What About My Golf Game

I've always heard if you play golf it helps with stress. My father, brother, husband and both my sons play golf. I've lived in it all my life. I know everyone likes Golf Tips on the game.

Whether you are a beginner or been playing for a long time. Everyone can use tips about their game. Or learn the game from the beginning.

How is your Drive or your Putting. Do you have a full swing? Are you slicing the ball? How do you putt the ball? Their are alot of answer to all your questions, in books, on the Internet and just plain out practice.

What about your Clubs, or what type of ball do you use? Do you have a good golf shoe.

You can get any information from different sites on the Internet and even magazines.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the bad shots start to ruin your round. Do what the tour pros do: start by checking your grip, alignment and ball position. These are the areas they attend to, not only on the practice tee, but during their rounds. The next time you watch them on TV, notice how meticulously they set-up to the ball before every shot. They understand bad shots start with bad basics, and they also understand this is an easy fix that does not require "working on your swing," which you should never do during the round.

No matter how good of a player you are, its common to temporarily lose your rhythm during a round of golf. First, try and relax (not always easy to do when the bad shots start flying off your club face). Next, take a couple of extra practice swings holding two or three clubs, as you would do prior to warming up before your round. Another idea is to sing to yourself during your practice swings which will improve your tempo.

Again, notice how many times tour pros take a few extra practice swings before an important shot - it's because they're working on their rhythm.

No matter how good of a player you are, its common to temporarily lose your rhythm during a round of golf. First, try and relax (not always easy to do when the bad shots start flying off your club face). Next, take a couple of extra practice swings holding two or three clubs, as you would do prior to warming up before your round. Another idea is to sing to yourself during your practice swings which will improve your tempo.

Again, notice how many times tour pros take a few extra practice swings before an important shot - it's because they're working on their rhythm.

A couple of weeks ago Vijay Singh missed so many short putts on his Saturday round that on Sunday he started to look at the hole when he putted, instead of looking at the ball. This is an excellent "fix" if you find yourself missing short putts. By looking at the hole, you free-up your mind and naturally release the putter head through the contact zone. Vijay putted much better on Sunday - too bad he didn't use this fix during Saturday's round.

Tip 1: Drive it in the fairway

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "drive for show and putt for dough." Well, this adage should be; "Drive, Chip and Putt for dough." The first step toward better scores is improving your driving.

Start by choosing the safest club off the tee that puts your ball into play. Off the tee, a 3-wood or hybrid in the fairway is far better than a long drive in the bunker or out of bounds. (Remember, it was only a few years ago that Tiger Woods won the British Open by only using his driver once in 72 holes.) Good positioning off the tee results in more pars and birdies.

Tip 2: Good chipping saves as many shots as good putting

The way to develop good chipping starts with controlling distance. Distance control is a result of how far the ball travels in the air.

Golfers need to find a spot where they want the ball to land, then decide which club will best land the ball on that spot. If you pick the correct spot the ball will end up close to the pin. (Watch the pros, before they chip they find a spot to land the ball and let it run to the hole.)

A good rule to follow is the closer you are to the pin, the more lofted club you should use. A 50-foot chip shot from the edge of the green would best be played with a 5 or 6 iron, while a 15 to 20 foot chip shot should be played with a pitching wedge or sand wedge. Practice these shots to develop a better short game as this is where one-putts start.

Tip 3: The keys to better putting

There are two areas that can really save shots on the greens: lag putting and putts inside six feet.

As with chipping, good lag putting is a result of controlling your distance.

Over the years, Loren Roberts has been known as one of the best putters on tour, especially on lag putts. A drill he often uses is practicing 30- to 40-foot putts using just his right hand, as this helps him create a long, smooth stroke that is tension free. I recommend you practice this one-handed stroke as it will develop a constant rhythm for your lag putts.

Tip 4: Never miss a short putt again

Putts missed less than 6 feet are missed 95 percent of the time because of a lack of confidence! To overcome that doubt, you need to create confidence in your ability to get the ball into the hole.

How do you create this confidence? Practice, practice, practice. Before every round of golf you should find a flat spot on the putting green and practice 5- to 6-foot putts until you make several in a row.

Once that last practice putt goes in say to yourself, "I am a great putter." Keep that thought during your round and you will be a great putter.

I hear my family members say alot of these things. And I know that they practice alot. My husband plays Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. He loves the game. He has played for 25 years. So has my father. I wish any one that plays Good Luck and enjoy the game.