Congratulations! You have worked hard to obtain your golf handicap. You are now working even harder on the golf course to lower your handicap. Besides this wish, which can be very frustrating, there are many other issues which you should also be aware of in order not to add on to your already frustrating challenge.

GOLFERS’ GENERAL BEHAVIOUR

Do not be surprised to find that golfers are generally very impatient peoples, including ourselves perhaps. They often want to Tee-off once they reach the next Tee-box. If they are hindered by a flight ahead of them who are still on the Fairway taking their second shots, they will condemn them for slow play. Some will understand that the delay may be caused by another flight ahead but whatever the cause, it is hurting their nerves.

As a beginner, you are likely to take more strokes and therefore needing more time. But don’t expect tolerance from the back flight. You are a sore to them spoiling their good day of golf. They may even pressurize you by hitting their shots before you are completely clear to force you move on faster. Always on the look out for these kind of golfers if you do not want to be hit by a golf ball which I can tell you it is very painful. Of course you can complain afterwards but it could not undo the damages done.

The irony is, if they are the ones causing the held-up usually due to betting, they will blame the back flight for pressurizing them. Such is the mentality of golfers, they are never on the wrong side.

GOLF GAME

Golf is a gentleman’s game. Not only it requires honest declaration of scores, it also demands a great deal of patience and discipline. Unfortunately, most interpreted it as a man’s game; the ability to drive the furthest distance and finish in shortest time. So, they want to beat the time schedule allowed and proudly declare they completed 18 holes in 3 hours. Some above 18 handicappers, just because they could sometime hit a good Tee-shot, would play proudly off the Blue-tee and ended up playing short for most of the holes. They want to show off that they could play the game at a higher level of playing field.

GOLF ETIQUETTE

Finally, golf etiquette is equally important. These are the minimum behavioural requirements expected on the golf course. How should one behave on the Tee- box, on the Fairway and on the Green? I have listed these dos and dont’s at my Blog. You are welcome to visit my site for the details.

By: Winston Ho

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Isn’t the slice one of the most maddening aspects of the game of golf?

How in the hell are we ever supposed to lower our scores if the ball is always rolling sideways across the fairway? There’s nothing more disheartening to really make solid contact, only to see that sudden, mid-air curve grab hold of your golf ball.

Obviously, since slicing the ball is so common, there are lots of aids and instruction on how to prevent it. There are special tees, and special clubs…instructional videos and books.

The list is large for sure. But each and every one of these methods is attempting to accomplish the same thing, which is change the spin that you put on the ball when you hit it. Vicious, sideways spin equals a slice…forward spin or ‘overspin’ equals a nice straight shot down the middle.

As we’ve discovered, there are many ways to try and accomplish this, all with varying degrees of success. The anti-slice technique I like to use is a nice short backswing, followed by a bottom hand wrist roll through impact.

To simplify…I make sure my backswing isn’t wrapping around my head in some huge, arcing motion. Consciously keep it shorter and you’ll have much better control of your clubs.

Then, just as I’m making contact with the ball, I roll my bottom hand over the top, so that the palm of the bottom hand is facing the ground.

You’ll have to mess around with the timing to get it right, but it will put overspin on the ball and will stop you from slicing the ball all over the golf course. Good Luck!

By: Richard Styles

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Many golfers learned the game on their own or through some tips from a friend who has played the game before and undoubtedly has developed some bad habits. Either with their grip or their swing, the mechanics they have been using will make it difficult for them to ever become a good golfer. In order to break some of those habits they may need a golf training aid to help change the way they have been playing the game.

In some cases simply playing shot pieces of plastic pipe on the ground, about four-inches apart, with the ball in the middle, can help a golfer learn to swing straight. Having the club head level and straight at the time of impact allows the ball to fly straighter and with the use of this simple golf training aid the strike can be evened out. The initially follow through, that is within the first two feet after striking the ball determines the balls flight path.

By using a similar golf training aid elevated slightly off the ground, the golfer can learn to keep the club head in a straight motion through the swing past the initial point of impact. It is highly recommended to use lightweight plastic pipe or some soft material if making your own golf training aid, as striking it with the club will be inevitable.

