It's time to start thinking about the upcoming season (as well as planned golf getaways)! Getting into physical shape is very important, but so is working on those pesky "quirks" that kept the scores "elevated" and sometimes "ballooned" last season. I've decided to resurrect some helpful tips that should help get the season off to a good start.

Probably one of the most common swing flaws is looking up before the ball has been struck. "Peeking" can ruin any shot, but most frequently plagues players hitting "finesse" shots -- a pitch over a bunker, a chip shot or a putt. And since even the slightest head movement can cause a muffed shot or badly missed putt, it's a fault that you must remedy. It takes discipline to keep your head relatively still, but it's the surest way to execute a well-struck and accurate shot.
Watch Ben Crenshaw or Tiger Woods putting and you'll see they rarely look up or move their body until the stroke is finished. By then the ball's well on its way to the hole or in the cup. Another suggestion, on putts of less than 3-4 feet, is to never watch the ball go into the cup. The sound will tell you that you've made it.
On chips and pitches, make a pact with yourself to keep your head still until you feel your right shoulder moving against your chin in the follow-through. Or plan to look for one second at the spot where the ball was lying or the divot mark before you check the result of your shot.
Practice "watching your spot" in putting and chipping strokes at home as well as around the practice green. Once it's part of your swing, your short-game performance will be much more consistent.