Correct Preparation

When preparing to play a round of golf, give yourself enough time to get ready. Too many golfers are rushing to the tee and destroying all rhythm and timing when doing so. Give yourself, if possible, forty-five minutes before teeing off to insure proper warm-up and mental preparation.

 

Set Up

The longer and less loft a club has the more the following should occur:

 

• The farther away you must stand from the ball.
• The wider your stance should be.
• The nearer to the left foot (for a right handed golfer) the ball should be positioned

Club Choice

If you are in between clubs on certain shots always take the lower lofted club and swing it a little easier.

 

Swing tip 1

Keep your main swing the same as your practice swing. This will ensure a smooth, controlled repetitive swing.

 

Swing tip 2

Try to get the feeling of turning the shoulders rather than swinging with the arms. Turning with the shoulders will produce more power that results in greater distance.

 

Bunker Shots

Imagine a horizontal line one inch behind the ball when hitting the shot. Keep your eyes fixed on this line and hit it as if you were hitting the ball. This will ensure that not too little or too much sand is taken. This should result in a consistent controlled bunker shot.

 

Putting

The key to a good putt is to make sure that the putter accelerates through the ball. This will ensure a solid and positive stroke. This relates to the saying “never up, never in” which means if you do not hit it hard enough, the ball will stand no chance of going in the hole.

 

Course Management

Too many players just see the fairway, take there aim and hit the ball without assessing the dangers. When preparing to hit a shot, stand back, take a second and concentrate on where the danger is positioned on the hole. Pick out bunkers, trees, wind direction, wind speed and water hazards. From here you need to asses these aspects and aim for a target where you want the ball to go.

 

Shots on Slopes

When facing a shot on undulated ground try and even your weight. This will ensure that you do not strike the ball too fat or too thin. Also when the ball is below your feet remember that the ball will have a tendency to go to the right of the target. When the ball is above your feet it will have a tendency to go to the left of the target so try to counter-act these problems with aiming a little left or right of the target.

 

Professional Knowledge

The best tip of all is to make sure that you attain good basics. These are grip, set up and alignment. If your basics are poor it will have a knock on affect to the rest of your swing. Keep your swing basic and simple.