• First of all, you need to understand two things – the driver is the longest shaft of the clubs that are in use, therefore make sure that your swing is shallow and not steep. Steeping your driver will spoil your drive.

  Also, another thing you need to keep in mind is that the driver possesses the minimum amount of loft that is present in clubs (other than the putter). So make sure that you use it for full swings and to get the maximum ascend on your drive.

• Select your driver according to your drive speed. An example can be that the players whose swing speed is low must use drivers which have high launch, with approximately 13 degrees of loft or more.
• Make sure that you tee the ball a bit higher. Almost half the portion of the ball must be above the top of your club.
• Here’s something we have to say about your stance while driving – take it an inch or two wider than the width of your shoulders.
• To make your swings shallower, make sure that you take your stance in such a way that your right hand is outside your chin. Also, stand more upright than in your other strokes and put your hands a bit away from your body than the irons.
• Your spine must be tilted away from the target and almost 60% of your weight should be on the foot which is away from the target (like on your right one if you are right-handed).
• To attain a smooth and a shallow, try hovering the head of your club above the ground which is behind the ball.
• Sweep the golf ball in such a way that your club isn’t steep.
• Practice drives frequently to make it your strong point. You can use the various driving drills available.

Apart from following these, make sure that you watch and observe when your partners and opponents play their drives. Looking at the way they play can help you a lot in knowing the result of a particular stroke. Also, you can take their help to correct any mistakes or difficulties that you might be facing.

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Taking difficult strokes as a challenge and trying to get through then successfully is something that you can definitely boast about when having a can of soda with your friends and fellow players. Also, these shots can be a hot topic for discussion after the game.

However, the truth is that not many recreational players go out there and practice these strokes. To help them, here is our list of difficult golf strokes and how to handle them…our way!

Plugged Bunker Shot
The complexity in this shot is that you can easily get the ball out of the bunker but you will fail if you try to get it closer to the hole as well. What you need to understand here is that the ball is in a pool of sand (or rather a hole) and when you hit it, it will come out considerably low. Because of this, the spin on the ball will be small and it will roll when it lands on the ground. To execute this stroke properly, close the face of your wedge and hit the sand which is very close to the ball in such a way that it comes out of the bunker.

Backhanded Shot
The complexity in this shot is that you have to stand on the side opposite to the one you take your stance on (with respect to the ball), facing away from the target. You have to do this when there is a bush, or a tree or even a slope which is preventing you from playing the stroke in your normal stance. This shot is difficult to play when you are planning to give it a considerable range. To get through it, turn your seven iron around and stand very close to your ball. Now, hit it with your dominant hand. You need to practice some swings in this position to get it right.

Downhill Chip Shot
Chipping downhill can also be difficult. What you need to understand is that you don’t need to hit the ball high. The slope will oppose it. To play this stroke, your shoulders must be angled with the slope. Next, make sure that your backswing is high and the follow through is low. Solid contact must be made with the ball.

Another tip we want to give is that use your putter for the shots which are close to the hole. Practice difficult shots if you want to be above others in the scorecard.

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So, rather than going around asking for advices, we suggest you to learn the basics of ball flight and be your own adviser and coach. They are the simplest explanations for what a golf ball does and why it does so. The basics given here are for a golfer who is right handed and is in the rightly aligned position.

Following is some information about the basics of the golf ball flight and its cause and effects:

Also, there are two other basics to be noted. They include a fade (a partial slice) and a draw (a partial hook).
If you try these single-handedly, the ball may not be able to make it to the hole. But, you can try these combinations in sets of two to achieve the desired result (which is usually getting the ball in the hole). These combinations can include some of the following:

• Pull-Slice
  The basic effect of this combination is that the ball starts moving towards the left of the target and then curves towards the right. The face of the club has to be kept open.
• Push-Hook
  The basic effect of this combination is that the ball starts moving towards the right of the target and then curves towards the left. The face of the club has to be kept closed.

While using these basics, you must keep in mind that these basics are secondary. The main thing you should primarily focus on is getting the correct position of the clubface because it decides whether your basic will get implemented correctly or not.

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The main problem that is attributed to missing putts, no matter what type of slope you are on, is based on the ability to read the green as a technique. The two main ideals that are a part of this are the technique that you are using for your hitting score as well as your ability to align your ball into the right area. The geometry that you will need to use for this will make a difference in how you are able to improve your putts.

In order to change your putting score, you will want to change the way you align and read the ball you are putting. Setting the alignment behind the line where you are going to put your ball, instead of reading it directly from the ball to the hole will help you to get a better shot. To do this correctly, you need to find an area where the apex of the putt is, also known as the maximum break. When you are aligning, you will need to look behind the ball and to the hole for the right setup. You will then want to walk between the apex and the ball to make sure the alignment is straight. When you get ready to putt, you want to aim for the apex, not the hole.

Focusing on the alignment with your putt and making sure you set up the lines correctly ensures that you are able to get the right movement into the hole. Refocusing your lines from behind the ball and aiming toward the maximum break, instead of the hole, can help you to get the most consistency with your shots and can help you to beat your score while improving your overall shots.

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The two experts that began the stack and tilt method is Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer. There has been several famous golf wins that are attributed to this stack and tilt swing method, some of them includes Valero Texas Open by Eric Axley in September 2008, Mike Weir’s 2003 Master Champion, Brad Faxon’s eight tour wins and Aaron Badley’s win in 2006 . With so many wins being attributed to the Stack and tilt swing, Bennett and Plummer are now considered amongst the most renowned teachers for professional golfers.

The three main changes that are made with the stack and tilt method, as opposed to the conventional method, are the setup, back swing and impact. The setup includes a stack over the knees, instead of a basic tilt that many golfers use. When the golfer moves to the back swing, there is a tilt in the hips and shoulders, instead of keeping a straight hip and shoulder. This helps to add in more strength for the downswing. The tilt continues through to the impact as the elbows remain straight and the club tilts upward to hit the ball. This adds in even more strength to the hit.

While most conventional methods would call the stack and tilt a fault, many are now finding that the slight alterations in body position are leading to stronger hits that are able to move the ball further than the conventional method. The shift in weight, as well as the level of impact that is made from the adjustments is leading to new alterations among competitors to move the ball further and into the green.

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A key checkpoint for a proper golf swing is to check your body posture at the finish.

Ideally when you finish a golf swing, your right shoulder should point directly at, or left of the target and would be placed higher than your left shoulder.

Try your swing in front of a mirror to see if you are naturally reaching this posture at the finish. If you do, it indicates that you have made a good weight shift and a full turn through the ball.

If you don’t – well, practice makes perfect !

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