how to improve your golf Iron play is all about accuracy. Unfortunately, many weekend golfers with high golf handicaps focus on minute details in their swings.

Often, these details are irrelevant and uncontrollable. You can’t predict how a smudge of dirt on your 7-iron will affect contact. You also can’t predict how a slight breeze will affect distance if you hit the ball solidly. 

So forget about these minute details. Instead, work on the things that really count. Perform these things well and the minute details won’t matter.

Concentrating on the things that really matter is a great golf tip for sticking your irons when necessary. Here are six others.

1. Listen To Your Shots

Feedback is critical when practicing, as I tell students in golf lessons. Feedback helps you make adjustments to your swing until you get it right. With irons, there are two kinds of feedback: how the shots felt and how they sounded. Thin shots and fat shots have a distinct sound. But good shots have a crisp thwack at impact. Listen for this sound when playing and practicing. The sound of your shot can give you clues as to how well you’re hitting the ball.

2. Direction Over Distance

If you’re serious about shaving strokes from your golf handicap, learn distance control with your irons. Distance control is paramount to sticking good iron shots. In golf lessons we teach students to master distance control by learning to vary the length and speed of their swings. If you do that, you’ll increase your ability to pinpoint iron shots, setting yourself up for the next shot.

3. Keep Head Low At Impact

The one thing many great tour players share is that their heads are lower at impact than when they were standing at address. Great ballstrikers go down after the ball by flexing their knees—not by bending at their hips or dropping their heads. Their knees drop down slightly and move toward the target at the same time. This leans the club forward so that the shaft is angled ahead of your forward arm, leading to a pure hit

4. Maintain Wrist Angle

Another trait great tour players share is that their hands always lead a trailing iron. This makes it possible to hit down on the ball and squash it against the ground, just like you’re taught in golf instruction sessions. To do this, you need to maintain the semi-cocked position with your right wrist (left wrist for left-handers) through impact, with the right palm facing down. Bad ballstrikers have their wrist facing up at impact. More often than not, bad ballstrikers try to flip the right wrist so that the clubhead scoops and passes their hands. This leads to mis-hits almost every time.

5. Capture The Moment of Impact

If you ever get a chance to see video of Johnny Miller, the great PGA pro, swinging, you’ll notice that he’s still staring at the ground after impact. In his words, he’s trying to “freeze frame” that fraction of a second when the clubhead meets the ball. His goal is to actually “see” the moment of impact—something many people say is impossible. Nevertheless, keeping his head down like that helps him square the club at impact and helps produce good crisp contact.

6. Slow Down Your Swing

Speed kills when hitting irons. It’s a common swing fault you see in golf lessons—players trying to swing their irons faster to generate more distance. Reining in your swing speed is the key to accuracy. Instead, swinging the club at about 75 percent of your top swing speed. This provides better balance and rhythm. It also helps improve your mechanics and enables you to hit the sweet spot more often. You also don’t need a lot of speed to put backspin on your ball. Pure backspin is the result of good contact more than anything else.

Sticking your irons is all about distance control. Work on executing the golf tips explained above and you’ll find yourself sticking your irons more and more. Sharpening distance control is one key to chopping strokes off your golf handicap. So if you’re determined to lower your handicap this year, learn to hit your irons accurately.

Courtesy of Jack Moorehouse

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction

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how to improve your golf Nothing packs strokes onto your score—and your golf handicap—faster than poor putting.

So if you’re looking to cut strokes from your game, improve your putting.

There are dozens of putting drills that can help.  Below are five (with additional golf tips) that are proven exercises.

They’re simple straightforward drills often used in golf lessons to refine a specific fundamental, like squaring the putterface at impact or rolling a putt at the right speed. Many are also pace-related.

Before practicing any of these drills, check your grip. It must feel comfortable when putting. Start by gripping the handle in your left palm (right palm, if you’re left-handed), and not in the fingers. The handle should go right under the fleshy part of your thumb. Then, add your right hand, also gripping the handle in your palm. Some players take their gloves off when they putt. Others wear them. Do what feels right to you.

Speed Drill

Speed may be the biggest factor in putting. If your ball isn’t rolling at the right speed, it won’t go in. Start by putting a club 1-½ feet beyond the hole. Now putt. Your goal, if you miss, is to roll the ball up to the shaft on the ground, without touching it.  That leaves you an easily makeable comeback putt. Most experts would agree that a putt has the best chance of dropping when it would goes about a foot by the cup. We use this drill with students in our golf instruction sessions.

