How is it possible such a little shot can cause so much grief for so many golfers? A big dog can make a golf ball travel 400 yards in two shots but give that same playa a shot from 50 to 75 yards and you see some tragic things!

I'm sure you've also seen countless guys blading balls over the green or hitting fat shots that don't even reach the green. You may be one of them. I know I was. So what's the big deal?

It's time we talked just exactly how to hit a wedge shot 50 to 75 yard? 

I'm going to outline how I went from totally sucking at this shot to being lethal in only 2 practice sessions:

• Technique to play the shot from 50 to 75 yards
• Controlling the distance
• Which club to play it with
• How to practice it

By the end of this guide, I hope you'll be able to do it! By the way, the best way to avoid these shots on the course is to follow my system for breaking 90.

• The club you use is up to you. There's no firm and fast rule. I personally use 50° 54° and 58° wedges
• Keep your weight more on your left side to stop yourself falling back to scoop the ball
• Have your sternum directly over the ball
• Put the ball in the middle of your stance
• Don't use your arms to try scoop it - you need to turn your body with the shot and have your arms follow your body
• Keep your arms closer to your body for body rotation - close your armpits against your body
• Hit down on it but take a shallower divot - it'll be shallow automatically because you rotate your body
• Distance control is achieved through the length of your back swing and the wedge you use

You are hitting a long chip shot. It's that simple.

The hard part to hit it close from 50 to 75 yards is understanding we don't care about 50 to 75 yards to start with.

Step by step technique to hit 50 to 75 yards

1. Take your 2, 3 or 4 wedges and a bunch of golf balls to a practice area or a field. Take something like a bag or hat to place at the position where you hit from, so you can shoot your rangefinder back to that object to identify your distances. This will become clearer further down.
2. Pick a 'feels like' swing for yourself. You should select 50% or feels like 75% whatever makes you comfortable and whichever is most reliable to repeat over and over. This will give you a ton of confidence to know you can keep doing it.
3. We are only going to change lofts but use the same 'feels like' swing. The distance increase or decrease will come from lower loft for more distance or higher loft for less distance.
4. Swing your 'feels like' swing hitting 10-15 balls with each wedge - the exact same swing for 10-15 balls with each of your 2-3 wedges. Higher loft will stay shorter and lower loft will go longer. You could use yellow balls for one wedge and white balls for the other wedge.
5. Go to the area they landed. Remove the longest two and the shortest two. Then find a distance range but shooting your rangefinder to the spot you were hitting at.. The front ball may be 32 yards from your hitting spot and the longest ball may be 37 yards. Now you have your distance range with that wedge with that 'feels like' swing. 
6. Repeat this with all your wedges and do it a few times - perhaps once a week to keep yourself sharp.
7. Write down the distance range per wedge and the feels like swing percentage and remember to use this on the golf course in future.

Below is a video from my Youtube channel explaining this concept to hit a 50 yard pitch shot and a 75 yard pitch shot with two different clubs and the same swing. 

Some people like to think of where their back swing must stop and then swing through the ball like a normal shot. You won't generate full shot club head speed with a shortened back swing and that by default will make the shot go a shorter distance EVEN WITH A FULL FOLLOW THROUGH

I like the idea of the clock system in Dave Pelz videos. I did use it for years.

As you can see, above, I've changed the clock to be a percentage for me. I hit my lob wedge 100 yards in full swing so I stop my back swing at 40%, 75% depending on the distance because 40% is of 100 yards is 40 yards. So the percentages and distance line up perfectly.

Here is the guru of the short game Dave Pelz giving us another explanation. With some awful music in the background

I use my 50° and my 54°  and 58° wedge. On full swings, the 50 degree goes 115-120 yards while the 58 degree goes around 100.

The 50 degree is good for inside 90 yards where there is a lot of space on the green before the pin. I use the 58 degree for inside 90 yards where the isn't much green to work with.

Start practicing with your sand wedge and perfect that. Then move onto your other clubs. It's better to be lethal with one club than average with two or three.

Step 1: Go to a practice facility or your local course where there is a green made for pitching. If you don't have that, get to a grass driving range. Worst case scenario is an artificial turf driving range but it will do. Pick one club you'd like to work on. Don't try it with all 3 wedges you own - you'll just confuse yourself when you first start.

Step 2: Just start hitting balls with your chosen feel percentage or position on the 'clock'. Hit 10-20 just to get loosened up and in a groove. Then start to observe how far the ball is going. 

Step 3: Put a head cover under your left armpit and keep it there throughout your swing to keep your armpits tucked in and get your body turning. We don't want to use just our arms here. Wrists can kill consistency with the 50 to 75 yard pitch shot. Try to remove their movement as much as possible.

Step 4: Hit balls with other wedges as you get more in tune with your chosen percentage or feels-like swing, and consciously take note of where your ball is landing relative to your power level. Pro-actively put that feeling into your brain so you can remember it on the course.

It's vital to be mindful when practicing otherwise you get onto the course and forget what you taught yourself. 

Don't worry too much about flight control and super spin on these pitch shots just yet. Worry most about distance control and shot setup. Once you have those fundamentals, you can play around with making the ball spin or hitting lower shots into the greens. 

So how to hit a 50 to 75 yard pitch shot? Follow the fundamentals in the video above and then practice it until you feel it in your bones. Always be conscious of yourself when practicing and be mindful of what you're doing and how it feels so you can replicate it on the course. 

I know it sounds stupid, but when you hit a good one, physically take the "fairy dust" after the shot and put it in your golf bag or your pocket while on the range or practice facility. It genuinely works!

Enjoy!

1. How much (Swing Lubricant) you've been drinking
2. How many players in the group
   
3. How many players in the groups in front of you
4. How many groups in front of you
5. Are you driving a golf cart or walking?
6. How well/badly you play
   
7. The difficulty of the course

The average time of a golf round is generally about 4.5 hours (4 hours 30 minutes).

But I've done some deeper analysis of the situation below. Keep reading for major insight.

Most golfers think anything over 4.5 hours is too long to play a round of golf. When you find your golf rounds are taking more than that and going past 5 hours, you really want to look at finding new golfing friends.

If the group in front of you are the problem, hit golf balls into them. It does let them know you're very very serious.

Walking:

• single player: 2 hours 15 minutes
• two-ball: 2 hours 45 minutes
• three-ball: 3 hours 30 minutes
• four-ball: 4 hours

Take off maybe 15 or 30 minutes if using carts and hitting in the same area as each other. Add 30 minutes to an hour if you've been drinking.

• single player: According to the rules, they need to give way to all groups even though they're the fastest.
• two-ball: the most powerful group in a field and have preference and should be let through if playing quicker.
• three-ball: if you're stuck behind a three-ball, you're in between a slow and a fast round. 
• four-ball: Four-balls can be of two varieties. One which thinks they own the course and one which realizes the guys behind are quicker. Pray for the second option. And hit golf balls into the first. Or call the club house to send a marshal. Either way, always expect a punch up and carry appropriate weapons.

If you're in the middle of a full field, expect to sit behind the group in front of you forever. Relax, take your time and practice your chipping and putting.

Try to hit golf balls into them or scream at them when you're on the par 3 tee boxes. Just as a friendly reminder of who's in control. This always works - not necessarily being let through but believe me, they'll move quicker.

Or leave. There's always the option of packing it in and getting some beers. 

Golf cart golf is very quick if you're a single or in a two-ball. It's usually scoffed at by walking golfers who see you cruising by them in your car. They're just jealous because they didn't think of doing it themselves. Plus there's often a cooler box on the cart so you can keep the beers cold all round long.

Walking is quick but can wreak havoc on your health. Negative side-effects like weight loss, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of diabetes can be expected and if these occur, it's always best to replace lost calories with beer calories. 

If you shoot 120, golf will be slower. Unless you pick your ball up after 6 shots and walk the rest of the hole. Then golf is very quick. It's not fun, but it's quick. If you want to break 100 or 90 check out my guide here.

Forget the rules of letting the person furthest from the hole play first. That's what's slowing the game down and almost every group of golfers I play with now play ready golf 

A forgiving hybrid will change your the life if you have trouble hitting long irons.

The hybrid can get you out of tough spots. It's a versatile club and the most forgiving hybrids can be used for long par 3s, chipping, bump-and-runs and punches out of the trees. 

We’ve put together a list of the most forgiving hybrid golf clubs so you can level up your approach game.

The most forgiving hybrid golf club is the Cobra Aerojet Hybrid.

The Aerojet hybrid replaces the LTDx hybrid and it improves on the prior version with faster ball speeds form all lies. 

I tested this hybrid on both the range and the golf course. Of course, from standard lies, it was so easy to hit high and long but a big surprise for me was how easy it was to hit the ball out of bad lies. The sole of the club glides through tough grass like a hot knife through butter. 

What I experienced:

• Consistent spin rates on most strikes thanks to the new HOT face 
• Insert in the face of the club gives it a powerful muted sound at impact
• It was effortless to launch the ball off the fairways
• I hit the 21 degree and 28 degree - yes it goes up to 28 degrees of loft so you can replace everything up to 6 or 7 iron

B-Dog and J-Mac from my Youtube channel took the hybrids I hit and are now gaming them because they loved them so much. 

Conclusion: Cobra keep making hybrids that benefit the average handicap golfer time and time again. They have loaded this Aerojet with all the tech =to help the high handicap golfer get the golf ball in the air from anywhere. 

Verdict: Everyone will benefit from this hybrid if they have trouble with their mid to long irons.

