(This article came from an excellent on-line publication, Newsmax Magazine, and was written by Brande Plotnick)
As an amateur golfer, you may not be playing in the company of the world’s top golf pros, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take tips from them to improve your game. Here are some tips from Phil Mickelson that are sure to help you be more competitive on the course.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new. Phil Mickelson tells Golf Digest that, even with an important competition looming, he’s not afraid to try new ways to keep his swing and wedge play evolving. He says the key is to keep the new techniques simple and easy to implement.
- Hone your short game. When practicing, know the precise distance between your targets so you can discover how much distance you get from your swing. Dave Pelz, with Golf.com had the opportunity to work with Mickelson on his wedge game, and he suggests working on shots between 20 and 130 yards away to fine-tune.
- Pick precisely the right ball. Pelz says this takes a lot of experimentation and practice. Mickelson eventually chose one that gave him the best control. Look for the ball that gives you the best distance off your driver, and has the right spin and control inside of 100 yards.
- Get your “ready” feeling. Mickelson told Golf Digest that he wants to feel athletic and well prepared so his backswing feels natural. This means his shoulders are level and not tilting and the heel of his front foot is planted firmly on the ground where it stays throughout the backswing.
- Avoid injury. Phil Mickelson has never sustained a serious injury in his impressive 23-year golf career. He told Golf Digest he attributes this to having a swing that’s not “violent.” He builds speed with the driver gradually, rather than having a short burst of speed at the end, and he doesn’t try to restrict his hip turn.