Mastering Four Footers

===================================================
Is there any golfer who hasn't taken a four-foot putt for granted? We've all done it sometime in our playing careers. We miss short putts because we fail to execute the fundamentals. Instead, we commit any number of putting errors, from moving our heads to not squaring the clubface. The result: a missed putt and another stroke added to your score. Learn to hole these putts consistently and you'll shave strokes from your golf handicap.

Below are three keys to sinking four-foot putts:



* Keep your head still
* Stroke with your shoulders
* Focus on a squaring face

Peeking is probably the biggest fault on short putts. If your eyes move, your head moves. If your head moves, your body moves, throwing your stroke off line. A good drill to conquer this tendency is to place a dime on the green four feet from the hole. Place a ball on the dime. Now stroke the putt. Make sure you see the dime after the putt.

Another big fault with four-foot putts is not using your shoulders. Because the putt is so short, we tend to use just our hands and arms and pop the ball at the hole. That seldom works. Instead, focus on rocking your shoulders as you do with longer putts. That improves consistency.

A third fault with four-foot putts is failing to square the clubface. Direction is the key on short putts like these. The ball will go wherever you're pointing the clubface. So if the clubface is off, your shot will be off. Trying squaring the clubface before you take your stance. On longer putts, the face will rotate open then closed. On short putts the clubface should always point at the hole.

Don't take four-foot putts for granted. Execute the fundamentals correctly and you won't miss them.

Rhythm of the Golf Swing

Power on the Tip of Your Tongue

Anyone interested in adding an extra 10 - 20 yards to your drives
instantly?

Just follow this quick tip and you'll have to go through and re-do
all of your yardages for every club in your bag.

The secret is not some core rotational exercise (although those can
be awesome).

No, this is so simple that you won't believe it until you try it.

It's all about the placement of YOUR TONGUE!

I first learned about the position of the tongue increasing overall
strength while over in India. One of my gurus would explain that
it helped to "complete the circuit" and give him strength and
stamina while holding static Yoga poses.

Of course it sounded kinda weird, but then again, this dude could
hold a handstand for over an hour! He probably only stopped there
out of boredom. But the guy was definitely onto something.

Now he didn't even know what golf was - but of course I'm ALWAYS
relating everything to how it can improve our golf games, so here
it goes -

Here's all you have to do:

Gently place your tongue up on the roof of your mouth, with the tip
resting against the back of your front top teeth. Gently hold it
in that position while you swing.

This will "close the circuit"...whatever the hell that means.

Actually, I do know at least one theory, but let's just keep this
results-oriented.

Let me be clear about this - it should be gentle and subtle. Do
NOT focus on it so that it becomes yet another swing thought.

To try this out for yourself, simply go to the range and warm up.
Then pick a club and hit 10 ball "without tongue" and note the
distance. Then hit 10 ball "with tongue" and compare. Be sure to
compare only those shots with similar quality of contact.

The chances are very good that you will notice increased distance
when you "add a little tongue".

I'll tell you what...if it doesn't work for you, I'll hold a
handstand for an hour, or break my neck trying!


Be a Renegade,

Coach Stephen
www.RenegadeMentalGolf.com

Fine Tune Your Tempo

Tempo Defined
==============
Tempo is the time it takes to complete a full swing. For the most part,it's geared to a golfer's personality. If you're deliberate, your tempois likely to be somewhat slower than a person who's more fast-paced.And vice versa. When you're playing well, your tempo is pretty muchthe same on every full shot. But when your tempo goes, your game goesas well. That's why you play well one day and poorly the next. It would be great if you could play at your best tempo every day. But that's not realistic. Some days you're more energized. On those days you may have a faster swing tempo than your ideal tempo. Other days,it's just the opposite. You feel more lethargic or weaker. On thosedays you may have a slower swing tempo than your ideal. If you'regoing to lower your golf handicap, learn to adjust to your swing tempoon days where you don't have your ideal swing tempo.Even if tempo were a popular topic, developing an appreciation forit isn't easy. It takes hard work. Below are two drills that will helpyou determine and learn to appreciate swing tempo. These drill not onlyfamiliarize you with different swing tempos, they also teach you to coordinate the movement of your body and club to produce solid contactat any tempo.

================
Four Ball Drill
================
Tee up four balls in a row.
Address the one closest to you and hit at25 percent of your standard swing speed.
Now move to the next ball. Hit this one at 50 percent of your normal swing speed.
Hit the third ball at 75 percent speed.
Hit the last ball at full speed.
Perform the drill a few times. Focus on the feel of the different speeds. You goal is to not slow down or speed up your swing in order to hityour ball longer or straighter.