Help Available To Keep Swing Paths Even

Most golfers have difficulty keeping their down swing on the same path as the upswing, which is what causes the ball to either hook or slice. There are some crazy looking golf training aids that help a golfer to remember the path and prevent sending errant hits into the woods or the next fairway over. There is a golf training aid that resembles to circles of plastic pipe, set about six-inches apart, in which the golfer swings the club head.

During the back swing, it is easy to keep the head inside the circle but when the club is brought back down, the player usually finds it hitting the circles on one side or the other, indicating the impact on the ball with either be with the head going to one side. By using this golf training aid repeatedly, the body can learn to remember the swing pattern.

Even a home video camera can be used as a golf training aid, by filing yourself hitting several balls while filing from the back, side and front. By reviewing the video and where the ball went, it can offer tips on how to correct your swing.

By: Ian Botham

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Each set of clubs in the bag is different, yet with similar uses. It’s vital that golfers get a clear understanding of the purpose of each club. After all, it would take you a bit of effort and time to get round just using a putter now, wouldn’t it.

Driving Down The Fairway (The Long Bit!)

First, you have to know that there are the woods. These are called the driver, the two wood, three wood, four wood, and the five wood. There is a six wood and seven wood but they are rare.

The number describes the angle of the face of the head, with driver being the most upright and the lower numbers angled more, to give loft to the ball when it is hit.

Woods are used for getting the golf ball the farthest distance possible and do so by the weight they have behind the head. It’s shape is bulky and weighty, so that when you swing you have all the meat of that weight built into the momentum of the swing, then POW – down the fairway you go!

If you want to hit the golf ball over two hundred yards off the tee then you may well use a wood. Incidentally and confusingly, they are nowadays made of metal!

Distance With Control

Second, you have to understand that there are the irons. These clubs are meant for greater accuracy and are most commonly, though not exclusively, used for short distance shots.

You see, you can use irons for distance too and especially with a tricky hole, or when the weather is a bit challenging, you will see pros using irons

There are several types of irons. These are numbered one to nine, with an increasing loft, which also reduces the distance possible. These standard iron golf clubs are essential in getting the golf ball as close as possible to the pin, using loft and flight as the main tools.

Special Golf Clubs

Third, there are the special golf clubs, most of which are very specific in nature.

The first of the special golf clubs that you have to understand is the wedge. The wedge is used to get the golf ball as high as possible. If you want to go over a tree, or if you want the ball to drop like a stone with little forward bounce, like on the green, then this may be the golf club of choice.

The second of the special golf clubs is the sand wedge. Do you see the sand bunkers all over the golf course? When you get stuck in these sand bunkers, you need to use the sand wedge to get out of them.

Due to the loft this club will, when used with the right technique, slice through the sand beneath the ball and lift it onto the grass.

The fourth of the special golf clubs is the pitching wedge. This pitching wedge is used so that you can get an accurate shot to the green. The pitching wedge is the second most accurate golf club in your golf bag.

The last of the special golf clubs is the putter. The putter is the most accurate of the golf clubs because this is what you use in order to get the golf ball into the hole. It’s a very specialized club that you use nowhere else on the course.

What Golf Clubs To Buy?

Now that you are familiar with all these types of golf club in your bag, you have to understand that aside from the types of golf clubs, there are also many, many brands out there. This is where your headaches really begin!

From used golf clubs to new ones, from clones to personalized fit clubs, you have the world of a choice to make. Whilst it’s true to say that your performance should only be about your swing and skill, most manufacturers will say that their clubs make the difference.

It’s for you to decide which golf clubs you buy and use. The fun begins!

By: Martin Haworth

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Never Slice Again! Did you know there are 3 types of slices in golf. You need to know which one you do in order to fix it. Maybe you’ve been trying to fix the wrong type of slice all this time. The secret move that will help you stop from coming over the top of the ball. I’ll teach you the anti-sidespin setup and three incredible drills that will have you on your way to hitting the ball straighter and further than you ever have in your life.

