Here are some tips that will help to improve your game.

All the tips below will help improve your game and reduce your score BUT, only as part of a structured practice regime. Golf is a bit like a calorie controlled diet, easy to read about but difficult to succeed. Take these tips to the practice ground first, work theme out in your swing, parctice them more and then take them to the course. Why not book a coaching session and let me explain what each tip requires you to do within your swing?


You Need a Good Grip!

The golf grip is the one thing all club golfers should strive to improve. It’s not just about keeping hold of the club, it’s about being able to ’use’ the club. A good grip offers directional control, trajectory control, short game control and extra distance. Have a good look at your grip, does it look like the grip Tiger uses or Lee Westwood’s ? If not it’s time to change, it can only improve your game.

Downhill Lies

When confronted with a downhill lie, you must go through your "mental checklist" to assure a good shot:

1.       Choose a more lofted club; the sloping terrain will de-loft your club.

2.       Set your body and weight toward the angle of the hill.

3.      Ball position will be in the back of the stance because the club will return at a steeper     angle.

4.      Aim your body and clubface left of the target as ball flight will be slightly left to right.

5.      Remember to swing easy and relax to maintain good balance.

Get in the right rhythm and get the right swing

The weight of the clubhead cannot be manipulated. It MUST be swung. A swing is accomplished when the club goes back and forth with the rhythm of a pendulum. The "tick-tock" of a pendulum is the beat of a great golf swing. Many golfers struggle with rhythm because of the anxiety to hit the ball quickly and desire for distance.

Here are two practice drills to try. The first is an oldie but a goodie. Count "one thousand one" on the backswing and "one thousand two" on the forward swing. By counting as you practice, you will see more consistency in your ball striking.

The second drill is called Full Swing-Half Effort. Make a full swing with a 7-iron or driver, but feel like you only use half effort coming forward. This will lead to a better change of directions and a feel of effortless clubhead speed.

Give these two drills a try and you will have the "rhythm".

Putting; Get the Basics Right

You must think of a putt, just like you would any other shot you play. When putting you have to move your arms, shoulders and hands to swing the putter, obvious you say, but to be able to ‘swing’ consistently and to be able to swing the putter in the direction you require you have to be in a position that will allow you to do it. Make sure your posture is good. Try and adopt the same principals as a full shot with the exception of being closer to the ball with your eyes directly above it and your shoulders level. Get the basics correct and then let the swing look after it’s self.  

After a Lay Off

After having a lay off from golf ease your way back into your game. Spend a couple of sessions on the driving range. Hit just 40 to 50 balls each session. Start by hitting a few balls with your feet together using half a swing and then take your normal stance and still using half a swing hit the rest of your balls.

Hitting balls with your feet together will help you get the feeling back of turning your body while swinging your arms to your target.

Use a 7 iron for this exercise leave your driver in the locker.

Make your short putts count.

How many times do miss a short putt just because you don’t take enough care over it.

Even on the shortest of putts take your time, make sure the face of your putter is lined up to where you want to hit the ball, and swing the putter in that direction using a positive stroke and strike  the ball. Sounds obvious, BUT?

More Positive Putting

Something I see a lot when playing is that  club golfers seem to always ‘lag’ their putts trying to coax the ball in to the hole and very often end up with the result of the ball wandering off to one side or the other of the hole.

Here’s a tip to make you a little more aggressive with your putts. Lay a club across the line of your putt about 6” away from the hole then practice putting so that the ball has to hop over the club shaft to reach the hole. The little extra force required for the ball to reach the hole is the speed you should be hitting the ball so it keeps its line when out on the course.

Bunker Shots Require a Shallow Angle of Attack into the Ball.

Regardless of the depth of sand in a bunker I regularly see club golfers take a steep aggressive downward swing when trying to get out of sand. This results in taking way too much sand and the ball moving just a few feet leaving the ball in the bunker or at best only just out. Try and take a smoother more shallow swing, taking just a sliver of sand from under the ball as you hit it, no more than an inch deep. As you make the swing feel you weight remains on your left side through out and swing to a smooth finish, holding the club face to the target through impact.