Master Golf In Four Weeks

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Golf is a challenging as well as a fulfilling game enjoyed by an incredible number of men, women, and youth around the globe. But it can also be considered a frustrating sport. The mechanics behind a good golf swing technique are complex and often difficult to apply.

Billions of dollars are spent every year on teaching material etc. to master golf techniques, all within the hope of finding a shortcut to become a better golfer.

While many of such aids can be effective, the truth is that until you master the fundamental golf swings, your overall game is affected.

This e-book is designed to assist you to move from one type of golf shot to another, offering advice and information as you go along so you can apply these lessons to enhance all areas of the game.

Rather than presenting you using a hodgepodge of tips and approaches, we will focus on the actual four main golf shots. We suggest that you spend one week with each section, concentrating only upon that information. By allowing yourself 7 days of study and practice per shot, you can hone in on perfecting that number of skills.

If you dedicate your time to learn these new skills, your golf performance will improve within thirty days.

The Setup and Basic Golf Swing

Setup (Address)

In the manner that you simply setup to the ball is vital to making a good swing movement. (Note: Throughout this e-book, the terms "set up" and "address" is going to be used interchangeably

Your setup sets the stage for all those subsequent aspects of the game. A golf swing is an activity, with each action leading to another. When all of the components are performed correctly, the end result is a great, solid golf shot.

The opposite holds true as well. If your setup is not correct, your likelihood of hitting a good shot is usually diminished.

So, your setup could be the first key to an excellent, solid golf shot.

The Grip

Many of the most widespread golf mistakes—including the dreaded hook and slice—are caused by the player not holding the club correctly.

If your golf shots are already veering left, right, or in directions you're not planning, check your grip. When your grip is away, your shot will be away, too.

Your grip should become neutral–not too strong as well as not too weak. The best way to evaluate this is to look down at your hands as you hold your club in your normal stance.

For most golf players, a neutral grip will show a minimum of two knuckles on the left hand, sometimes three. You shouldn't see more than three knuckles.

If you don't see two or three knuckles when taking a look to your grip, rotate your hands—not your own club shaft, just your hands—until you need to do. Your left thumb should be running down the top of the shaft, if using the overlap grip.

When you look at your own grip, you should see a "V" formed around the right hand, between the index fingers and the thumb. This "V" should be pointing at the right shoulder. If it isn't so, make necessary adjustments.

Golfers often find that this particular simple hand adjustment will cure their hook, slice, or some other problem.

Another quite normal grip problem involves tightness. Your grasp around the club should be of medium-level. Holding the club too firm will restrict your movements in the swing. Holding it too loosely might result in the head to wobble on impact, resulting in a slice due to the face opening.

Later, we will discuss the significance of a pre-shot routine, where many experienced golfers incorporate a visual check of the grip. You should too.

Alignment

The next most common mistake many golfers make is that not aligning their body properly while they address the ball. Even an excellent golf swing will suffer when the player is not aligned properly towards target. Alignment is crucial for many golf shots, including putting.

The 1st step to proper alignment is goal selection.

Your target will depend on the sort of shot you are making. The absolute right place to make this decision is actually from behind the ball. After you have chosen your target, the next step is to position your clubhead in the grass, in line with the target, as you begin the other steps of the address posture.

If you watch an expert playing, you will often see him set the club face first after which he goes into his address position. This is an effective strategy and something you should incorporate straight into your game.

Now, you can begin to consider your stance by aligning your own shoulders, hips, and feet with a line just left of the prospective line.

Avoid the temptation to "shut the face" from the club. This happens when the golf club face is pointing directly in the target and your body is aligned directly in the target, usually resulting in the hook.

Posture

In golfing terminology, posture is comprised of several body parts, adjusted for the specific intent behind making an effective golf swing.

Correct posture during set up is crucial to a good hit. If any component of your posture is wrong, your shot is affected. It is that simple.

Allow me to share the key elements to an effective golfing posture.

Stance

Stance may be the position of your feet while you address the ball. For the majority of golf shots, your feet ought to be in alignment with the goal.

There are three types of stances you are able to take when addressing the golf ball. Learning how to use each stance to your benefit can significantly improve your game.

The Square Stance

This is the most typical stance, used when you wish to fire off a straight shot, often regarded as the basic stance. Perfecting the square stance is essential to a successful golf game.

