You are here: Home >> Articles >> Top Tips On How To Play Golf 

Top Tips On How To Play Golf

Learning how to play golf well can be a difficult thing to do and it can get frustrating very quickly. One of the best approaches to learn the game is to learn it from the green back to the tee. It is tempting to always want to spend time on the driver but learning how to putt, chip and hit wedge shots can make a big difference in the speed at which you improve and can reduce your handicap fast.

Thus the first thing you should learn is putting. There are many mechanical approaches you can use when deciding how to putt. One thing to keep in mind is that you want your eyes to be directly over the ball so this usually means standing closer to the ball. This will help you to see the line of the putt much better. It is important to remember that putting is primarily a mental game and one of the key mental aspects of putting is confidence.

You should never hit a putt if you are doubting your ability to make the putt or if you are questioning your read or your mechanics. Perhaps the best mental approach to putting is to turn it into a reaction sport and simply look and react like a basketball player does before he takes a shot. A basketball player does not have time to analyze his hand position and alignment and such so you should do the same once you are ready to hit the putt. Imagine a bunch of people about to steal your golf ball if you do not hit the putt within 3 to 5 seconds after your last look.

Learning how to chip and hit wedges is the next step on your quest to learn the game. With most chips you will want the ball further back in your stance so that you catch the ball first before you hit the ground. The tougher the lie the further back you should place the ball to avoid the dreaded fat shot. If you have a good lie and want to hit a high flop shot then you can place the ball a little further up so that you can hit the ball higher and land it softer.

Most wedge shots should be hit with the ball in the center of your stance. Hit shots from varying distances from 30 to 130 yards. The key to building touch with these shots is practice so be sure to spend enough time hitting these kinds of shots. Make sure to maintain your balance through each shot as that is critical to hitting solid shots. If you have learned how to hit wedges well then learning the full swing will become much easier as it is simply an extension of the smaller swings.

Thus hitting longer shots is simply making a longer backswing and follow through. Do not make the golf swing more complicated than it needs to be. Most amateurs have a tendency to stand too far from the ball with their hands too far out. Simply extend your arms down and let them hang naturally, this is where the club should be held. There should be an angle between the left hand (right handed players) and the club shaft at the address position so do not extend your arms trying to straighten this angle.

This angle will naturally become straight on the downswing as your right leg lift up slightly and the left shoulder moves up slightly to make room for the club. This is the way most pros hit the ball so why not learn from them as they clearly know how to hit long and straight shots consistently. The best tip is to keep practicing and playing as much as you can. If you practice and play enough you are bound to get better. Getting off to a good start is important when it comes to learning the game of golf. The ‘How To Break 80’ system can be an effective way to learn every aspect of the game and shoot low scores fast. Click here to learn more.