Golfb

Golf Potpourri

by

Mac Stevenson

Golfers’ Omnipresent Foe—Howling Wind

Across the Central Plains and much of the nation, the weather is struggling to warm up. For several days the sun shines and temperatures warm and the golf clubs come out of the closet. And then another cold front sails through, bringing colder weather and howling winds.

What TV announcers call a treacherous and gusting wind during PGA tournaments bears no resemblance to the roaring gales that whip across much of the nation during spring and early summer.

On TV, the flags wave gently in the breeze; on the Central Plains, the flags stand straight out and the flag poles weave drunkenly, bent by the force of the unrelenting wind.

When playing in the wind, most golfers think of two types of shots: those with the wind at your back, and shots with the wind in your face.

There are actually four standard wind shots; the two above-mentioned examples and those played in a crosswind--left to right and vice versa.

Crosswinds are tricky. Many golfers don’t realize that a crosswind will knock your ball down and cause a loss of distance similar to a shot directly into the wind. The effect isn’t as extreme, but there’s a definite loss of distance in a crosswind.

Here’s the important thing to remember about full shots in a strong crosswind: Most golfers err by not allowing for enough drift. If the wind is howling from right to left on a 150-yard par three, you have to start your shot well to the right of the green. That’s easier said than done, but you can train yourself to do it.

The low punch shot--usually struck with a five- to seven-iron--is a great weapon in the wind. You play the ball well back in your stance, move your hands forward, and strike down on the ball with an abbreviated backswing and follow through.

A punch shot is not difficult to master, but it does require some practice. Contrary to the common concept, a punch shot can be used with the wind at your back as well as in your face. And it can be used in a crosswind.

The punch shot produces a low, driving shot that minimizes the wind’s effect.

Winds on the Central Plains in March, April, and May often gust to 40 or 50 mph. That makes it hard to keep your balance. Make sure you have your feet firmly planted and try and keep your swing smooth.

On iron shots into the wind, be sure and use plenty of club. If it’s a shot you would hit with a seven-iron on a still day, don’t be afraid to go down to a four- or five-iron.

A strong wind will affect your short game as well as the full shots. It’s hard to maintain balance on chips and putts.

Three- and four-foot putts are particularly treacherous because it’s so hard to stroke the ball. Just remember that everyone has the same problem; the wind isn’t challenging you alone.

The best way to handle those short putts is to hit them as quickly as possible without destroying your rhythm and concentration. You might have to give it a bit of a jab stroke, but do it quick and you’ll make some of ‘em.

It does help to widen your stance in the wind, but putting is such an individual skill that you’ll have to work out your own method for putting in a strong wind.

Playing in a howling wind will challenge your mental toughness to its very limit. If things start going bad, it’s easy to become discouraged and blame the wind. You must fight against this form of self-pity.

You’ll become tired much quicker than normal. Playing in a Kansas howler for four hours makes you feel like someone’s been beating on you with a rubber hose.

When fatigue becomes the master, your resolve crumbles and mistakes become more frequent. That’s why the number-one rule to follow in the wind is: Use more club than you think you need and swing smooth. Not easy, smooth.

Use common sense and recognize what you are capable of and what is impossible when playing in a fierce wind. Raise your scoring expectations before you tee off--that’s just being realistic and will fend off discouragement.

If you really want to learn how to play in the wind, visit Kansas for a week or so in early spring. You’ll get a chance to play in a howling gale almost every day.

Focus on Short Game During Fall Practice

As early fall moves toward the colder weather, it’s a good time to decide how to use our practice time. For one thing, it’s harder to maintain a sharp edge on your game just because of the weather factor. Fall is a busy time for just about everyone, and our golf games suffer from lack of attention.

It’s amazing how fast the touch on short shots deserts us after a short layoff because of cold weather. Just taking off for a weekend to enjoy football can affect your short game.

There’s something in the mind--that no one can clearly define--that tells each player how hard to hit a chip shot or a putt to achieve the desired distance. That instinct doesn’t work well after a prolonged period of inactivity. And that’s why a short warm-up session on the putting clock--prior to a round of fall golf--is so beneficial.

This is a painless practice routine that will help following lengthy inactivity. Before you go out to play your first round after days or weeks of not playing, practice your short game--if only for a few minutes.

It can’t be emphasized too much that the proper fundamentals must be used or your practice time will be wasted effort. Joe’s video, “Short Game Clinic”, will be a great aid in making sure you practice with the correct basics.

Even if it’s almost too cold to play, you can work on your chips, pitches, and putts for ten minutes before you tee off. And it will help.

During chilly fall weather, you’ll have more short shots around the green because you won’t be as effective from tee to green. In other words, you’re going to miss a lot of greens and be trying to get up and down from off the putting surface for your par or bogey.

A short practice session on the putting clock will be particularly beneficial on long approach putts. If you don’t stroke a few before you play, you’ll struggle to find the right feel on long putts.

Because of the forced layoffs that become more frequent during autumn weather, practicing on the driving range isn’t going to help your game as much as it does during the warm months.

Two reasons that fall practice won’t have any lasting benefit to your game are:

You will have too many clothes on and this will force a change in your swing and timing. This is combined with muscle stiffness caused by cold weather.
Even if you start to hit it sweet and feel good about your swing, it won’t last because inclement weather will force a layoff. After not playing for a week or more, you’ll lose everything you’ve gained. It’s just like starting all over again in the spring.

During a brief warm-up on the putting clock, your hands may become cold; however, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you limit your short-game practice session to about 10-15 minutes. And you’ll be close to the clubhouse where you can go in and get warm before you tee off.

The method is simple: Take five balls and hit 10 pitch shots, 10 chip shots, and then spend the rest of the time practicing lag putts and shorter putts. Those 10-15 minutes will go by fast.

In a brief practice session on the putting clock, a lot of clothes won’t affect your short shots like they do full shots. When practicing chips and pitch shots--after a layoff--you’ll get a feel for the club and a rhythm to your stroke. You will also reawaken a sense of how hard to hit those shots once you’re out on the course.

A brief workout on your short game before you play will have immediate benefits; it will help you enjoy your autumn games more than you would if you have no feel whatsoever on the chips and putts. And it won’t be a long, bone-chilling session--just a few minutes before you tee off.

Most Changes Should be Moderate

Quite often golfers will come across some new theory in a golf magazine or TV show or watching the pros on TV and decide to rush out to the course and try it. Don’t do it. The flop shot off the fringe, using a full swing, is a perfect example. Leave shots like that to the pros.

It’s all right to make adjustments in the fundamentals of your golf game, but many players make the mistake of trying radical changes that have no chance of success. By making moderate alterations in your grip, stance, or swing, your chances for lasting improvement increase.

All golfers are constantly searching for the secret that will elevate their game to the high level that they so ardently strive for. This is true for youngsters or veterans who are on life’s back nine. Everyone thinks they are close to a major breakthrough that will make them the player they yearn to be. And that’s not just okay, it’s great.

Nowhere is the timeless expression--“Hope springs eternal in the human breast”--more appropriate than in the game of golf. The hope for improvement never dies.

Moderate as opposed to drastic change is the rule that golfers should follow. The only exceptions are players who have developed so many bad habits that they have to retool their entire game with help from a teaching professional and Joe’s instructional videos.

Often a slight change can help when you’re missing too many short putts. This affliction affects many golfers because they take the putter back too far on the short ones. Try shortening your backstroke on short putts.

But here we leave solid ground because who is to say what is or isn’t a short putt. That’s for you to decide. Just shorten your backstroke slightly on what you perceive to be short putts and see if that doesn’t help. And you have to practice this new concept on the putting clock; you shouldn’t be trying changes in your stroke during a competitive round.

If you’re hitting your full shots poorly, you might have slipped into a bad habit of ball-placement in relation to your left foot. As an example, perhaps you’re playing the ball too far forward with your driver; when you implement a change, make the adjustment slight. Just move the ball back an inch or two in your stance. Experiment. Moderate changes can make a big difference.

Ball position is very important on short chips and pitches. These aren’t hard shots and you can become proficient executing these vital shots if you use the proper fundamentals while practicing. If you’re mishitting either of these shots during competition, you can correct the problem on the course if you’re thinking golf and concentrating. Often all that’s needed is a small change in the stance or hand position. Make sure your weight is balanced properly on these short shots, keeping most of your weight on your left foot.

If you’re playing poorly, a drastic change in your grip might be necessary. If there’s one major fault that many golfers suffer from, it’s using a grip that’s fundamentally unsound. Altering your grip is difficult because it feels so strange and uncomfortable from what you’re used to. And it’s important to get some good advice before you make a significant adjustment. Your best bet is to check with a golf professional who knows your swing or use Joe’s videos that show, with precision, how to grip the club. It’s that important.

Moderation in how many shots you hit before a competitive round is a must. The only time for extensive practice is on a day when you’re not going to play. Even then, it can be counterproductive to practice certain shots when you’ve become fatigued. Short and focused practice sessions will improve your game more than long periods of hitting shots after you’ve become tired. Age is a factor here; younger players can practice longer without tiring and losing their timing and rhythm.

Your putting warm-up before a round is a matter of personal choice. If you’re in a putting slump, you should try altering your warm-up routine. It’s difficult to concentrate for long periods of time on the putting clock; brief and intensive sessions are more beneficial than putting for an hour or more without a break.

Make the adjustments in your golf game--whether they are changes in your stance, grip, or swing--in small increments. Drastic changes lead to big problems. Moderation is the key.

During Cold Weather Breaks—Play Nine Holes

After the first cold front, many golfers put their clubs in the closet and call it quits until spring. If you’re serious about your golf game, this is a mistake.

In some parts of the nation it’s not possible to play in the winter because the weather stays too cold. But from the Central Plains to the south, there are many days when you have two or three hours of bearable-to-pleasant weather.

It will help your golf game if you take advantage of the breaks in inclement weather—even if it’s just for nine holes.

The warmest part of the day from November to March is from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. That’s enough time for a pleasant nine holes. Trying to stretch the round to 18 holes means you’re going to be cold and it won’t be enjoyable.

Many golfers miss a bet by not playing more nine-hole rounds when the weather is less than perfect. Where is it carved in stone that you have to play 18 holes on every outing?

For most of us, winter is busier than the spring and summer months; this is another good reason to play just nine holes. It saves time. If you join a group as they turn onto the back nine, it saves even more time because you don’t have to spend a half hour getting ready to start on the front side. There’s a great difference between spending an hour and a half on nine holes and four and a half hours for 18. For busy people, nine holes can be the answer.

Nine-hole rounds during cold weather have some added benefits:

You can play a relaxing round with no bets.
It’s an invigorating change of pace to just play nine holes and enjoy the crisp weather and camaraderie and good exercise.
And, with no bets on the line, you can experiment with some new shots that you wouldn’t try if there was money at stake.

By playing nine holes when you can find the time, you tone the muscles you use for golf and rekindle vital swing thoughts you’ve forgotten during your layoff. In addition, you won’t spend as many hours atrophying on the couch with a sack of chips and can of beer.

