I complied these tips over the years in note form and wanted to share them with you. I hope you like them and I hope that you can get some utility out of them for your game…
A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to make sure that you allow for moisture conditions when playing. This is important because the wetness of the ground you are playing on will have a direct impact on how your ball bounces and rolls. The wetter it is, the less distance you will get after making contact with the ground.
A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to be sure that you are not too low to the ground when hitting the ball. This is important because doing so will cause you to make too much contact with the ground resulting in a large divot and a high arch on your ball.
One of the most important things to remember when playing golf is not to take it so seriously. Everyone makes mistakes and the ability to laugh at them will help you to learn from your flubs and relax while you play.
If you find yourself getting way off track you might consider golf lessons from a professional. Consider finding a golf school from Jeff Symmonds. I went to his Las Vegas Golf School for golf lessons and it really helped me during a rough spot. I improved from the school and sometimes go back for tune ups.
Remember that your hips and arms need to work together in a good golf swing. They should move simultaneously. While your arms bring the club down, your hips should already be swiveling out of the way. Learning to properly coordinate your upper and lower body will provide much-improved swing performance.
A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to try to forget everything you have ever been told about your swing and do what comes naturally. Sometimes depending on unique body types, you may need to adapt a swing that is nothing close to the general form that is recommended.
Becoming over-eager can kill your golf swing. Patience and a smooth motion are more important to a good swing than raw, ferocious power. Instead of lunging at the ball, make sure that your chest never drifts down ahead of your arms and hands. By leading with your arms, you ensure that your legs stay underneath you. Create a strong base for your body, and your drive distance should increase.
If you miss a shot, remember not to beat yourself up about it! Not only is it important to be a good sport, but becoming angered could also jeopardize your level of focus. Golf is supposed to be a relaxing game, after all, so try not to develop an overly competitive mindset.
When swinging the golf club, watch your left knee. Does it collapse toward the right knee? This is a common beginner mistake that affects balance. Try imagining your left knee going toward the target on the back swing. If you have trouble with that, imagine holding a basketball between your legs while you swing.
Be careful of an overly aggressive or choppy golf swing- even the most powerful swing should be smooth and fluid. The key point here is the top of the swing between ending the back swing and beginning the forward swing. Don’t jerk the club from one to the other- accelerate gradually for a good, controlled swing.
Learn the fundamentals of putting. When putting, the pressure in your hands should always be soft, as sensitivity is very important. If you grip the club too tightly or your grip changes during the stroke, you won’t be successful. Make sure that your hands don’t operate independently from your arms and shoulders. It should be a clean, careful stroke.
One common problem in golf putting is following the ball with your eyes after hitting it, which often causes the shoulders and hips to follow as well and make harder contact than was intended. Try practicing by placing the ball on top of a dime and watching the dime after the put.
Many golfers complain about hooking their shots. This is due to a closed club face, and when hit the ball goes to the left. It takes practice, but in order to stop hooking your shots, open up the club face and try to pay extra attention to connecting with the ball properly.
While standing between three and five feet in back of the golf ball, focus on the spot where you want it to land. Take the wind, other weather conditions and your environment into consideration. Taking this extra time to think about your swing will significantly increase accuracy. Finally, when you are in position over the ball to take the shot, you’ll have better control about where it ends up.
When it comes to golf clubs, the longest clubs in your golf bag are used for longer-range shots, while the shortest clubs are used for shorter shots (less than 150 yards from the green). This is easy to remember when you go to select the club you wish to use for your next shot.
Challenge yourself. You should never underestimate your shots. If you go into a hole trying for par, you will not get any higher. If your goal is a birdie, then shoot for an eagle. The brain is one of the most powerful tools you have on the course, so do not underestimate what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it.
Now that you have some tips that you can use towards your strategies for golf you want to go out and play as much as you can. The thing about golf is knowing how to do something is one thing, but doing it and building on it is what’s going to help you succeed. So get out there and try what you’ve learned.
Regards and good luck,
The Doctor!