With your square stance, the feet are aimed just left with the target so that if you draw a line from just left of the target to the toes of the shoes, all three points would certainly connect.

The Open Stance

The open stance is once your left foot is pulled back towards your rear. The remainder of your body, including your own shoulders, will stay square. This stance is very important for certain shots, such as chipping and sand play.

Taking an open stance will result in the ball to fly towards the right. If done deliberately, this really is called a draw. If done in error, it is a slice.

The Closed Stance

A closed stance is if your left foot is moved ahead. This position is often the real reason for hooking the ball, as it causes an internal to the outside swing path.

The Width of the Stance

The distance between the feet is also important, and usually varies between shots. For the majority of golfers, the stance should never become more than shoulder-width, which is the driver stance for many players.

The rule of thumb for foot distance is straightforward: long clubs=wider stance. Short clubs=narrower stance.

Ball Position

Ball position is also important to stance. Because you cannot move the ball to fit your posture, you have to set your posture to fit the ball and the kind of shot you are making.

While playing with your short irons, it is advisable to have the ball in the center of your stance. This allows for the descending type of blow you need to put on the ball.

While playing with your fairway woods as well as long irons, position yourself so that the ball is just left of your center line. This puts the ball slightly closer to your left foot than your right.

When using your driver or one of the longest fairway woods, position the ball approximately in line with your left heel.

Your Head

Don’t move your head! How many times have all of us heard that one? The fact is, you cannot make a good swing without moving your head.

What experts mean when they explain to keep your head to refrain from lifting the head or allowing head movement to change your posture position.

If you attempt to keep your head perfectly still, you may lose much of the power your body generates in the swing process. It is fine for your head to move slightly while you make your swing—the trick is ensuring it stays behind the golf ball, from start to impact.

The basic Golf Swing

Once you have positioned your body correctly for the kind of shot you are doing, it's time to hit the golf ball. Let’s take a look at the golf swing process.

The Takeaway

As you begin to bring the club back, you must keep your arms straight. Your left arm should remain straight throughout during the entire swing, but your right arm will bend at the elbow once it reaches waistline level.

When you bring the club back, focus on staying on the right swing path by bringing your club back smoothly and low towards the ground.

The Backswing

Note: If you're making a FULL golf swing, try to bring the club back until it's parallel with the ground or as far back as you can.

Some golf shots require a lot less than a full swing and you will have to bring the club back only as much as those shots dictate.

One of the keys to a successful backswing is actually allowing your body’s pivot motion to function in tandem with the weight shift necessary for a powerful shot.

As you get into your backswing, try to shift your weight smoothly to your right. Do not sway. Your right hip shouldn't go past your right foot.

Your right shoulder will start to point upwards as the left shoulder moves downward. Keep your head behind the ball, but let it move horizontally.

In a clean backswing, your hips and back will move together. Avoid rotating your hips a lot. If you achieve a normal position, this will take care of itself. If you experience yourself forcing it, you are getting it too far.

At the top of the backswing, pause and then proceeds smoothly into your downswing.

The Downswing

Many golfers make the huge mistake of allowing their hands to begin the downswing, which only results in trouble. Instead, allow your hips to begin the process.

The downswing begins at your left hip shifts your weight onto your left foot. When done properly, the process streams naturally from hips, to shoulders, to arms and to club. This can be critical for gaining the optimum club head speed for long drives and fairway shots.

The Follow through

A lot of golfers dismiss the significance of the follow through. Good follow-through is essential for all the game shots, not just drives.

When you hit the ball, allow your hips to continue to pivot, your arms and shoulders following naturally. In a complete golf swing, you want your own eyes, shoulders, chest, and hips take care of your target.

Perfecting the follow through is a fundamental part of perfecting the golf swing process.

Now that we have covered a few of the basics, let's get started with your 4 weeks Program to become a Better Golfer.

Week One: Tee Shots

Let's be honest, most golfers love to drive the ball. It's fun and exciting, when we deliver a great shot, well, it just looks excellent.

But for many golfers, tee shots tend to be more troublesome than joyful. In this section, we’ll explain to you how to correct them.

Not every tee shots is performed using the driver. Each hole demands a unique club, which increases the significance about proper club selection.

Your Weekly Task:

Buy a small notebook that may fit in your golf bag.

It is virtually impossible to pick the best club for your tee shot unless you know the distance you strike each club. In your notebook, jot down each club you carry, starting with your driver and heading down to your wedges.

