Curing Basic Golfing Ailments

Summary: Secrets to Fixing the Slice Slicing on the golf course is frustrating, embarrassing, and typically uncontrollable. You stand there helplessly as you watch your ball make its way toward to rough and you know that you will be lucky to find it again. Slicing the golf ball is the most common golfing ailment there is, and plenty of people who have wandered the golf course before you feel your pain. Slicing occurs when the body is improperly aligned with itself and the golf b...

Secrets to Fixing the Slice Slicing on the golf course is frustrating, embarrassing, and typically uncontrollable. You stand there helplessly as you watch your ball make its way toward to rough and you know that you will be lucky to find it again. Slicing the golf ball is the most common golfing ailment there is, and plenty of people who have wandered the golf course before you feel your pain. Slicing occurs when the body is improperly aligned with itself and the golf ball. Because both factors have to be fixed in order to improve the slice, it can be a very frustrating time in a golfer's life. For starters, check your golfing stance. Fixing a slice requires focus and awareness on the body. Your shoulders and feet should line up parallel to each other, as well as the ball to pin line. While standing there, make sure your chest is aligned as well, forming a nice straight line facing the golf ball. The slice starts by heading off toward the left and then curving back around to the right while still in the air. Physics tells us that the golf ball can only travel in a curved direction when it is hit in very specific areas of the ball. The golf ball would like to travel in a straight line as it is designed to do. So we know that it is our body position that is creating the deviance in direction. Upon impact you are hitting the golf ball from the outside to inside of the ball and in effect spinning the ball through the air. Improper body alignment if the golfer's body leads to improper rotation when taking the golf swing. Misaligning with the golf ball will cause it fly off in different directions. The slice occurs when the golfer's body is positioned to create an aim too far to the left. Once you have adjusted your alignment, take notice of your grip. Newer golfer tends to grip the club either too hard or too loosely. A firm grip on the golf club is necessary, but remember you are not trying to choke it. Some golfers tend to allow their grip to twist the club slightly during their swing, which can produce the slice. Fixing the slice may require you to notice the intensity you hold the club and what the club does while you are in mid swing. Your golfing stance in relation to the golf ball may be contributing to your slice. For right handed golfers, the examples below are some basics to follow while fixing your slice. Short iron clubs require the ball to be right about mid-stance, with a small amount of marginal error. The impact of the club must hit the golf ball head on in order to prevent slicing. If you are utilizing a wood or long iron, lining the ball up with the inside of the left heel should produce a straighter shot. And then of course let's not forget about medium irons. Their alignment with the body falls right about in between short irons and long irons. If a golfer's body hangs too far forward, which much more common than too far back, the body can produce a slight shift during the swing and once again thwart the efforts to fix the slice. A firm, middle of the road stance with the feet firmly planted in the ground and an even shift of weight during the swing is recommended to send the golf ball straighter and longer. Putting Strategies Putting is an essential skill vital to the game of golf. About half of your golf score is dependent upon how well you putt. Driving well will get you there, but if you have to take three strokes to sink the golf ball, you're adding to your score considerably. Poor putting blows more good golf games than slicing. Putting is a fairly ignored skill. Most people spend ample time on driving ranges but limited time on practice putting. Creating a good solid putt can not only drive your score down, but it can help make up for some pretty interesting shots. When driving, a lot of the golf ball's performance depends on the grip you take around the club. However with putting, there really isn't one exact style that will enhance your putt. Often what works for you may not work for someone else. These basic tips should help you to improve you score through putting regardless of which style you are more comfortable with. Ideally you are trying to create a small amount of topspin when you putt. When your putter comes in contact with the ball, you want the force to be exerted on the upper half of the ball. A common putting mistake many beginners make is trying to hit the ball head on. If there's no one to tell you differently, you may still be putting low even if you're an old hat at the game. Ever wonder what makes your golf ball hop when you're putting? The basic position of your hands in relation to the ball when you putt creates all the difference in the world when trying to lower you score by improving your putt. When contact is made your hands should either be ahead of the ball or just even with the ball. When your hands are trailing the golf ball you get that tell tale hop in the air upon contact. Rule number one when trying to lower your score by improving your putt is to relax. Pressure, tension, the desperate need to sink the golf ball on your next putt all causes the infamous fluffing of the shot and you stand there embarrassed as your golf ball goes sailing past the hole. Fluffing is bound to happen. It should have been an easy putt to make but you got yourself so worked up about it you crumbled. Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Just notice it when it happens and learn to relax. Concentrate on the golf ball and even venture into visualization if it helps. Feel your shoulders relax and take a deep breath. Try not to putt until you feel yourself relax. If your golfing stance is more relaxed your entire body will relax. If you can't relax emotionally, at least get your arms under control. While waiting for your turn let your arms dangle helplessly in front of you or beside your body if you need more discretion. Give them a gentle shake right before you pick up your putter. This will help to at least relax the muscles and get them tuned up for putting. It is natural to follow the ball with your eyes when putting. Next time, try studying the ball prior to making contact. When you take your putt, keep your eyes glued to the same place the ball was for a good ten seconds. This will help to train you to keep your head in the correct position rather than allow its natural movement to contribute to poor putting. Lowering your golf score by improving you putt is not the easiest thing to do, but it does make sense. Practice, of course, makes better. Just as it is important to practice the basic applications of putting, it is also necessary to practice the skill of relaxing under pressure. Tense golfers tend to fluff their shots while calm and collected golfers tend to make the impossible ones. Honing Your Golf Skills Golfing is in fact a perpetual challenge. That is of course part of what we love about the sport. There is always something to be learned about the sport and always way to bring down your golf score. Aside from lowering your golf score by putting and correcting your slice, there is a plethora of information waiting for you. The bestprogolfguide website has countless other ways to reduce your score, increase your confidence, and make the entire sport more enjoyable. bestprogolfguide has unbiased submissions by expert and lovers of the sport, so there is something for everyone. These two little hints provided to you today are simply just the beginning. Whether you are looking for the perfect golf swing or the best golf course. Whether you are a fabulous putter or a mediocre driver, there is always something being offered at the Best Pro Golf Guide website. I particularly enjoyed the lessons from a Zen master. This article really opened my eyes to a different approach and lifted my game higher. Of course there are articles on slicing, hooking, chipping, and putting. There are articles on relaxing, golf courses and becoming a better all around player. There are hundreds of links combined with expert advice. Golf is ever evolving, it is a sport that grows with its people and present never ending opportunity to learn and improve. Golf is a test of one's patience and ability to persevere. It's an exciting sport with ample opportunity. Golf pros and amateurs alike can benefit from the vast information on the Best Pro Golf Guide website.