* Get some golf lessons. Yes, you can just go to the driving range and try to do your best on your own, but if you want to make the most progress in the shortest amount of time possible, you need to get at least a few lessons under your belt. It will get you off to a excellent start and help you delight in the game instead of just feeling like you are fighting it all the time instead. And there is no substitute for having a qualified teacher give you personal attention and help adjust your swing mechanics in person.

* Use enough club to get to the hole. Its incredible how many golfers assume that they can muscle a shot up to the hole and use a club that is one or two clubs too small on their approach shot. Instead, get to know your club distances by going to the driving range first and writing down how far each club length carries for you in distance on the average. Then use that as a guide to help you choose how much club you need to get to your target instead of just using the same club that someone else just used, or making an overly optimistic guess. You can shave lots of strokes off your game if you hit most of your greens instead of come up too small and have to pitch it on all the time.

* If your ball is only a foot or two off the edge of the green putt it instead of using a wedge. A lot of amateur golfers reckon that they need to use a wedge at all times when they aren’t on the green, but that is not necessarily so. In fact, a lot of golfers would be able to get the ball closer to the hole if they putted the ball instead of pitching it in those situations, especially if your small game is not all that excellent. So if its within a few feet of the green try the putter first and see if it doesn’t give you better results.

* Keep your head as steady as you can in your swing. This is often one of the most common mistakes that golfers make on the backswing. By moving your head this causes quite a few swing flaws that will adversely affect your contact with the ball. Reckon of your head as the pivot that the rest of your body turns around, nearly as if it were nailed into position. Of course, its not possible to keep it absolutely still, but the quieter your head is in the swing, the more solid contact you should be able to make with the ball.

* Keep your sense of humor. Golf is a trying game even for the best players in the world. So don’t expect to be perfect or even come anywhere close to it. Be able and willing to laugh at yourself and not take yourself or the game too seriously, at least not to the point that it loses its fun for both you and others who are playing with you. A small excellent humor can go a long way.

These tips and suggestions may seem very simple, and for the most part they are, but if you place them in practice you can be sure of both shooting a lower score and having fun every time out on the course.

First, you must identify your objective on the range. Some people are trying to fix a slice or a hook while others are trying to add distance to their shots. If you do not know what your objective is you will not know if you have achieved it. You may not have a noticeable flaw to right but you need to train your muscles so you can make excellent shots consistently. So hitting consistently is your objective in that case. Just make sure you have a clear thought of your purpose.

Second, it does not matter too much if you quit slicing or hooking the ball, or if you add 30 yards to your drive if your shots are spraying to the left or right. You may have eliminated the slice in your ball flight, but did the ball really go towards your target? I have heard people “oooh” and “ahhh” over their practice shots even though one went well to the left of what appeared to be their target line and the next went just as far to the right. Make sure you identify a target and gauge if you are hitting the ball within a few yards on either side of that target until the balls rolls to a stop.

Third, always hit a variety of clubs in a random order on the range. This will better reflect how a real round of golf is played. You never hit your seven iron fifteen times in a row on a normal round of golf so do not get locked into hitting only your seven iron on the practice range even if it is your seven iron that needs the work. For example, to work on your seven iron try hitting your seven a few times, then hit a 3-wood a couple of times, then hit a four-iron, then a wedge, then back to the seven for a few shots. This will help you practice your set-up routine for various shots since usually you address the ball and take your stance slightly differently for woods, low irons and high irons respectively.

Fourth, do not be in a rush. Take a break for a minute or two after hitting a dozen balls or so. If you exhaust yourself you may start making poor swings due to your tiring out that would nearly never happen in a round of golf because on the course there is nearly always a few minutes between shots that require a full swing.

Finally, take time at home some evening to write down on an index card the swing keys that help you prepare for taking a golf shot. Most people will have a list of five to eight things. Go through your set-up routine in your mind and jot down, in order, what you do to check your alignment, grip, stance, weight distribution, etc… and take that card with you to the practice range. Then read it over before EVERY practice shot for the first ten or fifteen shots. Train your mind to go through that list so it becomes a habit when you are playing a round of golf.

