1. LINE UP YOUR TARGET
Pick a precise target for every shot. Stand behind the ball and find an intermediate target three to six inches in front of the ball on the target line. Once you have determined your intermediate target, visualize the golf ball flying or rolling to your target. Strong visualization skills lead to strong golf shots.

2. SQUARE THE CLUB FACE
The club face is the only thing that touches the golf ball, so it should be squared before anything else. Without taking your grip on the club, lay the club face down so the leading edge is 90 degrees to your target line, and is flat on the ground. Use the intermediate target to determine the target line. It is much easier to be consistently accurate using a close target as opposed to a far target.

3. GRIP THE CLUB
Making sure the club face does not move, take your grip. Set your left hand first then your right. Your swing will be much more efficient if both hands are parallel to each other and to the leading edge of the club face. Double check to make sure the club face is still square.

4. TAKE YOUR STANCE
Align your shoulders, hips, and feet parallel to your target line. Center your weight between the balls of your feet and your heels. Your arms should be hanging comfortably under your shoulders, completely free of tension.

5. RESIGHT, RELAX, FIRE

Visualize the target spot and ball flight, relax your muscles and swing. The longer you take to complete this step, the harder it is to produce a good shot. Do not allow excess thoughts to creep into your mind. Once you get to this step, focus on the target and pull the trigger. The longer you stand over the golf ball without swinging, the tenser your body becomes.

Personalize this routine and use it on every shot. It should only take 10 to 15 seconds and it will make a tremendous difference in your game.

1. First Tee Jitters

There are several reasons why the drive on the first hole brings butterflies to a golfer's stomach. The key is to figure out how to perform well in spite of them.

We will divide the tip into two areas: prior to the tee and at the tee. The best way to successfully handle a situation where nerves may come into play is to develop an effective pre-shot routine. Even the very best tour professionals get nervous on the golf course (Jack Nicklaus says he could not play his best golf unless he felt his nerves activated). Just like good free-throw shooters in basketball, golfers should develop a SHORT, intensely focused ritual to get ready for every shot. Try to go through the same process before each shot and you will have a better chance of positive results, whether or not you are nervous. Nerves are a physical manifestation of a negative emotion (usually fear), and the best way to short circuit your nerves is to focus on something positive--your routine.

Another helpful pre-round tip is to give yourself time to hit a few balls before you play. Do not get stressed if the ball is not flying perfectly; just use the time to get your muscles loosened up and your brain calmed down. Concentrate on making good contact even if it means swinging a little slower than normal.

Once you arrive at the tee, keep your thoughts VERY simple.
1. Relax your muscles
2. Slow your breathing
3. Swing EXTRA SMOOTH
4. Watch the contact

1. Choosing the Right Club

Almost all golf courses will challenge you with some par fours where driver is not necessarily the smartest club choice. Let's go over a few very important guidelines so you will make the correct club choice on these risk/reward holes.

1. How severe are the potential risks of hitting driver? Minimal- narrow fairway, rough, traps. Maximum- trees, hazard, out of bounds.

2. How far away from the tee is the trouble? Do you have to hit a career drive to even reach the trouble? Will an average length drive bring you into the danger zone?

3. How accurate are you with the driver? How many fairways do you normally hit per round? How is your confidence level today?

4. Is there a fairway wood or long iron that you rely on to hit a good shot? For most golfers a fairway wood is much more consistent than a driver.

5. How vital are the extra few yards the driver MAY give you?

If you weigh these factors honestly, you will have a much sharper picture of the correct club choice. When you make a well informed choice you have a better chance of making a confident, successful swing. Remember, good players calculate before each swing, allowing them to swing without thinking.

Imagine a hole where the fairway narrows and there is a bunker 240 yards from the tee. The smart play for me is to hit a solid two iron about 220 and leave myself a wedge or nine iron to this very tricky green. What would your smart play be?

1. Hit Down to Get it Up and Down
Trying to scoop or lift the golf ball leads to inconsistent ball striking and poor distance control. Strive for a descending blow on all chip shots. Place the ball in middle or back of your stance to insure the club head strikes the ball before it strikes the ground.

2. Keep Your Weight Left to Hit it (correctly) Right
Setting up with your weight on your left foot and keeping it there throughout the shot makes it much easier to consistently hit down on the ball. Try hitting a few chips standing on your left foot only to feel a proper descending blow.

3. For Simplicity, Chip Like You Putt
A proper chip is merely a putt that travels in the air for part of the distance. The basics of putting and chipping are the same: pendulum motion, straight back straight through, and no wrists. Let the lofted club and weight on the left foot take care of getting the ball airborne. You should focus on a simple putt-like motion for consistent results.

4. Vary the Backswing Length to Vary the Distance
Strive for consistent acceleration on the downswing, and let the length of the backswing control the distance of the shot. The backswing happens at a slower pace than the downswing, which makes it easier to manipulate.

5. Pause for Perfection
Because the chipping motion is abbreviated, we have a tendency to rush the pace of the swing. A brief pause between the backswing and the downswing will help keep the tempo smooth and insure acceleration through the ball.

6. Pick a Precise Landing Spot

Distance control is the key to good chipping. Learn the ratio of flight to roll of your favorite chipping clubs so you can pick an accurate landing spot for each chip. Precise focus leads to better results.

Every time you get a bucket of balls, use a few of them for chipping practice; your scores will thank you.

1. Steady Eyes for Sure Strokes
When your eyes wander during the downstroke, the path and club face angle will also wander. Train your eyes to remain steadily focused on the ball until the putter head is at least one foot past the impact point.

2. Distance, Distance, Distance
Most three putts are caused by poor distance control on the first putt. Even the tour pros miss almost 50% of their putts from six feet. Practice distance control to avoid leaving yourself long second putts.

3. Precise Focus for Precise Putts
When reading the green, pick precise targets for every putt. Telling yourself the putt is a little bit uphill and breaks a little bit left is a recipe for a tentative stroke and a missed putt. If we expect to roll the ball into a 4.25" hole, the brain needs specific information.

4. Straight Back, Straight Through
If you are having problems with direction control, especially on short putts, check your take-away. If the putter head comes inside on the take-away, you will tend to push your putts. If you take it outside, you will tend to pull putts. Find a straight line or lay down two clubs parallel to each other and practice taking the putter straight back on every putt.

5. Play the Percentages
Putts make up 45% of the shots in an average round of golf. Practice your putting and your scores will start dropping.