Article by Victor Aragon

I remember when I first attempted to play a round of golf, how frustrating it was and how much I disliked it. The only reason for my ill feelings were because I was very bad at it. I could not understand that, because I was very good in all other sports, like football, basketball and baseball. Why was I so bad at golf? So I decided to actually practice this sport and before long, I was getting better. I learned quickly that becoming frustrated when I hit a bad shot was a very big nono. So I then read a book and put these suggestions to practice.

7 Golf tips on how to improve your next round of golf!

1. PREPARE LIKE A PRO: Show up an hour before your tee time so you can check your golf equipment. Are your golf clubs, golf balls, golf shoes clean? STRETCH! Warm up, then check your golf swing mechanics. Hit the putting green,then head over to the driving range. Now you’re ready to tee off!

2. STAY FOCUSED: All through out the day concentrate on “the shot at hand”. Pay no mind to past shots or future shots, or you will end up some where you don’t want to be. If you do hit a bad shot, (we all do) let it go or it will ruin your whole round. Remember golf is a very mental game.

3. MAKE YOUR FIRST TEE SHOT COUNT! This is the most important golf shot of the day, and it will dictate how you play your round. Think about it, if you smash it right down the middle of the fairway your going to be enthused to play. If not your mindset will be one of doubt. So relax, have fun and believe!

4. READING THE GREENS: When your shooting the second shot you may need to figure out how the golf ball is going to roll. Squat down and take a look, this will give you an alternate view so you can measure distance and gauge the speed of the golf ball. If your foursome is hitting before you, take notice of how they played their shots, and adjust your play from their results.

5. DON’T HIT UP! Let it roll man let it roll! Almost all golfers make the mistake of chipping the ball high in the air, why? (I did this too) But really if you limit your back swing and punch it, you will find it way easier to gauge. Think about it; a rolling golf ball, or a bouncing golf ball!

6. PUTTING ON A DIME: When you are practicing your putting. Go ahead and place a dime anywhere on the putting green, and drop seven or eight golf balls all around in different spots. Then try to putt as close as you can to the dime from the different spots. A smaller object (the dime), will allow you to get a feel for the speed of the green. It also will allow you to find the “middle” of the cup. Remember 3 and 4 putting will always kill a good drive all of the time.

7. PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE: If there is one sport that you have to practice to get better at, it is GOLF! There are so many ways to fail, if you are not tuned in. Clearing your mind before heading out, and visualizing a great round is a necessity for less stress and better golf. Putting, chipping, golf swing,and balance all have to be considered. Remember even Tiger Woods needs to practice, and even he falls short sometimes.

About the Author

As I stated in the beginning, I was terrible at golf. Then I picked up a book and learned how not to be so terrible. If you’re a beginner, man golfer or woman golfer, intermediate or pro, you really should check out this site. There is so much more FREE tips and FREE bonuses to help you with your golf game => http://shootinginthe70sgolf.com

It’s a given that every golfer wants to know how to drive a golf ball straight. The challenge is the driver is one of the most difficult clubs to master. A simple rule of thumb is the longer the club, the harder it is to use properly. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to learn how to drive a golf ball straight; you’ll just need a few tips and some consistent practice.

The very best shot off the tee is one that does not impart a lot of backspin to the ball, travels low, and has enough power to add yards by rolling once it lands. If you can achieve all of these elements, your game will improve significantly.

One of the first steps to learning how to drive a golf ball straight

- is understanding the importance of leverage throughout the entire swing. To achieve proper leverage, keep your head behind the golf ball from address to impact.

The second most important issue is that distance comes more from club head speed than arm strength. Golfers who try to muscle their way through the shot will almost always end up with a poorly hit ball. It is the hips and legs that generate speed and power, so use them.

Other clubs may be somewhat flexible when it comes to swing path, but not the driver. As you begin your back swing, keep the swing plane low (or shallow).

Another factor to keep in mind when learning how to drive a golf ball straight is to have your hands lead the club head at impact. This is what people mean when they say to “let your wrists break”.

A common mistake some golfers make is to try to suddenly stop their swing once they hit the ball. To avoid that, let your arms and body move all the way through the swing, including the follow through.

Another key to learning how to drive a golf ball straight

- is to not grip the club too tightly. Concentrate on whipping the golf ball with the club rather than chopping at it.