Playing nine holes during winter weather is an excellent time to walk, carrying a light bag with eight clubs. Riding in an unenclosed cart during cold weather turns golf into frigid torture rather than enjoyment. When you forgo the cart, you won’t become chilled and you’ll gain valuable exercise. It’s much easier to walk nine holes during fall weather instead of the hot, humid air of summer. And nine holes isn’t nearly as tiring as trying to hoof it for 18. You might be whipped after walking nine holes, but sleep that night will be sound and restful.

Playing nine holes once or twice a week takes the place of practicing during inclement weather. Going to the driving range on nice days in the winter doesn’t result in any long-lasting benefits. Despite some warm weather--in most of the country--you’re going to be forced off the course for a week or two at a time during the cold months. When this happens, any benefits you might gain from practicing dissolve because of the inactivity. Consequently, get out and walk nine holes and don’t worry about how you play. Just enjoy the exercise and being outdoors.

Another reward for playing in less-than-perfect weather in the winter is that your course won’t be crowded and play moves faster. The hackers and beginners--who can ruin the game for everyone else--just come out on the gorgeous days during spring and summer.

An added benefit of playing only nine holes is that you can play during the warmest part of the day. If you start in the morning, it’s going to be cold until the sun is high in the sky. But for about two hours in the early afternoon, it’s often quite pleasant on the golf course.

By playing a few nine-hole rounds, you maintain a semblance of proficiency in your game prior to the 18-hole rounds you’ll play in early spring. It’s a great way to get some exercise and keep your mind focused on the fundamentals of your game.

Steady Balance is Key on all Shots

With the onslaught of cold Canadian air making golf more challenging than normal, it’s important to focus on just one or two swing thoughts. Keeping your head and lower body steady are two key thoughts that will help you play decent winter golf.

There’s a fundamental innovation of the golf swing that is relatively new; that’s the concept of keeping the lower body (from the waist down) almost perfectly still throughout the swing. Don’t become obsessive about staying firm--it isn’t possible to swing a golf club without some weight shift. But this is a good idea for mature players who don’t have the coordination and balance of their younger days.

One of the most important and least emphasized fundamentals of the golf swing is secure balance. Keeping a steady balance throughout the swing is much easier to talk about than it is to achieve. And making sure that you keep your head as stable as possible aids in your overall balance.

The proper stance and set up before you start your backswing is vital; you should have your knees flexed slightly and bend at the waist. And make sure your weight is evenly distributed on both feet and keep your behind in a position like you’re about to sit down. If your weight is too far forward--on your toes--when you begin your backswing, you’ll never recover the balance that you need to hit solid shots.

During warm up before you tee off, swing the club slowly and concentrate on maintaining the best possible balance. Then, as you gradually increase the tempo, focus on maintaining your balance.

By staying steady during the swing, you will improve your swing tempo without thinking about it. The swing has to be smooth in order to maintain an even weight distribution. In other words, you will enhance your swing tempo when you’re thinking only of balance.

On all full shots, keep your left foot solidly planted on the ground. Don’t raise your left heel like pros used to teach; you’ll get the weight shift you need without raising your left heel. And focus on not allowing your weight to shift laterally (swaying) to the outside of your back leg. Keep your weight on the inside of both legs and don’t allow yourself to sway.

If your natural swing speed becomes too fast on any shot, you’ll lose your balance and mishit the shot. Everyone has a natural tempo; you have to learn how to maintain your balance and stay within your inherent swing speed.

It’s important to keep your balance from the waist down on tee shots with the driver. If you sway (let your weight get to the outside of your back leg), you’ll lose balance and power on your drives.

On full iron shots, swaying is a periodic problem for golfers of all skill levels. It’s imperative to keep a solid, balanced lower body on full iron shots; if you lose your balance, you will either hit behind the ball or hit it thin. A steady and smooth and slight weight shift will enable you to hit your full iron shots solid and that’s where power and accuracy come from.

A firm base and controlled balance is just as important--or more so--on short shots as it is on full shots. Everyone thinks it’s simple to keep a steady stance on chip- and pitch shots. Not so. On short pitches and chips, you should sense a very slight rocking motion in your legs and feet, but very solid balance of your lower body throughout the shot. If you sway at all, your head will move and you’ll hit the shot thin or fat.

These same fundamentals apply to putting. Contrary to popular belief, it’s easy to get stroke-destroying body movement on your putts. And that’s fatal. Watch the pros on TV when they putt; their lower bodies are absolutely anchored during the putting stroke. Nothing should move from the waist down while you’re putting. If you have body movement, your balance will be off and it will be impossible to have a smooth putting stroke.

Practice finishing your full swing with your weight perfectly balanced on your left foot and leg at the completion of the shot. When you’re having trouble with your game, check lower-body balance on all shots. It’s very easy to allow unwanted movement that causes poor balance during full- or short shots, and often you aren’t aware that you’re doing it.

Working on staying balanced will improve your game on all shots. Steady balance leads to good shots.

It’s Not too Early to Plan for Spring

Even though your golf course may be covered with ice and snow, it’s not too early to start planning your spring practice strategy. In fact, this is a great way to pass some idle time and stimulate your enthusiasm for the coming season.

Daylight is gaining on darkness by two to three minutes every day. The sun is moving closer and early spring is fast approaching.

On the first warm day, most golfers want to and go out and hit a full bucket of practice balls. That won’t help your game much; in fact, it can be counterproductive.

It’s easy to develop bad swing habits when you practice with too much clothing on during chilly weather. Under these conditions, most golfers have a tendency to shorten their backswing and that causes an unnatural rhythm.

And even if you catch a nice day or two and hit a lot of practice balls, the benefits will be fleeting because cold weather is sure to return and put you back indoors for several days.

After being inactive for a week or even less, it’s the same as starting from square one again. You wouldn’t think a one-week layoff would affect your game, but--after a few days when you don’t play--timing and swing thoughts disappear like a morning mist. Any swing groove you start to develop will vanish after a three- or four-day layoff.

Another caution: It’s easy to overdo after a long period of inactivity. Your enthusiasm is bubbling and you can’t wait to get to the driving range and then the course.

Take it easy. Many golfers are dormant for two or three months during the winter, and the muscles and tendons used in the golf swing lose their tone and elasticity. Golfers with a history of back problems should be particularly cautious; make sure you stretch and loosen up before you play. And don’t let your back get too tired because that’s when it can go out.

Relax and enjoy the early games without overdoing the physical part, and don’t worry about your score the first few times out.

Any off-season conditioning work you do will be of great benefit when you start playing during the first days of warm weather. Here again, exercise within your limits depending on your age and physical condition.

What you can work on in the early spring is your short game. It won’t hurt anything if you’re all bundled up in warm clothing. Also, if you practice your short game for a half hour or so before one of your first games of the new season, it will produce immediate and positive results.

Chipping and pitch shots and putting can be honed close to the clubhouse where you can take a break to warm up. If cold weather forces a week’s layoff, you can continue to chip and putt indoors at home--thus insuring that the stroke developed while practicing outside doesn’t go AWOL.

Working on your putting after a long layoff can be particularly beneficial; that’s especially true for long approach putts that require a certain feel.

The time to begin hitting full shots on the driving range is when the spring weather stabilizes to the point where no long layoffs appear likely, and you don’t have to wear heavy clothing that restricts your swing.

If you concentrate on your short game during the unpredictable early spring, you’ll be way ahead of your fellow competitors when stable weather arrives.

One final thought as we prepare for another safe and fun season of golf: Let’s not forget our many thousands of young people in the armed services who won’t be playing golf during this spring of 2009; instead they’re enduring innumerable hardships for us in Iraq.

Plan Practice Time Wisely

Improbable as it seemed a few weeks ago, the 2009 golf season is here. And it’s a good time to begin planning your early spring practice strategy. You will enhance your opportunity for a fast start if you concentrate on your short game—namely putting, pitch-, and chip shots.

Focusing on your short game early in the season has three advantages:

This is the quickest way to improve your scores; short shots separate the winners and losers.

When cold weather intervenes, you can still spend a few minutes on the practice green before you become chilled. In other words, you won’t lose everything you’ve gained with early practice.

If it gets real chilly, you can continue working on short shots and putting indoors.

There are two vital shots that every golfer can learn to execute successfully: the chip shot and pitch shot.

Pitches and chips are more important to average players because they hit fewer greens in regulation; consequently, they have to depend on their short game more than highly skilled players. This is particularly true for women and older men who don’t hit the ball as far as low-handicap players.

Success begets success. Short shots are a part of the game that all players can improve on. And you’ll find that improving your skill with short shots will help the rest of your game because you’ll become more confident. Average players don’t need great strength or extraordinary coordination to become proficient around the green; they just need to practice extensively while using the proper fundamentals. And then they need to learn to concentrate on these crucial shots during actual play. That’s not always easy.

If you develop a solid chipping and pitching game, it will help your putting dramatically. Your putting won’t necessarily change, but you’ll have a lot more easy putts because your approach shots will be closer to the hole. That’s how you begin to shoot lower scores.

Using the proper fundamentals on these two shots is vital; it’s counterproductive to practice bad habits. By using Joe’s video (“Short Game Clinic”) you can develop the proper fundamentals, which aren‘t complicated. The following instructions assume you’re right-handed and hitting off a level lie. You’ll have to make adjustments for uphill or downhill lies.

Chip Shot--Play this shot from the back of your stance, close to even with your right foot. Keep your weight primarily on your left foot and keep your hands ahead of the ball. Take the clubhead back and up and strike the ball with a slightly descending arc. Most important of all, keep your head absolutely steady.

Pitch Shot--Play the ball off the middle of your stance with your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Your weight should be mostly on your left side. Take the clubhead back rather steeply and strike the shot with a descending stroke, keeping your head still.

You must concentrate on keeping your weight balanced with no head movement. Everyone has a tendency to look up quickly to see where the ball is going. It’s also helpful to watch skilled players hit these shots; imitation is beneficial so long as you imitate what is good.

You can practice short shots for longer periods of time without getting tired because they don’t take the same energy as full shots. Every player who wants to hit these shots correctly should practice extensively--using the proper technique--until you have the skill to play both shots effectively.

As far as which clubs to use on these two crucial shots, there’s room for personal preference. Using just a pitching wedge or sand wedge for both pitch shots and chip shots has merit. Most important, you become thoroughly familiar with how these clubs will react on either shot. Some players like to hit chip shots with a 6-iron or 7-iron clear up to the pitching wedge. It’s a matter of what you have confidence in.

The problems begin when you transfer from the practice green to the golf course during competition. Players know they can hit the shots correctly because they’ve done it while practicing, but they become anxious and uncomfortable on the golf course. It becomes very frustrating when golfers have poor chipping and pitching rounds after they’ve worked hard on the practice green. That happens. Like putting, good short shots require confidence. Don’t give up. The main thing is to keep your head anchored throughout the shot. That’s easier said than done, but it can become a part of your game. And that’s when you’ll be on the way to being a good short-game player.

Concentration on the course is crucial. Chipping and pitching is pressure-filled, just like putting, with everyone watching you. Picture the line and distance and the mechanics you want to use and stroke the shot with no head movement. You can train yourself to do it consistently. Religious practice of these two shots will do more for your game than you imagined possible.

