Play Better Golf for Seniors

Golf may be a sport you can enjoy from youth through AARP membership, but a 50-year-old man can't play the game the same way he did at 25. With a loss of flexibility comes a loss of power, and unless you adjust your swing, you'll lose accuracy, too. In response to the limitations that age brings, the authors of Play Better Golf have created the "S swing," a way of striking the ball accurately and powerfully with a shorter backswing. This short swing not only makes for lower and more consistent scores, it helps avoid back, shoulder, and elbow injuries caused by forcing your body to do things it is no longer able to do.

Many of the tips in the book have nothing to do with the swing. For example, golfers with arthritis in their hands are advised to wear padded weightlifting gloves instead of the standard golf glove. There's even a tip for players who wear bifocals (don't wear them on the golf course, since you'll have to change your swing to be able to see the ball; opt for distance-vision-only lenses).

Of course, much of the information--particularly the tips for chipping and putting--can be used by all golfers. But if you're the competitive sort, you might not want others (like your regular playing partners) to get their hands on this valuable guide. --Lou Schuler