Hitting Golf's Toughest Shots by Jack Moorehouse

Always going for broke can cost your strokes and inflate golf handicap. Still there are times when going for broke is called for--like when the club championship is on the line or you need a birdie to break 70 or 80 for the first time. If your luck's like mine, that's usually when you face a pretty tough shot.

The six shots described below are among the toughest going. They're extra difficult for amateur golfers who aren't accustomed to hitting shots under pressure, especially for those with high golf handicaps. But using your head and following the advice given below will improve your chances of making a successful shot.

Bunker Shot with Water Long This shot is among the hardest in golf. You need a really good lie; otherwise, play it safe and hit toward the fat part of the green. If the lie is good, however, go for it! Start with a full turn and don't be skittish about blasting out of the bunker. Remember you're displacing a couple of pounds of sand, so you'll need plenty of momentum. Don't try to lift the ball, as some students do in their golf lessons. Instead, hit down and through into the sand a few inches behind the ball.

Cutting the Dogleg I won't take a risk unless I'll gain a full shot in the process--a strategy I've discussed in my golf tips articles. So think before deciding. If the gives you a chance to make the green in two on a par 5 or to drive the green on a short par-4, then don't feel intimidated and go for the shot. Before hitting you need to know exactly how far to carry your shot or your tee shot won't reach the fairway, forcing you perhaps to take a penalty shot. Also, stay relaxed with this shot. Waggle your club a few times to relieve tension in your hands and take several fast practice swings. You'll slow down when it comes time to tee off.

Approach over Water If you're like the players who listened to my golf instruction sessions, you're probably terrified of water. Some years back a GOLF MAGAZINE survey of recreational golfers tabbed this shot the most terrifying. If you miss you not only lose the ball, you add a penalty stroke to your score. Here's how to hit it. Take several practice swings until you've identified the shot, then step up to the ball and repeat the swing. Don't hesitate. It lets too many negative swing shots enter your mind. Keep your posture steady, letting your shoulder pull you through impact. Picture your belt buckle facing the target--a positive image that will help you accelerate down and through the ball.

Escape through Trees Ever try to make up for a bad shot only to dig yourself deeper in a hole? Resist the temptation to hit a miracle, after you've hit a bad shot, like hitting into the trees. Instead, focus on hitting the next shot well. And the shot after that. And the shot after that. Hit enough good shots and you'll make up for the bad shot.

When you find yourself in a clump of trees, resist the temptation to hit a miracle shot. Your goal is to get out of the trees and put your ball back into play, even if it means hitting side ways. Examine your lie closely before hitting, then choose your club based on the lie. Choose carefully. If you need to hit a 140-yard low trajectory shot, don't play the ball back in your stance while using an 8-iron, hoping to keep it down. Instead, use the 3-iron or the 4-iron and make a long chipping motion. You'll stay relaxed and reduce the chances of a mis-hit.

Long Fairway Bunker Shot Long irons are probably the hardest clubs for recreational golfers to hit, especially out of a bunker. Instead, try the comfort of a fairway wood. The club's loft and wide sole helps the clubhead slide through the sand, making the shot easier. In addition, make two small adjustments to your swing to encourage a descending arc on the swing. Open the clubface slightly for a little extra bounce and play the ball back in your stance an inch or two. Also, dig your toes not your heels into the sand. Take a normal swing and you'll make ball-first contact.

Greenside Lob Over a Bunker This shot is my personal favorite. The lie determines how aggressive you can get with the shot. So take a close look. Try to get a sense of how much grass is behind the ball and how much air is underneath it. If the lie is tight, you won't be able to get the club under the ball. If it's its too fluffy, you might flub landing into the bunker. Make a nearly full backswing and then drop the club to the ball to pop it up. Keep the clubface pointing to the sky and use a short follow-through. Keep your head stable and centered.

You probably won't face these shots more than a couple of times a year. But you can bet that somewhere along the line, you'll have to hit one at crunch time in a round, match, or tournament. But if you keep your wits about you and commit yourself to the shot, you may be surprised how many times you'll pull one off.

About the Author

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.

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Fortune favours the brave as they say! I really enjoyed the above article, there is a lot you can learn from it!

Golf Swing Physics -- Incredibly Decrease Your Golf Score By Studying Your Golf Swing

The game of golf can be quite difficult. It looks so simple at first, but you will realize there are a lot more to learn than simply hitting a golf ball when you start analyzing it. It takes alot of work so that you can improve your game by dissecting this. Not everyone has natural but you can improve your golf game by seeing the mechanics and thinking how you can make better.

In fact, even though you cannot change the basic science behind the golf game, you can still make some little adjustments for improving your golf score. For example, the golf swing physics is a really funny thing to look at and is one of the main field of your golf game that you can easily improve by analyzing and a kind of the motions behind the golf swing.