====================
Follow-Through Drill
====================
Address the ball. Raise the club head off the ground slightly.
Move it forward to a position a foot or so into the follow-through, and start swinging.
Guide the club head back over the ball, complete your backswing,and swing through the ball all in one motion.
Repeat this exercise several times.
Continue for a while. Eventually, you'll develop a feel for your swing tempo.Tempo is a critical, but much overlooked fundamental. If you're going to develop a swing that helps you cut strokes from you golf handicap,you must develop a feel for you natural swing speed. You must also develop a feel for when you're not swinging the club at your ideal swing speed,and learn how to adjust on days you swinging at your natural swing tempo. The two drills described above will help you fine-tune your tempo.

Go with the Flow

"The great martial arts instructors talk often about pulling as your
opponent is pushing. What does this mean? Basically, it's a simple
way of maintaining balance.

Think of it this way...If your opponent pushes you in the chest with all of his force...and
you resist...it won't take long before you lose balance.

But if instead of resisting, you let your body step backward -- you
would easily keep balance. This is a great example of not fighting
the laws of nature.Another example is water. Imagine a river finding it's way.

It doesn't try and ram it's way trough a rock wall. It's just meanders
around the wall -- basically taking the path of least resistance.To me, great golf is a lot like these two examples.

And in turn, poor golf is like standing your ground against that
opponent - instead of stepping backward. Or, like water ramming
against the rock wall - instead of gently finding it's way around.How does that relate to you and the golf course?Too many times I see people struggle instead of taking what the
golf course gives. Or, for that matter, struggling with their game -- in a
quest for perfection -- instead of playing with what they have on
a given day...or just going with the flow.Tour professionals understand this.

Well, at least the best ones do.

They know that there are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of ways
to achieve the same result. And when it comes right down to it --
the result -- or a good score -- is all that matters.

On one day, their swing might be so good that getting around the
golf course is easy. But maybe their putting doesn't feel all that great.
So, even though their swing is great -- they still only manage two or
three under par.

But on the next day, their putter comes alive -- but their swing feel
goes slightly dormant. They hit less greens - but make lots of par
putts and take advantage of the greens they do hit.

But the net result is the same -- two or three under par.

They understand that golf is a marathon -- not a sprint -- so they
take this in stride. They'll wait for those days when everything clicks
- but aren't consumed with it happening each time they tee it up.This can happen with course conditions just as easy.

One day, on a par four, you could hit driver within a short iron of the
green. But the next Saturday, when the wind shifts a little, it might
turn into a hybrid or fairway wood. The golf course is constantly
changing, which to me, is one of the things that makes this game
so special.

But if you don't embrace that change and expect to end up in the
same spot every time -- you will end up a seriously frustrated golfer.These are some of the reasons why it's difficult to follow up a
great round with another great round.

Say the last time you played -- you were 2 under by the 6th hole
-- but now you are 1 over -- so it's very easy to think "what's
happening here?"

Or, "why am I so bad today when I was so good yesterday?"

Part of it could be some simple fundamentals ... but mostly -- it's
about just being at peace with the game.

And knowing that no one masters golf.

This is why Tiger Woods doesn't shoot 54 every time he plays.

Or why Ben Hogan would always wake up from his famous dream
on the 18th hole -- right after making 17 straight birdies. Even in
his dreams he couldn't master this game.Can taking a more serene approach help you score better? Absolutely!

Here are a few things that could help you go with the flow on the
golf course...
1. Understand that golf course conditions are ever-changing -- so it's
impossible to duplicate your play each time out.
2. Develop a balanced game -- with emphasis on the short game --
so when you don't have a solid swing -- you still have chances to
shoot your handicap.
3. Take each shot and each round on it's own merit. Don't compare
past rounds and past shots. Just take what you have in front of you
-- with whatever physical tools you have for that given day -- and
make a plan accordingly.
4. Understand that your score on a given day doesn't define you as
a golfer. Sometimes -- a lot of times actually -- luck plays a huge
part in this game. I know Gary Player said "the more he practiced,
the luckier he got" -- but somethings are just outside of your control.

Know that and be OK with it.As strange as it sounds -- you may have to think about and practice
going with the flow.

