is a game of skill that requires logic and athleticism in equal measure. Furthermore it requires an immeasurable degree of practice and repetition to engrain swing changes and to improve your game. In fact, Nick Faldo once estimated that it takes 10,000 swings before you can achieve any deliberate change in your swing, which goes to show the extent to which it is necessary to practice your game. In this article, we will look at some of the key things to consider when striving for consistent game play, and the best ways of achieving these objectives whatever your level of play.
The first way to achieve consistency is to maintain a standard set up. That means making sure your stance, grip and alignment are consistent every time. Set up as normal in the same way, and then make the necessary changes to account for your upcoming shot. If you repeat your set up often enough, it will stick and become your natural response to hitting a
Donald to miss Ryder Cup
Luke Donald will miss next month's Ryder Cup after having surgery on his injured wrist. The 30-year-old has decided to have an operation on his left wrist and now faces a three-month recovery programme.
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Harrington triumphs at Oakland Hills
Padraig Harrington shoots a final-round 66 to claim a two-shot victory at Oakland Hills in the the 90th US PGA Championship, with Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis tied for second.
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US PGA - Third round scores
208-Ben Curtis (US); 209-Henrik Stenson (Sweden), JB Holmes (US); 211-Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Charlie Wi (S Korea); 212-Andres Romero (Argentina), Jeev Milkha Singh (India); 213-Camilo Villegas (Colombia), Steve Flesch (US), Aaron Baddeley (Australia), David Toms (US)
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Curtis leads at Oakland Hills
America's Ben Curtis leads the US PGA Championship by one stroke heading into the final round at Oakland Hills - after shooting 68 in his weather-delayed third round on Sunday to stand at two under par for the tournament. Open champion Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia are two shots back.
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US PGA - Play aborted on day three
The threat of thunderstorms prompts officials to call play for the day at the 90th US PGA Championship, with the third round halfway through. Players will return to complete their rounds on Sunday morning, with the leading groups facing 36 holes in a day.
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Play suspended at US PGA Championship
Potential electrical storms have led to a suspension in play midway through the third round of the 90th US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.
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US PGA - Second round leaders
139-J.B. Holmes; 140-Charlie Wi (South Korea), Ben Curtis (US), Justin Rose (England); 141-David Toms (US), Henrik Stenson (Sweden); 142-Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Brandt Snedeker, Jeev Milkha Singh (India), Aaron Baddeley (Australia), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Ken Duke (US), Sean O'Hair (US)
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Perry withdraws after 79
American Kenny Perry, one of the hottest players in the game, withdraws from the US PGA Championship because of an eye problem.
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Play back underway at US PGA
Play at the US PGA Championship is back underway after an hour and 25 minute delay due to bad weather.
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Play suspended at Oakland Hills
Play is suspended at the PGA Championship in Oakland Hills as a thunder storm is about to hit the course. It is unclear at this stage whether there will be any more play today.
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golf ball. This is a great state to be in, because it can really allow you to focus on other aspects of your game without having to worry about your set-up.
Similarly it is imperative to establish a consistent pre-shot routine. You should always approach the ball in the same way, prepare your identical stance in the same way, and visualize your shot in the same way. By repeating this process, you can again establish a confidence in your natural swing that allows you to work on different areas of your and really work on cutting down that handicap to a respectable figure. is centered on consistency, and if you're not consistently consistent, you're not consistent at all.
Above all you should maintain the same mental approach to your game. Plan and focus before every shot, and don't let the demons creep in. Through practicing the same routine, you establish a comfort zone on the course, which allows you make the necessary changes to your game to improve scores, without having to worry about the impact on the rest of your game.
Golf is not an easy game - no one ever said it was. And that's half the fun, of course. If you manage to find a rhythm and develop some form of consistent ball-striking, you'll notice vast improvements in your scoring abilities. It all comes to don to practice which, as always, really does make perfect.
