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Category Archives: Golf Training

Lower Golf Handicap: Ways to Lower It!

Golf Handicap: 3 Crucial Ways to Lower It!

A golf ball directly before the holeImage via Wikipedia

Author: Tony McEwan

The golf handicap is the tool by which golfers everywhere use to instantly compare and judge each other on their skill level of the sport. The question of who is the better golfer can be answered simply by comparing this magical number no matter what your background or where you come from.

The golf handicap is also the only fair system to allow golfers of different abilities to compete against each other in competition and maintain, hopefully, a close and exciting game.

The challenge, however, always remains the same. That is to lower your golf handicap and if possible to get that figure into single digits. This seems to be the ultimate goal for many amateur golfers and if you don’t believe me try asking any golfer with a handicap of 10 or above!

So how do we go about lowering it? How do we topple an extra couple of shots off of our golf handicap? The answers to those questions aren’t always popular as everyone is looking for a short cut, but rest assured that by applying these methods then you can notice a difference in your performance very quickly indeed!

Improve your fitness levels

This has got to be my first tip for any golfer looking to reduce their golf handicap. Have you ever noticed in your round of golf, especially in the hot summer months, that by the time you are playing the 14th and 15th holes it takes a lot more effort to maintain concentration and focus on your shots? This is the part of the round that could make or break that decent score you have been putting together!!

A game of golf played over 18 holes can have you walking approximately 4 miles. Add to that the fact that you are carrying a bag full of irons, woods, balls, snacks, drinks, waterproofs etc. then you are certainly carrying a few extra pounds on that walk!

The more tired you get the harder it is to hit your drives straight and long. Your approach shots go a bit wayward of the green and you 3 putt instead of 2 putting. All these shots add up!

By simply improving your fitness levels you may last those extra couple of holes without feeling the effects of fatigue setting in.

So if you don’t already, then why not go for a few walks during the week. If you already do this, then why not do a little more and have a jog round the park. Basically, whatever you are doing now, just do that little extra and feel the difference on those last few holes on the course!

Practise Practise Practise

I have spoken to many golfers who are desperate to lower their golf handicap. They will buy the latest golf clubs and golf equipment and will even play in each weekly competition at their golf club but are annoyed that they don’t improve their scores!

When I ask them how long they have spent on the practise ground, or how many balls they have hit at the driving range the answer is usually either not long or not very many.

I have spoken to the professionals of a few golf clubs recently and even asked the best players at my golf club how they managed to get their golf handicaps down to at least single figures and every time the answer is the same. Practise!

To make my point ask yourself these questions. Do you think your game would improve if you hit 50 practise balls a week? Probably not too much. What about 250 balls? What about if you hit 500 practise shots a week, and you did this for a month solid!

In short, you would learn so much about your golf game that you couldn’t not improve your scores. You don’t necessarily have to hit 500 balls a week, but hopefully this focuses your mind that you shouldn’t just rely on the newest golf club or new golf ball and that, yes, some work will have to be done to improve your scores…..but it sure will be worth it!

Golf Instruction – Golf Lessons

I think the two tips above are great ways to lower your golf handicap by a few shots in a very quick fashion. I also think, however, that sometimes you will need a bit of a steer in the right direction to get even more out of your game.

Just like when you were at school you would go to your teacher for some help when you got stuck, in golf there will come a time when you need a few pointers.

My tip here is to go and ask for help from someone who knows what they are doing. In the golfer’s case, have a chat with your club professional.

Why go on for weeks battling with a problem you have that no mater how much you practise you just can’t seem to overcome.

Don’t be stubborn and don’t drive yourself crazy. The club professional will happily and quickly analyse your problem and set you on the right path!

So if you’re struggling, don’t be shy about asking for lessons. Rest assured that all the great players have lessons. Even Mr Tiger Woods has someone helping him with his game today. He is not stubborn or too proud to ask for help and he is the best player in the world. So go ahead and get some guidance from someone in the know to help you out!