Swing with Balance

Just about every weekend golfer would like to have a balanced finish to his or her swing, one that looks like the pros' finish. Why shouldn't you want to copy the pros? They're pretty good, aren't they. A comfortable, balanced finish to a golf swing offers numerous benefits. It not only looks great, it also places less stress on your body. And for those who haven't guessed it, it also works better. Anything that works better generally takes strokes off your golf handicap. Unfortunately, many golfers lose their balance during their swings. Some spend hours trying to eliminate this flaw to no avail, despite taking golf lessons and studying golf tips in magazines and newsletters. That's because their corrective methods don't work. They may help for a short while, but in time, the golfer reverts to his or her old habits. Thus, an off-balance swing stays that way. Until they achieve proper balance, cutting strokes off their golf handicaps may be difficult to do.

Clubface Controls Balance What most golfers don't realize is that it's the clubface that controls balance. That's right. It's the clubface, not the body. Basically, our body is designed for making balanced, athletic moves, if it's allowed to do so. That's the key—allowing our bodies to make those balanced, athletic moves. Controlling the clubface enables your body to make those balanced, athletic moves.

The key for controlling the clubface in your swing is quite simply. Once you learn to properly position of the clubface through the swing, achieving proper balance in your swing is a snap. In fact, you'll be amazed at just how much more balanced—and powerful—your golf swing feels. But first you need to understand the swing's mechanics and how different moves affect balance.

Two Common MistakesTwo common mistakes golfers make tend to create an off-balance swing. Closing the clubface during the backswing is one. This mistake not only throws the golfer off balance but it also contributes to a reverse pivot. In fact, it's the main cause of a reverse pivot. That's because the body's natural reaction to a closed clubface is to shift the weight toward your front foot. A closed clubface also causes an instinctive hanging back on the right side during transition, creating poor contact and short-circuiting power.

The second mistake that causes an off-balance swing is over-rotating the arms, which leaves the clubface open. This move causes an overly flat rotation of the shoulders and a stranding of body weight behind the ball. More importantly, the move makes it difficult to get back on plane in the downswing and forces the body to move outside and around on the forward swing. This, in turn, makes most golfers fall toward the ball, creating a jammed impact position with little leverage for power.

Toe-up Drill Improves BalanceThe Toe-up Drill helps eliminates these mistakes and creates a better-balanced, more comfortable swing. The drill, which I've described in my golf tips newsletter, is easy to do at home or the range.

Assume your normal stance. As you start the swing, concentrate on turning the shoulders perpendicular to the spine in the takeaway. Allow your forearms and clubface to rotate naturally with the turn of your shoulders, so that the toe of the club points straight up as it reaches waist high. Do this several times.

When the club reaches your waist, you should feel your body weight move solidly on to your back heel. Instead of feeling weak and powerless, as you would if you over-rotated your arms or closed the clubface, you should feel coiled and powerful.

When you feel comfortable with the takeaway, try swinging to the top. Once there, you want the toe pointing straight down toward the ground. When you reach the top position, allow your arms to drop in an effortless manner and swing through to a simulated post-impact position. For best results, continue working on this drill. Each time you do it swing a little faster until you can swing at full speed. Once you feel confident, hit some balls using this new approach. You'll feel balanced and comfortable with your swing. A better-balanced swing will produce straighter shots and more consistency. Both will help you whittle strokes off your golf handicap.

Four Ways to Use the Hybrid Clubs

By now, you've probably thought about or have a hybrid in your bag. If you have and you're using it, you know it's a good replacements for your 3- and 4-irons. A hybrid is shorter and easier to hit than a long iron. It doesn't take as long to learn to swing. And it hits the ball higher, making it idealfor shots in the fairway that must land softly on the green.But the hybrid is one of golf's most versatile clubs. It can beused in a variety of locations other than the fairway, like thefringe, the rough, the tee, and even a bunker, and in situationswhere you need to save strokes. Learn to hit a hybrid well andyou'll chop strokes off your golf handicap. Let's look at four ways this club can improve your game.

===========The Bunker===========A hybrid works well in a fairway bunker, as long as the lip isn't too high. You can hit this shot the same way you hit a normal hybrid shot, except for one adjustment--ball position. It's the key to making the shot. If the ball is too far backin your stance, you'll top it. If it's too far forward, you'll hit it fat. The best position is about an inch backof where you normally hit a hybrid. As you swing, keep yourfeet planted as much as possible and your weight centered.This steepens your swing and ensures first ball contact.

