The Keys to Consistency

• 1). Master the fundamentals. Golf is all about balance, not gripping too hard or too loose, not putting your ball too far forward or too far back, not lining up to the right or the left of the target, not shifting your weight too much to your toes or your heels and not having your stance too wide or too narrow. It's a lot to think about, but here are some keys to a proper setup. Stand so your body is parallel to the target line with your feet separated by a shoulder's width. Center the ball in your stance when you're using short irons. Shift your ball a ball's width closer to the target with medium irons and two ball's widths closer for long irons and fairway woods. When you tee off your ball should be three ball's widths forward from the center of your stance. As you swing keep your weight on the balls of your feet, your knees slightly bent and turn at the hips. Never take your eyes off the ball until you've finished the follow through.
  
  
• 2). Think like a winner. Like any other sport or most anything you do, your state of mind has a lot to do with the outcome. Professional golfers always visualize their shots before making them. If you picture a perfect shot in your mind and visualize your ball from the pin to the target you'll program your subconscious to give your body the input it needs. Even if things go wrong, it's important to believe in yourself and stay positive. After a bad shot, give yourself a moment to release the frustration, then forget about what just happened and refocus on your next shot. Sometimes recalling a happy memory can put things in perspective.
  
  
• 3). Develop a routine. Another thing all professional golfers have is a systematic way they approach every shot. This routine is a security blanket they don't even have to think about and it automatically ensures that their setup will be the same every time. You need to create a habitual routine like this for your style of play and it should start with your club face and work its way up through your body. Always begin the routine with your club square, your shoulders parallel and your feet slightly open or square to your shoulders. Approaching every shot the same way will make you a more consistent player.
  
  
• 4). Refine your swing. If you want a consistent swing you need to stop your backswing at its natural limit. If you turn too much you'll lose control and be less likely to make solid contact with the ball. Practice your backswing by getting in your stance and lifting your right arm as if it's holding a serving tray. Move this imaginary tray as far behind your right ear as you can without straining or rotating your hips. Now use your left hand to bring the club to your right hand. According to Golf.com, if you stop your backswing here you'll eliminate 70 percent of the errors that mess up your shots.
  
  
• 5). Learn good putting habits. Many games are won or lost on the putting green and often a poor stance has something to do with it. Always line up close to the ball when you're putting, with your club head flat on the green and square to the hole. You also need to stand with your head directly above the ball. You can check your stance by holding a second ball between your eyes and dropping it. If you're lined up properly it will land on top of your first ball. When you swing, do it with your shoulders in a smooth, pendulum motion and don't break your wrists. If you do this consistently you'll improve the accuracy of your putting.