How can I stop from lifting my head while I am putting?
I can never get out of the bunker. It seems to take too much sand.
When I pitch the ball I either hit it fat or thin.
I get really nervous on the first tee shot.
I lose my balance during my swing. How can I finish in balance?
Usually I play the first nine holes well then fall apart. Do you have any suggestions?
I lack power in my drives. How can I get more distance off the tee?
I seem to slice all my shots. How can I learn to hit a controlled draw?
Every time I try to hit a soft lob shot I hit the ball thin and across the green.
I hit the ball really high. How can I lower the flight of my ball?
I hit the ball really low. How can I hit the ball high and soft into the green?
When will I use my three wood versus my driver off the tee?
How long should I spend warming up before a round and where should I begin?
I have no speed in my swing. Do you have any suggestions to improve my distance and speed through the ball?
I seem to lose concentration during the round. Have you got any idea to help my focus during the entire round?
When I practice it does not seem to improve my golf. Any suggestions?
I seem to be short on my approach shots to the green. How can I be more consistent on my club selection?

How can I stop from lifting my head while I am putting?

The main reason that golfers lift their head or look too early in the stroke is because they are focusing on results rather than keeping their eyes on the back of the ball. All great putters are very disciplined when they practice and many of them practice drills that help them keep their head still. This enables them to keep their head still when they are under extreme pressure and to listen for the putter to make contact with the ball. Putting with your eyes closed will help you depend more on feel and not on sight. Another great drill is to focus on a point on the ball and count one for your backswing and two when you make contact with the ball. These drills will dramatically improve your awareness and create trust in your stroke.

I can never get out of the bunker. It seems to take too much sand.

The secret to good bunker play is understanding good preparation. Make sure your stance is wide for stability and balance. Great bunker players all understand the importance of a good set up which allows you to hinge the club and create speed through the sand. The first step is to open the sand wedge and then take your grip. This will help you take shallow divots, which will result in more consistency in the sand.

When I pitch the ball I either hit it fat or thin.

The set-up is vital for you to hit your pitch shots solid and for the ball to travel the right distances. The clubface and body alignment needs to be open while the ball is in the middle of your stance. Make sure your weight is left and during the swing and that your legs stay quiet - only moving with the momentum of the swing. The key to your success is to mirror the length of your backswing with your follow through. Practice out of the rough at first, feeling like you brush the club through the ball, using the grass to elevate the ball. The goal is to improve the plane of the downswing with a square clubface, which will allow you to be aggressive through impact.

I get really nervous on the first tee shot.

Take time to warm-up. This will help you prepare mentally before a round. Warm up with the club that you have the most confidence with. Remember that distance off the tee is not always an advantage so try and have a practice swing with good feel the rhythm. Focus on the target and stick to your routine. Working on your routine will stop you from over thinking and help you focus on your target. Quality practice during warm up will build confidence and trust in your swing and will help alleviate nervousness off the tee.

I lose my balance during my swing. How can I finish in balance?

Losing balance is usually caused by a basic swing fault. The first reason may be that you are swinging the club too hard or your stance is too narrow which doesn’t allow you to swing in balance. Making your stance wider will improve your body motion, which in turn will help you finish into your left side in balance. The key is to keep good rhythm, which will help you swing within yourself. Remember that the longer the club, the wider the stance.

Usually I play the first nine holes well then fall apart. Do you have any suggestions?

When you are playing well, the key is to keep your mind off the score and focus on playing one shot at a time. Keep your score to yourself - the more you verbalize your round the harder it is to keep focusing on the process. Talk to your playing partners to distract you from your score. For the next nine, set a realistic goal and keep your mind focused on the task at hand. If you have a bad hole, put it behind you and focus on all the good shots you still have to play. Maintain your routine and stay positive.

I lack power in my drives. How can I get more distance off the tee?