=============Bump and Run=============The key to the bump and run, is getting the ball on the ground as quickly as possible. The sooner it's on the ground,the more control you have over it. With the hybrid, the ballstarts rolling quickly, making it easy to gauge distance. Keeping the ball low to the ground is also one of the bestways of achieving consistency with this shot.The key to hitting the bump and run is choking down on theclub and holding it with a putting style grip. The idea isto emulate your putting stroke. Use a square-to-square stroketo achieve more accuracy and limit wrist movement, making it easier to judge speed and distance. Using the hybrid helpsyou get up and down successfully more often in this situation.

==============On the Collar==============No one likes playing a ball that's up against the collar.You're never sure how to play it or what club to use, the putter or the wedge. If those two choices don't thrill you,try a hybrid. It offers benefits the other clubs don't.It has a longer, wider sole, making it easier to hit solidlyand giving you a wider margin for error. More importantly,it won't slip under the ball or get stuck in the grass,as with a putter or a wedge.Address the ball with a putter style grip, but don't choke up.With the ball in the back of your stance, press the hands forward.On the backswing, cock your wrists to lift the clubhead slightlyand then swing downward on the downswing. Allowing your wriststo hinge slightly helps lift the club from the collar on thebackswing. The ball will pop and roll in a hurry, so read the green before hitting the shot and plan accordingly.

==============Above the Pin==============Here's a shot that I've never mentioned in my golf tips,but can save strokes. When a ball ends up in the light roughon the high side of a pin, most players assume that a puttor a lob would be your only choices. But a hybrid works justas well, as long as you know exactly where to get the ballrolling on the green. Plus, it's a safer shot than a wedge.First, make sure there's room to get the club behind the ball.Then address the ball like a normal chip, with your handsslightly forward and the majority of your weight on yourforward side. Your head should be directly over the ball.Chip the ball so it lands in the rough, not the fringe.The hybrid's extra momentum causes the ball to roll forward through the rough. It will then roll softly onto the green.If you really want to lower that golf handicap, learn to hitthe hybrid in the situations mentioned above. You can also useit in the fairway or the rough. Keep those in mind as well.However you use it, the hybrid is a versatile club that canshave strokes off your scores. Think about adding to your bag if you haven't already.

Power From The Tip of Your Tongue

Anyone interested in adding an extra 10 - 20 yards to your drivesinstantly?Just follow this quick tip and you'll have to go through and re-do all of your yardages for every club in your bag.

The secret is not some core rotational exercise (although those can be awesome).No, this is so simple that you won't believe it until you try it. It's all about the placement of YOUR TONGUE!

I first learned about the position of the tongue increasing overallstrength while over in India. One of my gurus would explain thatit helped to "complete the circuit" and give him strength andstamina while holding static Yoga poses. Of course it sounded kinda weird, but then again, this dude couldhold a handstand for over an hour! He probably only stopped thereout of boredom. But the guy was definitely onto something.

Now he didn't even know what golf was - but of course I'm ALWAYS relating everything to how it can improve our golf games, so hereit goes -Here's all you have to do: Gently place your tongue up on the roof of your mouth, with the tipresting against the back of your front top teeth. Gently hold it in that position while you swing. This will "close the circuit"...whatever the hell that means. Actually, I do know at least one theory, but let's just keep thisresults-oriented. Let me be clear about this - it should be gentle and subtle. Do NOT focus on it so that it becomes yet another swing thought.

To try this out for yourself, simply go to the range and warm up. Then pick a club and hit 10 ball "without tongue" and note the distance. Then hit 10 ball "with tongue" and compare. Be sure to compare only those shots with similar quality of contact.The chances are very good that you will notice increased distance when you "add a little tongue".

Using The Chi Putt

Long putts are difficult for many
golfers because of the length of
the stroke, it is much longer than
can be comfortably achieved.

In addition, they dont get a good
view of the ball because they are
in their putting crouch, and it is
difficult to judge distance
accurately.

Golfer Dave Pelz has developed a
shot called the "Chiputt", this
shot combines the best of the chip
and putt qualities.

Standing tall, nearly straight, is
one of the usual techniques called
for in chipping. This makes it
easy to judge distance and see the
hole while getting a sense of line
for the shot.

It allows a smooth, long swing
which sends the ball the correct
distance. Chip shots are made
from the back of your stance,
causing the ball to come off low
and with power.

The chiputt starts with a tall
stance, and doing the same thing
with it makes rolling the ball a
long distance easier.

Hold your putter as you would when
making a ship shot. Dont crouch
as in a putting stance, put feet
together with a small space
between them, you aim left of the
hole.

Place the ball halfway between the
ankles, since your feet are closer
together, its is back in your
stance, which is behind your
breastbone.