Actually, the golf swing physics is based on how your strength as you can only make a shot with as much strength as you have and the best way to improve this is though exercise. Basically, you do not need to use each last bit of your strength to make a shot as you will hardly direct the shot along the right way or golf course efficiently. Instead, you can make good use of your energy by analyzing the golf swing physics which can then help you swing much easily and hit the ball much better with less effort.

The main thing that you can learn after studying the golf swing physics is that if you start your lower part of body earlier while the kinetics involved will then be transferred the energy from your hips and shoulders easily so that you will have much powerful swing which needs much less effort.

Apart from that, make sure that you are making full use of your club is a very important issue in order to improve your game using golf swing physics. You can easily achieve this by buying the great clubs that you can afford. Also, you need to use them well to get the best result from your golf game.

Another hot golfing tip is angle, you can play your swing accurately. However you will not get the lift as soon as you cannot get the angle right. This can affect the length of your drive and accuracy adversely. Many golfers too pay more attention to their golf swing for getting the perfect angle, but if you make sure that you get both right, then you can make real improvements to your golf game easily.

Rashme Wong is a successful Internet Marketer and publisher of AmazingGolfSwing.info. She provides more golf swing tips, putting tips and more information on golf swing physics that you can search and learn on her website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rashme_Wong

How To Fix Your Golf Swing? by Eddy Kong WW

There are many sports on this planet. Some need tons and tons of practice, while some only require some minimum exposure, then you are off to the real thing. Although, golf may seems to be a relaxing sport but working to fix your golf swing is definitely not.

Many of us start playing golf to relax and de-stress ourselves after a long week at work. However, after getting on the golf course we stress ourselves with the game itself.

Why is that so? Once we get hold of the club, put on the golf shoes, tee-up the ball, look around to feel the wind direction if there's any, with all these in mind, we are putting stress rather than relaxing and de-stress.

Well, there are some basic tips to help you to fix up your swing.

Here they are,

1) Grip your club with your left hand so that your thumb lies along the body of the club. Check that the line between your thumb and index finger should point towards your right eye.

Then wrap your right hand over the left hand so that your left thumb fits into the cup of your right palm.

2) Fine tune your stance by pointing your knees inside slightly. Point your right foot straight ahead and the left one slightly to the left.

3) Bring your elbows and arms as close you can get them. When in your stance, your right elbow should point directly at your right hip the left elbow at your left hip.

4) Bring the backswing with your hands, followed by your arms and shoulders.

5) Begin the downswing by rotating your hips back towards the ball. Any swing that does not start from the hips will lack power. The left wrist bone should be pointing at the ball when the club makes contact.

To fix your golf swing you must practice as much as possible. As a saying goes, practice makes you a better golfer not overnight but over time. Remember, there is no shortcut in golf swings.

It can be very frustrating at first; due to lack of power in the swing you mat not be able to project the ball very far or anywhere for that matter. Fix your golf swing with patience and time.

It is not something that can be learned from the book. To fix your swing you must be out there on the field with the club in your hand. Observing others is another good way to fix your swing.

Besides observing others, you also need to be consciously alert of your surroundings and to project a mental picture

There are many ways to improve on this game, however, it is not advisable not to focus on this issue as I have heard and seen many do.

Just always remember that golf is a game played mainly to bring you some relief from the daily stress in the office or otherwise.

To fix your gold swing you do not need to be obssess with it but just need to relax and it will come to you with practice. Fun is the key and with it all the other skill of the game will come to you.

That's why many pros golfers on this planet are taking this game to the next level, they all treat this game not a challenge but play it with love and passion and the best of all, win or lose doesn't matter to them anymore.

About the Author

Eddy Kong WW has a site which shares his articles on how to in golf training. Get his FREE articles at Fix Your Golf Swing for more information.

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Webmasters comments: This article highlights the fact that it will take lots of effort and practise to improve your golfswing as well as teaching you a few of the basics. It is obvious that you cant transform your game from a begginner into a pro overnight, but you can give yourself the best possible chance of taking your game to the next level using this program, it truly is remarkable some of the results you can get, it improved my game dramatically! I cannot thank the man enough Click Here to Transform Your Game

Beginners Guide to Golf Course Safety

Beginners Guide to Golf Course Safety

by Troy Degarnham


Golf courses come with their own set of safety rules that you need to follow so that you can be assured of your safety and the safety of your fellow golfers. Perhaps the most important thing that you need to remember is to pay attention to the other golfers that are around you. When you’re ready to swing your club make sure that you know exactly where the other players are and that they are at a safe distance away from you.