Hopefully you will develop your own list of golf tips from your time spent on the practice range and you will graduate from just “hitting balls” to really tuning your swing by having a yard stick by which to measure your results on the practice range.

Stance

A consistent position helps develop a consistent swing. A square stance will encourage a square impact. Keep feet perfectly parallel to the target line. If you imagine standing on a train track your feet are against one rail the ball is next to the other. Develop a comfortable standing position with your feet directly below your shoulders with your toes slightly outward facing.

Position the ball 2-3 inches inside the left heel for most shots. If it is too far forward you will be more likely to slice.

Moving one foot slightly forward will enable either fade (outside to inside) or draw (inside to outside). Experiment with the shot direction on how much you go your foot.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do always check the position of the ball using your clubs aligned on the ground.

Do take your time to settle into your stance and get relaxed.

Do be consistent with your stance.

Grip

A excellent grip is the foundation of your golf swing, enabling greater control and reducing your tendency to slice. A excellent grip helps keep the club-head square at impact and stops the shaft from rotating in your hands.

The most well loved grip used by professional golfers is the Vardon grip.

Place your small finger on the lower hand on the club (right hand for a right-handed player – known as the trailing hand) and place it between the index and middle finger on the top hand (known as the lead hand). The thumb of the lead-hand should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand (the V). Look to get a relaxed and comfortable feel, a tight grip will hinder your swing. The V’s formed by the index finger and thumbs on both hands point between the chin and right shoulder. Turning hands anti-clockwise on the club shaft produces a weak grip, promoting a left-to-right flight of the ball (slice). Turning hands clockwise produces a strong grip, promoting a right-to-left flight of the ball (hook).

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t grip the club too tightly

Do keep the rubber grips on your club handles in excellent condition. Worn grips cause problems by forcing you to hold the club too tightly.

Do get a feel for the grip by practising frequently gripping and re-gripping the club regularly.

Alignment

When you are practising, make sure your use you clubs as alignment. Lay one club on the ground parallel to the target line and another from toe to toe indicating the direction of your stance. To indicate the ball position, lay another club at 90deg’s to the target line extending backward from the ball toward your feet. Now check it all. When you are pleased with the alignment you can a club across your shoulders, hips and thighs to check everything is aligned parallel to the target!

Do’s and Don’ts

Do check, check and check again, it will be invaluable to troubleshoot any problems.

Don’t leave the club between your feet longer than necessary but feel free to leave one club on the ground parallel to the target line during practice sessions.

Swing Path

To get a straight shot you require an inside to square i.e. hitting the ball squarely swing-path. An inside to outside swing-path encourages a hook, outside to inside swing-path a slice. Imagine a line extending through the ball to the target, your goal is a swing-path that starts on the inside striking the ball while moving slightly to the outside.

Also you can direct the ball with the club face – straight 90deg to the ball

Clubface open (>90deg) to ball encourages a slice or fade

Clubface closed (

Do’s and Don’ts

Do take some time and watch golfers practice. If you stand behind a practising golfer you can watch the variations in swing path and club face and see how it affects the shot, note the variations in swing path path and divot direction to see the shots produced..

Your pre shot routine

These tips may seem very time consuming at first but soon they will become second nature. When plotting the shot ahead, look from behind the ball. Pick a target a few feet away (e.g. a leaf or divot) is simpler and more accurate than aiming at 200 yards away. Stand about a foot behind where you will make your next shot and take a smooth practice swing or two focusing all your attention on the shot. Check the advice you have already learned above and build it into a routine, apply the thoughts and techniques in a particular order. Then and only then, take your final stance and start your shot. It is vital to develop your own routine but make sure it is consistent for every shot, it enables the brain and muscles to develop memory.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do practice your pre-shot routine on the range you can ‘zone in’ without too many distractions. It is more hard to develop when playing with other people or on the course.

Fault Fixing

Do’s and Don’ts

Do firstly identify the problem (whether it is slicing, hooking, lack of distance, etc).

Do verify the problem is there by asking another golfer to watch you take a few shots or video’ing yourself.

Don’t ignore it, it terrible habits can be hard to shake off over time.

Do find the cause of the problem. Start with the fundamentals of grip, stance, balance, alignment, etc. Take some shots changing each fundamental one at a time.

