations

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Please visit playaroundgolf.net for more information and directions.

Book your Private Coaching Session at Play-a-Round Golf - Malvern

Book your Private Coaching Session at Play-a-Round Golf - Ardmore

Another option for indoor simulator lessons is Five Iron Golf - Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.

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Tips & Drills

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jimmclean.com
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US Kids Golf
Positive Coaching Alliance
Titleist Performane Institute
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Certfied Golf Coaches Assciation
EyeLine Golf

Partners & Affiliations

Edufii
SuperSpeed Golf
FlightScope
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EyeLine Golf
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"Amazing teacher. Mike is one the best golf coaches out there. He was essential in my preparation for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Tournament and also very hands on in helping my son with his first few golf lessons."

Kyle Lowry

NBA Point Guard, Miami Heat

2019 NBA World Champions, Toronto Raptors

Testimonials

"Amazing teacher. Mike is one the best golf coaches out there. He was essential in my preparation for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Tournament and also very hands on in helping my son with his first few golf lessons."

 

Kyle Lowry

   NBA Point Guard, Miami Heat

"Mike is a great teacher and extremely patient. For somebody who is just starting out, I immediately fell in love with the game mostly because of Mike's teaching technique. He makes it super simple to understand the concepts. Looking forward to more sessions."

Chirag Dadia

   Glenmoore, PA

Highlights

  • Jim McLean Golf School Certified Instructor

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  • Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Certified

 

  • Class "A" PGA Member

  • PGA HOPE Certified Instructor

 

  • GALV Lehigh Valley Open Champion, 2014

  • U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach

 

  • Eyeline Golf Certified Instructor

  • Operation 36 Certified Golf Coach

 

  • Thumbtack.com Top Pro

Locations

 

 

 

Play-a-Round Golf - Ardmore

56 Greenfield Ave.

Ardmore, PA 19003

Play-a-Round Golf - Malvern

245 Lancaster Ave.

Malvern, PA 19355

www.playaroundgolf.net

Five Iron Golf - Rittenhouse

2116 Chestnut St.

Philadelphia, PA 19103

fiveirongolf.com/philadelphia-rittenhouse

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