It’s important that you avoid swinging golf clubs when there are other golfers near to you. Even if you’re just doing some practice swings without a ball you’ll want to be in an area where there are no other golfers. And if you’re playing with beginner golfers you’ll want to make sure that they adhere to this safety rule as well.

Keep your head up so that you’re aware of where other people are playing. Even though you follow the safety rule of knowing where other players are doesn’t mean that everyone else does. If you have to move into another fairway to play a shot that got out of control, or to retrieve a ball, make sure that pay attention to other players nearby. If you hear someone yell “fore” keep a head up so that you know where the shot is coming from.

There will be times when you’re shooting your ball that your shot will go longer than expected or go off in a direction that you hadn’t planned on taking. Yell “fore” as loud as you can so that other players can get a heads up that there is ball somewhere that is out of control.

You should never hit your golf ball into the group playing ahead of you. Even if you have to stall your game until the next group moves forward you’ll have to wait. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should never hit your ball in anger when you’re frustrated with the game. Take a deep breath and remember the rules of golf courses so that you play safely.

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Written by Troy Degarnham, the webmaster and creator of a large directory of Golf Courses

5 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing Golf Clubs by John Bolt

Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.

1. First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you're at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.
2. Stay within your spending limits.

   You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don't stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.

3. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.
4. How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase.

   Don't go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.

5. Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows.

   Check online at manufacturer's websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.

If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while. More great tips on choosing your golf clubs can be found at:www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html.

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John Bolt is the full time owner of Golfequipmentsource.com With years of competitive golf experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him online at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.htmlgolfmaster@golfequipmentsource.com


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Webmasters comment: Having the correct golf clubs is vital, with clubs that dont suit your needs, you will never reach your golfing potential!
Good golf clubs will help you develop that Perfect Swing that you Desire.

Golf Tips For A Better Golf Swing by George Gabriel

Golfing can be an expensive past time, especially if you have to take golf lessons to boot. Taking golf lessons gives you the ability to have someone guide you and spot critical mistakes in your golf swing. There is another alternative to golf lessons even though golf lessons are the fastest and best way to a better golf game.

There is a lot of good reading material on the Internet that helps in solving your slice, hook, or whatever problem you have getting the golf ball to the hole. Taking a good golf book seriously and implementing the instructions on the course will turn your game around in no time. If your having trouble breaking 100, 90, and even 80. This article has a few tips on reaching your goals at your own pace.

Whatever book you decide to choose on the Internet or local store, read the chapters over several times before you take these instructions on the practice range. Practice at least three times a week. There are a few points to keep in mind when practicing any kind of new golf swing that amateurs tend to overlook.

Consider the slope of terrain that you are implementing your new golf swing. Take a large bucket of balls and practice the swing with different slope positions. Swing easy at first, then gradually step up to your normal swing speed. You're not always going to have a flat lie out on the golf course. It may take half dozen balls or more to get comfortable with different types of fairway slopes, but once you follow the book closely and practice, you will soon overcome any problems at first. Be persistent!

Choose the shorter clubs first and gradually work your way to the driver. Do not leave any club in the bag. Practice them all. If you're having trouble with a longer club, do not skip it and move past. Pause with the lesser club and go backwards until you gain confidence to move back to the golf club you dislike hitting. Pause at the club before and keep hitting it until you feel confident to play the golf club your having problems with.

Always shoot towards a target and always keep the distance in mind for each golf club. You will eventually have stronger wrists and arms as you progress through a full month of practicing three times a week. The distance will change as you move forward in your persistent self-golf training. The golf holes will get shorter. As you read through your golf book, look for tips on choking down on the club to take a little distance off your newfound power.

Find a nice quiet place to practice your short game. You need to be at least 100 yards out and work your way in with the putter being the last club to practice. If you are not hitting the greens, you must know how to chip and play out of bunkers. Mastering your short game will also take a bundle of golf strokes off your game.

Practicing your golf swing as much as three times a week for at least 1 month, and reading up on golf swing instructions will eventually move you towards a much lower scorecard if you are persistent with your goals.

About the Author

Learned to play golf as a caddie in the mid sixties and continue to enjoy the game today. Now running a discount tee time site at http://www.golfanchor.net/ and a sister site at http://www.golfanchor.com/

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Webmasters Comment: Having a 'correct' golf swing is vital for a more consistant reliable game, here is a link to a site that offers advice to get that swing you desire: The Simple Golf Swing

How To Cure A Nasty Golf Hook by Joseph Tierney

A golf hook can be compared to Pele's 'banana kick' in football. In the case of a right hander, when the golf ball strays severely, from the right to the left, it is referred to as a hook. Where left handers are concerned, the ball would sway from left to right. The golf hook is, more often than not, referred to as an error made by beginners. Of course, professional golfers may deliberately use this method to place the golf ball where required.

