Performance isn’t just for golf clubs and golf balls anymore. Golf shirts now can have 21^st century performance characteristics, as well as stout looks. Here are five top men’s golf shirts for summer 2009.

Nike Dri-FIT UV Tech Men’s Golf Polo Shirt. This short-sleeve men’s golf polo is made of lightweight, moisture-wicking polyester that will look great for all 18 holes and features SPF 30 UV protection. It has a solid knit collar, three-button placket and a Nike swoosh on the sleeve. This golf shirt comes in 10 colors, so you may want to buy more than one. For more information and to purchase this shirt go to www.golfsmith.com, Nike Dri-FIT Polo.

Under Armour Performance Men’s Golf Polo Shirt. If it’s made by Under Armour, you know it is high performance. This golf shirt, which features HeatGear moisture-wicking fabric technology, is designed to keep you cool and comfortable on the course even on the hottest day. It is generously slit for a loose fit that will never hamper your golf swing. Choose from an amazing 22 colors. For more information and to buy this shirt go to www.golfsmith.com//Under Armour Men’s Golf Polo.

NIKE GOLF Dri-FIT Tech Short-Sleeve Mock. Tired of wearing nothing but golf polo shirts. Maybe it’s time for a change. You’ve seen Tiger Woods wear the short-sleeve mock turtleneck shirt on the course and so can you. This golf shirt is made of lightweight, easy-care (only 5.3 ounces) polyester with a solid-knit mock collar and open sleeves. It offers SPF 30 UV protection and sports the Nike swoosh on the sleeve. Choose from four colors, team red, black, white and college navy, and sizes from limited to XXX large. For more information and to buy this shirt go to www.mensredtag.com/Nike Mock.

Land’s Demolish Men’s Regular DriLite Colorblock Mesh Polo Shirt. Are you tired of a wardrobe full of solid golf polos? Here’s a shirt with both performance and style. Its pique fabric wicks moisture to keep you cool on the links, its antimicrobial characteristics fight odor, and the color blocking on its shoulders and sleeves give it stylistic flair that situation it apart from the crowd. This shirt comes in five colors, classic red, black, dark cobalt blue, true navy, and white (each with contrast color blocking on the shoulders and sleeves). For more information and to capture this shirt go to www.landsend.com, Mesh Polo Shirt.

L.L. Bean Performance Polo Shirt. What sets this golf shirt apart is L.L. Bean quality and salubrious SunSmart™ SPF 50 UV protection. Lightweight polyester fabric with a grid texture wicks moisture and dries quickly. Available in six colors and sizes up to extra extra large. For more information and to buy this shirt go to www.llbean.com/Performance Polo.

Sources:

www.golfsmith.com, Nike Dri-FIT Polo, Nike Golf Shirts – Dri-FIT UV Tech Men’s Golf Polo.

www.golfsmith.com//Under Armour Men’s Golf Polo, Under Armour Golf Shirts: Performance Men’s Golf Polo

www.mensredtag.com/Nike Mock, NIKE GOLF – Dri-FIT Tech S/S Mock

www.landsend.com, Mesh Polo Shirt, Men’s DriLite Colorblock Mesh Polo Shirt from Land’s End

www.llbean.com/Performance Polo, Performance Polo Shirt: Polo Shirts at L.L. Bean

No other sport has so many amateurs working to improve their game as golf does. Paramount to a low handicap is having a solid, sound swing. Though unprejudiced as all golfers are unique, so are all swings. However, there are some easy improvements you can design to improve your golf score!

1. Many golfers design the mistake in believing that their golf swing is all about their arms. An arm-based thought process is a great way to open the door for all of the slight glitches that can occur, such as bending the elbow, casting the downswing, or coming over-the-top. With all of that emphasis on arm-swing, most amateurs fail to give their attention to their wrists. A proper wrist cock (90 degree angle as left arm is parallel to the ground) in the opening stages of the back-swing can do more to lift the arms out of the swing and prevent so many of the problems that arm-based swings effect. This frees the golfer up to clear his mind of countless swing tips and rigid checklists that do more to bring tension and confusion into something that should be fluid and relaxed.

