Essential Golf Skills doc

GOLF Key tips and techniques to improve your game GOLF Includes content previously published in The Complete Golf Manual GOLF [...]... your feet can leave marks as these may affect the smooth roll of a ball Even on a firm green it is courteous to avoid stepping on the line of another golfer’s putt WAIT YOUR TURN 21 THE BASICS | THE ETIQUETTE OF GOLF While looking after the course is an essential requirement of good etiquette, your on-course behavior is equally important Inconsiderate conduct during a round can take the shine off even... penalty Ideally, place it on the apron of the green How to behave on the course Honor on the tee—who plays first—is secured by the golfer with the lowest score on the previous hole On the first tee, honor is decided by lots or the toss of a coin Elsewhere on the hole, the golfer farthest from the hole plays first In a strokeplay event you can elect to continue to putt out after your initial approach putt... putting, leave your golf bag on the side of the green closest to the next tee, to collect it on your way to the next hole Do not mark your card on the green, since this can hold up the players behind you Instead, it is better to do this on the next tee while waiting your turn to play OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND ALWAYS SHOUT “FORE!” Stand 45 degrees behind and to the right of the golfer; and four or five... handicap, which places you beyond the buffer zone In this situation, your handicap will increase 19 THE BASICS | TYPES OF PLAY AND HANDICAPS Fourball betterball 20 THE BASICS | THE ETIQUETTE OF GOLF The etiquette of golf The term “etiquette” can bring to mind images of an overly regimented code of behavior Following good etiquette ensures that everyone on the course enjoys their round There are two key... given below, you will not be guilty of ruining other players’ enjoyment THE BASICS | FORM THE PERFECT GRIP Form the perfect grip The grip is almost certainly the most important fundamental skill of golf Many golfers take their grip for granted simply because it feels comfortable The trouble is, comfortable doesn’t necessarily mean correct: you may well have a fault in your grip and not realize it Although... Unless you are manufacturing a stroke (see pp.156–59), your weight should not favor your front foot at address 30 THE BASICS | IDENTIFY THE SWING ZONES Identify the swing zones Although a good golf swing is essentially a continuous, flowing movement, it is possible to break it down into key areas When it comes to learning about your swing and improving your technique, it is desirable to look at the... and Iron Play 34 DRIVING AND IRON PLAY | OFF THE TEE Off the tee The driver is the most powerful club in your bag Many golfers feel that they should try to hit their drive shots as hard as they can However, position rather than power is the most important factor off the tee Professional golfers hit most of their drives at only 70–80 percent of full power This is the kind of attitude you should apply to... handicaps work, is the same as in matchplay singles Fourball betterball can also be applied to stableford but seldom to strokeplay This is a variation on the foursomes format, the difference being that both golfers in each pair tee off and then select the more favorable of the two drives Then, alternate shots are played as in foursomes The handicap calculations work in exactly the same way as with foursomes... 10 and Team B has a combined handicap of 26, then 16 is the difference Since three-eighths of 16 is 6, B receives a stroke on holes with a stroke index between 1 and 6 This almost-forgotten format is essentially a game against par The course is your opponent, and the scoring system is based on holes won, lost, or halved (as in matchplay) The only difference is that the game is not over until the last... If you play with a handicap of 8, for example, the course gives you six shots You receive these shots on the holes that have a stroke index between 1 and 6 HOW IS A HANDICAP CALCULATED? Handicaps allow golfers of different abilities to compete on equal terms with each other Gaining your first handicap is a straightforward process which involves playing usually three rounds on the same course You then . GOLF Key tips and techniques to improve your game GOLF Includes content previously published in The Complete Golf Manual GOLF