Unfortunately, Golf is not played on a flat lie. Most people would like it – but it is just not possible. Even on the “flattest” courses you will still have lies that are uneven. You have basically four types of lies besides a flat one: Uphill, Downhill, Sidehill (ball above feet), Sidehill (ball below feet). Then, there are varying degrees of the lie to make it more or less difficult. For practical purposes, lets look at the basic setup adjustments for the uphill and downhill as that will help you get started in the right direction.

The one constant that most players forget to adjust for in the setup of these shots is Spine Tilt. The most important thing is to try and get your body feeling like you are on a flat lie (even though its not). You want to get your shoulders as parallel to the ground as possible. So, how do you do this you may ask?

(We will assume a Right Handed Player)

On an uphill lie, in order to get this “Flat Lie” feeling you would need to tilt your spine back (behind the ball and more towards your right side). Also, you will have to make sure your lower body weight is slightly into your left side (think of the weight going into the hill) to maintain balance and control through the swing.

On a downhill lie, the spine needs to be opposite. You will feel it is tilted more into your left side which would make your shoulders more parallel to that particular lie. Weight still needs to be balanced so work on getting your lower body centered. If you feel a little extra weight into the front leg that is okay as you will be needing to transfer your weight properly through impact to the finish.

If you can setup and maintain a solid posture no matter what lie you have been presented with then you will notice cleaner contact and more flush golf shots off these lies. It would help to go out onto the golf course and try these shots several times before attempting them during a round. Your body needs to get comfortable with the different setup so it can execute when needed.

Remember, if you can visualize playing every shot as a “flat lie”, that will help you remember how to position your spine and ultimately improve your posture in every situation.

A few weeks ago Jason Dufner won the last major of 2013 – the PGA Championship. His total score of 10 under par was good for a 2 stroke victory over Jim Furyk. His calm demeanor and mellow attitude over the four day championship was the talk of the tournament and ultimately his key to victory.

So what can we take from Dufner’s “non-emotional” victory? In most rounds of golf you have probably have had lots of “highs” and lots of “lows.” The emotional roller coaster that golf can take you on is definitely what makes it such an interesting sport.

A “high” during your round occurs after you’ve done particularly well. Maybe you hit a few great drives in a row, chipped in, made a birdie, or even holed out from the fairway (like Dufner did during one of his rounds). It’s great to be in this state of mind – but it’s easy to get over-excited and lose focus.

On the other hand, there are points in your round when you can feel very “low”. These times often occur after a poor shot or a series of poor shots. Maybe you hit it in the water, out of bounds, or just made a high number. It’s easy to get stuck at a low point and not recover for the rest of your round. Golf is already a tough game and being in a poor frame of mind doesn’t make it any easier.

Somewhere between the two extremes of being on a “high” and being “low” is an ideal spot to be during an entire round of golf. This is the emotional state that Dufner managed to stay in during the entire championship. His idol is Ben Hogan – the ultimate “non-emotional” golfer.

When a good golfer has a good round of golf going – it’s almost a “boring” round of golf. Nothing too special – keeping the ball in play, getting it on the green in regulation, then two putts. If this player happens to have a few birdies in the mix – then it turns into a pretty nice round.

The important thing to take away here is not to let yourself get too “high” or too “low” during your round. Yes, you should celebrate your great shots – but don’t let them affect your strategy moving forward. Similarly, don’t let bad shots or bad breaks get you down. Stick with what you know and stay positive that you’ll start to hit good shots again. This will help you keep your emotions in check and score consistently better.

If you’re like most amateurs, you probably have a rough idea of how far you hit each of your clubs – but you don’t know exactly how far each one goes. You might base your average distance on one great shot you hit with each club – but that doesn’t mean you’ll hit it that far each and every time. This causes inconsistency in your golf game, which leads to second guessing yourself (and we all know that second-guessing is the last thing you want to do before hitting a golf ball).

Tour players are truly great at knowing how far each club in their bag goes. They know it down to the exact yard. So why is this important for you? There are a host of reasons – the main one being that your score will dramatically improve if you do! The better you know your distances, the more accurate you can plot your way around a golf course, and the better you will score. Avoiding water, bunkers, and out-of-bounds is how you’ll stop making those big numbers which can ruin a round.

Once you know how far you hit each club you’ll have a much better chance of hitting more greens per round. Being short or long on your approach to a green is often more detrimental than being the correct distance, but either left or right.

Another reason for knowing how far each club goes is to make sure the distance gaps between each club are correct. If your seven iron only goes about 5 yards further than your 8 iron – it’s time to take your clubs in to get fitted. Having gaps like this is especially common when it comes to long irons, hybrids, and fairway woods. Most amateurs keep replacing these clubs and when switching between different manufacturers, it’s tough to determine the actual distance gaps between them.

When it comes to knowing your distances, your short game (from within 130 yards) will benefit the most. Sticking it close to the flag from this distance is certainly the key to better scores.

So how do you know how far each club goes? There are a variety of ways to do this. By far, the best way to do it is through the help of technology. There are terrific launch monitors like Trackman and FlightScope that can tell you exactly how far you hit each shot. These usually require the help of a golf professional.

The more low-tech method is to get out to the driving range and hit every club in your bag enough times to get a solid average distance for each one.

However you do it, make sure to be honest with yourself and don’t let your pride get in the way. The better you know your game, the better you can score and the more fun you will have.

In Phil’s post-round interview he summed up the reason for his terrific 5-under par 66 on the last day of The Open Championship. “I putted soooo good” Mickelson said.

Phil managed to birdie 4 of his last 6 holes in the final round of his win at The Open, and attributed it to his terrific putting. So let’s see what we can take away from Phil’s spectacular final round.

If we look at some PGA Tour stats – the percentage of putts made from within 10 feet by the leading tour player (in this stat) right now is 89.95%. So let’s just say that the average tour player makes about 80% of putts under 10 feet. That’s a pretty good stat. What percentage do you think you make from this distance?

If we think about why tour players have such a good stat here is because their lag putting is terrific – they leave themselves makable putts when outside of 10 feet. When a tour player has a 30 – 40 foot putt – there’s a great chance that they will knock it very close and two putt.

So what do you need to work on? If your lag putting (putts from a long distance to the hole) is poor – then place most of your practice time focusing on longer putts. Try to roll them within a three foot circle of the hole – and always try to get them just past the hole.