It is by doing a lot of practice that beginning golfers lose the golf hook. It is important to hold the club in a firm grip, and make sure the surface of the club does not end up pointing in the wrong direction as it strikes the ball. It is the lower hand (the right hand in case of right handers) that controls the basic power and direction of the stroke, and this needs to have a really firm grip on the club. The other hand provides support to this. At the same time, don't overdo the whole thing by holding the club in such a tight grip that the muscles on your entire arm are tensed, this will immediately affect your swing. Be comfortable and firm.

Your swing needs to be smooth and comfortable, ending over the shoulder level. Practice swinging the club over and over without the ball. While playing the shot, many beginners make the mistake of 'stopping' the swing once the ball is struck. Avoid this, and complete the swing, giving a nice follow through after the club connects to the ball. Also, remember that your body needs to move in the direction where you intend for the ball to travel. If this is not maintained, the stroke looks and definitely results, in a very clumsy effort.

Like any other sport, golf requires intense practice. One way golf is different is that it is a sport where you don't react on the spur of the moment. For example, a cricket player needs to strike the ball very much with a subconscious effort. But a golfer has all the time in the world to plan and execute his stroke. That's why it is nice to be able to visualize the shot before you play it. Look at the area where you want the ball to travel to, plan out what stroke you will need to play, and imagine yourself making a clean hit with a good follow through, that does you the job!

At the end of your swing, if your weight is on your back foot, then there is no way the ball would not have landed where you didn't intend for it to. This is the commonest of reasons for the hook, and can easily be corrected as long as a conscious effort is made. Keep in mind that during the swing, your weight starts on your back foot, and is transferred totally on the front foot, by the time it is completed. The toe of the back foot will point in the general direction where the ball lands.

Finally, a word on your stance. When your legs are close together, it makes you a little unsteady (try standing in a moving bus with your legs packed together and you'll see!). Open up your stance to give that solidarity to your shot, and yeah, in the bus as well! The result of the golf hook is generally due to the last two reasons mentioned, and I stress on that. So make sure your weight is transferred to the front foot and open up your stance. These are the last tips I am parting with you help you perfect your golf game.

About the Author

Joseph Tierney is a golfer and college student from Florida. You can find out more about improving your golf swing at Golf Swing Tips

Golf Basics – Back To Basics Each Season by Jeff O'Brien

I would like to focus the jest of this article on the basis of the golf swing… the grip. With spring in the air and golf on our minds let’s get this year off to a good start by not overlooking the basics.

Unquestionably the biggest mistake I see in people’s golf swing isn’t in their golf swing itself.

Nope. Not at all.

More often than not the mistakes happen before the swing even begins. The first mistake is made in how the golfer holds the golf club. After that the next mistake usually comes in with how they stand up to the ball. Poor posture. Then after having two strikes against them, they then finish the job of making it almost impossible to hit a good golf shot by improperly lining up to their intended target.

Of course, after hitting several (possibly several hundred) balls with only a minute few being what they think is acceptable the tired frustrated golfer asks… what am I doing wrong with my swing?

For the purposes of this article I want to discuss the very first part of the proper golf swing … the golf grip. In fact, let’s be even more precise here; the left hand grip on the golf club. Oh sure… there’s much more than just the grip including the aforementioned posture and alignment. But there’s only so much typing I can do at one time so let’s stay with the grip for this communication.

The position of your club face is greatly influenced by your grip. And this is especially true as your club face enters the impact zone and contacts the ball. Certainly there is an abundance of golf swing peccadillo’s that can occur that can cause those woeful golf shots. You know the ones I’m talking about: the banana ball, the smothered hook, skied, skulled, and chili dipped. Ok, I’ll stop… If you’ll stop trying to correct your golf swing by in incessantly hitting ball after ball trying to make every physical adjustment known to man (and some that aren’t) within your golf swing itself and begin by using a fundamentally sound grip.

So you’re going to continue on with me… great! Let’s talk about the left hand (right handed golfers) first and foremost.

The left had should come in contact with the grip of the club in such a manner that the grip cuts a diagonal across the palm of the left hand from the crook in the index finger down and across to the bottom right pad of the left hand.

When you close your left hand, your club should be held in the first to fingers and your palm.

The key that you look for out of your left had grip is quite simple. As you address your ball and look down, you should only see two knuckles of your left hand. As an instructor standing directly across from you, I too should only see the same. If I don’t see EXACTLY two knuckles of your left hand then we take a step back and re-grip until we get it right. And don’t try to cheat and re-grip club just as you begin to take the golf club away and into your back swing. FOUL I say. And I will stop you.