If you have a tendency to slice the ball, try slowing your downswing. You may be coming down too fast or too hard, causing you to come out of the proper swing path. Another tip for avoiding the slice is to examine your grip. If you cannot see two or three knuckles when looking down at your grip, you are setting yourself up for a slice.

This same grip tip applies to those who hook the ball. If you look down at your grip and see more than two or three knuckles, your grip is going to change at impact and cause a severe hook.

One last tip for learning how to drive a golf ball straight is to make sure you are not pulling or pushing the ball. This can happen whether you are coming off the tee or hitting off the fairway.

You can tell if you are pushing or pulling the ball by looking at the divot that’s left behind. If the divot is pointing to the left or right of your target line, your body is not properly aligned.

Try implementing some of these tips and see if your game improves. Remember, the best tip for learning how to drive a golf ball straight is to keep at it.  One other thing is keeping your back muscles loose and from fatiguing.  One product that can help is AMR-7 arthritis and muscle pain relief gel by Performance Health, LLC.

Are you looking for some golf distance tips that really work? We’ve compiled some highly effective techniques to boost your yardage. As with all golf distance tips, it’s essential that you get out there and practice them.

One of the best golf distance tips is to never sacrifice accuracy for length. It means nothing to hit your ball a long way down the fairway if the shot is wild or ends up in the water hazard. For most recreational players, accuracy should trump distance.

To gain some added yards, try angling your left foot (if you are right-handed). The hips are your primary source of power—although your hands hold the club and your arms swing it, your hips generate the energy you need for long shots.

When you angle your left foot just a few degrees toward the outside, your hips have a better chance of completing their full turn. The boost in power will result in an increase in yardage.

Correct Posture with increase golf ball distance

Another of the more effective golf distance tips is to watch your posture as you take your stance. In order for your hips to generate as much energy as possible, you must flex your knees at address. This enables your weight to shift smoothly from the right to the left side as you hit the ball.

Up until now, your hands have played only a minor role in the golf swing. Now, as your hips move through the strike zone and the club head approaches the ball, you need to release with the right hand. Just as the club makes contact with the ball, your right hand should snap forward. This is one of the best golf distance tips, and also one of the most challenging. But once you do master this technique, you can gain a good ten to twenty yards. This works with tee shots as well as fairway shots.

When trying to get extra yards, many people make the mistake of hitting the ball with the arms, attempting to muscle their way through the swing.

Club head speed is key to adding distance to your golf shot

The trick to adding yards to your shots lies in club head speed. It may be true that players with more muscular strength have a slight advantage, but when a player tries to use his or her arms as the source of power, they often fail. Nine times out of ten, they end up allowing the club face to close or open, resulting in a hook or a slice and decreasing their distance. Avoid the urge to rip the ball.

You’ll also want to add the draw shot to your arsenal. A draw is when the ball leaves the tee heading right and curves back to the left. This shot normally has a low trajectory and will roll a considerable distance once it lands on fairway. Many professionals consider the draw to be their favorite shot.

To sum up our golf distance tips, remember the importance of practicing. To improve your yardage and your overall game, you simply have to get out to the range and put these techniques into use. There is no substitute for hands-on training when it comes to perfecting your swing.

Just one more tip to add yards to every golf shot is keep your back muscles loose and fresh.  You can achieve this with AMR-7 arthritis and muscle pain relief gel by Performance Health, LLC.  For only $19.95 the cool menthol gel has medical herbs that help relax strained muscles and reduce pain.

Let’s begin with the disclaimer that there are many types of chips you can make when you get close to the green. In other words, there is no single approved method for getting the ball closer to the hole. The effectiveness of your chipping will depend on the lie you have, the length of the grass, how far you are from the hole, and the condition of the green.

Let’s start our golf chipping tips with a standard chip. This shot is played when you are close to green but not on it. Generally, you play it with either your nine-iron or any wedge you are comfortable using. The rule of thumb is that a good chip will fly about 1/3 of the way to the cup and then roll the rest of the way. This shot should be played in the center of your stance with your hands well ahead of the ball and the club face square.

Repetition is key to better golf chipping shots

As we proceed with our golf chipping tips, we’ll take a look at the soft shot. This type of shot allows the ball to fly farther and land softly close to (and hopefully rolling into) the cup. The most common club used for a soft chip shot is the lob wedge, but the sand wedge can also be used.

