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Seven On Course Tips for Improving Your Score

The fairway bunker shot

When You Really Need To Bust One From The Tee

1. Instead of trying to hit the ball somewhere down the fairway, try picturing a flagstick in the spot on the fairway you would like your ball to finish. Being specific with your aiming should result in an increased percentage of fairways hit, and a lower score.

    

2. If you normally play with a fade or slice, tee up your ball on the right hand side (assuming you are right handed) of the tee. This opens up the fairway giving you a little bit of room to play with. If you tend to play with a draw or hook tee your ball upon the left hand side.

    

3. If you can't decide whether to chip or pitch. Pretend you have a golf ball in your hand and you are going to throw the ball so it will finish close to the hole. If your instinct in this exercise is to throw the ball low and let it roll to the pin you should chip the ball. If your instinct was to throw the ball high and let it stop quickly you should pitch the ball.

    

4. When you are faced with cut up shot over a bunker, try looking at the blade of grass the ball is resting on. And stay looking at it for as long as you can. This will help stop your upper body from rising and ensure your club gets under the ball. The more important the shot, the longer you should stay down looking at the blade of grass.

    

5. If you are in doubt as to what club to hit for instance is it a 6 iron or 7 iron go with the longer club (the 6 iron). Most golfers tend to leave their ball short of the green far more than going over the back of the green. This will lead to you getting your ball on the green more often and in less shots.

    

6. Once you have chosen the club you are going to play your next shot with. Make a full swing and go through with the shot. I see so many golfers changing their minds during their swing and end up quitting on the shot. The result is quite often off line and short of the green.

    

7. On short putts try not to watch the ball rolling along the green. Unfortunately, when your eyes follow the ball on the green you will instinctively move your shoulders slightly and this might be enough to make the ball deviate slightly and miss the hole. Instead, try to listen to the ball going into the hole. The more important the putt the longer you listen.