Even the President of the United States needs his downtime. When he’s not relaxing in the Hamptons or pulling a bus tour across the nation, his destination of choice is the golf course. In fact, it’s been the preferred game of almost every President. Now, you might not be President yet, but you can still use these tips to improve your game.

To get a better workout and save money, walk the golf course, instead of using a golf cart. Walking the course will also help you become more familiar with the grounds and help you with your shots. If you walk, your muscles will be more flexible than if you ride. Flexibility helps your golf swing and the accuracy of your shots.

A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to make sure that you adhere to the rule stating that the furthest away from the hole shoots next. This is important because this rule is usually expected by everyone on the course and will prevent confusion, embarrassment, and possible injury.

The knees remain slightly flexed throughout every part of a good golf swing. Golfers may feel a natural tendency to lock their legs at full extension in either the back-swing or the follow-through. These urges have to be suppressed for perfect form. Good golfers keep practicing until they can keep their knees bent throughout their swing.

A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to make sure that you protect the heads of your golf clubs with covers. This is important so that they are not damaged by contact with other clubs and anything else that may come into contact with them. This also helps to cut down on the amount of noise caused when moving your carrying case around.

Watching videos of top golf players is a great way to improve your game without even really trying. Don’t be too lazy, though. Figure out what methods the top golfers use to succeed, and mimic those in your own game. The human brain has a remarkable ability to learn just by observing, but you still won’t improve without practicing.

Golfing is a fun and easy sport. It gets you outside and keeps you active. That is why people young and old can play the sport, and you can too! Just stick with it! You will not be any good at first, but that is okay. You may get embarrassed because your swing is different than others, or you take longer, but don’t! You are out there to have fun and challenge yourself, remember that.

Shoot for a better score than is absolutely necessary. Try to do one or two better than par for the course. The extra challenge will spur on your brain and your body to do better. Of course, you can’t take it too personally if you are not able to meet this goal, so don’t go overboard.

Consider bringing a small, high-protein snack, such as nuts, with you out on the course. Golf demands both physical and mental effort. When you eat a good snack all of that protein can keep your body and mind energized and free from fatigue so that you can concentrate on your game.

To test your grip for the right firmness, shorten your thumb. Place your left hand on your club in its normal grip with the thumb pointing down. Now slide the thumb up approximately one centimeter. You should notice a tightening of the last two fingers on the hand. This is what your pressure should be to allow for a proper grip.

Focus on the target. When you release the club, straighten out your arms as you hit the golf ball. Once you have done this, allow momentum of the swing to to continue until your hands are up quite high. While watching the ball in the air, hold the follow-through. When practicing, try not to force this motion, rather use your momentum to help your swing.

If you have a problem with your golfing swing causing slicing, check your back swing. The proper course for a club head to take is easier to find if you imagine a rope coming down from a tree attached to your club. At the peak of the back swing, imagine you’re pulling the rope straight down.

Learn the fundamentals of putting. When putting, the pressure in your hands should always be soft, as sensitivity is very important. If you grip the club too tightly or your grip changes during the stroke, you won’t be successful. Make sure that your hands don’t operate independently from your arms and shoulders. It should be a clean, careful stroke.

You really don’t have to be President or rich or in any position of privilege to be a golfer. The wealthy and powerful enjoy the game simply because it’s an enjoyable game that anyone can play. Make sure that you’re using what you learned here to improve your game. Take a few strokes off and work on your swing!