Lower-Body Balance and Stability are Vital on all Shots

Poor balance throughout their swings has become a habit with way too many golfers. Following a coordinated swing, you should be able to hold your follow through with the weight on your left foot. At the completion of their swings, many players have to be careful they don’t fall down.

One of the most important and least emphasized fundamentals of the golf swing is consistent balance. Keeping a steady balance throughout the swing is much easier to talk about than it is to achieve.

The proper stance and set up before you start your backswing is crucial; you should have your knees flexed slightly and bend at the waist. And make sure your weight is evenly distributed on both feet and keep your behind in a position like you’re about to sit down. If your weight is too far forward--on your toes--when you begin your backswing, you’ll never recover the balance that you need to hit solid shots.

During warm up before you practice, swing the club slowly and concentrate on maintaining the best possible balance. Then, as you gradually increase the tempo, focus on keeping your balance as steady as possible.

By maintaining your best possible balance during the swing, you will improve the tempo of your swing without thinking about it. The swing has to be smooth in order to keep an even weight distribution. In other words, your swing tempo will improve when you’re thinking only of balance.

On full shots, keep your left foot solidly planted on the ground. Don’t raise your left heel like pros used to teach; you’ll get the weight shift you need without raising your left heel.

If your natural swing rhythm becomes too fast on any shot, you’ll lose your balance and mishit the shot. Everyone has a natural tempo; you have to learn how to maintain your balance and stay within your inherent swing speed. It doesn’t take much to throw off your balance just enough to miss the shot; keeping everything smooth on the takeaway is the start to excellent swing balance.

It’s important to keep your stability from the waist down on tee shots with the driver. If you sway (let your weight get to the outside of your back leg), you’ll lose balance and power on your drives.

On full iron shots, swaying is a periodic problem for golfers of all skill levels. It’s imperative to keep a solid, balanced lower body on full iron shots; if you lose your balance, you will either hit behind the ball or hit it thin. A steady and smooth and slight weight shift will enable you to hit your full iron shots solid and that’s where power and accuracy come from.

A firm base and controlled balance is just as important on short shots as it is on full shots. Everyone thinks it’s simple to keep a steady stance on chip- and pitch shots. Not so. On short pitches and chips, you should sense a very slight rocking motion in your legs and feet, but very solid balance of your lower body throughout the shot. If you sway at all, your head will move and you’ll hit the shot thin or fat.

These same fundamentals apply to putting. Contrary to popular belief, it’s easy to get stroke-destroying body movement on your putts. And that’s fatal. Watch the pros on TV when they putt; their lower bodies are absolutely anchored during the putting stroke. Nothing should move from the waist down while you’re putting. If you have body movement, your balance will be off and it will be impossible to have a smooth putting stroke.

Practice finishing your full swing with your weight perfectly balanced on your left foot and leg at the completion of the shot. When you’re having problems with your game, think about your balance on all shots. It’s very easy to allow unwanted movement that causes poor stability during full- or short shots, and often you aren’t aware that you’re doing it.

Working on a coordinated swing balance will improve your game on all shots. Good balance leads to good shots.

Match Play Requires Nerves of Steel

Except for the Ryder Cup, match play has all but disappeared from the scene in professional golf. And that’s unfortunate because no golfing event is more exciting and full of tension than a match play event.

The Ryder Cup still uses match play and it is one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional golf. Also, match play is still used extensively for most club and city championships.

It’s that time of year when club tournaments and city tournaments and state tournaments--using the match play format--are fast approaching.

In match play, the player who wins the most holes between two contestants over 18 holes wins the golf match. In medal play, the lowest total number of strokes for the entire round determines the winner. In tournaments, there’s a significant difference between medal- and match play: In match play, you’re competing against just one opponent; in medal play, you’re playing against everyone in your flight or--in some tournaments--the entire field.

The most common advice heard from one golfer to another concerning match play is: “Don’t pay any attention to your opponent, just play the course.” That’s not only poor advice, it’s a mental task that is impossible to accomplish.

The most fascinating aspect of match play is that your strategy changes constantly depending on what your opponent does. This is most evident on putts. As a hypothetical example, you could have a slick, six-foot, downhill putt to win a hole, or the same putt to halve the hole. If it’s for a win, you have to be cautious because if you three-putt, you lose the hole. In other words, you should baby the putt down the slope. However, if that same treacherous putt is for a halve, you can putt it firmly because if you miss and go eight feet by, it doesn’t matter. The hole is lost anyway.

Strategy changes on tee shots too, depending on what your opponent does. If your adversary tees off first and hits one into the heavy rough, maybe you should put away your driver and hit a three wood for accuracy. Every situation is different and your strategy depends on the confidence you have in certain shots.

You shouldn’t abandon your normal game, but you can’t ignore the position your opponent is in either.

Getting off to a good start is vital in match play, much more so than medal play. The worst thing about going one-down is that you’ve put yourself in position to go two-down. And that can be big trouble.

Successful match play is a matter of gaining a winning momentum. It can go back and forth all day. This phenomenon is similar to evenly matched college basketball teams being up and down in a close game. Golf is a game of streaks (good and bad), and it’s most obvious in match play.

In match play, you need a killer instinct. Don’t ever feel sorry for your opponent. When you get a player three-down, you should focus on gaining a four-up advantage. If you ease up and start feeling sorry for someone, momentum can switch in the twinkling of an eye and your control of the match dissolves.

A tough competitor in match play will test your nervous system like few other things in the world of sports. And if your opponent happens to be someone you don’t particularly care for, the tension can be numbing. In the latter situation, you have to battle for control of your emotions. If you tighten up and try too hard, your coordination and shot-making ability can be gone for the day--and the match too.

You can’t rattle; it’s crucial to maintain your poise and focus, regardless of the opponent and the situation you’re in at the time. Easier said than done.

Golf’s capricious streaks are most obvious in match play. It’s the most exciting and entertaining format of tournament play and the PGA is making a big mistake in not scheduling more match play tournaments. The Ryder Cup, which is all match play, is the most exciting golfing event on the planet.

Lower Scores Dramatically by Shoring up Short Game

When numbing north wind drives you off the golf course during the winter months, your short game heads south and it’s the hardest facet of your game to revive during the awakening of spring. If you concentrate on your short game to begin your 2011 season, you’ll be way ahead of the game.

Before starting the 2011 golfing season, consider that the vast majority of male golfers post scores that range from 80-100 and the ladies’ scores are in a 90-120 group. What’s unfortunate and unnecessary concerning the higher scores is that all of these players have awful short games.

Most golfers with substandard short games don’t have a chance to improve because their fundamentals are all wrong. It’s counterproductive to practice when you’re not using the proper technique; in fact, all you do is ingrain your bad habits and make them harder to correct.

Golfers with the highest handicaps have the most to gain by working diligently on their short games—they can improve dramatically in a short time. High-scoring players are faced with many short shots close to the green. High-handicappers seldom hit greens in regulation; consequently, they have to hit short shots on almost every hole. And watching them and their wretched fundamentals is painful because they don’t have a chance.

The best approach to securing a solid short game is to watch someone who has good fundamentals and technique and copy them. And don’t be afraid to ask for their advice and assistance. Players and pros with advanced short-game knowledge can really help. Mike’s DVD, “Short Game Clinic,” will also be an invaluable aid in shoring up your short game.

Three basic shots are the foundation for a solid short game:

Putting—Most men and women have a poor putting grip and stance. Go to the reverse-overlap grip with a square (to the hole) stance. Eliminate head and lower body movement during the stroke and you’ll be on the way to being a better putter. Consult with your pro or a good player to learn exactly what a reverse-overlap grip is and how to use it.

Chip Shot—Open your stance and play the ball off your back foot. Start your hands ahead of the ball with most of your weight on your left foot. Take the clubhead back and up with firm wrists and strike the ball with a descending blow. The length of your backswing and follow through will determine the distance.

Pitch Shot—Play the ball off the middle of your stance with your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Use an open stance and keep your weight on your left foot. Take the clubhead back and up and strike the ball with a firm, descending stroke.

Keep your head as steady as possible on all three of these shots. You should feel a slight rocking motion from the waist down, but your balance should be firm and steady. And these instructions are for shots on level lies; for uphill or downhill shots, you’ll have to make adjustments.

Remember one thing: Changing your fundamental approach to any of the aforementioned shots will feel very awkward at the beginning. That’s because you’ve been doing it wrong for so long that bad habits are firmly entrenched and hard to break. But the results will be worth the effort.

Even if your full shots leave a lot to be desired, you’ll still have a chance for numerous pars from just off the greens. With some diligent practice using the right grip, stance, and stroke, you can learn to get up and down close to 50 percent of the time. And you’ll cut down on your double bogies because you won’t three-putt as often. Most of your putts will be in the 10-15 foot range rather than 30-40 footers, which are the result of botched chips or pitches.

The worse you are, the quicker you can improve. But you have to practice and know how and what to practice. It’s even possible and fun to work on your short game indoors during the winter, but that’s a subject for another day.

Walk Nine and Ride Nine—the Perfect Exercise

During the blistering hot days of summer, it’s usually too hot to try and walk the golf course. But summer is gone and the fresh, sharp fall air is here. Fall is the perfect time to try walking at least nine holes; health experts across the nation claim that walking is one of best exercises for all ages.

If you play in the morning, there’s an added benefit to saving the golf cart for the back nine. When it’s chilly early, you won’t become cold if you’re walking; open golf carts can be freezing early in the day.

Walking at least nine holes shouldn’t be a problem for most golfers, particularly after the hot weather is gone. If you’re out of condition, try gradually working yourself into shape by walking anywhere from three to five holes each round. That will require a playing partner who is willing to drive the golf cart.

An 18-hole round of golf should be a combination of healthy exercise, fun, and camaraderie; however, after walking the front nine, continuing by foot on the back side can become like a torturous forced march with a full field pack instead of a pleasant round of golf.

Depending on your age and condition, carrying a full-size bag or pulling it on a cart--even for nine holes--can be so tiring that it takes the enjoyment out of the game.

Have you ever tried playing the front nine carrying an extra-light, no-frills canvas bag and then riding the back? It should be a bag that’s just light canvas with a ball-holding pocket and no other extras. I’m talking about a golf bag so small and light that you can’t carry all of your clubs in it.

On the front nine--when you’re going to walk with a featherweight bag--you should carry a driver, three-wood, five-wood, five-iron, seven-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and your putter. You can vary the clubs you carry depending on the course and your game, but try playing with just eight clubs on the front nine while walking.

If you’re on life’s back nine, like many of us are, walking nine holes is plenty--that’s two and a half miles carrying a bag. That’s a lot of exercise. And be sure that you have comfortable golf shoes. It’s agony to walk nine or 18 holes when your feet are hurting.

Don’t carry a lot of extra balls in your light bag, two or three is plenty. If you keep a dozen golf balls in your ball compartment, you’ll be carrying a bag that’s heavier than it needs to be.

Your first reaction is going to be that your scores will suffer if you don’t have all your clubs. They won’t. You’ll be surprised to find out--over time--that you will often score as well or better with eight clubs as you do with the full set of 14. And you’ll learn how to hit some new shots. If you have a 115-yard shot and it’s too close for a full seven-iron, a soft, three-quarter shot will be required. You will have to hit some punch shots when you’re going against the wind because you won’t have the club you would normally use.