2. Don’t swing – turn! The backswing should be a twisting, torque-filled motion where power is generated not by swinging the arms but by a long, generating turning of the back. This, again, simplifies the backswing allowing less opportunity for mistakes that can occur. A compact, simple swing is far less able to go wrong!

3. Golf is a sport and thus it benefits greatly from having an athletic stance. A solid, balanced stance that is firmly grounded will help add power to the torque generated by the stout shoulder turn of the backswing. Problems occur most often when the golfer is thinking too mighty about which foot needs which amount of weight throughout the swing. Take your head out of the mix by grounding your body with the same athletic stance you would while playing baseball or basketball. This squared, centered stance allows for a fluid transition to either side, which makes sense for fast, reactionary sports but also makes just as much sense in golf where weight naturally shifts during the swing. Simplify by simply starting off grounded and letting the motion of the swing do the rest!

With these sure-fire techniques you can simplify your swing. Take your head out of your swing, which allows less chance to accomplish a mental mistake. Take your arms out of the swing, which allows for less chance of any series of minor glitches. Simplifying your swing will turn it to a more natural, flowing motion.

Golfing is a wonderful sport but the game can be quite absorbing for the novice. One must learn about golf etiquette, rules, scoring, chipping, putting and developing one’s golf swing. Consequently, it is very difficult to learn the game of golf without some assistance. Many have had the benefit of learning to golf from their parents. Still others took courses in high school and/or college.

The most favorable scheme to learn to golf is through lessons from a pro. Nevertheless, these lessons can be quite expensive. One private lesson from a pro can cost as much as $50 for just an half hour, and a semi-private/group lesson $20 per half hour. If you can’t afford these lessons, go to the next best thing – a training DVD/video taught by a pro. Building a library collection can really help you continuously improve your golf game. Below is a list of some of the best golf DVD’s/videos to help you learn the fundamentals of the game.

Golf for Dummies DVD – Teaches the basics of golf like selecting equipment, gripping the club, proper stance and swing techniques, as well as instructions concerning the short game (chipping and putting). The 75 minute DVD taught by PGA Tour Champion and Golf Commentator Gary McCord runs around $20.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers in America – the More Series – The top 100 teachers to the pros give over 5 hours of instruction in this 3 DVD series. Topics include your warm up routine, choosing a driver, ball flight, tee shot strategies, overswinging and much more. Some of the instructors include David Phillips, Scott Sackett, John Elliott, Fred Griffin and Laird Small. The series costs around $40. Each DVD is divided into individual lessons making it very user favorable.

For Women Only – Venus on the FUNdamentals of Golf- Covers everything needed for ladies to learn the game of golf. Volume I covers the basic fundamentals of golf like etiquette, scoring, rules and even golf attire. Volumes II & III teaches techniques for the long game (developing and golf swing) and one’s short game (chipping and putting). Taught by Debbie Steinbach (a.k.a. Venus), a veteran of the LPGA tour and renowned golf instructor, this 3 volume will really help to improve your golf game. The cost for the set runs around $50.

David Leadbetter’s From Beginner to Winner – This is an outstanding video for the novice or someone like me seeking to lower their score. David, a teacher to the pros, instructs on how to correct some common errors, grip your club, swing and strategize your shots. The video runs a tiny over an hour and a half and costs a little under $30.

OK you want to know how to hit a pitch shot, well let me tell you a few fundamentals to help you hit pitches. First we need to fetch close to the ball OK not too closely to chip over one of the on top of the shock me to lean the shaft slightly towards the target not a long way because they take too grand lost off the club he needs to be set slightly towards the target. No hands . The key to the shot you must start a swing with the grip, not starting with the clubhead. That’s when we hit a full shot it’s a simple shot let’s support it simple. Leave slightly forward shaft slightly pointing towards the target. I want you to feel like you’re just rocking your shoulders and let the club go through when you feel like the club face is online a long time with the target. I don’t want rolling over its a very simple shot let’s not make a complicated.

