How To Shave Strokes Off Your Putting Game
Every golfer wants to find ways to shave strokes off their scorecard. One of the most effective ways to lower your scores is to focus on your putting game. Working on putting can help you to lower your handicaps and shave a few extra strokes off your game.
Lead With Your Opposite Hand
If you’re right-handed, you might assume that you should lead with your right hand when you’re putting. However, if you want consistent results, you’re going to need to use your opposite hand to guide your putts. The opposite is true for left-handed golfers; you should be leading with your right hand.
To practice this skill, try putting only with your opposite hand. While this can be challenging, it can help you to use that hand to effectively guide your putts.
Make Sure You Start Your Putts On The Line
Many golfers struggle to start the ball on the intended line. Mastering this skill is an excellent way to shave strokes off your game. If a ball is even one degree off its target line, it will be inches off from its target by the time it reaches the hole.
There’s no easy trick to make sure you start putts on the line every time. However, it’s easier to hone this skill if you use an alignment stick when you’re practicing your putts. Practicing in this way can help you to see if your alignment is off so that you can correct the mistakes you’re making and adjust your putts.
Work On Your Putting Grip
Do you feel like you don’t have enough control over your putts? If you’re not consistently getting the results you’re aiming for when you putt, there’s a good chance that the problem lies with your grip. You should work to optimize your grip and correct any issues.
Ideally, you should place your putter in the palm of your hand before gripping it. You’ll want to mirror this grip with your opposite hand. Placing the putter in your palm will help to keep your club from rotating as you putt, which means you’ll have far more control. You should also focus on bumping your grip with the back of your hand instead of your fingers.
Focus On Rolling The Ball
When you’re putting, you shouldn’t think about hitting the ball. Instead, you should aim to roll the ball. To make sure you’re rolling the ball, you’ll want to keep your stance open and place most of your weight on your left side. This stance will make it easier for you to roll the ball smoothly forward.
You should aim to keep the head of the putter low to the ground, even after impact. Many golfers believe that they should hit up on the ball when putting, but this is a myth. If you do hit up, it could cause the ball to hop rather than roll.
Work On Your Launch
Another important aspect you’ll want to be able to control is the distance of your putts. You may want to have your putter fitted if you haven’t already. If your putter hasn’t been fitted for you, you’ll have less control over the distance of your putts.
In addition to this, you’ll want to work on your mechanics. Experiment with how your arms hand when you hold the putter and see how that changes the distance of your putts. Try changing your knee and hip flex. Work on spine flexion. Try different stances and you’ll be able to see what works for you.
Don’t Focus On The Ball
Instead of focusing all of your attention on the ball as you putt, try to focus on the hole you’re aiming for. Staring at the ball can make it difficult for you to focus, which can lead to a bad putt. If you focus on the hole, you’ll be able to clear your mind and think about the target line.
Concentration is something that a lot of golfers struggle with. While you obviously need to pay attention to your golf game, focusing too much attention on the wrong things can cause you to make mistakes. You don’t even need to look at the ball when you’re putting. You should be focusing your attention on the spot you’re hitting the ball towards.
Mark Your Ball
If you’re having issues with your putting game, and you’re trying to identify them, you may want to try drawing a line around your golf ball. From there, you should align the line with your target and hit the ball.
If you’re putting properly, the line on the ball should remain on the target line. If you see that the line is wobbling, you’ll know that you’re hitting across the line. From there, you can take steps to correct your putt.
Try Putting With Two Balls
When you’re practicing, try taking two different balls and placing them on the toe and heel of your putter. Once you’ve done that, you can go ahead and take a swing. You can learn a lot about how the balls react.
If both of the balls travel the same distance, you’ll know that you’re putting them correctly. If you see that one of the balls is shooting off from the face, you’ll know that there is an issue with your impact. You should work on coming through the impact area while maintaining a square face.
Use Training Aids
Investing in training aids can help you to simulate the conditions of the golf course. There are many different types of training aids you can use when running putting drills, such as a mirror system or a putting accuracy trainer.
There is a wide range of putting aids on the market, and many of these products are very reasonably priced. Investing in the right kinds of training aids can help you to get your golf game up to par.
Make Adjustments Before The Stroke
Putting strokes can be fairly small. In fact, it is not unusual for a putting stroke to only be six inches. Because of this, you can’t afford to make any adjustments during the stroke. Instead, adjustments need to be made before the stroke.
When you’re able to take a full swing, you have the time needed for adjustment. However, that usually won’t be the case when you’re putting. You’ll want to make any adjustments necessary before the stroke so that you can get the results you’re aiming for.
Work On Your Speed
Many golfers struggle with the speed of their putt. If this is an issue for you, you can address this problem by running some fairly simple drills. For example, you can take three balls and start at ten feet. Drop each of these balls a few feet apart. Gradually work your way back to fifty feet.