When playing with a regular foursome of good friends, you can occasionally borrow a club. In other words, if you have a nine-iron shot and your nine-iron is back at the clubhouse, just borrow a nine-iron from one of your friends in the foursome.

If you’re going to ride a cart on the back nine, you’ll want to have your large bag--with the rest of your clubs--in a handy place so you can make a quick switch at the turn.

Riding a cart for 18 holes four or five times a week becomes expensive fast. That’s $50 or more a week and many golfers can’t afford that. A lot of public courses that charge $10 for 18 holes on a cart will charge $6 or $7 for nine holes. That’s not only unfair to the players, it’s grounds for serious protest. Course managers should be encouraging their players to walk as much as they can, and they shouldn’t charge over $5 for the back nine if their cart rental is $10 for 18 holes.

Most golfers can walk nine holes, but that back nine can become agony if you run out of gas. And it takes all the fun out of the game. Try this method of carrying a lightweight bag with just seven or eight clubs on the front nine, and then ride the back.

You’ll get all the exercise you need, and the back nine will be fun instead of drudgery.

Handicaps Should be What’s Likely—Not Possible

All golfers have an occasional hot round when everything is going right and the putts are dropping. That’s fine and--for handicap purposes--those rounds should be averaged in with the bad scores. But to base your handicap on what it’s possible for you to shoot is unfair and ridiculous. It should be predicated on what you are likely to shoot, not what you are capable of shooting during your best round.

The USGA hierarchy--well-intentioned though they may be--has made the handicap system way too complicated and unrealistic.

At the present time, your handicap is established on what your potential is, not an average of all the scores you’ve actually shot.

Your latest handicap rating is based on the lowest 10 of the last 20 scores that you’ve turned in. In other words, your 10 worst scores are discarded and count for nothing.

This makes no sense. If you happen to have one hot round, it lowers your handicap dramatically. And conversely, your poor rounds are tossed in the trash and disregarded.

Every round and each stroke should count and they should all be averaged together in order to come up with a fair and realistic handicap.

It appears that the present system is set up primarily to thwart cheaters. Golfers that strive for unfair handicaps by posting only their high scores can’t be stopped, but they will be discovered over a period of time. And they will be ostracized by the players who try to establish fair handicaps.

Weather becomes too much of a factor using the USGA method. By throwing out the worst scores, they discard most of the high scores that are recorded on bad-weather days.

But all the players with handicaps don’t play on the same days. If all the scores were counted, the inclement days would even out over a period of time and the weather factor would become more equal for everyone.

Another rule the USGA imposes that detracts from realistic evaluation is disallowing players with low handicaps from taking more than a double-bogey on any hole. That’s absurd. Every stroke on every hole should count.

If every golfer records the total score from each round and divides the total of those scores by the number of rounds, you’ll construct a fair handicap. Players shouldn’t be penalized for having a hot round; however, those exceptional rounds should be averaged in with the worst and mediocre scores.

The USGA Handicap System manual resembles the fine print in insurance policies; trying to read and understand this manual is tough going indeed.

Here’s an example of how this one main fault could be simplified: If your course is a par 70 and you post your last 20 scores and divide the total strokes by 20 and that figure is an average of 82, then your handicap should be a 12. It’s that simple.

Where the USGA should be lauded is their system of rating courses and implementing the Slope system; this is most important for golfers who play on numerous courses. And it takes a lot of skill and hard work to rate courses fairly and intelligently. For their work in this area, the USGA is to be commended.

The USGA system works well so far as the slope factor for different courses is concerned. In fact their handicap system is a good one if they would just count all the scores and strokes and take an average of all your rounds.

While on the subject of handicaps, be very careful on the first tee with handicap bets. The handicap system is based for play over 18 holes of golf. If you have a seven handicap and your opponent has a 14, make it clear on the first tee that you won’t accept any press bets on holes where your competitor has a stroke and you don’t.

If you come to the 18th tee and you have your opponent out and he has a stroke and you don’t, letting him press is giving away your hard-earned money. That’s the same as giving him a stroke-a-hole on a bet. That’s a loser.

The USGA handicap system is too complicated and it’s not an accurate reflection of your golfing skill. Your handicap is based on your potential, not the actual average of all your scores.

Undoubtedly the people in charge are trying to regulate a fair and useful system. But they need to simplify the entire process and make the handicaps an average of what players actually shoot, not what is within the realm of a possibility.

It’s Cold—Use Wise Warm-up Routine

Summer is definitely gone and cool, sharp weather is going to be the norm. Besides pulling a muscle or straining a tendon, your golf will suffer if you don’t warm up properly before you play.

It just stands to reason that it’s harder to get everything loosened up in cold weather. And you’ll be wearing more clothing than you’re used to. Do some stretching exercises and take plenty of easy swings before you step up on the first tee and let it rip.

The most-common injury associated with golf is lower back problems. If you’ve ever experienced a bad back, you’ll know why it’s so important to warm-up wisely before you tee off.

Every golfer should take the time to make sure their muscles and tendons are loose and flexible before they step up to that first tee ball of the day. This is especially true for senior players who don’t warm up as easily as their younger counterparts. All players can sustain pulled muscles or other injuries when they don’t go through a precise warm-up routine.

It’s best when golfers can go to the driving range and warm up slowly by hitting some range balls; however, that isn’t always possible when it’s cold or players are pressed for time. A word of caution when you do go to the driving range: Don’t hit so many practice balls before you tee off that you get tired in the middle of the round. Once again, senior players are more susceptible to this problem than young players.

When you’re on a tight schedule, a loosening-up session at home before leaving for the course is an excellent alternative to the driving range. Do the exercise where you bend from the waist and at least come close to touching your toes, and loosen up gradually. When the early morning stiffness begins to dissolve, take some smooth, easy swings with a short, weighted indoor-practice club. This is not a golf club; it has a regular grip and a short shaft with a weighted head on it. These are great as a warm-up aid and they’re available at almost any golf shop at a reasonable price. Even though the warm-up club has a short shaft, make sure you take the swings in a room with a high ceiling.

Players of any age who have had back problems should be sure they do some stretching exercises before leaving for the course. Check with your doctor or chiropractor to find out which exercises are best for you. Early in the morning--when you’re not loose--is when golfers are most susceptible to throwing out their back. Anyone who has gone through that agony knows how important it is to do everything possible to see that it doesn’t happen again.

Try and get to the course early enough to hit a few chips and putts even if you don’t have time to go to the driving range. If you go right to the first tee with no warm-up, it will take you several holes to get a feel for the greens.

Take plenty of warm clothing. Seniors will have a hard time making good swings early in the round if they’re chilled. It’s better to start out with too much outerwear than not enough; you can take off extra clothing whenever you want, but you can’t put it on if it’s in your closet at home.

It’s beneficial for all players to walk some--particularly seniors who might still be a little stiff at the start of the round. If you use a cart, try and ride with someone who will either do all the driving or at least share it with you.

Doing some stretching and swinging indoors before you leave for the club is an excellent way to start your golfing day. If the course is close to your home, the warm-up routine will keep you loose until you get to the first tee and take a few more practice swings. You’ll play better golf and you won’t be susceptible to muscle and tendon strains that can not only ruin your round, but put you out of action for several weeks.

It’s Winter—Tee it up Everywhere

Hard as it is to believe, Thanksgiving is just a week away. We’ve reached that time of the year when you are lucky if you get to play once every ten days or so. And it’s a lot more fun if you can play decent golf after a long layoff. Teeing it up everywhere makes it easier to play close to your skill level during cold weather. Golf is difficult enough without playing the ball down during your infrequent rounds in the late fall and winter.

In the spring and summer and early fall, most of us play serious golf, practicing frequently and playing as often as possible. When the north wind starts to blow and forces us inside, much of your shot-making ability dissolves because of the lack of practice and infrequent play.

Occasionally a nice day comes along during the dreary months of November, December, January, and February; if and when that happens, don’t take your golf too seriously. Relax and enjoy being outside and don’t worry about your game. There will be time enough for serious golf when the weather warms in the spring.

Depending on your location, most golfers are fortunate to get out a few times a month during the cold, cloudy days of winter. When you do have a chance to play, don’t make the game harder than necessary by playing the ball down. Improve your lies everywhere.

A lot of players think teeing the ball up in the winter will have an adverse effect on their game when they start playing the ball down in the spring. It won’t. You’ll be surprised to realize that you often play better when you don’t tee the ball up because you have to concentrate when you catch a tight lie.

The grass on most golf courses goes dormant during the winter and that’s another reason to tee ‘em up everywhere. Golf courses are untended and the grass becomes uneven and your ball won’t sit up like it does when the fairways and roughs are mowed. In addition, your game will be rusty to say the least; talk your playing companions into teeing it up everywhere, including taking level lies in the traps.

Teeing the ball up everywhere during winter conditions will help in several ways:

When you have long shots from the fairway or rough, you can hit your three-wood where you might have to use a four- or five-wood with a poor lie.

Improving your lie helps more on short shots around the green than anywhere else. Most of us lose our touch on short pitches and chips during a long layoff; improving your lie will not be a cure-all, but it sure helps.

On most golf courses the traps will not be maintained during the winter; consequently, you should agree with your playing partners to take level lies in the traps. Otherwise, you’re liable to be trying to hit out of a footprint or some other unfair handicap.

The biggest advantage of all will come from teeing it up in the rough. You’ll be able to hit fairway woods whereas you might have to use an iron or hybrid club when the rough is deep in the spring.

After warm weather comes and your course is in good shape, then you can play the ball down. You’ll be surprised to discover that playing it down won’t cause your scores to balloon like you might think.

When spring arrives, your improvement on full shots and your short game will offset the difference between teeing it up and playing the ball down. In other words, playing the ball up during cold weather isn’t going to damage your game over the long haul.

During the cold months--while playing infrequently if you’re lucky--tee it up everywhere and have a more enjoyable game. You’ll play better and that has the added benefit of increasing your enthusiasm and anticipation for the coming spring. Spring will come again and the course will be maintained and that will be soon enough to start playing the ball down.

Focus on Emotional Control in 2009

Now that the holiday season is here and the chances to play golf are infrequent at best, it’s a perfect time to relax in your easy chair and reflect on ways to improve your game in 2009. Improving the control of your emotions can help your golf game immeasurably.

In golf, it’s easier to become impatient with yourself or fellow players than it is in any other sport. Psychiatrists call it displaced aggression. It’s imperative to keep your emotions under control in order to play the best golf that you’re capable of. When you hit a poor shot or miss a short putt, don’t start looking for an outside agent to blame.

This battle to be composed and patient will help with your everyday games, but it’s even more critical in tournaments.

In tournament play you know you’re going to have good and bad streaks. After a disastrous hole, try your hardest to control your negative feelings and focus on the next shot—with the realization that you can’t get all the lost strokes back on one hole.

Your patience will be most severely tested after a bad start in an important medal play tournament. If you make a double-bogey or worse on the first hole, a feeling of desperation can destroy your rhythm and concentration for several holes. That’s when patience is most important.