The Wilson Dynapower hybrid is a big hybrid that will give confidence to many different types of golfer. The black crown and red detailing makes this club look much more expensive than it is. 

I was not expecting much from the Dynapower but it surprised me when I hit it on the course and in the outdoor Trackman bay. 

My experience with the Dynapower:

• High ball flights that descend onto the green steeply so the balls stops quick
• Draw bias club head gave me a large draw but I hit a natural draw
• The draw bias will correct a slicers big miss to the right
• The look is more like a fairway wood because of the size and I like that because I like fairway woods

I tested the 22 degree and 25 degree Wilson Dynapower and would warn anyone who wants to shape the golf ball right and left at will, that this hybrid is more for single shot shape. It is very forgiving and that is the important part. We always sacrifice workability if we want a forgiving hybrid. 

Conclusion: The Wilson Dynapower has a wide range of lofts with 4 hybrids in the range. If you want a hybrid that corrects your slice or you want a hybrid that will hit only baby draws, this is the one. 

Verdict: I recommend the Dynapower to any golfer who wants their hybrid to hit ONE shot shape every time. 

Callaway hybrids aused to have square toe hybrids which is why I never featured them on my review lists. But their new range looks more rounded like a fairway wood. They are now attractive and good enough to make my recommendations to you.

My experience with the Callaway Paradym hybrid:

• The face of the hybrid is very tall which makes it feel more like a 3 wood - I like that for the tee, but not as much for the fairway shot
• I found the head cover to be one of the ugliest I have ever seen in my life
• The crown is now shiny as opposed to the matte finish of the Rogue in the prior generations
• The ball was easy to launch but the trajectory stayed quite low overall
• It was easy to hit the Paradym from all sorts of lies on the course
• The hybrid appeared neutral at address instead of closed which I like a lot

I hit the ball really well with the Callaway Paradym hybrid but I did notice, while the ball popped off the face easily, it didn't climb as high as some of the others. If you are a high ball hitter, the Callaway is for you. I believe it will launch higher at slower swing speed. 

Verdict: The Paradym provides everyone plenty of distance and forgiveness but with the very square face at address, I would recommend this club to low to mid handicappers looking for a forgiving hybrid to replace their long irons. 

The Ping G430 hybrids balances professional executive looks with huge distance and tons of forgiveness. 

My experience with the G430 hybrid:

• I found the club head to be slightly smaller than expected I like as a lower handicap golfer
• The sound is much improved in the G430 compared to the previous G425, which I found almost embarrassingly loud
• Ping always make forgiving hybrids and this one is as good as any - when I missed the center of the club, I still got tons of roll out
• High toe misses flew with a right to left shape and rolled out almost as far as good strikes
• It was easy for me to hit smash factor on the Trackman of 1.4 even on slight mis-hits
• I was able to shape my shots quite easily especially for punch shots around trees from the rough

Conclusion: This is a mid-spin hybrid so it will not roll out forever after hitting the green but it will not stop immediately. In terms of compromise for high launch and long distance carry, the Ping G430 is the perfect spinning hybrid. 

You can select from 6 loft options which effectively replace 2 iron all the way to 7 iron. 

Verdict: The PING G430 hybrid is top shelf in both ball speed and forgiveness.  Regardless of what you’re looking for in a hybrid, this club is worth a try.

These Launcher XL Halo hybrid irons are Super Game Improvement clubs from Cleveland designed to help beginners, high handicappers and casual golfers hit more consistent shots with ease. We're talking straight to the target and way up in the air. They're almost impossible to mishit - I am not exaggerating. 

My experience with the Launcher XL Halos:

• From the very first shot I was blown away by how high the ball flies off every club
• I was initially distracted by the large hybrid-like rear of the club but it takes 4 shots to get used to it
• The distance I hit the low irons was massive - 8 iron, 9 iron and PW went high and long
• The spin rate was much lower than a standard iron so the ball relies on angle of descent to stop instead of backspin
• I could hit the hybrid irons from every lie even with my steep swing

I was trying to find a fault with the Halo irons, but there are none. These are perfect irons for target market of golfers who just want to have fun without the snobbery of which type of advanced equipment everyone is playing. Aim, fire and enjoy the day.

Conclusion: The Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons are a hybrid iron set with the most forgiveness possible in an iron set. This is the easiest to hit hybrid iron set in the world.

Verdict: For a high handicap, new golfer or irregular golfer who wants to have the most fun possible on the golf course, watching the ball sail high and long. 

Hybrids can solve many problems for the average golfer. You should get a hybrid if:

• You can't reach par 3's with your current lowest number iron
• You hit a lot of irons from the rough, very poorly
• You need a consistent tee shot that can get onto the fairway on tight holes
• You need a punch shot to get out of trouble often
• You can hit a 5 wood but don't like a 7 wood

Manufacturers stamp the number of the hybrid on the sole of the club so you can switch out your 3 iron for a 3 hybrid etc:

• 3 iron - 19 to 21 degree hybrid
• 4 iron - 22 to 24 degree hybrid
• 5 iron - 24 to 25 degree hybrid

I'm a huge fan of fairway woods for all golfers. They glide through the long grass, get you onto greens from longer distances and can take the place of a driver.

If you have a 5 wood and a 7 wood, you probably don't hit your 4 or 5 iron too much and when you do it's not performing as you'd like. 

I suggest for the average random golfer:

• 1 x 5 wood

AND

• 1 x 20 degree hybrid or 3 hybrid

OR

• 1 x 23 degree hybrid or 4 hybrid

AND

• 1 x 26 degree or 5 hybrid

The easiest to hit hybrid golf club is the Cobra Aerojet Hybrid.

Time and time again Cobra come out on top in this category. They know how to make clubs that every golfer can hit.

There are tons of hybrids available from full sets to just the replacements for long irons. Either way you can get your game into perfect shape by incorporating a hybrid or three into your bag.  Almost every beginner and/or high handicapper benefits from forgiving, simple to hit hybrids. Every low to mid handicapper eventually makes the switch when the long irons stop working.

Experiment with both hybrids and fairway woods but always think about your priority as a golfer. We want you to improve your score and have more fun. That's the name of the game.

The Cobra Ultralight cart bag remains my top choice year after year.

14 way dividers at the top of the bag mean that my clubs never tangle and each club finds its own home.

I carry at least 24 golf balls, a few rangefinders, jackets and 5 or 6 golf gloves when I play and the Ultralight hosts every piece with plenty of space to spare. You will not suffer for storage space. Some days I need to clear out the bag because I stuff so much excess gear into it.

The cooler pocket works despite the intense heat of Thailand, my water remains chilled all round long.

A valuables pocket protects my phone, wallet and car keys even during a downpour thanks to the waterproof zipper system and fleece inner lining. 

I do have one annoyance: when you stand the bag up when it is not on the push cart, it feels like it's going to fall over all the time, so I check on it constantly. The bag actually does not fall over but the thought of my driver hitting the wall at the driving range after the bag tips over forces me to lay the bag on the ground.

The Cobra Ultralight bag works best on a push cart but just as well on a driving cart. The bag even allows you to slide the golf cart strap underneath one of the top pockets to firmly secure your bag to the cart. 

The Sync golf bag is specifically made for push carts but what makes the Sync the best push cart golf bag on the market?

• The pass-through system for the bungee strap helps hold the bag in place like no other.
• A specially designed top of the bag.
• The oval-shaped anti-twist base works much better than the traditional round bottom.
• Sun Mountain molded the bag bottom so it fits over the lower bag-rest of the Speed Cart V1R, Pathfinder PX3 and PX4 for least side-to-side movement.
• The pockets all face forward for easy access and the storage is ample.

The unique features Sun Mountain included in the Sync set it apart from every other golf bag.

The top design of the Sun Mountain Sync creates an organized feel with the irons places on the left and right sides, while the woods rest in the center of the bag inside their own compartments. Like all good push carts, the putter sits in its own putter well. 

The Sync revolutionizes the base of the bag with an oval shape, so once the bag sits on the push cart, it will not rotate and you won't need to adjust it every few holes. Usually push cart bags have a round base which makes it easy for the bag to rotate while walking, leaving your pockets and clubs aligned all wrong. Not with the Sync.

You usually need to strap your push cart bungee cord underneath a rangefinder pocket, or if you're impatient like me, strap it on top of the rangefinder pocket rendering the pocket useless.

On the Sync, the rangefinder pocket actually flips up so you can wrap your bungee strap around the bag easily without eliminating one of your storage compartments. It sounds minor, but when you use push carts long enough, you'll understand how convenient this is.

The Datrek DG Lite II is one of the best value lightweight push cart bags on the market. 

We liked a few features the most in the DG Lite II:

• The full-length 14 way dividers so your clubs don't get tangled and the grips don't get destroyed
• I like the weight at only 4.3 lbs 
• Your fat-grip putter will fit in the putter well with ease, even if you have a ball sucker on the end of it!
• As you move backward in the top of the bag, the clubs raise above the ones in front of them for ease access
• Ample storage space considering the lightweight nature of the bag

The cooler pocket on the DG Lite II is not very large so it won't fit a large Yeti mug all the way into the pocket and if you put an ice brick into the pocket, you can store 2 cans maximum.  The pocket easily holds many canned and bottled drinks that are already chilled. 

Overall, the DG Lite II is what it says: a lightweight push cart bag and with that in mind, be mindful where you put heavy things in the bag pockets. If you overload the top pockets, or one side of the bag, it will tend to fall over while standing independently.

I used a Motocaddy Pro series cart bag in Scotland for an entire month and it is one of the most impressive golf bags I have ever seen. I did use the Motocaddy bag on a Motocaddy electric cart for the entire trip and it was a dream to use.

