GOLF Tips, Trick and Guide

If you are as keen a golfer as me you will almost certainly be on a permanent quest to lower your handicap. It is one of those sporting quests to which there seems no end, while at the same time there is no end of advice available as to how to achieve your goal. As an avid golfer I believe there are key points that when mastered correctly can make all the difference to the amateur golfer's desire to play fewer strokes during a round.

Here are four key tips that I have found to be invaluable.

Maintain the correct mental attitude

The most potent tool in a golfer's arsenal is his mind. His ability to master it is what separates the best golfers in the world from all the amateurs. Even the average golfer must believe in his game and think of himself as a great player. It holds true that when you are in a competitive situation, if you can believe that you are good enough to beat anyone, you hold the key to beating your opponent in both match play and stroke play. Developing a winning mental attitude like this becomes more important the higher up you go in your golfing career.

If there is just one part of your mental game you focus on, it should be just before you are about to hit the ball. Try to develop a quiet mind sharply focused on the target only without allowing any other thoughts to enter your head as you are about to strike the ball. Instead you need to trust that you have trained your swing and that the ball will go where you want it to go.

Play the Percentage Game

"Make the centre of the green your friend". In the last few holes of a major championship, Jack Nicklaus once revealed that he never aims at the flag, only at the middle of the green. He felt it was the smart play as it minimised his chances of missing the green and virtually guaranteed him a birdie putt. The fact is, ignoring the pin and aiming all of your approach shots at the middle of the green is a very smart strategy. This should be done with every single shot, whether it's a 9-iron or a 4-iron. This builds in a better margin for error so you have more green either side of the perfect golf shot and even if you stray slightly off line you'll still find the putting surface. Playing percentage golf is one of the best ways to lower your handicap over time.

Leave your Ego at Home

Playing the percentage game means you need to leave your ego at home. So avoid the temptation to go for the big hit every time you tee up. In other words, don't go flag hunting on every hole. If you are not a regular player you are not going to hit every shot where you are looking and you will almost certainly increase your chances of playing better and of being able to lower your handicap over time by playing within yourself.

Get your Strategy Right

Because you never know what to expect in a round of golf you need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for every situation imaginable. If you familiarise yourself with all the obstacles on the golf course and work out a strategy for any pitfalls that may occur, any difficulties you encounter on the course will not spoil your enjoyment of the game. In other words, you need to do your homework before you start out. Knowing what to expect from a course combined with your confidence that allows you to play your way out of tight spots will really help you lower your handicap.

By Stuart Young