Don’t try to hit the ball as hard as you can If you arms tighten, the club will buckle and you will use an all arm swing, causing the ball the be erratic and uncontrolable. Don’t get stuck on your back foot Allow the club to get to impact with the ball and put your energy going forward. If you fall back wards, the club head will thrust through-again, having your arms and hands slap through for uncontrollable golf shot. Return the golf club to where you begin the swing Swing easy and allow your body and arms to do all of the work. Take some practice swings about 50% of your actual swing. This will give you time to feel your swing. Fell the weight load and unload When you take the club back, allow the weigh to load on your backswing side. On the follow through, let the energy unload to the forward leg. Don’t hang back. Swing easy Allow the club to stretch out so you don’t feel stuck. This will allow the club to swing on the correct plane and create freedom and momentum in your swing.

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve taught someone, especially beginners and they bend their left arm in the backswing. This is the most common mistake I see people make in their golf swing and should be the #1 thing focused on because it is the beginning and end of your golf swing. When a player keeps their left arm straight, they are allowing the club to swing on it’s natural plane. This will help the right hand golfer and of course, if you are a lefty- the opposite goes for you!

Somewhere along the line, golf became all about numbers. Golfers are constantly talking about their scores, their handicaps, and the ratings and slopes of courses. However, fundamentally, golf has never had anything to do with numbers. For the first part of golf’s history there were no such things as pars, birdies, and bogeys. Therefore, you could not be above or below par. There was no magical 72 to judge yourself against. The game was all about getting the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible. Unfortunately, the magical 72 has become a part of golf psychology today. But there’s a way to remedy this unfortunate event. Golfers should never ever worry about the par of the hole. If you find yourself on an unusually long par 4 (one that you’re unsure you can hit in regulation), play it like a par 5. Let the bogey feel like a par. Do the same things on short par 5s. Play them like par 4s and you’ll get birdie. If there’s a par 3 that requires only a pitch, play it like a par 2 since it’s only a pitch and putt. After you’ve mastered this technique, start working on forgetting about your score during the round. A lot of times, when golfers have great rounds they start thinking, “If I par out I’ll shoot my best round ever.” This thought is very unhealthy because it doesn’t set new goals. The player should be thinking about knocking the ball in the hole as soon as possible, not about just saving par.

One of the best feelings in golf is setting a new personal best score. It doesn’t really matter if you do it in a tournament, a round with your friends, or just a round when you went out by yourself after work. Whatever the circumstances may be, posting your all-time low round is a feeling that you will remember for a long time. For me, that number is 65. I have shot 65 just once in my life, and I remember it clearly. While I played in many great tournaments through the years, my 65 came during a casual round with nothing on the line – yet I remember it like it was yesterday. Perhaps I’ll find a way to post a 64 one day, but 65 is my magic number until that day. What is your career best round? Are you stuck on 80 and wish you could make your way into the 70’s? Maybe you have never quite gotten below 100, and feel the pressure every time you have a chance. No matter what the number is for you, the mental challenges that golfers face when trying to lower their career best are always the same. Following are three quick tips to help you break down the barrier and successfully post your new best round – #1 – Don’t Do the Math The worst thing you can do is get out the scorecard early in the round and start doing the math on what you need to do to break your record. You don’t want to be thinking about that number on every shot that you hit – rather, your attention needs to be focused on the shot at hand as you make your way around the course. All you can do is your best on each shot. #2 – Don’t Limit Yourself Imagine that your best ever round is an 80, and you are hoping to one day break into the 70’s. That doesn’t mean you have to shoot a 79…you could go ahead and shoot a 75, or better, and breakthrough in style. Don’t put mental limits on yourself or your scoring ability based on the past. Do your best for all 18 holes and you might be surprised at what is possible. #3 – Don’t Panic It is easy to get nervous and panic a little bit when you start to get close to the end of the round and you still have a chance at your new record. The best way to successfully set your new record is to do exactly what you have been doing all round long. It doesn’t take anything superhuman to set a new scoring record – it just takes consistency. Keep a calm head and make good decisions all the way through to the last shot. If you are able to maintain focus and patience, that new record could be well within reach.