The storage is humungous. There is almost nowhere on the golf bag that is not storage space. Some people may ask 'are all these pockets necessary?' and I say YES! What is the point of a cart bag without big, generous pockets?

The surprising most pleasing feeling I experienced with the MotoCaddy Pro was how intuitive the storage and pocket design was. Access to everything I needed whenever I needed it without fighting the bag was a first for me.

What I stored in my MotoCaddy Pro:

• 30+ golf balls
• 4 rangefinders
• 2 jackets
• 3 beanies
• 2 bucket hats
• 3 bottles of water
• 3 phones , a wallet and car keys
• 2 GPS devices

And I still had plenty of space unused. I couldn't even find enough stuff to fill up all the storage. 

The bottom of the bag is sturdy with raised parts around the circular shaped base. These raised pieces stop the bag rotating on your push cart.

All the pockets face outward and access to every pocket is the best on any push cart bag. I especially enjoyed the huge drinks pocket and ball pocket. The magnetic pocket flips open easily for instant access to my rangefinder while my phones, wallet and car keys were protected from all weather in the valuables pouch.

If you like to travel with your bag of clubs, the Motocaddy Pro is too large and I would recommend this bag if you play locally and drive to golf every time.

If you use both a push cart and play on buggies, the Motocaddy Pro is an excellent choice. The best recommendation is to pair this bag up with a Motocaddy electric cart and you will never look back.

The Callaway Org 14+ has a top that allows for the clubs to sit so it's easy to access them on your push cart. At a weight of 6 lbs, the bag is not heavy and in that 6 lbs of golf bag, you get 14 dividers on top as with all new cart bags with all the pockets facing outward and a side putter well.

The best part and the reason this bag is on this list is because it is GREAT on a push cart. As people are forced by clubs to use buggies instead of walking and as people just stop walking the course, it's more common to find buggy cart bags. This bag is one of the best golf bags for push carts currently on the market just due to the design and that's all that needs to be said. 

There are also tons of colors to choose from. 

This bag is the organizers dream. There are special slots for every single club in the bag. They clubs can rest on the tops whether right or left handed. Both dexterities can use this bag but please be careful. If you have had your irons fitted and they are longer than standard by more than an inch, your clubs won't fit the top-rests.

There are plenty of pockets on this model all facing outward so you can access them at all time. Putter wells on this model accommodate the fat putter grips. 

A lot of thought has gone into this bag and at this price, it's a bargain. There's no jamming clubs frustratedly into the bag with grips catching on each other and when you walk, the clubs are not clanging together, denting each other as you traverse the rolling hills.

1. The top part of the buggy riding bags extends upward in a wedge shape to make it easy to pull your clubs out of the bag on the back of a driving cart.

2. The top part of the push cart bag is generally laid out pretty flat so you can adapt what clubs you prefer to put where. The top is flat so that you can use any push cart with the bag. 

The C130 works perfectly for riding carts, but detracts from your enjoyment of your push cart because it prevents you from opening your Clicgear push cart console. 

The Sun Mountain Sync fits perfectly on most push carts so go for the Sync instead. 

New modern era flat-based stand or carry bags work well on push carts in case you prefer to carry every now and then. 

Look out for stand bags where the manufacturer covers the mechanisms that makes the stand pop out. A bag with no mechanism exposed works on a push cart whereas the exposed mechanics can break easily.

I've mentioned only the best of the best. 

Let's hope walking the course with a push cart becomes more popular so more of us can be out there chatting, walking, getting some exercise and sun. I love walking the course and I love pushing a golf bag more than any other form of golf.

Invest in a push cart and get fitter, feel better and most of all, play better golf.

I recommend the Clicgear and the Caddytek push carts.

Ball position: The ball should be played off the front foot. You can line it up with your heel or your toe, whichever gets the best result is fine. This will automatically open your club face and set your hands behind the ball.

Hands: Hands should be behind the ball.

Hello Putting Maestro in training - this guide is going to show you how to shave strokes off your game with a few tips, tricks and drills for the putting green. There is no fluff in this guide, just actionable, practical tips to drop that handicap like a hot potato. This is how to putt a golf ball step by step so you can slash your score.

But don't worry, this isn't some guide written by a pro that talks about the putting arc and inside to outside - I still have no idea what they talk about. This is a no BS guide to get you draining more putts and having more fun on the greens. I don't want you to change your stroke and I don't want you to buy new clubs. Keep reading to unlock the potential you didn't even know you had.

I'll show you:

1. The 6 steps I use and have taught hundreds of very grateful mid to high handicappers 
2. Little tips and tricks to make a big improvement on your putting
3. Key concepts that are guaranteed to get you draining more putts from inside 10 feet
4. Simple drills and tips to two-putt all your long putts

1. Approach the ball on the green
2. Mark the ball and guessing a line
3. Read the slope
4. Remark and aim your golf ball
5. Feel the distance with practice strokes
6. Putt the ball (with extremely important putt-making tip)

These two concepts go hand in hand for the ultimate in easy alignment on the greens.

I draw these on by hand with a Sharpie, but there is a better option to use a cool golf ball marker in conjunction with it to get better results. 

As you walk up to the green, start looking at where the hole is in relation to your ball.

It's time to decide:
•  Is it uphill or downhill?
•  Is my ball on a higher or lower tier to the pin?
•  Is it uphill or downhill after the ball goes past the hole?

If your putt is uphill, congratulations. You can be more aggressive on the stroke. If your putt is downhill, you need to be thinking about hitting it a bit softer. 

Look at the green between your ball and the hole. Try to guess a line quickly. It doesn't need to be highly accurate because you will adjust it twice more in the next few steps. 

If you think your putt is right to left, then first mark the ball with your marker that has a stripe on it with the stripe pointed to the right side of the hole. In the picture below, I thought the putt was straight initially so the line on the coin points straight at the hole.

Pick up your ball and stand back to check your alignment and onto the next step. Here's a video I made at the Els Club in Desaru, Malaysia for marking your ball:

Stand back after marking your ball with the striped coin and look at the line you think your putt might take to the hole. You might change your mind about your initial thoughts at this stage. Ask your caddie or use your experience for this step. After you decide on the line move onto the next step.

What you do next is important:

1. Look where your coin stripe is pointed
2. Look at the ground between your ball and the hole and decide on the line you want to hit it on
3. Double check your coin line is pointing in the right direction - if it isn't, put your ball down again and turn the coin to aim to your new target. The easiest way to do this is to find a blemish or different color grain of grass on your decided line and line up the stripe on the coin to that point. Pick up the ball again and wait while others play.
4. When it's your turn to putt, put your ball on the green and line up the stripe on your ball with the stripe on the coin which is now pointed exactly where you want. The stripe on the ball should be perfectly lined up to your putting line now! Alignment done.

Stand away from your ball so you don't hit it on your practice strokes! Then look at the hole and swing the club back and forth to feel the distance to the hole. You've successfully lined up the ball so you don't need to worry about the line anymore. Just FEEL the amount of power you need to hit the ball past the hole by one foot.

While you do this, actually visualize the putt going into the hole. I want you to see it going on the line you chose and curving into the middle of the cup. You need full commitment to your line and length of stroke before taking your putt.

The feel will depend on uphill vs downhill and distance to the hole. It's always best to hit the practice green before a round and hit a few putts from various distances uphill and downhill to get a feeling for the greens. There is no secret tip to getting the feel of the greens. You just need to practice and keep playing. 

Now comes the part you're gonna love the most. 

Now you've finalized the line and you've felt the distance to the hole with some practice strokes, you're thinking you can finally hit the ball. Not so quick though my padawan! 

Pre-putt, it is as simple as lining up the putter alignment line on the flange to the stripe on the golf ball. But when you putt the ball, there is ONE SIMPLE SECRET I teach every handicap golfer who misses a lot of makeable putts...

It doesn't matter if your stroke is open-to-closed, inside to inside, rounded, straight back and straight through - there is no ONE right way to putt a golf ball. Whatever works for you is perfect. But there is one thing you MUST NEVER DO on putts inside 10 feet...

DO NOT lift your head or even sneak a peak with your eyes on your putts. On lag putts it's okay after the ball has left your putter, but inside 10 feet, you MUST NEVER see the ball going into the cup. You should only hear it.

Remember this: 'Don't look up, just wait for the rattle'

Your head must remain completely still throughout the putting stroke. Your eyes must be lasered in on where the ball is resting. Your eyes mustn't even sneak a peak at the putt going in the hole.

This is MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE. You think it sounds easy, but once you hit the course, the anxiety of the unknown takes over and you find yourself looking up before you've even hit it. This is the number one reason guys miss shorts putts and I bet if you can do this one thing out of this whole guide, you'll drain way more putts.

Notice there is no head movement at all below:

You can stand with an open or closed stance. You can swing that putter how you like as long as you get the ball started on the right path. But my one plea to you sir is, NEVER LIFT YOUR HEAD!

Story time: This story has happened countless times when I play in betterball competitions or team matches. I usually pair myself up with a 12 to 18 handicapper while I play off between 3 and 6 handicap. This is a perfect combination for betterball. Back to my point though: like a lot of mid handicappers, my partner, Peter Nader was a consistent 17 handicapper. On a good day he could shoot a 90 with a few pars in there for a respectable day.

But what I noticed with Peter is he couldn't drain anything inside 10 feet like a lot of us when we're off a mid to high handicap. Stroke was okay, but nothing dropped. I did notice he looked up as he putted which meant he missed every putt to the right.