Leading the clubhead with your
hands, make a long, rhythmic
stroke into the ball. You may
want to allow the body to turn
slightly during long putts to
maintain a natural rhythm.

As with any new shot in golf,
practice it a lot before putting
it to use in your game, you will
find that it is quite effective
once you have learned its use.

This is also a great shot when you
are off the green with short
grass, fairway and putting surface
the only thing between you and the
hole.

Be A Solid Ball Striker - Stack and Tilt

The Lumpy Donut

A condition cause by golfers on
every green in the world has been
titled the "Lumpy Donut", it
occurs with the first group of
golfers in the morning and is
there the remainder of the day.

Think about this; a normal
foursome will put about 500
footprints on the grass around the
hole; it takes two hours for a
footprint to bounce back to its
standing length.

In that amount of time however,
thousand more footprints have been
added to this green.

This has caused the grass and the
soil to be squished, flattened and
stomped on nearly everywhere on
the green. The only place not
affected by this phenomenon is
directly around the cup.

Golfers seldom step within a foot
of the cup, what this creates is a
two foot area around the cup where
the grass has not been touched, in
this area the grass is a little
higher than the rest of the grass
on the green.

This is what creates the "Lumpy
Donut" or a raised circle of grass
with the cup in the middle!

When a ball rolls toward the hole
it finds a man made hazard, as it
slows down to enter the hole, it
suddenly comes upon this ramp in
the grass, which tends to make it
roll off and to the side.

No matter how strong your putt is,
the "Lumpy Donut" can throw it
off, maybe not by much, but by
enough to make you miss your putt.

The way to deal with this is to
strike your ball with enough speed
that if it rolled directly over
the hole, and didnt fall in, it
would stop 17 inches on the other
side of the hole.

This is the perfect way to deal
with the lumpy donut, enough speed
to get the ball up the ramp, but
slow enough to allow it to fall
into the cup.

The Pendulum Putting Stroke

There are several ingredients to a
pendulum stroke, the first is a
consistent rhythm, and the second
is the triangle created by your
arms and shoulders.

This triangle must remain in tact
throughout the stroke for it to be
effective. The third is the
creation of a swinging pendulum
around a fixed point.

Standing in your stance, hold the
end of the putter loosely to your
breastbone.

The natural, back and forth swing
is what is called the pendulum,
this is what you should base your
pendulum on.

Watch this motion in a mirror and
you will see what this stroke
should look like during a putt.

Because the pendulum you are
creating is attached to a putter
and two arms the motion will be
slightly different.

Swing the triangle created by your
arms and shoulders without any
added motion from the arms or
hands and you will develop the
perfect pendulum, a smooth and
rhythmic shot that you can depend
on.
How to feel a pendulum shot:

*Hold you putter and take your
stance

*Do not move your body, but slide
the putter up until it touches
your breastbone

*Now re-grip wherever your hands
automatically fall on the putter,
somewhere near the head

*In this position it should be
nearly impossible to move any part
of your hands or arms other than
the shoulders.

*Keep the grip against your chest
and rock your shoulders back and
forth, this is how a good pendulum
stroke should feel

Once you have learned to use the
pendulum stroke properly, your
rhythm should come naturally.
Like the pendulum of a metronome
your swing should be consistent,
with a constant tempo.

In putting all of your strokes
should be the same rhythm, no
matter what the length of the
stroke is.

Practice Your Putting

Putting is one of the easier parts
of golf to practice, and if you
are serious about improving your
game, the time spent practicing is
well worth it.

And here's some tips to help you
start:
A small area of bare floor or
carpeting can suffice for
practicing putting, you do not
need a practice green or a sand
trap.

You can practice any time you have
a few minutes, at home, at the
office (make sure this wont get
you in trouble), or while watching
the pros on television.

Indoor practice is also a good
time to practice a few minutes
with two clubs on the floor
working on your straight-back,
straight-through shots.

If possible set up in front of a
full length mirror and check you
pendulum swing.

You can use a straight line on
your floor or carpet to check the
movement of the putterhead during
your strokes.

Practice the 17 inch rule by
dropping a coin on the floor and
trying to roll a ball over it
stopping 17 inches behind it.

You can also try putting with your
eyes closed, or practice putting
25 in a row in the same area.
These are all things you can do on
the outdoor practice green when
possible.

It is unlikely that you will ever
find a green as bumpy as your
carpet (even the smoothest of
carpet is worse the most greens)
or as fast as the hardwood floor.