The Pre- Shot Routine is a very important part of your golf game. It is the strike of the match; so to speak, in regards to the way you begin your approach to your golf shot. The pre- shot routine is a great way to calm the nerves and take away some of the thinking that goes into your shot. The reasoning behind this is that you are able to go into autopilot because you do the exact same thing every time you step up to the ball, no matter what the shot. In reaction sports, a pre shot routine is unnecessary but in golf, it is crucial. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to eliminate the nerves, anxiety, and doubt that so often creeps in when stepping up to hit a golf shot. A pre- shot routine allow the body to take control and the mind to take a rest. In golf, the more you can ease the mind, the better you will play! Keep in mind, you can create any routine that makes you the most comfortable, just make sure it is repeated every time. An example of a pre- shot routine from start to finish would go something like this: This is an example if you are standing on the tee box with your driver, and the same goes for any other shot. Tee up your ball. Once you have chosen a good spot for your tee shot, step back behind the ball and look toward to hole/fairway. Choose the line or area you would like to hit your golf shot. Next, take a practice swing or two, visualizing and feeling the same thing you’d like to do with your actual swing. Walk into your shot and set the club down by the ball, take your stance and tilt your head in the direction of the area you’ve chosen. Last step, is pulling the trigger- hit your shot toward the chosen area and your good to go! Doing this pre shot routine or one similar will help you lower your scores and allow you to focus on other parts of your game. It allows the body to go on autopilot and makes the game simpler and fun!

For most golfers, winter is a slower time of year. Even if you live in a warm state, chances are you won't play as much golf during the winter as you will in the summer. While that might not be much fun, it does give you the chance to work on your game and improve some of your weaknesses. You don't want to mess with your swing in the summer when you are busy playing as much as possible, so put off those changes until the off-season. So what should you work on during the winter? Figuring that out is as easy as looking back on the season that you just finished. What were the weak parts of your game? Where were you happy with your performance? You shouldn't have to think too long in order to decide what parts of the game you need to work on. Don't make the same mistake that most golfers make and practice the parts of the game that you are already good at - attack your weaknesses if you really want to get better. Below are a few ideas for improvements you can make during the winter months - Ball flight change. If you would like to change from a draw to a fade, or vise versa, winter is the perfect time to make the change. This is an adjustment that will take some time, so it is best done when you aren't playing very often. Grip changes. Making an adjustment to your grip might be the most challenging change that you can make in your game. Should you decide to change your grip, commit to taking some time away from the course so you can simply practice your new grip on the driving range until it becomes comfortable. Changing putters. Decided that you need a new putter to take your performance on the greens to the next level? Try putting the new flat stick in the bag during the winter. That way you can gradually get used to the new putter before the golf season really kicks in again. For any major change you plan to make in your game, the winter season is the ideal time to do the job. Give yourself plenty of time in between rounds to work on your improvements, and you should be ready to take a big step forward in your game when spring arrives.

When you shank a golf ball, the clubface is typically square or slightly closed and you catch/strike it in the hosel aka the neck of the club. You can occasionally hit it on the back of the heel and the ball will go backwards or very close to your friends on the driving range! The swing path is very important, as I have discussed prior. When you take your backswing and then come down to complete your follow through, it’s easier to hit a shank if you are coming over the top. To come over the top, the backswing and follow through are not on the same path, and your club comes through on too steep of an angle. The other way the shank can occur is if your hands are too far from your body at impact/set up. Your arms will need to reach to the ball and you end up coming down on the ball, instead of swinging more around your body. The easiest way to end the disastrous shanks, try taking the club, straight back and straight through. Most likely, a small tweak with your swing path will be the answer to your shanking woes.