So what did I do after the third missed 6 footer on the 4th hole? I said hey Pete, wanna make more of those putts and win this thing? Take the ball back and putt it again. But this time don't look up at all, just keep your eyes pointed down and WAIT FOR THE RATTLE! I'll watch it for you.

So he makes that 6 footer with ease second time round, but what happened over the next 14 holes was beautiful. He shot an 84, the best score of his life and we won the betterball easily. He was a good chipper, so knocking it close and making the 5 or 6 footer for par made all the difference to his score.

He still remembers that putting lesson and reminds me every time I see him. I've copy pasted this same story with hundreds of golfers during a round and we almost always finish in the prizes. I just love helping guys have fun on the golf course and get that smile when the light bulb moment happens. And I love winning prizes!

Now onto the importance of a solid setup and stance with good fundamentals.

Try to get your left eye as close to directly over the ball as you can. Of course, it's not an exact science but it's very difficult to look at the line of the putt while standing over the ball when your eyes aren't over it.

Try to put your hands ahead of the ball at setup. That means the shaft will lean forward and that's perfect. It's not an exact science either so play with it. You might get good results with hands ahead by 6 inches or by a ball hair. Up to you.

This promotes a forward rolling ball without backspin on it so that the ball doesn't bounce and skid along the green. If it skids, you lose control of the putt quickly.  

When putting, only your shoulders and arms should move. There should be almost no wrist movement and your head should stay absolutely still. Your eyes should still be looking at the place your ball was before you hit it after you do hit it. To further eliminate wrist movements, you can put a thicker grip on your putter like the Superstroke.

Your legs should be quiet and not moving at all. There's no weight transfer.

Short putts can be incredibly frustrating. I bet you know the feeling: you've done all the hard work of getting the ball within 4 feet for a working-man's par but your monkey brain takes over and you MUST see if the ball will go in the hole before you even hit it. So you baby it and lift your head and the ball lips out on the right.

Warning: This is a technique I suggest you practice a lot before introducing it on the golf course. If you miss the hole, you could have an even longer return putt!

Fixing one foot putts: Aim center of the cup and hit it hard. Do not lift your head at all. Yes, people do miss these and I've been guilty myself but it's impossible to miss if you go center of the cup with a firm stroke.

Fixing 2 to 4 foot putts: In 99% of cases, it's best to aim for a spot inside the hole. I don't go outside left or right lip for my line on these putts. Then I hit the putt firm so that it hits the back of the cup and negates any break there might be in the putt. Try not to make the ball trickle into the cup, but instead hit the back of the cup.

According to my statistics I keep on my scorecards, I make 94% of all putts inside 5 feet. I really hope you can implement this into your game and enjoy making those high pressure short putts. Just KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN AND WAIT FOR THE RATTLE! Here is how I hit short putts.

To be aggressive on short putts, it's a good idea to use a short back swing and a long follow-through. In other words, your follow through should be longer than your back stroke. And keep your head down for eternity and wait for the rattle. Check it out below:

Don't be shy to even let the ball slam dunk on short putts when you're trying this out on the practice green. You can experiment there and see just how firm you can hit a short putt without fear and then take your new-found skill onto the course. 

In summary here are the key steps for the way I've helped people putt better:

1. Take note of your ball relative to the hole when approaching the green
2. Mark your ball with a striped coin, with the stripe pointing somewhere on your intended line
3. Read the green and decide on a line
4. Adjust the alignment and put your ball back down. Line up the stripe on the ball to a blemish or blade of grass on the green that is on your line (no more than a couple feet way)
5. Take a few practice strokes to feel the amount of power you need. Set up to the ball with your left eye over the ball.
6. Line up the alignment aid on the back of the putter to the line on the ball. Hit the putt but don't lift your head. Don't let your wrists break. They should remain firm. WAIT FOR THE RATTLE.

I hope this guide helps you make more putts short or long.

For you and your family, it's best to wear something on that big dome of yours. This short guide on mens golf hats will focus on wide brim hats and bucket hats. Old school caps don’t provide the protection often needed during a blazing afternoon round. 

As a YouTuber and Professional Amateur golfer, I spend a lot of time in the beautiful Thailand sun. I've spent hours in the summer sun and avoid getting burned because I used the best golf hats for sun protection possible. I hope you will take my advice and cover that head and face to avoid skin damage in the heat of summer.

Waddaplayagolf and Golf Sidekick have partnered to create the best golf hats for sun protection at www.waddaplayagolf.com

The fabric used is the same as what is used in dry fit golf shirts. These are the very same hats I wear on my channel on Youtube. Dry fit fabric means your head stays cool in even 100° weather.

The secret sauce is however, the fact the brim is not stiff so when there is wind around, the hat doesn't blow off your head. It stays on your head in even the most trying conditions.

I played a round in 50mph gusts and the hat never came off once. What else does the soft brim mean? Well, there are a lot BIG HEADED people out there and the relaxed fit means it can stretch to fit your head up to 64cm (25 inches) in circumference. 

They are easily washable and can be stuffed in your pocket or golf bag and pop back into shape in a second. They are simply the best bucket hats for golf developed in the tropical heat of Thailand where temperatures go in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Einskey sun hat combined superb comfort, a very wide brim and soft fabrics to protect your entire shoulder, neck and face area. The mens golf sun hat comes in 9 different colors. When it's windy you can use the strap to keep your hat on your head. It's 100% polyester and is super casual fitting most heads between 22-24 inches in size.

You can fold your Einskey sun hat up and throw it in the bag - it will not warp and bend into strange shapes. The fabric can handle both hot and also wet rainy days. Your entire face will be covered so no red nose for you. The mesh on the side of the hat allows your head to breathe on the hottest days so you stay cool. 

The built in sweat-band absorbs the sweat on your forehead so it doesn't end up trickling into your eyes which distracts from your golf shots. I have used this hat not for golf, but more for hiking, fishing and when going for walks in the Bangkok heat. 

The bucket hat is always one of the best golf hats for sun protection because of the all-round brim. This Coolibar hat has a 4" brim which makes it unbeatable for shading your whole neck and face. 

If you pop your golf shirt collar up, you have in impenetrable protection from the sun. It's like having an umbrella on our head. 

The hat can feel a little heavy and to be honest, doesn't look very 'slick' or 'professional' but if your main concern is sun protection, this is the best golf hat for sun protection. 

This is a common hat worn by Genevieve Ling on my channel. She is sponsored by Titleist and everyone wants to know where she gets her hats. While they are a bit pricey, Titleist never skimps on quality. The Aussie hat has been created with Tour players in mind like Genevieve who spend hours in the sun, taking a beating from the rays.

Titleist use fabric in the hat to make it a bit stretchier and relaxed fitting so you have some wiggle room in terms of knowing your sizing. It's a pretty similar sizing to a lot of mainstream hats and offers a Tour level of sun protection and comfort. 

The mesh fabric means your head has ability to dry while you're out in the midday sun. The look of the wide brim Aussie hat is reminiscent of Joe Dahmen the pro on Tour who loves to wear this style of hat. 

My favorite mens golf hat for sun protection while playing golf is definitely a cowboy hat. I like to look like a maverick. The Stetson is a classic

The secret to a good cowboy hat is that is needs to be made of straw or synthetic materials. I've played in many kinds of cowboy hats but found the suede and leather types don't keep my head cool and get very stained by the sweat which doesn't evaporate quickly.

That's why straw or grass hats work best. Wind will blow through the small gaps and dry your head and keep you nice and cool. The brims have wire in them so you can also turn the sides up for a slightly more 'maverick' look.

Not only is the Coolibar Fore Golf hat great for the sun but it's lightweight, easy to wash and fits like a dream. The mesh and moisture wicking fabric keeps your head cool all day long in the intense sun. 

The hat is made of a spandex and polyester blend for stretchy fits. You can be sure of comfort anytime you see the word spandex in the description of fabrics. There is also a super lightweight foam in the brim so it is not completely stiff when you wear it, allowing some give for bigger heads. 

With a Coolibar you know that it's not going to blow off or dislodge from your swing action. At impact, often we worry about a hat falling off and it distracts us from the shot. An elastic draw cord helps to secure the hat on your head in windy days. 

Keep this hat away from swimming pools as the chemicals will destroy it.

The Adidas golf hat is good for sun protection and staying in place with a draw string. If you play in the wind, a drawstring will stop the hat flying off which is one of the most painful parts of windy golf. It helps to keep a bucket hat on while you are taking a stroke, allowing you to concentrate on your golf at hand only. 

This Adidas is a wide brim hat which functions in a similar way to the Coolibar wide brim golf hats that are so popular. You can remove the drawstring if you don't like the idea of it. 

What To Look For When Buying Golf Hat For Sun Protection?

Here's a list of things to consider which golf hat to buy to stay safe from the sun:

1. Area of cover:  How much sun coverage do you need?  If you have a naturally darker skin tone, you could use a bucket hat with a narrower width brim.  If your skin is prone to going pink and burning, a wide of brim will cover more of your face and neck to keep you from lobster looks. 
2. UV Protection:  18 holes takes a long time and that's a long time in the sun being exposed to all those rays.  The UV protection is an important factor. 
3. Comfort while playing:  If your golf hat isn’t comfortable when you're hitting the golf ball, you might get irritated and remove the hat, then get burnt by the sun.  If it's a hot climate, you want a lightweight moisture wicking fabric like a Waddaplaya bucket hat. 
4. Fit:  Your hat should sit comfy on your head - not too tight to leave a dent in your skin, but not so loose that the hat distracts you with a threat of falling off during a golf swing or when the wind blows. Most wider brim, bucket golf hats are one size fits all, but you can measure your head easily and compare like at Waddaplayagolf.com.
5. Moisture wicking fabric:  The best hats in the heat of the sun keep the sweat out of your eyes.  Built in vents can help your head to breathe. On a sweltering humid day, your head feels like it expands and the hat should be able to let your head cool down while you're swinging and scoring. 
6. Style and vibe:  If you feel good, you play good. Don't buy a hat that you would not feel happy wearing on the golf course. If you feel weird, you will play weird. If you feel fun, you will play fun. Like it, love it, own it. 

