Set Up For Chipping Success with Mike Malizia

Studies show that 95% of all missed shots by amateurs can be traced back to their ad- dress position. Your setup writes the script to how you will swing the golf club. This part of the swing gets little attention by the average golfers, but is measured and assessed daily by the top professionals. You might not have the flexibility of Bubba Watson or the strength of Tiger Woods, but everyone has the ability to be able to set up like a world-class tour professional. Let’s look at the keys to a world-class short-game address position. This set up is completely different than the full-swing address position.

KEY #1 You must setup in a stacked position; this means your spine is vertical, just as if you were standing straight up. This position assures the club will be descending when it meets the ball (a quality found in all good short-game shots).

KEY #2 Your sternum needs to be in front of the ball (left of the ball for right-handed golfers).

KEY #3 60% of your weight should be on your forward leg where the weight remains throughout the entire swing.

KEY #4 Your hands should be in the center of your body. A common flaw for amateurs is to put their hands too far forward, which tilts back their spine causing fat shots and skulls. Practice in front of a mirror, and in no time your short game will reach new heights.

Hitting the Ball on the Green w/ Rio Ishikawa

Ryo Ishikawa is ready to take you to school. Literally. After ranking no. 1 on the PG tour in greens and regulations we figured he has a lot to share and he does. Read how to improve your game and get more green here...

When a golfer's approach shot misses the green on the side closest to the flag, it's known in English as being "short-sided." The Japanese don't have an exact translation for this phrase, and as far as Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is concerned, that's just fine. "When I hit iron shots to the green, I'm aiming for the safety space rather than a narrow space," says Ishikawa, 22, through a translator. "Because I do not take a risk, I get very calm and make a good swing." It's hard to argue with his results. 

— Ron Kasprise

Summer Time Golf Tips

It's summer time and according to Keegan Bradley that's the best time to work on your golf swing. Since relocating to Jupiter, Fl he has settled in to the year round summer season that's perfect for golfers. Here he shares a few tips and tricks to make the most of your summer and whip your swing into shape.

When it's deep into the season and you're not playing well, it's frustrating. This is when it's time to revisit some basics. To me, the basics are driving and chipping. If you can do those two things well, you'll be hard to beat. It's rare to mess up a short iron from a fairway that badly. And if you can chip the ball to a foot, your putter doesn't matter.

— Keegan Bradley

Hitting the Green with Martin Kaymer

Martin Kaymer is teaching us the tips for getting great results on the green. He's hitting on some of the most common amateur problems that golfers face and was generous enough to share how to improve it. Read this article to increase your success so for hitting the greens.

From what I see, many amateurs should improve their fairway woods. I think it's one of the biggest problem areas. Why? You don't let the club do its job. These clubs are designed to hit the ball high and far and find greens from long range, but only if you use them correctly. I think you'll have more success hitting greens with fairway woods if you play a fade. That's my stock ball flight. It's just an easier shot to control. 

— Martin Kaymer

Sharpen Your Skills with Lexi Thompson

Want to sharpen your golf skills? Lexi Thompson, LPGA's newest champion, shows us how to smash it on the green. She serves up some great advice for lowering your score and improving your game in this Golf Digest article. Read more to learn her moves and how you can make them your own.

To turn better, feel like you're stretching your front shoulder behind the ball. And stay relaxed. See Lexi (right, top): She's fully back but doesn't look rigid. The worst move is to grip tighter or lunge forward as you start down. It's important to note that Lexi sets up slightly open to the target, especially with her short irons. Her natural shot is a draw, so the open stance keeps her from getting the club too far to the inside and encourages a straighter swing path. She takes the club back nice and wide, which gives her that great high-hand position at the top

— Jim McLean

Golf Tips with Bill Horschel

Are you ready to improve your swing? This tutorial shares great tips for achieving greater distance and laser focused results on the green. Check out Golf Digest's instructional blog for improving your game. Want to hit like Bill Horschel? Here's how.