Ok. I certainly haven’t given you that much to remember here. But seriously golfers, resign yourself to go through a quick, short checklist before you begin the journey we call the golf swing. Start with your grip. Get used to it. A proper grip will feel awkward to you particularly if your grip has been way off. Stay with it. Know that it’s the right way to grip the golf club. Piece by piece let’s lay the foundation for a good swing.

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Jeff O'Brien is a youth and beginning golfer instructor with a real insight on getting your golf swing and game off to a start by establishing a good foundation onto which you build your golf swing and game. Please visit http://www.golf-ology.com for more of Jeff's golf tips and online golf lessons.

Some Warm Up Tips for Golfers by Lee Collins

When it's time to warm up, some golfers think they need to hit the driving range with everything they've got. In truth, warming up to make your game as effective as it can be means that you work on a variety of swings and become familiar with the conditions.

For example, you golf differently on a windy day than if the air is still. You probably play at least a bit different on days when the temperature is raging than when it's cool. Here are some tips from those who hit the courses on a regular basis.

Driving is a good way to start, but start slowly. Choose a short iron for your first few drives, giving your muscles a chance to loosen up and to get the feel for the day. Work up to longer drives, but remember that the goal isn't only to see how far the ball will go - control is more important than distance and this is your chance to gather your skills to exercise that control.

Don't just drive. Some people make the mistake of thinking they've completed an adequate warm up once they've managed to make a few successful drives. Take time for some chipping and putting as well. Make the most of your swing and any recent lessons you've had. Remember that a round of golf is much more than teeing off.

One of the most important warm up tips is to get your mood and emotions under control. Smacking your frustrations out on a golf ball probably isn't going to help your game at all - though it might arguably be good for your frustrations. Take time to gather your calm, focus on your game and let the day's troubles fall away. Your mood - especially if it's a bad mood - can greatly impact your game.

Another mistake many people make at the warm up session is to start practicing. This isn't the time to try out new clubs, new swings, or new information. This is a time to play your best game, just as you'll be doing shortly - at the first tee. It's okay to put in a few practice swings if you're working on something you want to put into play for this game, but don't get caught up in a practice session. One of the purposes of a warm up time is to build your confidence. You can't do that if you're continually making errors. Use the techniques you're most familiar with and be ready to congratulate yourself on all your successes during the warm up.

If you are doubtful about the need for a good warm up period, just think back to a recent game of golf that you didn't warm up for. How was your first tee? How was the fourth? Did you spend the rest of the game making up for some poor strokes early on? The warm up is a chance to make those mistakes before they're being engraved on a score card.

Take time to make yourself confident and you'll play a confident game.

About the Author

Lee Collins is an avid golf enthusiast who has improved his golf game tremendously in a very short time using the "How to Break 90 in 3 Easy Lessons" system available only at http://www.easygolfinstruction.com/.

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Webmasters comments: Warming up is essential, by not warming up you're increasingly likely to pick up an injury, this is any sportsmans worse nightmare, so make sure you warm up effectively!

Golf - Driving The Ball Long By Michael Russell

No matter what anyone says, everybody wants to hit the golf ball a mile. When we see Tiger Woods and John Daly on TV hitting the ball 350 yards, we are envious. We desire to do the same thing when we get together with our Saturday foursome. It's only natural to want to drive the golf ball as far as possible.

While you may never be able to hit your drives as long as Phil Mickelson, you can still learn how hit the ball farther off the tee. You can also lower your golf handicap and develop a much better technique.

These 7 keys will help you increase your driving distance:

- Give yourself a wider stance for increased stability
- If you're right-handed, point your left toe more inline to the target
- Waggle the club head back and forth over the ball
- Stay calm and don't hurry your backswing
- Take the club back as far as possible on your backswing
- Swing harder and put more of your right hand into the hitting the ball
- Take full advantage of the elements, especially the wind

Good technique promotes good shots. Of course, that's easier said than done. You should always practice your technique as often as possible on the golf practice range. Whether you're driving, putting, chipping, or hitting pitch shots. Practice your technique. Remember, good technique begins with your addressing the ball.

When you've decided on your target and determined your ball's path, get set up in an address that is designed to give you maximum power. Be sure to widen your stance, which gives you more stability and provides a solid base to allow a more powerful golf swing. You want approximately 60% of your body weight on your left side. This will give you a more powerful coil.

Greg Norman will do a couple of other things to generate more power when he swings. He will point his left toe toward the target slightly and he waggles the club above the golf ball, which gives him a smooth one-piece takeaway. It also gives him more rhythm in his swing.

When you're at the top of your backswing, be sure to turn your shoulders a full 90 degrees. Your back should actually be facing the target. Look at John Daly when he drives the golf ball. He has a massive shoulder turn. Many players ask him all the time how he does it. He says it's due to having a sound technique and a wide swing arc. He always has a rhythm to his golf swing and is never out of sync on his swing.

