A portable summary of 11 key lessons

Golf Digest, August, 2004 by Hank Haney

Go Out on a Limb for Accuracy

BY GARY McCORD, Golf Digest Professional Advisor

I know, practicing your short game can be boring. One thing I do to break up the monotony is hit pitch shots at a tree with limbs of varying heights. You have to be creative around the greens, and this drill shows you how to change trajectories with your short shots. (From page 183.)

Drain All Your Three-Footers

BY GARY McCORD, Golf Digest Professional Advisor

Those cushioned bumpers they put in the gutters of a bowling lane are meant to keep you from rolling 10 straight gutter balls. When I have a short but missable putt, I imagine a gutter from the ball to the hole. All I have to do is hit the ball, and the trench will funnel it into the cup. (From page 180.)

Turn in Knee for More Power

BY GARY McCROD, Golf Digest Professional Advisor

You can make a full backswing by allowing your left knee to flex and turn behind the ball, as I'm demonstrating above. This helps you make a bigger shoulder turn and sets up a powerful downswing, because the club will have more time to pick up speed as it approaches the ball. (From page 178.)

Try My 'Nipper' to Save Par

BY ERNIE ELS, Gold Digest Playing Editor

My "nipper" pitch stays low, takes one hop and stops. I use it anywhere from 20 to 40 yards off the green. To hit it, play the ball back in your stance. Staying stable over your legs, turn your shoulders until your arms get to waist height. Keep your left wrist firm as you hit down on the ball with an aggressive blow. (From page 42.)

Learn to Hit the Low Fade

BY JEFF RITTER

To hit a low shot that curves left to right, play the ball back, aligned almost with your rear foot. Your shoulders should be nearly level and your weight should favor the front foot. The clubface starts in a closed position and rotates open during the swing. As you rotate the face, the left wrist will flatten and the right wrist bends toward the sky. (From page 148.)

Square Clubface to Swing Path

BY DALE PALUSZCYK, Golf Digest Schools Instructor

You need a grip that will help keep the clubface square to the swing path. The V's created by the thumb and the forefinger on each hand should point between the right shoulder and chin. Next, square your shoulders to the target line. You should be able to see your left shoulder as you look at the target. (From page 184.)

Make More Pressure Putts

BY TIGER WOODS, Golf Digest Playing Editor

On must-make putts, I focus on speed. I trust my ability to read putts, but if I get the speed wrong, it doesn't matter. On breaking putts, I focus on one spot and try to stroke the ball over that spot at the right speed. For solid contact, I also keep my head still as long as I can. (From page 47.)

How to Hit On-Line Iron Shots

BY DAVID LEADBETTER, Golf Digest Teaching Professional

To hit solid iron shots on par 3s, tee the ball fairly low and then take a nice, solid divot after the ball. A good image for this: Imagine the back of your left hand is the clubface. It needs to be flat, parallel to the target line and ahead of the ball at the point of contact. This is the common denominator of all good iron players. (From page 44.)

Save Shots with a Game Plan

BY TOM WATSON, Golf Digest Playing Editor

A good game plan for an average amateur would be to take three shots to hole out from 40 yards in. Never four. For an advanced player, the goal should be to get up and down in two shots more often than not. Getting up and down two times out of three is a good round of golf. (From page 41.)

Always Aim the Clubface First

BY BUTCH HARMON, Golf Digest Teaching Professional

Good players begin by aiming the clubface first. Examine the target closely, then look down to make sure the clubface is aimed exactly on the line where the ball will begin its flight. Only then do you place your left foot in position and make final adjustments with your feet and your shoulders. (From page 50.)

Learn to Hit the High Draw

JEFF RITTER

To hit a shot that starts high and curves right to left, play the ball closer to your front foot than to your right. This adds loft to the shot. Tilt your shoulders back. Start the swing with an open clubface, but shut it through impact. Make an aggressive swing, keeping the right wrist flat and the left wrist cupped into a full finish position. (From page 149.)