Gate Drill

Another critical putting factor is squaring the putterface at impact. Like speed, if your putter face isn’t square at impact, you’ll miss the putt. Place two tees in the ground a few inches apart. Now putt a ball through the “gates.” The only way the ball will go through the tees is if the putterface is square at impact. This is another drill popular in golf instruction sessions.  If you’re doing it for the first time, place the tees about six inches apart. Narrow the tees as you gain consistency.

Backstroke Drill

New students in golf lessons tend to take big backstrokes. If that’s you, the backstroke drill will help you harness your motion. It’s a great drill for mid-range and short putts. Place a tee about 10 inches behind a ball and practice mid-range putts. This drill forces you to take the putterhead back only so far. Your goal is to maintain the same smooth tempo for all your putts, with no steering or decelerating. Of course, for a longer putt, use a longer stroke. Stick a tee in the ground outside your ball so you can monitor ball position. Leave room for the club to go through.

Three-Station Drill

Stick tees in the ground at three different spots on the green. Place them about three or four feet apart. Your last putt should be about 12 feet out. Now putt balls from each station. This drill is another speed drill. It’s also a great pre-round drill because you’ll be working on putts you’ll probably face during your round. You can also do this drill on downhill putts and uphill putts. If you want to put some pressure on yourself, putt five balls at each station. Stay at that station until you’ve sunk all five balls without a miss. Then, move on.

Green-Reading Drill

Green reading is probably the most underrated skill in putting. This drill improves that skill. Find a large practice green.  Hit putts from different distances and with different curves. Before putting, read the putt from behind the ball, each side of the ball, and behind the hole. See which position gives you the best read. Take that skill to the course next time you play.

Whatever the distance you’re putting, once you decide on the line and the right speed, commit yourself fully to the putt. Some sports psychologists recommend that you take a full breath and then let it out. This, they say clears your mind and settles your body. They also say not to get upset if you miss a putt. It saps energy from your body, which you’ll need to finish the round.

Missing putts packs strokes on your golf handicap. If you want to see a dramatic drop in your golf handicap, improve your putting.

Courtesy of Jack Moorehouse

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction

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When you putt, have your left hand in front of the ball. Putt the ball, keeping your hands steadily in this position as you follow through. This helps to get a smooth roll of the ball and prevents the ball from popping up as it meets the putter.

Keep in mind that golf is supposed to be fun, but a little bit of practice will keep you at the top of your game. Golf is a game that continues to offer learning opportunities. Talk with and observe experienced players, and spend as much time as you comfortably can practicing. Your game will soon improve.

Breathe in deeply before hitting the ball. Doing this can clam you down a great deal and allow you to focus on the ball. Spend as much time as is necessary to visualize the ball going where it’s supposed to before taking a swing. Deep breathing can also diffuse tension when competing.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the graphite shafts are for your driver alone. Learn about how new technology has allowed for graphite shafts to be useful for every club you have in your arsenal.

If you do not have a lot of time to practice, your short game should be your priority. Work on your chipping and putting skills. You’ll discover that developing these skills pays off down the road. If you have some time, begin with wedge practice, than some 7 irons, and finally shorter range wedge shots.

You should research and learn more about a golf course before you tee off for the first time. Knowing every nook and cranny of a course can vastly improve your score.

Make sure to line up your feet properly. This is probably the most practical way to improve swing accuracy. Start by ensuring that your feet are at a right angle to the location that you are aiming for. You can check this easily by placing the club up to your toes so that it points where the ball can travel.

Don’t let your body stiffen up when you prepare to take a swing. This is something that a lot of golfers do, so make sure you avoid doing this as it can bring your golf game down. You must be relaxed and not stiff; be flexible so you can properly swing the club to generate the most power in your shots. Therefore, be sure to loosen up before you take your swing.

Put your entire body into your swing to get a powerful shot. Your body needs to accelerate with the finesse of a whip. Do this by pushing your legs against the ground and drawing on the energy this generates.

It’s a good idea to have light, high-protein snacks, such as nuts, handy when playing golf. Golf is a game both physically and mentally exhausting. Eating a protein-rich snack can help you maintain mental focus, as well as helping you avoid problems with muscle fatigue.