This drill will give you a better sense of what it feels like to hit different types of putts. It can help you to cure your speed issues and tackle different kinds of putts in the correct way.
Don’t Overthink It
While it’s smart to work to correct the problems with your putting game, you won’t necessarily want to be thinking about all of these things during a game of golf. You should focus on these issues when you’re practicing. When you’re actually putting, you’ll want to clear your mind.
The best golfers think before they take a swing, but they also operate on instinct. You’ll want to practice enough that putting feels like second nature to you. If you overthink your putt, you could wind up making some very basic mistakes.
Try To Stay Loose
Are you overly stiff when you’re putting? Your movement should come from your shoulders rather than your legs, but that doesn’t mean that you should be as stiff as a wooden board. It’s a good idea to keep your muscles limber when you’re golfing. Take every opportunity to stretch your muscles.
Nerves can also contribute to stiffness. If you’re focused on shaving strokes off your putting game, your muscles might start to tense up. Try to relax and not think too much about your score as you play. If you put in extra effort and work to improve your game, you’ll naturally be able to shave off strokes and lower your score.
Make Sure You’re Properly Aligning The Face
One of the biggest mistakes that golfers make when they’re putting is failing to properly align the putter face. Remember, the face of the putter is what you’re using to aim the direction of the ball. If your face isn’t properly aligned, your ball isn’t going to travel in the right direction.
The direction that your ball will travel in is almost entirely determined by the alignment of the face. If your ball is consistently traveling in the wrong direction, you can assume that the face isn’t properly aligned. Work to adjust your alignment so that you can get the results that you’re after.
Try Clock Drills
Take twelve balls and place around the hole in two to three-foot intervals. You should have four lines of three balls. To start the drill, hit the four balls that are closest to the hole. Then move on to the next balls, and then the next. If you miss, you should start this drill over from the beginning.
Clock drills are an excellent way to improve the rhythm of your putting game. This drill can also simulate the kind of high-pressure situations that you might experience in a real golf game. Since you know that you’ll have to start the drill over if you make a mistake, you’ll want to make sure you putt perfectly when you’re on the last few balls.
Take Practice Swings Behind The Ball
It’s smart to take a few practice swings before you putt. However, you shouldn’t take those swings while you’re standing next to the ball. Instead, you should stand behind the ball so that you’ll actually be able to see the line of the putt.
You won’t get much out of your practice swings if you can’t see everything that you need to see. Always make sure you’re standing behind the ball and have a clear view of the putt line before you take any practice swings.
Pay Attention To The Green
If you’re not paying any attention to the green, your putting game is going to suffer. Understanding the green can help you to understand how you should be putting. For example, if the green seems lighter than usual, it’s a sign that it’s been cut recently. This means that there will be less friction than usual, which means you won’t want to hit the green as hard.
Take the time to examine the green so that you can see how it will impact your putting game. You should look at the length of the grass, and you should also check to see if there’s water on the green. The condition of the green can have a significant impact on your putting game, which is why you won’t want to ignore it.
Visualize Your Goal
Before you take a shot, you should try to visualize your goal. Picture yourself swinging, connecting with the ball, and successfully guiding it into the hole. Take the time to imagine yourself doing everything perfectly.
Taking a moment for yourself before your swing can help to calm nerves, and it can also help you to focus on what you need to be doing. Your legs should be still as you putt, and all of the movement should be coming from your shoulders. Stay calm, take a deep breath, and make sure you get the results that you’ve pictured.
Control Your Weight
It’s likely that the way you are distributing your weight is having an impact on your putting game. If you’re placing all of your weight on your heels, you’re going to have far less control over the direction of your ball.
When you watch other golfers play, you should pay attention to the way they distribute their weight when they’re putting. If you look at their feet, you’ll see that they are putting their weight on their toes rather than their heels. You should try to do the same thing.
Train Your Muscles With A Bungee Cord
Your golf game will see significant improvements if you’re able to develop the muscles in your shoulders and upper back. This won’t just help you to shave strokes off your putting game; it will help you with other aspects of your golf game as well.
You should try running putting drills with a bungee cord looped around your upper body. You should place the cord just above your elbows. Once the cord is in place, you should try to putt the ball. This will limit your movement greatly, which will help to strengthen your muscles.
Work On Your Tempo
Obviously, having a perfect aim is an important part of putting. However, being able to control the speed of your putt is even more important. If you roll your putt at the wrong speed, you’re going to miss, even if your aim is perfect. You’ll have more control over your speed if you are able to putt at the right tempo.
To find your right tempo, you may want to develop a phrase that you’ll repeat to yourself while you’re putting. Your phrase should start with a two-syllable word and conclude with a single syllable. For example, you could use a phrase like “putting, now.”