However, if your lag putting is pretty good and you struggle with short putts – then place more emphasis on this distance. Work on keeping your club face square, striking the dead center of your putter (not on the toe or heel), and especially work on your nerves while over short putts.

The emphasis on putting well can’t be underestimated. Tour players know that when they are putting well, their chances of winning are much, much greater. This means that if you putt well, your chances of scoring lower are much greater too.

So next time you head out to the golf course, either before your round or if you head there for a practice session, make sure to dedicate the majority of your time to the putting green and working on your weaknesses.

Phil Mickelson’s victory is definitely a result of his preparation and dedication to his game – especially his putting.

There are many rules in Rules of Golf that allow for some “wiggle room”. Rule 18 – Ball At Rest Moved is one of those rules.

Here is a little breakdown of that rule and how to proceed under this rule when it applies.

If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. However, in order to apply this rule it must “be known or virtually certain” that an outside agency has moved the ball. If not, you must deem the ball lost and proceed under Rule 27 for a lost ball.

Except as permitted by the Rules, when a player’s ball is in play, if a player, his partner or either of their caddies – lifts or moves the ball, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing the ball), or causes the ball to move, or the equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Under the Rules there is no penalty if a player accidentally causes his ball to move in the following circumstances:

• In searching for a ball covered by sand, in the replacement of Loose Impediments moved in a Hazard while finding or identifying a ball, in probing for a ball lying in water in a Water Hazard or in searching for a ball in an Obstruction or an Abnormal Ground Condition – Rule 12-1
• In repairing a Hole plug or ball mark – Rule 16-1c
• In measuring – Rule 18-6
• In lifting a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-1
• In placing or replacing a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-3a
• In removing a Loose Impediment on the Putting Green – Rule 23-1
• In removing movable Obstructions – Rule 24-1

If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

The most common situation we see on TV is Rule 18 – 5: Ball Another Ball. If a ball in play and at rest is moved by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved ball must be replaced.

For the complete reading of the Rule, I suggest you checkout the USGA’s Online Rules of Golf.

Something that all great players have in common is that they know their game – well. One of the things that you’ll see players doing next week at the British Open is altering their set of clubs to fit the challenges that “links golf” poses.

Some characteristics of “links golf” are firm, windy conditions with the courses having lots of contours. This type of golf is not conducive to the 64° lob wedge or the 20° hybrid – because those clubs get the golf ball in the air very quickly where the wind can play havoc and move it off your target line.

The players next week will most likely put more long irons in their bags and perhaps even stiffer shafts to help flight the ball down and keep it out of the wind.

Although you may not be playing in the British Open, you can copy this approach for your own game. Are you playing a course that requires you to add an extra lob wedge (like Phil Mickelson did that this years U.S. Open)?

Maybe you even want to change to a golf ball that spins more (or less) – depending on the conditions that week.

Whatever the case may be, I challenge you to evaluate your own game and experiment with changing your equipment throughout the year for different courses and conditions. See what works, what doesn’t – you’ll know your game better and become a better player because of it.

There are many different kinds of tees available for golfers to choose from. They all help you do the same thing – elevate the ball from the teeing ground. Before the days of wooden tees, golfers used to use sand – forming a little pyramid to place the ball atop of.

The type of tee used is irrelevant when compared to the proper height. For long irons, hybrids and fairway woods, it is best to tee them as close as possible to the ground. You want to think of it as a “perfect lie”. For drivers, teeing the ball high enough so that the equator of the ball matches with the top of the driver is a great starting point.

That is for “standard” shots. You will need to adjust the tee up or down if you’re a better player and trying to flight the ball either lower or higher. The all too common mistake that most amateurs make is that they are inconsistent with their tee hieghts.

I want you to try this next time you’re practicing: Start with your 9 iron and adjust your tee height from flush with the ground to a few inches above. Make a mark on the tee where you hit the ball the best. Now do the same for the rest of your clubs (perhaps alternating as you go through your bag). You’ll now have a really good idea of the height that works best for you with each club.

Before you know it, it will become second nature on the course and you won’t even have to think about it. Understanding what works best for your game will better help you lower your scores.

On the Golf Channel, Justin Rose was chosen as the “pick” to win the US Open for a couple years now. They chose him based on a variety of statistically categories when put together over a 4-day tournament would give him the decided advantage. Well, they were right! People that thought Justin Rose winning was a surprise weren’t looking at the numbers too closely.

Do any of you keep statistics on your golf game? You don’t need to go in depth like they do on the professional tours but keeping some simple stats can help clarify your weaknesses so you know what to practice. Most players that want to shoot lower always tend to lean toward the “I need to work on my golf swing” ideology instead of realizing there may be greater struggles that influence their final score.

Next time you are out on the course keep a few simple stats to help guide you along the way.

1. Mark your scorecard if you hit the fairway or missed it. You can do this by using a “1” for hit and “0” for missed. – All Holes except Par 3’s

2. Do the same for Greens Hit in Regulation (GIR) – All holes

3. For a missed GIR you will want to mark a “1” if you got the ball Up & Down in Par or less or a “0” if you didn’t.

4. Finally, write in how many putts you had per hole.

You can go even more in depth if you want by marking the side of the fairway you hit/missed, The side of the green you missed, length of putt you started with, club selection, etc. There are a variety of other stats you could keep but may not be necessary at this point.

You might be surprised by the outcome over a few rounds of golf. You can start to narrow down the areas you are giving away strokes to and improve on them. These stats are a great “call-out” to your trouble areas so you can acknowledge them sooner rather than later.

Keep working hard on the game and enjoying every minute of it!

With the upcoming US Open at Merion close by it is important to understand rules that will influence the play of these top players and the responsibility that they have.  Rule 6 outlines a variety of different items that the Player needs to be responsible for before, during, and after the round.   Some of these are showing up for the proper starting time, having a caddie, marking your golf ball, and signing the correct scorecard.  These are extremely important because any breach of Rule 6 could add penalty shots to a player’s score and even end in disqualification.