For the soft shot, you should address the ball with your club face open a bit. Play the ball forward and keep your hands behind it during the swing. It is imperative that you learn to accelerate the club head for this shot. When performed correctly, the ball will fly high for a short distance and then land softly and roll just a little.

If there is a lot of green between you and the hole, you might try the low chip shot. This shot is normally done with a mid-iron, such as the six- or seven-iron. You must play the ball toward the back of your stance to get the descending type of impact you need. Again, keep your hands ahead of the club head and the club face square to the target.

This shot creates the most roll once the ball lands on the green, and is good to use when you can aim right at the hole but are worried about going too far past it. This can occur if a sand trap or water hazard is close to the rear side of the hole.

Practice make perfect and improve your score with golf chipping skills

Above all, the best golf chipping tip you can get is to practice by regularly using all of your chip clubs, from mid-irons to wedges. Each requires its own setup and swing, and the only way to master all of these options is to get to the range and put them to work.

Start with the standard shot and move on to the soft shot, the two shots you will use the most on any given day. Once you have this mastered, move on to the low shot. This may take more time to learn than the others, but it is well worth the investment.

By putting these golf chipping tips to work for you, you can begin to master your short game and achieve a lower score, time after time. Be patient, and keep practicing.

There is no reason your takeaway phase of the swing has to be complicated or difficult. We’ve compiled some golf back swing tips that cover the most important aspects and can be put into action right now.  These tips are are great for any age.  We have taught these tips to young golfers just starting out but it works for any age and any level of play.

Of the many golf back swing tips you will hear or read about, one is crucial. To make a successful shot, you have to play the ball correctly in your stance. Every shot you make has a proper ball position, and you should learn these as soon as possible.

When you take stance, make sure your hands are gripping the club properly. Most players use a neutral grip, neither too weak nor too strong. Do not choke the club too tightly—strive for a firm grip.

Another important golf back swing tip is to put a little flex in your knees. This allows your hips, which are the power behind every shot, to turn fully.

Keep both arms straight as you bring the club back. This promotes a constant distance between the club head and your hands. If you start bending your arms too early, the distance will shorten and will need to be corrected before impact. This can be prevented by keeping both arms straight during the first part of the takeaway.

When the club and your hands are about waist high, your right arm must bend at the elbow. As you start your takeaway motion, try not to allow your hands to rotate. This will achieve a wide arc as you bring the club back.

Swing speed is key to distance, however, back swing should be slow and easy

As your hands get to waist level, you should also turn your upper body and shoulders. Continue this motion until the club is at the top of your back swing. This coiling action generates the energy needed at impact. Many players have trouble mastering the skill of turning the hips until the top is reached. If that is true for you, try some flexibility exercises for your hips, legs, and shoulders.

Another effective golf back swing tip is to know where your “top” is. The top of the swing differs from one person to the next. Some players are able to bring the club well past parallel at the top, while others cannot make it all the way up. No matter where you fall on that scale, it is important to get the maximum height possible, as this will greatly increase the club head speed on the way down.

The last tip involves the transition that leads into the downswing. Avoid jerking the club; maintain smooth movements and initiate the downward swing with your hips, not your hands.

The first part of the overall swing is vital, because it sets up all subsequent movements.

If you find that you are missing a lot of shots, keep these golf back swing tips in mind. Often, a missed shot can be caused by something that went wrong in the first part of the swing. If possible, have an experienced golfer watch you as you do a few slow motion swings. This is the fastest and more effective way to pinpoint and resolve a problem.

For additional golf tips to lower your score read golf chipping and pitching tips.

Any seasoned golfer will tell you that the short game can be stroke-hungry, and that what happens on the green can wreak havoc on an otherwise good score. 3-putts, 4-putts, and even 5-putts are more common than you might think—but there is good news. Putting drills can dramatically help golfers hone their skills on the green, resulting in fewer total strokes.

