Play Smart

Building the perfect pre-shot routine

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Christopher Smith – and the world-record holder in speed golf – shows Zephyr Melton how his pre-shot routine for speed golf can help simplify any round of golf.

Putting
russell henley practices putting at cadillac championship / carlota ciganda practices putting at mizuho americas open

Most pros do this when practicing putting — and you should too

In this edition of Play Smart, game-improvement editor Zephyr Melton explains a key putting practice routine that almost all pros do.
Instruction
jon rahm swings during liv mexico city as fans watch

How copying Jon Rahm’s backswing can improve your ball striking

In this edition of Play Smart, we take a look at the origins of Jon Rahm’s short backswing and explain how it can help everyday golfers.
Short Game
close-up of jordan spieth's wedge and golf ball next to his feet

Easily improve your wedge play by doing this 1 thing

In this edition of Play Smart, GOLF.com editor Zephyr Melton explains how using a launch monitor to map his distances dialed in his wedges.
Instruction
chrisopher smith stands next to golf.com editor zephyr melton as he runs and hits golf shot

Steal this speed-golf trick for more crisp and consistent ball striking

In this edition of Play Smart, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Christopher Smith explains how adopting a speed-golf pre-shot routine can help your game.
Driving
kyle berkshire finishes swing during world long drive competition

Hit longer drives by utilizing this overlooked key

In this edition of Play Smart, we take a look at an easy hack for more clubhead speed from long-drive pro Kyle Berkshire.
Instruction
A golfer swings on a lush green golf course with sand bunkers and yellow flags, surrounded by trees. A large clubhouse is visible in the background, and a circular Play Smart! golf logo is in the top right corner.

How many balls should you hit before your round? Masters data has the answers

What’s the ideal number of range balls to hit to warm up for your round? We analyzed Masters data to find out.
Instruction
A golfer in a gray shirt and white pants swings a club on a golf course. Graphics show 59% back foot weight and 41% front foot weight. Masters branding and Play Smart logo are visible.

This Rory McIlroy swing move (spotted by Masters tech) is worth copying

In this edition of Play Smart, we take a look at the re-centering move in Rory McIlroy’s swing that you should copy.
Instruction
rory mcilroy huts a tee shot during the 2018 pga championship
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6 things you can (actually!) copy from Rory McIlroy’s swing

Fresh off his latest Masters victory, Rory McIlroy is on top of the golf world. Here are six things to copy from the six-time major winner.
Instruction
rory mcilroy huts a tee shot during the 2018 pga championship
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What should move first to start your downswing? We explain

The moment of truth in the golf swing is the initial downswing move. But which part of your body should move first?
Instruction
A golfer in a yellow shirt swings his club as a crowd of spectators watches. Some people stand behind a rope, with one holding a red and black umbrella. The scene appears to be at a professional golf tournament.
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4 Masters champs explain how to hit their most epic Augusta National shots

Claude Harmon, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper and Fuzzy Zoeller explain how to hit the shots that carried them to victory at Augusta National.
Instruction
justin rose swings golf club during the 2025 fedex st jude
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Justin Rose has 4 tips to help you make more birdies

Justin Rose is like a fine wine — he only gets better with age. Here are four tips from the 45-year-old you can lean on to make more birdies.
Driving
fred couples hits driver during the 2001 williams world challenge
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How Fred Couples swings fast while looking so smooth

Fred Couples’ swing may look smooth, but it generates tons of power. Here’s how he does it — and what you can learn.
Instruction
bobby jones swings golf club while crowd watches
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Bobby Jones explains the simple secret to his smooth swing

Bobby Jones believed the key to a rhythmic golf swing was understanding how to “swing the clubhead.” Here’s how to do it.
Driving
anthony kim hits driver
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Anthony Kim’s 3 tips for hitting your driver straighter than ever

In a 2008 issue of GOLF Magazine, Anthony Kim shared three of his best tips for splitting the fairway with driver.
Approach Shots
joe plecker demonstrates how to find the center of your stance
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Find the center of your stance for better contact with your irons

Finding the true center of your stance will help you hit better shots with your irons. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Joe Plecker shows you how.
Instruction
golfer hits shot out of fairway bunker
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6 shots amateurs never practice — but they should

There are a number of shots that amateur golfers never practice. Here are six from Top 100 Teacher Tom Stickney that will help your game.
Bunker Shots
golfer hits shot from bunker with sun shining through the trees in background
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This common mistake kills your bunker game. Here’s how to fix it

Having trouble escaping the sand? You might be hitting too far behind the ball in the bunker. Here’s how to fix that flaw.
Fitness
motion analysis from proscreen with student next to it
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How high-tech mobility analysis diagnosed this golfer’s swing flaws

In this edition of Shaving Strokes, Top 100 Teacher Tom Stickney explains how he used Proscreen AI to help diagnose a student’s flaws.
Instruction
One move great players make around the greens
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This sneaky ‘toe tap’ move will improve your chipping instantly

Want to boost your short game? This simple drill will teach you to properly shift your pressure on delicate wedge shots around the green.
Instruction
golfer in yellow shirts celebrates on green
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Simple course-management tips for breaking 100, 90, 80 and par

Want to break through a scoring barrier this season? Follow these simple tips from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Joey Wuertemberger.
Driving
aldrich potgieter hits a tee shot

Want to hit longer drives? Use this drill to increase your attack angle

Hitting longer drives can be achieved by increasing your attack angle. Here’s an easy drill to practice that.
Driving
Split image showing golf.com editor zephyr melton watching drive sail left and then hitting straight drive

A PGA Tour coach taught me how to hit straight drives every time

GOLF.com game-improvement editor Zephyr Melton learned how to easily hit straight drives during a 30-minute bootcamp with Jason Baile.
Putting
Pro golfer Tyrrell Hatton reacts to a putt on the 18th green during the second round of the 2024 Masters.
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5 reasons you miss short putts — and how to fix them

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzel shares five reasons you miss short putts on the course — and shares some advice on how to fix it.
Bunker Shots
A golfer stands in a sand bunker, holding a golf club in one hand and covering his face with the other, appearing frustrated. He wears a patterned shirt, dark pants, white shoes, and a cap, with a textured bunker wall behind him.

This could be why your bunker game stinks. Here’s how to fix it

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Tommy O’Brien Jr. explains a huge mistake he sees golfers make from the sand — and shares an easy fix.
Instruction
Turn 50-yard shots into scoring opportunities with this simple phrase

How to turn crucial 50-yard shots into scoring opportunities

Struggling with your wedges inside 50 yards? Follow this top teacher’s easy keys to improve contact, gain control and build consistency.
Instruction
female golfer in blue shirt and navy pants swings golf club
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5 tips for better course management to easily shoot lower scores

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzel shares five tips for managing the course better to easily shoot lower scores.
Instruction
scottie scheffler swings during the first round of the 2026 players championship
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How to make a ‘picture perfect’ backswing

GOLF Teacher to Watch Jake Thurm explains how to make a better backswing, and how it can help you hit better golf shots.
Putting
ben crenshaw kneels to read putt during the masters par-3 contest

The most important part of putting, according to a Top 100 Teacher

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Tom Patri explains why speed control is so important for putting and how it can help you make more putts.
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Building the perfect pre-shot routine

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Christopher Smith – and the world-record holder in speed golf – shows Zephyr Melton how his pre-shot routine for speed golf can help simplify any round of golf.

Building the perfect pre-shot routine

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Christopher Smith – and the world-record holder in speed golf – shows Zephyr Melton how his pre-shot routine for speed golf can help simplify any round of golf.