Making Tough Shots, Improving Your Golf Game

For some of us, they come way too often. Shots that leave you wondering how on earth you're going to stay balanced enough to hit the ball. Shots that aren't as simple as the instruction videos make them appear. Let's look at some ways to handle some of these tricky shots.

If you have to make an awkward shot, first think about how you can swing without losing your balance and moving your head. Secondly, think of the line your club travels along.

Before assuming your stance, note where the club head will travel for the greatest distance along a straight line. Remember that the ball is in contact with the club head for several inches. After a few practice swings you can see what relation your feet have with regard to this line and then determine your stance.

When you're about to hit the ball, don't sway from one leg to another. When you're about to swing, check to see if there's the slightest difficulty in keeping your balance. If so, keep shifting your position slightly until you feel comfortable and are sure there won't be any stiffness in your swing. You want to feel as free as possible in your muscles and in your mind so you won't be disturbed during the swing. If you wiggle and move your weight from one leg to another as you address the ball, you're likely not going to see the ball clearly. Keep your feet still.

No matter what kind of shot you're attempting, to make sure you control your effort to the point where you actually see the ball from the start until you hit it. Don't shift your gaze – not for an instant. Then you'll not have any trouble hitting the ball.

Your swing won't be stiff, or back too far or too short. The ball won't be hit too soon. Remember, don't look up for one second or shift your gaze until your club head reaches the ball. If you have a hard shot to make, put your whole mind on just watching the ball. Practice this and you'll quickly gain confidence.

Now let's talk weather – which can make any shot awkward! When the wind is blowing hard, you should bring your feet closer together. You might think that you just need to hit the ball harder when driving into the wind. But the key is to be more careful at this point to hit perfectly true.

The more difficult the shot, the greater freedom you need for the play of the muscles to bring it off. Here's a tip. The shorter the shot the nearer your feet should be brought together. The key is not to hit the ball as hard as you can. If you hit the ball hard when you first meet it with the club head, it will bounce away quicker. This reduces your distance.

Uncomfortable shots plague every golfer from time to time. Learn the basics of handling them, and you'll be swinging with more confidence and lowering your score significantly.