Think back to last summer and try and remember if you weren’t faced with a situation similar to what’s described next. One of the hardest things to do in a medal play tournament is to assess your situation calmly and objectively after a shot that puts you in serious trouble. The main thing to avoid--after you hit a bad shot--is the double- or triple-bogey. To do so, you often have to hit a sacrifice shot back to the fairway and play for a hard par or easy bogey. Players often create their own disasters; they try and hit a miracle shot from trouble and end up in a worse dilemma.

These high-risk shots hit another tree or end up in a hazard and result in a round-ruining hole. It’s rare when near-impossible shots attempted from serious trouble work out. They usually compound the problem.

Most important of all: When you decide to play a sacrifice shot, do so with the full concentration and caution that you would use on a normal shot. How many times have you seen a player--stymied under a tree--chop at the ball in anger and end up in more trouble because the shot was carelessly hit?

If you have to hit a sacrifice shot to get back to the fairway, make sure you give a wide berth to the hazard, which is usually a tree. Don’t try and shave the tree in order to gain a few extra yards; concentrate on leaving the shot in the fairway. When in deep trouble, disgusted and frustrated players more often than not hit the wrong club and play the sacrifice shot poorly--hitting the ball through the fairway and into more trouble.

Focus intently on sacrifice shots; take your time and study the shot before selecting a club, and then make a successful shot.

When putting in medal play tournaments, achieving equilibrium between aggressiveness and patient conservatism can be difficult indeed.

It’s easy for players to let the fear of failure become master for the day and that results in tentative putting--a round killer. You must use mature judgment on when to be aggressive and when to be cautious.

The most destructive emotion that almost all golfers succumb to at one time or another is deciding to try and just “hold on” when you have a great round going.

When you allow yourself to think harmful thoughts: “If I can just par in, I’ll have a 32” or “If I can shoot a 36 on the back nine, I’ll break 70”--that’s when you stop attacking the golf course and let the fear of failure become the master. When you have a great round going, stay aggressive.

Don’t change your routine in medal play tournaments. As an example, if you normally study your putts from behind the ball, continue to do so during tournament play. Don’t change your normal strategy by looking at putts from every angle. That just builds unwanted tension and pressure.

Another sure sign that your round is getting away from you is when small distractions that don’t usually bother you begin to destroy your concentration. When someone is talking on the adjacent fairway or a passing car shatters your focus, step back and have a harsh talk with yourself. Try and relax. You can regain your composure, but it’s much easier said than done.

The more tournaments you enter, the better you’ll become at handling the attendant pressure and distractions and playing up to your capabilities.

If you think about these possible predicaments during the off-season, you’ll be better equipped to handle the trouble shots next summer.

The most important aspect of medal play is patience. Play within yourself and don’t become discouraged after a bad hole. Keep trying, but don’t let your determination become desperate. Be patient and concentrate and good things will happen.

First 2009 Resolution—Study the Important Rules

One of your first 2009 New Year’s resolutions should be to study the most important rules of golf until you’re thoroughly comfortable with their details.

That sounds so simple. It isn’t. Some of the rules are complicated and difficult to understand. The rules book published by the USGA is a good place to start, but don’t try and absorb everything in the USGA’s booklet; it’s tough going. Check your library and you’ll find some well-illustrated books on the rules of golf. When you find a rules book that’s easy to understand, it would be a good investment to buy one for ready reference.

The following are simple definitions of the most basic and frequently used rules that average golfers need to understand:

OUT OF BOUNDS--This is the same as a lost ball. You must go back and hit your next shot from the same place that you hit the ball that went out of bounds. You add a one-stroke penalty and also lose the distance. No exceptions.

LOST BALL--First of all, forget hazards. This information is for amateur golfers who lose their ball in the rough or trees and need to know what the options are. Many players think it’s all right to drop a ball where they think the lost ball is and go ahead and play. This is okay in a friendly game if you want to save time. But, in tournaments, you have just one option: You must return to the place where you hit the shot that resulted in the lost ball and play another. The penalty is stroke and distance. If you hit one in the rough off the tee and lose it, you must go back to the tee and hit your next shot, which will be your third shot.

FREE DROP--When you take relief from ground under repair, cart paths, staked trees, or an immovable object, there’s no penalty. You simply take a stance and place the clubhead (no closer to the hole) where you will strike the ball. Put a tee down where the clubhead is and you get one club length from there to drop your ball. The problem area has to interfere with your stance or swing; a line-of-flight dilemma isn’t a justification for relief.

UNPLAYABLE LIE--You can declare any ball from any lie—except in a hazard—unplayable and take a drop. It’s a one-stroke penalty. You have three options: (1) You can take the ball back to the location where you hit the previous shot and hit your next shot from there. (2) You can drop your ball within two club lengths from the unplayable lie, no closer to the hole. (3) You can take your ball back as far as you want in the line of flight (that means keeping the spot where the unplayable lie is and the flag on the green in a straight line back to where you want to drop the ball). It’s important to find your ball because the penalty is only one stroke for an unplayable lie and two-strokes for a lost ball. Quite often your only option on an unplayable lie is to go back and hit from the position of the previous shot. If two club lengths won’t give you relief and taking it back in line-of-flight just takes you further back in the trees or out of bounds, you have no other alternative.

NEAREST POINT OF RELIEF--This is supposed to be a simplified definition as described in the USGA rules booklet: “It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies: (i) that is not nearer the hole, and (ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.” Most professional writers average 13-16 words per sentence; this definition is a 59-word monstrosity that might as well be in a foreign language.

HIT THE WRONG BALL--One of the most common errors made by average golfers is to hit the wrong ball, usually on the second shot on par fours or the second or third shot on par fives. This is a costly mistake. Hitting the wrong ball is loss of the hole in match play and two strokes in medal play. In medal play, you have to go back and play your own ball and add two strokes to your final score on the hole. It’s an easy mistake to make and that’s the reason you should mark your ball with some kind of symbol that’s easily recognizable.

These are just a few of the rules that are often misunderstood by amateur golfers; there are 34 rules of golf. You can check your library for good books on the rules, or you can order the official rules booklet from the USGA. It’s available online (www.usgapubs.com) or you can call toll free 1-800-336-4446; the cost is $3.50 and that includes shipping and handling.

If you play golf seriously, it’s a necessity to become well-versed on the rules. And that’s not easy. In fairness to the USGA and all involved, some of the rules are—by their very nature—complicated, and it takes some serious study to become skilled in the clear understanding of the rule book.

Don’t be Discouraged by Early Spring Slump

If your transition from winter to early spring 2009 is not going well, don’t be discouraged. When you don’t play for three or four months it’s difficult to regain the groove you had after a summer of frequent playing and practicing.

All golfers--from Tiger Woods to high handicappers--go through periods when they cannot play close to their potential, no matter how hard they try. In golfers’ vernacular, this is called “playin’ bad” or simply a “slump.”

Golf is a crazy game. When you’re playing well, everything seems easy and you’re convinced that you finally have the secret and you’ll play well from then on. But when your game turns sour, you decide that it’s all over and you’ll never get it back. It can drive you batty.

When you go into one of those horrendous periods when you play bad day in and day out, the first thing to do is try and determine the main culprit that’s causing poor scores. Is it driving, fairway woods, full irons, chips and pitches, putting, or a combination of all the above?

If you’re off to a really bad early spring start, chances are you’re having trouble with more than one facet of your game. Another factor can be problems in your personal life off the golf course; when this happens, it’s almost impossible for it to not affect your golf game.

Putting is the most common cause of a prolonged period of poor play. There’s an old saying among golfers that your putter can eat the head right off your driver. In other words, if your putting turns sour, you’ll start hitting other shots poorly by trying too hard to make up for the inept putting. Conversely, if you sink a couple of putts, you can’t wait to get to the next tee and play another hole.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution to putting woes. Even the most skilled pros go through putting slumps that knock them out of tournament after tournament. And it can last for a long time. Putting is tied so closely to the mental makeup of your game that it’s difficult to snap out of a bad-putting stretch where your scores mount. All you can do is keep practicing and try not to put too much pressure on yourself while you’re on the course--easier said than done. But, if you stay with it, you’ll eventually snap out of your putting slump.

Putting on the rug at home is beneficial; it won’t improve your touch because of the difference in actual greens and your living-room rug. But working on your stroke in the privacy of your home will help. You can develop a rhythm and smooth stroke that will transfer to the golf course.

Minor adjustments can help you claw your way out of the bad-playing pit. What about your warm-up routine? Sometimes a drastic change can help you snap out of a prolonged slump that is driving you up the wall. Try it with no warm up; you won’t want to stay with this, but it might help to just go out to the course and take a few swings on the first tee and start playing. Anything that changes your mental outlook can help.

One thing that won’t help is hitting so many balls on the driving range that you’re exhausted before you start the round. If you’re young and strong you might get away with this, but the old codgers had best conserve most of their energy before they play the course.

The best advice is don’t get too excited when you’re playing well and don’t get too low when things aren’t working the way you want them to. Just remember, it doesn’t take much to ruin the timing of a golf shot. No one is going to play many rounds without hitting some bad shots. Learn to take the bitter with the sweet and your slumps will be less severe and of a shorter duration.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Golf should be fun whether you’re playing well or not. It’s no secret that it’s more fun when you’re playing your best, but there are a lot of young men and women in a place called Iraq who would be happy to trade places with you-- regardless of how they played.

Ignoring Small Details Can Cause Poor Golf

Inattentiveness concerning small details--while preparing for a round of golf--will cause problems during a tournament or competitive 18-hole match.

If you wear glasses, keep a clean handkerchief in your bag in case of rain or your glasses becoming smudged. It’s disconcerting to try and play with a smeared lens.

Put five or six ball markers in you pocket before teeing off; fumbling around trying to find a marker while preparing to putt is a distraction. And be sure you have a divot-repair tool and enough tees for 18 holes.

If you use sun screen--and you should--apply your protection at home before you leave for the course. An ointment with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 45 or more is best; everyone who plays a lot of golf should use a sun screen.

Keep a rain cover for your clubs in one of your bag compartments. If it rains and your grips become wet, it can ruin your round.

Before an important round, check the soft spikes in your golf shoes to make sure they’re in good shape. And clean the grooves in your club heads thoroughly; use the sharp end of a nail to be sure you remove all the grime that becomes lodged in the grooves and reduces backspin.

Many golfers take the playing tips they read about in magazines--or receive from well-meaning fellow players--too seriously. Everyone should be cautious before trying to make a drastic change in your normal game.

Almost all golfers are guilty of doing too much thinking while they’re in the middle of a round. The time to think and experiment is on the driving range, not on the golf course.

When you’re playing a serious round of golf, make sure you have a good grip and setup and then let it happen. Don’t allow yourself to have more than one swing thought on the same shot.

On bad-weather days, always make a realistic adjustment in your scoring expectations. If the wind is blowing 30 mph or it’s rainy, add some strokes to the score you hope to shoot. Bad weather affects all golfers; just remember that your opponents are playing in the same conditions.

