Getting its start in the Highlands of Scotland and eventually branching out to various locations across the globe, golf is now one of the biggest sports in existence, enjoyed by millions of people. If you’re one of the millions, you may be looking at a few ways to get better at the game. Try these tips on for size.

Try taking swings from the opposite side to improve your game. If you are a lefty address the ball from the opposite side for a while. You should have a better swing when you return to your usual stance.

When you’re on the market for new clubs, consult with golf pros before you make your final purchase. They can help you find the club that best suits you and will know about the newest available clubs.

If you try to be on-plane at the top of your golf swing, you will be able to guarantee a solid ball strike as well as have much greater accuracy. Place your forearm so that it is parallel to you spine. Also make sure to rotate your shoulders into the back swing.

A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to make sure that you do what you do in practice on the course. This is critical because good practice will result in good play an vice versa. If you fool around during practice then you will only hurt your form.

A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to make sure that you know what club to use in each situation. This is extremely important because each club is made a bit differently and will greatly affect the outcome of your hit. If you are unsure, consult with someone who does know or read up on it beforehand. It is not uncommon to seek the advice of a friend or caddie while on the course.

A helpful tip to golfing is to make sure that you are hitting with a clean club. The face of the club can easily get dirt on it and cause you to have unexpected results. Make sure all of the grooves are completely free of dirt and mud before hitting the ball.

A good way to maintain constant improvement in your golf game is to concentrate on trying new things instead of obsessing over techniques you have problems with. Not every golfer can master every subtlety of the game. Instead of ramming into a wall over and over, keep your head up and look out for alternative paths around the obstacle.

Make sure that you are connecting with the bottom part of the golf ball. If you swing too high, you will deny your shots any loft and end up “topping” the ball. To fix this, you can place some sort of coin beneath the golf ball and practice connecting with it. Overall, be sure to swing for the bottom of the ball.

When swinging the golf club, watch your left knee. Does it collapse toward the right knee? This is a common beginner mistake that affects balance. Try imagining your left knee going toward the target on the back swing. If you have trouble with that, imagine holding a basketball between your legs while you swing.

Keep your eye on the ball! This is repeated in every sport, but is also true in golf. When swinging, keep your head down and look at the ball, and follow its motion as you finish your swing. This helps line up your body in the right position for straighter shots.

Adopt a proper position over the golf ball. Stand approximately 20 to 24 inches away from the ball. Make sure that your shoulder is facing the target. Ensure that your left foot is directly underneath your left shoulder. Remember to flex your knees, as this will help you to shift your weight with ease.

In golf, shanking is the act of hitting the ball too close to the rod of the club, at the hozel. This is usually caused by putting too much weight on the toes rather than distributing weight evenly in your stance. Try to keep your feet firmly planted to avoid shanking.

Always stand a few feet behind your golf ball, and keep your gaze on the spot where you want it to land. Keep in mind the wind and any other weather conditions that might affect your stroke. This is the time you will need for weighing your shot options, determining your alignment and locking on your target. When it is time to actually take your shot, you will achieve much better accuracy.

What you’ve learned by reading the tips above is that there are no magical, instantly-working tactics you can apply to go from 16 over to 4 under in one round. It just doesn’t work like that. But if you can implement these tips and work on your overall game, you can begin to experience what it’s like to be a good golfer.