Attempting to use manual draw and fade can be a frustrating experience, especially when you are used to the ease of simply dragging your target circle around in the standard swing mode. While using manual draw and fade can add a new challenge to your game, the system itself can be a bit finicky and it takes some effort to get used to. In this short article, I just want to outline some simple steps for players to follow to, at the very least, get their manual draw and fade working. Continue Reading »
Tags: Approach, consistency, draw/fade, Driving
I’ve heard from a lot of players that they have difficulty hitting the green in regulation. While their aim is usually spot on, they often find their ball rolling off the back of the green or coming up short. Most advanced players can hit their greens in regulation consistently, but you may be surprised that it’s easier than you think. In this article, I am going to discuss a few quick tips for making your approach shots land on the green. Continue Reading »
Tags: Approach, club tuning, elevation, loft, slope
Many newcomers start out playing the game by going through the PGA Tour events or by hitting the Tiger Challenge. They start boosting their skills and find that they are making more and more birdies. Then they go online and are absolutely shocked that they only get 30 seconds to make their play! When you’re used to taking a minute or two to line up each and every shot, checking every condition twice, it can be brutal to suddenly be forced to take your shot in 30 seconds or less. In this article, I’d like to offer some general strategies for improving the speed of your play. Continue Reading »
Tags: general strategy, shot clock
Consistency on your approach shots is extremely important, because the result determines how and from where you’ll be putting. While hitting into the green with medium to short irons will usually allow you to find some club that will work at 110%, those partial-power full shots with your wedge are what really require a certain amount of finesse. In this short article we’re going to discuss how to define power zones for your wedge and also how to gain consistency when actually swinging your Wii remote. Continue Reading »
Tags: Approach, basics, consistency, power level
Once you have the basic mechanics down for putting, and you’ve even learned how to properly adjust for elevation, there is yet another factor that you must take into account. The slope of the green will be the main source of frustration in your putting game. Successfully adjusting for breaks in your putting line is a skill that must be learned before you can start adding more birdies to your card. While your putt preview will sometimes show only gentle breaks in your line, it’s your reaction to moderate to severe breaks that will separate your game from those of the advanced players. Continue Reading »
Tags: putting '09, slope
When first experiencing online play, the shot clock can be quite shocking to newer players. When you’re used to taking all the time you want to line up shots, 30 seconds doesn’t seem like much when playing online. Practice and experience are really the only things that can help a player overcome fear of the clock. But what if you are comfortable taking shots within a time limit? Should the clock be forgotten once it’s been conquered? Absolutely not! Continue Reading »
Tags: general strategy, shot clock
Your drive off the tee will probably be one of the easier shots you’ll experience on any given hole, mainly because it’s very forgiving and you usually will have a huge target at which to aim, that being the fairway. But players may still find some difficulty in achieving a maxed-out, 110% swing, or even a full swing at 100%. The purpose of this article is to give you some tips on how to add overall consistency to your power levels while driving, and how to achieve a 110% power level on command. Continue Reading »
Tags: consistency, Driving, power level
Over the past few months I’ve seen many questions by newer players on how and when to use loft in their shots. Loft is an important tool that, while not completely necessary to your approach shots, can add accuracy and consistency to your game. First of all, for those not familiar with what loft actually is, let’s talk about what it means and how it affects your shot. Continue Reading »
Tags: Approach, loft
Whether you love it or hate it, it’s there, and it’s arguably the most important part of your game. I’m talking about putting, and without a solid knowledge of the basics, you will meet frustrating loss after loss when competing online. One of my favorite quotes about golf didn’t come from a legendary player, and it isn’t filled with timeless wisdom or abstract analogies of the game. In fact, I can’t even remember who said it, but it was about Jack Hamm. Jack holds pretty much all the records for longest drives, and consistently hits the ball over 450 yards without the assistance of wind or even rolling! I once heard a PGA Tour player say about Hamm, “If Jack could learn to three-putt, he could easily be in the top five of the PGA Tour, simply because he could drive 60% of the greens.” I love that quote because there’s so much truth there. To be the best at something like golf, you can’t be good at just one thing. If you can consistently get to the green in two shots, and maybe one on occasion, you’ve got the foundation of a great game already built. But if you two-putt, you’re dead. Continue Reading »
Tags: basics, putting '09
If you love putting in TW ’09, you probably have already figured out the methods that work best for you. But if you’re still trying to get your putting average down below 1.75/hole, particularly when the green speed is set to fast or slow, then these recommendations are worth a try. Continue Reading »
Tags: elevation, green speed, putting '09