You should kind of know which are the best golf hats for sun protection are. It's the upper body, neck and face that need protection from those strong rays. 

It's vital to have a hat that enables you to swing and play golf and not hinder you. That's the most important aspect of a good golf hat. It should add to your golf game, not take away from it at all. 

Are baseball caps as good as bucket hats for sun protection? 

Some golfers prefer baseball caps are more their style to bucket hats and a lot of people can never wear a bucket hat. It's not their vibe. Often it's that the bucket hat doesn't fit them and can be quite a nuisance to find a good-fitting bucket.

Baseball caps are adjustable and make it a more stress-free purchasing experience.

Bucket hats can fly off in the wind and on a very powerful shot, they can fall off. That's not something you want to worry about on the course while you're swinging well and scoring. The baseball cap can be tightened easily while a bucket hat could be loose and fly off. 

Why are wide brims important for golf bucket hats? 

If you like a bucket style hat for golf sun protection, you're better off with a wider brim. A wide brim protects you from the sun over your nose, cheeks, neck, chin, everywhere above the neck. 

The baseball cap usually only protects directly under the peak, your nose and some of your central face. This makes it less ideal as a sun protection golf hat. Many areas are exposed to the sun. If you switch to a bucket hat, it can be a wise choice but you want a wider brim to make sure you're not getting scorched. 

Wider brim golf hats like the bucket hats take some time to get used to. You might be used to seeing only a peak from your cap when playing a round of golf. There is a huge amount of mental shift that needs to happen when your field of vision now includes a wide brimmed bucket hat. It's not that it will get in your way of hitting the ball, but your eyes will have new stimuli in your vision. 

When you get a hat, it shouldn't touch your back or get caught in your collar when you swing because it will distract you from your golf shot. Some bucket hats do actually have an elastic in them you can tighten to make sure it stays in place. 

Do you use a chin strap on a golf bucket hat? 

Some hats have chin straps while others are much simpler without them. As a golfer, you know that you're quite fussy about stuff and you do not want to see things, or feel straps flying around your face or chin as you're swinging. 

When you find that golf UV sun bucket hat that fits you just perfect, the chin straps will not mean anything as the hat sits well on your head, not moving a lot and not so tight that it leaves a dent in your forehead. 

Do golf sun hats assist a golfer to protect against skin cancer? 

When you block out harmful rays from making contact with your face, head, and neck, you help to prevent damage to your skin. Will a hat for sun protection necessarily PREVENT skin cancer is a matter to discuss with your doctor. Make sure you're all clear to walk in the sun and be outdoors safely with your physician. 

I notice in Thailand a lot of golfers using umbrellas to protect from the sun in addition to their hats. As great as a bucket golf hat is, a large golf umbrella can give you more protection against the sun.

Look for hats and umbrellas that have UV and UPF protection. They will be the best for blocking the light but also blocking the harmful rays that eat your skin.

No hat is going to keep you from getting burnt completely. The best hats for sun protection are going to have wide brims and will be made of synthetic materials to keep you cool.

You want to avoid the caps and visors. Visors should be totally avoided if you're thinning up top like so many of us masculine men are. 

Also, use a golf hat in conjunction with a good sun cream. 

Other ways to remain cool and protected:

1. Avoid dark colors like black and wear lighter colors to stay cool
2. Wear a wide brim hat and some sunglasses to protect your eyes
3. Wear shorts and short sleeve shirts though long sleeves can stop you from burning
4. Sun protection cream sunscreens

Sun Umbrellas

A nice big golf umbrella in your push cart holder is superb for keeping the harsh rays off your back and neck as you walk. 

Cap Liners  

You can buy liners to protect your hats from getting that weird white salt line after sweating for hours. The colors can get ruined by both the sun and the liquids you sweat out. 

In the end the choice comes down to how you like to look on the course. If you want to look professional then you will wear a cap. If you don't mind looking a little goofy but protecting yourself from the harsh rays of the sun, we all know the best hat for sun protection is the wide brimmed bucket hat. 

In general all of the hats above will be great for sun protection. I would strongly suggest avoiding caps and visors if you want sun protection. Your neck and ears are still too exposed leaving that opportunity for those little cancer spots so many of our buddies have cut out of their faces. Visors leave the top of your head fully exposed and a sun burn on the top of the head, is inly rivaled by burnt ears!

The PING G430 Max is the best driver for mid handicap golfers. PING have upgraded the G425 Max with a significant change in the G430 Max. 

My experience with the G430 Max:

• The G430 Max is an improvement on the G425 Max because it launches higher than the prior model
• It spun slightly less on the launch monitor than the G425 max and the ball speed was much higher on a slower swing speed.
• For faster swings, you won't notice a big distance boost, but rather a straighter flight
• The main difference I see in the G430 Max and other drivers is a higher ball flight 

The ball flight is penetrating and high yet when you compare the G430 Max to the G425 Max, you notice the shorter club face: the face of the G430 MAX is about 1/8″ shorter.  Additionally, the shape is more symmetrical, with less bias toward the heel. 

Conclusion: If you're a moderate swing speed 88-100mph, you may see some increase in distance, but almost definitely will see a better off-center strike performance. The ball just stays on the golf course instead of flying left and right uncontrollably.

Recommendation: Any golfer who wants a stress free experience from the tee should try the Ping G430 Max.

PXG were once known as way too expensive for most people but the price is coming down and is lower than new offerings by the biggest known brands. They're also known mainly for their buttery irons and I was never convinced of their drivers which is why I have never featured them until now. 

The GEN 4 0811 range from Parsons Golf has enough space for everyone. The crown of the X slopes down to bring the center of gravity down for lower spin and more distance. 

The face of the clubs is made of a titanium alloy. That leaves enough space and weight for the three weights they put in the sole. If you move the heaviest weight to the back of the clubhead, the forgiveness improves while moving it to the front will bring the spin down even more. This will reduce forgiveness overall but may increase distance 

Moving the weight in into the heel will help you close the face quicker and help you bring the ball more toward the left instead of blocking or slicing the ball right. The fact the weights are moveable and not sliding is a big plus because sliding weights can have infinite combinations while this provides concise and clear options.

When you put the club down at address, you'll notice the silver area which is a carbon fiber coated with a thin layer of Aluminum Vapor (AV)

The aluminum panel helps to stiffen the head and direct more of the power into the clubhead instead of being absorbed into the crown.

PXG 0811 X model has the tallest face which if you read my reviews on clubs, is my favorite aspect of a driver. You can tee it high and let it fly. You don't have to worry about skying the ball with a tall face and any club that makes the ball feel smaller, instills confidence. 

This PXG 0811 X model will be the most popular in the range among most golfers. It's easily the longest in the range and sounds brilliant. I'd rate this as highly as a PING in terms of ease of hitting and sound. 

Hands down, the best driver for mid handicap golfers is the Ping G430 Max. It's easy to hit high and straight. I play Ping and have no problems recommending it to anyone.

Thank you for reading my review of the best drivers for mid handicappers & average golfers.

Please let me know which one you go for and upfate me with your progress!

With so many drivers out there to choose from that are designed to help the average golfer, I hope this cleared up some of the options.

Have you ever shot 43 on the front nine and thought, wow I only need 46 on the back side for an 89! 

And what happens next is tragic. You shoot 50 for a 93. The beer doesn't taste the same. You think about leaving your wife, giving up golf, and becoming the next Jack Reacher. Don't let that be you by going through this guide to how to break 90 in golf time and time again.

What if I could show you how to break 90 in golf consistently? 

Because there is, and I'm going to show you steps to take IN YOUR NEXT ROUND to actually do it. No theory, all action. All killer, no filler. 

I put together my experience over 25 years on the course from being a new golfer lusting after an 89 to being the guy on the YouTube channel guiding people to under 90 scores regularly. This is how you break 90 in golf consistently. 

Anyone can break 90 and in this guide and I'll show you:

• The exact shots you need to be able to play from tee to green
• The way to think and plan your way around the course for success
• How to practice the concepts at the range
• Shortcuts and 'hacks' to break 90 faster than you thought possible

There's no need to make swing changes. If you can shoot in the 90's, you can break 90 without changing your swing. What I'm going to show you are basic fundamentals and tricks that you may or may not have come across before. Good luck!

We'll use this club off the tee on every single hole except par 3's where we might need another club. This club does not need to literally fly dead straight. It needs to be a golf club that gets you into play away from trouble every time. 

DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND: We need a minimum of 160 yards. You must select your MOST RELIABLE long club. 

Select any club in your bag that you feel most comfortable with to hit 160 or more yards - the longer, the better of course. This could be your fairway wood, hybrid, driver or 5 iron. Whatever club it is, it must be consistent and straight. You should use this off the tee most often.

Your goal is just to hit fairways off the tee and allow for a stress-free second shot. We are looking for bogeys to break 90, there's no need to hit the ball as far as possible. In fact, if you are hitting the ball too hard, you are doing this all wrong. 

