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
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
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
Golf looks complicated from the outside: clubs, rules, etiquette, a dress code. In reality, you can start with a few lessons, a borrowed or second-hand half set and a bucket of range balls. Take a few lessons early A short series of group or individual lessons with a qualified coach gives you a sound grip, … Read more
Putting is roughly 40% of the strokes in a typical round, yet many golfers rarely practice it. Two skills matter most: rolling the ball on your chosen line, and controlling speed. Of the two, speed is the one that prevents three-putts. Setup and stroke Eyes over or just inside the ball, arms hanging, putter face … Read more
Each scoring barrier asks for something different. Breaking 100 is mostly about avoiding disasters; breaking 90 is about the short game; breaking 80 needs solid ball-striking and very few wasted shots. Work on the right thing for your level and progress comes much faster. Breaking 100: no more big numbers To shoot 99, you can … Read more
A better swing rarely comes from one magic tip. It comes from a sound setup, a body that moves in the right order and a rhythm you can repeat when the round gets tense. The good news is that the first of these is entirely in your control before the club even moves. Start before … Read more
Improving at soccer comes down to touches on the ball, decision-making under pressure and the fitness to keep doing both for 90 minutes. Here is how to work on each. First touch A good first touch buys time. Practice receiving the ball with different surfaces (inside, outside, sole, thigh, chest) and directing it away from … Read more
Strategy in tennis does not need to be complicated. At club level, a few principles applied consistently win more matches than clever but risky plans. A game plan is simply a decision, made in advance, about how you want to win points. Play high-percentage tennis Most points at club level end with an error. So … Read more
A good coach can save you years of trial and error. But lessons only work if you choose the right person, know what you want, and practice what you learn between sessions. Finding the right coach Look for coaches certified by a recognized organization. In the US, the main ones are the Professional Tennis Registry … Read more
