How to Play Golf – The Importance of Your Go-To Shot

How to Play Golf – The Importance of Your Go-To Shot

Article by Stephen Simmons







What Is A Go-To Shot?

Your go-to shot, is a shot you have practiced many times, and because it is repeatable has the greatest probability of success under the circumstances. You’ve seen Tiger hit his “stinger” many times under the stress of tournament conditions. You have seen many examples of the go-to shot when watching a PGA Tour telecast.

Tour players are willing to sacrifice significant distances to increase the odds of hitting the fairway. These players understand that the probability of hitting the green from 200 yards away in the fairway is much greater than hitting the green from 150 yards away in the deep rough, a deep fairway bunker, or behind the trees. They are willing to choose a club, even an iron, that increases the probability of hitting the fairway.

Finding Your Go-To Shot

Finding your go-to shot happens during a practice session on the range. This practice session needs to have your full attention and should not be part of your normal range practice.

Start by analyzing the range for structures that can be used as imaginary boundaries. Two greens or flag positions would be an example. The structures need to be the approximate width of a typical fairway on your course. One flag will mark the left rough, the left most position you can hit the ball without going into the rough. The right flag defines the right most fairway position. Your goal is to imagine a golf hole on the range that can be used to evaluate the success of several shots.

The next step is to select the longest club you think will be used on the greatest number of tee shots during a typical round of golf. Most golfers start with the driver. If you are a beginner golfer you can save yourself some time by starting with a three or five wood. Most golfers do not have the fundamentals to use the driver as their go-to shot. Even Tiger Woods has a go-to shot other than a driver. For 99% of us, the driver serves as a starting point that will not end up as our go-to shot.

Hit ten balls at your imaginary hole. Measure the results of the ten shots. How many shots stayed on the fairway and did not roll into the rough? If you hit more than 7 drives that stayed in the fairway you can congratulate yourself and then re-evaluate your imaginary hole to make sure that it is not too wide. You want this test to be difficult enough to really help you find a shot that you can rely on when the pressure is on. Your go-to shot should have a success percentage of at least 70 percent. Chances are that your success percentage with the driver was less than 70 percent, so go to the next club in your test, the three wood. Hit ten more balls using the three wood and measure the results.

Continue this process until you find a club that you can use that will get the ball into the fairway at least 70 percent of the time. You may find that you can only keep short irons in the fairway because your shot dispersion is to wide.

Identifying Your Ball Flight Tendency

The first time you try this test you may find that your shot dispersion is all over the range, some right and some left. The success of your go-to shot will be higher if you can identify your most natural ball flight tendency.

For Kenny Perry, his natural ball flight tendency is a right to left draw. The process of finding his go-to shot would be to aim down the right side of the hole and rely on his natural shot shape to curve the ball to the left and into the middle of the fairway. For a left to right player that hits a fade, the process would be the opposite.

In both of these cases the player is maximizing the space the ball can curve in the air, roll after landing, while staying in the fairway. All great players learn how to eliminate one half of the course or the other. It might seem that aiming down the middle of the fairway is your best option, however, that only gives you half of the golf hole to work with. Ben Hogan learned how to eliminate the left side of the hole which gave him the entire width of the fairway to work with. Jack Nicklaus also hit most of his shots with a left to right ball flight.

It will be much easier for you to find and practice a go-to shot if you can find your natural shot shape. If you hit a slice because you have an over the top club path, play your slice until you can straighten your shots.

Practicing Your Go-To Shot

For beginner golfers it is important to work with your PGA Professional to find your most natural ball flight pattern. Your goal should be to find a simple golf swing that repeats itself with reasonable certainty. If you want to change your pattern over time, work on that change during your practice sessions. Learn how to play golf by maximizing your opportunities for success. Learn how to play golf with your most natural ball flight tendency; right to left, or left to right.

For more accomplished players find the shot that has the highest probability for success. Your go-to shot will save you many dollars if you gamble or will help you win more competitions as a tournament golfer. Your biggest challenge will be learning a second go-to shot; the shot you can rely on if your primary go-to shot is not an option. What are you going to do if your primary right to left shot is blocked by a very large tree guarding the right side of the hole? Have you found a go-to left to right shot that can be played under these circumstances? If you can’t hit a left to right shot with any level of reasonable accuracy, what are your options for shooting the lowest number on the hole?