However, using these extreme
surfaces helps develop better
touch, and allows you to learn to
contact the sweetspot.

Practice is not just rolling the
ball into a cup, it involves
trying different stroke speeds,
accelerating and decelerating your
strokes, and eliminate wrist
break. There is no end to the
things you can practice during
putting practice in doors.

Making a few practice putts before
any round is always advisable; it
allows you to judge the green and
moisture in the grass.

Practicing a few minutes every day
for a couple of weeks will cause a
noticeable improvement in your
putting.

Putting Downhill

To many golfers, putting downhill
is their worst nightmare! Unlike
uphill putting where the back of
the cup is slightly higher than
the front and acts as a backstop,
in downhill shots, the back of the
cup is slightly lower.


If the shot is too hard, the ball
can go over the lip and the back
wont stop it in the least.

In addition, when putting downhill
it is common for the ball to roll
quite a bit further than the
golfer planned. The key is a putt
that is soft enough to just topple
the ball into the hole.

What usually happens is that they
decelerate during the
through-stroke, tightening their
muscles and opening the club face
which starts the ball off the
target line, even if it catches
the lip, it spins violently out of
the cup and because it is downhill
it rolls to far to be a tap in.

There are two ways taught to avoid
the problems of a downhill putt,
the first is to strike the ball
with the toe of the putter.

Hitting away from the sweetspot
(or the best point on the club) it
applies less force causing the
ball to roll more slowly.

With this method however, you take
the chance of opening up the
putter face which causes a putt to
the right. Gripping the putter a
little more tightly keeps the face
from opening (turning).

Another means is to choke down on
the putter, in some instances
actually gripping the shaft rather
than the handle. This effectively
shortens the club allowing less
power on impact.

If the downhill is extreme, dont
be afraid to grip almost to the
putter face, it is more difficult,
but can be done with practice.

After learning and practicing this
method, you will find it is easy
to hit a short, controllable
distance, even on a fast downhill

Slow and Easy Does It

It's a BIG problem for most high handicappers and goes
something like this:

You're in the tee box staring down a 450 yard par 5. You need a
good long drive here. So you take a couple easy practice swings
with your driver... line up your shot... take the club back...
then -- somewhere in the back of your mind -- a little voice
whispers to unload with everything you have.

And that's where the problem lies.

You should NOT be thinking about "unloading" anything at the
top of your swing. This leads to one of the biggest
power-robbers ever conceived by man or beast -- the dreaded
"yank" from the top. It activates your left shoulder, arms and
hands (ALL of which should remain loose and tension free) and
promotes a poor pivot (because your brain thinks your power is
coming from the "yank" -- which is doesn't. It comes from the
PIVOT).

The classic "yank" also results in your arms and hands coming
"over-the-top", pulling the club off-plane, and eratic shots
that spray the course like buck shot.

Okay... so here's the big tip of the day.

You must think "slower" and allow your pivot to take over your
swing. Let the club accelerate near the ball instead of
"blowing your wad" at the top. Think to yourself "I'm just
gonna hit a nice easy shot about 180 yards". Do that and "whap"
-- suddenly your shots are longer, straighter, and a heck of a
lot more consistent.

Don't worry about how long you need to hit it, or "hitting it
hard", or getting the club to the ball quickly, or anything
like that. This is what prompts your brain into activating the
"yank".

Instead be patient and concentrate on keeping your left
shoulder, your arms and wrists loose and limber.

Do this and you'll instantly have a slower, smoother,
effortless looking power swing (your buddies will swear
you're just coasting).

If it feels fast, it's not. If it feels slow and easy, it's
fast. How's that for irony.

No More First Tee Jitters

Without doubt -

- it is one of the most common problems in golf - the first tee jitters -

Luckily for you and I have a proven solution!

... courteous of George Beardsley.

He describes his magic formula to beating
your first tee jitters right here :

"People go from the driving range, where they
are relaxed and calm, to the first tee, where
they are anxious and nervous.

What causes this?

Could be a number of things

- from stage fright to uncertainty of technique.

But what ever the reason

-- there is one simple exercise that can help you
hit your best first tee shot.

When we're nervous or stressed, our heart rate
speeds up

-- so we have to slow it down.

And learning to breath properly is the quickest
way to get your heart rate under control.

So, before your next round of golf

-- try this simple breathing technique and you'll
find it much easier to hit that opening tee shot.

Start this process 10 minutes before tee off.

Get by yourself somewhere, whether on the range,
putting green or just off the first tee.