The tips you just read can help you become a better golfer. Now it’s time to practice them by playing as much golf as you can. Becoming a better golfer requires patience, practice and consistency. You cannot go wrong, so long as you enjoy the game and have a good time!

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A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to walk, instead of renting a golf cart. You will get more exercise, which in turn is great for your health! Walking will also keep your muscles loose and warmed up, leaving you ready for every shot as you take it.

Before you play more golf, look up discounts you may get by going to a different course. You can search online, call the pro-shop, or sign up to receive offers my mail.

Try to line the end of your foot up with the golf ball when you drive. Place the ball squarely between your feet for all other swing types. The only time when it wouldn’t be centered is on a slope.

Golf is a game and should be fun, not stressful. Mistakes in golf are common, and laughing at yours will allow you to learn from them and stay relaxed.

Use your body, and channel energy to get a good swing. Novice golfers think the power comes from the arms, but only using the arms can make weak and awkward swings. Instead, put the full force of your entire body into the swing.

Regardless of your skill level, your golf ball will inevitably land in a bunker, known to nongolfers as a sand trap. Getting your ball out may result in a destroyed sand pit. It is considered proper etiquette to carefully rake the sand back in place when you make your exit. Raking the bunker ensures that players who play after you won’t have poor lies if they happen to hit the ball into the sand trap.

Whatever you do, avoid the thought that a golf stance must be uncomfortable to be successful. Practice swinging at the ball sans club. Practice your posture by bending your knees a bit at the waist, and allow your arms to rest dropped. Clap your hands tightly and hold them. This is all you need to do to assume a position that is natural, if you are not feeling right at that position you are doing too much.

As stated above, golf is a great sport to get both physical and mental exercise while hanging out with friends outdoors. So, if you are looking forward to taking up an engaging new sport, look no further. These easy tips will help you start playing golf and be on your way to a happier, healthier you.

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Play Like A Pro With These Golf Tips

Posted by on Mar-28-2012

Each of your golf clubs will have its own “sweet spot”, a spot where, if you strike the ball with a great swing, you will get nearly perfect accuracy. When you hit the ball at the lowest point of your swing, you can gain greater distance. To do this, discover the sweet spot on each of your irons; by taking this approach, you get the most from your clubs.

Mental preparation is equally important to your physical preparations where golfing is concerned. Block out the stress and issues of your life and concentrate on your game.

In order to properly swing golf clubs, you must have good grip. Good club grip allows you to nail a variety of golf shots. Focus on the grip of your glove-hand as this plays a major role in your ability to make effective shots.

Make sure you finish each hole within a reasonable amount of time. When people are playing slowly it can be annoying to the following group. When your group is moving slower across the green, it is proper etiquette to invite faster groups to “play through”.

Focus completely on the present shot. Don’t be distracted by your last bad shot or a water hazard on the next hole. Dwelling on past mistakes will only beget more of them, so let them go and move on.

Instead of buying clubs that other people like, you should get a set that works for you. Don’t forget that the golfers of a century ago were using clubs made of wood. Is titanium really worth a few hundred extra dollars to you?

Speed is a critical factor when you are trying to make a long distance putt. Try to aim for a middle target instead of going straight for the hole. This will give you a better chance of having your next putt be a short one by making sure that your current putt isn’t too short or too long.

Thoroughly survey a new course before you tee off for the first time. Keep from adding unnecessary strokes to your game from unseen hazards by seeking resources such as the scorecard or a golfer familiar with the course.

If you’re going to treat yourself to a golf club, have it custom-fitted. Not every golfer is the same height, weight or body structure. Once club will not work perfectly for every golfer. Buying a golf club designed for your body type can dramatically improve your swing.

That one line should give you an idea of how important it is to learn how to swing your club correctly. There are also intangibles that you must possess in order to excel at golf. For example, maintaining proper form in your swing and possessing the ability to stay mentally focused will boost your game. Practice the techniques you just read about to significantly improve your game.

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For those struggling to slice the golf ball off the tee box, alter your stance by placing your front foot slightly closer to the golf ball. When you close your stance, you’ll have a much better chance at keeping your initial shot on the fairway.

If possible, play with good players and watch their techniques. Other golfers can help you out in many ways. Any golfer who’s more skilled than you can help you. A golfer at a professional level isn’t required. If you take careful note of their style, you may find inspiration and motivation for your own game.

