Choosing the right graphite golf shaft might be among the most complicated tasks you will undertake. The reason is simple — there are more variables and options to choose from than you can shake a shaft at. Although it’s possible to do it yourself, it could take you months if not years to find the best shaft. Yet, it’s a crucial decision if you want to play your best. As “Golf Magazine” notes, “Choosing the right shaft is crucial to lowering your scores as well as giving you the feel and control you desire.” The articles goes on to state, “You can make the process easier by working with a qualified club fitter or professional.” “Golf Tips Magazine” is even more blunt — “leave the details to someone knowledgeable and simply get fitted by a professional club fitter.”

Some golf instructors don’t focus heavily on the hands and wrists, but former LPGA great Patty Berg believes “hand-wrist action constitutes the most important factor in a golf swing.” Whether you focus on your wrists directly, or allow their movements to flow naturally from your overall mechanics, the wrists must work together to promote a sound swing.

When a golfer must lift his ball from the ground, he uses a marker. Normally, the need to pick up a ball is restricted to the green, but occasionally you may have to pick up a ball from elsewhere on the course to identify the ball, replace the ball if it is damaged, or — if the rules permit — to clean the ball. No matter the circumstance that causes a player to lift his ball, it must be marked properly.

Posting your golf scores is a vital part of the United States Golf Association’s handicap system. A player’s USGA handicap index is based on the best 10 of his previous 20 rounds and is updated throughout each golf season. Players must report every 9- or 18-hole score, provided it’s achieved on a course with a USGA slope and course rating, which includes the great majority of courses in the U.S. Posting each score keeps a player’s handicap index “accurate and up to date,” says the USGA.

Wearing golf shoes during a round of play provides you with traction during your swing and while walking the course. Buying the right pair of golf shoes can occasionally be a challenge, as many brands and styles exist. Devote adequate time to shopping for a new pair of shoes to ensure you get the pair that fits correctly, is within your budget and looks sharp.

Under the United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf, a person other than the player, known as a “marker,” is typically responsible for keeping a player’s score during a competition. At the end of the day, however, the player is responsible for presenting his score accurately to the tournament committee. Signing an incorrect scorecard carries serious penalties.

To improve your golf game, you may need to buy new equipment, invest in some lessons with a teaching pro or simply put in more practice time. But golf does offer one quick and easy way to compete with superior players on a nearly equal basis – the handicap system. Once you’ve established a handicap through the United States Golf Association, you can compete head-to-head with the best golfers around and have a fighting chance to win.

Learning the basics of golf can help you get rid of an annoying slice or get off to a fast start if you’re a beginner. How you learn is a matter of personal choice, according to professional players such as Bubba Watson. One of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, Watson has never had a golf lesson. He is completely self-taught and told “The Wall Street Journal” that he’ll never take a lesson. Watson’s obvious natural talent made him a quick study, but other pros such as Lee Trevino recommend taking a more structured approach to learning the game.

Although most golfers use regular grips on their clubs, an increasing number find that larger-than-normal grips suit their games very well. Oversize grips have been around for quite awhile, but the newer grips are much larger than in the past. The United States Golf Association allows grips up to 1.75 inches in diameter, nearly twice the normal size. Many players won’t care for them, but there are good reasons you might want to try them.