You are beginning to develope skills after pursuing your game with perservance and consistency that is a result of your enthusiasm.  You have also had many times when you have become frustrated, tried too hard and did not focus enough on practicing the fundamentals and technical exercises.  Too often you are expecting to improve too much and too fast.  You try too hard, swing too hard and focus more on playing rather than practicing the fundamentals.  Here are some points to remember:

1,  Obtain good information from highly qualified professional teachers.

2. Obtain good books on golf and study them.

3.  Watch and interact with skilled players.

4.  It is more important to have long term consistency than short term intensity.  Keep working on the details.  Remember there are alwalys peaks and valleys in progress.

5.  Focus on your weak links - what areas of your game are costing you the most strokes. 

6.  Enjoy the process of learning and watch your achievements.

How to Sliceproof your grip !

Grip the club in the fingers of your left hand, with your heel pad on top.  This makes it possible to release the club and turn the face over for a draw.  Sometimes the grip gets too weak, if your left hand is turned too far toward the target.  Grip the club in the fingers of your left hand and then in the right hand.  This makes it possible to stay out of the right rough. 

In trying to hit the ball farther, create more torque.  This can be done by coiling your torso while keeping your lower body stationary, without your driver stand in your address posture with your arms hanging.  Put the backs of your hands together, with right palm facing the target.  Now pretend you are swinging a club to the top.  When you feel tension in your midsection, this is the torque you want to have when you swing your driver.

Confidence helps you trust your swing under pressure.  Listed below are some sound golf basics which help you trust your swing under pressure.

l.  Grip the club with your left and right hands properly, and with correct hand pressure.

2.  Properly aligning your body and club with your shot's target line.

3.  Exercise will give you strength to control your body and clubs.

4.  Playing clubs custom built to fit your height, arm length, swing speed, and hand size.  The right fit builds confidence.

5.  Choosing the right equipment builds confidence.

     a.  If you have problems hitting long irons, look at hybrids or fairway woods to replace them.

    b.  If your drives have a fade or slice and sometimes block to the right, (for a right handed golfer), changing to a driver with an offset hosel can make a big difference.

    c.  If your putter swing has too much wrist action, causing you to flip the putter head at the ball, consider changing to an oversized grip and/or a putter with a heavier head.

Golf Tip #8

When hitting from difficult lies, try not to let yourself get 'psyched' up over the prospect of a poor shot.

Instead, take a three-quarter backswing for maximum control and make the following swing adjustments.

On hardpan, play the ball farther back in your stance.

Play a normal 'hardpan' shot making sure to hit down into the ball.

Keep your hands ahead of the ball at the address position and be sure to hit down into the ball.

Hit down into the ball when the ball is centered in a divot.

Depending on where your ball is in the divot you should do one of the following:

1.  Either firm up your grip and close your clubface a little to prevent the edge of the divot from opening the toe at impact.

or-

2.  Firm up your grip and open the clubface slightly to prevent the divot from catching the heel and closing the face at impact.

Golf Tip #9 - Wedge Play

When you're within 50 yards of the green, your best approach is a wedge shot with a high arc and backspin to stop the ball with no roll.  To do this, line up with the ball centered in your stance and your weight equally distributed on both fee.  Your shoulder, hips, knees and feet are square to the intended line of flight.  On your backswing, your left shoulder and right side should rotate as one, with the plane inside the line of flight.  Start your downswing with your left arm.  The leading edge of the wedge goes down under the ball so the ball will slide up the face of the club.  Your left arm starts down with your hands leading the shaft and clubhead.  Do not allow your left wrist to break  Once the clubhead comes in contact with the ball, your weight moves down the line of flight.  Your backswing will determine the distance.  Practice this, and soon you'll be hitting shots to the green that spin back to the hole or stop on a dime.

--Thanks to Mitch Tarr

HOW TO PLAN CHIP SHOTS  - TIP NUMBER 11

You should plan your chip shots as carefully as you would your drives or putts. Always choose the least lofted club which is needed to get you on to the green.  Usually a seven or eight iron will work better for you than a nine iron or wedge.  Once you have chosen the right club, aim your shot for a spot on the green about one third toward the hole.  Use a smooth swing, and hit the target allowing the ball to roll toward the hole.

SECRETS TO GOOD PUTTING STROKES

Good putting strokes depend on the basic fundamentals.  The first thing you do is to start with your setup.  Always play the ball forward in your stance.  Remember the hands should be on line with the clubhead and the ball, and remember to keep your eyes looking down on the ball.  The next thing is that your takeaway should be low with your wrists firm.  Now you are ready to move your arms in a pendulun-like motion and accelerate through the ball. 

The length of the swing will determine the distance the ball will travel.  Next you must be sure to maintain your balance with no body movement; this will keep the club square through the ball. 

These are the basic fundamentals for a good putting stroke.  If you continue these suggestions you will find that in time when you are on the putting green you will have developed a more consistent putting stroke.

Be sure to read the latest article in my NEWSLETTER on the new Hybrids.   Happy Golfing! 

GOLF TIP # 14 - CURE FOR SLICING

Golf Tip #14 - Cure For Slicing

Grip the club lightly and allow the right elbow to relax, keeping it close to your side.  On your backswing, start the club back low and slightly to the inside, again keeping your right elbow relaxed and close to your side.  On your downswing, focus on keeping your right elbow close to your side and allow the clubhead to swing to 1 o'clock.  It takes patience to cure a slice!!