Playing golf without the right golf equipment is like swimming without water, it just does not make sense. However, as we all know purchasing golf equipment is not a cheap venture. You have to weed your way through all of the gadgets and gimmicks that people are selling with the promise of improving your golf game. If you are the type who enjoy simply playing the game of golf on your free weekends, you need nothing more than the bare golf equipment essentials. All you really need are golf balls, golf clubs, and of course a golf bag to tow your clubs.

If you take a look at the golf equipment rules as defined by the United States Golf Association your golf bag should have fourteen or less clubs. You really need to focus on your putter, wedges, irons, woods, and driver. You can feel free to mix up your clubs provided you keep the golf bag carrying only the maximum of fourteen clubs. Of course, in getting yourself the proper set up, you should expect to pay up to $1,000 for a complete golf club set.

You simply cannot do without a golf bag. Think about having to tow around your golf balls and your clubs on the golf course, you simply would not make it. Golf bags are made from a variety of materials such as nylon or leather. When choosing a bag consider how you get around while playing your game. Do you ride in a golf cart or do you walk the course? If you are someone who rides a golf cart, you will likely want to have a large enough golf bag to contain not only your clubs, but towels, balls, tees, and other accessories.

Now if you are the type that walks the course, you will definitely want to invest in a lighter golf bag that comes with a shoulder strap for a more comfortable journey. When talking about essential golf equipment, you cannot forget your golf balls. Generally, you can purchase balls in sleeves or boxes of three. You can even find packages that contain 15 to 18 balls. You have your choice in types of golf balls as well, two-piece and balata. A two-piece golf ball has a surlyn cover, a core that is hard and very large. However, these are generally more popular because the surlyn cover protects the ball from cuts and nicks. The outer layer of a balata ball is softer but has the same hard core inside.

There are many golf accessories you could consider when shopping for golf equipment such as golf shoes, golf glove, an umbrella, a club brush, ball markers, and golf tees. The decision is yours in regards to which type of golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags, and accessories you get. You have to decide based on your budget, what type of golf equipment you need, as well as how it helps your golf game.

Accuracy dramatically lowers golf handicaps. Hitting a ball where you want when you want time and time again chops strokes off your scores and golf handicap. To help golfers improve, golf lessons on accuracy usually focus on swing mechanics. That’s a great place to start. The better a golfer’s mechanics, the better are her chances of hitting the ball exactly where she wants.

But perfecting swing mechanics is only half the battle. The other half is mastering the non-mechanical fundamentals, for lack of a better term, that also help determine accuracy. Golfers don’t always work as hard on these fundamentals as they do on grooving the right swing mechanics. But make no mistake about it. They’re as important to accuracy as having the right grip or swinging on plane.

Start Off In Balance

A good golf tip on achieving accuracy is to focus on balance. Balance is among the most overlooked of all swing fundamentals. Every big name swing teacher agrees that it’s critical to maintain balance throughout the swing. The best way of doing that is to start out in balance. A balanced starting form sets the tone for a good swing. It also promotes feelings of simplicity, freedom, and confidence.

Determine The Shot’s Key Factors

Another good golf tip is to always determine a shot’s direction before hitting it. Too often golfers address the ball without determining direction. In addition, determine other key factors like distance, trajectory, and curvature. All these factors must be considered to hit a target. Determining a shot’s purpose, also essential to accuracy, greatly influences those other factors.

Visualize Ball Flight

Once purpose and direction are determined, golfers must visualize the ball’s flight path. They need a mental picture of how the ball will reach the target. Once they have that, they can let their subconscious take over. Visualizing ball flight includes drawing a target line mentally. Focus on starting the ball on the target line and getting the ball to do what you want it to. Use any visualization technique that works.

Focus On Striking The Ball

A fourth golf tip for achieving accuracy is to focus on striking the ball. That’s especially true when it comes to driving. Once a golfer picks out a target and determines the ball’s flight path, he or she needs to focus on striking the ball. Too often a golfer tenses up in an effort to blast a 300-yard drive only to lose focus on hitting the ball. That usually results in a flubbed or an off-target shot.

Maintain Target Awareness

Target awareness is probably an important factor in accuracy. Some consider it even more important than confidence or good swing mechanics. While that’s debatable, there’s no doubt that it’s among the top keys to accuracy. But choosing a target doesn’t mean picking out a spot “somewhere out there.” It means picking out a very specific target and aiming for it.

One day when Ben Hogan was practicing on the range, a colleague challenged him to hit a ball into a clump of trees. Hitting it into the trees wasn’t specific enough for Hogan. He asked the colleague which tree he wanted him to hit. While no one expects you to be as accurate as the legendary Hogan, the story is a great example of what picking out a target means.

These five golf tips help improve swing accuracy. When combined with the proper mechanics, they help golfers pinpoint their shots with consistency. Practice also helps. Hitting a shot exactly where a golfer wants to-over and over again-not only grooves mechanics, but also builds confidence. Together, confidence and accuracy shave strokes off your golf handicap.