Let’s start with the 3 types of slices. Chances are you are hitting the golf ball in one of these 3 ways if your a “slicer”.

1. The Straight Slice- this happens when you path is straight and in alignment, but you leave you club face open just a little bit. The result- the ball starts off straight, it’s looking good for the fist 150 yards, and then it slowly starts to fade down the right side of the fairway.

2. The Pull Slice- Your swing path is outside-in and your club face is open- Double whammy! The result you start off left to over compensate and then your ball takes a right turn down the fairway and ends up way right.

3. The Push Slice- Your swing path is inside-out and your club face is open. Ouch! The result- Your start going right, right off the bat (I mean club) and keep going right, and keep going right, and keep going right. You get my point.

Why is it important to know which slice you hit? Well, the reason is, in order to fix it you need to know if it a swing path problem, a an open faced club problem or both. Once you know that, you can work on these drills I’ll explain later to help you fix them.

The #1 slice causing problem is improper swing path. You hit the ball square but it’s the angle your club hits the ball the causes the slice. This would result in a straight ball off the tee, but one that fades down the right side of the fairway after it’s out there a ways.

Here is a very simple but very effective drill that will help you alleviate the problem. Setup in your normal position, feet just past shoulder width, knees slightly bent, only this time take your back foot and move it so it is just about in line with your heal of your front foot. Now take some practice swings. This will force you to hit the ball with an inside-out path and make your balls go much straighter off the tee, and stay straighter down the fairway.

The next most common slice is the open club face. Even if the club face is open just one measly little degree, it can send your ball off by more than 10 yards. For this next drill you may want someone to video tape your or at least watch what you are doing to tell you the results.
Take your normal backswing with say 5 or 6 iron. Now stop at the top of your swing, just before you would begin your downswing. (This is where you’ll need some help). Where is your club head pointing? If it’s pointing down you will have an open club face at impact. If it’s pointing right, your too closed. In the correct position you shouldn’t even see the club face from behind, it should be perfectly parallel with the shaft at 45 degrees. Work on various grips and setup’s until you can get the correct position at the top of your swing. Just a minor little tweak will make a big difference. Don’t over due it.

A drill to help get proper swing plane…take 2-3 middle irons at a time. swing them back and forth over and over again in your warm up, this will help you produce a proper backswing and swing through the target correctly on the proper plane. The reason being is that you can’t swing too hard with 3 clubs at a time. This lead me to my next point…

And finally stop trying to kill it! You’ll get more power from a centered contact than you would from an open faced hit or a swing with an improper plane. There is just too much that has to happen at the exact pin-point second in a golf swing to hit the ball properly. If your coming out of your shoes and your balance is off, forget about it. You can swing as hard as you can and it still won’t go as far as a 3/4 swing that is squared up and right in the center of the club head. Don’t go too far back in your backswing, if your not that flexible, your balance will be off and so will your swing path. Just take a nice slow backswing until you feel the tension and then begin your downswing.

By: Chris Mccann

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If your like most golfers your trying to duplicate that “perfect” golf swing, I know I am. Doesn’t it feel great to hit that effortless shot? Don’t you wish you could do that every time? That would be a similar feeling the pros must have all the time. It would be such a high !

Golf Swing Mechanics can help you get to that place where your a very consistent player. I used to have way to many days where i would Hit my driver great and then i could not hit my Irons at all. Then the Next time out I could not do anything but slice with my driver and yet I could really hit my Irons that day. Well then there was those very special days where I was slicing the driver and topping the Irons and nothing worked at all. That used to drive me nuts I felt like throwing my clubs in a lake.

One thing i learned that applies to all sports is its 90% mental and golf is ever bit if not more. However in golf you can over think your shot and you can guarantee a slice or hitting behind the ball. So how do you fix something like that ? A golf swing should be rhythmic and should feel auto mat-tic like driving a car, when you drive your car you don’t over think it you just do it. So before you take your golf swing you should hum a song to keep yourself from over thinking the shot and just do it. You might be surprised at your results.

By: Dillon H. L.