Each of your golf clubs will have its own “sweet spot”, a spot where, if you strike the ball with a great swing, you will get nearly perfect accuracy. Go ahead and check out all of your clubs so that you know the sweet spots in each of them.

Don’t angle the face of your club when driving. Doing this will give you the best opportunity for a straight shot. When you square up incorrectly and strike a drive, the ball will drift in various directions, growing further off target the more distance it has to cover. In order to best achieve a consistent ball striking technique, you simply must practice until you have it down.

A common golf mistake is slicing, but plenty of practice can minimize and reduce it’s occurrence. Slicing is caused by a clubface hitting a ball in a way it shouldn’t, which causes the ball to curve towards the right. In order to fight this, keep the core of your body in line with your chosen target at the point of impact. In order to best achieve this, concentrate on using your hands to generate the speed in to the ball.

One of the first things you will want to address when learning how to play golf is your grip. Typically, people think that they will be able to hit the ball further by commanding a hard grip on the club. Rather that doing that, apply a gentle yet firm grip. Grip the club like you would grip a small bird.

Perhaps you could switch to a lightweight grip if you feel you swing too quickly to really guide your shot. This fix will help your club guide your swing better.

Maintain the correct stance. If you don’t know if you’re standing properly, you can find out by doing an easy test. Just try tapping your toes upwards and downwards while keeping your feet still. You should be able to tap your toes with a little bit of effort. This will be difficult if you’re leaning too far above the ball, or it will be too easy if you’re leaning too far back.

Hopefully with all the tips that you learned here, you are feeling more confident with getting into the sport. As you keep learning more about golf, your game will improve. Look for more resources and practice, but make sure to apply the helpful tips from above.

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When playing golf, you should be both mentally and physically prepared. Try to take out any outside concerns and put your focus on your swing.

Using an unnatural stance will be detrimental to your game. Practice standing with the ball, without holding a club at all. Assume a posture where you are bent a little forward at waist and knees. See if your arms are in a good position to swing the club. Clap your hands tightly and hold them. All these elements comprise natural positioning, and if you feel discomfort, you are probably compensating for something too much.

Graphite shafts can be used for more than just your driver. If you take some time to familiarize yourself with newer graphite shafts that are available, you will find that progress in technology has made them a viable option for every golf club except a putter.

A worn-out glove might not be the cause of your hands slipping during your swing. Inspect the grips and determine whether or not each one is showing signs of wear and tear. Replacing your grips is a cheap way to improve your whole swing.

Try to get a lighter grip if you are having trouble swinging to fast. This fix will help your club guide your swing better.

You can test the effectiveness of your golf swing by wiggling your toes a bit. If you have free movement of your feet without any problems, then you may be too far from the ball. Try leaning toward the ball so much that you can still move your feet a little, but not a lot.

When playing a round of golf, remember to keep the game moving. Getting trapped behind a dawdling group can really put a damper on one’s enthusaism. If you’re holding up other groups by playing slowly, invite the people behind you to “play through”.

When faced with a really long putt shot, concentrate on the speed you use to hit the ball. Do not concentrate solely on your aim; you should aim for a target that is between the ball and the hole. You will set up a short putt for yourself and not run the risk of hitting the ball too far or not far enough.

Before you take your shot, make sure that you align the rear of your forward facing foot with the ball. Otherwise, the ball should be placed directly between each of your feet as you swing. The ball may be off center during shots that are sitting on a slope.

A great way to get more exercise out on the course is to forgo the electric cart and instead opt to walk. This will give you more exercise on the course and that is a great way to be in better shape. It can be very beneficial to your health. Walking also keeps your muscles loose and warm.

If you are right handed, put your left foot closer to the golf ball to avoid slicing it. Closing your stance helps you decrease the spin that makes your ball slice to the right.

Try out tips like the ones you’ve just read above to help keep your game going as smoothly as possible. Employ what you’ve just learned here and you can continue to get better at golf, no matter how long you’ve been playing the game.

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You can find flaws in your stance by using a toe-wiggling exercise. If it is difficult to wiggle your toes when preparing to swing your club, this indicates you are leaning too far towards the ball. In order to gain a good posture, golfers can use their feet to judge and lean back.

If you are golfing with new people, be sure to introduce yourself before starting the round. You want to have a good relationship with your partners because you will be playing with them for at least the next four hours. Greet everyone, make some small talk and you can walk away from the game smiling even if your game stinks.