After you reach the top of your backswing, you're ready to begin the downswing. Do not rush your downswing. If you do, you'll have an increased chance of swinging straight down on the ball and eliminating any power you had going. You will also most likely chilli dip and miss hit the golf ball. Look at Fred Couples and his downswing. It's nearly flawless.

Make sure to keep your left arm straight during your transition. When you keep your arm straight it enables the club head to remain square and hit the ball properly. Don't have a herky-jerky swing. Keep your golf swing smooth. Picture yourself hitting through the ball, not just to it. Hit hard with your right hand.

Be sure to take advantage of the playing elements to help give you more distance. Especially using the wind to your advantage. When you have the wind at your back, tee the golf ball higher than normal. This gives you a higher ball flight with more carry in the air. That means greater distance.

When you're playing into the wind you want the opposite. Tee the ball down a little more than usual.

Once you've practiced these golf techniques, you will begin to see dramatic improvements in distance and control. Who knows, you may even start driving the ball like John Daly.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Golf

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Five Steps for Improving Bunker Technique By Jack Moorehouse

Although hitting from a bunker is straightforward once you learn the basics of stance and posture, the thought of hitting into a greenside sand trap unsettles many golfers. Improving your technique reduces the fear of bunker play and builds self-confidence in your shot-making capabilities.

Assuming the texture of the sand is similar, and the ball is not plugged, the technique for hitting out of a greenside bunker remains the same for shots up to 30 yards (27m). The key to making this shot, as I’ve explained in my golf tips, is hitting the sand about 1 to 2 inches behind the ball, throwing the sand forward with the ball. For longer shots the only thing that changes is the swing’s length. Rhythm and tempo remain the same.

Below are 5 points I cover in my golf lessons on bunker technique. They’re the focus of my golf instruction once I’ve reviewed how a wedge works and the fundamentals of stance and posture.

1. Move Arms Away in Unison

Having taken a slightly open stance, resist the temptation to get too steep early in the takeaway. Keep the wrists passive as you sweep the club away. Try to synchronize the arm swing and body turn. In other words, make the first part of the takeaway a one-piece movement. Also, make sure the clubhead follows the path away from the ball parallel to the line of your toes.

2. Rotate and Open

Rotate your left arm and wrists as the swing continues, as if you were looking at a wristwatch. It’s a visual I often use in my golf instruction to help players remember to make the move. It opens the clubface and helps maximize the bounce effect on the sand wedge at impact. Also, start hinging your wrists as the clubhead passes your right thigh. Keep your head still, turn the left shoulder in under the chin, and turn your back to the target.

3. Turn to the Top

As your body turns, you should feel as if your clubhead is pointing toward the sky and your wrists are cocked. Keep your head and body centered over the over the ball. Swing the club down on a slightly flatter plane, with good rhythm and tempo, as always. This is a key move any time you swing a club.

4. Make the Right Contact

Hitting the right impact point is critical when playing from the sand. In golf lessons I tell students to visualize the ball sitting on top of a tee instead of the sand, then focus on clipping the tee beneath the ball, which just happens to get in the swing’s way. Executed properly, this move will throw the ball out of the bunker with just the right amount of sand.

5. Create a Controlled Explosion

As the club comes down in the downswing, you should feel your hands drag left, pulling them across the ball through impact. Make sure that your right hand doesn’t cross over the left and that you clear your left hip as the club comes through. If the stance and clubhead are open sufficiently, the ball will fly straight, with a high trajectory.

Of course, the technique for longer bunker shots differs slightly. The key with longer shots is in the follow-through. Use a full finish for long bunker shots, and a short finish for shorter bunker shots.

Below are two exercises that I use in golf lessons to help students improve their bunker technique:

• This exercise establishes how the sand wedge should really work. Stand in a practice bunker without a ball. Adopt your normal bunker stance and take several swings down into the sand. The object is to get the feel of the clubhead dragging through the sand, not digging into it. After a dozen shots, try hitting a ball. Pick out a spot where you want the ball to land and then go for it. Repeat the exercise until you’re comfortable with the feel of the wedge splashing through the sand.

• Focusing on a spot where the clubhead hits can divert attention from where it emerges, resulting in a fluffed shot. The “Two Lines” exercise helps eliminate the tendency to lose focus. Stand in a bunker and take your normal bunker stance. Draw two lines in the sand about 6 to 7 inches apart. The lines represent the length of the sand you should carve from under the ball. Line up several balls between the two lines then hit them. The clubhead should enter the sand where the first line is and emerge where the second line is.

