Top 3Tips for Better Golf Results

Only 5% of the more than 60 million golfers in the world today will ever break 80. The following will help YOU become one of those 3 million. No matter what your current level of play, this will help you lower your handicap. Like you, I am always trying to improve my game and reach my highest potential.

If you plan to play your best golf ever this year, you may be surprised how easy it can be. My good friend Jack Moorehouse is considered one of the best golf guru's in the country, and has shown me detailed, proven steps on how to consistently shoot in the 70s.

These are my top three tips for playing the best golf.

1. The Keys to Success - Back to the Basics

Your grip, setup and posture and the Three Swing Keys. Without these, you will never be able to fully realize the benefits of the entire golf concepts.

Your mechanics, lower body work, tempo and more all may be perfect, but with a bad grip you will never consistently shoot in the 70s. Do you see 2 knuckles on each hand? Does it feel awkward? It's probably correct.
With the proper grip you will generate maximum power and trajectory without having to swing for the fences.

Your stance will change as you move through the clubs in your bag, but it's a good idea to first establish the correct stance when using a driver. Poor posture and weight distribution create a poor swing. In an efficient golf swing, your weight shifts from your back foot in the backswing to your front foot during the downswing to add power and provide balance. Correct weight distribution at address is not the same for every club. It varies depending in the type of strike you are attempting to produce.

Three Swing Keys - Effective Lower Body Movement (it's the way in which you rotate your lower body to enable the arms and shoulders to do their work). A Good Full Turn (a direct complement to the lower body work. Rotate the shoulders properly). Hands and Arms (your hands do not generate power or real control. Your three power sources in your swing are your lower body turn, shoulder turn and your arms).

Your secret weapon key in tip number one is Perspective. Each hole and each shot represent new opportunities. Remember, golf is a game. Have some fun with it, and keep your cool. Then shoot low!

2. Execution - Bring It All Together

Rhythm, Timing, and your Routine. How do we put all of this stuff together? The basic movements, at first, will feel fairly unnatural and take some getting used to.

The rhythm is like counting. From the time you start your swing until the top of your backswing should be a count of "2". (say aloud "one - two"). The downswing and finish should be one beat (count aloud "three"). Backswing = two counts, downswing = one count.

Timing drill - with a golf towel and your pitching wedge. Place the towel across you upper chest and under each armpit. Use your upper arms to lightly hold the towel in place. The goal - keep the towel in place with both upper arms until after impact. Even after impact, the towel should fall out when you release the club head to the target. Focus on the feeling of the upper arms working with the torso throughout the swing. The important cue is not that you hold your upper arms tight to your body.

Every golfer can benefit from a sold, repeatable, dependable routine to go through before every full swing. Often, it is this routine that professionals point to as a source of strength and comfort when the pressure is really on. A solid pre-shot routine provides comfort and confidence, focuses your mind on the task at hand, reduces the intrusion of negative thoughts, and acts as a transition into the swing.

The best pre-shot routines all possess similar characteristics: they are consistent, they turn the focus away from mechanics towards feel, they focus your mind on the task at hand, they provide a smooth transition into the swing and serve as a source of comfort, not confusion or stress.

3. Keep Your Head in the Game

Sometimes overlooked, this aspect of the golf game is a true secret to scoring low. Remember, this isn't your day job, it's meant to be fun.

You are playing against the course, not other people. Before, during and after your round, your mantra should be "I will commit to being the most professional and competitive athlete I can be." Take things one shot at a time. You can never be too relaxed. Remember to breathe clearly and properly throughout the round. Focus on the target and the shot at hand and how you will get it as close as possible. Play your game. Go with what you know works for YOU.

Be objective and not critical. The key is to analyze, not criticize. The trick is to be a coach, not a critic.
Keep your emotions under control. The key to using emotion is self awareness and knowing your emotional warning signs. Remember, attitude is a choice and confidence is an attitude. Therefore, confidence is a choice. The best way to boost your confidence is to recall good tee shots you've hit on the hole you're about to play.

Here's some other brief tips - play golf from the green to the tee, warm up before you play and think in three-hole increments. Of course, these tips are just the beginning. In future articles, I'll talk more specifically about sand play success, developing a rock solid short game and "putting" it all together.

You can't expect great results doing the same things that have gotten you poor results in the past. Different things = different results. The game of golf is a lot more fun when you play in the 70s consistently. It is an extremely complex and difficult sport to play well, but it is very possible for YOU to be one of those 5 percent in the world!