When it comes to putting drills, spend time concentrating on the three essentials:

• Keeping the face square

• Maintaining a smooth swing

• Achieving distance control

Keeping the Face Square – putting drill:

If you are in the habit of hitting the ball with your blade open or closed, try this:

Place a ball on the practice green and put a tee in the ground about twelve inches behind the ball. Put a silver coin on the ground about six inches in front of the ball. Bring your putter back until it taps the tee and then swing it forward, watching to ensure that the face stays square as it passes over the coin.

Maintaining a Smooth Swing

Putting drills should have a specific purpose and specific goal. With this next tip, you can learn to swing the club smoothly, which is key to maintaining your tempo and striking the ball solidly.

Again, place a ball on the practice green and stick a tee into the ground about 12 inches behind the ball. Bring the club back until it just barely nicks the tee and then immediately go into your fore-swing.

Keep your arms moving in a pendulum fashion and keep your hands still.

Achieving distance control – putting drill:

One of the most crucial putting drills is learning distance control. The only way to master distance control is through your own touch or feel. Nothing else can replace hands-on practice time when it comes to honing your skills on the green.

There are dozens of practice exercises for distance control, but one of the best is to simply stake out five tees, four feet apart, with the last tee being 20 feet away. Then, concentrate on getting the ball to each of the tees consistently.

If the ball rolls a few inches past the tee, that’s fine. What you don’t want to see is the ball stopping short of or rolling well beyond the target tee.

Notice that you are not aiming at a flag or a cup with this exercise, as this could distract you and cause you to focus more on accuracy than distance. While it’s true that distance and accuracy must work together, there are times when they should not be learned together.

These are only a few of the many putting drills that are available from golf pros and golfing websites. To master your skill on the green, you will need to invest time and energy. Learn to read the green and how to lag a putt, but most of all, learn to love putting drills. They really do work.

For more tips on lowering your score read this post on how to  learn to hit the golf ball straight.

Let’s begin with the disclaimer that there are many types of chips you can make when you get close to the green. In other words, there is no single approved method for getting the ball closer to the hole. The effectiveness of your chipping will depend on the lie you have, the length of the grass, how far you are from the hole, and the condition of the green.

Short Game Practice Drills for Chipping and Pitching:

This shot is played when you are close to green but not on it.  Generally, you play it with either your nine-iron or any wedge you are comfortable using. The rule of thumb is that a good chip will fly about 1/3 of the way to the cup and then roll the rest of the way. This shot should be played in the center of your stance with your hands well ahead of the ball and the club face square.

As we proceed with our golf chipping tips, we’ll take a look at the soft shot. This type of shot allows the ball to fly farther and land softly close to (and hopefully rolling into) the cup. The most common club used for a soft chip shot is the lob wedge, but the sand wedge can also be used.

For the soft shot, you should address the ball with your club face open a bit. Play the ball forward and keep your hands behind it during the swing. It is imperative that you learn to accelerate the club head for this shot. When performed correctly, the ball will fly high for a short distance and then land softly and roll just a little.

When to hit a high chip shot or a low chip shot in your short game:

If there is a lot of green between you and the hole, you might try the low chip shot. This shot is normally done with a mid-iron, such as the six- or seven-iron. You must play the ball toward the back of your stance to get the descending type of impact you need. Again, keep your hands ahead of the club head and the club face square to the target.

This shot creates the most roll once the ball lands on the green, and is good  to use when you can aim right at the hole but are worried about going too far past it. This can occur if a sand trap or water hazard is close to the rear side of the hole.

Above all, the best golf chipping tip you can get is to practice by regularly using  all of your chip clubs, from mid-irons to wedges. Each requires its own setup and swing, and the only way to master all of these options is to get to the range and put them to work.

Start with the standard shot and move on to the soft shot, the two shots you will use the most on any given day. Once you have these mastered, move on to the low shot. This may take more time to learn than the others, but it is well worth the investment.

By putting these golf chipping tips to work for you, you can begin to master your short game and achieve a lower score, time after time. Be patient, and keep practicing.

Want to add yards to every golf shot, read this post.

Although there are countless issues that can lead to slicing the ball, some are more common than others. One of the most frequent causes happens during address.

Most golfers prefer a square stance at address, where the feet, hips, and shoulders are in line with the target. If you move your left foot too far forward, the club face is likely to open at impact and the ball will fly to the right. The left foot should be directly under the left shoulder.

The same holds true for the shoulders and hips. If they are not square, the ball will not fly straight and true.