We just need fairways with a decent enough distance to clear the rough before the fairway starts. With this tactic, we'll make bogeys but along the way, a few pars too!

Example: When I was first broke 90, my go-to club off the tee was a 5 wood. It had a reliable shot-shape and I could hit it nicely 9 out of 10 times with confidence.

We always try to avoid 30-70 yard pitch shots on the course as much as we can, but they'll inevitably happen. So you must learn to play them because they'll save you three or more shots per round because you want to hit the green from here. 

You must select the club that you love to use.

It can be a Lob wedge, Gap wedge, Sand wedge or Pitching wedge - whatever you perform best with. I like to use a Sand Wedge or a Lob Wedge.

This will take some practice but there's a great way to learn how to judge these shots and build confidence. The system is based around the arms of a clock. 

In this Dave Pelz video on the the short game, the guru shows how to actually do it. It works - I've been using this system for the last 10 years and this one technique took me into the single digit handicaps. In the video he talks about using this for all your wedges, but don't worry too much about using multiple clubs for now. Learn to control the distance with one wedge first. We want to simplify this as much as possible.

Select TWO clubs you know you can hit on the green from 150 yards or less. Just two. And the choice is up to you - whatever you like the most!

Mine are my pitching wedge from 120 to 130 yards and a gap wedge from 105-115 yards.

I may hit it longer or shorter than you, but that doesn't mean anything. If you feel confident to hit 6 out of 10 greens with an 8 iron from 120 yards and pitching wedge from 100 yards, that's perfect. 

You're going to use these two clubs for your final approach shots to greens.

For instance, you might have 240 yards to the green after your drive on a very long par 4. You know you can't reach so what we're going to do is break the distance into two shots.

You need to be thinking 'how can I place my ball so that I hit my FAVORITE iron into the green for my 3rd shot?'

For example what I did in the video you'll see below was take a 240 yard shot and think 'I love hitting my pitching wedge from 120. 240 yards is two shots of 120 yards! Perfect! Two nice pitching wedges irons and I'm on the green. This works MUCH better than a 3 wood into the rough and a difficult 50 yard pitch shot from the deep grass!

Warning: Be prepared, people will think you're weird, but guess what - you're going to break 90 this way baby! Without question. Split your long approaches into shorter approaches and watch your partners crumble in front of your eyes when you break 90 easily!

Warning 2: I do not mean you must split every shot into exactly 2 shots. If you have 200 yards into the green, and love a 50 yard wedge shot, you should hit your 150 yard club and then your 50 yard pitch shot. The way you play must suit YOUR game.

Three-putts are score killers. Everyone can two-putt. It's just a matter practice.

Hit the practice green after work once or twice a week for 30 minutes to an hour and you'll see your scores dropping.  If you cannot hit the practice green, putt on a putting mat!

Our aim is a PFP - Putt For Par. We just need to get onto the greens with a putt for par regardless of the distance from the hole. So if you can make one or two for par, that's a bonus. But be happy with a two putt bogey every time as well! 

A lot of people will see a reliance on putting in my guides. This is true because it is the only area in the game where we ALL can be as good as pros. You do not need perfect technique, nor massive power. Everyone can be good inside 100 yards. 

Select a club you like to bump-and-run chip with. This must be a club that you can consistently chip onto the green with a confident stroke, and get it rolling to the hole. The flop or lob shot is too difficult at this stage of your development, and too inconsistent for guys trying to break 90. You'll skull and fluff too many which is where you lose instant strokes with a 60 degree.

I've always loved the pitching wedge to chip with and I've used it as long as I can remember. Select yours and practice with this one club whenever you can on a chipping green or even at home. Check out the practice routine in the practice section below.

Remember the goal of chipping is not always to chip it CLOSE when you break 90. The goal is to get the ball on the green first. That means no dropping the toiletry bag and leaving it short of the green with another chip on the way. Be aggressive enough to GET THE BALL ON THE GREEN SOMEWHERE! One day we will start chipping to HOLE everything. But for now, let's get it on for a putt.

VERY IMPORTANT: You must understand chipping entails landing the ball so it can roll out to the hole. We almost never try to land the ball AT the hole. If you chip it to land in line with the hole, it will bounce and roll a long way, leaving you long putts. Imagine a chip as if you are just getting it onto the green to roll like a putt. 

Something that is overlooked is the pre-shot routine. Think of when you take a shower. Maybe you start with a rinse, then in this order you wash your hair, ears, face, arm pits, do a little twirl with your arms in the air, then its onto the front, sack back and crack then the bottom of your feet. 

Now if you don't do it like that on one particular day, you might feel a little weird - like you've forgotten something and it'll be on your mind all day. That's the same thing with a pre-shot routine. It helps you to be at ease and forget anything else besides this next shot.

But not all pre-shot routines are created equal.

Swashbuckling flamboyant 'just-because' swings of the club are pointless. You can be practicing  bad habit! When you perform your pre-shot routine, have a super clear vision in your mind of the shot you're about to hit. Always have a plan in your mind. Always envision the shot and the shot thereafter. 

I only realized I had this problem in 2015 after playing golf for 17 years. I just swung practice swings without any purpose like Jack Sparrow with his sword. Can you believe that?

You'll notice in the explanations below that all you need to break 90 are the 5 shots I've suggested above whether it's long par 4's or short par 5's.

These holes are all reachable in one shot if you're playing off the correct tees.

You should look to be on or near the green on par 3's. Be happy with bogeys here and be sure to get on the green in one shot, or maximum two shots. On long par 3's look for a safe area to land the ball, where if you miss the green, you'll have an easy chip onto the green. When you identify this place, purposefully hit it there.

Don't be a hero and go for the green if you can't reach. A bogey is actually a good score. 

Shorter par 4's are your target to try hit the green in two shots. 

If a par 4 is only 300-350 yards, you can hit it on or around the green in two shots.

If you practice hitting the club we selected above for tee shots, you'll be in positions to hit the short par 4's in two.

On longer par 4's try to be on the green in three shots. For example on a 450 yard par 4:

Hit the club that we selected above that goes longest and straightest off the tee (160+ yards)

You'll have 280 yards into the green. How can we get to your favorite club (8 iron from 130) into the green? We need to hit one shot 150 yards and that will leave 130 yards. So you hit 6 iron 150 yards.

Now you have 130 yards into the green and you can hit your favorite shot into the green for your third. 

After you hit the green or just miss it, now you need to get in the hole in two or fewer shots. Easy!

A couple of the par 5's will be reachable for you in three shots. Try to hit one or two of them in three shots. It's not always possible but when you see a par 5 that's 480 yards, that's only 160 yards per shot and you can definitely reach that!

There's no need to boom drivers either if you're not accurate. Always remember that the Par 5 is now a par 6. You can always take 4 to get onto the green and a 6 is a great score.  

I took everything you've read above and put it into practice to show you how to break 90 with some tips and fundamentals along the way. It's about 20 minutes long. You'll find some tips and instruction in the video and I believe if you follow similar steps and work on the keys to breaking 90, you can do it within 8 rounds.

Each shot was recorded once and no retakes were allowed. I shot it in Malaysia at the Kukup Golf Resort.

My tee shots on all par 4 and par 5 holes: SIX IRON (175 yards)
My favorite approach shots: PITCHING WEDGE (120-130 yards) & GAP WEDGE (105-115 yards) 
My chipping club: PITCHING WEDGE
My pitching club: SAND WEDGE

Remember your selections from the previous section? Take only those clubs to the driving range. Try find a grass driving range because the artificial turf gives you good shots even if you hit the ball fat.

Here's an example (remember these choices are up to you):

1. Tee shots: 3-hybrid
2. Approaches: 7 iron and 9 iron
3. 30-70 yard pitches: Sand wedge

Armed with only these 4 clubs, go to the driving range and run through a full 18 holes on your home course. Tee off with a vision of the hole in your mind and use the driving ranges flags or signs or fairway to identify where you need to hit the ball to 'hit the fairway'. This is way more fun than just beating balls like a robot.

Remember: Take your time on each shot throughout your imaginary round. Do your full shot routine. Take a 2 minute break between hits. Don't ever rush your driving range time. Consciously program the feelings you are getting from the shots and actually feel your confidence building up inside you. 

Corniest (but most effective) driving range tip you'll ever hear: When you hit a good shot on the driving range with one of your 4 clubs, pretend to take that shot inside your hand and then deposit it into a pocket in your golf bag like fairy dust so you can take it out the bag on the golf course when you need it. I know I sound like an idiot now, but try it! It actually works!

Go to your local range, golf course or golfing mecca and practice your chipping and putting. If you don't have any of these things, practice in your yard and if your yard is too small, practice in your house and if your house is too small, take a break for two weeks, then give up golf completely:

1. Chipping: We're going to practice bump and runs where the ball lands on the greens and runs out to the hole. Low skidders, flop shots and all the fancy things you see on Tour will get you to either make an 8 or actually kill another human being with a skulled chip. I highly recommend placing a coin on the practice chipping green then try to land the ball on your coin with your chipping club. I've always used a pitching wedge for green side chips and the secret to getting it close is to pick a spot to land it and then land it on the spot. It takes practice like anything but it's just that simple.
2. Long putting: practice with 4 or 5 balls putting the ball to within 3 feet: the closer the better.
3. Short putts: Put 5 or 6 balls around one hole 5 feet away from the hole. Practice keeping your head down until you hear the rattle of the ball in the hole. You must make all the putts in a row before you can move to another hole. Become lethal at 5 foot putts and you'll break 90 in your sleep.

