| Get Every Putt to the Hole | | | | club that will get you to the yardage at the |
| | | | back of the green. If you hit it flush, |
| In team formats, it pays to get the ball to | | | | you're on; if you hit it less than solidly, |
| the hole, if only to give your partners a | | | | you still might make it to the putting |
| good read. Most putts come up short because | | | | surface. |
| the player decelerates on the through-stroke. | | | | |
| Instead, make sure your through-stroke is as | | | | Score Lower on Par 5s |
| long or slightly longer than your backstroke. | | | | |
| | | | Take a "do the math" approach. Most par 5s |
| Minimize Your Swing Thoughts | | | | are 500 yards or more. Make the last shot |
| | | | your favorite yardage into the green. |
| Keep your game plan simple. Put it on a piece | | | | Subtract that yardage, then divide the |
| of paper on the cart steering wheel and refer | | | | difference by two. With this strategy, you're |
| to it before each full shot. | | | | hitting lofted clubs that are easier to hit |
| | | | and more accurate. |
| Preshot: Visualize what you want the ball to | | | | |
| do. | | | | Get Out of the Sand in One Try |
| | | | |
| Address: Align the clubface where you want | | | | Good greenside bunker players accelerate the |
| the ball to go. | | | | clubhead through the shot, letting the sand |
| | | | "splash" the ball out. Set up with the face |
| Swing thought: Freely swing the clubhead. | | | | of your sand wedge slightly open, the ball |
| | | | slightly forward in your stance. Hit the sand |
| Survive The First-tee Jitters | | | | behind the ball, and finish your swing like |
| | | | you're hitting a full 5-iron. |
| Nervousness makes you speed up your tempo, | | | | |
| which affects consistency and accuracy. Take | | | | Chip with Your Putting Stroke |
| several deep breaths as you get ready to hit, | | | | |
| inhaling through your nose and exhaling | | | | To avoid chunking or skulling your chip |
| through your mouth. Swing your driver | | | | shots, take a lofted club like a 7-, 8- or |
| smoothly, like you want to hit it only 100 | | | | 9-iron and grip it like your putter. Lean the |
| yards. | | | | shaft and your body toward the target for a |
| | | | slightly descending blow. Make your putting |
| Make More Tough Short Putts | | | | stroke, allowing the loft of the club to |
| | | | carry the ball over the unpredictable turf |
| Playing a format that requires you to putt | | | | onto the green. |
| everything out? Set your putterface square to | | | | |
| the desired line, then square your feet and | | | | Get Your Irons Airborne |
| shoulders to that line. Make a smooth stroke | | | | |
| while looking at the target, not at the ball. | | | | Most topped shots occur when you try to help |
| | | | the ball into the air with a scooping motion. |
| Take More Club on Par 3s | | | | To hit down on the ball, set up with more |
| | | | weight on your left foot than your right. |
| Few amateurs hit the ball over or through the | | | | Take the club back more vertically and return |
| green on par 3s; most come up short. Select a | | | | it on a downward angle of attack. |