Your Grip is Key in Correcting a Slice:

The next step is correcting the grip. Many newer players grasp the club too tightly, which can cause the club head to open as it strikes the ball. Again, this will make the ball fly to the right. If the grip is too loose, the head will wobble at impact and that, too, can lead to slicing or hooking.

Along with tightness, your grip on the club should be neutral. Check your grip by looking down at it. You should be able to see two or three of your left-hand knuckles. If you cannot see any knuckles at all, this is a sign of an improper grip. As your hands come back into the hitting zone, they will rotate to a neutral position, causing the face to open.

Rotate your hands—not the club, just your hands—until you see a couple of knuckles. Try hitting a few balls using this new grip. Keep in mind that minor adjustments to your grip can go a long way. Keep working at it until you discover the right position for you. Once you have it, remember it!

Tempo, Do this and Correct Your Slice:

When correcting a slice, swing tempo is important. Many golfers have a tendency to try to use their arms as their power source to get some extra yards, but this almost never works. Once they get to the top of their backswing, they allow their hands to take over and lead the downswing. As the hands come down, with everything else following, the club face will almost undoubtedly open.

From start to finish, your swing should be smooth and relaxed. Avoid the temptation to jerk the club once you get to the top of your back swing. Let your hips start the downswing and everything else will follow.

Take a Look at Your Divot, Learn to Notice a Slice Divot:

Another useful tip to correct your slice is to look at your divot. If your divot is pointing too far to the right, this may be your problem. Again, check your posture at address and make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are in line with the target.

Above all, correcting a slice is a matter of finding the one or two things you are doing wrong and fixing them. This, of course, takes time and patience. If you work through the possible causes, you will eventually find the solution, and your enjoyment of the game will soar to new levels.

More tips on hitting the ball straight in this post.

When trying to correct this problem, get a golfing buddy if possible to watch your swing, and ask him or her to be on the lookout for the items discussed below.

Do You Drop Your Shoulder when Hitting the Golf Ball Fat:

The most common problem with hitting the ball fat is dropping your shoulder. This is the one that is farthest away from the target or back shoulder: right shoulder for right-handed golfers, left shoulder for left-handed golfers.

When your rear shoulder drops, the club hits the ground before it should, resulting in a nasty shot. More often than not, hitting the ball fat happens when a player tries to swing excessively hard, causing the downswing to start with a lot of hip motion.

As an example, try this effortless exercise. Take a club and assume your standard address. Bring the club up to the very top of your back swing and stop. With the golf club is at the top, shift your hip toward the target area, horizontally, and notice what happens to your back shoulder. It’s as expected dips down too!

If your friend is around, do this exercise over again, bit by bit, and ask him or her to observe your hips and shoulder and see if your shoulder dips. If so, you’ve possible found the cause of the trouble.

To right this issue, you have to learn how to use your lower body appropriately during the swing. Your hips need to twist, but don’t allow them to move. A straight forward way to make this happen is to concentrate on starting the downswing with your arms, and your hips will naturally follow.

Practice and Watch Your Shoulder on Your Back Swing:

Another good practice is to focus on keeping your forward shoulder down. During practice shots, your body will get the message.  Always take into account to keep your forward arm straight as you go into your back swing. When you get to the top, think “down” for your forward shoulder, and then move into your downswing. Your hips will uncoil, but do not allow them to move laterally.

The ideas presented here are easy enough to apply, but they require some time spent practicing and experimenting. The practice range is the best place to do this, also if you do not have a buddy available, you might be able to find someone to observe your swing.

As you work on this fix, remember to go through all of your clubs, not just the driver. Striking the ball fat can occur with any club, and you need to practice with each one to truly master a solid, crisp ball strike. Many players favor to start with the short irons and work their way up when learning a new skill set.

Fatigue and Sore Muscles Can Cause Hitting the Golf Ball Fat:

I am sure that you have been on the back nine and playing well when you go to hit that 180 yard approach shot to the green and thud you take out a big divot behind the golf ball.  This could be from fatigue.  I have found that a great way to prevent this is with a good muscle pain relief gel like AMR-7.  AMR-7 is a specially formulated menthol based gel that is cool to touch and immediately provides a relaxing and soothing relief form sore muscles.  For me it also prevents muscle spasms on the back nine.

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