How to Improve Your Golf Swing - 7 Tips, 7 Strokes, 7 Days

How to Improve Your Golf Swing - 7 Tips, 7 Strokes, 7 Days

Here are 7 quick fixes that you can apply to your golf game instantly and will have you dropping strokes very soon.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 1. Stretch your muscles for 5 minutes before you hit the first tee. Warming up and stretching could save you strokes during the first few holes try it and see it definitely won't hurt your game.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 2. Slow your swing down. If you focus on a slower smooth tempo you will end up hitting the ball straighter and likely longer. When you try to hit the ball as hard as possible your mis-hits are going to be amplified big time.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 3. Try to swing through the ball. Golf clubs have certain lofts for a reason let the club do the work. Try to make crisp contact with the grass and leave a small divot.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 4. Stand behind the ball and pick a target before you swing. You should have a target to aim for rather than aiming just straight ahead.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 5. Picture the ball flight in your head. This one is my favorites because golf really is a mental game I find, and sometimes just using your head will save you some strokes.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 6. When Putting, focus on your distance first and then the aim. Having good distance control can help turn those 3 putts into 2 putts on any hole.

Improve Your Golf Swing Tip 7. Keep your eye on the ball. Try to focus right down to the dimple. It will help you from lifting your head in your back swing.

Improve Your Golf - Tips on Correct Swing and Correct Grip Techniques

Improve Your Golf - Tips on Correct Swing and Correct Grip Techniques

If you want to improve your golf, some advice on correct swing and correct grip techniques will certainly help since your golf swing is the most important part of your golf game to perfect. There are many aspects to improving your golf game on which you might want to focus, but your swing is the most important of them.

If we target correct grip techniques first, it is important that you understand the effect of your grip on the direction of the ball. We are assuming here that you are not a beginner, and that you have a basic understanding of the effect of spin on the direction a golf ball will take after the strike, and that you are also aware of the basic components of a good swing.

Adjustments to your grip can be used to correct problems such as the dreaded slice or hook, but by using the correct grip you can also control these faults to use a fade or a draw to drive round obstacles such as trees, or bring your ball into the green on a much better trajectory. In fact that is one of the major ways in which you can improve your golf game.

As an example, by strengthening your grip - that is moving your hands more clockwise round the shaft than your normal grip - you can impart clockwise spin on the ball that will bend it from left to right. Do that inadvertently and you will slice the ball, but if you use that golf grip in a controlled way, and move your stance so that your feet are aiming left of target, then you can spin and bend the ball from left to right into the flag rather than straight at it. You could use that grip to avoid a greenside bunker, or to allow the ball to run to a flag placed in an otherwise awkward position to reach.

Switch your grip the other way - counter-clockwise - and place your feet to right of target, then you can draw the ball into the green from right to left. Another grip technique you can use to improve your golf involves using a lower grip down the shaft on chip shots where you want to use less of a backswing, but it's important with all of these that you also get your feet placed right and use the correct swing technique to go with the shot.

You can also improve your golf by using various training aids to correct swing problems, examples being the swing plane trainer and the weighted club. The swing plane trainer helps you to correct problems with your swing plane: the circle that your club head makes between the upswing and follow through. These should occur in one plane for maximum control, and there are various types of golf training devices to help you achieve that, ranging from the large circular devices you see at driving ranges to lasers attached to your club head.

A very important aspect of your swing is flexibility, and golf flexibility exercises can help considerably in enabling you to improve your golf swing. A correct swing technique is a twisting and rotational movement that is not natural to the human body, and the more flexible your joints and muscles then the more capable you will be of executing this movement correctly and effectively.

You also need strength to hit the ball and follow through at speed, let alone the stamina required for you to play at maximum ability throughout 18 holes. Strength and flexibility exercises to improve your golf fitness cannot be done in a gym, and traditional weight-lifting training is not involved. A weighted club can be used to swing in order to build up those muscles used during the rotational movement needed in a correct swing, and a medicine ball or other weight can be used at arms length to help you twist your body from side to side while sitting in a chair.

There is more to training your golf swing than just playing golf, and many of the exercises that can be used improve your suppleness, flexibility and golf strength can be carried out at home or in the office. Here's an example:

1. Sit upright in a chair with a medicine ball, heavy book or any other weight in your hands.
2. Hold your arms straight out in front of you, and twist as far as you can to the right - hold for five seconds.
3. Twist round to the left as far as you can and hold for five seconds.
4. Carry out ten repetitions.