Practicing these two exercises while keeping the 5 points in mind will help build better bunker technique. As you become more and more comfortable with hitting out of a bunker, you will increase your self-confidence. And that, as I often tell my students, leads to better play and lower golf handicaps.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

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Golf Tips: The Simple Secret to Solving the Slice

The slice is a shot which usually starts off slightly to the left, then swerves to the right in the air. The slice is a common fault that occurs in many beginners game and has to be one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a golfer. In most cases, the slice is uncontrollable and is destructive more often than not resulting in the ball being sent deep into the rough. It is also far more common than the hook which occurs when the ball does the opposite through the air.

Ways to cure the slice:

Firstly, make sure your body alignment is correct, your shoulders, chest hips and feet should all be parallel to each other as well as parallel to the ball to pin line. If your body is not aligned correctly and is aiming too far to the left, the upper body can not and does not rotate properly. This leads to an 'out to in' swing which means that the club will not be hitting through the ball but instead will be moving from outside the ball to inside the ball as the impact takes place. The consequence of this is side spin being generated on the ball and the dreaded uncontrollable slice follows.

Even if your alignment, swing and grip are perfect, the positioning of the ball in the stance can make a good straight shot into a shot that slices wildly out of play. This occurs when the ball is placed too far forward in the stance.

Once again the slicing of the ball occurs because the club face is no longer square on at impact with the ball. This is because the club face has come past square and is moving in from the ball to pin line, this again generates side spin resulting in the ball slicing again.

Ideal ball placement is different for every club, but this is a rough guide:

For woods and long irons, the ball should be placed inline with the inside of your left heel (opposite for left hand players), for short irons place the ball in the centre of the stance, for medium irons the ball should be placed between two positions mentioned above.

Posture should be checked as weight distribution can also have an affect. Having your weight too far forward can encourage the slice so be wary of your weight distribution.

If all else fails, try strengthening your grip. Do this by moving your hands slightly clockwise around the club, then adjust your grip so you're holding it more in your fingers and lighten the pressure, this should help reduce the affect of the slicing.

Happy golfing!

For some excelent help please click here: Golf Made Easy!



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Copyright © Ally Canaway 2006

Importance of Golf Etiquette By David Stone

Golf is a game of skill and etiquette that are both equally important. To many people the etiquette is the most important part of the game. Skill is based on practice and talent, but everyone is capable of proper etiquette. The key to great etiquette is knowing the rules and using them every time you play. That way you will not forget them when it is important. The etiquette of begins before you have even arrived at the course. Dress is very important. Athletic clothing is prohibited, unless you are just messing around at the local public course. Pants or shorts must have belt loops and no cuffs. You shirt must have a collar; polo style shirts are a popular choice. Most golf courses now prefer that you wear shoes with rubber spikes instead.

It is polite to arrive about 20 minutes early to allow everyone to partner up and get organized. If you would like to hit some balls before the match, you can arrive earlier and practice at the driving range. When you reach the first tee it is appropriate for the person with the lowest handicap to tee off first. From the tee each person furthest from the hole should hit respectively. If players that are sharing a cart hit their ball to opposite sides of the fairway, one player should be dropped off at his ball with a couple of clubs. All divots should be replaced with sand and the removed grass.

On the green, the furthest from the hole still hits respectively. You should never cross the path of someone's ball. Either step over the path or go behind the path. This ensures that your footprint does not alter the path. If your ball is near or in the path of another ball, you must place a marker in front of your ball and remove it from the green until it is your turn to putt.

Other than these specific rules, always follow general safety guidelines. Never hit the ball if someone is near its path, and always stand far enough away from someone swinging a club to give them ample room. The most important thing to remember is to respect your fellow golfers and enjoy the game.

Find more great information about golf at http://www.get-golf-clubs.info/.

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Left Handed Golf Tips For The Beginning Golfer By Tim Gorman

One of the main mistakes that some left handed golfers make is also actually one of the more obvious ones, they attempt to play right-handed. Honestly, why they do this is not hard or difficult to understand, unless you have the money to buy a new set of clubs the very first time that you play golf then the chances are that you will end up borrowing some clubs just to see if you like the game and of course the clubs you borrow are very likely to be right handed.

Many left handed golfers do actually go on to buy their own clubs that are the correct style for them but some still carry on with the right handed clubs based on the fact that they have been playing too long with them and do not want to learn how to play golf all over again with left handed clubs. Naturally, this does mean that they will not ever be quite as good a golfer as they could become with the right (in this case left handed) clubs. When people search for left handed golf tips they have already embraced the most important tip for a left handed golfer and that is to play the game of golf using their natural swing with left handed golf clubs.