Golf instruction and swing tip — very short chip shot

Using a putting grip the shaft is an extension of the forearms and we’re using are putting stroke only exception is relieving our hands forward and above the club is leaning up against the inside fraction of your wrist so that you’re really aware that you are maintaining that lowercase Y. using a nice fluid putting stroke in your weight forward and hands forward, take a practice swing look at where you want to land the ball and then let the ball trickled down to the hole. So we’re using a finger to reduce the amount of compression on the ball and using your putting stroke it’s like putting with loft cans and weight forward and hold your finish.

So just as a final note when you hold the club across the palm of the hand the heal of the club is to raise off the ground and you’ll be chipping with the toe of the club which further deadens the impact this is holding with the standard grip and further away from the ball and the club will be sitting nice and flat and the clubhead would have full contact with the ground in full compression factor with the ball relationship. When you consume your putting grip with the palm you have to step much closer to the ball like when you put you have to stand more upright with the ball. The heal of the club is off the ground this is normal so now when I go to the ball and still do that left foot slightly back and weight forward hands forward and then I’m going to do a nice long putting stroke. This will lead to more consistent short chip shots

Ever since the beginning of time there has been grand versus evil. This is no exception with the game of golf. God gave us the game of golf being good and Satan gave us the sever being evil.

If there is one thing that is well-liked in most all golfers it’s the slice. If you’re ever going to learn how to stop slicing the ball you’ll have to learn a couple of things about what causes the golf ball to slice.

Let’s originate with your grip. You want a medium strength grip not to light and not too heavy. A weak grip causes a crop because it opens the clubface. Once you have fixed your grip you will next need to look at your stance. Both the stance and the grip are key factors in the overall setup of your golf swing. This is the foundation of your golf swing, without this foundation being strong you either slice the ball or have a swing that will result in other negative outcomes. You want to make sure that your good foot points straight ahead and your left foot is ever so slightly to the left. Keep your feet shoulder width apart. Once you have a proper set up with your grip and your stance then it’s time to capture a look at your swing.

The main cause of the slice is an open club face at impact. What we want to do is make determined that the clubface is square to the target which will create a straight path for the ball once in flight. A good way to perceive it you have a agreeable swing is to video tape yourself. You want a swing plane that is neither too steep nor too shallow. Oftentimes it’s hard to tell what you’re doing as you’re swinging. The video tape will be a good contemplate for you. Another good tool is to swing in some sizable grass not too tall but about three or 4 inches high. Take some practice swings and then look at where the grass is going. Is it laying left, laying right or laying straight? What you want is for the grass to be laying straight, if you see it’s laying right you know your slicing the ball with an open club face. Everyone can tell you how to do this or that but the important thing is to develop a swing that is comfortable for you. Take some time to practice a swing that fits your body type and make sure to get your clubface square at impact. Once you do that the game of golf will be more enjoyable and you’ll be able to regain more money from your buddies.

These are practical tips to help you study more efficiently and improve your grade. Sadly, there are no free rides in college and you will have to earn that degree. However, most classes are not as tough as people would have them out to be and can be mastered if the material is studied correctly.

1. Avoid Burning Out

Ah, the bane of every college student: end-of-the-semester burnout. Common symptoms include apathy toward grades, missed assignments, skipped classes, and a complete and utter lack of motivation. Burnout is something that happens to even the best of students, and can be avoided.

Hit the ground running, yes, but not sprinting. Study for every class, but don’t try to read the entire textbook in a week. If outlining a chapter helps you study, then by all means, outline, but don’t also highlight important passages and work every single practice problem and research relevant topics. This all may sound like a fantastic way to work, and you may have A’s around the board, but come mid-semester, your eyes will begin to glass over when you see lecture notes, and your grades will suffer.

2. Stop Procrastinating

It’s been said before: it’s great easier to study for a test over several weeks than cram the night before. It’s almost cliché these days, but for a reason.