Do plot your course of action.

Do practice it again and again, repetition will help you build confidence.

Do try to give it enough time to fix.

Don’t be worried of taking further advice.

Do look at the best golfer you are with and observe carefully. Check out for body position, stance, how high they lift the club and the motion used when they swing the club. Then apply it to your own game.

Golf swing

You really do need to have a handle on the fundamentals before you will be able to go to perfecting your swing. Although there is no such thing as a perfect swing, every golfer does it slightly differently. Once you have read the tips and advice, you need to place those techniques to work. Practice as often as you can until your you have found what works for you and best swing has become second nature. You can never practice too much!

Observation

Observe other players whether on the range, course or TV, you can always buy an instructional video. What are they doing that you are not?

Do’s and Don’ts

Do speak to other players, they will usually be pleased to share some tips with you.

Do video tape golf on tv and watch them in slow motion.

The Mirror

Practice your own swing in a mirror or video yourself so you can see the differences between what you reckon you are doing and what you are really doing, you may be surprised!

Do’s and Don’ts

Do check back on a regular basis to see if any terrible habits have developed over time.

Head Position

Keep your head still and look straight at the ball. The position of your head should be straight in line with your spine, and your nose should be raised up a bit so that when you start to swing, your left shoulder fits under your chin. Don’t tuck your head into your chest as you will not be able to perform a proper swing.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do try to lean your body slightly forward to try to find the best place to keep your head so it doesn’t impede your swing but you can see the ball clearly.

Relax

A very basic step but crucial to your swing and your game in general, simpler said than done I know, especially when tee-ing off with an audience. But, relaxing your muscles will enable your body to perform exactly as it needs to perform a fantastic golf swing. When you have lined up your shot and taken your stance, systematically reckon about relaxing every muscle group in turn from your feet, lower legs, upper legs, lower back… all the way to your head. Continue this flexibility through your swing and it will work wonders.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do try on and off course techniques, consider cardio exercise, yoga or meditation.

Balance

Balance is very vital through the whole duration of your swing, just like everything else it needs to be practiced. A excellent way to practice improving your balance is to get in the address position with your club (in stance with the club out in front behind the ball), relax your body and try holding it completely still for about 30 seconds (closing your eyes may help). Does it feel unbalanced like you have more weight on one foot or the other? Is one part of your body tighter or more tense than another? Adjust your balance accordingly so everything feels balanced.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do try slow practice swings to see if you get off-balance at any point during the swing.

Wrist Strength

The wrists play several roles the wrists in your golf swing, but the two most vital are:

Controlling throughout the swing and with the proper clubface alignment.

Adding extra power at the point of impact.

You need to resist temptation to tighten your grip, so your wrists need to be strong to control the club throughout your swing. A simple exercise to improve wrist strength:

· Stand with a club at your side

· Lift the club up to 90deg by keeping your arm by your side, only using your wrist.

· You should feel the wrist and forearms taking the pressure, repeat 15-20 times as often as possible. Try longer clubs for more difficulty.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do try other gym based exercises to maximise your wrist, arm and torso strength.

Try reducing your backswing

There is a tendency for inexperienced players to have too long a backswing. You may lose accuracy or balance by swinging too far. Try varying your backswing from very small to very long to see what suits you best. Twist your shoulders until you feel tight, this should be the place to start, don’t rotate your hips to try to lift the club further. You can increase power by hinging your wrist up to 90deg to make them more flexible rather than keeping them locked. Keep it relaxed and you will notice the difference.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do experiment with different combinations of backswing and wrist flex.

Slow it down!

If you swing your arms too quick, your body can’t keep up, therefore you do not get the full power of your trunk and legs. You will also have difficulty keeping your club straight as it swings through impact.

Try this technique: hold the club at about waist height and swing the club, do it a few times and note how your body feels while doing it. As you swing, the club makes that sweet swishing sound, make a note of how it sounds. Now the challenge is to make the club swing quicker, shift your body weight during the swing from the right leg to the left leg allowing your body to turn. By letting your arms swing freely you will notice the swishing sound is quicker as you increase the speed of your body. Apply this now to your actual hitting swing, by increasing your trunk rotation but keeping your arms free.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do keep trying this until the swing becomes second nature.

