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Useful Free Golf Tips For Lower Scoring - ...hitting the driver well is the key to lower scores. While there is no doubt that a straight and long drive makes the hole a lot easier to play the fact remains that if your wedges, chipping and putting is poor then you will never reduce your handicap regardless of how long or straight you drive the ball. If you allocate one hour to a practice session then you should spend 40 minutes on the short game and 20 minutes on the longer irons and driver. Start each practice session on the range with the wedge and work your way up slowly to the driver. If you watch most amateurs the first club...

Simple Golf Fitness Tips To Help Reduce Your Handicap - ...very important role in the golf swing and having strong wrists is important if you wish to hit the ball well and control the golf club effectively. A good way to increase wrist strength is through doing wrist curls, these are simple exercises that involve using weights such as dumbbells and simply move them up and down with your wrists slowly. As with any exercise you must make sure that you use proper form and technique and if you feel any unusual pain then stop right away and consult a doctor to make sure it is ok for you to continue with that kind...

How to Play Bunker Shots From Deep Greenside Bunkers

Every now and then all golfers are faced with working out how to play bunker shots as unfortunately we all finish up in a bunker sooner or later. It's important not to let negative thoughts invade your mind, like thinking how hard it will be to get out and how many shots it may add to your score. Concentrate instead on the task at hand.

Your first concern is to try and limit the damage as much as possible. You don't want to be playing your next shot from exactly the same place.

Even though you may only be a short distance from the green try to be realistic. You can't always aim for the flag. Just concentrate on being able to get out and take your next shot from the grass and not sand.

You may not be able to take a direct route to the hole, so assess all the options open to you. It may be safer to play out sideways or even backwards. Don't be stubborn and keep trying to hit directly at the flag.

If you are really unlucky and the ball is plugged close to the face of the bunker it's better to take a drop rather than attempt a shot that is unlikely to be successful.
When you have decided on the direction you want to play the ball you next need to consider the technique required. The high splash shot is what is required from deep bunkers, using your sand wedge.
You will need to adjust your stance to the slope (if any) of the sand. Aim to position your shoulders as close to parallel to the sand as is comfortable.

Stand open at address with the club face square, or slightly open, to your target. Shuffle your feet into the sand for a solid base and remember to keep your legs relaxed and flexed.

If the bunker lip in front of you is sizeable, swing high to hit high. Use the splash shot with confidence and accelerate into the sand. You require a lot of club head speed to avoid leaving the ball in the bunker. Use a steep backswing by breaking your wrists early then bring it down sharply on an out-to-in path into the sand. The club head will cut under the ball and the explosion of sand at impact sends the ball almost vertically up in the air.

Golf bunker shots are one of the most feared shots in golf but are seldom included in practice routines which doesn't help its reputation. If you experiment with playing bunker shots from different slopes and lies in a variety of bunkers it will build your confidence and dispel the fear.

A lot of golf professionals would rather be in a bunker than in the rough, especially if the lie is good. Confidence in how to play bunker shots will filter through your whole game. You will be happy to swing freely on a hole littered with bunkers when you feel confident that you are able to cope with shots from the sand.

Don't let those bunkers intimidate you. Learn how to play bunker shots and also check out mental golf training tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Holdsworth

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Golf Shotmaking Tips For Lower Scoring - ...ball involves trying to make it go slightly from left to right. Many golf holes are deliberated shaped in such a manner that a fade is necessary to hit the fairway and have an ideal shot into the green. The first thing to keep in mind in order to execute this shot is to make sure that your club face is slightly open during the address position. Also do not try to work the ball with short irons, instead hit draws and fades with longer clubs such as 7 iron and longer as the short irons are not good for putting side spin on the ball. Another tip to hit a fade is to open the stance slightly - this applies to right handed...