Regardless of your skill level, you need to practice your go-to shots during every practice session. You don’t have to hit a lot of go-to practice balls but you need to hit enough that keeps your confidence as high as possible so when it comes time to use the shot your ready.

You will also want to keep searching for the longest possible shot that you can rely on from the tee box. You may start out with a 2 iron as your go-to shot from the tee and then club up to a three wood with practice.

Go-to shots should not be limited to tee shots. You need to have a go-to fairway approach shot. and you need to have a go-to short game shot. Your golf scores will be lower, if during a round of golf, you only play golf shots that have been practiced on the range. Play golf like a pro. Find and practice your go-to shot.



About the Author

Stephen Simmons is the author and publisher of the Strategic Golfer Instruction Series. Steve is a single digit golfer living in San Antonio, Texas. Find more golf tips for beginners, proper golf swing, and how to play golf lessons located in how to play golf at http://www.strategicgolfer.com. Please feel free to leave your comments or inquiries on our Contact Us page at http://www.strategicgolfer.com/contact-us.

LEARN HOW TO PLAY BETTER GOLF-SLASH YOUR GOLF HANDYCAP BY 12 STROKES WITHIN 2 HOURS

LEARN HOW TO PLAY BETTER GOLF-SLASH YOUR GOLF HANDYCAP BY 12 STROKES WITHIN 2 HOURS

Article by mark healy







Over the following page I will take you through my success tips to prevent on course disastersas well as real practical steps to slash your golf handycap

Here is what you do:

OFF THE TEE

Often a well positioned bunker can cause problems.If a hole shapes more to the left, the prefered shot is a draw.If you fade you risk finding sand.So the safe play is to hit a straight driver especially if there are trees on the edges.

THE APPROACH

You must control your approach and if you know how far you have to the pin that will really help.This might sound stupid but any doubts can lead to a tentative swing.Normaly having 100 yards to the middle and play for an extra 5 yards for an uphill slope is about right.

FACING CHALLENGES

Having a game plan that is sensible but a challenege for you is not easy to plan but essential for your own growth game.You need to know where the trouble is on each shot, but please do not get negative about it.Focus on where you want to hit the ball not on where you dont.

JUDGING THE WIND DIRECTION

Most golfers have no idea about calibrating to wind speeds and direction.At tree-lines course like bearwood be very careful of swirly winds.When learning how to play golf a good tip is to look at the weather forecast for the day and know where the wind direction is for that day before you arrive at the course.If your unsure take a look at the tree tops and not what the clouds are doing.

LAG PUTTING

The big tip with this is to hit the green on a par 3.Another good tip someone told me once is the “dustbin lid effect”, thats if you can get the ball within a dustbin lid of the hole from long range, you’ve done very well indeed.Ideally you want to get the ball past the hole and as it goes past you get a read for the putt back.

WEIGHT BALANCE DRILL

If you find that your most persistent miss is a shot thats drifts weakly to the right, there is a very good chance that you are not using your weight correctly.To rectify this let your left foot move towards your right at the top of the backswing.Then as you drive back down towards the ball you let your left foot step back into position.

DRIVE IMPROVEMENT

Often a lot of golfers with a golf handycap find that their swing is not as athletic as it could be which is costing you yardage and flexibility.The solution is to be very flexible, but many older golfers find that they arent able to make the athletic turn due their beliefs and age.One way of drastically improving your flexibility is by stretching before a shot and relax also as it could be tension in your upper and lower arms on swing.

Learning to play golf the right way will give you enormous personal enjoyment in your life and so I have put together a furthur free report at http://www.golf-mastersecrets.com which details:

1)The 3 hidden keys to improve your golf and play like a pro.This informations has never been revealed anywhere else, and these 3 hidden keys are gold to any golfer.

2)The critical factor to consider on your golf swing(Most people get this wrong)

3)The ” down and dirty” on what it takes to create Elite golf game to catapult your game to new heights.

4)You’ll shake your head when you discover the mind blowing secret of the “inside network”.Knowing this alone can quadruple your results.