During the first week, you will need to visit the driving range at least one time, preferably twice or more.

Beginning with your shorter clubs, hit a number of balls with each club, writing down the average distances in your notebook and work your way up to the driver, but do not rush it—take your time and get some accurate averages. These details will be invaluable later.

When you go through your clubs, note how you hit each one. Is there a specific club you are having difficulty with? Jot it down, combined with the specifics of the problem.

Tee Shot Basics

Every golfer who is struggling with his / her game should focus on maintaining the ball in play when hitting off the tee. It is true that we all love distance especially off the tee, but accuracy is more important at this time.

As you step up on the tee area, take a minute to look down the fairway and select a target within your capabilities. To use the distance information you gathered at the range, choose the club that may get you close to your current target.

When you set up, look at your grip and ensure you have the right posture for that club you are using.

If you use your driver, place your feet shoulder-width apart and position the ball just off your left heel. You should make sure your head is positioned behind the ball until impact.

Regardless of which club you might be using on the tee, tend not to try to rip through the ball with your arm muscles, as that will result in a poor shot. Instead, make use of a smooth, deliberate golf swing to generate club head speed. That may be the key to achieving good long distance.

Week Two: Approach Shots

Now you have a notebook in your bag along with your distance readings, your approach shots should become easier in most respects.

One of the most troubling issues for a lot of golfers on the fairway is usually distance. In some cases, club selection relies more on guesswork than upon facts.

When it comes to distance on the fairway, we face two issues:

How far am I from my target?

How far can I hit with each club?

You have already solved one of those questions, with your notes.

Your Weekly Task:

Unless you have become very good at judging distances, you’ll probably need some assistance. Buy or borrow, if possible, a range finder that will help you become more astute at gauging distances from the fairway.

It’s very important to estimate distances correctly. Let's say you approximate that you're 200 yards from the green and also you know (from your distance notes) that 200 yards is definitely an easy shot with any particular club in your bag. You take out the particular club and deliver a good shot, but the ball lands well short of the green.

Your first assumption might be that your swing is off. Next, you may suspect that you just picked the wrong club. The truth is, you may have made an error in judgment in your distance measurement—what you thought was 200 yards might have been 220.

Instead of recognizing the issue of incorrect distance estimation, you may blame your swing action or club selection. This can cause even more problems and confusion. Becoming an effective and accurate distance reader is essential to making your approach shots.

The following tips will maximize your efforts when you're between 100 and 200 yards from the green.

If you believe you are able to reach the green, find pin location. This is very important if the green has plenty of breaks, or if there is a bunker up close to where the pin is located.

For this particular shot, select a club that allows a full golf swing rather than fractional swing. Once they have a good swing down, most players are likely to make better contact with a complete swing.

The more distance there is between you and the green, the more you should attempt to land on the center or the widest area of the green. At a minimum, you’ll want to get the ball on the green.

Before making your shot, take a second to think about the green conditions. Hard, dry greens will most likely run the ball fast as well as long, while damp or wet greens may restrict the ball from rolling much. Plan your landing zone according to what the green will do towards the ball.

The last thing to complete before choosing your club would be to check the wind. You should add or drop a club with respect to the force and direction of wind.

How to Hit Long Irons

Knowing how to play your long irons can help you save many holes, especially if you play courses with several Par 5 holes.

There are a few key issues to bear in mind when playing those long irons.

Maintaining your balance is vital to hitting an excellent long iron shot.

Your swing should be smooth, not too fast and never too slow.

You must accelerate the club head, for a successful shot, through impact using the ball.

Finally, choose your target carefully.

Hitting With Confidence

Long irons may be unforgiving. You have to make a clean impact on your ball with the sweet spot on the club face.

Before playing a good iron, take time to make sure that you have a firm stance. This is vital to maintaining your balance.

While you bring the club back, make use of a tempo that fits your golf swing. The transition from backswing to downswing ought to be smooth and not jerky at the very top. Maintaining the right tempo can help keep the club face square and permit you to gain speed as you approach the impact.

Do not allow your hands to take the lead at the top of your backswing; instead, let your hips begin the process. This is where you’ll obtain the power you need for distance.

A common mistake made while playing long irons is lifting the head too soon to watch the ball. This can cause the club to hit the ground before it hits the ball, resulting in a bad shot. Resist the urge to lift up the head and focus to keep it down.