Work To Develop A Routine
You should never be relying on luck during your golf game. If you want to consistently shave strokes off your game, you’re going to need to take the same approach every time. You should work on developing a routine for your putts.
Having a routine can make you a more consistent golfer, and it can also help you to keep your anxiety in check. Spend a lot of time practicing so that you can hone a routine that will give you the results you’re aiming for. You may also want to watch professional golfers so that you can learn from their putting routine.
Keep Your Stroke Straight
A lot of golfers believe that a putting stroke should be arced. However, this is actually a misconception. Your stroke should be straight back and straight through. This will give you more control over your putter face during your putting stroke.
If your putting stroke is arced, the putter face is going to be open on the backswing but closed on the follow-through.
This means your putter face may not be square at impact, which means you might not be properly aiming the ball as you hit it. Even if other people have told you that your stroke should be arced, you should try experimenting with a straight stroke. You might be surprised when you see the difference that it makes.
Walk Around The Hole
Even if you’ve spent a lot of time practicing, it can be hard to judge the length of your putt when you don’t have access to any sort of training aids. An easy way to get around this is to quickly walk around the hole before you hit the ball. When you do this, you should count the number of steps you take. Make sure you count in your head; you won’t want the golfers you’re playing with to catch on to what you’re doing.
When you walk around the hole, it will be easier for you to accurately gauge the distance of the putt. This means that you’ll have a better idea of the speed you should be hitting the ball at, which means that you’ll be more likely to get the ball in the hole.
Work On Maintaining Control
Even if you play a perfect golf game, you won’t always get the results you want every time. Even excellent putts aren’t always going to go in the hole. However, if you work to develop your putting skills and maintain control, you’ll get the results you’re aiming for more often than not.
If you focus on controlling the line that you start the ball and controlling the speed of the ball, you’ll be able to shave strokes off your putting game, even if you don’t get the results that you want every time. Work to develop your skills so that you feel like you have more control over your golf game.
Work With A Coach
If you’re struggling to solve the problems with your putting game, you may want to work with a professional. A coach will be able to analyze your putting game, tell you what you’re doing wrong, and give you suggestions that will deliver results.
Even a single coaching session can have a dramatic impact on your golf game. While working with a coach can be expensive, it might be worth it for the results. Instead of spending a lot of money on new golf clubs, you should work with a coach so that you can correct the issues with your golf game.
Practice Regularly
If you’re only practicing when you’re playing through a game, you’re going to struggle to lower your scores. If you really want to see results, regular practice is essential. Putting is something that you can practice at any time. You can even buy equipment that will allow you to practice putting at home.
You should be practicing several times a week. While you don’t have to spend hours running putting drills, regular practice is essential. If you devote plenty of time to practice, you’ll be able to shave strokes off your putting game, which means you’ll get the lower scores that you’re aiming for.
It’s common for golfers to struggle with their putting game. If you’ve been trying to lower your scores, these tips will help you to change the way you putt. Focusing on putting will allow you to become a much stronger golfer. Elite players are able to succeed because they’re learned how to shave strokes off their putting game.
Top-Rated Golf Tips – Your Comprehensive Guide On How To Get Out Of A Sand Trap
Spending time on a beach may sound fun, provided you are not playing on one of your favorite golf courses. There are a lot of golfers, from scratch to professionals to beginners that find it very difficult to achieve the correct impact, loft, or spin to successfully get their ball out of a bunker or sand trap in a single stroke. When your ball does land in a bunker, rather than fearing the shot, you should embrace it by using the right technique.
The method of how you hit and swing your way out of a bunker will depend on the lie. For example, is the ball stuck in either a greenside or fairway bunker? Are you facing a large lip along with an uphill shot? Is the ball buried or is the lie favorable? These are all very common scenarios, and each one should be taken into consideration before you step onto the sand.
In this guide, we will discuss all the different scenarios and provide you with the best shots and techniques to make sure you get your ball out of a sand trap in one or two shots.
Top-Rated Tips On How To Get Out Of A Sandtrap
If you have a strategy in mind to avoid sandtraps completely, then it might be time to rethink your approach. Even the top professional golfers are unable to avoid them. Getting your ball out of a sand trap or bunker is among the most difficult shots to learn or master when it comes to golf.
From professionals to beginners, just about every golfer will face a hard time when it comes to bunker shots. Achieving the right impact, spin, and loft on your ball is often complex which can harm your score. Rather than aiming to avoid these shots altogether, it is better to come prepared. If you are in search of ways to improve your game when it comes to sand traps, here is a list of tips on how to hit successful sand trap shots.
