Golf is played by twenty million mature American men whose wives think they are out having fun.

One thing we are all taught when getting golf lessons is to keep your head still when you hit the ball.
Obviously this is not completely possible and even the best players in the game have some head movement during their swing.

Observe them next time you see them play and you will see what I mean.
There is one thing that all good golfers do manage to do and that is, they keep their head behind the ball at the point of impact.

They might have some movement on their back swing but they will ensure that their head is behind the ball when they strike it and that is what is most important.

You should certainly try to keep your head as still as possible and the less movement you have the better, however as you drive faster and harder you will naturally get more head movement.

While you need to control your head movement it is not something that you should have to focus on when you are playing.
This action should come naturally and that will happen more easily with practice.

Stroke it Don't Hit It

Young guys are the worst offenders of this.
A young string guy comes to the golf course and there is an overwhelming tendency to hit the ball.
It's the big drives that impress and big drives need big hits don't they?

I have done this myself only to be out-driven by a small lady or an elderly gentleman.

They were stroking the ball rather than going for the big hit.
This allowed them to have more control, which translated to more distance and they were hitting the ball better.
We all watch the professionals and see them hit the ball with fast powerful drives, but they aren't actually 'hitting' the ball.

They are actually stroking the ball albeit at a lot faster speed and a whole lot more powerful manner than people who 'hit' the ball.

This 'stoking' becomes all the more important with short play where a stroke will result in more accuracy and a more accurate level of distance for the particular choice of club.

If you are a 'hitter' of golf balls then you can start correcting this area of your game by concentrating on how you putt.

Everyone naturally has a tendency to stroke the ball on the green because they know that the distance can be achieved with a light touch.

The next step it to take that relaxed action to the next step with your short game using the pitching wedge, 9-iron and 7-iron.

Once you see how well the ball will travel and the additional control you have by stroking the ball you can then use that same relaxed flowing action with the other clubs in your bag.

As you move to your woods and then your driver you might be quite surprised how a change in action from hitting to stroking the ball will get you all the distance you have been aiming for effortlessly.

The Perfect Shot

There is nothing better than having a professional watch you while you swing your club to see what areas might need adjustment and improvement.

Golf lessons are a golfers best investment and this also applies to competent players.Not only could your golf improve but also playing better always adds to the enjoyment of the game.

No one ever hits the perfect shot every time, so that in itself shows that we all have more to learn.