Cramming is no fun. You will arrive in class smelling of Cheetos and coffee with dark circles under your eyes for – listen closely – nothing. Studies have shown that even going without studying, or studying inadequate notes, is better than attempting an all-nighter the night before.

3. Know Your Professor

Two words: office hours. They are the best-kept secrets in college (even though professors have been known to jump up and down announcing them) and always work out in your best serve. Think about it: a professor has location aside hours in which they promise to be sitting in their office waiting for you to swing by. It’s a fabulous view, really; what a pity that students rarely utilize them.

Contrary to popular concept, professors are people too, and intelligent ones at that. Well, usually. At the very least, they have complete control over your grade and it is therefore in your best interest to have them know your face. Even if you’re doing a extraordinary job in their class and enjoy every second of it and don’t need any assist whatsoever, it is a splendid idea to swing by with a question or two, or even a short statement about how you enjoyed a particular lecture. Professors rarely tire of having their egos stroked.

4. Study the Right Way

Three hours of studying the accurate contrivance will beat out an entire week of studying incorrectly. What does it mean to study the right way? It means intellectual what your professor is looking for – feel free to ask them in their office hours; professors are egomaniacs like the rest of us and usually love to hear that someone is making a concentrated grief in their class – and studying what will be on the test. For example, is this professor a number-cruncher who gets his or her jollies from quizzing over data found in graphs, or does he or she assume to test over ideas and definitions? It pays to know.

Different people learn different ways. Some people are more visual, others auditory, and others kinesthetic. Most of us are something of a mix. For example, I am an avid outliner. I highlight text in the book and then type the highlighted sections out on my computer in outline form. When I see everything in a linear fashion, it helps me to concentrate. A friend of mine is an auditory learner, and because of this he reads his text out loud – yes, really – to himself and this helps him remember the material.

Another important part of studying the factual blueprint is learning how to detect and ignore “fluff”. Fluff is the unimportant, usually redundant parts of the book. I have an idea that textbook editors are paid per word, because they impartial savor to restate the same sentence a different way about three times. (Which is huge, I guess, if you’re a visual learner, but it generally just manages to confuse the rest of us.) Here’s a general rule to go by: every paragraph (or, in some cases, every other paragraph) has one indispensable sentence. The rest of the paragraph is simply padding to make the author study knowledgeable. Read that sentence and spy it, but don’t worry about the rest of the words.

Every generation of American golfers has had a legend to hang their collective Titleist visor on. At the turn of the century, Bobby Jones was that man. Over time, he passed the torch to the likes of Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, and Walter Hagen. From there, Ben Hogan, mechanically crafted swing and all, took over.

The game found itself in an unprecedented upswing of popularity when Arnold Palmer burst onto the scene with his swashbuckling approach to the game. Arnie’s Army was a massive and proud legion that begrudgingly had no choice but to concede that Jack Nicklaus was his era’s dominant golfer. While the two of them would be forever linked, it was their vastly different styles of play that would spawn the next generation of golfers.

Because of golf’s newfound status as a sport for the people, the 1970’s and 1980’s saw an increasing amount of up-and-comers competing to be the “Next Jack.” Players such as Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, and Hale Irwin won their share of majors, but not nearly with the proficiency that the Golden Bear had years before. When he won the 1986 Masters at the dinosaur-like (in PGA Tour standards) age of 46, Nicklaus may as well have been saying, “See, now that’s how it’s done,” to all those aspiring to his greatness.

Just when it seemed as though no one would ever challenge his records, most notably 18 majors, Eldrick Woods joined the PGA Tour. Known better by the nickname, Tiger, this phenom set the golfing world on fire with his record-setting Masters win in 1997. Many more majors would follow, most notably the “Tiger-Slam” of four consecutive majors stringing from 2000-2001.

So qualified is Tiger that it becomes a story when he does not win a major in a given year. So good is Tiger that the fabled Augusta National had to lengthen itself for fear of becoming embarrassed by the ease with which Tiger devoured in 1997. So good is Tiger that world-class talents Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Ernie Els are destined to become trivial footnotes in the annals of golf lore simply because they had the audacity to be born in Tiger’s lifetime.