- Choose The Correct Club
Making sure you are using the correct club is the first decision you need to make when approaching a sand trap shot. Your choice will depend on where the ball has landed in association with where the green is. If the green area is small between the hole and you, try using your high-loft wedge. If the green area is larger, go for a lower-loft wedge. The answer to hitting your way out on a fairway involves hitting more club. This means hitting the ball in the same way that you would for a greenside shot, and when you use more club it provides you with a way to achieve more distance.
- Use The Correct Set-Up
Your set up will involve making sure your feet are grounded into the bunker. This will provide you with a more solid base and give you an idea of what the ground is like. The next step involves making sure that you play your ball off the front foot. This set-up will assist with increasing the overall trajectory of your ball. There might be situations when a low trajectory shot becomes necessary, but in most cases playing the shot forward is the general “rule of thumb”. From here you need to open up your stance along with your club-face. To do this aim to the slight left, and open your club-face by 2 to 3 degrees. The last step involves making sure that 80% of your weight is on the front foot and 20% is on the back foot. Distributing your weight in this way will give the ball backspin as soon as you take the shot. Try not to shift your weight back-and-forth in the way that you usually do for normal swings.
- Use The Correct Grip
The correct grip is also an important factor to achieve the best bunker shot. Approach this type of shot using a weaker grip and soft arms. This doesn’t mean that you will be holding your club using less pressure. Instead, it will refer to releasing the hinge in the wrist. A weak grip will allow your wrist hinge to release earlier. This will ensure that your ball goes higher and stops faster onto the green.
- Use The Correct Swing
Once you feel comfortable with the set-up, it is time to move onto the swing. It is best to use an outside-in swing pattern, with a slight bend in your wrist as you reach the top part of the swing. The distance that you swing your club back will depend on what type of range you are hoping to achieve when you hit the ball. This is a swing pattern that assists with the overall loft of your ball and allows these shots to be soft and high.
- Follow Through
When you are hitting your ball out of a sand trap you want to avoid moving your weight back-and-forth as you do for normal shots. This is when it becomes important to pay particular attention to the follow-through. With a bunker shot, you must focus on staying down longer to ensure a full follow-through. If you stop or slow down the swing as the club impacts with the ball, then the ball won’t be going anywhere. In most cases, hit the ball slightly fat (from behind), which will mean some of the sand will be pulled up with the shot. When your follow-through is strong, there will be enough strength to drive the ball straight out of a sand trap.
- Have A Positive Mindset
Similar to how several of the famed golfers have mentioned, your “mental game” is one of your strongest tools when it comes to golf. If you are approaching a shot with feelings of doubt and fear, this will have a negative impact when it comes to your game. Each shot needs to be approached with confidence. Think about where the ball should go, and try to clear your mind of negative thoughts before taking a shot. You will experience poor shots from time to time, but the key lies in moving on from these and making sure your mind is clear before approaching each shot.
- Practice Makes Perfect
Consistent and regular practice is what is going to assist you the most. As we mentioned earlier on, rather than trying to stay away from bunkers, rather come prepared instead. Hitting your ball into a bunker is inevitable, but when you practice regularly this will help to build up your confidence when it comes to approaching these complex shots. When you are practicing, focus on how you think for every shot. When you are prepared physically and mentally this can really assist you when facing your next big game.
How To Deal With Greenside Bunkers
The majority of the greenside bunkers will be situated below a green. This means you will be needing loft in order to drop your ball where you would like it to go. Using a sand-wedge, open the clubface while focusing on not striking your ball directly. Take the shot 2 to 3 inches from behind your ball to achieve the momentum you need to push the ball forward. Your weight should be on your front foot, your shaft vertical, and your arms should be soft. When taking the swing, act like the pitch is from a 40 to 50-yard distance. Avoid swinging too hard and make sure that you focus on the follow-through turning your body towards the target to ensure you ball lands where you want it to.
How To Deal With Fairway Bunkers
When you do land your ball in a fairway sand trap, you will probably still be a fair distance from a green, which means you should be choosing one of your lower irons. In comparison to a greenside bunker, your initial impact should be on the ball rather than the sand. Your stance should be open and use a punch-shot to connect with your ball. In most cases, the fairway bunkers won’t have bad lies or big lips, so a punch shot usually works well to get out of a sand trap.
What To Do When Your Ball Is Buried In A Bunker
When your ball is buried inside the sand, this is usually one of the more stressful situations you will need to face when trying to get your ball out of a bunker. Rather than opening your club-face, swing hard and aggressively, with a closed face. It is important to still impact with the sand that is just behind your ball, but your ball should be put into the back part of the stance you are using. When your clubface is closed, swinging down with force will help your club to dislodge your ball.
Sand Trap Shots For Beginners
The main take-away to achieve success when it comes to sand traps includes 3 essential fundamentals that are simple to practice.