Another common mistake is to try to lift the ball off the ground with the club face. When playing a long iron, you should hit the ball first, ground second with a crisp, downward swing.

As with all golf shots, do not stop your follow-through too soon. Let your hips rotate fully, finishing with your hands high and facing your goal.

How to Hit Fairway Woods

Can you hit a fairway wood confidently and competently? Most golfers know if they can hit a fairway wood or not. Those who have a problem with these clubs often leaves them inside the bag, even when they are essential. This can cost you strokes in addition to detract from your self-confidence.

One of the keys for becoming a better golfer in four weeks is to understand the differences between your clubs in your bag. Hitting a wood off the fairway is different than hitting a long iron.

To maximize your skill with fairway woods you should try these tips:

When you set up with your wood, position your feet in the square stance. (The exception is in case you are deliberately planning to hit the fade or draw, in which case you would like your feet shoulder-width apart.)

For many shots, you want to play the ball forward in your stance. This would be off the left foot for most players.

Maintain your arm extension and don't slouch over the ball. To enhance your balance, bend slightly at the knees.

To hit a solid wood shot, your forward arm must stay as straight as possible. It is also important that the hips pivot through the backswing as well as the downswing as discussed earlier. Keep your head behind the ball all the times to get the most power from your swing.

Again, it is vital that you don't try to lift the ball using the club head. Hit the ball cleanly without leaving much of a divot.

One very common mistake golfers make using their fairway woods is trying to rip the ball for distance, often leading to a crazy shot or shank. Trust the swing! A smooth swing can get the ball off the ground and down the fairway.

Your Weekly Task #2:

Very few recreational golfers spend some time on the practice range honing their skills using the fairway woods. Head to the range with the fairway woods, as well as, long irons. Work with each one unless you are comfortable playing all of them. Do not use the rubber tee on the mat. Play the club while you are on the course. Keep notes about the distances you achieve.

How to hit Mid Irons

The mid-irons (5-, 6-, 7-) in many cases are considered the workhorses in the bag. On any given day, many golfers will make numerous shots using these clubs. The mid-irons are very versatile clubs and a few of the easiest to master.

If you're having trouble with your mid-irons, spend more time to look at your basic setup. Remember if the club is shorter, the stance will be narrower. Playing these clubs with your feet too far apart will result in bad hits, as your stance affects in which the club head may (or may not) impact the ball.

Any time playing your mid-irons, shoulders should dominate the swing. Allow your hands and arms to follow, not really lead the swing. Your swing arc needs to be more in line with one of these clubs than with other clubs in your bag.

As you swing back, your wrists will naturally cock, putting the club on the required vertical level. Keep the right elbow near to your body as your weight shifts.

When you reach the highest of your swing, 90% of your weight should be on the right side. Your hips will start the downswing while the arms and hands will follow.

Your Weekly Task #3:

If you're struggling with your mid-irons, take them to the range or backyard and use them. Don’t just hit the ball—spend time learning the proper foot width, stance, and ball position for the body. Once you know what positions are right for you, go to the range and hit lots of balls. Keep a record of your distances in your notebook.

Week Three: The Short Game

Numerous golfers believe that the short game is among the most important components of achievement.

The short game is made up of several different shots, such as chipping, pitching, and putting. If you include putting, it is an element of most or all holes.

There is no way to master each of the aspects of the short game without spending time and effort with your clubs. Polishing your skills for the short game is among the best ways to shave strokes off your scorecard.

The short game begins using the short irons.

The Short Irons (8-, 9- )

Your 8- and 9-irons may be used for a variety of shots. They are effective in situations where you'll need loft and distance, and they could also replace many wedge shots. These clubs not only do a great work near to the green, but also those are required for many Par 3 tee shots.

Above all, these clubs are extremely versatile. Every shot will demand its own setup and stance. The wedges and short irons are the two sets of clubs that permit you to do the most experimenting. You are able to adjust your grip, your stance, ball position, etc. and make shots such as the pros do.

While the short irons are a few of the easiest clubs to use, players will sometimes make the mistake of looking to get too much distance out of these by ripping through the ball using their arms. Time and time again, this only leads to a poor shot.

Rather than trying to be able to slam the ball, use more club to be sure to have a smooth swing. For numerous golfers, this single tip can save 2 or 3 strokes per round.