But for all the accolades that should be showered upon Tiger Woods, there comes a price. So good is Tiger Woods that he has literally affected every single golfer in the world.

There was once a time that the average round of golf took 4 hours, 30 minutes. Golf clubs had their niche crowds, but often needed special rates to entice other golfers to wander outside their home courses. And on those lousy weekends when we were stuck inside, the golf on television was considered must-see. Yes, that’s right, big-name players used to play in what is now considered third-rate events. Heck, before Tiger was Masters champion Tiger, even he played in the Las Vegas Invitational.

Sadly though, those days are long gone. No need to round up the usual suspects, as Bogart would say- it does not require much understanding as to where to lay the blame for the amateur’s game’s dilemma. Tiger has given every tank-top-wearing, cellphone-blabbing hack the idea that even they can golf. Next time you are stuck on the 7th tee after two hours on a Sunday morning, hold a peek around. How many people look like they were golfers ten years ago? See that guy with his hat on backwards? I’d bet you a drink at the turn he hasn’t fixed a ball mark in his life. How about that moron in the cut-off jeans? What’s more annoying- his attire, the five empty Miller Lite cans falling out of his cart, or that he is waiting for the people to clear the green 300-yards ahead?!

Sure, there’s a simple solution to this, but I’m afraid that I cannot afford to join a country club. And based on the numbers I see on the public links, I’m just guessing that I’m not the only one. Maybe football season will keep some of them home because the PGA Tour certainly won’t. No, the A-list players are too busy playing for guaranteed money in some polysyllabic Third-World country.

Maybe I will have the money to join my exclusive country club once I crack into my first career choice, Golf Course Architecture. What could be better than getting paid to design golf courses? After all, I have about 20 of them in my high school English notebook anyway. There is one major problem, however. I never played on the Tour. You see, when players aren’t busy signing their immense winner’s checks, they have to find other ways to make money by using their names. That’s apt, they’re all becoming Golf Course Architects. Snap a few pictures of Ben Crenshaw holding a map and pointing to a bunker, and voila! A modern firm is born! Seems the demand for golf courses that Tiger has created has spawned countless of these firms, each one more difficult to find a job in than the one before.

I realize that it is unfair to heap all this blame onto Tiger’s lap, but it has to land somewhere. I can honestly say that I fully appreciate the privilege (make no mistake- that’s what it is) of seeing the greatest golfer of all time. But I am equally disgusted when I have to turn off the US Start when Tiger is up by ten strokes, and I cannot gather a tee time at the muni because some guy wearing sandals got it.

So you want to replace the big dog? Tired of those aged, fading 200 yarders and searching for a driver that will crush the ball 350 yards? Well that probably won’t happen. Unless you’re upgrading from a driver that is detached made of wood, you probably won’t rep much distance increase in the technology of today. New drivers won’t hit the ball far for you. What you will find, are drivers that gain hitting the ball easier. As all golfers know a club that is easier to hit will inspire the confidence you need to step it up to the next level and start bombing those drives. 

Recent drivers have come a long way from the wooden counterparts. Today’s drivers are metal monsters. Objective about all big name drivers of today are 400cc or above with a good majority of them coming to us at the USGA’s 460cc limit. (For those who don’t know cc= cubic centimeters, a measure of the clubhead’s volume). Without getting technical, and throwing around gargantuan golf physics words, bigger clubheads are easier to hit. Most, if not all, of today’s drivers are very even in terms of how far they can hit the ball. What you need to pain about is which one allows you to hit the ball farther. 