Roberto Di Vicenzo is probably the most well-known (Although he’d rather not be) for signing an improper scorecard which cost him the Masters.  He says that not a day goes by he doesn’t think about it.   Most recently, Tiger Woods 15^th hole gaff on Friday of the 2013 Masters almost ended in disqualification as he signed his scorecard after taking an illegal drop.  Since the committee knew about this and deemed it wasn’t an illegal drop at first glance he was able to be assessed a 2-shot penalty and remain in the competition.  In that same event, the youngest ever competitor, Guan Tianlang was penalized for slow play under Rule 6.  There are a ton of examples from the professional ranks of “messing” up Rule 6 so it is important for you to know your responsibilities as a player when you tee it up in your next event.

The rules can be tricky at times because there are so many and a variety of different “decisions” that take it even further.  The best thing you can always due is to read all literature provided to you before an event and observe any “local rules” that are in place for that particular course.  When in doubt, ask the rules official for the event so that you can proceed under the correct procedure.   Knowing the rules will make your time on the golf course less stressful and could even help you out in many situations.

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both got to where they are right now through doing things the right way. Of course they are naturally talented athletes, but they also work(ed) at their sport. They train(ed) hard and make valuable use of their time – especially when it comes to practice. Most amateurs can learn a lot from Tiger and Jack’s practice routines.

We all don’t have 8 hours a day to practice golf, so when we do have the time – let’s make it worth it. This involves practicing smarter instead of harder. Tiger puts more focus on the weakest part of his game at that time – a lesson every amateur should learn. If you are taking 40 putts per round but hitting your woods and irons just fine, then don’t spend time beating 7-irons down the range. Head to the putting green and spend 70% of your time there.

Jack Nicklaus would often focus on his fundamentals when his swing went south. He would work with his instructor on the basics – grip, aim, and posture. Jack found this the best way to get his groove back after a bad round. You too, can learn from this by not trying to overcomplicate your practice session. Instead of trying to cram in every drill you just read in Golf Digest into one practice session, ask your swing coach to give you one or two good drills that focus on your specific swing flaw. Practice just those few drills and don’t deviate from the plan. This ensures that not too many thoughts are entering your mind while practicing.

Another great aspect of Tiger’s practice routine is his focus on the target. Most amateurs simply go to the range and swing for the fences without a target in mind. Pick a target for each shot and change targets often. This makes sure you are doing something to actually help you game as opposed to just getting exercise from swinging a club!

Next time you’re at the driving range, go through your pre-shot routine on every shot and see how long it takes to hit a bucket of balls. Probably much longer than it typically takes you to finish a bucket – but this is a much more effective way to practice since you’re actually doing the same thing you do on the golf course.

Some tour pros will even “play” a round of golf on the range. They will start with a driver, pick a target, then hit it. From there they will go through the hole in their mind and hit whatever the next shot requires – maybe an 8 iron to a tight pin position. The more you can simulate a real round of golf on the practice range – the better your practice session will become.

Figuring out an ideal practice routine is individual to every golfer. Just make sure that you’re accomplishing something each time you go out – and keep your short game a top priority. Improving in this area will probably drop the most amount of strokes in the quickest amount of time.

Knowing the rules of golf is not only beneficial in preventing penalty strokes, but also helpful in those sticky situations when you are unsure of how to proceed. Today we are going to talk about cleaning the golf ball – most amateurs don’t exactly know to what extent they can clean their ball during a round of golf. It might surprise you when it’s legal to clean your golf ball.

The most obvious time permitted to clean your golf ball is between holes – when the ball is not in play. The other obvious time is on the putting green – after you have marked your golf ball. Cleaning it in both these times is permitted.

Another time permitted is when local rules permit the “Lift, Clean and Place” rule. This situation usually occurs when the course has seen a lot of rain or inclement weather.

There are a few special circumstances in which you must proceed with caution when picking up your ball.

• If you are determining if the ball is unfit for play – you can not clean your ball.
• If you are determining if the ball is yours (identification) you are permitted to only clean the ball “to the extent necessary for identification”
• If you have to mark your ball somewhere besides the putting green (if it is interfering with another player’s stroke) then you are not permitted to clean the ball and must replace it back to it’s original spot exactly as it was before.

What is the penalty for breach of this rule? It’s a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

So next time you find yourself in a situation where you might have the opportunity to clean your golf ball, remember to first assess your circumstances. And don’t forget – a clean golf ball flies further and straighter than a dirty golf ball!

Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters, and he did it by the book. With all the story lines at this years Masters – from 14 year old Tianlang Guan and his slow play penalty / making the cut, to having the world exposed to Rule 33-7 – how Adam Scott won the Masters involved no secret formula.

Adam did what pretty much ever Masters champion has done to put on the green jacket. He hit 76.39% of the fairways (Field Average: 60.2%) and putted like a champion (1.67 Putts Per Green). He also only found one greenside bunker all week.

The stat that you shouldn’t be surprised at is his Fairway’s Hit (57.14%) compared to the field average of 65%. Hitting fairways at Augusta National has never been a key to victory.

So what can we learn from these numbers? If you want to win a Masters you better hit a boatload of greens and putt like it’s no ones business. That’s pretty much true for every Tour event, but is key if you want to own a new piece of clothing at the end of the week.

The everyday golfer can, and should take something away from this: Focus on your short game. Hitting big drives makes you feel good – but shooting the lowest score in your group will probably bring more satisfaction.

I encourage you to take a page out of Adam Scotts 2013 Masters victory and focus this year on your putting and wedges; I guarantee if you improve in those areas so will your scores.

Defining what “practice” on the golf course is can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with the rules. It is okay to practice during a round of golf as long as you adhere to The Rules of Golf 7-2:

A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole. Between the play of two holes a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practice putting or chipping on or near:

1. the putting green of the hole last played,
2. any practice putting green, or
3. the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7).

Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes.

Exception: When play has been suspended by the Committee, a player may, prior to resumption of play, practice (a) as provided in this Rule, (b) anywhere other than on the competition course and (c) as otherwise permitted by theCommittee.

Knowing the rules can help you lower your score throughout he round (as long as you’re not holding up play!)

Whether you are a tournament golfer or just out on the weekends to play with your buddies, having proper strategy on the golf course can help you minimize mistakes and shoot lower scores.  One way to do that is to try to play the hole backwards in your mind.  This is a common practice of the top tour players in the world.  Here’s why:

By knowing how the green is set-up (i.e pin location, slope of green, bunker/hazards, etc) you can decide where it is best to play from with your approach shot into the green.  If the pin is back right, for instance, and your normal shot is a fade, then it would be ideal for you to be on the right center of the fairway.  This would give you the best angle into the green to use your comfortable go-to shot.  There are a variety of scenarios but you need to picture how you would normally play the shot with your skill level.