When spending some time with your short irons, remember to hit the ball on the downward arc and accelerate the club head while you connect with the ball using the proper stance for your entire body.

Chipping

Some newer golfers mix up chipping with pitching. To remember which is which, understand that chipping is similar to putting. The chipping swing is actually restricted to the shoulders as well as arms; your body will stay to be still.

A good chip shot would depend on proper setup as well as swing. When you set up for any chip, use the open stance. Your feet and hips are going to be opened slightly toward the goal.

This stance may feel odd in the beginning, but it is necessary to provide your arms enough room to swing through towards the mark. With the chip shot, you don't need to risk unhinging your wrists through the use of an open stance.

Play the ball towards your back foot and narrow your stance. Make use of a neutral grip, but line the shaft up together with your left thigh. You may wish to move your hands down the shaft for better control.

While using shoulders, execute a simple pendulum golf swing. Make sure not to hit the ground before hitting the ball first.

Types of Chips:

There are three basic types of chips, each with its unique purpose. Learning how to carry out all three will greatly increase your golfing abilities.

The Standard Chip Shot

The goal of the standard chip shot is to find the ball airborne for about one-third of the distance to the hole and roll the rest of the way to the hole.

Most golfers use sometimes a wedge or the 9-iron for this shot. Play the ball in the center of your stance with your feet fairly close together. Your hands must be well ahead of the ball to hit it correctly. As you make your pendulum golf swing, remember to keep the club face square.

The Soft Chip

Using the soft chip allows the ball to stay airborne longer. When it lands within the green, the ball should stop pretty quickly. Most players will use a sand wedge or a lob wedge for this shot.

Unlike the standard chip, where you kept the club face square, the soft chip calls for you to open the club face slightly. You will play the ball forward within your stance, feet close together, with your hands ahead of the ball through the impact.

For this specific shot, you will need to accelerate the club head on the downswing, but not to a large extent.

The Low Ball Chip

This is a good shot to have in your arsenal for those who have a lot of distance to cover on the green. This chip shot is normally performed with one of the mid-irons. When you set up, play the ball to the back of your stance and make sure you hit the ball with the downward arc. The hands must be kept in front of the club head during your golf swing. For this shot, keep the face square to the target.

The low ball chip allows for a number of rolls once the ball hits the green. An accurate aim is vital for sinking the ball with this particular chip shot.

Your Weekly Task:

Find a couple of hours to master the various chip shots. Because you need to gauge the amount of roll you receive with your shots, this is most beneficially done on a practice green.

Pitching

Unlike chipping, pitching demands somebody pivot. Pitching is ideal for those shots that are 50 to 100 yards farther from the green.

A good pitch shot needs lofted club. Many players use one of their wedges, or they may opt for a 6- or 7-iron when the distance warrants.

Pitching requires the right setup and swing to work.

Address the ball using a good opened stance, with your feet aimed somewhat left of your target. As you begin, keep more weight on the left foot than on the right.

Your backswing should be smooth and adjusted to match the distance. Most pitch shot backswings stop either at the waist or at shoulder level.

Keep your head behind the ball and your hands ahead of the club. Impact the ball using a downward arc, maintaining the face of the club square. Your follow through might not exactly high end, but it should enable your hips to rotate through to the end.

Your Weekly Task #2:

Spend at least two hours focusing on your pitch shot. Use a range of clubs and make notes about how each behaves.

Tips on Chipping and Pitching from the Rough:

Knowing how to pitch and also chip can work miracles when you get in the rough. Playing a pitch or chip out of the rough is a bit unique of playing those same shots over fairway.

Let's look at some common examples when you need to pitch or chip outside the rough and how to get it done successfully.

Tall Grass—Close to Green

When you are close towards the green but are in high grass, pull out the lob wedge or the sand wedge. Address the ball with your hips as well as your feet in an open stance. Your feet should be fairly close to each other with most of your weight on your left foot.

Two key factors: make sure that your hands are positioned consistent with your left thigh and choke down around the shaft for better control.

When you start your backswing, let your shoulders turn and cock your wrists. You want the club head to come up with an extreme plane.

On your downswing, you should turn the hips smoothly and the arms should be following. Strike the ball as you are trying to trap it between the face of the club and the ground. When performed properly, the ball will pop out of the grass.

