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Titleist Tour Blog

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Archive for the 'Playing Tips' Category

Read the debate between Stack and Tilt versus the "classic" golf swing, as discussed by T.M. O'Connell and Dave Wedzik.

Track your statistics to get better at golf.

Stack and Tilt: a fad or a little bit closer to a universal golf truth? We'd like your feedback.

I also know that 90% of putts left short don't go in, but you probably already heard that one from Yogi Berra.

My keys to becoming a better putter.

Mac OS X users, we shed some light on a Dashboard Widget can help you score better.

The around the world drill is great for improving your putting under pressure, but increasing the distance after each putt will build pressure faster.

Sweep off the Pine Straw

Pine straw is an infuriating hazard, but if you play it like a fairway bunker shot, you'll be out - easily!

Regularly in the 90's? Lower your score without changing your swing.

Complete your Backswing

Making a full shoulder turn is critical to both distance and accuracy.

Long Bunker Shot? Chip!

Instead of whaling away at a 40-yard bunker shot, try a far easier chip. You'll eliminate the home run and get close to the pin, safely.

Can an iPod be the key to breaking 80? Perhaps…

A ball buried in thick Bermuda is a very difficult shot, here's how to make it easier.

Firm Sand? Pitch Your Way Out

Your sand wedge may not always be the best club to get out of a greenside bunker.

Finger Strength

Strengthening your hand (not your grip) is one of the most inexpensive ways to improve your golf game.

Less Is More

Next time you head to the range, get fewer range balls to hit, but spend more time on each one. You may be surprised to find out that less is more.

Playing in Gusts

Learn to read the gusts based on a little scientific knowledge and you'll play better in the wind.

We don't recommend farting after hitting a bad shot, but it may just counter the stress response.

Key on Focus

Finding a key to remind you to focus on every shot will kick you into the right mode.

Knee Bends

Knee bends are bad, but so are "knee-straightens." Keep your back knee comfortable bent throughout the swing for more consistent club-ball contact.

Give Me Some Space

Leave plenty of space between your body and your hands so that you can swing freely through the hitting area.

Shoulders and Chins

What's the point in looking up if you're only going to see a bad shot?

Rhythm Without a Pinkie

We pinkie swear, this one works by taking your top pinkie out of your swing.

Advice for Juniors

Eleven tips for junior golfers.

One-Handed Chipping

Amateur players tend to flub chips a lot, but it's impossible to scoop reliably with only one hand.

These are three keys to managing mental pressure. Why three? Because any more than that and you'd get bored reading. So, three it is!

80% Swing Speed

In Tiger Woods' DVDs, he mentions that his normal 8I travels 158 yards. The key? Tiger's normal swing is at 80%.

Driver Fitting

Instant improvement doesn't come often, so take advantage of it when you can. Get your driver fitted.

Grip Pressure Tendencies

Your grip is your only link to the club, and your grip pressure says a lot about you.

Putting with one hand improves your ability to sink them with two, according to Jackie Burke.

Swing Like a Hurricane

Casting" is releasing the club from the top of the swing and it results in loss of power and accuracy.

Wider When Windy Is Wise

Widen your putting stance during windy conditions to help keep your balance.

Lots of Tips

Beware of the tip mongers. Their tips are often based on their perception, not reality, and can be contradictory to your game.

Check Your Lie First

Start every shot selection with an inspection of the lie, as it has a great impact on the type of shot you can play.

Fairways to Heaven

Here's a great game from Chi Chi Rodriguez that requires accuracy, timing, and the ability to handle pressure.

Do you play golf like you've just walked out of a bar after slammin' back a twelve pack? In other words, how's your balance?

Can your shot shape be determined by the eye with which you watch the ball? You bet!

Feet Together for Balance

This drill is perhaps one of the purest drills for improving your golf game.

Understanding Bounce

Do you know what bounce is and how it applies to your game? Choosing the right bounce is important in every iron, not just your sand wedge.

The Purpose of Grooves

Clean your grooves!

Hybridized Chipping

The next time you find yourself around the green, do as Hamilton does: put that hybrid to work!

Balance Those Balls!

How much does a good ol' set of balanced balls matter? Quite a bit, it turns out!

What five key stats do the top players in the world have in common?

Use a towel to learn how to properly control the trajectory and speed of your chips.

Ball flight too high? Try moving the ball forward in your stance. Yes, FORWARD!!

Bowen’s Balls

An expensive training aid boiled down to tape and a pencil, the Sand Trap way!

Keep a Diary

Diaries aren't just for little girls, you know.

Swing Under a Hedge

Swing under a hedge to flatten out the low spot on your long irons and woods.

You won't actually hit the inside back quadrant of the ball, but trying to may help your scores more than you could imagine.