- Maintain Swing Length In A Sand Trap
Your club-head will begin behind your ball using a full backswing before it returns to your ball. This ensures that your club will cut through the sand with ease while continuing onto a complete finish. Focus on painting a complete circle using your club-head inside the sand. Practice getting familiar with full backswings and driving the shot through to a complete finish.
- Maintain The Speed Swing In A Sand Trap
It is very important to maintain the speed of your swing in a bunker. Your main area of focus needs to be on sustaining ample swing speed with your club-head and your impact area. The main aim is to maintain the speed of your club-head as it cuts into the sand. You need to make sure your club-head reaches a full finish.
- Slightly Lower Your Center Of Gravity
To do this either sink your knees or dig your feet in slightly. When your center-of-gravity is lower it provides a way to take a more aggressive and full swing. This also ensures that the club-head will impact slightly under your ball instead of directly impacting with the ball, which softens the distance and flight.
Even the most experienced golfers will experience uncertainty when it comes to certain parts of the game. Putting is an area when confidence becomes a very important factor. One of the parts of a game that makes experienced and beginner players nervous would be sand trap play. In certain ways, there are more margins for errors when it comes to explosive shots out of the sand when compared to the iron shots on a fairway, because you are not required to hit your ball precisely, but rather to make sure you drive the ball out of the sand. When established routines are lacking along with consistent approaches to bunker play, it often results in players dropping unnecessary shots.
Here is a step by step guide on how get out of a bunker:
Step One
Approach the shot with an open-stance, with your feet facing 10 to 15 degrees to the right side of the target, and the ball should be facing to the opposite side of your heel (right). Make sure your feet are settled in the sand which will provide you with a steady and firm stance.
Step Two
Direct your club-face at your pin. This will open the club-face up which will point to the left-hand side of your overall stance. When you are swinging back focus on following a path that is parallel to how your feet are lined up. This allows you to cut over the sand and then under your ball, using an open-face which will direct your ball towards your pin.
Step Three
Make sure your club-face remains open throughout your shot. If it closes up, you will most likely experience the club digging too deeply in the sand, which will either result in leaving your ball inside the sand trap or hitting the ball to the right side of your pin.
Step Four
Make sure you are taking a full-swing. It is important to keep your acceleration up as the club passes through the sand and ensure that you complete the follow-through. Slowing down or stopping the shot as the club impacts the sand happens to be one of the more common reasons that the ball remains in the sand trap.
Step Five
Aim at hitting the sand from about 1 and a half inches from behind your ball. You can use this distance from behind your ball for most of the green-side bunker shots. You can vary your distance in the way of swinging either softer or harder across the sand, but always make sure you complete the follow-through.
Additional Warnings And Tips
Try to imagine that your ball is resting on a tee hidden under the sand. Your goal is to impact the tee and to knock it out from under your ball while trying not to touch the ball.
The main reasons behind failed sand trap shots involve slowing down on your shot, and hitting your ball rather than the sand directly behind it. You want to try and not hit your ball at all, as the sand will perform the role of lifting your ball out the sand trap as your club is swinging through it. The best way to get out of a sand trap is to accelerate your way across the sand and to finish your swing.
Golf Bunker Rules
When you start to weigh up your options on how you are going to get yourself out of that sand trap, it is important to realize that sand traps fall under the category of hazards.
Similar to the water hazards, sand traps, and bunkers are linked to their own rules when you compare them to standard shots from either the rough or a fairway. What this means for you is that you do have options, and you won’t always be forced to play the shot as the ball lies.
Things You Cannot Do
Due to the hazard status of a sand trap, there are some things golfers are not able to do when their ball lands in a bunker. You are not permitted to ground your club or use your hands to touch or move the sand before you take your shot. However, there are a few exceptions when it comes to these rules, which includes supporting yourself to prevent you from falling. Once you have struck the ball, you are allowed to touch the sand.
There are also specific types of objects that you are not allowed to move even when they are directly interfering with your shot. These are objects known as “loose impediments” that you are not allowed to move. An example of this may include your ball landing in a pile of leaves. Other types of impediments that you are not allowed to move include snow, dung, twigs, worm casts, and natural ice.
One of the exceptions in a bunker includes stones. Stones are classified as posing a risk to a golfer if they are struck, which means you are allowed to move them without facing a penalty. Other items that you will be permitted to move include either dead or living animals.
What You Need To Know About Unplayable Lie
Golfers are allowed to decide when there is an “unplayable lie” anywhere on the course aside from the water hazards. What this means is that if you are overly concerned about a specific sand trap shot there are options available to you when it comes to taking your penalty drop.
Play your ball as close as you can from where the last shot was played. This is commonly known as “stroke and distance”.
Drop your ball directly behind the position where your ball lies, maintaining the point between the spot where the ball will be dropped and the hole. However, your ball must remain in the bunker. You are not allowed to drop your ball outside the sand trap.
