Four shots that will save you eight strokes
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By Tim Brown, PGA, With Mike Chwasky, Photography by Warren Keating
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I call it The New Math, but you can think of it as a simple way to cut strokes from your scorecard quickly and easily. As an instructor, I like to teach my students the basic premise that by adding to their technical repertoire and eliminating incorrect moves, they can effectively lower their handicaps. In other words, I believe that a good instructor subtracts as much, if not more, than they add. By eliminating inefficient and wasted motion and streamlining your technique, you’ll be making a giant first step toward improving your swing and your scores.
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By Frank O'Connell, PGA, With Ryan M. Noll, Photos by Warren Keating
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 By now, you’ve probably realized that hybrid clubs are a lot easier to
hit than traditionally shaped long irons. The ball flies higher and
lands softer with a hybrid, making them ideal for shots deep in the
fairway that require a soft landing on the green. But what you may not
know is hybrid clubs are also designed to perform well from a variety
of other locations on the golf course. From the rough, the fringe, even
the bunker—the hybrid can be an effective tool for saving your score.
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By Rick Sessinghaus, PGA, Photo by Warren Keating
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 Step 1: Observe. As you
approach your shot, take in the entire environment, including your lie,
yardage, wind, hazards and your intended target. There’s a lot of info
to process, but with a little practice, it’s easy to do.
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Learn to improve your scores without changing your swing
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By Chuck Winstead, PGA
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 What’s your goal in the game of golf? If it’s primarily to enjoy the
outdoors or spend time with friends and family on the links, then you
probably don’t need a lot of instruction. For most of us who love the
game, however, the challenge of playing well and competing is a major
part of why we’re hooked. Of course, having a fun day out of the office
and in the open air is part of it, but if most golfers were really
honest, they’d admit that shooting the lowest score possible is the
ultimate goal. And there are so many ways to improve your scores that
there’s really no excuse for not getting better.
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Many popular swing tips and equipment theories are just plain wrong
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By Lana Ortega, LPGA; Photography by William Swartz
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 If you practice your backswing at a gas pump while talking on your cell
phone, the station will explode. It’s myths like this—though hardly as
ludicrous—that can send golfers who need the right answers into a
tailspin. The trouble with myths is that most sound reasonable, and
usually are passed from one golfer to the next with only good
intentions. Nevertheless, the common tip shared across grill room
tables and on tee boxes nationwide tends to do more harm than good if
only because the true reasoning behind the suggestion is misunderstood.
Let’s clear the air, shall we?
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Change your game without changing your swing
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By Lana Ortega, LPGA; Instruction Photography by William Swartz, Course Photograph by Warren Keating
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 There’s little doubt that proper swing fundamentals and short-game
techniques are important parts of a consistent golf game. Good golf,
however, isn’t purely about perfect mechanics; it’s also largely about
strategy. Fortunately, there are several key strategies anyone can
easily utilize to produce lower scores. Better yet, using your smarts
is a lot easier than trying to create a fundamentally perfect backswing
or impact position. In this regard, the title of this story holds
true—you can score better without changing your swing.
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Great swings begin with great starts
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By Shawn Clement, Photography by Warren Keating
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 Many of my new students ask me about how to correctly initiate the golf
swing. They want to know what trigger will allow them to start their
motions smoothly and on the correct path. This common question comes
from those who suffer from a condition that plagues everyone, from
novices to touring professionals. I like to call it “paralysis by
analysis.”
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Easy keys for making the most of every swing during every round
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By T.J. Tomasi, Ph.D.; Photography by Warren Keating
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 Are you one of those golfers who absolutely pures it on the practice
range with every club in the bag, but eventually goes into the tank
during the course of play? It’s an unfortunate scenario experienced by
a vast majority of golfers, most often caused by too little time
dedicated to practice or too long a time period between rounds. For
most golfers, the onset of trouble starts on the very first tee, where
high anxiety invariably sends the tee shot deep into the woods.
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By Eddie Lee, Photo by Warren Keating
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 Summer is rapidly closing in, meaning you probably have a golf vacation
or two lined up. While the unfamiliarity of a new course may be your
primary concern, you should consider the ill effects of another resort
golf experience: the mandatory use of carts.
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How do you really lower your scores? A change of approach can lead to a favorable change in score
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By Chuck Winstead, Photography by Warren Keating
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 Many of you scour the pages of this magazine looking for the magic
answer to this question. If that’s your motivation, then this article
is for you. On the following pages, I’ll show you how to drop strokes
from your game by simply changing your approach on the tee box and on
the putting green. After all, if you can get down the fairway regularly
and hole the putts you’re supposed to make—and some of the ones you
shouldn’t—you’ll be well on your way to playing your best rounds ever.
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Instruction 