Now, using the previous situation, you know you want to be right center on the fairway to use your fade shot into the green.   This would lead you to choose which is the best club to hit off the tee.  It would depend on how far of a distance you wanted into the hole with your next shot.  Also, it will give you an idea on which part of the tee box to tee off on. (Most right handed players wanting to play a fade should look at teeing off on the right portion of the tee box to open up the hole a little more).

If you are a tournament golfer you may do this during a practice round and keep notes so you are prepared for the tournament.  If you are a weekend player, you may just take the hole as it appears and try your best to visualize what you would like to do on that hole at that time based on the information you have.

Of course, the execution of the shot is key and the players that can visualize the hole backwards and then execute on that plan tend to shoot great scores and not get themselves in trouble.  Try this next time you are out playing and you will be amazed how you can think your way around the golf course more strategically, which in turn produces less “big numbers” on the scorecard.

As most players already know, a sound short game can be the difference between a really poor round and an average round.  It can always cover up a poor ball striking day by allowing you to save par from tough positions.  Execution is key, but you must have a strategy in place that will help with the execution.  Many players struggle with which shot to play and often times try to hit the “miracle” shot instead of placing the ball 10-12 feet from the hole and having a putt at it.

This is where club selection plays a large role.  If you are comfortable with one club around the green that is fine and feel free to use it a majority of the time.  However, there are instances where you need to be using a different club.

Common Scenario – You are just short of the green in the fairway and the pin is on the back portion of the green.  The green has several bumps and the pin is on the top level.  Your normal comfortable club is a sand wedge.  However, to be effective with the sand wedge you would have to play a very low skipping shot that hits into the hill and has a lot of spin to help it roll out just a bit.  If you hit into the green with the “normal” wedge trajectory the ball won’t have a lot of room to land near the pin and will probably roll off the back of the green.  This is a very tough shot if you don’t practice your short game a ton.

Possible Solution – Choose a less lofted club like a 9-iron and try to get the ball spending more time on the ground than in the air.  You could use the putter, as well, but only if you had little fairway to go until your reached the green.  With a 9-iron you could carry the ball about a 1/3rd onto the green and let it roll the rest of the way.  This is the safer play and will give you a better opportunity to make the next putt.

The main point to make this scenario or any other one work, is that you must practice with different clubs around the green to learn the technique and how hard you need to hit those shots to go the desired distance.  Don’t make the mistake of never practicing with your 9-iron and then pull it out on the back-9 when the match is on the line.

Practice – Go to your local golf facilities short game area and throw 5 balls down just off the green any distance you want.  Next, choose 5 different clubs.  Try to hit one ball with each club and see the results.  You will notice that each club will carry and roll different distances.  You can start narrowing it down to 1 or 2 clubs that you like from that particular situation.  Rinse and Repeat.  From then forward, when you are practicing your short game you can know use those same clubs from the different positions and feel more comfortable because you have already gone through the experimental phase.

Remember, there is nothing wrong with using just 1 club around the green but you must be able to hit ALL the shots to do so.  Help yourself out a little and practice with a few different clubs from time to time just to have a “go to” shot from certain situations.  This will help you stay confident because you have seen the shot before during practice so you know you can execute when the pressure is on!

Enjoy the process of learning and hope to see you out soon!

If you’re a member at a country club, then you might already be pretty familiar with match play. You’ve probably already played quite a few tournaments where some sort of match play was involved. The casual golfer (unless quite competitive) however, usually doesn’t have a reason to play a “match play” event. So as the PGA Tour is currently playing the “World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship” lets take a walk through the USGA’s definition of what match play is so that you’re more familiar with this type of format.

This particular tournament can be thought of as an NCAA bracket or a “Match Play Tree” whereas the players are slotted in the bracket based on their world ranking number. A typical USGA match play event usually starts with a stroke play qualifier to determine what “seed” or ranking you will be given. This tournament begins with the top 64 players in the world.

Match play is basically a competition between two players to determine who wins the match. Strokes are not tallied up, rather the player who has the lowest score on a hole, wins that hole. Therefore that player is “1 up”. Let’s say that same player has the lowest score on hole 2 – he is now “2 up”. This goes on until one player runs out of holes. For example if a Player A is “4 up” after the 15th hole, then Player B can no longer win, because not enough holes exist. Therefore, Player A wins “4 up with 3 to play” or “4 & 3” for short.

In the event that both players finish 18 holes at “all square” then the match goes in to a sudden death playoff. The players play hole-by-hole until someone wins the next hole. So if both players tie the “19th” hole, but Player A wins the “20th” hole – then Player A wins the match at “20 holes”.

One fun fact is that players can “concede” a hole – if a player hits his tee shot into the woods, he could simply turn to his opponent and say “you’ve won this hole”. Then both players would proceed to the following hole.

The main difference that you might see on TV this week between match play and stroke play is that players don’t have to “finish” the hole. You might see a player make birdie, then the losing player will simply pick up his ball and walk to the next hole. This is perfectly legal.

Many amateur golfers don’t seem to realize the importance of having golf clubs that are properly fitted to their game. One important piece of the fitting process is getting the right shaft to match your swing.

So let’s talk about the flex of a golf club shaft. The flex of a golf club basically refers to the ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are applied to it during the golf swing. Those forces are generated by you the golfer – whether you have a fast, slow or powerful swing speed.

There are generally five types of shaft flex: ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff. If you have a flex that doesn’t match your swing speed then you’re probably losing distance and/or accuracy. An incorrect shaft flex becomes more noticeable the longer the club gets (ie. with the driver).

Ideally, we want a square club face at impact. As the shaft flexes throughout the swing, the position of the club face can change. An incorrect shaft flex can cause the club face to become open or closed delivering the club head incorrectly resulting in an off center hit. A properly fit shaft can help to reduce the inconsistencies listed above and result in more accurate shots that maximize your distance potential.

Here are a few quick guidelines on some of the characteristics of what an incorrect shaft flex might be doing to your game.