Don’t reckon about putting power into the ball, this will only speed your arms up again. Just reckon about body rotation and shifting body weight your arms will follow your body through. The body is where the real power comes from.

Trying too hard – topping the ball

You really want to whack this next ball 100s of yards, but all you do is ‘top’ it and send it dribbling down the fairway. Why does this happen? It is usually one of two reasons. The first is down to poor stance (see above) because your body was not balanced when you assumed your stance position, leaning over too much. Your body instinctively tries to re-balance, raising up mid swing, your club comes down off the ground higher than you started, causing you to hit the top of the ball.

Another reason is because you set up with your arms extended, then bending your arms during the swing.

To stop this from happening, don’t try so hard, stop trying to get too much power in the shot. Focus on getting the ball in the air rather than power. If you get every ball airborne, rather than on the ground, you will be consistently hitting shots correctly, this will give you more confidence.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do try to get it up in the air before concentrating on extending the distance.

Do keep your arm extension the same throughout the swing.

Download Part 2 of this report – Small Game and Putting Tips at http://winning-golf-tips.freehostia.com

You want that to happen this season?

You are tired of spending money on new Clubs, Gadgets, Balls… and more Balls?

So let me give you five tips for 2009. This isn’t Golf Instruction, (I’m not even going to mention the technical elements of your golf swing).

Just Five golf tips to lowers your scores and help you delight in your game more.

Five golf tips from my observations as a golfer.

TIP ONE – PLAY BOGEY GOLF

If you have never shot under 90 then you have got to, and I mean absolutely “Got To”, try playing the course for bogey. A Par 3 is a 4, a Par 4 is a 5 and a Par 5 is a 6. Get It? Just try it a for a couple of rounds. I dare you. I see so many people trying to hit to the extreme on every shot. Trying to carry a lake from a sloping lie out of a divot. Trying to hit a long iron to a narrow green with bunkers left and right. Stop doing it! Lay up, but lay up to a distance for a shot that you are much more pleased to take on.

Even on a long Par 3 of say 210 yards. Try hitting a wedge. Hitting another wedge to the green. Then two putt for a bogey. There is no shame in it. At the same time you will master your wedges more, and that’s where the money is made.

TIP TWO – LOOSE THE LONG IRONS

I have hardly ever played with anyone that could consistently hit either their 3 iron or 4 iron. I was one of them. So take them out of the bag and replace them with wedges. I carry 5 wedges in my bag, because when you get 100 Yards and in, it gets really hard to hit from 90, 80, 70 and 60 Yards with only one or two wedges. You have to be a master. Which none of us mere mortal golfers are. After all that’s why you are still reading.

TIP THREE – KNOW YOUR DISTANCES

And I’m talking about every club in your bag. My game changed immensely, when I bought myself a range finder. For the first time I realized that I really had NO THOUGHT, how far I hit any of my clubs. So I grabbed my clubs, went to a local park and, using my new toy. I hit ball after ball after ball, just to get a real thought of the distance I hit each club.

Now PLEASE LISTEN. I’m talking my average distance per club. Not my best distance. I don’t want to be trying to hit 100% with every shot with every club. We are looking for consistency here. Do you know your distances? NO. Then grab a tape measure and get down the park.

TIP FOUR – NEGATIVE THINKING

I see and here so much negative thinking from a lot of golfers out there on the courses. The distress is. It spoils their shots and that in turn spoils their game.

My Father is a fine example of this. He will walk up to a putt of 18 inches to 2 feet, and without fail he will say something like. “I despise these ones. I always miss them”

Guess what he does next folks. Yep! He misses it. We have all done it. Some of us still are. We look at the carry over the lake and in our mind we say “Please don’t go in the lake” But here’s how it works. Guess what the last thing our mind heard as were addressing that ball?” “IN THE LAKE” Without fail, that’s where it will end up.