Drop your ball within 2 club-lengths of (not closer) to the hole from where your ball lies. Once again this must remain inside the bunker. The same rules apply when taking a lie that is unplayable outside the bunker, with an added exception that involves dropping your ball back into the hazard. You should familiarize yourself with these rules and how they are applied, as they may help you to save numerous shots.
Why Are The Bunker Shots So Difficult?
A bunker shot becomes difficult when over analyzed and over thought. The successful sand trap shots involve achieving a full-swing motion that is backed up by ample swing speed.
The golden rule includes maintaining the swing speed that you need so that your club-head ends up cutting easily through or into the sand. Your center-of-gravity only needs to be lowered slightly which will give you the 1 and a half inch sand thickness you need between the clubface and your ball which aides in softening the flight.
Regular Practice In Bunkers
When you practice your shots in a bunker, try to keep things as creative and fun as you possibly can. Always focus on maintaining your swing speed and full-swing motion and you will be surprised at the results. Once you have mastered this technique, your balls should fly out of the bunkers every time.
Final Thoughts On Getting Out Of The Sand Trap
While this is classified as one of the more complex shots when it comes to golf, don’t allow hitting your ball out of either a sand trap or bunker to become a frustrating and stressful experience. With enough practice and using the correct set-up, you will soon find that you are able to approach these shots with ease and confidence. It is also important to find out more about a course before you intend to play, to account for all the potential hazards and how you plan to tackle them when your ball does land in the wrong place.
Ever tried to hit a golf ball or play a round of golf without warming up first? Then you probably know the kind of problems and frustrations that can come from the lack of preparation. Although golf is not exactly an active sport, it still does involve athletic motion, involving a wide range of joints and muscles that typically don’t perform at their best of their ability when taken out of their state of inactivity. Without warming up first, it might take you a few holes and swings to be able to get anything going.
The human body typically doesn’t go from a sedentary state and instantly switch to one in which it’s ready for physical activity. As such, it’s important to stretch and warm up gradually, which will help the blood flow more actively throughout the body so that you can perform effectively. Keep in mind that the mechanics of a golf swing requires a high level of flexibility, strength, coordination, and stability. A golfer with poor mobility will likely suffer in terms of getting a good club head speed and might even develop compensatory adjustments to their swing, which only leads to inaccuracy and even injury.
If you play golf and want to get better at it, you need to know about golf stretching. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about Golf Stretches, and tips about the best golf stretches.
What are Golf Stretches And How Can They Help?
Golf stretches are the kinds of exercises that make a player ready to play a round of golf by stretching their muscles, warming up their bodies, and increasing their confidence. They are regular exercises meant for golfers to help them play the right way and developing their power to hit the ball perfectly into the hole.
Golf has undergone a fitness revolution in the last 15 to 20 years. Traditionally, the game was thought as one where anyone could play no matter their physical conditions. However, serious golfers are increasingly turning towards fitness as a way of improving their performance. And aside from the obvious benefit of getting fit, golf stretching can improve your game in several ways. These include better balance, higher swing speeds, improved strength through the hitting area, among others.
Working on your fitness to specifically be better at playing golf is something your want to do carefully, with plenty of planning. Not all exercises will be beneficial to playing golf, so you want to keep your long-term goals in mind when developing your workout routine. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before you take on a new workout regimen, and if possible, get help from a professional trainer if you’re unsure about how to complete certain exercises.
Why Stretches are Important for Golfing
Golfing is an activity that requires flexibility, strength, coordination, and albeit on a lesser extent; cardiovascular and muscular endurance. A limited range of motion will severely affect your ability to generate club speed. Strength is probably more important than range of motion when it comes to club speed, especially among aging golfers. Hip rotation, spinal rotation, and shoulder range of motion influence how far back the club starts and the length of your follow through.
Power will depend on the velocity of your swing while hitting the ball. Your range of motion in the trunk correlates with your ability to generate club head speed. Since the golf club typically has a limited amount of time to accelerate during your down swing, improving your degree of trunk rotation relative to your hips and your overall flexibility will help increase the distance that the club has to accelerate before hitting the ball.
Best Types of Stretches for Golf Performance
There are many factors that determine golf performance. In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine, the effects of dynamic, static, and no stretching on golf performance were examined after their inclusion as part of warm up. Golf performance was measured in terms of ball speed, club head speed, club face angle, and point of impact on the club head. Club head speeds were measured immediately after stretching, followed by 5 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes after stretching.
The conclusion of this study recommend that a good dynamic warmup is essential prior to a golf game in order to improve your performance.