If you tend to hit shots that are low, going right (possibly with a fade or a slice), and don’t ever seem to be hit very solid – then your shaft might be too stiff. Stiff shafts are typically meant for players with high swing speeds or strong, quick transitions in their swing.

If you tend to hit shots that go left, if you tend to have a closed club face at impact or if your shots tend to fly higher than they should – you might have a shaft that is too flexible. More flexible shafts are generally meant for players with slower swing speeds or smoother, more fluid swings.

With the technology that is available for club fitting today, there are many other numbers and calculations to take into effect when fitting a player for the correct shaft. What I have described above is just a general overview of shafts and how their flex can have such an impact on your game. If you unsure if the shafts in your clubs are fit for your game, then let’s schedule a time to evaluate and make sure your equipment is fit for you.

Meaning of “Known or Virtually Certain”

The PGA Tour is getting ready to head to Pebble Beach. This is a great time to remind everyone of the sometimes confusing “ball in hazard” rule. Let’s take a closer look at determining if your ball is even in a water hazard or not.

When a ball has been struck towards a water hazard and cannot be found, a player may not assume that his ball is in the water hazard simply because there is a possibility that the ball may be in the water hazard. In order to proceed under Rule 26-1, it must be “known or virtually certain” that the ball is in the water hazard. In the absence of “knowledge or virtual certainty” that it lies in a water hazard, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost somewhere other than in a water hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

When a player’s ball cannot be found, “knowledge” may be gained that his ball is in a water hazard in a number of ways. The player or his caddie or other members of his match or group may actually observe the ball disappear into the water hazard. Evidence provided by other reliable witnesses may also establish that the ball is in the water hazard. Such evidence could come from a referee, an observer, spectators or other outside agencies. It is important that all readily accessible information be considered because, for example, the mere fact that a ball has splashed in a water hazard would not always provide “knowledge” that the ball is in the water hazard, as there are instances when a ball may skip out of, and come to rest outside, the hazard.

In the absence of “knowledge” that the ball is in the water hazard, Rule 26-1 requires there to be “virtual certainty” that the player’s ball is in the water hazard in order to proceed under this Rule. Unlike “knowledge,” “virtual certainty” implies some small degree of doubt about the actual location of a ball that has not been found. However, “virtual certainty” also means that, although the ball has not been found, when all readily available information is considered, the conclusion that there is nowhere that the ball could be except in the water hazard would be justified.

In determining whether “virtual certainty” exists, some of the relevant factors in the area of the water hazard to be considered include topography, turf conditions, grass heights, visibility, weather conditions and the proximity of trees, bushes and abnormal ground conditions.

The same principles would apply for a ball that may have been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1) or a ball that has not been found and may be in an obstruction (Rule 24-3) or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c).

Rules definition is courtesy of usga.org

How you organize your set makeup this year can really take some strokes off your scorecard. Take the time to evaluate which clubs you need in your bag and which ones you don’t.

Here’s how to get started:

• Go through a typical round of golf and count the number of times you use each club (example: Driver 14 times, Putter 32 times, etc..)
• Now determine how confident you are with each club
• If your stuck, let’s setup a time to do a “bag audit” and find the best solution for your game
• Remove or replace the clubs that are not helping you score

What most people will find is that they need to add a new wedge, or don’t need those 4 & 5 irons anymore. Your club makeup is more than likely going to change, and making that change now allows you time to adjust your game and body to the new set makeup.

Having the correct clubs in your bag can take a bunch of strokes off your score and help to rebuild confidence in the areas that were lacking in 2012.

What Determines A Tournament Score In Terms Of Posting For Handicap Purposes?

The USGA Handicap System™ is based around the concept of a player’s potential, and scores made in a tournament setting can provide a very good indication of such potential. One of the procedures within the System deals with identifying players who have at least two exceptional tournament scores in their scoring record

An exceptional score is defined as a score with a differential of 3.0 or more below the player’s current Handicap Index®. This brings up the issue of which scores should be posted as tournament scores. There are a number of factors when determining whether a score should be posted as a tournament score. One is whether the score is made in a competition organized and conducted by a Committee in charge of the competition. Another is whether the competition identifies a winner(s) and is played under the principles of the Rules of Golf.

Essentially we are looking to identify significant events where a player would have much more riding on the outcome of the round compared to a casual round of golf. So a club championship, member-guest, etc. would be the type of event meeting this requirement. In addition, qualifying round(s) for significant events such as local, regional or state championships would all typically meet the requirement for a tournament score.

Regular play days at a club and any non-competitive events such as social outings should not be identified as tournament scores, as they do not carry the same significance as formal events. The number of total eligible tournament scores in a player’s scoring record is one of the factors used in determining if a player qualifies for a handicap reduction, and if so, the amount of reduction. Over-designating tournament scores will actually reduce the effectiveness of identifying those who perform exceptionally in the more significant events.

The ultimate decision of whether to designate a competition as a tournament score is up to the Handicap Committee in consultation with the Committee in charge of the competition. If a club or committee is unsure whether a competition should be considered a tournament score, they can contact the authorized golf association or the USGA Handicap Department for guidance.

By Scott Hovde, Assistant Director, Handicap and Course Rating Administration for the USGA

The calendar has now turned to 2013. It is a great opportunity to hit the “reset” button on your golf game and make a resolution to do what it takes to improve your skills.

Do you keep any statistics on your golf game? This is a new chance to start keeping records so that you can track your progress throughout the year.

If keeping stats isn’t your style, what about making an effort to focus on certain parts of your game? Do you want to improve your bunker play? Spend more time this year in the practice bunker and less time on the range hitting balls. If you only have an hour to practice, take 20 minutes of that time and spend it hitting bunker shots? Make a conscience effort to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

The only way to improve your skills is to be honest about what parts of your game needs improvements and what parts can wait. If you are three-putting more than you like, start with that – spend more time on the putting green.

Don’t be embarrassed to practice the parts of your game that need the most help. This time next year you’ll be happy you allocated your practice time appropriately and kept your resolution to improve.

Do not let anyone lead you to believe that not having properly fit golf clubs is fine.  It is extremely important to make sure your equipment is right for your body type and swing style.  One of the important items with clubfitting is the “Lie Angle” of the club.  This, in essence, is how the clubhead is positioned as you strike the ball in the impact area.  Terms you may have heard are “Upright or Toe-Up”, “Square”, or “Flat or Toe-Down”.  Let me give so more insight into these terms and how you can test your own golf clubs.

