There is only one way to lower your golf score and consequently your handicap. Regardless of what others may tell you, the only place where shots are regularly lost is on and around the greens.

You know it, because youve been close to the green in two (whether you arrived there via the fairway or the short rough) but its taken you three, perhaps four more to hole the ball on that par 4.

It's so unnecessary. There is a logical, simplistic, approach to The Short Game of golf. You must be more efficient on and around the greens. It's essential that you have a good short game so that you can turn good golf into good scores.

Youll not only get a tremendous advantage from this, but, I promise you, much lower scores. After all that is what we want dont we?

Youve got to stop assessing the next shot and the club selection before you get to the ball. Dont think Oh, thats a wedge and then when you get there automatically play the shot without further thought.

Do you go and look at the grebe?

Do you walk round the ball, looking at the way the ground slopes if it does?

Are you in light rough or on the apron?

Do you consider running the ball to the hole instead of putting it in the air?

I could go on, but I think youve got the picture now!

Remember the old saying You drive for show but putt for dough. Does your putting consistently let you down? Do you go to the practice putting green before you play, or do you just play for fun and enjoy the company of your golfing friends regardless of how badly you play and hold up their round while you scratch around like a rabbit?

Putting is an almost exact science. You do know, dont you, that the swing path of the putter is, nearly always, slightly inside to straight through never straight back and straight through. I say nearly always because there is the odd instance where it is not true, but if you swing it slightly inside to straight through your putting will drastically improve - always assuming youve got the distance right!!

Ive seen so many golfers putting with the left hand glove (right hand if youre a left handed golfer) left on. You know, the putters handle feels son different on flesh as opposed to through leather. But, like any shot the ball only feels the club face. So to get the ball to perform the way you want it to, the putter has to perform correctly and the only thing that controls the face of the club is the way you hold it.

I know it's basic to say watch the club face hit the ball, but were always anxious to see where the ball has gone, so the tendency to lift the head too soon is always with us. Control that tendency and topping the ball will disappear.

Did you know there are no less than 19 problems you can encounter on and around the greens? Each one requires thought and concentration. Dont be distracted. If someone is talking, wait for them to stop. Yes, I know that in the Saturday morning 4 ball its difficult, but not impossible.

Think about your golf its worth it!

God Bless, keep swinging and Happy Golfing. .

Tony Bryan The Audio Ebook Guy.

Tony is a retired Finance Director, single handicap golfer and author of Golf- The Short Game at
http://www.tony-bryan-theaudioebookguy.com
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