So there we have an outline for three crucial ways to lower your golf handicap. Combining these three basic yet often neglected pieces of advice I strongly believe that any golfer can improve their game and at the same time enjoy the sport that little bit more!

Give them a go and let me know how you get on!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/golf-handicap-3-crucial-ways-to-lower-it-523633.html

About the Author:
If you are looking for free and friendly golf instruction tips then visit www.golfinstructiontoday.blogspot.com and start improving your game today! Want to cut 7 shots off your game in just 2 weeks?? Visit 7 shots less!


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1 Comment | September 16, 2008 - 7:35 pm | cloverron

Golf Slice Cure

Cure Your Golf Slice With This Proven Formula by Nick Bayley

If you want a proven formula to fix your golf slice you’ve come the right place. Because I’m THE expert in that area. And here is the exact formula I’ve used to cure literally thousands of golfer’s slice problems from all around the world. So without wasting any more time — here are the 4 things you must do to fix your golf slice for good…

1. Setup for a draw

2. Swing from the inside so the ball starts to the right (for a right handed golfer) of your final target

3. Contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface

4. Have equipment that encourages you to draw the ball

Now that list of 4 things is generally the opposite of what every golfer does to hit a slice. For example, when a right handed golfer suffers from a slicing problem they generally aim to the left to allow for a slice — which just makes it worse, doesn’t it?

Now the absolute quickest possible way to fix your slice is to do the exact opposite of what you’re currently doing. So that means you have to setup for a hook. Then you need to try and swing a lot from the inside and release your hands a lot through impact so you contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface. And finally, you need equipment that helps you to hit a draw/hook.

If you did all of these things you could fix your slice tomorrow.

Seriously! It would happen that fast.

But here’s the problem — because it would feel so strange for you to do all of these things at the same time you would barely hit the golf ball….at least for a few days.

You see, golfers are adverse to change. The slicing habit you have now took you a long time to create. And if you slowly try to fix it then equally it will take you a long time to fix it — if you fix it at all.

Now I assume you want to fix your slice sooner rather than later. So please believe me when I say that the quickest way to fix your slice problem is to not worry about your ball striking results for a few days or even a couple of weeks. Instead simply exaggerate the reverse of what you do to hit a slice. And if you’re like most of my students who do this, after a few days you’ll be hitting the ball straight!

Yes….straight!

If you exaggerate the opposite of what you do to hit a slice you’ll eventually hit the ball straight — not hook it. I know that sounds weird but that’s just how the golf swing works. Because when you swing a golf club, what you think you’re doing and what is actually happening are often two totally different things.

Now when you’re making changes to your golf swing to fix your slice you’ve got to work on one thing at a time. The best and most logical place to start is the setup. You need to setup the opposite of what you’re currently doing. So adjust your grip so it’s strong, align yourself to the right of your final target, position the ball in the middle of your stance etc., etc.

This will be tough to do but if you REALLY want to fix your slice you’ll do it.

Once you’ve done that you then want to exaggerate swinging from the inside. Then you’ve got to work on releasing your hands through impact so you contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface. Finally, if your equipment is promoting a slice rather than a draw then you must get equipment that encourages you to hit a draw/hook.

So that’s the proven formula you need to follow to fix your slice. And remember, to get the fastest results you must exaggerate the opposite of what you’re currently doing to hit your slice. To make a start I recommend you change your grip to make it stronger, because I know of golfers that have just done that and fixed their golf slice. So start with making changes to your setup and then progress through the rest of this proven formula after that.

Nick Bayley is a professional golfer who has discovered just one golf swing fault that could be stopping YOU from ball striking consistency and success. But luckily for you, now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing test to see if you have this swing fault or not. So don’t delay! Go here to take The Golf Swing Test now: www.yourgolfswingtest.com/

Article Source: U Publish Articles

4 Simple Steps to Fix Slice

Add comment | May 11, 2008 - 5:16 pm | cloverron