Golf Tips For Seniors And Tips For All Golfers

The game of golf is truly an individual sport. The basics are the same for everyone; however, due to the differences in people's body types no two people will ever have the same golf swing. Each person will have to adapt their bodies to perform a proper golf swing in their own way. Taking the time to develop your own method of playing golf will greatly improve your enjoyment and success at the game.

Practicing the basic fundamentals of the game until they are ingrained in your muscles will lead to confidence on the course, and that confidence will lead to success and enjoyment of the game.

One of the most basic steps that you can put into action and see an immediate improvement to your golf swing is to keep your head still and look straight at the ball. The position of your head should be straight in line with your spine, and your nose should be raised up a bit so that when you start to swing, your left shoulder fits under your chin.

Many players tuck their heads into their chests to try and keep their heads still and look straight down at the golf ball. Unfortunately, they cannot perform a proper golf swing while in this position.

If you are one of the many that are having difficulty keeping your head straight and an eye on the ball try the following. The next time you approach the ball, assume the correct stance with your feet and knees in position but keep your head and back straight, bend forward slightly at the waist and look straight at the ball.

If you try and take a swing in this position, your left shoulder will most likely hit your chin. While keeping your eyes on the ball, raise your head slowly until your left shoulder does not hit your chin. Make sure that your head does not move from side to side by keeping your eyes fixed on the ball.

Slowly go through the backswing and downswing portions of your golf swing. Do not hit the ball and do the follow through. Practice this portion of your golf swing focusing on keeping your head straight and eyes on the ball.

Practice this exercise in your backyard for about 25 times in a row and then take a break and relax a bit, then start again. Make minor corrections to your head and body position as needed to keep your eyes straight on the ball and your left shoulder from hitting your chin.

This exercise will "train" your body, and your muscles will "remember" the correct position you need to be in to perform the movement correctly. Think about any sports athlete, they train and train to place their bodies in the correct stance and position to properly execute the movements necessary to be successful in their particular sport.

You are doing the same thing by "training" your body to keep your head straight and position itself so that you can successfully execute a proper golf swing.

Another basic step that can work greatly towards improving your golf swing is to relax.

I know it is easier said then done, especially when you are getting ready to put all your power into drive with an audience of either your co-workers, or better still your friends who will not let you forget it if you mess up.

However, relaxing your muscles will help you to maintain the proper balance that is important to a great golf swing. Regardless of the golf clubs you use, your balance is the primary foundation of your golf swing, and the way to achieve good balance is to practice.

A good way to practice improving your balance is to assume the address position with your club, relax your body and try holding it there for about 30 seconds. Does it feel like you have more weight on one foot or the other? Is one part of your body more tense then another?

Keeping your head straight and maintaining good balance are just two basic parts of a great golf swing. The exercises given above are just two ways that you can start training now to improve your golf swing. You can work on either one separately, or combine them together into one exercise.

Improving your golf swing begins and ends with you. Training the muscles of your body to properly perform specific movements takes time and practice. The effort spent improving your golf swing will pay off on the course.

Through exercise and practice, you will be able to slip into the proper address position and perform an effortless, powerful golf swing and feel just as if you were sliding your hand into a warm soft glove.

Swing Training Aids

Chipping a golf ball onto the green can be done using different clubs, which give you different results. Using one of your wedges will give you lots of loft to the ball.

You can also use one of your short irons, and again will give you much different results according to which one you chose. You'll get less loft and more of a bump and run. Now once you decide which club to use, you can proceed.

You'll use a wedge if you want to carry the ball far but stop it fast. Using a short iron when you want to just get the ball on the green, and let it roll close to the hole.

You'll need to take a few things into consideration when choosing the proper club. After some practice using different approaches, you'll find the club that works best for you.

Weather and terrain help you decide which club to use. There is no right or wrong club, only what works.

The proper set up is a bit different because your not going to take a full swing when chipping. You only want to take the club back to about knee height, and follow through to no more than shoulder height.

So to begin you'll first start off by getting closer to the ball, with your head over the ball. and keeping the ball somewhat back in your stance. You want to have most of your weight on your left side.

Also, you want to grip the club to your own comfortable style, and keep the top grip of the club aimed slightly toward your target. As you come in contact with the ball you want to be sure to keep your body moving forward as you follow through.

The point is that you don't want to swing with your hands, you want to swing with your whole body. With practice, you'll find what is correct for you.

I have taken lessons for areas of my game that needed help. Like anything else, you have to feel comfortable with your teacher, in this case the Golf Pro giving you the lessons.

Most times you take lessons at your home course, and have no say of who your lessons come from. Normally, there's only 1 Pro giving lessons, and rather than searching for lessons at an unfamiliar course, you just settle for who you get.

Not being comfortable with the Pro can create some mental conflict, and you wont learn as much as you should, thus wasting your time and money.

If your like me, I find that I learn better at my own speed. I don't like to set appointments at a certain time, because I just might not be "in the mood" and in the right frame of mind.

If this is the case, you'll have trouble concentrating on your lesson and you wont retain what is taught. Its much easier for me to watch a video, or read a technique, and practice on my own or with friends in a field or empty park.

This works best for me. The main problem I have taking lessons at the course is that you may do OK while the Pro is with you, correcting everything you do wrong.

But if your train of thought wandered while taking your lesson, your right back where you started because your "crutch" is no longer with you when the lesson is over That means time and money wasted.

The first thing we need to keep in mind is that to make a put, you have to get the ball to the hole. That makes distance the first tip in putting. You can have the right direction, with the ball headed right to the hole, but if the ball runs short you don't make the putt.

You also wont know the kind of movement the ball will have. So your practice will start with getting the correct distance the ball needs to go.

To begin your set up, you have to align your putter straight on the line you have determined or straight to the hole. The ball needs to be just in front of center and your feet should be inside of your shoulder width.

To grip your putter, have both palms of your hands facing each other and your thumbs have to be on the top of the grip. Now you should stand over the ball slightly bent, with your eyes looking down onto the ball.

Once you feel comfortable with your putter face lined up to the hole, you want to bring your putter straight back and follow straight through, keeping your shoulders and arms together.

Be sure to follow through, making sure you practice for distance. After your comfortable with your set up, alignment, and follow through to get distance, you can begin to work on direction.

Direction can only be done by eye. You have to keep your eyes on your ball, and anyone else that may have hit the ball near the same line. When you hit the ball, be sure to get enough distance on the ball.

If you miss the putt, you can get a good idea of the direction the ball will need to be hit to make the next putt, simply by watching the roll of the ball. That's one reason distance is so important. If you come up short, you have nothing to judge by.

I stopped taking lessons at my home course because it just seemed like I just had problems with retaining what was being taught for one reason or another. Now, when my game needs some help, I turn to one of the many ebooks or videos that I have, that deal with that area.

For me its just a more relaxed way to see what I'm doing wrong. No time is wasted and I'm able to concentrate much better. I can work on my simple swing at my convenience, or maybe keep up on my short game , whenever I please.

I'm far from being a Pro, but my game is a consistent 76, on my home course, which is a par 72. I don't try to be something I'm not, and I love playing golf. Its relaxing, but more important, its fun. Certainly playing the same course over and over, gives me a nice finish most times.

We all have a bad day now and then!

If the fun is taken out of it, that will be the day I stop playing. The better I play, the more fun it is. When I have a bad round, I just go home and watch a video of the problem area, or read some quick tips and go back next week and enjoy myself.

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