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| Any Christmas tips David?. |
By way of offering a little Christmas cheer here's ten free gifts to followers of the Golfmagic website - some tips to think about over the seasonal holiday.
Hopefully they will knock a few shot off your game in 2002 or at least help you to enjoy golf a little more.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and successful golfing New Year.
1. 20 yards on your driving
*Take a slightly lighter grip on the handle of your club to release tension in your arms.
*Extend your take-away by turning your right shoulder away from the ball at address (not tilting it).
*Complete your backswing and follow through with good tempo.
2. No more three putts
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| How about one of these, Monty? |
*Hovering the clubhead behind the ball, reduces tension in the hands and ensures a silky action.
*Concentrate on pushing the manufacturer's logo on the back of your glove through on the target line.
*Remember, pace is more important than line on longer putts. Imagine a dart-board the size of dustbin lid; the hole's the bullseye but settle for trebles and doubles to ensure an easy second putt.
3. Let the head rule the heart
*In trouble off the tee, take your punishment, get back in play and make your third shot as easy as possible.
*Career shots come once a year, if you're lucky, never three times in a round. Play the percentages.
*Danger tends to lurk to the front and sides of the green so club up and aim for the back of the green.
4. Preparation, preparation, preparation
*Cold, inflexible muscles are your greatest enemy at the start of a round. Take a few minutes to stretch and hit a handful of shots on the practice range.
*Improve your feel with a few chips and putts.
* Arrive on the tee in good time; reduce your expectations by using a fairway wood or iron off the first to get the ball in play.
5. Keep cool under pressure
*Remember the previous shot is history. Put it out of your mind and concentrate on one shot at a time.
*Take ten seconds to clear your mind and picture the shot you want to play
*Always be ready to play when it's your turn. Rushing is the mother of disaster.
6. Use your imagination around the green
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| Imagination for chipping. |
*Visualise the ball leaving the clubface and bouncing and rolling upto the hole.
*Instead of always using a wedge like the pros (who practice those shots several hours a day), grip down on a straighter faced club to get the ball rolling sooner.
*The toe of the putter, the leading edge of a wedge (making contact on the ball's equator) or the face of the fairway wood will often produce better results than a chip or putt from the collar of rough around the fringe of the green.
7. Alignment is crucial
*Keep your swing on line by imagining parallel lines of toes, knees and shoulders are on one side of a railway track and the clubface on the other.
*Body should be aligned just left of the target (with the club face directly at it) to avoid a closed stance resulting in a pull or a push as the hand action tries to compensate.
8. Keep well equipped
*Always keep a couple of spare gloves in a plastic, waterproof bag to replace one made slippery by rain or sweat.
*A dry towel (ideally with one end damp) is essential for keeping grips dry and grooves free of mud.
*So many players forget to clean their ball when marked on a green or when taking a free or penalty drop. Don't be one of them.
*A brush to keep mud or grass-clogged spikes clean, is always a useful option.
9. Clue up on the Rules
*Knowing the Rules can save you shots as well as costing them. Memorising one Definition a week from the Rules book, is a short cut to covering almost every situation you and your mates may face.
*Remember, taking a free or penalty drop is the most broken Rule in Golf - learn it, it could be vital.
*Clearly identify your ball individually with a marker pen to avoid confusion, hassle or bad feeling.
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| I've got my prezzies, says Howard. |
10. Etiquette do's and don'ts
*Always stand to the side, never in front or behind, of the player who is playing his or her shot, or where your shadow may prove a distraction.
*Keep quiet when a player in your group - or nearby - is playing their shot. Sound carries, so take note of the wind direction to avoid embarrassment!
*Avoid slow play. Always keep up with the group in front, rather than merely just ahead of the group behind and when it's your turn, be ready to play your shot.
If you know of any more tips you would like to pass on as your gift to the golfers at Christmas, join others with a passion for golf by logging on to the Forum.