Before a round that’s important to you, write down an exact warm-up schedule. The evening before your game--when you are relaxed--is a good time to do this. Make it sensible and adhere strictly to your timetable. For most golfers a 40 minute warm-up is plenty. Make sure you don’t hit too many full shots and tire yourself before you even tee it up. If you have a 10:00 a.m. tee time, your warm-up routine should be listed something like this:

9:10-9:30 a.m.--Work on pitches and chips and a few sand shots.

9:30-9:40 a.m.--Practice with putter using intense concentration. A short session is better than having extended putting practice before an important round. Ten minutes is sufficient.

9:40-9:55 a.m.--Hit four shots with a nine-iron, four with a seven-iron, and four with a five-iron. Then hit three full shots off the grass with a metal three and three or four tee shots with a driver. It’s important to hit the full shots at the conclusion of your warm-up routine because you want to be in a groove when you move to the first tee.

9:55 a.m.--Move leisurely to the first tee, you’ll be confident and ready.

When you go to the course, take your written to-do list with you. And keep your watch handy so you can be certain that you’re right on schedule during your warm-up routine. It’s important to avoid a feeling of being hurried or anxious.

Another tip in conjunction with your warm-up shots: Always have a damp towel on your bag so you can quickly clean the clubs you’ve been practicing with.

Not planning your warm-up routine carefully will cause a bad round; you’ll find yourself in a panicky rush without proper preparation.

Of course this type of extensive planning isn’t necessary before every friendly round, but it’s important for tournaments or games when you want to play your best.

All of these seemingly minor details appear insignificant by themselves, but each one can cause a break in your concentration before or after you start an important round of golf. If you prepare yourself properly, you’re mentally and physically on the way to the kind of round you want to play.

Controlling Your Nerves is Key in Tournament Play

With the weather finally stabilizing across most of the nation and summer almost here, the time for club and city tournaments is almost here.

Tight nerves and worrying about bad shots that might occur are close relatives when you’re competing in a tournament or gambling match.

Two kinds of pressure on the golf course can affect how you play and they are very different:

The pressure you feel while playing in any of your local tournaments is just as real and challenging as the tension the pros face on the PGA Tour.
Stress and tension caused by gambling on the golf course can be even more intense than tournament play.

You should never play for big money with someone who has a lot more of it than you do. If the money factor is a lot more important for you than it is your opponent, he has a huge psychological advantage before you ever tee off. Lee Trevino has said the toughest pressure in golf is playing a $100-nassau when all you have in your wallet is $20.

Playing for money, however, can be an asset in preparing for tournaments. The key is to keep the stakes reasonable and well within what you can afford to lose. When playing for money, you should hole all putts--just like tournament play--unless it causes your group to play too slow and holds up other players.

The only way to learn how to handle pressure is to play in money matches and tournaments, where stress and tension are going to be omnipresent.

In tournaments, the player who is a veteran and competes often has a decided edge over anyone who plays in just one or two events a year. You have to compete frequently if you want to play well during tournament pressure. And don’t be afraid of failure. After you’ve gained tournament experience, you’ll find you play just as well under pressure as you do during conventional rounds.

There’s a marked difference in the type pressure you will face in medal- and match play tournaments. In medal play, every shot counts and the tension is continuous throughout the 18 holes. Pressure builds--depending on the situation--in match play.

As an example, if you’re three up with four to play, the pressure is obviously on your opponent. And you often have shots that aren’t so daunting because of what your opponent has done; if he hits one out-of-bounds, then you can relax knowing you should win the hole.

During a pressure-packed round of golf, seemingly small distractions will have a tendency to upset you more than they would during everyday golf. You must bring all your concentration to bear in order to avoid losing your composure.

The club that is most susceptible to tournament pressure is the putter; if you’re giving it all you’ve got, controlling the tension over crucial putts is difficult to do. It’s a good habit to keep your head steady, but don’t be afraid to move it just slightly after you’ve stroked the putt--just following the putt with your peripheral vision when it’s rolling. If you try and keep your head absolutely rigid, it can make the stroke too stiff and tense.

A lot of golfers don’t play in tournaments because they’re ashamed when they don’t perform up to their normal standards. That’s depriving yourself of excitement and fun. Everyone has disappointing tournaments, just as you have bad days during routine rounds of golf. After a poor showing, the key is to analyze what went wrong and determine to do better in the next tournament.

Many players change their normal routines during tournament play, and that’s a big mistake. If you usually study putts from behind the ball, do the same in tournament play. And take just one practice swing if that’s how you always play. Don’t look at putts from every angle and get yourself all nervous and confused, and don’t take four or five practice swings and tie yourself in a knot.

Tournament golf is an adventure, and you can learn to cope with the ever-present stress. In fact, you will often play better than normal in tournaments because you keep trying after a bad shot or hole. But to become a pressure player, you have to participate in numerous tournaments until you’re familiar with and understand how to handle the tension and pressure that are your constant companions.

Slight Changes can Snap Slump

Slumps on the golf course are often similar to those suffered by hitters in baseball. The swing and everything else looks normal, but the results are subpar. The slump can be a combination of some small flaw in the swing and a mental outlook that has lost confidence.

Golf is a mysterious game; it’s not unusual if you have a problem scoring as well as you should—after playing and practicing frequently—all summer.

Has your game been tainted by a slump? Has an important facet of your game refused to come around as it should have? More often than not, a minor change in your stance or posture or grip or ball placement can snap you out of the dreaded slump.

Changes in your fundamental approach to different shots should not be extreme unless a teaching professional tells you that what you’re doing is way off. Or you might recognize that you have an obvious flaw while watching one of Joe’s videos. Sometimes just a slight adjustment on certain shots can break you out of a slump. And when the modification works, it will give your confidence a much-needed boost.

These key thoughts can change from round to round, especially in putting. The worst kind of a slump in golf is when you lose confidence in your putting. Even the pros go through seemingly unsolvable putting woes.

What can you change when your putting is just terrible? This is something that every serious golfer goes through from time to time. In most cases, it’s important that you don’t make the alteration too extreme.

If you’re in a putting slump, experiment with your grip. You might want to move the position of your left hand or right hand on the grip, just a slight change. Or you can try moving the ball back or forward slightly in your stance. Another change worth trying is moving your hands an inch or two forward or backward in relation to the ball. You might even want to move the position of your head over the ball.

All of these fundamental changes should be very slight until you hit on something that helps. Then your confidence will surge and hope springs to the forefront. Any of these trivial-seeming experiments can help if your putting has gone south.

Second only to putting woes is a driver that won’t behave. If you’re mishitting your driver, the game is going to be a struggle and not much fun.

If you’re slicing, try strengthening the grip on your left hand--moving it slightly clockwise. If you’re hooking, try the opposite; move your left hand counterclockwise to a weaker position.

When all kinds of bad things are happening with the driver, try slowing your backswing slightly. Or make an attempt to slow the transition from backswing to downswing. Keep your head steady throughout the swing. Most of the time, head movement is the main culprit. Keep your feet firmly planted to keep from swaying; this also aids in keeping your head anchored. Change the position of the ball in relation to your left foot, moving it back or forward a half inch or so. All of these examples are minor keys, but one of them might be just the one to get you going in the right direction again.

If you’re hitting your full iron shots poorly, most likely you are moving on the shot. You lose balance and either hit behind the ball or scull it. Work on keeping your feet solidly planted and your swing smooth, all the while keeping your head steady through the shot. It helps if you can concentrate on seeing the divot your clubhead makes before your head comes up. Experiment with the position of your hands in relation to the ball in your stance. If you’re hitting a lot of fat shots, moving the hands forward at address will often help. All experimental switches should be moderate.

With chip shots and pitch shots, improper balance and head movement cause most of the bad shots. You should try keeping more of your weight on the left foot; here again, just a minor adjustment, nothing that makes you real uncomfortable. And hand position is very important on these shots. You may have slipped into a bad habit as to where your hands are placed when you start your backstroke. Work it out with some experimentation during a practice session.

And another most important tip: Keep a journal or diary of any changes that you make. Describe the problem and the solution. This can help you a year or so down the road when you start having the same problem with your putting, driving, or something else; if you keep a journal, you might find the solution right there.

When you discover a key idea or swing thought that really helps, don’t let it escape into thin air. Get it down on paper.

A Fundamentally Sound Grip is Crucial

One of the most amazing phenomenons about the game of golf is the number of decent or even above-average golfers who play with a fundamentally unsound grip. Most of these poor grips are ingrained by habit and difficult to change. But change it you should.

The most common flaw among most golfers is made right at the beginning of the swing process--the grip. This vital fundamental does not receive nearly the attention it deserves with the great majority of serious players.

For beginners, young or old, the most important first step is to develop a grip that is basically sound and right for your game. One problem is that many golfers play fairly well with a bad grip; what they fail to realize is that they’re limiting their potential because of an improper grip.

When a player develops a poor grip and still plays good golf, it’s hard to get him or her to change. The reason is simple: Changing a grip you’ve become used to is difficult because the adjustment feels so uncomfortable at the beginning. And bad habits are hard to break; changing a poor golf grip is just as difficult as any other damaging habit that is ingrained over time.

So, if you have a grip that is fundamentally unsound, don’t be misled into thinking it will be easy to correct. It sounds simple to just change the position of your hands on the club, but it isn’t. But, if you persevere and practice with a grip that is right for you, the dividend will be improved play on the golf course.

The golf grip isn’t emphasized as much as other aspects of the golf swing because it’s harder to describe and display on videos. However, you can get a good feel on how to hold the club from Joe’s videos.

The fundamentals are tricky because the same grip won’t work for every player, there’s a degree of individuality that must be taken into account that depends on a golfer’s age and strength and other factors.

Using the Vardon grip--which is right for almost every golfer--is the way to go and the important basics are:

Put all four fingers of the left hand around the shaft with your thumb on top of the shaft.

Place the small finger of your right hand over the index finger of your left hand. And then put the other three fingers of your right hand around the shaft with the right thumb on top of the shaft.

When you address the ball, the back of your left hand and the palm of your right hand should be facing down the target line.

Make sure your hands are close together and firm, not tense, on the grip of the club.

Your left hand should be the dominant hand when you begin your swing. Make sure your grip is slightly firmer with your left hand than the right.

The above points are vice versa for left-handers.

Even though the Vardon grip is, by far, the most popular and used by most golfers, the ten-finger grip is often better suited for some senior golfers and ladies who have small hands. The fundamentals are the same, but all ten fingers are on the grip. Get some advice from a professional before trying this.

The best way to get started with a good grip--or correct a bad one already established--is to study videos closely or go to a teaching professional or a skilled player for help.

Don’t be bashful about asking for some free advice from your pro or a good player who you’re acquainted with. This doesn’t require an expensive lesson; the grip isn’t complicated, but it’s important to establish good fundamentals. Beware of taking unsolicited advice from someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

After you’ve developed a sound grip, you can experiment with small adjustments to find out what is best for you. If you move your left hand to the right (clockwise), it encourages a hook; moving it the other way, to the left (counterclockwise) encourages a slice.

It should be noted that none of these basics apply to the putting grip. Even the pros differ wildly in their choice of putting grips, so that will take some research and experimenting on your part to find out what’s best for you.