5)The ” Visual shock tactic” to stun your competitors and steal their game from under their noses.This is shocking.

6)A 9 step advanced power plan to decimate and dominate any golf course.And much more…….

Its all in a free report at http://www.golf-mastersecrets.com



About the Author

Would you like to learn how to play golf better and slash your golf handycap by 12 strokes and at the same time avoid those on course disasters.Here is a step by step guide to learning the ins and outs of doing just that and you can improve your golf in under 2 hours.

Learning How To Play Golf – Ultimate Womens Golf Guide

Learning How To Play Golf – Ultimate Womens Golf Guide

Article by Pchew







Learning How To Play Golf

Dear Ladies,

Thinking of picking a skill in golf, so you can join your love ones in the game rather than sitting at the club house and only admiring the green.

Have you been wondering how you can perfect your swing in Golf?

Looking for a new sport for the new year?

Or whatever reason…. This is for you, Ladies.

Discover the Insider Tips You Need to Know to Play Like a Pro – Even if You’re a Rank Beginner!

Here is just SOME of what you will learn:

*The three basic components of a golf course – understanding this basic concept will put you on the fast track to becoming a golf expert … and impressing the other golfers in your life with your knowledge of the game!

*What gear you really need to play golf – find out here what you really need to buy and what will be just a waste of your money!

*How to dress for success on the links – the traditions of golf extend to what you wear while playing it … you don’t have to dress to the nines, but you are expected to look a certain way while on the course … learn what you need to know here!

*How to play the game the right way – follow these tips and you’ll be able to play like an experienced golfer your very first time out!

*How to play golf like a pro – discover here the secrets to playing great golf as well as the best way to learn how to play and how to get the absolute most out of what you learn!

*How to hit from a tee – tee shots can intimidate the heck out of you if you let them, but they don’t have to be unnerving, nor should they be … discover here how to put them in the right perspective, how to practice them and put together a tee shot routine that will ensure your success!

*How to play the fairway – fairways are challenging because of all the different places your ball can land and all the different distances you have to conquer … lots of people struggle with fairway play when they’re first learning the game … but now you don’t have to be one of them … here you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to conquer this part of the game!

*How to hit pitches, chips and lobs as if you’ve been doing it your whole life – being able to hit “approach shots” is crucial to playing great golf … here are all the secrets you need to know to be great at all three!

*How to get out of trouble by hitting specialty shots – golf courses can be full of trouble and if you’re like most players you’ll see your fair share of it … discover how to get out of trouble without even breaking a sweat!

*How to win the golf “mind game” – playing great golf is as much about what’s going on in your head as it is anything else … discover how to focus on the positive and shut out the negative when you are out on the course!

*How to rapidly improve your golf game once you’ve got the basics down pat – you are sure to be surprised by what you read here!

*How to ensure you take your game to the next level and beyond – at last, all the fine touches you can put on your golf game to really take it up a few notches are revealed!

*How to play great golf in special circumstances – tournaments, altitude, cold weather … a big part of playing golf is knowing what to do in situations other than what you’re accustomed to … discover the real secrets to success here!

And much, much more!

Learning How To Play Golf – “The Ultimate Women’s Golf Guide” gives you complete step-by-step instructions for learning how to play golf like a pro. Nothing important is left out! You will be able to play golf at any course with confidence, fun and ease!

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About the Author

Pchew is a freelance article writer and a financial consultant.

How To Play Well Like Tiger

How To Play Well Like Tiger

Tiger Woods golf skill is advanced, until now nobody can surpass him. He has special ability to hit greens from the rough, most of fans explains that he has power. Frankly speaking, the key to hitting greens from off the fairway like Tiger does is to think like Tiger, and to plan your strategy from the tee box, not from your second shot. golf clubs for sale for you.

STEP 1

Stand on the tee and get a good sense of the hole. What you’re looking for here are good miss spots.

STEP 2

If it’s a dogleg left and there are trees on the left, move your target from the center of the fairway to the point between the center of the fairway and the right rough (opposite if the dogleg is reversed). If you miss left, you’re still in the fairway and have a good shot into the green. If you miss right you’re in the rough, but still have an open shot (what you wouldn’t have if you aimed for the center of the fairway and missed left).You can take Callaway X-20 Irons 3-9PS to try.