Medium Rough—Low Flight Path

When you need to chip or pitch out from the medium rough but also require the ball to roll a substantial distance once it lands within the green, use the low golf ball shot.

The sand wedge is best for this shot.

Set up just as you did above. Play the ball off the back foot and keep your hands ahead of the club as you hit the ball.

Many golfers miss this shot because of the improper hand position as the club hits the ball. Hold those hands forward!

As you move to your follow through, the club is going to be on a low plane but pointing toward the mark.

High Ball—Less Roll

When you should get over an obstacle but don't want the ball to roll a lot once it lands, the shot is better performed with the lob wedge.

For this shot out from the rough, keep the ball positioned in the center of your stance. The shaft of the lob wedge should just barely lean toward the mark line.

As you move straight into your downswing, keep your hands well ahead of the club. This is a crucial key to making this shot work. As you come through impact, your arms ought to be extended and pointing toward the target.

Remember, your target for most of these shots is the place where you need the ball to land. It's not the hole!

Playing Out of a Sand Trap:

If you play golf long enough, you will eventually land inside a sand trap. The good news is that leaving a sand hazard is not as complicated as you might anticipate.

Start by sizing up your alternatives. If your ball is sitting on the sand and there are usually no big side slopes in front of you, you may want to use a shot, directed towards the green.

If your ball is actually buried, or if you cannot breach the side of the bunker easily, think about playing it safe.

Next is club selection. There is no rule that says you need to use only a sand wedge inside a sand trap. Some golfers even elect to play a wood out of the trap.

A vast majority of sand shots requires a stance that is somewhat open to the target. Wiggle your feet to plant them firmly within the sand and choke down slightly on your own club. The ball is normally played off the left foot, but you may adjust this as needed.

When you're ready for the shot, bring the club back as far as you need to hit the ball. A successful downswing requires that you simply accelerate the club head while you make contact.

Your club needs to enter the sand a minimum of one inch, and perhaps two, behind the ball.

Let the club do the job as it enters the sand. Keep in mind that you should refrain from trying to scoop the ball up and out.

The need to accelerate through impact is vital to all sand shots, but especially so when the sand is wet or packed tightly. Acceleration keeps the head of the club from stopping as it rams through the sand.

The sand shot follow-through must be full and clean, with no sudden stops. Keep the head down and resist the urge to view the ball as it comes out.

Your Weekly Task #3:

Spend a couple of hours on the practice green as well as sand area. Try using various clubs, varying the depth of the ball from on top to nearly bury. This is the easiest method to master sand play.

Week Four: Putting

There is no element of the game that steals much more strokes from players than putting. Players lose more strokes on the green than virtually anywhere else on the course.

You may be surprised to find out that over forty percent of the strokes you make during an ordinary round of golf are on the green!

If your goal is to become a better golfer and lower the score, putting is the place to start.

The Mechanics of Putting

There isn't any golf shot as individualized as putting. No one can offer universal tips that will work for every golfer but some common factors can be applied by anyone for better putting.

Like other golf shots, your grip on the putter ought to be neutral. Opening or closing the putter face will result in missed putts.

Good balance is critical to good putting. It’s fine to employ a variety of stances, as long as the stance you choose gives you solid footing, does not lead you to sway in any direction, and enables you to look directly over the golf ball when putting. Do not position your head too far forward or too far behind the ball.

Some players would rather putt with straight arms, while some prefer to bend the arms. Choose whatever position feels preferred for you, and apply it consistently through the putting stroke.

You can play off by either foot or somewhere in between. Most professionals play the ball more toward the inside of their left foot.

The Putting Stroke

Resist the desire to over-think the putting stroke. It is a simple pendulum movement that uses the shoulders as well as arms. Your hands should simply hold the putter and do nothing more. Your hips and legs shouldn't move at all.

When putting, your weight should be evenly positioned both feet, with no shifting to either side throughout the stroke.

As with other golf shots, it is important to maintain your head down until well after you hit the ball. Moving your head too soon may cause the putter face to come out of square.

How to Read a Green

Learning to read a green can only be exercised by reading greens. No amount of written material can replicate hands-on experience when it comes to mastering this part of the putting experience.

To read a green properly, you have to be able to assess the break, if there's any break. Here are a few tips:

Squat down behind your ball and see from ball to cup. Check if you can find any slopes between the ball and hole. If yes, you will have to deal with it by compensating your goal path.

