| Not every PGA pro hits every green in regulation. But | | | | under the eyes-is critical to sinking putts. It promotes |
| all are adept at saving par. Otherwise they wouldn't be | | | | consistency because your eyes help determine how |
| professionals. Weekend golfers, on the other hand, | | | | your muscles move. In other words, you putt where |
| struggle to save par-and it costs them. It adds strokes | | | | you look. And where you look affects perception. |
| to their scores and boosts their golf handicaps. If this is | | | | Maintaining the eyes over the target line keeps the club |
| you, don't be embarrassed. You're not alone. Plenty of | | | | moving along the line and directing the ball along this |
| golfers have the same problem. But you can change | | | | path. |
| that. By learning to hit par saving shots, you can | | | | Chip Like A Pro |
| dramatically cut your golf handicap. | | | | Jose Maria Olazabal is among the premier short game |
| One good way to learn to hit a par saving shot is to | | | | players in the world. He's always among the Tour |
| watch the pros in action. By studying how they do it, | | | | leaders in Scrambling-saving par after missing a green |
| you can learn golf tips that can help you get up and | | | | in regulation-with a 69 percent average. Like Ben |
| down more often. Previously, watching golf | | | | Crane whose putting technique is solid, Olazabal |
| tournaments on television was the only way to see | | | | features a flawless chipping technique. Normally, he |
| the pros in action. But thanks to the Internet, gleaning | | | | uses a piston like pitching approach. In it, the right elbow |
| golf tips from pro golfers is easier than ever. When it | | | | straightens as it applies force at impact. This increases |
| comes to saving par, keep an eye on Luke Donald, | | | | accuracy because it produces an accelerated stroke |
| Ben Crane, Jose Marie Olazabal, and Tiger Woods. | | | | and keeps the clubface on line-two keys to great |
| They provide great golf instruction sessions. | | | | chipping. |
| Make More Sand Saves | | | | Escaping From The Rough |
| Luke Donald is among the best young players on the | | | | When we think of Tiger Woods, we often think of his |
| Tour. He's also among the best at sand saves-with a | | | | booming drives or his deadly approach shots. But Tiger |
| save percentage of nearly 80 percent. That's | | | | also has an uncanny ability to escape from the heavy |
| impressive. Obviously, he has sand saves down to a | | | | rough. It requires both strength and technique-and Tiger |
| science. For him, the key to making sand saves is | | | | has both. You can learn a lot from watching Tiger play |
| adjusting his technique to his lie. He's learned to hit all | | | | shots in the heavy rough. For him the key to clearing |
| kinds of shots from a bunker, like the "fried egg." To hit | | | | heavy rough is rotating his chest and hips, preventing |
| a high soft shot with this lie, he stands square to the | | | | the grass from grabbing the club's hosel and closing |
| target line, places more weight on his front foot, and | | | | the face. In addition, he holds the clubface open by |
| opens up the clubface. These adjustments create a | | | | preventing his forearms from rotating. |
| higher, softer shot that rolls toward the hole when it | | | | If your golf handicap never seems to drop no matter |
| lands. | | | | how much you visit the range, focus on learning to |
| Sink More Putts | | | | save par. Do whatever it takes. Read golf tips on how |
| Ben Crane is always among the Tour's putting leaders. | | | | to chip and putt. Take golf lessons on putting and |
| He averages about 27 putts per 18 holes. His edge lies | | | | tackling the rough. And watch how the pros do it. You'll |
| in his solid fundamentals. A strong point is his ability to | | | | be surprised just how much you can reduce your golf |
| keep his putter underneath his eye line during the | | | | handicap just by learning to save par. |
| stroke. This symmetry-eyes over the line and putter | | | | |