| Preparing for a golf tournament, as golf instruction | | | | Work on those shots that you might encounter |
| explains, is one of the keys to playing your best golf. | | | | during the tournament --punch shots, fades, and |
| If you play in golf tournaments, develop a | | | | draws. Practice any type of shot that you think |
| pre-tournament routine that prepares you for the | | | | might help during the tournament. Hit a few of each. |
| day ahead. | | | | Use the same techniques emphasized in golf |
| One challenge when preparing for a tournament is | | | | instruction manuals. |
| time. You might not have much before teeing off, so | | | | Finally, a good pre-tournament routine includes putting. |
| make sure you get to the course early as possible. A | | | | The star drill helps you get the most out of your |
| pre-tournament routine gets the most of the time | | | | time on the tee. Find a hole on the practice green |
| you have and lets you work on a lot of things in a | | | | that has a slight slope to it. Then take five balls and |
| short amount of time. Structure in practice is | | | | spread them in a star pattern around the hole about |
| something that golf lessons preach anyway. | | | | 3 feet away. Practice putting from this distance. |
| Many routines start with stretching. It warms you up. | | | | Them move the balls out to 4 feet, always keeping |
| It helps prevent injuries. And it loosens the muscles. | | | | them in the star pattern. |
| Many golf tips describe stretches you can incorporate | | | | By spreading the balls out in a star pattern, you get |
| into a sound stretching sequence. | | | | the most common putts you'll face on the course. |
| Include stretches that focus on those muscles | | | | Pick out a target line. Visualize the ball going in before |
| receiving the greatest stress during your swing. | | | | putting. Then putt the ball. Do it just the way golf |
| Target areas are your trunk, thighs, arms, shoulders, | | | | lessons recommend. Also, try lagging a few long |
| neck, and back. The sitting trunk rotation stretch and | | | | putts, just to get the feel for it. Spend about 15 or |
| the shoulder-and-thigh stretch are two good | | | | 20 minutes putting, if you have time. There are other |
| stretches to include in your routine. These stretches | | | | drills you can use in place of the star drill. The key is |
| may not lower your golf handicap, but they will help | | | | finding one that works for you. |
| you avoid some common injuries as you get older. | | | | Golf lessons tell you to keep your head down when |
| A pre-tournament routine also includes time on a | | | | putting. Use your pre-tournament routine to work on |
| practice tee. Before hitting, take two or three clubs | | | | keeping your head down on putts 5 feet or less. The |
| from your bag and swing them a few times, just as | | | | earlier you look up on short putts, the more likely it is |
| many golf tips suggest. This exercise warms you up | | | | you'll miss. Many professional golfers, including Nick |
| and prepares your muscles before hitting a ball. Next, | | | | Faldo, wait until they hear the sound of the ball hitting |
| start hitting balls. Begin with a wedge to get a feel | | | | the bottom of the cup or know the ball has definitely |
| for your swing, then move to a mid-iron. Work on | | | | missed the cup before looking up. It's a good way to |
| swing technique while you hit the wedge and mid-iron. | | | | force yourself to keep your head down. |
| Concentrate on your swing trigger, if you have one. | | | | Another challenge when playing in a tournament is |
| Approach it the same way you would your golf | | | | that you might be playing a course for the first time. |
| lessons. | | | | If that's the case, find someone who has played the |
| After a few minutes of working on your swing, start | | | | course and ask him or her how it plays. Find out as |
| hitting the ball. Imagine yourself out on the course | | | | much information about the course as you can. That |
| and in a specific situation. Use your pre-shot routine. | | | | knowledge will help you during the tournament. |
| Visualize each shot. And hit it as if the shot counted. | | | | Actually, this is good advice anytime you play a new |
| Note the distances you hit each shot that day. | | | | course. Good course management can help you lower |
| Knowing how well you're hitting a club helps during | | | | your golf handicap. |
| the tournament when it's time to choose a club. | | | | Playing in golf tournaments is fun. It's a chance to |
| Select specific targets and try to hit them. It's | | | | play different formats and different courses, ones |
| important to play target golf, even on the practice | | | | you might not play otherwise. It's also a chance to |
| tee. In fact, play target golf whenever you hit a golf | | | | play against golfers with a variety of golf handicaps. |
| ball, unless you're working on a specific swing fault. It | | | | To play your best golf, develop a pre-tournament |
| helps you get the most out of each practice session, | | | | routine and follow it the day of the event. |
| as many golf lessons explain. | | | | |