The best golfers in the world have the ability to play any style of golf they want -- aggressive, conservative, creative, whatever. But at crunch time, each golfer has natural tendencies on which he relies. Jack Nicklaus is the perfect example: He could do anything he wanted to with a golf ball, but when push came to shove, he was most comfortable at fading the ball and hitting putts that died at the hole.

Ideally, your game should be versatile enough to dial up a variety of styles, but that may not be realistic. Unless you're playing and practicing constantly, you're better off staying in your comfort zone. Your scorecard will appreciate it.

For example, if you're a fader, don't try to draw the ball around a dogleg-left; that will often lead to a bad shot and a big number. Instead, stay with the shot you know you can safely fade into the corner. Take less club if you have to; the important thing is to give yourself a chance to hit the next shot. Think the same way on the greens: If you're more comfortable dying the ball into the hole, don't ram a three-footer off the back of the cup because "that's what you're supposed to do." Hitting the shot you're comfortable with keeps your mind relaxed, breeds confidence, and offers your best chance for success.

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