- Flexion in Lying
Lumbar flexion in lying helps to stretch the following parts in the body:
• Transversospinalis
• Erector Spinae
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intraspi nous ligaments and Supraspinous
• Fascia
• Posterior Longitudinal ligament
• Posterior elements of the disc
• Facet joint capsule
How to perform flexion in lying:
i. Lie down on your back
ii. Bend your knees in such a way that your feet are flat on your floor
iii. Next, hold both of your knees and then pull them up towards your chest slowly. In case you’re feeling discomfort in your knees while doing this, consider grabbing the back of your thighs. In case your abdomen gets in the way, spread your legs apart and then pull them up. During this stretch, keep your shoulders and neck relaxed and breath normally.
iv. Hold this position for 30 seconds
Note that you should only pull to the point of tension. Don’t pull into any bounce, pain, or force movement.
- Trunk Extension in Lying
i. With your face facing down, lie on your bed or the floor
ii. Place your hands on your sides at the shoulder level as if you’re about to do a push up
iii. With your hips on the floor and your back relaxed, straighten your arms and push your shoulders up
iv. Exhale as you reach the top and have your mid back sag while exhaling
v. Lower yourself slowly to the starting position
vi. Don’t hold this position, simply repeat the up and down motion for about 10 times
Make sure that you have a gentle curve in your back while pushing up, with no severe curvatures on any location. You should only push to the point of tension as you keep your hips on the floor. Don’t force the movement or push into any bounce or pain.
- Hamstring Stretch
This is an effective stretch done while sitting on the ground, depending on your pelvic positioning. For those who can maintain an anteriorly tilted pelvis and a straight back while performing this stretch, it gets significantly more effective.
How to perform a hamstring stretch:
i. Sit on the ground with your right leg in front of you and stretched out, while your left knee is bent in such a way that the foot faces your right knee.
ii. Keep your back straight and the chest up
iii. At the hips, bend forward until you feel a stretch at the back of your thigh
iv. Hold the position for 30 or so seconds.
- Hip Flexor Stretch
To perform a hip flexor stretch:
i. Kneel with your right knee and then put your left foot to the front
ii. In case this is uncomfortable with your knees, consider placing a rolled towel or cushion under your knee
iii. Place your hand on the right hip
iv. Lean forward as you push your right hip forward.
v. You should feel a stretch at the front of your right hip
vi. Hold the position for about 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side
- Short Adductor Stretch
i. Sit on the floor and place your knees apart with the bottom of your feet together
ii. Keep your back straight and chest up
iii. Bend forward at the hips while you keeping your pelvis anteriorly tilted (accentuate your lumbar lordosis)
iv. Apply some pressure on your knees gently while pushing them towards the floor
v. Hold this position for 30 seconds or more
- Hip Rotators
These rotate the thigh around the pelvis area while also functionally rotating the pelvis around the weight bearing fixed thighs, just as with swinging a golf club.
For hip rotation stretches:
i. In a sitting position, cross your right leg over the left one such that your right ankle lies across your left thigh
ii. Place your right hand on the right thigh and then press down gently until you can feel some resistance
iii. Tilt forward around the hip area slowly while you exhale. Don’t forget to keep your chest up and the back straight. Avoid letting yourself hunch forward or lose the inward curvature around your lower back
iv. Stay in this position for an appropriate amount of time. 30 seconds is often enough
- Shoulder Stretch
This is a great exercise for you to open your shoulders and improve the range of motion on your shoulder joint. It’s such a great stretch for athletes whose sport focuses on the arms, upper body, and shoulders. As a golfer, you should regard this as a core stretch for your warm ups before a round, and repeat the process as needed through the game.
To perform a shoulder stretch:
i. Hold a golf club in front of you with one hand gripping on each end of the club with on overhand grip
ii. Lift the club towards the front and up above your head with your elbows straight
iii. Stretch your shoulders slowly and move your head back as far as possible, until you feel tension across the fore part of your shoulders.
iv. Hold this position for 10 to 20 seconds and then release
v. Repeat this process for two or three times
vi. Take care not to go beyond your limits and increase the range of motion slowly
Forward Bend Standing Stretch
While this is a great stretch for most athletes, it’s particularly useful for golfers, tennis players, swimmers, baseball players, and racquetball. In fact, they should be integrated as a core stretching exercise for these sports.
How to:
i. Start by standing up straight with your shoulders back and relaxed
ii. Put your hands behind your back with your fingers interlaced
iii. Lift your shoulders towards the ears and lift your hands away from your back
iv. Bend forward slowly at your waist while keeping your back flat (not rounded)
v. Keep bending forward and then lift your hand over your head as far forward as you can
vi. Once you reach full stretch, you should feel tension in your hamstrings and shoulders
vii. Hold the position for 10 to 20 seconds and then release
viii. Repeat this for two or three times
Quad Stretch
The quads (quadriceps) are a group of muscles located along the front of the thigh. While there are so many ways to stretch your quads, there’s a simple exercise that you can do while standing:
i. Stand using one leg and grab onto something solid in case you need support
ii. Bend the knee and bring your heel towards the buttocks
iii. Using your hand, reach for the ankle
iv. Stand upright and you’ll feel a slight pull along the front of your hip and thigh
v. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds, release, and then repeat with the other leg
Take care not to strain your knee – your goal should be not to touch your butt with your heel, but to stretch the thigh.
