- If you ever hit an out-of-control shot or didn't get the results you hoped for, it's likely you were in some way off balance or out of alignment. Being in balance means the body works with the club and makes swinging easier. Every golfer has a comfort zone but still should strive to align the eyes, shoulders, hips, knees and feet to the target.
- An improper grip is a surefire way to play bad golf. According to the PGA Manual of Golf, "by altering the hands a half inch counterclockwise from normal on the grip can cause the face to open enough for a 30-yard slice." Golf legend Sam Snead further asserted that a bad grip was the most common mistake he saw among amateur golfers. Whether you choose an interlocking, overlapping or baseball grip, make sure that the "Vs" formed by thumbs and forefingers are directed at the right side of your face (if right-handed; the reverse for lefties).
- Many golfers lose strokes due to a poor short game. To sink more putts and lower your score, keep your body still, letting your arms and shoulders carry out a pendulum-like motion. Keep wrists locked and eyes on the ball.
- Like good putting, good chipping means that your wrists stay tight and the arms and shoulders do the work. To keep the wrists from cocking out, thereby spraying the ball, try using the same grip for chip shots that you do for putting.
- When you find yourself playing out of a sand trap and need to gauge your shot, a general guide to follow is the more sand displaced from under the ball, the shorter the shot. Cut more sand to cut your shot, and less sand to lengthen it.