STEP 3

Don’t assume you need an extra club or two to reach the green because there’s grass behind the ball. For any club other than wedges, you’ll generate the same distance as if you were hitting from the fairway, but the ball will carry less and roll more. This means you have to change your aim (so the ball doesn’t roll into trouble) and forget about flying the shot all the way to the pin. Tiger hits greens from the rough because he makes the safest play that gets him on the putting surface.

happy day!

I Could Play Golf Like Tiger Woods I Just Don’t Want To

I Could Play Golf Like Tiger Woods I Just Don’t Want To

There have been many talented and disciplined people over the years that climbed to fame by performing consistently at the top levels of professional sports but Tiger Woods has succeeded in dominating his sport totally, joining the ranks of legends like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretsky. This article attempts to study the motivations of the superstar as he chose golf as a profession and went on to rack up astronomical statistics.

Golf is a sport that should be started as young as possible so that a natural swing can develop and become a smooth body motion, and Eldrick Tont Woods, known as Tiger Woods, was playing since he could stand upright. He was born in California so there was year-round warm weather to make serious golfing possible. His family was well-off enough to join the golfing class. Golf courses aren’t accessible to everyone so the children from the more affluent middle class have the advantage of being able to own golf equipment and maintain a club membership where dad takes his hacks at the golf balls and loses them in the rough regularly. There are special clothes to wear at the country club and a number of golf accessories to buy, such as golf shoes, jackets, golf bags, and carts to wheel the golf clubs from hole to hole. It’s not an easy game to master; it’s more associated with frustration, anger, and divot-digging missed shots where colorful language turns to a more vulgar type of cursing at the unfairness of life on the fairways and five-putt greens.

Duffers the world over use to cringe at the under-par scores of their heroes like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player back in the 1960s when golfers tossed their cigarettes on the green while they putted out. Overall health wasn’t stressed in those days, in fact the cigarette companies were major sponsors and golf professionals could pick up some advertisement money by pitching a favorite brand of cancer stick that makes them play better. Tournament money was an attraction to lure some golfers into the gym to get the edge on the competition but there are still some top golfers who are out of shape and overweight. A good swing is a good swing and the rest is gravy.

Tiger Woods was ready to mop up all the gravy by being in tremendous shape; he can also play a better game asleep than most of us can while awake. A score for eighteen holes from Tiger is lower than the average person’s score for nine holes. Not surprisingly, Woods had appeared on national TV before the age of three where he putted against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas show. He was raised in Cypress California and scored a 48 over nine holes at the Cypress Navy golf course, also before the age of three. Adults would be happy to have such a low score; many of us can’t break 100 over eighteen holes. At the age of fifteen in 1991, Tiger became the youngest ever junior champion and he was uniformly dynamic in his college and amateur career.

After his 1999 Memorial Tournament win on the pro tour he began the longest winning streak since 1974 and the following year he won three majors, nine PGA tour events, and he set or tied twenty-seven Tour records. He continued winning until Vijay Singh finally halted the streak and beat Tiger to become the number one ranked player in the world. The two traded the number one spot back and forth for a while but Woods prevailed over and over to become the highest money-winner in golfing history.

Tiger scored even better with the ladies; many of us envy the money and endorsements that come with super-stardom but it comes at a terrible cost to the essential bodily fluids when slinky cocktail waitresses keep seeking to sap your energy and pollute your purity of essence with their admiring lust. Being draped with beautiful women is just one of those sacrifices that a true professional like Tiger Woods takes onto himself; no doubt extra conditioning is needed to help him get through the exhausting nights that would slay the average man. However, life is tough getting out of the rough when word of his other record-setting activities gets back to the wife.

 

SEO consultant Pat Boardman presents this information in respect to Tiger Cub Junior Golf Clubs, manufacturers of golf equipment and makers of golf club sets and who manufacture golf balls and golf accessories.

How to Play Golf Like Tiger Woods?

How to Play Golf Like Tiger Woods?

By John Lynch

Do you wanna shave 10 strokes off your golf scores immediately?

Then read on…

Did ya watch Tiger Woods during the U.S Open at Torrey Pines this year?