First, the definition of “lie angle” of any clubhead is the angle between the center of the shaft and the sole.

The lie angle affects the accuracy of the shot. The lie angle is said to be fit properly when the sole of the club arrives parallel to the ground.  If the lie angle is incorrect then there can be some accuracy issues.  If a clubhead is too upright, the heel of the club will tend to dig into the ground first and cause the clubface to close.  Conversely, if the toe of the club digs into the ground (too flat) it will cause the clubface to open.  Lie Angle is generally discussed more with the irons as the more loft a club has it will tend to fly off-line further.

One of the best ways to check if your club has the right lie angle is to perform a simple test:

1. Draw a straight line on a ball with a marker

2. Put the ball down so the line is perfectly vertical

3. Hit the golf shot

When you look at the shot afterwards, you will receive valuable feedback.  If the line on the club is pointing straight up and down then you know your lie angle is fit properly for that club.  If the line is pointing to the toe of the club then your club is too upright and needs to be flattened.  Conversely, if it is pointing at the heel of the club then it needs to be more upright.  This is a good test to do when you are out practicing.

If you need a full audit of your irons and wedges or you are looking into some new equipment and would like to get custom fit please let me know.

Have a great holiday season and I look forward to working with you on your game soon.

As many of you may have heard, the USGA and R & A are proposing a ban on an anchored stroke with a golf club to be effective in 2016.  Some of you may be wondering what this all means and what the highlights of this rule change would entail.

First, it is important to note that this is a “proposed” rule change and it won’t officially be declared a change until sometime in the spring after further evaluation and discussion is considered.  There is a lot of controversy over this rule change as many players have been anchoring putters for years and even some younger players have only known to putt this way.  Also, this is not a ban on those long or belly putters but just as to the way they will be able to be used.

Here is the main reason for the change from USGA Executive Director Mike Davis.

“One of the most fundamental things about the game of golf is we believe the player should hold the club away from his body and swing it freely.”  He goes on to say, “We think this is integral to the traditions of the game. Golf is a game of skill and challenge, and we think that is an important part of it.”

Further support has been garnered from Tour Players such as Steve Stricker who states, “Any time you can take your arms and hands out of it, especially your hands, I think when you anchor it in your chest it is a huge advantage.  There’s going to be a lot of upset people, a lot of guys that have putted with a long putter for a long time, and I have a feeling they’re going to have something to say about the rule.”

This has been a hot topic over the last few years due to 3 Major Champion winners using this style; Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley, and Ernie Els.  Other notable players that have had success recently have been Adam Scott and Carl Pettersson.  Phil Mickelson has even dabbled with an anchored stroke during a cold spell he had in the past year.

There is no doubt this proposed rule will continue to be a huge talking point over the next several months and years before it becomes effective on January 1st, 2016 (pending that the rule is officially accepted next year)

The good news for all players if you still have 3 full seasons to continue using this style in any sanctioned event you play and can work a new style into your game going forward.

If you do have any questions on this or want to discuss your options and current putting style further please contact me.

Distance control is a vital part to playing sound golf.  If on a warm 70 degree day with no wind and a flat lie you know you hit your 7-iron 167 yards then you have a great opportunity to control your distances into the greens.  Some players of lesser experience may have a range they hit their irons based on if they hit the center of the face or not.  On average, when the weather is under 60 degrees, you will lose approximately 10-15% on your club distances.  This is important to note as if you are trying to land the ball in a particular spot or carry a hazard then you can make sure you take enough stick.  If you play the same course throughout the year this is extremely important as you may know your distances on most holes, especially the par 3’s.  Give yourself an extra club into those greens and it will do wonders to keeping your scores consistent on varying weather days.

In addition, a lot of players tend to take their eyes off of the ball after it lands on the ground as they assume it is in a safe spot.  During the winter months, leaves and/or snow can cause you to lose a ball when you think you had a spot on it.  It is important to watch the ball until it stops as best as you can and pick something out in that area you saw it finish in.  Not only will it help you find the ball but it will also speed up play so you don’t have to bring the entire search party over to help.

Finally, remember that you are probably not practicing nearly as much as you do during the “main season”.  If this is the case, it is recommended to play the safe shot whether it be off the tee, into a green, or around the green.  Your body might not be conditioned to pull off a highly difficult shot and could put you in more trouble than normal.  Most of the time, the safe play keeps you in position to score on each hole.  The more fairways and greens you can hit, even if your distance or accuracy might be off, will give you a better chance to keep your score relatively stable and potentially shoot some lower scores than normal.

Please use these tips not only in the winter months but as a general rule of thumb when you are in a situation you are not comfortable or confident in.  These will keep you in play more often and give you a chance to have more fun on the golf course in all conditions.

If you are thinking about re-tooling your golf equipment then this is a great time to make the adjustment.  Since you are probably not playing as much, mostly due to the cooler conditions, this would be a wonderful time to “tinker” with your bag.  You might want to try out different golf shafts in your driver, look into a better club head for your irons, or finally get the putter fitting you have been talking about.

During the “main” season it is difficult to make equipment changes because it can take an extended period of time to get used to the switch.  The change may be better for your golf swing but your body and mind need to get on the same page.  Tour players are always looking through their equipment and how they can tweak theirs slightly to make a huge improvement.  However, rarely do you see the top players make glaring changes around the big events.

Take an audit of your golf bag and look at the clubs that may be:

1. Worn or Outdated
2. Don’t feel great when you hit it
3. You’re not confident with it in your hands
4. The weighting feels off
5. Hard to hold (i.e Slippery)

These are a few indicators that you may need a simple solution such as a grip change or a full overhaul of one or more golf clubs.  Give me a call and we can take an audit of your golf bag together and find the right solutions to help you improve your game for the following season.

For the casual to average golfer, most players do not see a need to have a USGA handicap.  They feel that they do not play often enough to bother with it.  Golf is a game that is played as an individual and the only way to truly compete against yourself is set goals to improve.  Sure, you can go out and have a spectacular round of golf but what about the yearly goal that most golfers have, “I want to get better.”  This can often be a blanket statement because what does it mean to get better?  Is it making more 5-footers, not having any hazard penalties per round, or just keeping it in play?

