Golf is hard, and there is a ton of information out there, which makes it difficult for most golfers, especially beginners, to understand what they need to do to get better. With this in mind, I thought I’d put together my absolute best tips to help you become a better golfer.
Golf Tip #1 – Learn the basic fundamentals
Most golfers do not have a firm grasp of the basic fundamentals, including the proper golf swing sequence, grip, setup, swing plane, ball flight laws, etc.
That is why I set up my Start Here page, where I cover these basic fundamentals in detail.
Keep this in mind though… you don’t need to have perfect fundamentals to be a great golfer. Jim Furyk is a perfect example of that.
You just need to build a golf swing that allows you to hit the ball consistently well. Easier said than done of course. But, having knowledge of these basic fundamentals is a great place to start.
Tip #2 – Work on your putting
If there is one area of the game where 99.9% of golfers can improve it’s their putting. Great putting is what separates the cream from the rest.
Just look at how Jon Rahm won the U.S. Open this past weekend… two unbelievably clutch putts on the last two holes. Amazing stuff.
Unfortunately, most golfers spend 90% of their practice time on the driving range, beating balls with no clue how to improve their golf swing.
If they spent 50% of their practice time just working on becoming a better putter, they would lower their scores far more quickly.
Golf Tip #3 – Get a thorough video analysis of your swing
Hank Haney discussing swing with teacher Scot Nei
When I was growing up and into my early 20s, on the rare occasion I got a golf lesson, it always went the same way.
The pro would watch me hit some balls, then tinker with my grip or setup, or maybe my takeaway, and that was it. Ultimately, I’d hit a few good shots and then grab onto that little bit of advice.
The problem is, I never learned about my own golf swing… its strengths and weaknesses.
It wasn’t until I traveled to Dallas to attend a Hank Haney teaching seminar when I finally learned about my own swing. In front of the other 50 or so pros in attendance, I received a video analysis and lesson from Hank himself.
Now I had the information I needed to make longer term improvements.
Before he had the video technology available, Hank worked off of a student’s ball flight to make the appropriate analysis and corrections. I suspect he was pretty good at communicating the issues to his students as well.
This was not the case with the instructors I worked with in my younger days.
Nowadays, with all the technology available, there really is no excuse to not learn about your own swing.
Make that investment and go get a video analysis of your golf swing!
Tip #4 – Work on your short game, alot
Most golfers pay lip service to their short game, which is why most golfers have awful short games.
Yet, combined with good putting, this is how you will lower your scores most quickly.
It always amazed me how Tiger Woods would never give up on a round of golf when he was hitting it poorly, and still fire a 72 when he had no business breaking 80.
That was guts, determination and a phenomenal short game.
Seve Ballesteros was another golfer with an amazing short game, and of course Phil Mickelson is another. That is why they are all Hall of Famers.
Learning how to hit different shots around the green will also benefit your long game.
When you become proficient at hitting pitch shots and chip shots, it will translate into a better long game.
Why? Because you are learning how to make solid contact, and control distance and direction.
I recommend that most golfers spend at least 50% of their practice time on their short game and putting.
Tip #5 – Don’t play like a dummy!
One reason why some golfers who develop some skill at playing golf never seem to get over the hump and break 80 or even 90 is because they sabotage their rounds with stupid mistakes.
Here’s an example…
Most golfers hit every chip shot with a wedge or sand wedge.
Therefore, when faced with a shot where they have 100 feet of green to work with and nothing but short grass in front of them, they still hit the shot with the sand wedge and attempt to fly it all the way to the hole.
This usually results in a shot that leaves them with another chip shot, because they chunked it or sculled it (or even shanked it, lol), or they made solid contact, but left themselves with a 20 footer anyway.
The problem is, it is more difficult to control the distance you fly the ball with chip shot, along with how far the ball will roll after it lands.
Therefore, the best thing to do is get the ball on the ground and rolling more quickly by using a less lofted club.
This is why you’ll see pros hitting some of these shots with their putter or even a fairway metal.
But, the fact of the matter is, even the pros make mental mistakes.
Louis Oosthuizen made a huge error on the 71st hole of this weekend’s U.S. Open by hitting his tee shot in a hazard to the left when he had all kinds of room to the right.
That mistake cost him the opportunity to get into a playoff with Jon Rahm. I guarantee it will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm played his last hole very intelligently.
After bunkering himself next to the green with his second shot, and knowing a birdie might seal the deal, Rahm opted not to go directly at the hole with his bunker shot.
If he mis-hit the shot, he could’ve easily hit the ball in the pond in front of the green.
Intead, he played away from the hole, and at least gave himself an opportunity to make a putt for birdie, which he buried.
The bottom line is that, at that level, golf is very much a mental game. But, at the typical amateur level, many strokes can be saved by avoiding big mistakes.
Last Golf Tip
Last, but not least, get more fit!
Unless you are already an active athlete, chances are, you can get in better shape. Getting in better shape will do wonders for your game, particularly if you are getting up there in years.
By getting in better shape, I mean get stronger, more flexible, and lose weight if you need to.
With this Covid-19 pandemic we’ve experienced, given that nearly 80% of those hospitalized with virus were obese, it’s time to focus on your fitness anyway.
There will be significant benefits beyond just your golf game!
Final Thoughts
I would imagine that after reading this post you may come away a little bit disappointed. Most golfers are looking for golf tips that will work immediately to lower their scores.
Instead, what I’ve given you is basically more work!
Well, if you want to be a good golfer, you have to work at it. There are no shortcuts in this game.
The key is to learn the right things to work on.
With that said, if you are looking for some more golf tips and ideas to help you become a better golfer, I’ve got plenty, and I’d be happy to share them with you.
The best way for me to do that is if you sign up for my emails.
This is how I share my more advanced material, along with offers and resources that can help you with your game and make it more fun.
Just fill out the form below, and you’ll be added to my email list to receive this cool stuff.
The second best way is to simply subscribe to the blog, which will then allow you to receive my latest posts directly in your email. You can find that form at the top and to the right of my blog posts, and at the bottom every page.
Your email is not shared with anyone else, as it is not my goal to have your email box bombarded with more junk.
No matter what you decide, I thank you for checking out my website, and wish you all the best in your quest to become a better golfer!
Get 5 Tips to Lower Your Scores Fast
Yup, the first thing I will do is send you a few tips to hopefully help you lower your scores by a few shots the next couple times you play. You’ll get these immediately.
Then, I will send you my Hacker to Scratch Golfer Blueprint, which has over 60 pages of information on how to improve your game over the long run.
Down the road, I’ll send you more tips to help you with your game along with new offers and resources that I learn about, such as sales on golf equipment.
If that sounds cool, then just fill out the form to the right.
Scott