Grip Tips

Play around with your grip, making minor swing changes you feel necessary.

Swings of All Types

How does your swing compare to the lash of Tiger Woods? Find out here!

Tour Tempo

This isn't much of a swing thought, but then again, that's the point.

Proper Tee Height

What's the proper tee height? Half a ball, baby. Half a ball.

Clock Putting

Give this drill a try and let your inner putting instinct surface on those testy three-footers.

Practice with a 2-by-4 to improve your short game.

Mind Your Angles

Pay attention to the slope when pitching, or you may face an uphill battle.

BBs

Improve your hand-eye coordination by hitting BBs with broomsticks (and other silly games).

Grip, Grasp, and Ground

Check your grip, your gloves, and your spikes for wear. You'll see - and feel - the results immediately.

Know Your Etiquette

Knowing how to handle yourself on and around the golf course is very important.

Rod Through the Spine

Stick a giant rod through your spine next time you're on the range.

Set Makeup

Today's tip is simple: take a look at your set makeup and see where you might make some changes.

Grip Pressure

One tour player hits a fade by gripping the club harder with his top hand. What will you learn?

Left Armpit

Try sticking a glove in your left armpit - and keeping it there - throughout the swing.

Rule at Putting!

Use a ruler when you practice your putting and soon your opponents will be bowing down before you.

Walk Down the Line

Keep stepping down the line, hitting a ball with each step. You'll be surprised how easy it is to make solid contact.

Hook to Cure a Slice

A straight shot is halfway between a hook and a slice. Learn to hit one to cure the other.

Proper Swingweight

Match your swingweight to your swing and you'll be walking on air (and playing better, too).

Against the Collar

Your 3W, your putter, and your wedge can all be used to play a shot from against the collar.

Playing Sidehill Lies

How do you play from sidehill lies? Put more weight towards the uphill side and stay within yourself.

Practice the shots you wouldn't normally play in a fun little game.

Score!

You score with your wedges and your putter. Learn to trust them, and you'll soon be scoring too.

Butterflies are good. They demonstrate that you care.

Just Trust

Trust your swing. It's the only thing you've got, after all.

Get Into the Target

Good players have tunnel vision: they don't see hazards, just the flagstick.

Confidence Begets Confidence

Given two players of equal skills, the one who believes in himself more will win more than not.

Play in the Now

Play in the now means not worrying about your score, the next hole, or a birdie putt while you're on the tee.

The Past is the Past

The past is the past: worry about the next shot. It's the only one that matters.

Meet Small Goals

Set small goals - and meet them - consistently.

Them’s the Breaks

Golf is an unpredictable and sometimes unfair game. Them's the breaks.

Play to Win

"Playing to win" doesn't mean trying to pull away from your opponent on the first six holes - it means putting yourself in a position to seal a victory with great play down the stretch.

Play it Down

Playing the ball down teaches you these things, and allows you to more easily face obstacles when they present themselves to you in tournament play.

Cold-Weather Balls

Change out your regular balls when the weather gets chilly.

Regrip

You've only got one grip per club. Take care of it!

Putter Forward

Put the ball forward in your stance to hit the ball with a smoother roll.

Shoulder Alignment

An open stance is one thing. An open pair of shoulders is another.

Chip Hip to Hip

A little flippy with the wrists when you chip? Try chipping from "hip to hip."

Light a Match in Bunkers

Light a match to light up your bunker play.

Buy a swing weight donut and you won't regret it.

Breezy Easy

When it's breezy, swing easy

How’s Your Aim?

"Are you even aiming at the hole?" Well, are you?

Head Down the Line

David Duval doesn't do it. Annika Sorenstam doesn't do it. Both have been or are the #1 golfers in the world.

Tour Driving Distances

Tour driving distances may not be all that you expect…

Chip over Pitch

Do you chip and run or pitch more frequently? Odds are you've got it backwards.

A Consistent Putting Tempo

Find your personal tempo for better putting.

Waggle for Tempo

Waggling is a very small swing. How fast you waggle helps to determine your tempo.

When to Practice

When you practice is just as important as how you practice.

Any Wedge from the Sand

The long bunker shot is one of the toughest in golf, and attempting it with a sand wedge will likely leave you in a dreary position.

When you're faced with an in-between shot, choose the club that lands the ball on the green.

Putt on a Line

Most putting teachers, including Dave Pelz, recommend a "straight back, straight through" putting stroke. This tip helps you craft a simple line.

Play Catch

Practicing distance control doesn't have to be boring: turn it into a fun game of "pitch" and catch.

Finish Well

Your finish is often indicative of your swing: finish well to play well.

Swing Easy for Long Irons

As a general rule of thumb, swing your long irons easily.

