Free Pro Tips

The vast majority of golfers know only one speed – full speed. That is a speed seldom used by better golfers.

There are two places in the swing where the club moves slowly: the takeaway and the transition from back swing to forward swing. Keep these two areas smooth and unhurried.

There are no shortcuts to improving your game. If you cannot spend more time practicing and playing, it is unrealistic to think you will improve.

See and feel the shot you want to play before you choose a club to execute the shot.

Letting the right hand “go along for the ride” is a notion I do not understand. Golf is a two-handed game.

The object of the tee shot is to put the ball in play. If your driver is not getting the job done, go to your 3-wood or 4-wood.

Balance is fundamental to any sport. Your weight should be in the middle of your feet, not too much on the heels or the toes. Be athletic!

After playing a course for the first time, make a note or two about each hole so, the next time you play that course, you will be better prepared.

Add up all the money you spend on golf this year, take 10% and invest in some quality lessons. Take one lesson each week for the first month, one lesson every other week for the next month, then one lesson each month thereafter.

You know you are swinging under control if you can hold your finish position until the ball lands.

“I hit it great on the range, but I can’t bring it to the course.” Few similarities exist between hitting balls on the range and actually playing the game. On the range, you might hit 20 drivers in the span of 30 minutes. On the golf course you might hit only 1 or 2 in 30 minutes. You must find a rhythm that works for you on the golf course. You must play a lot of golf to learn to score well.

The more accomplished the player, the more time he/she spends practicing with the wedge and putter.

Spend more time looking at your target and less time looking down at your ball.

For more distance, stop squeezing the grip on the downswing. Rather, try to transfer the energy out of the clubhead onto the golf ball.

If you are beginning the game, find a par-3 course, play nine holes with a friend and don’t get too bogged down with the details. If you feel rushed, pick up your ball and go to the next hole. Just keep playing!

Many right-handed golfers are obsessed with keeping their left arm straight at the top of the back swing. I’d like to see more right-handed golfers do a better job of keeping their right arm from collapsing at the top of the back swing. Yes, the right elbow should fold to 90 degrees at the top of the back swing, but for many golfers their right elbow bends much more than 90 degrees, causing the casting motion that starts the downswing and results in a huge power loss.

Comparing yourself to any other golfer is a complete waste of time. It is an individual game and you need to learn to play it your own way.

When the ball is lying on the ground, you hit down to make the ball go up. The club head contacts the ball on the way down. The ball is compressed between the club head and the turf. The single biggest problem for most golfers is their instinctive desire to help the ball into the air by getting underneath it and scooping it into the air. This adds loft to the club at impact, weakening the blow and making solid contact impossible.

Prepare for success. Work smart. Eat healthy. Exercise regularly. Get professional instruction. Play tournament golf. Give yourself a chance to be the best you can be.

The most important fundamental is not the grip, posture, aim or alignment. It is an attitude that says “I believe.”

You cannot play your best golf with poorly fitted equipment. The right shaft, the right loft, the right lie angle, the right length and the right grip size will make the game a lot easier to play.

The driver, wedge and putter have more influence on your score than the rest of the clubs in your bag. Allocate your practice time accordingly.

Teaching and coaching are about TRUST and CREDIBILITY. Pick your spots. Make your first suggestion a good one because you may not get another chance.

To help someone, you need to understand the swing through their eyes, not your own. Only after you understand what they are trying to do, can you help them.

The thoroughbreds do it their own way. They make up the rules as they go along. If you’re lucky enough to get one, don’t hold her back.