If you've made it this far, well done. Because the next few concepts below will make the biggest difference to your score. You WILL break 90 by following these guidelines. 

You may be shocked just how many shots under 90 you end up shooting. 

You probably could've broken 90 already if you played off the correct tees!

How do you know which ones to pick? There are a couple of ways to select your tee box:

Average drive distance multiplied by 28. So if your average drive is 230 yards, a challenging length of a course should be 230 yards x 28 = 6,440 yards maximum. So a range of between 6,000 to 6,600 yards. 

If there are too many par fours over 400 yards on the course you play, move up a tee. 

Fuhgeddaboudit! Hey man, stay strong, it's your game and you're there to have the most fun. No one minds if you play off shorter tees during social rounds! If you're in a good mood because you're enjoying your game and that makes it more fun for the other guys, they really don't care. But if you're playing poorly and getting in a bad mood off the longer tees, then it'll make it more unpleasant for them

Those 300 yard drives the guys boast about? The pitching wedge that goes 160 yards? Those are unicorns and they might hit 1 out of 20 that distance. Scale back the ego and learn how far you REALLY hit your clubs MOST OF THE TIME. With your rangefinder or GPS watch telling you the distance, you can select the correct club and hit more greens. 

This is such an underestimated factor in playing better golf. I can't stress enough how important it is to hit enough club on your approaches to lower your score and break 90 and even 80. Many guys use that one perfect shot they hit to gauge their club distances and never revisit their calculations. 

If your perfect 7 iron goes 175 yards but you hit it 165 yards MOST OF THE TIME, then use 165 yards as your 7 iron distance. By using the 175 yards, you handicap yourself by very often being 10 yards short of the target which means more chips, more bunker shots and higher scores. You'll need to do this for every club in your bag but once you get past the dent in your ego, the better scores make up for the pain, believe me.

I was always the guy who scoffed at a rangefinder. I was pacing the distances and guessing but then I played with my friend Dietmar who uses a rangefinder. I double checked my distances and I was always off and sometimes by 10 yards. That explains why I was always one club short of the green and chipping all the time. 

So I got one. And I don't know how I lived without it. Check out the Voice Caddie L5 rangefinder. I love mine.

How to use it:

From the tee: measure distances to bunkers and hazards and select a club you can swing fully without worrying about reaching them.

From the fairway: measure to the pin and measure carry over water by shooting the bank. Shoot to find the distance to the front edge or carry over bunkers by shooting the lip with the rangefinder.

Calculate your distance: You can also shoot the rangefinder from where your ball is, back to the place you hit from to get an accurate gauge of the distance. This is incredibly valuable information. Scorecards and distance markers can be off depending on the day and your rangefinder will give you 100% accurate distances. 

Armed with this info, you can adapt and learn your game as you go. Without this knowledge, you're doomed to keep repeating the same errors in selecting clubs and hitting less greens.

Another option is to get a golf GPS watch that has a feature to count your distance as you walk. Something like the Garmin S40 is a good choice.

The difference between an enlightened golfer and a frustrated golfer is this one concept. You need to be thinking about the shot AFTER the shot you're hitting. This means you should be thinking where the shot you're hitting is likely to end up, and what you'll do after that. Below are two quiz questions to illustrate this:

You must know your favorite club to hit into a green. It's important to understand which is your favorite iron for approach shots and from what distance. I have two: pitching wedge from 130 or a smooth 53° Wedge from 100-110 yards. 

Answer:

Now that you know your favorite club, hit a shot that will make your next shot the distance to the green where you can hit that favorite club.

So instead of booming a fairway wood 180 or 190 yards and leaving yourself a VERY difficult 40 or 50 yard pitch, rather put yourself into a position to hit the best club in your bag onto the green with confidence! The results will astound you. 

In the picture above, I would hit my pitching wedge 130 yards and then hit my 53° wedge onto the green. I am so confident with it, I can almost guarantee I'll hit it to 10 feet or less.

For you it might be a 6 iron followed by an 8 iron. Or a 5 iron followed by a sand wedge. It's totally up to you, but find the club you love to hit into greens and if you find yourself in a position where the green is out of reach, split the remaining distance into two shots, leaving your favorite shot into the green!

Answer: Aim for 'A'

If you aim at B and hit it short or with a fade, you'll end up in the bunker and that's a nasty bunker shot. Aiming at C means you can hit the ball other side of the bunker and need to chip over the bunker to get onto the green. There's also a chance of hitting it in the bunker. Too much danger!

Aiming at 'A' means you can leave it short or even hit a draw and be in a position to chip the ball with a lot of green to work with and the ground is flat to the left without a big drop off like the right side. If you hit a little fade, the ball will land between your target and the pin but a straight shot will also be on the green just a bit further away. There is no danger hitting it at 'A' and is the high percentage play. You'll probably hit the green and two putt or chip and two putt for a bogey. That's all you need to break 90!

Golden nugget: Play for your shot shape but always aim to a position where even a straight shot won't be in danger and never hit a ball toward a hazard. So in the picture above: if you hit a fade, you aim at 'A' and if it fades, it's in a good spot. If it goes dead straight, it's still in a good position.

How many times have you addressed a golf ball and thought 'this isn't enough club' or 'this just feels like too much club'?

These little thoughts destroy your game because you hesitate when swinging and don't take a confident swipe at the ball. 

It's essential, vital, paramount to have a vision in your head of what your shot will look like and what the result will be. If you're not sure where the ball is gonna go, redo your pre-shot routine and GET THE VISION! Then say to yourself 'this is the right club and it'll land on the right side of the green where I can putt for a birdie'

Golden nugget: When you have any thought in your mind other than the shot you're playing while addressing the golf ball, step away and reset. This takes discipline and is difficult to do at first but the benefits are amazing. Start implementing this strategy today!

Common thoughts that make me step away:

• My glove feels like it's slipping
• My right foot feels higher than my left
• I wish this guy would stop talking
• My girlfriend really over-reacts to small things
• There's no way I can carry the water with this
• This sweat droplet is going to run into my eye in the next 0.05 seconds!

Simply back off, go through the pre-shot routine again and focus on the shot. Get a different club if you're not sure. Wipe your sweaty hand on your towel. Whatever it takes. It only happens a few times a round, but avoiding these bad situations where you hit a poor shot through lack of concentration will help you break 90 quicker than you thought possible.

If you ever play golf with me, you'll see me take another pre-shot routine and talk to myself out loud because my first one was a pointless swinging of the club like a fool. I take another two swings imagining a nice high fade with the driver and I say out loud, 'that's the one I want, let's hit that shot, easy' and 90% of the time, it comes out how I want. 

100% of shots I'm not committed to end in disaster. Without exception.

It doesn't matter if you're a scratch golfer or a newbie, committing 100% to every single shot is the key to great golf. 

Warming up properly and making a good swing from the first tee is vital to get a good start and break 90. Being 8 over par after 4 holes sucks and is difficult to come back from.

You probably sit at a desk all day and have turned into Quasimodo like I did. Don't tee off with cold Quasimodo muscles - warm up any way you know how because you know it's going to take you 4 holes to warm up properly. No good! I used to do it and it meant I was playing catch-up for 14 holes to shoot a good score.

If you have a driving range at your course, hit 20 balls. Hit four shots with each of the following in this order:

  1.  Your favorite wedge x 4
  2.  Your favorite iron x 4
  3.  Your favorite hybrid x 4
  4.  Your favorite fairway wood x 4
  5.  Your first tee shot club. You should stop hitting when you hit a perfect shot with this club even if you have balls left. Take that positive feeling to the tee.

This is one of the most important ideas on this list and essential to breaking 90. The only way to break 100, 90 or 80 is to never count up your score until the end of the round. You can keep score but don't add it up halfway, in your head or otherwise. Just wait til the clubhouse and add it up there. 

Neither I, nor any of my golfing buddies have broken through a score barrier while counting up the strokes throughout the round. 

I broke 90 and 80 on the same golf course - a par 70. Breaking 90 is a mental barrier and when you've done it once, it happens more and more regularly. Choosing a course with a par of 70 means you can shoot 19 over for an 89. That's two extra strokes you can take compared to a par 72 where you need 17 over to break 90.

This isn't a requirement, but a simple idea that could help you get over the hurdle.

We all have our best golfing buddies and some of us are lucky to have good players as buddies. But often we get stuck playing every round with guys who aren't interested in progressing.

If your golfing partners are not as good as you, I highly suggest finding a group to play with sometimes where you're the worst player in the group. It doesn't have to be a huge difference in skill level but at least guys who shoot mid-80's every round (10 to 15 handicappers).

You might think better players don't want to play with higher handicappers, but that's not true. We're all a brotherhood on the golf course and with a good attitude and fun chit-chat, we'll play with anyone.

Playing with better players will let you take a bit more time on your shots, because the other guys do. You'll care more about each shot, because they care about their shots. You'll notice how they approach each hole and how they score in the 80's which will rub off on you and you'll be shooting mid 80's in no time.

If you have a matchplay competition league in your area or in your club, join up. You'll be forced to play against other people to progress in the league but the other golfers will be in your handicap range so they'll be moderately better or equal to you. The extra focus and determination when competing against other guys will improve your scores.

Do you get tense on the golf course? Do you grip the putter with white knuckles or wring the club's neck? Tension kills tempo and accuracy - both of which you need to get below 90.

A quick tip to relieve the tension is to have a relaxing habit. That can be putting a tee between your teeth to relieve jaw tension or it could be chewing gum to get the neck muscles and jaw loosened up. Find yourself something that will relieve tension on the golf course for those days when you're feeling extra edgy.