You can do that in three minutes in your office two or three times a day, and within a week you will see a difference in your game. You will be able to drive faster and add yards onto your length. Add to that some more indoor training, such as going through your swing at normal speed using a weight, such as a barbell or even a heavy iron rod in your hands, and you will build up your rotational muscles.

There are many ways for you to improve your golf and if you work on correct swing and correct grip techniques, and also on your fitness for golf, it won't be long before your length rockets, your scores start to tumble down and your handicap drop with them.

Five Ways to Improve Your Golf Game

Five Ways to Improve Your Golf Game

Golf is a sport that can never be mastered. You can never win at golf, you can only do better than you have in the past, or score lower than an opponent. Most often, however, this is of little concern; most golfers play because they love the sport. Still, golfers the world over seek to constantly improve their game. To play better, to beat a friendly rival, or simply to have more fun. There are scores of different golf improvement strategies out there, but several stand out as things you can do to improve your game. Here are the top five things you can do to play better golf.

Golf is a sport that can never be mastered. You can never win at golf, you can only do better than you have in the past, or score lower than an opponent. Most often, however, this is of little concern; most golfers play because they love the sport. Still, golfers the world over seek to constantly improve their game. To play better, to beat a friendly rival, or simply to have more fun. There are scores of different golf improvement strategies out there, but several stand out as things you can do to improve your game. Here are the top five things you can do to play better golf.

Number 1: Take a lesson. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to take lessons all summer, or even a series of ten lessons. Although it is fine if you can do those things, you don't need to - especially if you are a summer time, weekend player. A single lesson will go a long way in helping you improve your game. Tell the pro ahead of time what you want to work on and get the most out of your hour. To make the most of your lesson, get back to basics. Focus on the fundamentals. So many golfers - especially 15+ handicappers, have trouble improving because they have fundamental problems. Have the pro look at your grip, your address and your basic spine/body angle both at address and during your swing. Nine times out of ten, slight adjustments in your grip, address, or spine angle can have a huge impact on your ability to strike the ball well.

Number 2: Get clubs that properly fit you. If you went to the large, chain sporting goods store and bought a set of clubs that were on sale, or if you went online and picked up a set of great clubs, you may be playing with the completely wrong set. It doesn't matter that all the reviews said that they're great for your ability level. The clubs need to match you in a much more intimate way. Your clubs should match your swing speed, level of upright, grip size, height and ability. A good swing analyst will examine all of these things, and more, all in an effort to match you specifically to the clubs that you will allow you to hit the ball well.

Number 3: Get Flexible. This is particularly important for golfers who are a little older. If your back and shoulders are tied up in knots, regardless of the reason, you will not play as well. The reason is simple: bio mechanics play the key roll in setting the physics of ball flight into motion. Flexibility will improve swing speed, improve club arc, and even allow you to shape your shots with greater accuracy. The same is true for lower body flexibility. Simple stretching exercises can be employed, or you can try something more exotic like a Thai Yoga Massage to help you along the way.

Number 4: Stop listening to your buddies. This should not even need to be said, but a 20 handicapper has no business telling you how to hit a high fade with a fairway iron to avoid the tree that's 200 yards out between you and the green on a long par 5. The same goes for sand shots, and of course on the tee box. The exception might be on the green. If someone has an opinion about a read, you can listen, just weight how much you listen in accordance with the ability of the player. If someone has just made 30 putts and you're at the turn, don't listen.

Number 5: Get a distance finder. Club selection is one aspect of golf that can be the difference between shooting 100 or shooting an 88. Club selection is all about knowing how far you are from the target and also about the terrain that you are playing on. Moreover, if you have made any other game improving adjustments, a distance finder can help in some unlikely ways: If you have a new set of clubs - properly fitted, of course - you may be hitting your clubs at different distances than with your old set. You'll find two types of distance finders: GPS units like the Bushnell Yardage Pro and laser range finders like the Bushnell Pinseeker. Both are excellent choices. The GPS systems have more features, like the ability to download course data to the units, or linking to systems like iGolf. The laser range finders are more straight forward, providing accurate distance to the pin.

