A guide to better golf

* John Bland

“Want to hit more fairways off the tee? Stand on the correct side

of the tee box. If you’re a fader of the ball (left to right if

you’re a right-hander), stand as close as you can to the right tee

marker. If you draw the ball (right to left), tee the ball up on the

left hand side of the tee box. This works, believe me.”

* Jim Dent

“In order to hit the ball a long way, you need to have the right

equipment for your swing. The right golf shafts can help you generate

club head speed in the hitting area. Most amateurs probably play with

shafts on their drivers that are too stiff for them. If you go to a

softer shaft in the driver, the club won’t have to work as hard to

kick at the bottom, and it just might give you 20 extra yards off the

tee.”

* Bruce Fleisher

“Many of my pro-am partners miss key short putts during their

rounds because their eyes are moving during the stroke. As a result

their heads are not steady. What I try to do from four feet and

closer is to focus on the ball and then listen for it to go in the

hole. Try this tip, and you’ll be amazed at how many putts you’ll

make it. If you learn to use the ears during your putting stroke,

you’ll become a better short putter.”

* Hale Irwin

“Proper body position and alignment are key ingredients toward

producing a good golf swing. In this game, you have to be able to hit

the ball where you are aimed. In order to do that, you also have to

get in the right body position at the start of the swing. Most

amateurs bend over too much at the waist. They need to keep their

backs straight and have some flex in their legs so they can get good

arm extension through the hitting area. I consistently see too many

amateurs aim far to the right and play the game from basically a

closed stance. Right-handers should think about aiming down the left

side of each fairway and at the left side of each green. With your

shoulders opened slightly and your stance opened, you can swing the

club down the target line rather than across your body. You should

hit more solid shots in the right direction.”

* Bruce Lietzke

“I’m a real believer in playing one type of shot all the time. In

my case, my swing produces a fade, or a consistent slightly

left-to-right ball flight. I see quite a few amateurs who try to

change their ball flight on the practice tee and go away from their

normal shot patterns. My recommendation is that amateurs find one

swing that is comfortable and produces solid contact. They should

then learn to use that swing in all situations regardless of whether

a hole is straight or is a dogleg right or left. Even on a hole that

is a dogleg 90 degrees to the left, I can always find a way to play

the hole with my normal fade. If you follow my advice, you’ll be able

to play the golf course the way you want to and not the way the

architect wants you to play it.”

* Tom Purtzer

“Many amateurs struggle to hit the ball solidly because of their

balance. One way to practice proper balance is to hit about 20 shots

with your feet close together. Start with some half shots and then

work your way into almost a full swing. This drill will help get the

arms and body moving together at the proper speed. Amateurs think

they need to swing faster to hit the ball properly, and invariably

this leads to improper balance. You actually have to start the club

back slow enough so that your hands and arms lead the turn of your

body back.”

* Dana Quigley

“The most common fault I see among amateurs is a reverse weight

shift. The right leg straightens on the backswing, and invariably the

player will swing across the ball, coming down and hitting a slice.

My tip for any amateur is to make sure the weight transfers in the

direction the club is being swung. For right-handed players, the

weight on the backswing should move into the right leg. On the

downswing the weight should transfer to the left leg. Amateurs who

remember this thought and apply it to their swings will soon start

hitting the ball more solidly and consistently.”

* Chi Chi Rodriguez

“Most players grip the golf club too tightly so there’s too much

tension in their hands, forearms and shoulders. As a result, they

lose plenty of power and accuracy. If you grip the club loosely,

you’ll be able to properly release the club head at impact and hit

the ball farther. Your grip on the golf club should be similar to how

you hold a pool cue when playing billiards. The grip should be only

tight enough so the club doesn’t fly out of your hands when you make

contact.”

* Tom Watson

“Ninety-five percent of the amateurs I see have bad grips. If you

can put your hands on the club so that the V formed by the thumb and

forefinger on each hand points toward the right shoulder, you’ll

reduce your chances of slicing the ball. Most players who slice do so

because the V on each hand points at the center of the body rather

than the right shoulder. Take my advice, and you’ll limit your chance

of the dreaded slice!”

* Fuzzy Zoeller

“The biggest problem I see with amateur golfers is around the

greens. Most use too much lower body in their chipping technique, and

the result is quite a few miss-hits. Keep your lower body quiet and

execute the chipping stroke with only the shoulders and arms. You’ll

soon consistently get the ball closer to the hole and lower your

score.”