Before you even get to the course, you're probably thinking, 89 is just 17 bogeys and 1 par on a par 72 track. That's the advice everyone gets. While it's true and you should understand that, it's not really a strong mental game plan. We'll show you later how to use that idea to create an on-course strategy.

The best tip to get in the zone is to attach no value to the end result. It's difficult but the easiest way to break 90 is to have fun. Enjoy chatting with your buddies. Have fun being away from the women. Just immerse yourself in the golf experience and realize how lucky you are to be able to enjoy this hobby.

Isn't it strange how we get to the ball deep in trouble and think we can hit it on the green through a small gap in the trees? I mean trees are 80% air, right?

But 95% of the time, we screw it up and have a blow out hole. If you want to break 90, you need to eliminate blow out holes (doubles or worse). If you find yourself in the trees, just get the ball out to a place you can play the next shot easily. 

Try get on the green and make a putt or 2 putt for a bogey or maximum double bogey. Triples and quadruples are killers! Always look for the easiest most obvious route and silence that inner Seve Ballesteros!

Yes. You only need a club that you can trust to go straight and hit the fairway. The only requirement is that the club can carry 160 or so yards to get you onto the fairways. In fact, it's easier to shoot 90 with a hybrid, 5 iron, 7 iron, wedge and putter than with 14 clubs. Leave the driver at home if it doesn't put you in a good position 90% of the time.

According to the USGA, 59% of golfers play off a handicap of 15 or below. That is usually someone who can break 90. But that's handicapped golfers. If we include every golfer that plays more than 5 times in their life, I would estimate only about 40% of golfers could break 90 in their lives. Unless of course, they follow my guide. Then I think 80% of you can!

If you can shoot between 90 and 100 you don't need a lesson. Lessons can be great value to teach you how to do things properly, but if you can hit a golf ball in the air every shot, all you need to do is practice, use the techniques and tips I've given you here and check out some more guides I put together like the putting, chipping, pitching, using the driving range and fitness guides. 

I would actually say getting fitter and more flexible will improve your golf equally as much as practicing the shots.

Please leave a comment with any other tips you've found to improve your game and if you disagree with anything I've mentioned here let me know. Good luck and enjoy shooting in the 80's.

You will do it if you follow this guide and check out my Youtube playlist on breaking 90. I promise.

• Best golf balls for mid handicappers
• Best driver for mid handicappers 
• Best irons for mid handicappers 
• Best wedges for mid handicappers
• What is a mid handicapper in golf? 
• Best cheap golf balls

The golf course is scary. You have to wear certain clothes, worry about etiquette and rules and always be conscious of slow play. It's really not the best place to learn to hit a golf ball! 

A driving range is perfect for beginners to learn how to hit a golf ball. Our driving range tips and drills for beginners will help you make the most of it.

• No dress code - wear whatever shoes and clothes you like
• Take as long as you like without the pressure of other golfers
• Stand in one place and just reload without losing any of your own golf balls!
• Cheap! Just a few bucks for a bucket of balls

I'll give you actionable steps to actually learn to play golf instead of the usual theoretical stuff you find all over the place loaded with jargon. Let's get down to business...

The glossy golf magazines are the number one reason you'll fail to improve at golf because you'll get shiny object syndrome and want to try every new trick in the book.

I know, I was there. The day I stopped reading those filthy magazines was the day I started playing good golf. No more negative thoughts in my head or trying a new way of swinging because I saw David Leadbetter or Butch Harmon's latest attempts at screwing up my swing in Golf Digest. 

My suggestion starting out is to get lessons as soon as possible because they will teach you everything you need to know in order to obtain this one thing you need. You can find good professionals at a lot of driving ranges and on Youtube. once you find one on Youtube near you, then go visit him. 

There is only this one thing we all need and it's THE IMPACT POSITION.

We all get there a different way, and the best way to get to this position is to have a professional help you from the stat so you do not get poor habits that will be impossible to get out of your system later. 

Going to the driving range is fun and whacking some balls can really de-stress you, but doing it wrong can make you feel worse!

My vision is to make golf fun for you whatever level you play at so below I've outlined how to use the range to get better while still having fun. You'll be able to take what you practice on the range to the course and blow your own socks off and have some serious fun. You can hit those iron shots closer and make more bogeys and pars!

This is an excellent video to teach you the basics of the grip. The grip is the start of the swing and it's essential to pick something you like and feel happy with.

You should put in 30 minutes a day for one week working on the grip. That's how important this is as a fundamental.

In Ben Hogan's book, you'll find an illustration like this. The ball gets closer to your body as the club gets shorter. Your stance also narrows as the club gets shorter. 

Take your stance and place the top of the grip an inch above your kneecap. Let the club rest on your knee and the club head on the ground. The ball should be placed where the club head is resting on the ground. That's an easy way to know how far to stand from the ball.

Eventually your body will recognize the right distance from the golf ball and you can stop actually placing the club on your knee. It may take a few months, but you'll get there. I did.

Notice the blue disk in the picture. That is a point along the line from the ball to the target that you can easily align your club face to. It's difficult to aim your club to a target 200 yards away, but by selecting a dot or blade of grass a few feet from the ball will make it much easier.

It's not easy to align your body and golf club to the same target. You might feel like you're aiming correctly and you probably are but not correctly for golf! 

See, what happens is most golfers aim their feet at the target. While the club face must aim at the target, you actually want to line up your feet parallel to the line of your club face, like railway tracks.

So on the driving range, I recommend you lay down two golf clubs parallel to each other. One should point just right of the target and the other should point just left of the target.

Select a spot a foot or so in front of the ball to aim the club face and make sure your feet align with the club closest to you. This drill will do wonders for your alignment and confidence!

Once you're comfortable with the grip, posture, ball position and alignment, you probably want to whack as many drivers as far as you can! Slow down there partner, we need to build up to it. 

If you can afford a lesson go for it.

Most golfers are self-taught and usually ingrained with terrible habits they can't remove.

If you can afford a lesson or three, go see a pro to get your fundamentals set. It's a great investment to build the foundation for the rest of your golfing career. If it's a little steep for you, you can still learn this game without the help of a pro. I played off scratch for a while in my 20s and have since taken lessons in my 30s and wish I had taken them when I was 12.

It would have saved a lot of backpain, elbow pain and frustration.

Don't try murder the ball on every shot. This leads to terrible shots, frustration and blisters. Use a 75% effort swing and focus on hitting down on the ball and hitting the ball before the ground. This is easier said than done but once you get the hang of it, you'll start hitting longer and nicer feeling shots.

I suggest hitting range balls with only a pitching wedge and a 7 iron. These are 2 of the most common clubs you'll hit on the golf course so get confident with them first. The pitching wedge has a lot of loft and is easy to hit giving you plenty of confidence hitting the sweet spot. Seven iron is a little more difficult to hit but probably everyone's favorite iron in the bag.

Start the bucket off with the pitching wedge and hit a third of the balls always focusing on a smooth and easy swing. Hit the next third of the bucket with only a 7 iron. Finish off the balls with another round of easy pitching wedges. 

DO NOT RUSH! The worst thing you can do for your progress is rush your sessions at the range. Take your time. Take up to 5 minutes between shots if you want to. That's what it's like on the course where you're waiting for other guys in front of you and in your group to hit. Put the cell phone away and forget about the wife and kids!

Once you're confident with these clubs, start introducing the others from your bag into the range sessions.

A pre-shot routine is what you do right before you hit. It starts from when you walk up to the shot and start deciding on the shot, all the way until impact.

From that moment, you need a little routine that gets you into the mindset of hitting a shot. You must have something that makes you feel comfortable and centered. The importance of the pre-shot routine can't be underestimated!

Learning your carry distance and developing a preshot routine are the TWO MOST IMPORTANT things you can do for your golf game. A routine is something that gets you ready for the shot...it is not something to just do because it's expected. It can be short or it can be non-existent. it's up to you but make it consistent.

This takes me no more than 15 or 20 seconds. If I don't do it before every shot, I hit a bad shot. Pre-shot routines get you in the comfort zone to hit the ball well - kind of like a brain association game.

Always aim to have an efficient pre-shot routine that isn't excessively lengthy so you don't slow down the pace of play.

With these few steps containing a few tips and drills for beginners on the driving range, you'll be able to maximize your efficiency and really start to hit better shots. You'll build in confidence and that confidence will translate into better scores and more fun on the golf course.

Like I said earlier, get your hands on the Ben Hogan's book on the Fundamentals of Golf and watch your game improve dramatically!

Grass gives identical conditions to a golf course so when you hit behind the ball, it'll punish you

Artificial turf can make even bad shots look okay because the club bounces off the turf when you hit far behind the ball

A grass range is always preferable. You see the real result of your shots. At an artificial turf range you are able to hit the ground before the ball and still get a good result. If you're concerned about that, start off with the artificial turf range and once you get a feeling of how to get the ball in the air consistently, move onto the grass range.

Clothes: Wear whatever you like because there's no dress code.
Pay for a bucket of balls from either a cashier or a vending machine.
Take the bucket and your clubs to a hitting bay and hit the balls onto the driving range. Easy.

Safety of others is always the number one concern. While some people think it's funny to hit golf balls at driving range employees picking up balls, imagine being in their position. When someone is picking up balls, aim anywhere but at him. Pick a club that won't reach them. If you're scared of hitting him, sit down and wait.

Try to pick a bay near the far right end of the driving range if you're a righty so you can feel comfortable that no one is watching you. This also means you can hit without endangering others with some of the crazy shots you'll hit as a beginner!