One piece of advice

If you could give 1 piece of advice for golfers whatever their level what would it be.

I,ll start and i,ll give 3 as its my post.

1. slow your drive down. Sounds stupid, aimed at higher hcps.

2. comitt on short putts. Ram it in.

3. During a bad patch. Stare at your ball during and after your shots.

All these things work for me. Got any tips?

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

1)  Don't listen to swing advice* from fellow players during a round - they will lie to you or are just winding you up.

2)  Give lots of swing advice to your fellow players during a round - they may not know you know about rule 1

3) Pick a club for a shot and stick with it unless it doesn't feel right for you when you step up to the shot - do not take any notice of what fellow players use,  even the one who pulls out a driver for a 120 yard par 3...

* The exception being John Pettitt, far too much of a gent to offer anything but useful advice.  Eh, Darren? 

Allways try to hit a full shot. if you bail out on a shot you won't follow through and you'll hit a bad 'un. Don't take a club more and half hit it , if the shot is half a club more then take a club more, hold it down the shaft a bit and do a full shot.

p.s. obviously for chipping on to the green or putting you won't allways do a full shot.

If you cant play a particular shot 8 times out of 10 dont play it...................so quilty of this

Dave, so loving this!  

During a bad patch. Stare at your ball during and after your shots.

I've tried shouting at it as well but doesn't work

Swing easy when it gets breezey.

Go to a decent range or practice field and find out how far you carry each club, then you can work out what to hit when you look at the yardage chart without so much guessing.

Slow your swing down, unless you hit it perfectly!

Best advice I had as a beginner from my first coach was "Club up, swing smooth".  You've more chance of getting a 90% 6 iron onto the green from 150 yards than a 100% 7 iron.  You'll over hit the 6 iron less times than you'll leave your 7 iron short

Keep the ball in play

Concentration is the key to good golf.

Dont base your club selection on hitting the perfect shot as posted in another thread it seams that the perfect shot is only struck 4 or 5 times around. So if you think that it is a seven iron to clear the water, but if you don't strike it absolutely pure it will be in the water, club up and make sure you can clear the water even with a slightly miss hit shot.

My brother has a good little tip, never play over an obstacle that isn't there.  

Very good Tim I see so many juniors play flop shots into greens for no apparent reason.

Another one heard recently, please correct me if im wrong. If there is danger on the left ( big lake etc ) tee the ball high this makes a draw very difficult so you should be straight or right. Vice versa (tee it low)with danger on the right.

Post changed on chris's advice so now correct ( I think )

Dave CAC handed Geordie

Other way round Dave. Well it is for a right-hander anyway

Most important listen to your caddy ,he's always right thats right ain't it Steve.

Best piece of advice anyone can give is that golf is the worlds most fustrating game ever and also the most adictive so just don't start. It will ruin your life and you will never have any money left because you will spend it all on balls, clubs and drinks to drown your sorrows after your dismal performance in the monthly medal. Worst of all just when you think you have had enough and you are never going to play again from somewhere comes the greatest shot you have ever hit and it drags you back in.

"Most important listen to your caddy ,he's always right"

thats what i always say.........eh tim hawkins!!!!!!

• Play within yourself
• Don't take on any 'hero' shots

 Come on John, you love watchin my hero shots!! - Social golf only now of course!!!!!

Never ever attempt to play on an empty gut. You won't be able to control your limbs properly otherwise.

The best "tips" I ever heard were from two of the all time greats when advising amateur partners.

1. Lee Trevino asked by partner at a Pro-Am "How do I get the ball to spin back on the greens?" 

Trevino says: "Tell me sir, how far do you hit your 9 iron?"

Joe Blow: "I guess about 100 yards, maybe 110 if I really nail it"

Trevino: "What the hell do you want to stop it for?" 

2. Amateur to Christy O'Connor Snr - "How can I get more distance with my driver?"

Christy: "Hit it a ****ing sight harder mate!" 

practise your putting.  putting well will probably save you a few shots over the round.

practise your putting.  putting well will probably save you a few shots over the round.

1. Aim at something.

......"The fairway" is not a target, it's the playing field. In archery do you just aim at the board? - no you pick the exact target, shoot and then measure your result.

2. If someone asks for advice try not to give it - it won't be what they want to hear and they will then blame you for the disaster of a round

Cut your driver shaft down.

Dont aim at something if, when is goes where you aim its not a good result.

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

Hit it as far as you can , then go find it !

OR,

listen to pro players and hold your finish as long as i now do !!!!