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If you’ve been battling a hook for a while you understand how frustrating they can be. Everyone else is, more than likely, slicing the ball, and you are playing from the opposite side of the fairway.

But… the hook really is pretty easy to cure. Try this sequence of corrections, and most likely the hook will be fixed in no time. Your goal in correcting a hook is to swing from outside to in.

1) Weaken your Grip – You could be playing with a grip that is too strong. You’ll want to simply rotate both hands around the grip and towards the target. This will make it much harder for the clubface to naturally close through the impact zone. Don’t over do it, and like everything else, testing is crucial. Make sure to test this, before moving on, unless you are positive that you already play with a weak grip.

2) Move the ball forward in your stance – It is common of players that slice the ball to play the ball forward in their stance. So copy them. If you hook, the result should be a relatively straight ball. (Side Note: Whether you hook or slice, your first goal should be to learn to do the opposite.) Moving the ball forward in your stance should get some things back on track.

3) Aim to the left (to the right if left handed) of the target – Start out with an open stance to the target. This will put that clockwise rotation on the ball that you are looking for. Just open your stance a little bit, and swing along the line of your shoulders.

4) Make sure that you are finishing with your weight on your forward foot – This is the single best solution for the hook. If you hook the ball, chances are that you finish with some of your weight still on your back foot. This causes you to come around the ball with a closed clubface. This is the number one cause of the deadly snap-hook. Finish with all of your weight forward, and you’ll never experience it.

By: David Nevogt

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Do you struggle hitting your driver? Some of you tee the golf ball low, thinking that you will be able to drive the golf ball through the air at a different trajectory. And those of you that tee it high think that that will make it soar through the air.

You thought that when you went out and purchased that 8- degree titanium boron shaft with a super-duper new grip, that it was going to drive down the middle of every fairway. Or maybe you purchased the newest golf training aid and you think youll be more consistent overnight. I dont think so.

Now here are the golf tips for driving better. The lower you tee a golf ball, the more your chance will be that you slice the ball to the right. The higher you tee the golf ball, the more your chance will be for you to hook the golf ball to the left.

If you’re hooking the golf ball, tee it down a little lower. If you’re slicing the golf ball, tee it up a little higher. And heres why.

When the golf ball sits on the ground and its a little lower than it should be, the golf club has to come in on a steep angle and that will cause it to slice. On the other hand, if you tee it up a little higher, it will come in and enable the club face to close a little quicker.

Now, heres the golf training aid on what to do on the first few holes.

My driver has 8 degrees of loft. That means the face is very flat. If I happen to have the club face a little too open or a little too closed at impact, the flight of the ball will either go to the far right or to the far left.

Therefore, I decided to use my great little 3 wood, and no matter what I do, I might miss it, but it wont curve as much as if I used my driver.

So, I hit the golf ball with my 3 wood and guess what. It went into the rough, but not as far into the rough because I went with a more lofted golf club for the first few holes.

So, the next time you go play, remember this golf training aid for hitting your driver. You dont have to pull the driver out every time you get on the tee box. Maybe you dont use your driver for the first two or three holes until you get a little warmed up, but in the meantime, take your favorite lofted wood and give it a whack.

Copyright 2006 David Nevogt

By: David Nevogt

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When you’ve given as many golf lessons as I have, it doesn’t take much thought to figure out that slicing is golf’s most common swing error. In fact, many weekend players who attend my golf instructions sessions for the first time slice, with both men and women slicing about the same amount. And they all want to know one thing when they first come to me: How do I cure my slice?

Curing your slice isn’t easy, especially if you’ve had it for a long time. You’ve ingrained the swing fault in your muscle memory and making changes to it will feel uncomfortable and strange. But the benefits of slicing less far outweigh the costs. Hitting straighter shots more consistently not only keeps you on the fairway, it also cuts strokes from your golf handicap because it produces better approach shots.