Finally, as your game becomes better and more refined, you’ll discover that your grip isn’t the same for every shot. The basic Vardon grip remains the same, but you will learn to adjust your hands for short shots as opposed to the tee ball with your driver. Practice and sound guidance from your trusted advisers will aid you in this area.

Don’t ignore the grip; it’s the most overlooked fundamental in the game of golf. And it’s one of the most important.

Focus on Short Shots During Cold Weather

In most of the nation, the warm weather is on the decline and cold north winds are beginning to be the norm rather than the exception. Because of this, the strategy for your golf game needs some radical changes.

Because of the cold temperatures, you’re going to wear more clothing during play. Consequently, you won’t hit your full shots with the same consistency or skill that is expected during warm weather. Golfers of all skill levels who play during late fall and winter will have to depend more on their short games than they do during the summer.

Cold weather is going to dampen the desire and practicality of going to the driving range for long periods of time to hit full shots. You can practice your short game in less time without becoming chilled.

There are two vital shots that every golfer can learn to execute successfully: the chip shot and pitch shot.

Pitches and chips are more important to average players because they hit fewer greens in regulation; consequently, they have to depend on their short game more than highly skilled players. This is particularly true for women and older men who don’t hit the ball as far as low-handicap players. And it’s true for all players when the weather turns cold.

Success begets success. Short shots are a part of the game that all players can improve on. And you’ll find that improving your skill with short shots will help the rest of your game because you’ll become more confident. Average players don’t need great strength or extraordinary coordination to become proficient around the green; they just need to practice extensively while using the proper fundamentals. And then they need to learn to concentrate on these crucial shots during actual play. That’s not always easy.

If you develop a solid chipping and pitching game, it will help your putting dramatically. Your putting won’t change, but you’ll have more easy putts because your approach shots will be closer to the hole. That’s how you begin to shoot lower scores.

Using the proper fundamentals on these two shots is crucial; it’s counterproductive to practice bad habits. By using Joe’s short-game video (Short Game Clinic) you can develop the proper fundamentals, which aren‘t complicated. The following instructions assume you’re right-handed and hitting off a level lie. You’ll have to make adjustments for uphill or downhill lies.

Chip Shot--Play this shot from the back of your stance, with the ball close to even with your right foot. Keep your weight primarily on your left foot and keep your hands ahead of the ball. Take the clubhead back and up and strike the ball with a slightly descending arc. Most important of all, keep your head absolutely steady.

Pitch Shot--Play the ball off the middle of your stance with your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Your weight should be mostly on your left side. Take the clubhead back rather steeply and strike shot with a descending stroke, keeping your head still.

You must concentrate on keeping your weight balanced with no head movement. Everyone has a tendency to look up quickly to see where the ball is going. It’s also helpful to watch skilled players hit these shots; imitation is beneficial so long as you imitate what is correct.

You can practice short shots for longer periods of time without getting tired because they don’t take the same energy as full shots. Every player who wants to hit these shots close to the hole should practice extensively--using the proper technique--until you have the skill to play both shots effectively.

As far as which clubs to use on these two crucial shots, there’s room for personal preference. Using just a pitching wedge or sand wedge for both pitch shots and chip shots has merit. Most important, you become thoroughly familiar with how these clubs will react on either shot. Some players like to hit chip shots with a 6-iron or 7-iron clear up to the pitching wedge. It’s a matter of what you have confidence in.

The problems begin when you transfer from the practice green to the golf course during competition. Players know they can hit the shots correctly because they’ve done it while practicing, but they become anxious and uncomfortable on the golf course. It becomes very frustrating when golfers have poor chipping and pitching rounds after they’ve worked hard on the practice green. That happens. Like putting, good short shots require confidence. Don’t give up. The main thing is to keep your head anchored throughout the shot. That’s easier said than done, but it can become a part of your game. And that’s when you’ll be on the way to being a good short-game player.

Concentration on the course is essential. Chipping and pitching is pressure-filled with everyone watching you, just like putting. Picture the line and distance and the stroke you want to use and stroke the shot with no head movement. You can train yourself to do it consistently. Practicing these two shots religiously will do more for your game than you imagined possible.

Adjust to Cold Weather—Shorten Your Backswing

The holiday season is here and for most of us the golf weather has turned decidedly colder. The tendency is to try for a big turn on the backswing, even though we’re wearing more and heavier clothing. Don’t do it.

It’s time to reconsider your swing strategy on the golf course during cold days. You can still use the fundamentals that have become familiar after studying Joe’s videos. All you have to do is adjust your swing to the cold weather and heavy clothing.

In the autumn of the year, when you’re playing with a lot of clothing, don’t try and force a big shoulder turn and long backswing. If you try to make a big turn and hit it hard, your timing will be destroyed and you’ll mishit a lot of shots. It will feel natural to take a shorter backswing because of the cold weather and additional clothing.

When it’s cold, take a smooth, short swing and try and make solid contact. You’ll be surprised to find that your distance won’t suffer as much as you expect it to; this is true even though the ball doesn’t fly as far in cold weather.

This cold-weather swing strategy applies to both woods and irons. When you tee off with the driver, keep everything under control by shortening your backswing. Do the same with your irons; use one more club (example: a 7-iron instead of an 8-iron) than you would in warm weather and swing easy and make solid contact.

When wearing extra clothing in cold weather, trying to swing hard is inviting the creation of bad habits that can carry over into spring. Conversely, if you keep it smooth and short during the winter, the longer swing will develop naturally in the warmer spring climate. You won’t even have to think about it; you’ll just naturally use a fuller swing in warm weather.

Using a short backswing in the winter will help your warm-weather game. After using a smooth swing during the cold months, you will learn you don’t have to take a big turn to get the distance you’re capable of.

It’s imperative that you wear enough clothing to be comfortable; if you become chilled on the golf course your game will suffer and it’s no fun. Long johns and corduroy slacks will take care of the bottom tier. For the top, you will be better off with several layers of lighter clothing topped with a loose-fitting polyester windbreaker rather than a heavy jacket over a shirt.

The windbreaker is important. It should be loose-fitting, but needs a snug collar, waist, and cuffs. If the collar is loose, try wearing a scarf around your neck. It’s better to be a little too warm than cold and stiff.

A stocking cap is hard to beat for your head. If it’s extra chilly, try wearing a ski band under the stocking cap for extra protection for your ears. And here’s another tip: If you’re playing on a cold but sunny day, take a golf visor. Make sure it is large enough to fit over your stocking cap so you’ll have the bill of the visor to shield your eyes from the sun.

Shortening your backswing doesn’t mean to make it unnaturally abrupt. Swing in a way that feels easy and smooth despite all the extra clothes. In other words, don’t try and make your backswing longer than what feels comfortable, but don’t try and make it extra short either. Just take it back smoothly and let it stop when that’s what feels right. You’ll lose some distance, but not as much as you think. And when you hit it solid, you’ll be surprised at the distance you can get with a shorter backswing.

Practice Before Trying New Shots

Now that March is here and the days are getting longer and warmer, most of us can’t wait to get to the course and try some new shots that we’ve watched the pros hit on TV. If you must try some new shots with new clubs, do yourself a big favor and practice before you attempt them in competition.

After watching Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson hit a flop shot during a PGA tournament on TV, numerous amateur players can’t wait to get to their course and try that shot. Don’t do it.

Professional golfers are playing a different game than we are when it comes to highly sophisticated and tricky shots. These are the best players in the world and most of them haven’t done anything but play golf since they were ten years old. So don’t get the idea that you can go out on the course and hit the same kind of shots that they do. It won’t work.

One of the new clubs that has gained favor with the pros is the lob wedge. It’s a tricky club. Most amateurs will be better off if they stick to a pitching wedge and sand wedge and become thoroughly familiar with both. Low-handicap players might benefit from learning to play with a lob wedge on certain courses, but most amateurs will benefit by sticking to their sand wedge for basic short shots.

The aforementioned flop shot is not for the average golfer. It’s not a shot that very many of the pros use, so why should you rush to the course and try it; you’re liable to skull it and injure one of your playing companions. Learn how to hit the conventional pitch shot with your sand wedge and you’ll be money ahead.

Another shot used frequently by the pros is a chip shot that’s hit by blading a sand wedge on purpose from the fringe. This shot takes perfect hand-eye coordination and hours of practice before it can be mastered. Amateurs will do themselves a favor if they stick to the standard chip shot from the fringe.

Another Johnny-come-lately in the repertoire of the pros is the unorthodox method of using a fairway wood to hit chip shots. Many amateurs are now attempting this shot during their weekly outings, and most of them try it without even practicing the shot. They’ll end up wasting shots around the green. Once again, stick to the basic short shots that you’ve practiced and used over time.

Professionals often hook or fade their shots around trees when they’re in trouble. Most amateur golfers will be better off pitching safely back to the fairway. Hitting a controlled hook or fade is one of the toughest shots in golf and more often than not you’ll just end up in more trouble if you try it. And don’t believe the old adage that trees are 90 percent air; they’re 90 percent tree.

No matter what else you copy, do not imitate the pros pace of play; they’re playing for their living and it’s a different game than we’re used to. Keep yourself moving at a brisk pace. Playing slow like the pros won’t help you at all.

If, after all these warnings, you’re still determined to try tricky shots you see the pros use while watching PGA tournaments on TV--practice them first. You’ll quickly find out you need a very good lie to hit a flop shot. And you’ll need a lot of practice to blade a chip shot with your sand wedge. Don’t try tricky shots for the first time during a round of golf. If you do attempt some of these shots, you’ll regret it when it’s time to settle the bets on the 19th hole.

Almost all amateur golfers will be better off sticking with shots they’ve used over the years. Leave the fancy stuff to the highly talented guys who earn their living on the PGA Tour.

Use Careful Warm-Up on Cold Days

Out here on the Central Plains, the groundhog didn’t see his shadow on the first of the month. That means golf is going to be limited for the next six weeks or so.

When there is a break in the weather and you get a chance to play, golfers of all ages should take extra care with their warm-up routines prior to playing.

Every golfer should take the time to make sure their muscles and tendons are as loose and flexible as possible before they step up to that first tee ball of the day. This is especially true for senior players, who don’t loosen up as easily as their younger counterparts. All players can sustain pulled muscles or other injuries when they don’t go through a warm-up routine.

Injuries aside, if you just rush to the first tee and take a few quick practice swings and then tee off, you won’t play your best golf. And cold weather will make it worse. You can play the entire 18 holes without swinging freely.

It’s best for all players to go to the driving range and warm up slowly by hitting some range balls; however, that isn’t always possible for players who are pressed for time. And the driving range is less inviting during cold weather. A word of caution when you do go to the practice range: Don’t hit so many balls before you tee off that you get tired in the middle of the round. Once again, senior players are more susceptible to this problem than young players.

When you’re on a tight schedule, a loosening-up session at home before leaving for the course is an excellent alternative to the driving range. Do the exercise where you bend from the waist and at least come close to touching your toes and loosen up gradually. When the early morning stiffness begins to dissolve, take some smooth easy swings with a short, weighted indoor practice club. This is not a golf club; it has a regular grip and a short shaft with a weighted head on it. This is a great warm-up aid and they’re available at almost any golf shop at a reasonable price. Even though the warm-up club has a short shaft, make sure you take practice swings in a room with a fairly high ceiling.