Most swings on the PGA Tour are built for either big distance or hitting lasers down the sprinkler line. And they're not hard to peg. Bubba Watson makes a giant backswing and really drives his legs. Result: 350-yard bombs. Zach Johnson stays centered over the ball and swings way shorter. Result: three out of four fairways. But sometimes we see a player like Billy Horschel who's a bomber and a control guy. Let's see what Billy does to keep up with the big boys and also keep the ball in play. Pick which tips you want, or be like Billy and take them all.

— Todd Anderson

The Rules of Golf

The game of golf has been around for many centuries. Each century reshaping the game until it became golf as we know it today. The earliest form of golf was recorded in 100 BC, as the Roman game of golf, Paganica. In Paganica, participants used a slightly bent stick to strike a stuffed leather ball. Golf has evolved tremendously since its Paganica infancy and has developed into an extremely popular sport. 

The benefits of golf are immeasurable, from the beautiful landscaping noted on hundreds of prestigious golf courses to the ability to play the sport well into retirement years. True golfers adore the game. However the rules of golf have changed many times over across its history. So what are the basic rules of golf and how are they applied on the green?

The game of golf holds true to three key rules, playing the ball, playing the course and fairness. According to the USGA and R&A, the rules of golf are centered on these three basic principles. Over the years there have been specialized rulings as a result of specific circumstances in competitive play but the regulations always point back to the golden three.

  1 -  A golfer must always play the ball as it lies.  
  2 -  A golfer must play the course as they have found it. 
  3 - A golfer must always do what is fair.

     If you would like to learn more about the rules of golf and how to improve your game our expert golf instructors can help you personally. Our Florida golf community located in the heart of the Treasure Coast is known for it's superior golf instruction and clinics. 

Technology is Taking Your Game to New Levels

The technology of golf is changing. Helpful tools have emerged to improve the game of golf and the golfer's skill set. This witty invention fits snugly into the back of your glove and monitors your swing. With this technology golfers can measure their speed, tempo and much more while playing a round of golf. Learn more about the new Zepp Golf Sensor.

There are several golf-swing analyzers on the market that let you download your swing to an app on your phone. What distinguishes Zepp's device is its placement on your glove. The Zepp golf sensor ($150) clips to the back of a glove, where it can track your clubhead speed, plane, path, tempo and backswing position. This data, along with a 360-degree motion capture of your swing, can sync to your iPhone, Android device or iPad via Bluetooth technology.

— Get to Know Your Swing By the Back of Your Hand

Putting Like Palmer

It's time for a little Putting 101. Putting is one of the most important skills necessary in the game of golf. This article lends a few tips to golfers for stepping up their putting game. Take some notes, grab your gear and get to the green. These tips will have you putting like Arnold Palmer in no time.

Arnold Palmer used to take putting advice from only one person, a virtuoso putter and fellow player named George Low. "He'd watch me putt for hours, and every once in a while he'd come over and say ... — Arnie leans in to reveal the great secret — "'Man, you're a great putter.' " It's our goal, in this special report on the art and science of putting, to have people saying that about you. For most golfers, putting is an afterthought. "Let me just roll a few on the practice green before we go" is the common refrain. But think about it: Putting is nearly half the game. If you want to play better, there's no getting around it: You must become a better putter.

— Why You Can't Putt

The Game of Golf for Beginners

It's easy to be intimidated by the game of golf. When observing professional golfers reading the green and analyzing swings, it can seem pretty complicated and confusing. Don't let that scare you away. The game of golf has many benefits, beautiful courses, longevity of playing time and more. This article serves as a guide to those entering the world of golf. Learn the language and the ins and outs of the green.

At Golf Digest, this may be the language we speak every day, but we also know it's a language that can scare prospective golfers off before they ever pick up a club. That's where this online beginner's guide comes in. To those who know nothing about golf, our goal is to shepherd you through this uncertainty. What kind of clubs do you need? How do you practice? When do you know that you're ready for the golf course? The way we see it, the only dumb questions about getting started in golf are the ones you're afraid to ask, or worse, the ones for which you can't find an answer. The whole point of this guide is to make sure that last part is no longer a problem.

— So You Want to Play Golf?