To increase distance and accuracy of your drives, follow these simple steps: 1. Have repetitive and solid set up. 2. Aim your shoulders, feet, and hips toward your target- all in line with eachother. 3. Tilt your shoulders to the right and relax your muscles. 4. Rotate your body back completely. 5. Keep your arms far away from your body and keep your shoulders parallel to your target. 6. DON'T START YOUR BACKSWING TOO SOON from your backswing. 7. Be patient in your transition to your forward swing 8. Hold your finish and remain balanced. *If you develop a good shot routine and triggers to keep you focused on the basics, there is no doubt that you will start hitting better drives. Good luck and Drive on!

If there is one thing I have learned through teaching a wide range of golfers through the years, it is that most amateurs have lousy short games (sorry, but it’s true). While the average amateur golfer would lament that their full swing is the reason for their high handicap, the truth is that the short game is what lets most of them down. When I moved from playing high school golf up to the college ranks, I was shocked to see how bad my short game really was. I could hold my own off the tee and from the fairway, but I was a mess on and around the greens. In order to lower my scores and keep up, that had to change. To help you sharpen your short game and bring your own scores down in the process, I am happy to offer the three tips below. Rushing the Stroke Whether it is a short putt or a pitch from just off the green, most amateur players rush through their short game shots like they just want to have them over with. There is no hurry – the ball isn’t going anywhere. In fact, good rhythm is just as important in the short game as it is in your full swing. When you are practicing your short game, work on using a smooth tempo that takes the club head cleanly through the ball with confidence. Rushing will only lead to a breakdown in your technique, and all kinds of bad things can happen from there. Wandering Eyes I’ve never been a fan of the idea that you need to ‘keep your head down’ when hitting a golf shot, because I feel like that is too physically restricting. However, it is important that you keep your eyes down on the ball to ensure a solid strike. Don’t make the mistake of following the club head with your eyes. Instead, focus on a specific spot on the top of the golf ball until it is gone. You will be surprised at how much better your short game can be when you simply look in the right place. Squeezing the Grip This one might be the most common mistake of them all – and most amateur golfers have no idea that they are doing it. When you squeeze the grip too tightly, you lose feel for the clubhead and your ability to control the distance of the shot is significantly reduced. During your short game practice sessions, pay attention to how tightly you are holding the club and make an effort to keep your fingers and hands as relaxed as possible throughout the stroke. Don’t follow all the other amateur golfers who mindlessly hit balls on the driving range all day long, only to see their handicap remain the same. If you want to get better, spend your time on the practice putting and chipping greens. This part of your game is ripe for improvement, and lower scores are waiting around the corner.

Love or Hate Golf? When playing a round of golf, you can either choose to love the game that makes you so mad or hate it all together. We all know that golf is one of the most demanding games in existenstence, so I’m going to share some ways to improve your enjoyment and learn new skills along the way! FIrst off, I would say to choose a positive state of mind. Understanding that you are only as good as your missed shots, is crucial in warding off unwanted thoughts and tendencies. Next, think of your golf swing and body as being a connected machine that if one part comes loose, the rest has to compensate. This is the normal order of things in this game, but being able to limit your over-compensations, can lead to less errors in your golf shots. Another way to make the round more enjoyable, is too look at it as a FUN activity, not a life or death situation. Even the tour players that are in contention to win, know that a mistake is bound to happen. Making the most of every situation in golf will lend to a more enjoyable experience all together.

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Most amateurs swing with all the power they have but with no balance. Next time you watch professionals on television you will see that golf is all about finesse, timing and balance. Watch how every professional finishes their swing with great balance. They are in control of their swings and have the discipline of not exerting anymore effort than is needed for a great shot. To learn how they do this, first watch and study how they finish in balance each time. Try this in your own yard without a ball. Imagine how it looks and feels. On a few swings, close your eyes so you will heighten the sensation and balance. Once you can finish in balance each time than take it to the course. Always think how you will finish each swing before making your actual swing through the ball.