Did ya see how he meticulously planned each golf shot…he is a pure golf warrior!

Tiger Woods is the best golfer on the planet mainly because he fully understands his strengths…and weaknesses…yes, even Tiger has weaknesses.

You might think to play golf like Tiger Woods means to bomb every drive…

Or go for the miracle golf shot. This is hardly the case….

Read on…

When Tiger has the lead in the final round of a golf tournament he usually plays conservative; like hitting fairway wood off the tee…this takes the big number out of the equation…he lets his opponents beat themselves as they aggressively chase him.

Tiger’s knee hurt badly during all 4 rounds of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this past weekend. A weakness in his game not to be denied or ignored.  Because of his knee injury Tiger knew what he was capable of, and what he wasn’t capable of…

Tiger played within his limits!

When Tiger was in the rough on a par 5, he laid up. He didn’t go for the green in two and risk shooting himself out of the golf tournament.

Tiger Woods learned early in life under the tutelage of his father Earl on how to survey the golf course AND his opponents with uncanny precision. Tiger does this through the fine art of course management…

And mental toughness!

What is the fine art of course management you say? It all starts with knowing your limits. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and knowing your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses…and of course know the golf course you are playing on…this is your battlefield!

Tiger Woods knows his limits and plays within them. So many high handicap golfers try for the “miracle shot” when they are in trouble…This usually ends up costing them at least 10 strokes or more a round (depending on their level).

Think about it, attempting to hit the miracle golf shot you can execute correctly one in ten times is a recipe for disaster…this makes for great drama…remember Tin Cup? How bout Jean Van de Velde when he choked in the ’99 British Open? They both went for the miracle golf shot.

The truth is going for the miracle shot when everything is on the line may make for great T.V. drama; however this attitude will absolutely crush your golf scores!

Do you hit driver on a 300 yard par 4 even though you can only drive the ball 250? The 50 yard pitch shot is one of the hardest shots in golf…

Even for Tiger Woods!

Rather than reaching for the big stick, leave yourself 100 yards for your second shot. For most good golfers 100 yards is a full pitching wedge which they can hit in their sleep.

Play golf like Tiger Woods as he systematically wore down a game competitor in Rocco Mediate during the 18 hole playoff in this year’s U.S. Open …think and plan ahead…know your strengths…and your weaknesses!

The fact of the matter is, if you plan on leaving the golf ball at your “sweet spot” distance from the hole, you will dramatically improve your chances of hitting more greens in regulation…

And more greens in regulation leads to more circles on your score card…which means more pars and birdies!

For some this sweet spot distance from the pin is 100 yards, some 120 yards, learn what your sweet spot distance is and practice that shot over and over at the range until you can hit that shot in your sleep.

Play golf like Tiger Woods sizing up his next major win!

Hit ’em Long and Straight!

John Lynch

John Lynch is owner of No. 1 Golf Book Reviews and has published hundreds of golf articles. To read more golf articles like this and get instant access to FREE Golf Tips Reports, John recommends you visit: http://no1golfbookreviews.blogspot.com/

How to Play Golf Like Tiger Woods

How to Play Golf Like Tiger Woods

Are you looking for a way to halve your golf handicap immediately?

Then read on…

Did ya watch Tiger Woods during the U.S Open at Torrey Pines this year?

Tiger meticulously planned each golf shot – he is a pure golf warrior!

Tiger Woods is the best golfer on the planet mainly because he fully understands his strengths – and weaknesses. Yes, even Tiger has weaknesses.

You might think to play golf like Tiger Woods means to bomb every drive.

Or go for the miracle golf shot. This is hardly the case.

Read on…

When Tiger has the lead in the final round of a golf tournament he usually plays conservative; like hitting fairway wood off the tee – this usually takes the big number out of the equation. He lets his opponents beat themselves as they aggressively chase him.

Tiger’s knee hurt badly during all 4 rounds of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this past weekend. A weakness in his game not to be denied or ignored. Because of his knee injury Tiger knew what he was capable of, and what he wasn’t capable of.

Tiger played within his limits!

Even with all of Tiger’s power he still lays up on par fives when he’s in the rough, especially when he has the lead in the final round. He didn’t go for the green in two and risk shooting himself out of the golf tournament.

