Golf Tip Reviews | Page 2 of 18 | Free Stroke-saving, 80-breaking, game-improving Golf Tips, Lessons, and Instruction.

Symptom: Breaking putts give you fits, because playing the right amount of break is elusive for you.

You often mutter things like, “I thought it would break more” or “where did all that break come from” or “maybe I pushed it” or “get there” or “slow down” or perhaps less printable things…

Overview: On the putting green, pick a cup on a slight hill, and surround it with several balls in a circle. Start just a foot or two away from the cup and gradually work to wider and wider circles. Read and sink each putt as you circle the cup.

Why it works: Even though we know logically that downhill putts are faster and have more break, and uphill putts are slower and have less break, it is something you must experience firsthand to really internalize. This drill is a great way to prove it to yourself so you can execute better on the course.

Breaking Putts Speed and Direction

Phil Mickelson surround the cup putting drill breaking putts — Phil Mickelson using the surround the cup putting drill.

By keeping the length of the putt constant but varying the amount of break you need to play, you will get a better feel for how to read and execute short breaking putts. Gradually your short putting and your confidence will improve. You will find that your performance on this drill improves when your misses on are on the high side of the hole, and end up about 18 inches past the hole.

Another benefit of this drill is that you will improve your ability to read the putts of your playing partners, and apply this learning to your putt! So, for example, if your buddy has a similar length putt from the other side of the hole, you will know how your putt is likely to roll based on his putt, because you’ve already hit both putts in the Surround the Cup Putting Drill on the practice green!

Phil Mickelson shows us how it’s done and what he is thinking about during the drill (thanks Phil):

Did you like this drill? Think you can emulate Phil Mickelson on the practice green next time out? Bookmark, Tweet it, Like it, email it — spread the word! And don’t miss the next one–sign up for free updates too!

GolfTipEditorNovember 25, 2018November 25, 2018golf chipping golf chipping tip golf chipping video

Golf Chipping Tip: Hit a Better Golf Chip with Chipping Visualization

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Symptom: Your golf chipping technique leaves you far from the hole. Your golf chips are usually struck as intended but just don’t end up close enough.

And of course you don’t get up and down as often as you would like, and your handicap stays stubbornly high…

Overview: Before hitting your golf chip, imagine tossing the ball underhand to a particular spot, and the subsequent roll to the cup. Then execute your chip.

Why it works: Imagination and visualization are crucial elements of golf, and especially the short game. We all get wrapped up in technique and swing execution from time to time, and forget about the really simple idea of making the ball end up in the right place.

Your Golf Chip Needs Visualization

Phil Mickelson Picks a spot to land his chip shot golf chipping tip golf chipping technique golf chip — Phil Mickelson visualizing a landing spot for his chip 30 feet right of the hole.

By thinking about tossing the ball with an underhand motion, you focus only on where you want to ball to go, not on the mechanics of executing the chip shot. This often helps you visualize and execute a better chip. Of course, a properly struck chip will have some backspin (depending on the lie) which will limit the roll somewhat. But the basic idea stands — pretending to lob the ball with an underhand motion to your chosen landing spot will help you visualize your shot and improve your chances of making the ball end up where you intend.

This is especially important on a long chip, or a chip with a lot of break to it. You need to land the ball on a spot that is both far from and not in line with the hole. That was the situation confronting Phil Mickelson in the video below — have a look:

See how Phil looks at where he wants to land the ball, rather than at the hole? Please remember to keep your hands ahead of the ball while chipping, as Phil did in this video, to make sure you have a descending blow onto the ball so that you can actually execute that beautiful chip you have just visualized!

Did you like this Chipping Tip? Tell your buddies about it! Like, Share, Tweet, +1, or Email below!

GolfTipEditorNovember 18, 2018November 18, 2018golf humor golf swing golf swing video

Golf Humor: Rory vs. the Robot

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This video is just funny. It’s Rory vs. the Robot in a game of target golf.

The Robot is pretty good at cracking jokes and razzing Rory. The robot reminds me of my playing companions, always trying to get under my skin.

Rory Does Not Give in to the Robot

All the while, Rory’s swing seems effortless and fluid and smooth, just like the “effortless”, powerful swing you covet. But it’s not effortless at all, it’s just that the exertion is in the stable lower body, not the arms or shoulders.

Note, in particular, Rory’s excellent knee flex and spine angle throughout the swing, and how long he holds his finish on every shot, whether with short or long club, in the face of the robot’s constant ribbing. Rory’s swing results in a nearly perfect pose, with his belt buckle facing the target at the finish every time. Have a look:

If you can hold your pose at the end of your swing as long as Rory McIlroy does, chances are you’ve just executed a pretty good swing. So try working backward next time you are on the range. Maybe you can be immune to the taunts of robots and playing companions alike!

Did you like this Tip? Can you visualize those straight, accurate shots rocketing off your club while you watch the ball fly from your perfect Rory-esque pose? Then don’t keep it a secret — +1, Share, Like, Tweet, or Email below!

