There is a saying in Golf that goes like this “Drive for Show and Put for Dough”. This is so true when it comes to score. Think about this, there are typically 14 holes that require 2 or more shots to reach the green. That means that there are only 14 times in a round that you will tee it up and hit a Driver or possibly a 3 Wood (I still call them woods even though they are made out of an alloy material). Yet, there is so much emphasis placed on the Drive.

The real area of your game that will save or cost you strokes is from 150 yards in. If you improve your approach shots and hit more greens from this distance, then stands to reason that you will have fewer overall strokes per hole, thus lowering your score. Now this is not to say that hitting a good drive is not important, but from experience, I have found that practicing my short game has drastically improved my ability to score.

So what do you need to do to improve your short game? It all starts with the mind set. If you believe that the short game is most important, then you will spend more time practicing that part of your game. Have you ever noticed that most people will spend more time hitting drives at the driving range than they will say a pitching wedge or 9 iron?

Change the way you practice and you will find that your entire game will improve with a bit less effort. I always start a practice session with some warm up exercises. You need to stretch those muscles and loosen up before you start to swing.

I always start with a short club. I normally will hit 3 or 4 half swing shots with a pitching wedge to get the feel of the swing. Then I will take a half dozen full swing shots aiming at a particular target about 100 yards or so down the range. I will then do the same thing stepping clubs up until I reach the 3 Iron. I like to practice the odd numbered clubs one day and the even numbered the next time. It gives me a chance to get comfortable with my entire set over time. Let’s face it, we all have our favorite irons and those are the ones we usually go to when we are pressured or not sure.

I then will hit 6 to 8 shots with my 5 wood off the surface before teeing it up. From this point I like to take about 6 or 8 shots with my Driver and then repeat with my 3 wood, but this is just personal preference. You may like to hit 3 woods first and drivers last. Either way will work just fine.

One thing that most people forget when practicing on the driving range is to practice their routine. I like to take the time to go thru and entire shot routine at least a couple of times with each club. When doing this, I think it helps to develop a mindset that you can carry out to the course.

If your practice facility has bunkers for practice, take time to practice various shots from the bunker. It will pay big dividends when you are out on the course.

Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice will improve your game.

There is so much hype about the latest technology in golf clubs it is important to understand which golf club design best fits for your game before making a purchase. Whether you are a beginner or a professional golfer the wrong club in your hands will affect your game. There are many different things that have to be considered including your age, height, and swing speed to name of few.

Knowing the basics about you, your skill level and your budget will make it easier to determine what will be the best place to spend your money for the maximum affect on your game. Golf can be a very costly game, so taking the extra time to understand what best fits your needs will make your purchase a more successful one.

If you have ever been to a golf shop, you should know that the sales person is going to ask you a few very basic questions and then try and fit you to the clubs they think will be right for you. Often times they are recommending what they know and what the store may be pushing, rather than what might be the right fit for your game. Understand a sales person can only base their recommendation on the information you have provided. I know from personal experience that we tend to exaggerate a few of the fine details about our prowess on the course.

Here are some hints on what to consider. Remember, you don’t have to share this with anyone and you will be able to do your research from the privacy of your own PC.

Things You Must Know to Ensure Your Golf Equipment Fits Your Game

• What is your true height?
• What is your age?
• Do you have a Golf exercise/stretch routine?
• What is your true handicap?
• How many rounds a year do you play?
• Do you know what your swing speed is?
• Do you slice the ball?
• Do you hook the ball?
• Is your short game up to par?
• How is your bunker play?

If you answer these questions truthfully to yourself, your chances of getting the right Golf equipment will be greatly improved. You will be amazed at how you will be able to shave a few strokes off your game by just being more in tune with you. Take the time to study yourself and save yourself the grief of buying clubs that aren’t going be the best fit for you. All too often someone buys the latest new set of clubs because of a commercial they saw or the endorsement from a Pro or salesperson, only to end up hating the clubs. Then trying to sell them on eBay or trade them in for another set. Make sure you spend your money wisely and you will be happy for it. Not only that, but you will have more dollars to spend where it counts most, on the golf course.

We all go thru it. Every year we look for a way to improve our golf game. If you are looking to buy golf equipment, accessories, or maybe golf lessons be very careful about what you spend your money on. You will find how easy it is to spend huge amounts of money on Golf even though it isn’t necessary. You can see this in every facet of the game, whether it’s golf clubs, lessons or golf course memberships. People can and do spend huge sums of money on the latest golf clubs that don`t fit their skill level or lessons that don’t improve their game or even memberships to country clubs that they just don’t have the time to use.

However, when you carefully choose what you buy then your money will be spent more efficiently and you will enjoy the game more. Some things to take into consideration are:

• Buying clubs that fit your skill level.
  • Should You consider Forged Irons or Cavity Backed?
  • Are You considering Hybrids to replace Irons
  • What type of putter is the best for you to use?
  • What loft Driver best fits Your Game?
• Buying accessories that will enhance your game.
  • What Golf Shoes should I buy?
  • What Golf Ball is best for me?
  • Golf Gloves, which will hold up best in my climate?
  • Do I need a Distance Measuring Device?
• Practice equipment that you can use at home.
  • A Practice Net for the Backyard or maybe for the Garage?
  • A Practice Club to Groove my Swing?
  • How do I practice my Putting?
• Training material to help you improve your Swing.
  • How do I improve my Golf Swing?
  • How can I eliminate my Slice?
  • Can I break 80?
  • Can I learn to Putt like the Pros?

There are so many things to consider when analyzing our Golf game it can become confusing or even worse overwhelming. The bottom line is that for most of us, we want to enjoy the game, we want to play our best and we are looking for ways to make the most out of our time on the course without breaking the bank. By investing in the right training courses, practice tools and equipment you can impress you’re playing partners with a few great shots and a lower score.

Whether you are a beginner learning the game, a weekend warrior or a seasoned low handicap player, we all want to enjoy our round of golf. At all levels of the game there is always room for improvement. If this weren’t true, then the Pros wouldn’t spend so much time and money with coaches on and off the course. Take time to evaluate your Golf game and decide what one thing you would like to improve on. Focus on that aspect of your game and in a short time you will be shaving strokes off your score.

Get The Most Bang For Your Golfing Bucks – How To Best Spend Your Time And Money On Golf