Then, clear your head and begin this simple
method to slow your heart rate.

** 4-7-8 Breathing Method **

Sit with your back straight.

Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge
of tissue just behind your upper front teeth,
and keep it there throughout the exercise.

Exhale through your mouth around your tongue
with your lips slightly pursed.

Follow these steps :

1. Empty your lungs, making a wooshing sound

2. Close your mouth and inhale through your
nose to a Mental count of 4.

3. Hold your breath for a count of 7.

4. Again, blow through your mouth. making a
wooshing sound to a count of 8.

** This is one breath.

Repeat the cycle 9 more times for a total
of 10 breaths.

Do it once or twice throughout the round in
stressful situations.

As you are doing your breathing exercises,
visualize the first tee shot and your ball
going right down the middle."

Hit the Driver 300+ Yards

Hitting a Stright Putt

Many golfers subconsciously make
the mistake of changing their
stance when working on a breaking
putt.

They may open their stance to
allow the ball to start a little
higher, or close it for the ball
to start a little lower.

These are moves that are usually
learned after they have had the
experience to know that they are
not playing enough break. It
would be much better for them to
aim farther away and make a
straight stroke.

Following the theory that every
putt is a straight putt; even if
it breaks you want to use a
straight stroke towards the target.

When shooting a breaking putt, the
target is no longer the hole; it
is a point to the side of the
hole. Aim for that point, make a
straight shot and let the slope of
the land move the ball into the
hole.

Avoid steering the putt into the
hole, read the green and decide on
your target, and putt at the right
speed to the target.

Dont think about the hole in a
breaking putt, or you may
subconsciously adjust your putt to
the hole. The target is what you
want to think about, it becomes
your hole.

It is common for golfers not to
like to play break, what they do
is hit the ball harder to minimize
the slopes influence.

However, hitting the putt harder
means that if the putt misses, the
ball travels a lot further, making
it harder to get the putt in the
next shot.

Breaking putts should only be hit
harder when they are short and
uphill and you want to make sure
you get the ball to the hole.

Thinking of a putt as straight
when you know it will break is
difficult, but you must continue
to use a straight stroke to learn
to consistently hit the right putt
for a break.

Your putting will only improve by
continually, in every situation,
using a straight stroke.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball !!!

You hear this mantra in every sport - keep your
eye on the ball!

It's a perfect chant for the golf player at every
turn. If you can't see the ball clearly, your chances
of hitting it are slim to none!

When you look at the ball, you want to keep your
eyes on one spot. Don't look at your club to see
if it's squared to the ball. Don't let your eye
follow the club as you draw it away

Just focus on the ball - nothing else.

Also, when you look at the ball, try to get a bird's
eye view of it. Your eyes are about a foot above the
pivotal center so raising your shoulders isn't going
to help you see the ball better.

Don't gaze at the ball along the line of the shaft
of your club.

Look down on the ball rather than get your angles
along the shaft.

This will give you much better results and you won't
have a tendency to look up too soon.

Now, there's a natural tendency in everyone to look
away when you start to draw the club back. Ignore that
tendency and just keep looking down on top of the ball.

When you're looking down you'll notice that (if you're
leaning over properly) the only way you can keep the
club head in the line of flight is to keep your hands
moving along parallel with that line.

Sweep your hands along with the club head while the
ball and head are in contact.

Mastering the skill of seeing the ball clearly until
you hit it is true of every kind of shot. Whether the
ball is in long grass, on an up or down slope, no matter
what's around you -the main thing is to see the ball
clearly to hit it accurately.

Very few golfers stand still when looking at the ball
and concentrate their attention on seeing the ball
clearly.

A lot of the times people will give a glance in the
direction they want the ball to go, then they look
back at the ball.

Many golfers would be shocked to find out that they
don't stand still and keep their eye on the ball. The
second your gaze shifts from the ball during any part
of the swing, problems occur.

Really, a lack of concentration is responsible for
most golfing mistakes. You can hit the ball well when
you can clearly see the ball at every point in your
swing from start to finish.

If you want to wipe out one of the worst golf faults,
determine that from the top of your swing until you hit
the ball you will keep your eye clearly on the ball.

You'll find your golf game improving so significantly
- your friends may start asking you for lessons!

15 Hot Golf Tips

1. Always always warm up by hitting some balls on the range
before you start. Don't go through the usually-taught routine
of starting with your wedges and working your way up to the
driver.

That's practicing.

Just do some stretches and get a swing weight or use 2 clubs
together to get your muscles going. Then, hit shots on the
range like you will be playing on the course.