GolfTipEditorAugust 19, 2018August 19, 20181 Commentgolf strategy golf swing golf swing video

Golf Strategy: Choose the Correct Golf Club for Approach Shots

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Symptom: You are not sure which golf club to use on approach shots. You usually don’t choose enough golf club, and so are more often short than long.

You often say, “must be more uphill than I thought” or “I guess there’s some wind up there” or similar lame utterances.

Overview: If in doubt about which golf club to use, take one more club. If debating between a seven and eight iron, for example, choose the seven iron.

Why it works: The vast majority of high handicappers leave their approach shots short of the hole. Pay attention to this the next time you play with your buddies — I’ll bet it’s true in your foursome too. Ideally, half your shots would finish past the hole, and half short of the hole, so that on average you end up pin-high. By choosing a golf club that will get you to the hole, you will end up closer to the pin on average. This will leave you shorter putts, which will lead to lower scores.

Choose the Correct Club for Approach Shots

Jon Rahm made sure to get the ball all the way to the hole. when to use which club which golf club to use choose golf club choose correct club for a shot — Jon Rahm made sure to get the ball all the way to the hole.

Think this applies to everybody else, but not you? I challenge you to keep track of this the next time you play. I’ll bet you are mostly short of the pin on your approach shots!

By taking one more club, you also protect yourself against a slight mis-hit. A longer club will carry the ball further, and allow you to still end up fairly close to the pin despite your less-than perfect shot. This takes a lot of the sting out of your bad swing, because your result is still decent, which helps you forget that bad shot and keep your round going. Finally, if you happen to flush the ball such that it goes over the green, at least you can have the satisfaction of saying, “wow, I really hit that one flush”, which is a positive thought that will help you get up and down from wherever you end up.

Let’s have Jon Rahm demonstrate for us. He came from behind to win this tournament. You can bet he chose golf clubs that would get the ball all the way back to the hole! Have a look:

Combine this strategy with aiming for the center of the green instead of the flag and you can help mistake-proof your game. As your mistakes disappear, so will the strokes, and you’ll find your handicap getting smaller by the round!

One final thought: Many Occasional Golfers wish they could get backspin on their ball, like the pros they see on TV. (Hint: You must have a descending blow.) But unless the ball lands past the hole, that would just take the ball further away from the cup!

Did you like this club selection tip? Then please tell your friends (although maybe you can wait until after your round to reveal your secrets) — Like, +1, Share, Tweet, or Email below!

GolfTipEditorJuly 29, 2018July 29, 2018golf swing golf swing tip golf swing video

Golf Swing Tip: Improve Your Golf Aim With a Close-in Aim Point

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Symptom: Your golf aiming is poor, because you have well struck shots that are straight but off target. Your misses are very repeatable, indicating a consistent aim point. Its just not the aim point you thought you were targeting.

Overview: Before you address the ball, stand in back of your ball and look at your distant, intended target. Pick a spot on the ground about two feet in front of your ball on your intended line. Keep your eye on this spot as you walk up the the ball to take your stance. At address, aim the clubface at your chosen spot, not the target in the distance. You might look at your distant target one more time, but before you execute your backswing, check one last time that your clubface is still aimed at the spot two feet in front of you.

Why it works: It’s hard to aim at a target 200 yards away with any certainty. When your target is far away, it is easy to get off line without you knowing, which causes you to compensate during your swing, leading to shots that either “feel good” but are off line, or are off target “just like the last time”. How annoying!

A Near-in Aim Point helps your Golf Aiming

Justin Rose picking a close in spot to aim at aim golf aim point aimpoint aiming golf — Justin Rose uses his golf club to connect his distant aim point with a near-in aim point.

It’s much easier to aim at something that is close to you. And, since you can’t put a club on the ground like you do on the driving range, it’s doubly important that you use this method to ensure proper alignment.

Have a look at Justin Rose use this close-in aimpoint technique and take it a step further. Justin uses his golf club to help sight his line, by holding the club up in front of him. By glancing from the clubhead, down the shaft, to the ground in front of him (0:00 to 0:03), he rapidly identifies his proper line. Justin also takes advantage of the way the tee box grass is cut, by teeing his ball on the boundary between “dark” and “light” grass that just happens to be parallel to his intended target line. Very clever, and very smart! Have a look:

Now have a look at this distinguished threesome — Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, and Rory McIlroy. All of them line up their shots from behind, in order to have some sort of intermediate aiming point to help them stay aligned as they set up to the ball. Have a look:

A Close Aim Point Calms Your Nerves

There is another, less obvious reason to keep your focus “close in” instead of “out there”. If you think about what is “out there”, your mind may start to focus on the bunker, or the water, or the tree, or whatever. Don’t let your mind wander down those negative paths! Pick your intended target by looking “out there”, but then line up and execute your swing “close in”. This is how you should always practice anyway. A close-in aiming point can help you stay calmer and more focused on the course.

Watch the pros on TV — how many of them pick a close-in aiming point? Most of them! So why do you think you don’t have to? Do you practice more than they do? Not likely.

Did you like this Tip? Will it help you stay in line? Don’t hoard the knowledge, tell your friends! Like, Tweet, Bookmark, Share, or Email below!