The fact is that one of the best ways to see if you are improving as a total golfer is to keep a handicap.  As you enter scores, either 9 or 18 holes, you will start to see your true game in front of your eyes.  Some players may not like where their handicap is, but that gives the player a chance to challenge himself or herself to lower it.

Also, if you plan on playing any local tournaments, it is important to have your handicap.  This is the best way to even out the playing field and make it fair for all players.

There is a ton of information on handicapping and the best resource would be to visit the United States Golf Association website and the section on Handicaps.  You can visit the link here – http://www.usga.org/Handicapping.aspx?id=7792

If you have any questions on setting up your handicap please do not hesitate to ask.  I look forward to your questions.

Pace of Play has been a huge issue over the last 5-10 years with the addition of longer golf courses with more challenging design elements.

Trust me, nobody wants to play a 5 1/2 hour round.  It is not fun and takes up most of your day to complete.

There are a few key points to keep in mind when you are playing a round of golf that can help you speed up play without hurting your game.

1. Play “Ready golf – “Ready Golf” is a term used in golf that refers to playing your shot when you are ready even though you may be closer to the hole.  In tournament golf, it is normally the player further from the hole that plays their shot first.  However, when you are playing a recreational round it is good practice to play your shot when you are ready to hit.  Your playing partners may be farther but if they are searching for a ball, assessing their lie, or trying to decide on a club to use then it is best to go ahead and play as long as they are not in danger of being hit with a wayward shot.

2. Choose Your Club Wisely – Many of you are playing courses that are “Cart Path Only” or you have to park in designated areas and cannot pull right up to your ball.  In this case, estimate your distance to the hole as best as you can and choose a club you think should work.  In addition, bring 2 other clubs with you just in case you misjudged the distance, lie, and/or wind.  (i.e – If you chose a 7-iron then also bring the 8-iron and 6-iron to the ball).  This will save valuable time walking back to the golf cart.

3.  Abandon a severely Lost Ball – If your ball went into a heavily wooded area or maybe near a water hazard then give it a look for a minute or two and drop if you cannot find it.   If you are keeping your handicap and worried about the rules, then hit an extra ball from that spot as a provisional so you do not need to walk back.  Chances are, if you are deep in the trees and find it you are going to have a tough time getting out in 1-2 shots so do yourself a favor and play on with another ball.

4.  Putting – There are a few things with putting that can be done to improve the speed of play.  First, look at the break of the green as others are walking up or reading theirs.  Don’t wait around until it is your turn and then do a full analysis of the green.   Have an idea before it is your turn and then confirm it when you are up.  Secondly, don’t sweat over the 2-footer.  99% of the time you will make that putt so it is not necessary to mark the ball, clean it, put it down, and then putt it.  If you want to putt it then just finish it up after your initial putt was hit.  Those valuable minutes will pay off with a quicker round.

5. Tee it Forward – The last, and probably most important Pace of Play suggestion is to Tee it Forward.  This initiative was started to give you an opportunity to challenge yourself based on your “real” handicap. Most players play from the tees too far back from their skill level and end up shooting high scores because the course overpowers them.  If you played from a tee more forward than normal, you will still be challenged greatly but it gives you a chance to hit short clubs into holes rather than having to hit a hybrid or fairway wood all the time.

To learn more about Tee It Forward  please click here – Play Golf America’s Tee it Forward Program

If you follow this advice it will help make your rounds more enjoyable and not feel like an eternity.  If you have any questions or would like to know how improving your golf game can help speed up play then please give me a call.

Golf can be a year-round game in some parts of the world, but is important to know what your “main” season is so that you can prepare, implement, or maintain your game.

In the Northeast US, for instance, it is a given that you won’t play much golf between November 1st – April 1st.  This is an opportunity to assess your goals and give your body a break from the constant play and practice.  For some, that means to add a new fitness routine, work with their coach at an indoor studio to enhance technique, or put the clubs in the garage and not touch them all winter.

Whatever the case may be, it is ideal to know when your off-season is so that you can gear up and gear down at specific times.  If you are working on a swing adjustment and never have an off-season then your expectations might be unrealistic when you venture out to the golf course.  However, if you knew that for a few months you would play sparingly then you could work on some of those weaknesses when time permitted and give yourself ample time for them to become more natural in your game.

I am not implying that you have to take off.  Some players want to play year-round and there is nothing wrong with that.  For the player that wants to improve their game each year it is vital to know when you are going to make changes, are implementing changes, or simply maintaining your game and playing a lot of golf.

Every player will be different but if you know what is right for you then you can have a clear mindset as you are preparing for the following season and start it off on a good path.

Golf is one of those games that you really don’t know how good someone actually is until they have some pressure put on them.  Most good players can hit quality range shots and even light it up playing 9-holes with their buddies.  A true test of pressure is competition.  This past weekend at the Ryder Cup you saw a ton of players under pressure.  Some handled it well (like most of the Europeans on Sunday), and others had struggles coming down the stretch.  These are the top players in the world and they have trouble at times when the pressure begins to be poured on.  The easiest suggestion is to challenge yourself and don’t be afraid to fail.

As golf instructors and coaches, we here it all the time, “I don’t want to play in that event because I’ll make a fool of myself”.  The problem is that if you never challenge yourself to be in an uncomfortable position then it is hard to reach your potential.  A player that may have a 22 handicap and wants to get it down to the ‘teens can do a lot more than just improve their skills.  Although that will help, playing in a few club or local tournaments will get them understanding how their body and mind react in certain situations.  You can’t tee up another ball for fun or give yourself the 4-footer after a hard chip.  Competition makes you focus and execute each shot.

Often times, players tend to fail in their first few events but then something magical happens; they evolve as golfers.  Each player matures at various levels and times but it is the player who puts themselves in uncomfortable and challenging positions that learns the most in a short period of time.  When you understand your tendencies and can play a tournament on a different course set-up and with players you don’t know then you have taken the next step in the game of golf.  You have evolved your mental toughness and had to execute shots that were not necessarily in your wheelhouse.  These players that put it all on the line to see where they are really at in the game of golf can achieve levels that they never thought were possible.

Next time you have the opportunity to play in your club championship or even a Captain’s Choice event around the area, I recommend to sign-up.  Not only are these events fun, but it will give you a chance to look yourself in the mirror and see if you can pull off the shots you have poured so much of your time into practicing.  It is often the most challenging of events that brings out your best.