Pretend you just got to the course with no time for warmup and
have to go straight to the first tee. Get rid of those first
few bad holes before you get to the first tee.

Start right off with the club you will use off the first tee,
probably driver. Hit your next shot based on how well you hit
your first shot and what the hole demands.

SIMULATE ACTUAL PLAYING CONDITIONS on the range.

This is what you would do if you showed up late right?

And it takes a few holes before you get to scoring well right?

Doing the old standard warmup routine of hitting 5 shots of
each club is nothing like you will be doing on the course.
But this will mentally prepare you to play!

2. Understand that you CAN hit the ball well while nervous.
Those first tee jitters happen to even the best pros. Use
some loosening movements, like shoulder shrugs, and then just
tell yourself that you are going to accept your nervousness
and still hit the ball well.

Tommy Bolt said: "stomach butterflies are ok as long as they
are flying in formation".

3. From here on out, you are done berating yourself for bad
shots. If you were playing a best ball or scramble with partners,
and they hit a bad shot, would you tell them: "that shot was
sorry, boy you stink at this game"?

NO you wouldn't because you know it would only hurt their
confidence and their game and you need them to play well.

So why in the world do we do that to ourselves when the same
results come from talking bad to ourself?

4. Did you ever notice that you play better when you are on
vacation? Or right after hearing some good news?

This isn't a coincidence and you can put yourself back in that
place at any time and get the same benefit. Just spend some
moments during the round remembering some great events in your
life.

Force yourself to smile more often. You cannot have negative
thoughts while honestly smiling.

5. Spend some time learning the rules! I guarantee you that
you have left strokes out on the course because you didn't know
about a rule that would have helped you. I'll be passing some
good ideas for you in future emails about this.

6. Forget your score. Don't even look at the scorecard. Have a
partner do all the scoring from now on unless of course you are
in a tournament and you need to know for strategic reasons.

But even then, you can turn that over to your caddy. All you're
going to think about from now on is THIS NEXT SHOT!

7. Control anger and frustration. Turn it into FOCUSED ENERGY!
Sam Snead talked of playing "Cool Mad". When something gets to
you at work, you usually can't cuss and yell and so you are able
to control it at work.

Use that same skill you developed there on the course. Playing
angry is like adding a stroke to every hole, and I know you've
experienced that!

8. Whenever you are waiting to tee up, you should be chipping.
It's perfectly within the rules. Chip to specific distances you
have paced off. Pay attention to the lie you have and the reaction
off the club for that lie.

Get your 10 yard chip down COLD because you will use it this
round and it WILL save you strokes.

9. Whenever nobody is behind you and you finish up a green, you
should be putting a few more times to get the feel, speed and
read of the greens of that round. Again, within the rules.

10. Drink more water! Yep, there is no easier way to reduce your
score on any given round. Lack of water will simply make you
tired and lethargic. You will lose focus.

One moment of low concentration can equal one bad swing that can
easily turn into a double, triple or worse bogey.

11. When in doubt, use more club. If you feel you are in between
clubs, take the higher one and grip down a half inch. Keep the
same swing and tempo, don't slow the swing down to adjust.

12. From here on out, once you decide on a club or a specific shot.
Don't look back. Commit to it. Confidence is far more important
according to all the golf psychologists than making the "correct choice."

Brad Faxon said: "It's more important to be decisive than correct.

As far as I'm concerned if you're decisive, you are correct.

The closer to the hole, the more valuable that philosophy becomes"

13. Change your mindset from "How many pars and birdies can I make
today" to: "I will have zero balloon score holes today".

I know you've done this. You finish a round, go to the 19th hole,
tally up your score and then kid yourself by saying "I played pretty
well today except for that triple on #8 and double on #17".

I hate to tell you this, but, those holes count too. When playing
for zero balloon scores, you will be playing a lot smarter. More
on this coming emails.

14. Forget that old school teaching that says you have to "identify
your weaknesses." You know darn well what holds you back in your
game. Start focusing this round, for every shot on what you do well.

ON WHAT WENT RIGHT! Build a storage of good things you are capable
of to come back to time and time again. When you do something bad,
quickly analyze it for what can be learned AND THEN FORGET IT! FOREVER!

15. For putting, you can solve most of your problems with this one
tip: Always hold your finish. Hold your putter in the air, pointing
at the target after you stroke the ball.If you do this, it is necessary
that you had to have had a smooth, controlled stroke and didn't jab at it.

This is big and it works for every putting style. Do it!