Book excerpt: The fun and easy way to get into the swing of things and take strokes off your game fast Whether you're a total beginner or you've clocked a few hours on the links, Golf For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the only guide you need. Packed with expert tips and techniques for everything from mastering your grip, stance and swing to shaping up with golf-specific exercises, this updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller features new, step-by-step photos, tips for women players, seniors and lefties, and loads of fun golf history facts. Learn your ABCs master the basics, from golf lingo and choosing your clubs, to who to play with and where Watch your step get the lowdown on golf rules, how to keep score, and take a crash-course on gamesmanship and the do's and taboos of golf-course etiquette Get into the swing delve into the art and science of the golf swing, including how to blast your way out of bunkers and how to develop an effective putting stroke Tackle the tough shots finesse difficult shots like a pro and deal with bad weather and bad luck with grace and skill Fine-tune your play zero in on common faults and bad habits and learn time-tested techniques for easily fixing them once and for all To school or not to school decide whether formal lessons are right for you and find out how to select a great teacher 'If you've ever wanted to know more about golf or improve your game then this is your guide' The Fairway, from a review of the 1st edition 'Does exactly what it says on the tin!' Today's Golfer, from a review of the 1st edition Open the book and find: Tips on choosing golf balls and clubs Exercises for getting and staying in golf shape How to develop your own swing Putting, chipping and pitching Mastering grip, stance and swing Simple fixes for common faults Golf rules and etiquette Advice on taking advantage of high-tech equipment Where to play in the UK and Europe Learn to: Master your grip, stance and swing Improve your game with tips from the pros Overcome the game's mental challenges with tricks and exercises