Are you curious about your potential?

Please let me know if tournament golf interests you and we can discuss this more in depth and help you on your way to becoming a better player.

Often times the rules can be tedious or irrelevant for most players just enjoying a casual round of golf. Most of the time it is often recommended that if you are not keeping your handicap to discard some of the rules to keep up with the pace of play. An example of this would be losing your ball off the tee. The way the USGA rules are written, you would need to head back to the teeing area and hit again from that spot. Since 99% of golfers do not have “Spotters” or Spectators watching for these incoming shots, it is oftentimes considered okay to drop a ball in an area near where you think you lost it, take a 1-shot penalty, and move on. It will save a tremendous amount of headaches each and every round and keep your round moving along.

However, there are times when the rules are a must. What if you don’t know them? What if you are playing in your club championship or member/guest and encounter a situation that you are not sure how to handle? What if there is not a rules official nearby?

Enter Rule 3-3: Doubt as to Procedure. At the end of the article is the full definition. Thanks to the USGA for providing this information. (To see the full rule book please visit their website at http://www.usga.org)

The simple definition of this rule is that, in Stroke Play, you are allowed to play a second ball if you are not sure of how to proceed in a particular situation. Take the necessary steps for full relief (i.e. A Drop or Placement of the Ball) and play the ball until it is holed. Also, you must play the original ball until that is holed. If you score the same then it won’t matter but if the scores are different make sure you get the correct ruling BEFORE you sign your scorecard.

Knowing some rules can be vital to playing successful golf, especially tournament golf, on the local and state levels where there will most likely not be rules officials in close proximity. When in doubt, Rule 3-3 can be an extremely helpful rule to make sure you and your fellow competitors are keeping in line with the USGA Rules of Golf.

3-3. Doubt As To Procedure
a. Procedure
In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during the play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls.
After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking further action, the competitor must announce to his marker or fellow-competitor that he intends to play two balls and which ball he wishes to count if the Rules permit.
The competitor must report the facts of the situation to the Committee before returning his scorecard. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified.
Note: If the competitor takes further action before dealing with the doubtful situation, Rule 3-3 is not applicable. The score with the original ball counts or, if the original ball is not one of the balls being played, the score with the first ball put into play counts, even if the Rules do not allow the procedure adopted for that ball. However, the competitor incurs no penalty for having played a second ball, and any penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball do not count in his score.

b. Determination of Score for Hole
(i) If the ball that the competitor selected in advance to count has been played in accordance with the Rules, the score with that ball is the competitor’s score for the hole. Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure adopted for that ball.
(ii) If the competitor fails to announce in advance his decision to complete the hole with two balls, or which ball he wishes to count, the score with the original ball counts, provided it has been played in accordance with the Rules. If the original ball is not one of the balls being played, the first ball put into play counts, provided it has been played in accordance with the Rules. Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure adopted for that ball.
Note 1: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 3-3, the strokes made after this Rule has been invoked with the ball ruled not to count and penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded.
Note 2: A second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a provisional ball under Rule 27-2.

Strategy on the golf course can often times be just as important as a well struck shot.  As most players know, golf is a game of misses.  If you can be strategic with your approach then you have a better chance of staying in play and keeping the high numbers from popping up on the scorecard.  One way to do that is how you start the hole.

First, It is important to know the shot shape you normally hit.  If you are a high handicapper and the majority of the time you hit a 20 yard slice, then assume that will happen most often.  The worst thing you can do is try to be someone you’re not.  Trust your instincts and normal swing.  For more experienced players you may choose your shot shape based on the obstacles in your way for that particular hole.  One you decide on the flight you want the ball to travel on you must trust it.

Next, use that previous analysis to choose the side of the tee box you want to tee of on.  Most players don’t put much thought into this and tee off in the middle (and sometimes ahead of the markers).  If you normally hit a draw (for a right-hander), then tee off from the left hand side of the tee box.  You will notice this opens the hole up for you more on that side and you can play your draw more freely.  This is a general rule and it is important to look at every hole differently depending on the course you are playing, wind conditions, distance, landing area, etc.  However, the majority of the time if you play a draw (or hook) tee it up left and if you play a fade (or slice) tee it up right.

Try this next time you are out playing and it will give you a better perspective of each hole and free you up to make a solid golf swing.  If you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to ask.

Most amateurs can get it around ok from tee to green, but when it comes time to hit a 30 yard shot over a bunker or a 50 yard shot to a pin on a back tier of a green, many seem to struggle. PGA Tour professionals work hard at these shots for long hours to make sure they can get up and down from any situation and any distance. It’s these types of shots that can really save a good round from turning into a bad one. So to help with your pitch shots from within 50 yards, we’re going to talk about developing your own system to gauge distances.

Most players don’t realize that knowing exactly how far you hit each club is a huge scoring advantage. The same is true for your short game shots – knowing how far to hit each shot is crucial. It’s a well known trick to compare the hands of a clock to the amount of backswing you should take on short pitch shots. Different instructors call this method by different names, but the entire goal of this process is to help you develop a system to know your distances.

Imagine as you address the ball that you have a large clock in front of you. Learn to swing your left arm (right arm for left handers) to the various “hours” of the clock. The 9 o’clock position is most popular – your left arm should be parallel to the ground. Your left arm and the club should form a 90 degree angle. After you’ve mastered that position, try the 8 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions.

Once you have the backswing down, make sure to follow through to a similar “time” on the clock. So a 9 o’clock backswing would have a 3 o’clock follow-through.

Distances will vary from player to player as in full shots, but once you have them established you have a great method to rely on. When you find yourself 30 yards from the flag you can say to yourself, “OK, this is my X o’clock shot,” and you know for sure that if you swing your arm to that position, the ball is going to go about 30 yards.

A few other things to note while practicing these shots:

• Try to keep the majority of your weight on your front foot. This helps to create a downward blow and avoid hitting behind the ball.
• Keep the pace of your swing consistent throughout. Rushing this swing will only result in negative results.
• Make sure to face your chest directly at the target and not around your body. The hands should finish in about the middle of your chest.

With a little practice, you can master these distances and start improving your game in no time. You’ll soon find yourself playing these shots with much more fun rather than angst.