Here are 20 ways you can improve your golf game that are super simple & don’t take much effort to do.
– 10 Practice Strategies
– 10 On Course Strategies
1. Don’t Rake & Hit
So many golfers just rapid-fire golf balls when they are on the range. Take your time, purchase 30-60 balls MAX & make sure every golf ball has some kind of purpose to it.
2. Split Your Golf Balls Into Groups
Adding one more point to the above tweet, to make sure you stick to your plan of every ball should have a purpose, split your bucket of balls into groups of 5. Have balls specific for warming up, for technique, for pre shot routine, for speed work, for wedge, etc. This will make it easier to stick to a plan.
3. Use Training Aids
If you are working on something in your swing, don’t be afraid to utilise a training aid to help improve what it is you’re working on. Training aids can be as simple as an alignment stick positioned on the ground in some way, a towel on the ground behind the ball for low point control, or it could be a high-tech device like a hack motion working on wrist angles. Whatever you use, it’s designed to help you so use it.
4. Work On Your Alignment
I often see golfers who swing it well on the range, but not on the course. This could be due to alignment issues. A good example of this would be someone who is steep in the downswing which results in pulls. On the range you can bring the club in from the inside, however on the course you can’t do it. Chances are on the golf course you aim RIGHT of your intended target. If that’s the case, you will have to pull the ball to have it hit your target. While you can shallow the club on the range with an alignment stick on the ground, you can’t on the golf course. Working on alignment on the range can really help. I like to select an intermediate target in front of the ball & commit to that spot.
5. Film Your Swing
Use video to check your basics like setup, grip, stance width, etc. You can also use it for checking your swing & making sure it’s where you want it to be. Make sure you know what you’re looking for however, if you are guessing and have no idea then you are wasting your time & should hire a coach to help you.
6. Hit Multiple Different Shot Shapes & Trajectories
Not because I want you shaping shots on the course, but because I’d like golfers to have more awareness on how the club is moving in space. If you suffer from a slice, wouldn’t it be nice to know how to hook it on command? Try to hit all 9 shots that Tiger practiced & see which shots you are comfortable with & which ones need work. This could help with decision making on the course & picking better targets.
7. Practice Different Lies
Do this for both the range & short game practice. For range work, put your ball in a divot. Go one step further & learn how to play from the back of a divot & the front of a divot. If possible, put the ball in the rough and learn how to play from different rough lies. For short game, hit from different lies to different flags using different clubs etc. Spend a ton of time around the green working on different options and learning new things through trial and error.
8. Use Stats to Dictate What You Work On
If you are losing 5 shots on the putting green & gaining 3 shots in driving… My advice would be to maintain that good driving you have going but spend a bit of time on the putting green to ensure you aren’t losing strokes. Check your stats in the short term & long term to make sure you are working on the things that need work now, but also working towards the skills you need to reach your ultimate goal.
9. Don’t Waste Your Practice Time
Many golfers think that the more they practice, the better they’ll get. While there might be some truth to that, just be careful you aren’t there for too long that you start practicing without any intent. Hitting balls for 3 hours might be fine for Pros, but I bet you they are fully engaged throughout their entire session to make it worth it. The recreational golfer may only be engaged for 30-60mins & any longer than that they might start to get worse & then go searching for a fix. Have a plan, get in & do your practice, then leave.
10. Practice With One Ball On The Putting Green
Instead of taking 5 balls to the green to practice with, just take 1. That means that every time you hit a putt, you can grab another & just aim slightly higher and make it (for example). That isn’t problem solving. With 1 ball, every putt need to go through a full routine of reading the green & aligning yourself. If you miss, ask yourself why… was it speed, read, or start line? If you want to give the putt another go, grab the ball you’ve just hit and make that adjustment but you already know the answer to the question. My advice is to find another putt & problem solve that.
11. Play Shots You CAN Hit
Stick with shots you know you can hit. If your ball is on a tight lie near the green & you have no idea how to play a flop shot from that lie, why are you trying? Try to stick with what you can hit 8/10 times & choose that. I’m not saying don’t ever risk a shot, but at least try to learn how to play it in practice before you do it on course.
12. Learn & Use Proper Course Strategy
There is a ton of information out there from the likes of DECADE & Lou Stagner to help you with correct course strategy. I personally use the Shot Pattern app to help get ready for courses to ensure I aim in the correct places & find out what the correct club to play off the tee would be. Make sure you are picking correct targets that minimise penalty shots & doesn’t leave you with short sided chip shots.
13. Don’t Be “That Guy”
It’s a game off golf. If you hit a bad shot, get over it. No one likes playing with golfers who throw clubs & get angry after every poor shot. You know you are going to hit some shockers, you know you are going to hit some good shots, you have a certain handicap for a reason so don’t ruin your playing partners day by being a child! Enjoy being out there, embrace the challenge or go back to work & wish you were on the course
14. Swing Thoughts
Try not to over think when you are on the golf course. Having swing thoughts is fine, but if you have more than 2, you need to re-evaluate what you are working on & how you are working on it. I like telling golfers to turn your thoughts into feels. If you struggle with a block, try and hit a pull cut. Instead of thinking of all the technical things required to do that, just feel a different club movement & think of a different ball flight. Your brain might just make the necessary adjustments while on the course.
15. Switch Off Between Shots
Go through your entire routine when you reach your golf ball & it’s your turn to hit, but after you’ve hit & placed your club back in the back, switch off the golf thoughts. Talk to your playing partners about the game on the weekend, get to know them a little better. Do all you can to not have 100% of your focus about the shot you just hit or the holes you have coming up.
16. Stay Hydrated & Eat Well
To play well, it would be beneficial to drink water & electrolytes & eat foods that will give you energy such & sandwiches, nuts, bananas etc. Unless you have a terrible front 9, then just smash a 6 pack of beers & a hot dog & enjoy yourself.
17. Risk vs Reward
Be aware of certain shots throughout the round which make or break your score. At times, we are faced with a shot that if we pull off could mean we get away with a par or birdie, but if we don’t pull it off, it could lead to a double or worse. These can be big decisions & you should weigh up the risk vs reward of taking the shot on. Maybe in the first few holes of the day It’s not worth it, but later in the round depending on how you are scoring, it could be. That’s for you to decide & live with. No matter what decision you make, own it & don’t get upset if you don’t pull it off, it was your choice.
18. Dance With The One You Came With
If you warm up & are hitting fades when you normally hit draws, don’t try to fix it, just play with what you’ve got for that day. 5 mins before your round isn’t the best time to go into swing fix mode. Just adjust your targets when playing on the course & after the round or the days following the round, head to the range & work on the reason why the ball flight may have changed.
19. Analyse Your Game Post Round
Once you’ve had a chance to sit down, take some time to reflect on your round. What was good, what was average, what was bad & needs work? Does what you identify in your post round analysis match your long-term goals in regard to what you need to work on? Did what you worked on that week help you in the round you just played? For example, if your last round had 4 three putts & that week you worked on your lag putting, did that help reduce 3 putts for this round? Set some weekly & monthly goals & work towards those.
20. Have Fun
Lastly, please have fun! I know this game can be frustrating but just remember, it’s your hobby, not your job. Use golf to get away from work & the busyness of everyday life. A bad shot isn’t the end of the world, no one around you is making fun of you for hitting a poor shot, your wife/husband still loves you & your kids don’t care about how well/poor you played. Get out in nature, stay fit, enjoy the game, there’s always tomorrow if it doesn’t go as well as you had hoped