When looking for a modern driver you should consider head size, loft, shaft flex, and bias. Size and bias are both mostly matters of preference. A head size of 460cc can be easier to hit, but it is also very titanic, something positive golfers don’t like. Shaft flex choices are primarily determined by a golfer’s swing speed and consist of, from most to least flex; ladies, senior, regular, stiff, and extra stiff. Loft is the clubheads angle. Generally, the higher the handicap, and lower the swing speed the higher the loft. Most golfers think that lower lofts mean more distance. This is only true if you have a high enough swing speed to go along with it. Most amateurs would benefit from higher lofted drivers. Lastly, the newest option is bias. A club’s bias is its tendency to hit the ball in one direction or another. A club with a draw bias will tend to curve the ball slightly left and a fade bias will do just the opposite. A club with a draw bias is a slicer’s best friend, but keep in mind that these clubs usually only have a slight bias. They won’t fix your swing for you. 

Club head size is all a matter of preference. Larger clubs may be easier to hit, but only moderately so. If you hit a driver well, don’t danger about what size it is. Plus, if you buy a relatively new driver you don’t have much choice in the matter, because they’re all big. 

Loft is probably the choice that is left least to preference. It is most easily certain with a demo of the clubs you are considering. Unlike the other factors there is a loft that suits your swing best. Try out different lofts from the same manufacturer to decide what suits you. Keep in mind three things here. Lower does not always equal longer, lower lofts magnify sidespin and are thus harder to sustain in play, and that most golfers will benefit from higher lofts. 

Shaft flex, like loft, requires experimentation. It is important to keep in mind that the designations on the shaft of regular, stiff or whatever flex are all subjective. One manufacturer’s regular could be another’s stiff. So make sure that if you don’t know the specifications, you hit the exact club you are considering. Try hitting two of the same exact drivers with two of the flexes you are considering and see what feels better and flies truer. I recommend finding a head and loft you like and then trying out different flexes. 

Choosing bias, the last consideration, can be tricky. Although some clubs effect it easy. The new TaylorMade r7 quad (picture) for example has adjustable weights and can be adjusted for several different ball flights. I personally don’t advocate buying a club with a set bias for the purpose of fixing your swing. If you slice, I wouldn’t recommend buying a draw bias club unless you plan on a total avoidance of improving your swing mechanics. If you buy a draw bias but fix the swing error causing your slice you’re now drawing the ball with a swing that would normally build the ball straight. Example: I’ve run into golfers who bought method bias clubs in order to fix their slices, but eventually fixed their swing mechanics and are now hitting sharp hooks off the tee because the club is so heavily biased. So perhaps if you’re an older golfer who’s been slicing for the past 15 years and you know it’s not going anywhere, a fixed bias might be for you. If you plan on changing your swing, stick with a neutral bias or movable weight clubs. Preserve in mind that almost all large drivers have a draw bias of some kind. Physics dictates that larger clubheads are harder to square at impact, so larger clubheads have this bias to help square the face more consistently. If a club isn’t advertised as having a bias, consider it neutral. Also, some clubs have a very runt bias that may only cause a light draw, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Most importantly, test the clubs you are considering. 

Here’s a tip for those of you looking to save some cash. Slightly older drivers, like the TaylorMade r580 XD, (picture 2) offer golfers modern technology without the inflated price. Many of the models that are a year or two old are collected on the shelf, perform just as well, and are half the price. 

Lastly, it is important to note that, the driver is a specialty club. Like the putter, it requires a different swing than all the clubs in your bag. If you’re unsure of how to hit your driver consult with your local pro or google it. The point here is, if you’re a new golfer, you need to realize that a player must learn to hit the driver. Don’t give up on your current stick just because you can’t hit it perfectly yet. 

Buying your new driver can be exciting. It is important however to avoid rushing the process. Leer over different manufacturers and consider head size, loft, shaft flex, and bias. Taking the time to try different clubs and determine what works best for you will make definite you have the most fun on the course. It will also likely convince you that the club that came out in 2006 does not perform twice as well as the one that came out in 2004, even though the price tag would suggest so.

Without a doubt, most golf courses were designed with male golfers being the main focus. Unfortunately this has left the average woman golfer scratching their heads wondering how they stand a chance at reaching the green within regulation. Have you ever walked up to the red tees and wished you could move them up even more? You are certainly not alone, however there is actually no reason to get frustrated already.