Stop looking at Lakes, Ponds, Bunkers, etc. Only see your landing spot and visualize your balls flight to that point. If you really are not sure if you can carry the lake. Then you clearly did not READ TIP ONE

TIP FIVE – STOP BUYING NEW CLUBS

I have the same set of Mizuno Irons (EZ Comp circa 2000), that I’ve had for years. I wouldn’t change them for anything. Well maybe for some….NO GET A GRIP STEPHEN! New clubs aren’t going to make your game better. Not until you have got through Tips One to Five and mastered them. Yet I see guys every year with “THE LATEST GREATEST, SUPEREST DUPEREST” Driver in their Bag. They can a hit a ball into the trees with a lot more power this year. If you are going to spend money on ANYTHING this year. Make it some type of lesson.

Go to your local club and sign up for some One-On-One lessons with the Pro, or try out one of the many On-Line golf instruction programs that are available.In fact I’d rather you spent the ‘New Driver’ money on , a couple of books, a couple of DVD’s and a decent swing tempo gadget! You’re going to get far more out of these.

So get out there at least 2 times a week this year. Try my tips and let me know how you get on. Best Wishes to you all and thanks for reading.

Steve Snead

As a beginner, do not rush out and buy a set of high priced clubs. Buy a set of used clubs, or better yet rent your clubs. Take a small time to see if you really delight in the game of golf, and if you will stick to it first. The used or rented clubs won’t be the top of the line, but they will get you through several games of golf to see if you are going to stick with it. This is also a excellent opportunity to start researching exactly what clubs you need when you are ready to buy a new set.

Golf is fun, but the sport should not be taken lightly. It is a sport – it isn’t just a bunch of retired men knocking a ball around. It takes a fantastic deal of skill and technique to master the game. The pros you see on television make it look quite simple – but it isn’t. The concepts you will learn from more experienced golfers will sound simple – and look simple – in theory, but in practice, they are quite hard. The sooner you realize this, the quicker you will start to improve your game.

While golf does require skill and technique, it is still meant to be loved and the experience should be relaxing. If you get mad over terrible shots or you find that you are not enjoying the game, you should back up and re-evaluate your reasons for playing the game. Try to look at things from a new perspective. It is a game that tests your skill – but it should not test your patience!

Choose your golf aids carefully. A fantastic deal of money can be wasted on aids, courses, and videos that turn out to not be any help at all. When possible, buy used aids, courses, and videos. Save your golfing money for more vital things – like clubs, balls, and tees! Used clubs aren’t very excellent – used training equipment usually works quite well.

Golf is fantastic exercise. Riding in a golf cart defeats that purpose though. Walk, don’t ride! Save the cart for the days when you really are too ancient to walk a small distance – take advantage of the exercise that you will get by walking from one tee to the next, and take the time to really delight in the walk!

Alcohol is often served at the clubhouse – but you should wait until you end your round of golf before consuming any. First, the alcohol will greatly alter your game. Second, alcohol is a dehydrating substance, and this isn’t safe in the hot sun. Carry water with you during your game, and make sure you drink plenty of it!

Becoming excellent at the game takes a lot of practice. Use your practice sessions to learn what mistakes you are making, and work to right them. Don’t just keep making the same mistakes over and over, thinking that it doesn’t matter, or that it is too hard to learn! If you’re going to play, play to win!

Use training aids, and if possible, video tape yourself playing a round of golf, making sure that you get close up shots of you teeing off, close up shots of the club hitting the ball on the tee-off, and even shots of you putting. Have a friend run the camera for you for best results, and review the tape in slow motion to see what needs the most work.

The most vital golf tips you will ever receive are the ones that focus on excellent sportsmanship. Never make fun of other players. Some people do look amusing playing golf – but those amusing looking people can probably beat every aspect of your game, and they will have the last laugh. Be respectful of your fellow golfers, and listen closely to the advice of the seasoned players.

Our minds and bodies have their own unique system of working. When your mind is uncluttered then your body seems to work the best. This phrase means that you just let your body do its thing rather than trying to reckon through your actions. The trick is to train yourself to make this a custom and not an uncommon feat of achievement.

Here comes the first tip. Learn how to switch off your mind and give permission to your body to swing without interrupting it consciously. Your body remembers how to swing it correctly, if you have successfully done that.

A terrific way to materialize such a thing is to recall the time when you had achieved that fantastic swing. Visualize the scene in detail. Then remember how it felt. Mentally play it out in your inner eye and get back that wonderful feeling again. Now play it out. This is an simple, simple and effective exercise.

