We all love golf, we talk a good game, and somewhere inside us is the perfect round.
So what have you done this past year to help you improve?

1) Practice at the driving range?
2) Had a lesson from a golf pro?
3) Read/watched instructional materials?
4) Had a video analysis of your swing?
5) Spent several sessions on the practice green?
6) Bought some custom fit clubs?
7) Practice at the chipping area from 10,30,50,70yds?
8) Joined a golf discussion forum?
9) Detail cleaned your equipment and bought some new gloves?
10) Had your grips replaced/fitted properly?
11) Something else?

Went to the range today, got 50 balls , and a token for another 50, coz I had a little time on my hands.

Shanked somewhere between 30 and 40 balls, and thinned the rest, apart from 2 decent contacts which were both pulls.

Didn't bother with the 2nd 50, so I went to the practice green to perfect my 3 putting.

Bah Humbug

My quick anti-shank tip is quite often you shank because your hands are too close to your body, not leaving enough space for the club to come back through... so it goes a bit wider around your legs - shank!

Make sure your hands are a good 4+ inches away from your thighs allowing space for the club to find it's normal path.

Most people think it's the opposite and try and move the hands even closer, making it worse

Hope that helps mate!

That's true. You can't just go out one day and you suddenly become vey good in golf. You need to practice and learn some techniques to improve your swing, your posture, and your mental capabilities (yes! we use our brains when we play golf). You need not be ashamed if you seek for help from a pro, it will really help a lot.

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Good topic

Of the actions that James lists, I've done all of 'em in the past year ! In fact, I've done most of them most years. What I fail to do is successfully translate the practice and preparation to the golf course, usually because I play too little. That's changing now - a bit late to the party, as it were, but a single-figure h'capper friend of mine has illustrated the value of summer evenings out on the course, even if it's just for a handful of holes, and sometimes on your own so that you can focus. I've started to do this now and feel it's a crucial element in the attempt to progress.

I agree 100% that going to a pro is a good thing, although I have to 'fess up and say there have been times when I wonder if I'm wasting my money, not because I don't think they're good pros, but because my game as a whole just hasn't improved. Of course, there are plenty of other factors that affect progress.

As for the range, my club membership includes range balls which is great, but sometimes it's more convenient to use a public range which is closer to me and unlike the one at my club is floodlight and so is usable during the winter evenings. I have found the cost of balls there to be getting quite high - £8+ for 120 balls and that's at a discounted rate which is levied when you buy a particular level of membership/ pre-pay card. Do you guys think that's pricey or am I just getting old ?

Slingshot.