Causes Of A Slice The causes for a slice are well documented in magazines and often discussed in golf lessons. Four things trigger a slice:

1. Upper body turns too soon

2. Hands are too high at impact

3. Upper body outraces the club on the downswing

4. Grip end gets too far in front of the clubhead at impact.

These errors leave the clubface open at impact-a major swing error. How major? Recent research by one club manufacturer indicates that a club with an S flex shaft with 9.3 degrees of loft and the face open at impact about 2 degrees results in a shot that finishes 16 degrees off the target line. Obviously, you must get the clubface square at impact to hit the ball straight.

Slices and Cures Let’s look at the four most common types of slice and consider four drills you can practice to help cure your slice. Your divots will tell you what kind of slice you have.

1. Opening Up Too Soon (The Pull Slice) This is perhaps the second most common slice type. Its generated by your right shoulder moving out and over on the downswing, causing the clubface to come into the ball on an outside-in swing path. Your hands sensing that the club is coming from the outside hold the clubface open to the path, resulting in a pull slice. With iron shots your divot points left of target.

Drill: Hit practice balls with your back foot moved back a few inches from the target line and your heel down. Swing the club back making a full shoulder turn. The idea is to feel as if you’re swinging the club primarily with your arms and shoulders through impact. Let your body respond to the swinging of the arms and the releasing of the clubhead.

2. Handle Too High At Impact If your hands are too high at impact just before and through the ball, you’ll cause the clubhead to get stuck behind you. Often this happens because the golfer tries to clear the hips too fast or doesn’t trust the loft of the club to get the ball airborne. Whatever the cause, you end up with a slice. There’s little or not divot with irons.

Drill: Take your normal address position. Have a friend hold a club so the grip hovers just above your hands. As you swing back and through your friend should keep his club’s grip end steady. Concentrate on letting your hand pass just under his club.

3. Body Outraces Club (The Push Slice) With the push slice your ball starts to the right of your target, then goes even farther right. Usually this means that your body outraces the clubhead. Some people call this a lunge. To compensate some people try flipping the club through the ball with their hands in an effort to square the clubface to the ball.

Drill: Use your driver or fairway wood. Tee the ball up. Take your address as you normally would but with your left leg positioned slightly inside the ball. Now stand only on your front foot. Swing the club back and through and try hitting the ball. Alternate hitting five balls on one leg, then with your normal swing. 4. Handle Too Far Ahead Of Ball Getting the handle too far ahead of the clubhead is probably the most common cause of a slice. The primary problem is back of forearms rotation. If you make a strong strike of the ball and it starts straight down the target line before curving to the right. With your irons the divot would be square to the target line.

Starting with knockdown pitches, rotate your left forearm (right-handers) during the swing so your left hand knuckles face the ground just after impact, with the clubface turning down. Let your right hand come off the club. Once you get the hang of this, use other clubs. This drill increases clubhead speed and squares the clubface for a straighter shot.

Keep in mind as you practice these drills that you may not want to turn your slice into a draw. Hitting a fade has its advantages, too. The key, regardless of the type of shot you develop, is hitting a dependable, more consistent shot that keeps you out of trouble and gives you control of the where the ball lands. The type of shot will cut strokes from both your scores and your golf handicap.

By: Jack Moorehouse

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Every golfer knows the feeling of completely slicing their drive into the trees, bushes or anywhere, but the fairway. It is inevitable, it will happen to you sooner or later, even the pros suffer from a case of the shanks or bad slices from time to time.

Although at the time of the nasty golf slice you don’t have any no idea what went wrong with your swing because you just swung the golf like you did every time, there is always a cause and it can be a number of things.

A lot of golfers have things that they do when they swing that is unique or odd which they have become accustom to. Some golfers twist their wrists a certain way, some don’t interlock their hands on the club and other just look funky when they swing. What ever it is, if it was working at one time or another you are doing something right, but there are a few things that may be the cause of your slice.

First of all most golfers totally miss the importance of good hip rotation in their golf swing, without good hip rotation your swing will never result in a maximum amount of yards in your drive. Secondly it could be your follow through, golfers without the right follow through will always a little off target. Lastly keeping your eyes on the ball. It sounds really simple, but if you lose eye contact with the ball during your swing you will almost certainly develop and ugly slice in your golf swing.

By: Ryan Stains

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