The new season is well underway and for those who have achieved success congratulations and well done.  To those striving to get better perhaps what is needed is to make a change in the swing or equipment, a visit to your local PGA Professional spending an hour under the watchful eye of the maestro can often find the the remedial action required either in a quick fix solution or for more serious problems a series of coaching sessions to help you stay on the fairways and plan your game improvement.   A look at your swing on video can be most informative as you combine the eye of the coach and the eye of the camera.   
The leading manufacturers have all invested millions of pound or dollars to bring the golfer the very latest in equipment technology, if you know how far you hit each club then the latest measuring devices offer pinpoint accuracy, letting you know where you are and how far still to go to get that elusive birdie, however whilst the yardage may be precise the player still has to make the right club selection and choice of shot.   

The choice of driver is vast as performance claims are backed by tour statistics from players who are highly trained athletes representing about 4% of the golfing population, but there is no doubt, loft is the average golfers friend and this trend makes it easier for all to get the ball away and keep it in play.   The adjustability of the modern driver, is also fascinating to play with so have some fun trying the different lofts, the different lies, change the weight distribution and even the centre of gravity, when investing in a new driver always try it before you buy it and its probably worth allowing a bit of extra time as you explore the many options available.  

 Technology has even come to the golf shoe with the latest innovation offering a hybrid sole which has 54 gripmore cleats and 286 points of contact for ultimate combination of versatility and performance, this will ensure the player has a good grip of the golf course which should help produce that smooth flowing movement for which we are all searching. 

One area the average player can get great help from the modern kit is with bunker play every one should have a wedge/sand iron, in the 60 degree plus category, once again loft is the players friend so the combination of loft and the wonderful broad bouncy sole, makes the modern sand iron a must have in the bag club.  Bunker play is often neglected, so spend a little time developing your technique keeping the swing soft and steep with the ball forward in you stance and control the length of the shot either with the same length of backswing varying the amount of sand you take or take the same amount of sand each time and vary the length of backswing.   The increased confidence and improved technique will result in using a combination of these recommendations as the condition of the sand dictates.  Becoming a better bunker player takes the fear factor out of the approach shot, bunkers no longer pose a terminal threat as getting out becomes easier and shots are saved from the sand.