Golf Lessons from Tiger

Hardcore gamers may be able to pick up a game in any popular genre and immediately feel at ease, but the casual gamer can often find frustration and confusion well before the light clicks on.

For someone unfamiliar with the franchise, it can seem pretty complex. For those picking up Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07 for the first time, or for those who haven't played a golf game in a long time, use the following basic tips for a much smoother experience.

Analog Swing
The swing mechanic employed by the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series is built to be intuitive, but that doesn't mean there aren't elements to master.

• Stick to the basics: Use either the left or right thumbstick to control the full length of your swing. Pull either stick back to start the backswing, and then forward to hit the ball and follow through.
• Eye your thumbs: While the mechanic is simple to understand, it's not always easy to master. Though the action takes place on the screen, it can be helpful to watch the controller while you swing. Just like in real golf, you might sporting some bad mechanics, and you can pick up on whether your thumb pulls or pushes to the left or right when it shouldn't.
• Use smooth movements: Again, just like in real golf, you want to eliminate any herky-jerky movements. If you yank the thumbstick forward, you won't generate any more power than normal, so just relax and try for a fluid movement back and forth.

Basic Strategy Applies
The beauty of all EA SPORTS™ simulation games is that they mirror their sports as closely as technology allows. Therefore, the exact same tactics you would employ on the golf course apply here.

Use target practice to sharpen your accuracy.

From course management to shot/club selection and the reading of greens, every essential golf strategy should be utilized in the Tiger Woods series. Here are a few of the basics:

• Keep the driver in the bag: The goal of your drives should be to set up the best possible angle to the green on your second shot, while still maintaining a close enough distance to utilize a shorter iron for accuracy. Sacrificing a bit of distance for accuracy off the tee and a better angle to the hole is often the proper play.
• Check the wind: While the game can offer an approximation of the distance of your shot, it will not tell you how much the wind will affect it. Therefore, gauging the wind and observing its affect should be a priority on every shot. It might take a little trial and error, but you'll get the "feel" of it in a hurry.
• Use height to your advantage: Make sure to alter your club selection based on how much higher or lower the fairway or green is in relation to your position. Remember to pick the shorter club for targets beneath you and a longer club for those above you.
• Play percentages: Many a golf round is ruined by taking unnecessary risks. Until you're absolutely confident in your abilities, make sure to play it safe. There's no need to take an unnecessary shot from a fairway bunker with a wood, and there's no need to try to carry the stream in front of a green unless you know you can make it.

Subtle Control Options
The controls may be intuitive, but there are a lot of subtle control options that may not be immediately obvious. First, spend whatever time is necessary in the tutorials till you feel comfortable, but also, keep the manual handy so you can consult it any time.

Read the greens with the same focus and you'll be fine.

You may want to edge the contact of your club lower down on the ball, add extra power to your swing, control the spin once the ball is in the air, or any number of different strategies commonly carried out on the golf course. All of these options are available, and easy to find by consulting the manual's controller map.

Power in your Putt
The mechanic that seems to give amateur Tiger Woods PGA TOUR players fits is the power element of the putting mechanic. The line you see when you initially line up for a putt assumes a level green, however that's rarely the case. Adjust the length of the putt beyond the hole for uphill putts, and below the hole for downhill shots.

Power in your Backswing
The power of your shot is directly related to the length of your backswing, and while tee shots and most second shots require full power, pitching and in-between shots require something less than full effort. Luckily, there's a direct correlation between your backswing and your power—a half backswing should go about half as far as a full backswing, and a quarter backswing only a quarter as far, and so on and so forth.

Finally, there's no substitute for practice. After a few rounds, you begin to get the "feel" of the game and the interaction will become more intuitive. Before you know it's you'll be storming the PGA TOUR and bringing home the big paychecks. It's your tee time, so get out there and grip it and rip it!

Article by Ryan Treit