Players of any age who have had back problems should be sure they do some stretching exercises before leaving for the course. Check with your doctor or chiropractor to find out which exercises are best for you. Early in the morning--when you’re not loose--is when golfers are most susceptible to throwing out their back. Anyone who has gone through that agony knows how important it is to do everything possible to see that it doesn’t happen again.

Try and get to the course early enough to hit a few chips and putts, even if you don’t have time to go to the driving range. If you go right to the first tee with no warm-up, it will take you several holes to get a feel for the greens.

Even though winter has yet to give way to early spring, you still might catch some fairly nice days. Take plenty of warm clothing. Seniors will have a hard time making good swings early in the round if they’re chilled. It’s better to start out with too much clothing than not enough; you can take extra clothing off whenever you want, but you can’t put it on if it’s in your closet at home.

It’s beneficial for all players to walk some--particularly seniors who might still be a little stiff and cold at the start of the round. If you use a cart, try and ride with someone who will either do all the driving or at least share it with you. When you walk, take the club you’ll need for your second shot so you don’t hold up play. In some cases, you might have to carry two or three clubs to be sure you have the right one for your next shot.

Doing some stretching and swinging indoors before you leave for the club is an excellent way to start your golfing day. If the course is close to your home, the warm-up routine will keep you loose until you get to the first tee and take a few more practice swings. You’ll play better golf and you won’t be susceptible to muscle and tendon strains that can not only ruin your round, but put you out of action for weeks or months.

Move Your Practice Sessions from the Driving Range to the Golf Course

All practice is beneficial with one notable exception: when you are practicing a bad habit or incorrect fundamentals. The 2009 golf season is here and it’s a perfect time to analyze your practice methods.

Most golfers think practice consists of going to the driving range and hitting a bucket of balls occasionally. That’s normal and it will help your game. But going to the driving range isn’t the best way to practice.

Select a time when your golf course isn’t busy and crowded and practice under actual playing conditions on the course. You can either walk and carry a light bag with just a few clubs or take a cart and use every club in your bag. Both routines have advantages:

If you carry a light bag and take a driver, three-wood, five-iron, seven-iron, sand wedge, and a putter—that’s all you need. You can alternate the clubs you use for this practice method.

Using a cart has advantages too. You’ll have all your clubs and can hit every club in your bag. And you can skip around the course to holes that don’t have any players on them. If the cost isn’t a deterrent, taking a cart is best for on-course practice.

The accessories that you’ll need include a divot-repair tool, plenty of tees, and at least 10 used golf balls. You should use old balls in case you hit a few wild shots and want to move on without retrieving them.

By practicing on the course, you can hit every shot that you encounter during a regular round of golf:

Full shots off downhill or side hill lies are tough for almost all amateur golfers. Instructional videos are available that describe the proper method for these tricky shots. Copy the important fundamentals on a 3x5 file card and carry it with you for quick reference on the course.

Short pitch shots from tight lies, often over sand traps, are almost impossible. Have you ever tried running this shot through the trap with a three or four iron? Sometimes—in a match where you have to get it close—this might be your only chance. You’ll be amazed at your ability to improvise shots when you’re practicing by yourself; everyone becomes too stereotyped on how they play some of these confidence-shattering shots.

Pitch shots played from just off the green in heavy rough can be improved immeasurably with practice. These are demanding shots and the only way you can master them is by practicing from the green-side rough.

Four different sand shots strike fear into the souls of many golfers: normal lie, downhill lie, uphill lie, and buried lie. They aren’t hard. It’s very important to carry note cards on how to hit each of these shots. Practice the proper fundamentals on how to execute each of these shots and you’ll be amazed at how much you can improve in a short time

Long putts with big breaks cannot be practiced on most putting clocks. Learning how to lag these long, breaking putts close to the hole can cut several strokes off your scores.

Approach shots that come to rest on the edge of the putting surface against the first cut of rough can be killers. You’ve seen the pros hit this shot by blading a sand wedge. This is not a smart approach for amateurs; it’s better to experiment with a putter or chipping club (anything from a seven iron to a sand wedge) to find out which works best for you.

The advantages of doing your practicing on the golf course rather than the driving range are numerous indeed. This isn’t to say that practice on the driving range is not beneficial because it is. But practice on the course will help more over the long haul.

One of the most important benefits is that you don’t use the same level stance and hit the same shot with the same club over and over. And when you’re on the course, you can work on shots that have been giving you the most trouble during actual play.

While practicing on the course, it’s possible to work on your short game, which you can’t do at the driving range. This is particularly true of sand shots and difficult pitch shots out of the rough.

Choose a pace that you’re comfortable with. Playing four balls for nine holes is the equivalent of 36 holes of golf and may be too tiring; practice will be counterproductive if you become exhausted. Playing five or six holes with three or four balls may be plenty to begin with.

By using this three- or four-ball practice method under actual playing conditions, you’ll be surprised at how much you can improve your game and confidence. Find your comfort zone with this routine and you’ll discover you’ve never enjoyed practicing so much. And your game will show it.

Long Practice Sessions Lead to Lasting Improvement

With summer just a few weeks away, it’s time for you to think about preparing for the local tournaments that are important to you. Most club tournaments and city tournaments are played in June and July and you’ll want your game to be at its peak for these prestigious events.

Even if you don’t play much tournament golf, the game is more fun when you play well enough to be competitive within your own group.

On days when you have some free time and can’t play with your regular foursome, turn the time into a rigorous practice session instead of just taking the day off.

A few long and intensive periods of practice can really help lower your scores. These practice routines--when done properly--can be time consuming and tiring. Consequently, you don’t want to do it so often that it becomes work. And you want to carefully plan your practice so you’ll get the most possible benefit from your efforts.

Older players get tired more easily, so they should prepare for their long practice sessions with care. These extended and intense practice routines should be done in the following order:

Start your practice with 15-20 minutes on the putting clock while you’re still fresh. Don’t overdo the putting practice, but work hard at it during those 20 minutes.
After putting, work on your chip shots, pitch shots, and sand shots. The short game is vital and you should be sure you’re using the proper fundamentals when you work on it.
Move to the driving range and start practicing with all the clubs in your bag, first hitting short irons and then moving to the longer irons.
Hit your driver and fairway woods last because these are the clubs that will tire you the quickest.

How long you practice with each of the above-mentioned clubs will vary from player to player. Try and get in as much work as possible without becoming so fatigued that the practice becomes a chore and less beneficial. Hit balls until you’re pleasantly tired.

Don’t expect your long practice session to help your game the very next time you play, although it might. These occasional extended practice routines will improve your game over time if you practice the proper techniques and fundamentals.

Almost every serious golfer will admit that they hit the ball better on the driving range than they do on the course during a competitive round. This is normal. After all, you’re perfectly relaxed, hitting from a level lie, and you develop a repeating rhythm on the driving range. But don’t become discouraged when you don’t hit it as well on the course; practice will pay off over the long haul. You’ll hit fewer horrible shots and your consistency will improve.

During competition, don’t approach a pitch- or chip shot by telling yourself: “I hit this shot perfectly when I was practicing yesterday.” That puts too much pressure on your game. Forget the practice and concentrate on the shot. Just remember that shots hit during competition are entirely different from those on the driving range or chipping green.

One very positive result of long practice sessions is that you’ll realize you’re physically capable of hitting some superb golf shots. Even if you don’t do it right away on the golf course, you’ll know in your mind the potential is there. Stay with your practicing, even though you will suffer through some disappointing golf games just like everyone does.

Your short game will really improve if you practice it frequently for shorter periods of time. And it’s less tiring to hit pitches and chips than full shots. Just 20-30 minutes before a round working on your short game will pay huge dividends.

Practice should be fun. If you do it too often and for too long, it becomes work. So plan a schedule that you can enjoy, and be patient; lasting improvement in your golf game will be gradual and almost imperceptible. But over a period of a month or more, you’ll realize you’re getting better.

Walking Nine Holes is a Lot of Exercise

In almost every article on general health, doctors across the nation proclaim that--for most people--walking is the best exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to be obsessive about it; health experts say that a 30-minute walk three or four times a week is sufficient. Nine holes of golf takes about two hours and it’s close to two and a half miles; that’s a lot of beneficial walking.

Every golfer--if their health allows--should walk at least nine holes per round. If you just plop yourself in a cart and ride the entire 18 holes, you aren’t going to get much productive exercise.

An 18-hole round of golf should be a combination of healthy exercise, fun, and camaraderie; however, after walking the front nine, continuing by foot on the back nine can become the equivalent of a forced march with a full field pack while in the employ of Uncle Sam.

Depending on your age and condition, carrying a full-size bag or pulling it on a cart can be so tiring that it takes the fun out of the game.

Have you ever tried playing the front nine carrying an extra-light, no-frills canvas bag? It should be a bag that’s just a shell of light canvas with a ball holding pocket and no other extras. I’m talking about a golf bag so small and light that you can’t carry all of your clubs in it.

For the front nine--when you’re going to walk with a featherweight bag--you should carry a driver, three-wood, five-wood, five-iron (or one of the new hybrids), seven-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and your putter. You can vary the clubs you carry according to the course and your game, but try playing and walking with just eight clubs on the front nine.

If you’re past your prime, like most of us are, walking nine holes is plenty--that’s two and a half miles carrying a bag. That’s a lot of exercise. And be sure that you have comfortable golf shoes. It’s no fun to walk nine or 18 holes when your feet are hurting.

Don’t carry a lot of extra balls in your light bag, two or three is plenty. If you have a dozen golf balls in your bag, you’ll be carrying a bag that’s heavier than it needs to be.

Your first reaction is going to be that your scores will balloon if you don’t have all your clubs. That won’t happen. You’ll be surprised to find--over time--that you will score just as well with eight clubs as you do with the full compliment of 14. And you’ll learn how to hit some new shots. If you have a 115-yard shot, and it’s too close for your seven-iron, you’ll have to hit a soft, three-quarter shot. And you’ll have to hit some punch shots when you’re going against the wind because you won’t have the club you would normally use.

If you play with a regular group of good friends, you can occasionally borrow a club. In other words, if you have a nine-iron shot and your nine-iron is back at the clubhouse, just borrow a nine-iron from one of your friends in the foursome.

If you’re going to ride a cart the back nine, you’ll want to have your large bag--with the rest of your clubs--in a handy place so you can make a quick switch at the turn.

Riding a cart for 18 holes four or five times a week becomes expensive fast. That’s $50 or more a week and a lot of golfers can’t afford that. A lot of public courses that charge $10 for 18 holes on a cart will charge $6 or $7 for nine holes. That’s not only unfair to the players, it’s outrageous. Course managers should be encouraging their players to walk as much as they can, and they shouldn’t charge over $5 for the back nine if their cart rental is $10 for 18 holes.

Most golfers can easily walk nine holes, but that back nine can become pure torture if you run out of gas. And that takes all the fun out of the game. Try this method of carrying a lightweight bag with just seven or eight clubs on the front nine, and then ride the back.

You’ll get all the exercise you need, and the back nine will be fun instead of drudgery.