Know that a excellent grip is the first step towards playing excellent golf. For your performance on the course your golf grip is crucially of consequence.

Most of the professional golfers have very similar golf grips. So keep your eyes open.

You have to experiment to find the hand position that suits your individual style the best. It is something you must train yourself for. Being consistent is the most crucial thing. Stick with the grip once you land upon it through the trial and error method.

Only when you hold the club exactly in a similar way every single time can you really tell whether your golf grip gives you the achieved outcome. Practice and learn to grip the golf club the same way whenever you play.

So your second golf tip is to find out the golf grip that works best for you and continue with it.

When you choose a club that always make sure to question yourself, “How far must I back off of this swing?” the 75% rule works best. Make a ¾ backswing and follow through, concentrating on controlling the direction and distance of the shot.

A club that is heavy will give you the force you need to improve your control and aiming the target. If you practice with heavier clubs then you will have the capacity to swing with more control since you will not be investing all your strength into it.

You will see that you are making better contacts more and more with the ¾ swing and will now start to hit the ball farther with that wonderful control in your swing than the full whack.

The third golf trip is to play with a heavier club and lower your swing to 75%. This way you will get power and control that is much better.

1. Never Break the Bank with the First Set of Clubs You Have

When you start, you are not going to delight in all of the usefulness that you get from the best set of golf clubs. You are not going to have the club head speed or consistent contact that is needed because you are a beginner. What you can do is buy a cheaper set. A better thought would be to get yourself a set that has already been used. Until the time you realize which clubs would best suit you, you may also want to borrow a set from any of your friends who are already experienced players.

2. Take your Instructions from the Right Person

My suggestion is to really know the rules of the game you need to get your training from a professional. Your relatives, friends and at times even people who do not know you may believe they have the golf tips for beginners that will take care of all your difficulties. It is very right that your friends who are quite excellent at the game may offer you tips which may help you when you are just starting. But golf pros are experienced in tackling swing problems and explaining things to you in terms of how swing problems may affect ball flight. I believe that even two to three lessons on golf will aid you to establish a strong basis for your game and lessons are available at nearly any golf course.

3. Have Fun with the Game

One of the best golf tips for starters is to just delight in yourself when your out in the field. This may sound too simple, but bear it in mind that considering everything you may not get your PGA card. Remember also that golf is a leisure game. So being competitive is all right and you are of course going to place in effort for improvement. But play it slow and steady and have a excellent time with your friends too.

The above mentioned tips for golfers who are just beginning can be a real excellent stimulant. Golf can be one of the ideal ways to spend your free time, given the conditions that you get the perfect clubs to start with, take instructions from the right people, and have fun.

* Warm up by practicing without a ball. Use a middle iron to aim at a blade of grass or a twig. Do not start hitting a ball until you can hit the object you are aiming at consistently. This will help your concentration and ease tension.

* Believe in your “gut” instincts. When selecting a club, the 1st club that comes to mind is generally the club you should select. Trying to “outsmart” yourself will only hurt your confidence.

* While talking during a round, make sure you use positive words and expressions. For example, do not say,”I have to use my sand wedge”, you want to say, “I GET to use my sand wedge.”

* Do not be influenced by what your opponents say. Concentrate on the success of your next shot. Get your golf tips from professionals.

* If you hit an unsuccessful shot, do not immediately try and change things. Only when you are consistently hitting the same variety of terrible shots should you make adjustments. Quite often it is your grip that is at fault.

* Many problems get worse when golfers start rushing. Do not address the ball until you are ready. Very often, taking a deep breath will help cool your nerves.

* Your eyes are a critical part of the success of your game. Be sure to see the whole ball, not just a part of it. Make sure that your vision is checked regularly.

* Do not overswing. Many golfers worry about hitting the ball a fantastic distance. Make a belief system that the ball will go a long way if you do not worry about it. Just be concerned with making solid contact.

* Without fail, your left arm should be straight when striking the ball.

* When in doubt, check your grip and stance

Hopefully these tips will help you with your game. Harvey Penick is a fantastic advocate of ENJOYING golf, not just playing the game. And the suggestions in this article are some of his most well-known golf tips.