Whether you’re starting out as a new golfer or a seasoned player, it’s always good to start with the fundamentals. In this article, we’ll take a look at how getting basic could elevate your golf game before you even strap a bag to a cart.
1. Seek Professional Help
Get together with a certified golf instructor and discuss your goal of finding a swing that best fits your game. Experienced instructors will observe your homegrown approach and discuss the fundamentals and how to build on yours with you. Perhaps altering your grip will help; maybe it’s your setup at the address. Whatever it is, having a knowledgeable professional observe you and make suggestions can be of significant benefit. The key is to find someone who knows what they’re doing and can easily convey this to you, no matter your skill level. Bear in mind these things take time to accomplish, so you might need to meet with your new instructor on several occasions. The PGA has some good tips on how to find the right golf coach.
2. Prepare Your Body
Your fitness level can, to a large extent, determine how good your swing becomes. Flexibility and strength are the attributes of cultivating a repeatable golf swing. Keep in mind, though, you’re trying to develop a certain set of muscles, so you’ll need to engage in exercises specific to helping execute your best swing.
A trainer who specializes in golf can help you institute an appropriate regimen after assessing your physical condition. Another benefit of working on your fitness will be improved stamina. In time, you could arrive at the 18th hole feeling next to no fatigue.
3. Hit a Lot of Balls
We’re pretty sure this one likely elicited a hearty, “Well, duh!” Right?
However, far too many players practice by playing. That’s an incredibly frustrating way to try to improve your game. You need to hit when nothing’s riding on the outcome other than your improvement. The good news is you don’t have to head to the driving range every day to get your time in. When you don’t have time to hit the course or when you can’t practice in the off-season or on rainy days, a garage golf simulator could be a game changer for you to keep improving.
Today’s simulators can help you work on your swing in your home. In fact, a good golf launch monitor can measure your ball speed, spin rate, and launch angle, as well as your club head speed and smash factor. You’ll know exactly what you’re accomplishing, which will make it easier to figure out what you need to work on to improve your game. And, with your newfound teaching instructor, they can leverage your data to help you increase your rate of improvement.
4. Understand Your Game
Are you consistently hooking, slicing, or hitting it thing or fat?? Examining these factors will help you learn exactly what you need to work on to get better. In addition to keeping score, take note of the number of times you hit the fairway. How many greens did you hit in regulation? How many putts did you have on each hole? Reviewing this data after each round will show you exactly where you need to focus your efforts to improve your game.
These four tips will set you on a direct path to improving your golf game. Here, it’s important to remember golf, like any other sport, requires you to put in the time. Set some goals for yourself—like breaking 80, reducing your handicap by five strokes, or reducing your putts per round. With your goals set, you can decide upon the best way to reach them and put that plan into action.