It's possible to cheat within the rules of golf... and make more short, breaking putts when doing it!

Take a Lesson

Just take a lesson for Pete's sake!

Trick or Treat

Apply a little pressure to your practice by setting up a mini punishment/reward system.

Eyes Over the Ball

Are your eyes over the ball when you putt? Try this quick drill to find out.

Step Drill

Take a step towards a proper weight shift with this drill.

Overcome Caveman Golf

Golf is a game of risk vs. reward. Being realistic about the risks - and the reward - is the key to playing smart golf.

Putt to a Dime

Practice your putting with FDR to improve your concentration.

Shoulder Under Chin

Great baseball hitters say they can see the ball hitting their bats - there's no reason why you shouldn't try to see your clubhead meeting the ball as well.

Big Ball Between Your Legs

Imagine a big ball between your knees to stop a collapsing left knee.

Ball Position

Correct ball position is critical to good ball striking.

Tee Height

Experiment with your tee height to improve your shotmaking.

Use the Whole Tee

Use the whole tee box to maximize your chances for a good shot.

Keep it Shut

We take a break to offer you words of advice: finding someone who cares about your golf game is difficult!

Putt Aerified Greens

Putt on aerified greens to groove a smooth-rolling stroke.

Wedge Distance

Pitching drills help you learn distance control.

Sweep the Driver

Woods and irons require different kinds of shots. Sweep your woods to become more effective.

Putt with One Hand

Putting with one hand can improve the two aspects of putting.

Putt off the Toe

Sometimes putting off the toe is helpful as well.

Visualize Early

Use the time driving to the course effectively by visualizing your round.

Putt Long

Make sure you get your putt to the hole.

Chip off the Toe

Chip with the toe of your club in bad lies.

Pre-Shot in Practice

Practice your pre-shot routine on the practice range as well.

Play with Kids

Play a round with high school kids if you're playing a bit too conservatively lately.

Make a Game

When you're playing alone, get creative on the course by making up a game.

Blast Anything

Practice hitting balls out of bunkers by hitting anything BUT balls out of bunkers!

Choke Down for Control

When you are in between clubs, take the longer club, grip an inch down the shaft, and make your normal, positive swing.

Know When to Hit

Sometimes a nice, smooth swing won't get you very far. Sometimes you need to just hit it.

Long Par Threes

Play golf intelligently and score well, even if it means playing that difficult par three as a par four.

Bad Holes

Don't let bad holes get you down: fight to get those strokes back on the remaining holes.

Pause on Putts

Pausing on the backswing isn't just for full shots. Putts benefit too!

Hit the Logo

Imagine hitting your ball's logo from the tee to better your scores.

Just Putt

Get up and putt. Don't line it up, don't take a practice swing. Just putt!

Eight Seconds

You've got eight seconds to repeat your swing or all of your feel is lost.

Scoring

There are two kinds of mentalities: shotmaking and scoring. Which type should you employ?

Grip it Good

Get a good grip before you even consider stepping onto the tee or you'll be compensating all day long.

Putt with Your Wedge

Practice putting with your wedge to groove a steady stroke.

Film Yourself

Film yourself swinging to get a new look on your golf swing.

Play With Three

Play a round of golf with three clubs.

Long Putt? Aim Short…

Divide and conquer long putts to have a better chance at walking off with a two-putt, instead of three or four.

Slow Down in the Wind

Many players speed up - their swings, their pace of play - when playing the winds. Don't.

Experiment

Experiment in your back yard and reclaim the art of shotmaking.

Stretch

Stretching is a good thing.

Get Back to Safety

Stay down and power through recovery shots to ensure escape.

Love Your 3W

Make friends with your 3-wood.

Grip in the Fingers

Grip the club in your fingers - and lightly - for power and accuracy.

Practice Fades and Draws

Practice shaping the ball to get you out of trouble and to enhance general shotmaking.

Trust the Loft on Lobs

Trust the loft on your clubs when playing pitches and lobs.

Rhythm = Distance

Rhythm and Balance are the keys to distance from the tee.

Get it in the Fairway

Get the ball in the fairway on tight holes to lower your scoring.

Solid Base = Solid Pitch Shots

Keep your lower body quiet to hit solid pitch shots.

Take your grip after your stance when facing greenside bunker shots.

A Consistent Pre-shot Routine

A consistent pre-shot routine helps to establish a rhythm and keeps your mind from worrying about the small stuff.

Warm Up

Warm up and score better. It's that simple.

Listen for the Putt to Drop

Don't look for the ball to fall into the cup, listen for it!

Yardage Calculator

An online yardage calculator... that's useless.

The physics of ball flight are simple: your slice may not be a matter of swing path, but an open clubface.