| Tricks to Become a Better Player—3-5 | | | | it. I've seen that happen time and time again with |
| TRICK 3: Don't Change Your Stance | | | | amateurs. |
| Instinctively, you might assume that the stance | | | | Put it this way, no matter how big a fade or |
| changes, depending on the golf clubs. Not true! | | | | draw you're capable of hitting, it's likely the wind |
| When it comes to full shots (not pitches, chips or | | | | will always win. So what do you do? Play with it! |
| putts), maintaining a consistent stance is critical to | | | | I've got a stiff wind blowing from right to left. |
| becoming a better ball striker. | | | | Instead of battling it, I've opted to hit a drawing |
| That's not to say there are minor adjustments in | | | | tee shot with hopes that the wind works |
| spine angle, ball position and stance width, but | | | | alongside me to move the ball from right to left. |
| generally, how you stand over an iron should not | | | | Also, since I'm playing with the wind and not |
| be far off from how you situate yourself with a | | | | against it, it's likely my draw will be more |
| driver. Notice the similarities in the photos above? | | | | pronounced, so I need to make sure I aim farther |
| This is what you want. | | | | right to allow for it. And by the way, if, by |
| TRICK 4: Make A Good Grip | | | | chance, my natural ball flight was a fade, instead |
| Better players always, and I mean always, have a | | | | of hitting a draw, I'd play for a straight shot and |
| fundamentally solid grip. To start, grip the golf club | | | | aim a little less right of the target. Either way, I'm |
| with your gloved hand and emphasize the handle's | | | | letting the wind move the ball back into the |
| placement in the fingers between the first knuckle | | | | fairway. |
| and the palm. Then, apply the ungloved hand so it | | | | Still not convinced? Well, had I played a fade, I'd |
| wraps comfortably around the handle. From there, | | | | have run a greater risk of pulling the tee shot |
| the thumb and index fingers of both hands form | | | | with the ball not fading enough or at all. And with |
| two Vs, both of which should be pointed | | | | that right-to-left wind, things would only get |
| somewhere around the right side of your chest | | | | worse. I'd be hitting my second shot from the |
| or right shoulder. Follow this advice and you'll have | | | | bear grass! If the wind were blowing the other |
| a solid grip. | | | | way, a better player knows to never fight a slice |
| TRICK 5: Play With The Wind, Not Against It | | | | wind. The play is to aim left and let the ball drift |
| Many amateurs fret about playing in the wind, but | | | | to the right back into the fairway. |
| better players know how to use wind to their | | | | Lastly, when playing in the wind, no matter which |
| advantage. For instance, better players know that | | | | way it's blowing, don't think you need to swing |
| no matter what type of shot you'd normally play, | | | | any harder than normal. Just accept the fact that |
| whether it's a draw, fade or whatever, how the | | | | wind is blowing, and although it may be in an |
| wind blows changes everything. You have to | | | | undesirable direction, the key is to avoid going to |
| make adjustments to make the wind work for | | | | war with it. This will foul up your rhythm and |
| you, instead of trying to hit a shot to fight against | | | | tempo, not to mention your scorecard. |