Distance is every golfers dream. To hit drives further comes from using different parts of your body to create speed in the club head. The grip must be in your fingers not in the palm, your stance must be wide shoulder width apart. This will allow you to wind and unwind your body for maximum resistance. When swinging the club the plane of your swing must be around your body. This is helped by your body motion, which shifts your weight from right to left in the downswing. This will create the right release from the inside creating maximum speed and power.

I seem to slice all my shots. How can I learn to hit a controlled draw?

Drawing the ball comes from your set-up position. The main keys are: alignment closed; ball back in your stance; your grip strong and the plane of your swing from the inside out. By swinging the club off the ground you will feel a better release. Another good drill is the split handed grip. These drills help you feel the face rotating closed through impact and you will start seeing a natural draw.

Every time I try to hit a soft lob shot I hit the ball thin and across the green.

For a lob shot you have to trust the design of the sand wedge and trust that swinging through the grass the clubface will lift the ball in the air and it will land softly on the green. Don’t try and help the ball into the air because this will cause you to lose your body angles and create inconsistent shots around the green. The best way to practice this shot is by hitting lob shots out of the rough. You will feel that your body turns through impact and the club does all the work.

I hit the ball really high. How can I lower the flight of my ball?

There are two reasons for hitting the ball too high. One is your ball position being too far forward so make sure that your ball is back in your stance.
The other is that your backswing and follow through is too long. A long backswing will cause an early release of the club head. The shorter the follow through, the lower the flight of the ball.

I hit the ball really low. How can I hit the ball high and soft into the green?

Take a close look at your clubface position. A shut or closed clubface will cause the trajectory to be low. When playing a high fade make sure the ball is forward in your stance and the clubface is slightly open and your follow through is long and your finish is high.

When will I use my three wood versus my driver off the tee?

The length of a hole and the level of toughness due to the hazards or the narrowness of the fairways will determine which club you should select. The one question you need to ask yourself on every tee is whether it is a high or low risk shot and play according to your strengths. When you get to a hole that has less yardage or the hole bends to the left or right, play the shot close to the 150-yard marker to give yourself the best opportunity to make par.

How long should I spend warming up before a round and where should I begin?

To prepare well before a round of golf you need to arrive at the course at least an hour before your round. Rushing will hurt your rhythm. Start at the range with some good
Warm up stretches. Once you feel loose you can start hitting balls. Start with the wedges and progress to the middle and long irons. Finish your warm up with the woods. Always end your practice with the short game because this is where you can improve you scoring.

I have no speed in my swing. Do you have any suggestions to improve my distance and speed through the ball?

The place to start to improve you club head speed is with the basic fundamentals: a good grip and athletic posture. Once you are set-up for success it is easier for your body motion to move freely behind the ball in the backswing and into the ball on the way through. The most effective drill I can give you is to swing a golf club or weighted club three feet off the ground this will help build strength and feel the right swing plane and release through impact.

I seem to lose concentration during the round. Have you got any idea to help my focus during the entire round?

There are two main reasons for losing concentration. The first reason is related to fitness and nutrition. If you have not had enough to eat or drink you will lose stamina and this will affect your focus and concentration.
Most golfers lose their concentration when they start to focus on their score and on results. This leads to becoming self-conscious either technically or emotionally. We all need to stay in the present and the most effective way is by having a reliable pre- shot routine.

When I practice it does not seem to improve my golf. Any suggestions?

The saying, practice smarter not harder, is the key to seeing an improvement. Quality practice is having a specific purpose to your practice. This is only possible with a clear understanding and awareness of one’s own strengths and limitations. Find a teaching pro that will give you a program, which will include every area of your game. Set realistic goals and enjoy the game.

I seem to be short on my approach shots to the green. How can I be more consistent on my club selection?

It is real important to have your yardages written down. Most amateur golfers have no idea how far they hit the ball. Everyone thinks they hit the ball further than they really do. When we play, we are half player, half caddie, so take the time to prepare for every shot. The mind knows what we can or cannot do. Confidence comes from knowing our ability so take the time to figure out your distances. When playing take the time to see the wind direction. Take extra club and swing within yourself.