In order to properly swing your golf club, you need a proper grip on the club. A good grip is key to properly performing a wide variety of shots. You absolutely must have the grip on your glove-hand correct if you want to hit decent shots.

Make sure you stay loose for your swing. Many golfers do just this, and it negatively affects their game. It is vital to be relaxed and not rigid if you want to hit accurately and powerfully. If you’re as stiff as a wall, your improvement will not happen.

Whenever you can team up with strong golfers, do so! This way, you can learn by observation. There are various ways to benefit from a pro golfer. There is no need to find a professional player to learn some new techniques from someone better than you. Paying attention to the way they play will give you new ideas, and their presence may spur you to play stronger yourself.

Prior to your next golf club purchase, consider going to a golf shop equipped to measure you for custom fitting. Not every golfer is the same height, weight or body structure. Once club will not work perfectly for every golfer. Having a club just right for your size will help you develop a good swing.

As stated in the beginning of this article, golf can be quite confusing if you have never played before. You now have the information that you need about golf. Judge the sport on your own terms and give it a try, to see if this is a sport that you could get into!

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When getting ready to putt, look down and make sure your left hand is set a little forward of the ball before you strike it. Hold this position as the putter strikes the ball and you complete your stroke. You will then be able to hold the position of your golf club and stop the ball from going off the front of the club.

Strike a ball with the sweet spot of the club for perfect accuracy. You should find out where this spot is on each of your clubs, and connect with the ball when you reach the end of a downward swing.

You may want to ask the advice of a golf pro when deciding which new clubs to buy. This helps you out because they can help you find the perfect clubs, and they’ll also be abreast of the latest developments in new clubs.

If slicing your ball off the tee gives you trouble, consider making alterations to your stance, like putting your forward foot closer in to the ball. This “closure” of your stance counterbalances excessive spin that makes the slice fly too wide, which makes it more likely that the slice you do hit will remain on the fairway.

A good grip is absolutely necessary for perfect manipulation and stroking of the golf ball. Having a good grip on the club will allow you to hit different types of shots. The glove-hand grip is especially important because it plays a large role in directing the ball.

If you have to putt a ball across a large green, pay special attention to the speed of your putt. Choose an intermediate target rather than the hole. Not overshooting or undershooting gives you the advantage of a second putt that is much shorter.

One of the first things you need to learn about golf is the scoring rules. When you know how to keep score you aren’t judged as a bad player, it is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. You record each hit of the ball as a stroke and the amount of times it takes you to get the ball into the hole determines your score for each hole. The less strokes, the better!

There are good reasons why golf is as popular a game as it is. All that’s necessary now is for you to practice and enjoy the game.

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Pay attention to how high your tee is. If you do not have your tee at the height it should be in, you will not have a good drive. When teed, the golf ball should be positioned just slightly above the face of your club.

Golf shoes styled after sneakers should never be worn if you are playing through a moist course, which is usually attributable to early morning dew or a previous rain. While some brands offer waterproofing on these types of shoes, the majority of them will get soaked through when golfing in wet grass.

If you think that your swing goes too fast or that you’re not getting guidance through the swing from your club head, then you might consider a lighter grip on the club. This easy solution will make the head of the club feel heavy during the swing, which allows you to focus more on the fundamentals of your swing.

Fashion a workaround instead of constantly trying to overcome this perpetual stumbling block in your way. You may develop your own unique solution that helps create your style of play.

Before beginning your round of golf, note the ball that you are using, and inform the members of your group of the ball’s brand name and number. Double-check that you’re hitting the right ball by looking at the ball’s brand and number. If you play your opponent’s ball, you’ll have to take penalty shots.

Use your body, and channel energy to get a good swing. Inexperienced players believe that strength derives from their upper body, but using only your arms means your swing will be weak and awkward. Moving the whole body with the club motion is much more effective.

If you have a slicing issue, try moving your front foot slightly closer to your golf ball. This method of “closing” your stance will help you naturally balance out the spin that causes the ball to slice, giving you a better chance of keeping the ball in the fairway for your second shot.

Hopefully, the tips you have read make you feel more comfortable about diving into the world of golf. Anything new you try becomes easier with practice. The more you practice, the more you are learning in the process. The more you are learning, the easier it is to excel in the game of golf. So, take advice from the tips above, and apply them to your knowledge base to improve your golf game.

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