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ORLANDO — Though golf has a tendency to move slower than most industries, the technology innovations we’ve seen this week beg to differ. Artificial intelligence and robotics have been terms perhaps thrown around in the past, implemented by only the biggest companies, but now we’re actually seeing the results of intense research and development. And

Great iron players talk about compression—the feeling of hitting the ball with a downward strike. To create that dynamic on your iron shots, focus on the start of the downswing. RELATED: Game-Improvement Irons Nathaniel Welch Feel like you’re moving your left shoulder (for righties) down and toward the target as the first move from the

It’s true that hybrids are great out of the rough. The wide sole can handle the heavy grass without getting stuck. But understand that you need to make a steeper swing. Just like with fairway woods, a descending strike is the way to go. A few adjustments at address will set up the impact you

I know the long shaft and lack of loft on a 3-wood can freak you out. The typical issues are hitting the ground before the ball or catching it thin. But sometimes you need the horsepower of that club. To hit it solid, just tweak how you swing. The swing’s low point should come after

Cover story I’ve used these 6 fundamentals throughout my career. They’ll help you reach your potential. Editor’s note: The first article by Jack Nicklaus that appeared in this magazine was in the February 1963 issue. Eight months earlier, Nicklaus had won his first major championship as a professional, the U.S. Open at Oakmont, and already

Yes, tour players are way more talented than you are, and they do things physically you can only dream about. And yes, the angles they show on television might not always provide the most technically relevant look at a swing. But you can improve your game by watching the best players play, provided you use

It’s been 20 years since Robert Bettinardi introduced the BB Series to the putter world. The lineup, and company, have an ardent fan base, which can be problematic with new releases. How do you maintain the aesthetic and quality of the products your consumers fell in love with while offering the modern technology that’s so

So much of being successful on the greens is what you do before you take the putter back. That’s why Golf Digest asked me to share my pre-putt routine. I’ll also talk to you a bit about my technique, but there are so many styles of grips, stances and strokes, what seems to matter most

You might still be digesting (and detoxing) from your holiday celebrations, but while they were off your TV screens, tour players spent those weeks grinding away. After all, the stretch between the last “fall series” event, the RSM Classic in late November, and the next regular field event in Hawaii this week is the only

Before I explained why you always seem to hit fairway bunker shots fat and what to do about it, let me take you back to the turn of the century. If you’ve got your phone or laptop handy, search “Tiger Woods bunker shot, 2000 RBC Canadian Open.” When I think about the all-time greatest shots,

Who doesn’t love Rory McIlroy’s golf swing, especially the way he can fire his hips on the way down and power through the ball. But if you’re trying to rotate your hips even half as well as Rory to hit the ball farther, you should know that his hips are actually slowing down as the

My swing and my game have evolved over the years, but one thing has remained consistent: I’m always confident with an iron in my hand. I’m not one of the longest hitters on tour anymore­—I can’t hit a wedge 150-plus yards like some guys do—so my iron game is absolutely critical to my success at

If you’re struggling with the driver, focus on making more body turn during the backswing. Why? Because the stress you’re feeling is probably causing you to make a shorter, tighter swing. Adding more turn will put you back to where you normally are, which can reverse the issues you’re having. A good swing thought for

Thirty yards out. Over a bunker. Tight lie. You might think this shot is a nightmare, but you can beat the stress with a few simple keys. For starters, commit to the hit. Don’t make the common mistake of taking a long backswing so you have to decel at impact. Limit your swing so you

I’ve changed literally everything about my game over the past few years— how I putt, how I chip, what I do in bunkers, my full swing. It’s not just placing band-aids on things, these are real changes. And it’s been a lot of work. Because this is my job, I can afford to spend a

You could stash your clubs for a few months and forget about golf until the weather improves, but I have a better idea: Use this time, when scores don’t really matter and your handicap might be frozen, to work on a few things that can have a meaningful impact on your game next spring. What

We’ll spare you the guilt over downing 48 peanut-butter cookies in a three-day blitz. Or going back for a third helping of spiral ham. We know it’s tough to get through the holiday season without abusing guidelines for healthy eating. This story is not about that. It’s about putting together a total-body exercise program that

If you’re interested in getting “golf fit,” you’re in the right place. After closely examining hundreds of applicants, a panel of 10 of the most respected experts in golf fitness (see below) have selected the top 50 trainers in the United States. (They actually selected 52; there was a three-way tie for the last spot.)

Something that really sets us pros apart from average golfers is that we know exactly what our strengths and weaknesses are, so we can practice with purpose. At the end of each year, I review my stats. And when I looked at 2019, I saw that I was weakest in wedge shots, especially when it

Champions are champions because they hit the big shot at the biggest moment. And while it might seem like some of the best shots of the year, like Tiger Woods’ at the Masters, Gary Woodland’s at the U.S. Open and Suzanne Pettersen’s at the Solheim Cup are almost superhero-quality stuff, there are lessons you can

The new year might be a couple of weeks away, but it’s never too early to start solving your swing issues ahead of the new season. You don’t want to regress—if you’re in a cold-weather or just playing less golf over the next couple of months, make sure you’re still putting in work to improve

It’s a tight par 4, and see that you reached for the 3-wood. Good for you. The 3-wood is a prudent choice because it produces more backspin than a driver, making it easier to control ball flight. But I also see that you’re shaking your head in disgust. Let me guess: You just hooked it

The common mistake when putting up or down a slope is to adjust the force applied in the stroke. In other words, giving the ball a whack when you need to get it up on another tier, or gently tapping it when it’s all downhill to the hole. If you’re adjusting how hard you hit

There’s a common belief among golfers that keeping your eyes glued to the ball will help you make better contact. Seems logical enough, but when your head stays locked in place through impact, your turn through the ball can be seriously restricted. And that can slow you down during the most critical time in the

When I played on the Asian Tour at the start of my career, the low draws I hit stayed under the wind and stopped on receptive greens just fine. But to compete on the PGA Tour and contend for majors, I needed to hit the ball higher and have it land softer—even with the longer

Down the stretch on Sunday of the PGA Championship when I won my first major, there were a lot of big moments. The putt that hovered on the lip before falling at 10, the chip-in on 13; you can’t win a tournament with one swing. That being said, there was one that stands out. On

Gift certificates, boxes of balls and shiny new clubs are certainly popular holiday golfer presents, but we wanted to find out what some top golf instructors believe would really change a student’s game. Obviously, lessons from a local golf professional should be at the top of the list. But would kind of advice would top

After visiting Winged Foot Golf Club in preparation for the 2006 U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson asked Callaway club designer Roger Cleveland to make him a 64-degree wedge with a lot less bounce than normal. Phil wanted help playing out of Winged Foot’s deep bunkers and getting the ball to stop quicker on its undulating greens.

Golf Digest’s Ask Golf Digest column covers some of golfers’ most burning questions each month in the magazine. This month’s column tackles how to handle a slow player in your group, among other items. Q: How do you tell good friends they’re taking way too much time? They’re fabulous people, but it’s becoming very difficult

Many times your standard chip shot just won’t do, like when you need a higher shot for a close pin or a lower shot to get to the other side of the green. To adjust trajectory, most golfers play the ball farther forward or back in their stance. But changing the ball’s position can throw