Women should understand that physical prowess is not the key to scoring low consistently. In fact accuracy, which most women greatly excel at, is the best key to success on the golf course. Hitting factual shots can make up strokes that are lost in raw distance quite easily. Polishing your short game is another important aspect when considering that most strokes are won or lost within 100 yards of the green.

One common predicament that women golfers experience is with their grip. While all golfers struggle with attaining the best grip pressure, the average female golfer struggles to hold their grip at the top of their swing. This results in a quick re-gripping on the downswing, which can cause all sort of loss of control of the clubhead at impact as well as a loss of distance from an inefficient swing.

To fix this, you should practice swinging the club back with just your left hand. This reinforces the need to grip firmly with your last three fingers. Practicing this drill enough with build muscle-memory into your swing and the strength to grip firmly in the correct way.

Since most strokes are won or lost within 100 yards of the green, here is your chance to make an impact! Practice chipping around the practice green before your rounds until you are comfortable hitting the ball close to the hole from just off the green. Always remember that those short little chip shots equal the same strokes that masculine 300-yard drives do. Chances are a close chip shot will knock even more strokes off in the raze because it will set up a much easier putt to sink.

The putting green is an excellent opportunity to gain strokes on your male playing partners because any supposed physical advantage they had up until now is completely gone on the green. Remember two simple keys to putting well: swing the putter like a pendulum, and focus on lag putts to a 2 foot circle – not the small cup – deem 2 putts and you’ll always avoid putting 3 times or worse.

Golf is one of the few sports where both men and women compete on the exact same playing field together. With these simple keys to think about, you will find yourself great more confident when you reach the first tee – determined that you CAN outscore the boys.

It is no secret that golf is a mental game. Just look at the 2009 Masters Tournament. Forty-eight year old Kenny Perry, who was never in contention in his previous 8 appearances at the prestigious tournament, had a two stroke with two holes to go in the 72 hole event. One of the announcers picked him to earn it going into Sunday’s final round, citing the fact that Perry was at a very joyful time in his life and thus the mental stress to gather might not affect him. He was upright. It didn’t have an affect until Perry realized he could win with a two shot lead and only two holes to go. So he tightened up and bogeyed 17 and 18 which led to a playoff with Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera. He lost the playoff to Cabrera after pulling an iron shot that he had been striking very consistently up until #17. So what changed? The mental pressure of winning the famed green jacket and arguably the sports most prestigious tournament. There is no doubt that the average golfer suffers the same affliction when they step up to the tee but how do you gain the mental edge?

First, as in all aspects of life confidence is key. If you try to play without being confident in your game, it will be a discouraged endeavor. How do you get confidence? By practicing, pure and simple. Conventional wisdom suggests first getting comfortable with the irons and the short game and then arresting on to the woods. (Notice I said comfortable, not perfect. Not even the pros are perfect.) You must be confident that you can hit the ball the proper distance and direction most of the time. Then the fact that you can hit the shot must be consciously told to yourself.

Secondly, you must be able to focus on one or two simple, physical actions of the swing. Instead of thinking about how many people are watching or about the water all along the right side of the fairway, consistently choose one or two key points about your swing action and execute. With practice, it is amazing how remarkable this helps.

Thirdly, never let your last thought before you hit the ball be negative. If your last concept before swinging is, “Don’t hit it in the water”, your mind’s subconscious picture is hitting it in the water. The result is predictable. Instead, be confident and think about where you want your ball to land, not where you hope it will land. Use positive imagery to create even more confidence in your ability to make the shot.

Last, area realistic expectations. Even the pros hit a bad shot at least once during every round. They will lose it left or right or totally mis-read a putt. Expect that to happen so when it does, it doesn’t blow your mind and you can still recover and enjoy your round. We play this game for fun and if it fails to be fun then something is dismal. Relax and expect to play well but also expect that bad shot to sneak in, assume your medicine, and move on. Remember, practice makes perfect and that is also very true when working on the mental aspect of golf.