Tee Up Your Game

By Sean Gregory

Are your shots slicing into the rough? Don't worry--even Tiger Woods, who missed his first cut in seven years last week, can always use help with his game. A TIME guide for the fairways, with early gift ideas for Father's Day, plus tips for women from one who has found her swing. --By Sean Gregory

A MIXED BAG

The most explosive trend in golf clubs? Hybrids--those half wood, half irons. Their larger, woodlike club faces make two- and three-iron approach shots far easier to hit. This season's hot hybrid newcomers: the Nickent Genex ($129) and Sonartec MD ($199).

HAVING A BALL

The Pro V1, from Titleist, dominates the golf-ball market, but worthy competition has emerged. Bridgestone's Tour B330 ($54 a dozen) has a seamless cover that limits swirling in the air, while the paper-thin cover of the Srixon Z-UR ($55) allows for a bigger elastic core, giving the ball more distance.

BRIGHTEN THE BIRDIES

Ditch the black shirts and gray pants. Bright colors and high-tech garments that chase the sweat away are scoring this year. Cutter & Buck's shore blue (for men) and solar yellow (for women) ThermaTec shirts, out in June, have tiny silver fibers that keep duffers cool ($79).