One of the best left-handed golf tips for beginners is to be careful when choosing your clubs. When you are left handed there is a much more limited choice available to you, especially if you are shopping at a small local golf shop or club. But rather than taking a set of golf clubs that you are not happy with, you would be better off waiting for a while until you have the opportunity to travel to a larger shop with a more comprehensive selection of clubs and golf equipment to choose from. The other option if you are nowhere near a golf equipment or sporting goods store with a good selection of clubs is to buy them by mail order.

There are two ways of doing this, you can either get a catalog and order your clubs that way or you could go to one of the online golf stores that have a good selection of equipment and everything that the left handed golfer could want or need I order to successfully play the game of golf. Of course, one of the best ways for a left handed golfer to learn how to correctly play and also receive some quality left handed golf tips is by taking lessons from a left handed golf pro. Some right-handed pros have a tough time when trying to teach left handed players and if you can swing it taking lessons from another left handed golfer is a much better idea and will significantly improve your golfing skills and game. With the right (left handed) clubs and good tuition there is every chance that your game will steadily get better and you will enjoy it even more.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Golf-Swing-Improvement.com. He provides more golf swing tips, putting tips and more information on left handed golf tips that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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How to Develop a Proper Golf Swing

How to Develop a Proper Golf Swing
By M Taylor

The first question you have to ask yourself is - What is a proper golf swing? All golf swings have the same three main components - the backswing, downswing and the follow through. Sounds simple, but to develop these three components into a strong, powerful swing takes a lot of practice on the course, as well as some training off the course.

In the game of golf, no two people ever have the same golf swing. The way one person swings a golf club may not work for another person, even if they are near in body types. Every golfer has to find the playing style that fits him or her to help them produce the results that they want. Practicing the fundamentals of golf will build a solid foundation upon which you can build upon to create that powerful swing. All the great golf players of the world did this and now it is simple and easy for them to drive a golf ball down the course.

One of the essential things that will affect all three of the golf swing components is your grip. Many golfers feel tension when they address the ball and get ready to execute their golf swing and this results in a tight grip on the club and stiffness in their arms. After the first swing that did not go as they wished it would, the tension builds and starts a vicious cycle that will affect the rest of their swings.

The first thing you can do to help develop a proper golf swing is to relax. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and visualize the result of your swing - the ball screaming down the course.

Next, take a firm but not tight grip on the club and think about the golf swing sequence.

The backswing - draw your club back in a smooth arch until the knuckle of your thumb is above your right ear. As you draw back, the club head will trace out a large circle and at the top of your backswing your chest will be pointing away from your target.

The downswing - this is where you swing your golf club down and the club head makes contact with the ball. Let the natural motion of your body carry the club head through the golf balls position down the range toward the target.

The follow through - your body continues and completes the swing arc after contacting the ball. Your finish position is part of your golf swing, so do not stop abruptly and try to keep your motion fluid.

When you start your backswing, take a deep breath as you draw back and release it slowly as you start your downswing. Holding your breath will create stiffness in the upper body that will affect the fluid motion you are trying to develop in your golf swing. Here are some tips to remember while visualizing your golf swing:

- Keep your left elbow straight during the backswing as the club goes straight up and back.

- Let your left arm roll slightly clockwise at the start of your downswing.

- Your wrists should be at a 90-degree angle when your left arm is parallel to the ground.

- Start your downswing with your lower body, NOT your shoulders.

- As you bring the club down, turn your hips as fast and powerful as you can towards the target.

- At the bottom of the swing arc, your wrists should snap and you will start the follow through.

- Your right arm will swing across your body and end up near your left shoulder.

- Your shoulders will be perpendicular to the target.

At the completion of the follow through portion of your golf swing, your weight should be balanced on your front hip and your back toe should be on the ground. Your hands will come to rest above your left shoulder and with your left knee facing the hole.

Now, going back to the original question – What is a proper golf swing? First off there is no simple golf swing as many people try to believe. People who have never played golf will tell you that hitting the golf ball is easy. Just take a club and hit the ball as hard as you can. However, as any golfer will tell you it is never that easy because there are quite a lot of variables and small nuances that go into developing a good golf swing. Therefore, a proper golf swing is one that you can execute repeatedly, and feel good about the results.

To develop your own golf swing, it will take practice and training both on and off the golf course. Take some time to build your body off the course through a golf specific fitness training and conditioning program, and then get onto the course to develop your own proper swing by practicing the fundamentals of golf until they are second nature. Anything you do in life, your overall attitude and expectations of yourself, will ultimately determine your enjoyment of the game. View each golf swing, water hazard, hook and slice as another opportunity to improve. Remember, great players are not born; they work at becoming a great player through training and practice.

The proper golf swing comes from improving upon the basic fundamentals of golf. Visit http://www.realgolftraining.com for golf swing tips, training aids such as swing trainers and other training aids to help you imrove your golf swing.

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