“Golf cart” can mean two quite different things: the motorized vehicle you ride in, and the push cart (or trolley) that carries your bag while you walk. Both come in several types. Electric golf carts Most course fleets are electric. They are quiet, produce no exhaust and are cheap to run. Older models use lead-acid … Read more
From club competitions to charity days and the major championships, golf events use a handful of scoring formats. Each one rewards a different style and calls for a different strategy. Stroke play Every stroke on every hole counts, and the lowest total wins. Professional tour events and most club championships use it. One disastrous hole … Read more
Many golfers fear bunkers, but the greenside bunker shot is the only one in golf where you do not hit the ball. You hit the sand, and the sand carries the ball out. Once you trust that, bunkers become far less scary. The setup The swing Aim to enter the sand about two inches behind … Read more
Your hands are the only contact with the club, so the grip controls where the clubface points at impact. A small change in grip can turn a slice into a straight shot, which is why coaches often start here. Three ways to join the hands Overlapping (Vardon) grip. The little finger of the trailing hand … Read more
For most golfers, more than half the strokes in a round are played within 100 yards of the hole. Chipping is the fastest place to save shots because the motion is small and easy to practice, even in a backyard. A basic chipping setup Swing with the shoulders, like a putting stroke with a little … Read more
Many golfers arrive at the course, tie their shoes and hit their first drive cold. The first few holes then serve as the warm-up, and stiff muscles are more easily strained. A few minutes of preparation fixes both problems. Why dynamic, not static Long, held stretches before playing can temporarily reduce power. Before a round, … Read more
Distance is a mix of three things: how fast the club is moving, how well you hit the center of the face, and how the ball launches. Amateurs usually look only at the first. In practice, the second and third often give more yards for less effort. Hit the middle of the face A strike … Read more
Buying for a golfer seems easy until you realize they are picky about their equipment. A little detective work first avoids the “nice, thanks” reaction. Find out three things Consumables are safe bets Golfers go through balls, gloves and tees constantly. A dozen of their usual ball, possibly personalized with initials, is almost always welcome. … Read more
Golf gives you plenty of time to think, which is the problem. Between shots, worries about the last hole or the next hazard creep in. A few simple habits keep your mind on the shot in front of you. Build a pre-shot routine A routine is the same sequence before every shot: look at the … Read more
All golf balls look alike, but construction changes how far they fly, how much they spin and how they feel. The right ball will not transform your game, but the wrong one can cost shots around the green. How a golf ball is built The main categories Which one is for you? Weather plays a … Read more
