Some players who come to me for golf lessons want new swings. They're not playing well, so they want revisit their swings. But golf is like life. Sometimes you get better one step at a time instead of making major changes. A minor change in the how we swing the club or the way we address the ball might not dramatically impact our golf handicap by itself, but string enough of these minor changes together and they do.



Take a friend of mine who recently made a series of minor adjustments to his putting mechanics. These adjustments were things you wouldn't think would male a major impact, like lightening up on his grip. But for some reason they-along with a slight increase in practice-have really helped him improve his putting. Never known as a great putter, he's made steady improvement with the flat stick. And the improvement is clearly impacting his golf handicap.

Below are 5 miscellaneous golf tips. None of them are earth shattering, so they may not dramatically alter your game. But they might improve it ever so much. Remember success sometime comes not from taking one giant leap, but from executing a series of small steps.

1. Pre-Set Your Left Hand

Here's a minor tip that ensures you have the correct grip. Pre-set your left hand (for right-handers) when gripping the club. Assume a handshake with your left hand, keeping your thumb and forefinger close together at the base. Rotate your hand clockwise until you see at least two knuckles. Then curl your fingers as if gripping a club. Slip your left hand onto your grip so the handle sits below the left heel pad. This puts your left hand in a neutral position, promoting clubface rotation through impact. Now add your right. If you can place your hands this way every time, you'll be a more consistent ball striker.

2. Tweak Your Set

Some experts advise against carrying four wedges. If you carry a standard 60-degree wedge and a standard pitching wedge of about 47 degrees, add a 54-degree wedge. That combination is versatile enough to handle any short game situation. Also, ditch your 3-iron and/or your 4-iron add a lofted fairway wood, a utility club, or a hybrid. These clubs are easier to hit. And get a driver with the right loft. Unless you swing speed rivals that of a PGA pro, you should a driver with at least 10 degrees loft to maximize carry and loft.

3. Devise a Game Plan

Developing a game plan for your home course is smart. It's also one of the best visualization techniques around. You can change your approach to the holes that cause you grief without ever visiting them, especially those holes that give you trouble. Assess your home course honestly, and then create a new approach to playing them based on the clubs you hit best. If you have problem's hitting your long irons, but you hit a 5-wood or 7-wood well, use one of those on those long par 3s. If you hit your irons well and you have a par 5 that troubles you, try hitting a 3-wood, a 7-iron, and a 7-iron to reach the green and avoid trouble.

4. Cross-Train Your Game

This is one I mentioned in my golf tips but it works. Don't just sit around when you're not playing. Try other activities that sharpen skills your need on the course. Chess teaches patience, improves focus, and sharpens strategy-making capabilities. Golf Video games help sharpen skills like reading greens, factoring in wind, and managing a course. Downhill skiing improves balance and strengthens hips, legs, and core muscles. Darts sharpens your aim concentration, and hand-eye coordination.

5. Get Cozy With Your Grip

Changing your grip too much gets frustrating. If your contemplating changing your grip, there's no better place to do it than at home. Setting your hands on the club correctly saves time and trouble on the course. Try placing a ball on the floor and swinging over it. By swinging without hitting a ball you can concentrate just on the feeling of the grip, without worrying about hitting the ball. Each swing helps. And when you finally get back to the course, the grip will feel natural.

These five tips won't suddenly change you from a player with a high golf handicap to one with a low golf handicap. But they may put you on the path to improvement without the help of golf instruction sessions. Remember what Chairman Mao said: The longest journey starts with the first step.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jack Moorehouse