These five steps will help you play better golf. You don't even have to do all of them. Just make a plan to do one of them, wait for the results and then pursue another. In a very short time, you can really improve your golf game.

Improve Your Golf Game - Harvey Pennick Says Build Your Game Around Your Best Golf Iron

Improve Your Golf Game - Harvey Pennick Says Build Your Game Around Your Best Golf Iron

Are you looking for some silver bullet to improve your golf game? There's no such thing, but I've been (re)reading Harvey Pennick's books on golf, and something struck me. Something he said really stuck in my mind: If you are an amateur golfer, you can get very good results by building your game around your #5 or #7 iron.

Now, who is Harvey Pennick and why should you listen to him? In his heyday, Mr. Pennick was golf coach to several US Open Winners - Tom Kite among the most prominent of his students. He also successfully coached university golf teams, and more than a few weekend golfers. He ended his career as the much-beloved club pro of the Austin Country Club, having successfully seen to the golfing needs of hundreds of club members.

So why does he say stick to one iron, especially the #5 or #7? First of all, the #5 and #7 irons are the most used golf irons among amateurs, being medium range clubs for many golfers. Once you are off the tee and on the fairway, you no longer need the range of the driver. Looking back, my best shots on the fairway were always aimed at some particular point I could see clearly. And any point I could see clearly was within range of my #5 iron.

The point is: when you stick with one main iron, you get better faster (with it). It becomes your best buddy, the one you go to most often. You quickly learn what it can do, and what it can't. You learn how to bend its performance to meet your needs. A lot of uncertainty disappears.

Let's say you make the #5 your favorite. You are faced with a tricky shot. You estimate the distance at 70 yards with a 15 yard margin of error to the bunker ... you hope. You know your #5 iron can give you that distance with a 3/4 backswing. You know because you have done it many, many times in the past, because this is the club you build your game around. You swing your club, and lo and behold, the ball rolls to a stop with 5 yards to spare.

In theory, you could have done the same thing with a full swing from your #7 iron. But you can't be sure, because you don't play enough golf to practice equally with both clubs. So you have to choose, jack of all trades, master of none, by playing all your irons from #3 to #9, or just master one iron, which can get you most places you need to go.

Remember that you are a weekend golfer. You don't play the US Open, and don't need to master every iron in your bag. You don't need the level of precision and control which every iron can give you.

Unless you can spend everyday on the golf course, the fastest way to improve your golf game is to simplify your game as much as possible. Minimize the number of clubs you actually play with in order to develop the skill and consistency with those clubs quickly. Stick with the driver, #5 iron, putter and one wedge, and you'll see real improvement quickly. These four clubs will serve you most of your time.

It is possible to simply improve your golf game with these 5 easy tips

It is possible to simply improve your golf game with these 5 easy tips

1. Addressing the Ball
The first way to simply improve your golf swing is to address the ball correctly. Many golfers just step up to the ball and start swinging, then they wonder why the ball doesn't go the right way. Let's take about a shoulder-width stance and stand with the half-way between your front and back foot. There are many ways to approach the ball, but this way is about average and will help get your swing going again. Also, make sure you can comfortably reach the ball, with your club, by bending your knees a little and some bend at the waist.

2. Rotate Your Hands
Put on a wrist watch for this drill. This will allow you to visualize what you need to do. When you are in your swing and you are pointing toward impact with the ball, the watch face should be pointing down the target line. Rotate the watch so that it is pointed at the ground. Pointing the watch down closes your club face, improves your impact zone, reducing the slice and adding speed to your swing. Keep your forearms together through the impact zone.

3. Practice your putting
So let's think about this for a minute....if you go and shoot 100 on 18 holes chances are you will have at least 40 putts. That means you will have used one club in your bag about 40% of the time. It should make perfect sense, then, if you want to improve your score improve your putting. Practice putting more and your score will drop.

4.Your Posture
You should begin by looking at your posture when you are taking the shot as this can make all the difference to your swing. Make sure that you are stood in a natural position and not overstretching in any way, keep your knees bent and feet apart - but not too far apart as this will lead you to being unsteady which will effect your swing.

5.Practicing
When practicing on the green, don't just randomly hit the ball. You should calculate the speed, distance, and direction of each hit to know what you need to what on to improve your swing. Use ball markers as targets rather than a hole. This will allow you to focus more on rolling the ball over the marker rather than sinking it.