5 Golf Tips to Improve and Transform Your Game (by a Golf Professional)
As a seasoned golfer with years of experience, I know the ins and outs of this challenging game. Over time, I’ve picked up the best golf tips and techniques that have propelled my game to the next level. I’m excited to share my top five golf tips to improve your game. Whether you’re a beginner, a scratch player, or a professional golfer, these essential tips will help you take your golf game to the next level and impress your friends on the course.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
5 Best Tips to Improve Your Game
The following tips are in no particular order, so consider them equally important in improving your game and optimizing your practice time. Whether you’re trying to improve your swing, short game, or golf game in general, these tips will help you improve all aspects of your game and shoot lower scores on the golf course.
As with anything else in life, playing great golf takes time; if anyone says they can teach you how to improve your golf game overnight, run, don’t walk, because golf takes years to learn and master. Even over two decades after picking up the game, I continue to work on my game and the fundamentals. The fundamentals, or basics, is where every player should begin and continue to concentrate at least part of their effort, for their entire career. So, let’s begin with what I consider the most important part of building a good foundation for the golf swing and all aspects of the game: the basics.
1) The Basics are Crucial
If I were able to give a Ted Talk on golf tips for beginners, I would only concentrate on the five core basics of golf. Before you can master the more advanced movements of a fundamentally sound golf swing, you must master the five fundamentals of golf:
- Grip
- Posture
- Stance
- Alignment
- Ball Position
Even after years of playing the game, I continuously check on all the basics to ensure my setup is correct, and I’m ready to play my best and shoot the lowest score possible on any given day. This, perhaps, is the best swing tip I can give you.
Practice Like a Pro
If you still need convincing of how vital these aspects of the game are, the next time you watch golf on television or at a PGA Tour or LPGA Tour event, check out the players on the range. You’ll likely see many, if not most, using alignment sticks while hitting balls and warming up because the top players know how good critical alignment is to play their best golf. It should be important to you if it’s important enough for them.
Whether a beginner or an experienced golfer, consistently working on the basics will ensure you’re in the best position to make a good swing, leading to a better impact position and, ultimately, lower scores.
Find a certified instructor to receive golf lessons from and guide you in the right direction for your game and current ability.
2) Get Fitted
When just starting in golf, it’s understandable that saving money is critical, especially when you’re not sure if you’re going to stick with the game or not; however, after getting through this stage, it’s time to get fitted for clubs and the best golf ball for your game.
Getting fitted for golf clubs and a ball by an experienced professional does not mean having to break the bank; you can get equipped for relatively cheap and find second-hand clubs at a discounted rate to buy. Although it may seem like a luxury at first and non-essential, having clubs that fit your body, swing speed, and ability significantly affects how well you will play and will lower your scores. However, this is not to say that practicing is not crucial because nothing beats a great practice routine and working on the basics, like your golf stance, whenever possible.
Remember, having the right equipment is crucial to playing your best golf. The game is already hard enough; take care of the easy stuff before stepping on the course.
3) Purchase a Membership
Anyone who has been playing golf long enough knows that green fees and range balls add up in the long term; however, practice is the only way to improve.
A golf membership allows players to play and practice for a reduced rate. Instead of paying for each round of golf, you will only have to pay a monthly due, and if you play enough every month, the money spent on membership dues will be far cheaper than paying for each round of golf.
4) Practice Smart
Spending all your time on the range with the driver hitting ball after ball, may be fun; however, there are more paths to improvement and better scores. Instead, spend most of your practice time on where you’ll see the fastest progress.
Statistics show that most of a golfer’s strokes are taken within wedge distance, around, and on the green—meaning, practicing the short game and putting is critical to any good golf improvement plan.
The Art of the Recovery
Although I will argue that getting off the tee box and in the fairway is highly important, even the best golfers in the world miss fairways; however, unlike amateur golfers, more times than not, they find a way to get the ball on or around the green and make par or better. How do they accomplish doing so? Short game and putting.
Beyond the
Improving your golf game goes beyond just working on your grip, swing mechanics, and short game. A well-rounded golfer knows the importance of the mental game and practicing an excellent pre shot routine in the category of practicing smart, which starts behind the ball. Whether you’re hitting a putt or a full shot, finding the target line, visualizing the shot, and making a practice swing, are essential aspects of a good pre shot routine. With help building a pre shot routine, get a golf lesson from a qualified instructor.
How to Practice to Get Better at Golf
For the practice schedule I followed while trying to play the game for a living and the one I still use today, check out my scratch golf practice schedule. Although I used it when I was playing my best, it’s still an excellent place for the average golfer to begin and build their routine. Also, check out my article on the statistics of putting and how I’ve improved and made more putts over the years.
A great practice session does not necessarily have to occur at the golf course or a practice facility; some of the best practice sessions I’ve ever had happened at home. There are many benefits to practicing golf at home, and with the right equipment, such as a GoSports Golf Practice Hitting Net (the net I use), you can vastly improve your game without leaving your house. For more information on practicing golf at home and the best equipment for doing so, check out my article on home golf practice for nine of my best tips and strategies for improving from the comfort of your home.
5) Competition Is Essential
Whether you’re a beginner, an avid golfer, or a golf pro, finding competition is essential to improving quickly. However, finding competition does not necessarily mean playing in a golf tournament. Competition can come from playing against a buddy on the weekend or joining a local golf group that plays on certain days of the week. It does not matter where you find competition; the important thing is doing so and learning to thrive under pressure.
Start slow and build your level of competition over time. For example, you can begin by playing against buddies and then gradually move into playing against others at your local course or golf club; eventually, you can start playing in tournaments, both locally and even nationally, if desired.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get better at golf, check out my article about teaching yourself golf without formal lessons, where I list some of my top tips.