Keep in mind that the slower the ball is moving, the more it will break towards the downside of a slope.

Consider the grain of the grass. If you'll be hitting into the grain, the ball will travel slower and break more. If you are putting right into a side-grain, the ball will wish to move downside with grain, you should aim a bit higher to compensate for this.

Another way to enhance your putting skills is to master to hit the ball harder when needed. Many golfers shy from this, and their breaking putts often fall short on the downside of the cup.

You must strike the ball hard enough to maintain it rolling along the slope until it reaches alongside it on the cup and falls in.

When you read a green and look for breaks, do so from all angles: front, rear, right as well as left. This can be accomplished in a couple of seconds once you get the hang of it, and will reveal more information than simply looking from the rear.

The only method of having to master this skill would spending time on the practice green, reading one putt following another. Nothing can replace hands-on experience with regards to breaking putts.

The next thing important for effective putting is distance control.

Distance Control:

Distance control is merely getting the ball to the hole or as close as you possibly can. It is based on 2 things:

1) The length of the putt

2) The speed of the green

Distance control is both a skill and a science. It is usually a matter of "feel". Start by taking a look at the putt and judging what lengths the cup is from the ball.

With experience, you will receive a sense of how hard you have to hit the ball to have it to the hole, but you have to also consider the speed of the green.

Green speed is based on a lot of factors, which includes the grain of the grass, the level of moisture or dryness, and the slope.

Tips to Improve Distance Control:

There is no substitute for practice. To become proficient at distance control, you have to consistently hit the ball through various lengths. During these drills, don’t attempt to sink the putt—concentrate only upon distance.

During your practice periods, move around the green and carefully read each putt and focus on your results. Do not turn out to be discouraged. This skill set takes time to master.

A major mistake some golfers make when confronted with a long putt is by using their wrists as hinges to provide the stroke more power. This may cause the putter face to open or close, throwing the golf ball off-line.

The better option would be to employ a longer stroke. Bring the putter back further to obtain that added power.

Also prevent the "fast" stroke. This happens when players think that swinging the putter much quicker than normal will achieve much more distance. Again, the better option is using a longer stroke.

Putting requires follow through. Keep your head down till well past impact and allow the putter to move forward comparable longer as you brought it back.

Conclusion

With the right commitment and regular practice, you'll be able to become a better golfer in four weeks. By breaking down your golfing technique into several distinct processes, from tee shots to putting, you are able to address each aspect of the overall game as an individual set of skills.

As you go with the program outlined in this e-book, keep a record of your weak areas and create a concerted effort to work upon those, and also pinpoint your strong areas and use them to your benefits.

It’s often said that it requires a lifetime to truly master golf. Although that may be accurate, anyone can hone their abilities. Of the many golfing improvement programs currently available, the most efficient is perhaps working individually on individual skills.

Using the information contained in this e-book, you can get started today on your path to an improved golf play. Within a very short time period, you will begin to see good success.

Recommended Readings

The Simple Golf Swing

Author: David Navogt

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/1/

This book teaches you the simplest way of making your golf swings right. It gives you simple points which could help you to learn faster. It talks about power, consistency and accuracy. The simple golf swing system is an answer to a number of golf problems.

How to Break 80

Author: Jack Moorehouse

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/2/

This book guarantees an addition of 50-70 yards to your shorts. It explains the secrets by which at least 7 strokes can be reduced from your game. Jack’s techniques will improve your game quickly.

Power Golf Program

Author: Mike Pedersen

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/4/

If you want to maximize your golf potential, you must read this book. You will find tips by which you will have an effortless power in your swing. Here you will learn everything which golf swings demand.

Instant Golf Slice Cure

Author: Dave Moore

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/5/

It teaches you how to eliminate your golf slice. It is a very good book on anti slice swing system. It is all about scoring, distance, accuracy and confidence. The author also allows you to personally have a consultation with him if you need to.

Lady Golfers Guide

Author: Anniket Coleman

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/10/

This book is specially written for lady golfers. This gives a thorough knowledge for the basics to advanced level to learn golf. A confidence is developed in playing the game after studying the techniques given in the book.

The Golf Beginner Guide

Author: Frank J Peter

http://realgolfplayer.com/golf/13/

It is a very good book for beginners of the golf game. It gives the best and the fastest way to learn golf. All the important rules of the golf are given therein. It also identifies the most common mistakes and their remedies.