Tiger Woods learned early in life under the tutelage of his father Earl on how to survey the golf course AND his opponents with uncanny precision. Tiger does this through the fine art of course management.

And mental toughness!

What is the fine art of course management you say? It all starts with knowing your limits.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and knowing your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses – and of course know the golf course you are playing on – this is your battlefield!

Tiger Woods knows his limits and plays within them. Amatuer golfers usually try to hit the golf shot they can pull off maybe 1/10 times. This usually ends up costing them at least 10 strokes or more a round (depending on their level).

The truth is, trying to pull off a shot you can perform maybe 1/10 attempts is foolish. This may make for great drama. Remember Tin Cup? How bout Jean Van de Velde when he choked in the ’99 British Open? They both went for the miracle golf shot.

The truth is going for the miracle shot when everything is on the line may make for great T.V. drama; however this attitude will absolutely crush your golf scores!

Do you hit driver on a 300 yard par 4 even though you can only drive the ball 250? The 50 yard pitch shot is one of the hardest shots in golf…

Even for Tiger Woods!

Rather than reaching for the big stick, leave yourself 100 yards for your second shot. For most good golfers 100 yards is a full pitching wedge which they can hit in their sleep.

Play golf like Tiger Woods as he systematically wore down a game competitor in Rocco Mediate during the 18 hole playoff in this year’s U.S. Open. Think and plan ahead – know your strengths – and your weaknesses!

The fact of the matter is, if you plan on leaving the golf ball at your “sweet spot” distance from the hole, you will dramatically improve your chances of hitting more greens in regulation.

And more greens in regulation leads to more circles on your score card – which means more pars and birdies!

For some this sweet spot distance from the pin is 100 yards, some 120 yards, learn what your sweet spot distance is and practice that shot over and over at the range until you can hit that shot in your sleep.

Play golf like Tiger Woods sizing up his next major win!

Hit ’em Long and Straight!

John Lynch

John Lynch is owner of No. 1 Golf Book Reviews and has published hundreds of golf articles. To read more golf articles like this and get instant access to FREE Golf Tips Reports, John recommends you visit:
No1GolfBookReviews

How can you improve your structure to play better and safer golf?

How can you improve your structure to play better and safer golf?

Physical training improves structure

How can you improve your structure to play better and safer golf? A quick physiology lesson is at hand.

Earlier, I talk about fascia. More specifically, your body’s fascial system contributes to your flexibility, mobility, posture, and function. Fascia, or connective tissue, is everywhere; it is the net that holds your body together.

Fascia’s main job is to retain your body’s normal shape, providing resistance to various stresses. In order to change your body structure and improve your ability to play golf, you benefit most by following a specific sequence of physical training, called “Release, Reeducate, and Rebuild,” or, “The Story of Gary McCord’s Career”:

Release: First, you must release your connective-tissue restrictions. Specially designed flexibility exercises help reduce tension in the inelastic portion of the fascial system that resists lengthening. You must perform these stretching exercises at low intensity but for a prolonged duration. Many people with significant fascial tightness need to sustain a single flexibility exercise for a minimum of three to five minutes before the layers of fascia begin to relax. A gentle, sustained stretching technique is far more effective than a short-duration, intense stretch because it more effectively and permanently lengthens the tough connective tissue of the body.
Reeducate: As the fascial restrictions are being reduced, you need to reeducate your structure by doing specialized exercises aimed at improving posture, balance, stability, and control. These reeducation exercises help you capitalize on your improved flexibility by teaching you how to feel the positions in which your body is most functional. The goal for each golfer is to develop a new postural identity that produces a posture at address and swing mechanics that are safe, efficient, reproducible, and highly effective.
Rebuild: Last, you undergo a program of rebuilding exercises, or strengthening exercises designed to solidify and then reinforce your physical structure and dynamic swing motion. These exercises can also improve your swing speed for added distance and improve muscular endurance for better swing control and performance toward the end of a round and/or during longer practice sessions.

This is a must for you prospective golfers: Enhance your structure and improve your game!

This author writes about Home Plans and Designs and Easy Wooden Projects. Visit the Snowman Yard Decor website for unique Christmas decoration ideas.