When you know that the best golfer in the world takes advice from others it makes you wonder why so many people think they can play golf without any instruction.
Golf is a highly technical game that involves all aspects of the mind and body yet people still think they can 'sort it out' themselves.
The reality is; Tuition from a good golf professional, not one of your mates, can do more for your game than any amount of advice that you might get from fellow players.
In fact, getting advice from other players, no matter what their handicap is, could be the worst thing you could do.
You need someone experienced, who can see the faults in your stance and swing and then teach you what is needed to correct those problems.
The longer you continue to play with incorrect action the harder it will be to retrain yourself later on.
I had a golfing partner who had a tendency to slice the ball when he was driving and no matter what he tried to do to correct this he couldn't solve the problem.
Rather than get professional advice he changed his game to allow for this problem and would drive the ball allowing for it's expected flight path.
As would be expected, he would hit the occasional ball properly and watch as a lovely straight drive sent the ball sailing through the air to the other fairway.
What a waste of a good drive. He had the ability to drive a long ball but never got the direction right because he refused to get professional tuition.
The difference was probably something minor that he could have corrected and enjoyed the benefits of for the years of his golfing life.
If you have a consistent problem with any aspect of your game, seek advice and get it sorted sooner rather than later.
It will reward you with a more enjoyable game.
Reducing the Chance of Injury
I have known golfers who actually play their best golf when they are injured simply because they are not focusing as much on their game as the injury, but by all accounts injury will hinder your game rather than help.
So how do you reduce the chance of golfing injuries that might stop you playing the game?
Well the first step is obviously to try to keep your level of fitness up.
A fit person will always fare better under the rigors of exercise.
For golf, the best fitness can be flexibility.
It is always wise to warm up and lightly stretch your muscles before play starts, and just as important to cool down properly after play has finished.
Once again stretching after a round of golf can assist in ensuring you don't get injuries, particularly to your back and hamstrings.
Walking can make your hamstrings tighter and in doing so can make them susceptible to tearing and injury.
Golf also requires a lot of back movement and in the event that you haven't warmed up sufficiently before that first swing of the day, you could do some serious damage.
When you do your stretching exercise ensure you don't do any sudden movements.
Everything should be smooth and flowing, just like your golf swing.
Never bounce when you are doing your stretching movements as this can results in injury.
A few gentle side twists with a golf club across your shoulders will help to warm up your lower back and add mobility to your movements thereby reducing the chance of injury.
Even the simple task of walking your trundler, rather than hiring a golf cart, will assist in warming up your muscles.
Before your first swing of the day it is also wise to have some practice swings to activate all the muscles you will be using for the game ahead.
If you have the time and inclination during the week, I have seen many people have dramatic changes to their performance by doing yoga exercises regularly.
Not only will it assist in flexibility, it will have a positive effect on your mind control and obviously your performance as a whole.
So how do you reduce the chance of golfing injuries that might stop you playing the game?
Well the first step is obviously to try to keep your level of fitness up.
A fit person will always fare better under the rigors of exercise.
For golf, the best fitness can be flexibility.
It is always wise to warm up and lightly stretch your muscles before play starts, and just as important to cool down properly after play has finished.
Once again stretching after a round of golf can assist in ensuring you don't get injuries, particularly to your back and hamstrings.
Walking can make your hamstrings tighter and in doing so can make them susceptible to tearing and injury.
Golf also requires a lot of back movement and in the event that you haven't warmed up sufficiently before that first swing of the day, you could do some serious damage.
When you do your stretching exercise ensure you don't do any sudden movements.
Everything should be smooth and flowing, just like your golf swing.
Never bounce when you are doing your stretching movements as this can results in injury.
A few gentle side twists with a golf club across your shoulders will help to warm up your lower back and add mobility to your movements thereby reducing the chance of injury.
Even the simple task of walking your trundler, rather than hiring a golf cart, will assist in warming up your muscles.
Before your first swing of the day it is also wise to have some practice swings to activate all the muscles you will be using for the game ahead.
If you have the time and inclination during the week, I have seen many people have dramatic changes to their performance by doing yoga exercises regularly.
Not only will it assist in flexibility, it will have a positive effect on your mind control and obviously your performance as a whole.
Get a Grip On Your Game
More precisely the title of this should be to get the 'Right Grip' and that means get one that is specifically correct for you.
You can't expect the grip on your golf club to be the optimum size for both you and someone else with bigger or smaller hands.
How can the grip on the golf clubs of a large man be the right size for both him and that tiny old lady playing alongside him?
What is right for her will probably be too small for him and a grip that is too small will make him tend to hold the club too tight.
Instantly there will be a problem with his swing if he is holding too tight.
Just changing the grip to a bigger one can alter a game dramatically.
Your hands are your link to the golf clubs and everything that goes on below that point.
Your contact point with the clubs needs to be correct if you are expected to play well.
Don't be satisfied with the grips that the manufacturers supply, as they will offer a standard size to suit the majority of buyers.
You need to go one step further and find a grip that will allow you to control the club comfortably without having to hold it so hard that your game suffers.
A slippery grip will force you to hold too tight and that is something you don't want to contend with while you are playing.
Get grips for your clubs that are not only suited in size but also in the type of materials used as this can determine how tight you will hold them.
In addition to this, you need to warm up your wrists before play to ensure they are relaxed and ready for action.
Performing a few simple warm up exercises of rolling your wrist while holding your club lightly will help to reduce the possibility of injury.
You can't expect the grip on your golf club to be the optimum size for both you and someone else with bigger or smaller hands.
How can the grip on the golf clubs of a large man be the right size for both him and that tiny old lady playing alongside him?
What is right for her will probably be too small for him and a grip that is too small will make him tend to hold the club too tight.
Instantly there will be a problem with his swing if he is holding too tight.
Just changing the grip to a bigger one can alter a game dramatically.
Your hands are your link to the golf clubs and everything that goes on below that point.
Your contact point with the clubs needs to be correct if you are expected to play well.
Don't be satisfied with the grips that the manufacturers supply, as they will offer a standard size to suit the majority of buyers.
You need to go one step further and find a grip that will allow you to control the club comfortably without having to hold it so hard that your game suffers.
A slippery grip will force you to hold too tight and that is something you don't want to contend with while you are playing.
Get grips for your clubs that are not only suited in size but also in the type of materials used as this can determine how tight you will hold them.
In addition to this, you need to warm up your wrists before play to ensure they are relaxed and ready for action.
Performing a few simple warm up exercises of rolling your wrist while holding your club lightly will help to reduce the possibility of injury.
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