Standing IT Band Stretch
The IT (iliotibial) band is located outside of your hip and run all the way down to the side of your knee. It can become irritated when the knee and hip are flexed excessively. As a golfer, stretching this band can help to keep the hips limber.
How to:
i. Cross one leg behind the other one while standing
ii. Lean towards the opposite side until you can feel a stretch that crosses the affected IT band
iii. Hold this position for about 30 seconds
iv. Uncross your legs and then stand upright again
v. Repeat this process four more times and switch the sides.
Shoulder Horizontal Adduction
A tight posterior joint can limit your shoulder movement, and even cause the subacromial structures like the biceps tendon, supraspinatus tendon, and bursa to become impinged, resulting in bursitis or tendonitis. Performing this stretch shouldn’t cause any pain.
i. Sit on a chair upright with your chest up and head above your shoulders
ii. Raise the right elbow to reach the shoulder level and in a position in front of you
iii. With the palm down, let your right hand fall downwards
iv. Grab your right elbow with the left hand and then pull the elbow towards the opposite side
v. Pull the arm across as you exhale, making sure that your elbow doesn’t go beyond the shoulder level
vi. Hold this stretch for 30 or so seconds
Wrist Flexor Stretch
Tight wrist flexors could potentially pre-dispose you to a golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis. Repetitive use of these muscles in activities like tennis, gripping, golf or assembly line work could cause inflammation and microtearing. Wrist flexor stretching is a good stretch to do daily especially if you are often involved in any of these activities. The stretch shouldn’t cause any issues with pain, and if it does, you could have an issue with the tendons or muscles.
i. While sitting or standing, straighten your right arm in front of you, with the elbows straight and your palm facing upwards
ii. Grab your right hand below your wrist and above your knuckles and then pull your hand down
iii. You should start feeling a stretch in the flexor muscle group in front of the forearm
iv. Hold this position for 30 or so seconds
Wrist Extenson Stretch
The wrist extensors, especially the extensor carpi radialis brevis, can easily develop tennis elbow when they become tight. Using these muscles repetitively in activities such as tennis, typing, golf, or assembly line work can lead to inflammation. Hence, you should try to do this stretching daily if you’re involved in any of these activities.
i. While standing or sitting, straighten your right arm to the front with your elbow straight and palm facing down
ii. Grab the right hand above the knuckles and then pull the hand down
iii. With the elbow straight and hand down, pull the hand out of the way from the midline such that your fingers point to the right
iv. Hold this stretch for about 30 seconds
Neck Flexion
This is not exactly a large movement, meaning you don’t need to force this stretch. Make sure that you keep your chin retracted while doing this stretch to dodge shearing forces that could arise in the joints around your cervical spine. Ideally, this stretch should focus on the muscles and soft tissues on the posterior part of your neck while not stressing the discs.
i. Stand upright with the head high and chest up
ii. Place one hand on your chin and then retract your head (not to have a double chin)
iii. Hold your head upright and don’t look down or up. Your eyes should be facing forward
iv. As you hold your chin back, use your other hand to reach over the top of your head
v. Stabilize the chin back as you pull the top of your head forward gently
vi. Do this stretch for 30 or so seconds
Trunk Rotation
This is quite an easy stretch to do while standing, though you can still do it while sitting. A golf swing typically involves trunk rotation, which mainly occurs through your neck and thoracic spine.
i. Place the golf club lengthwise across your back and hook your hands around a golf club
ii. Rotate your head and trunk to the left and hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds
iii. Don’t bounce or swing into this stretch as this might put undue pressure on the ligaments and joints around your spine
iv. Repeat this on the other side
Neck Sideflexion
Take care to be a bit gentle on this stretch. Older individual might have a limited range of motion in this exercise.
i. Stand tall with your head high and chest up
ii. Place your left hand up over the shoulders and bring the elbow back, with the left elbow pointing to the ceiling
iii. Let the right hand pull your head forward gently to the right
iv. Hold this position for 30 or so seconds
Latissimus Dorsi
How to:
i. Stand upright, about 3 feet from a wall
ii. Put both your hands on the wall with one on top of the other as high as possible
iii. Take a step back with one of your feet
iv. Bend over at the hips as you keep your chest up and the chin tucked in
v. Now take one deep breath and start exhaling slowly, letting your back sag towards the floor as you maintain your hands above your head on the wall
vi. Hold this position for 30 seconds
Final Thoughts
Pursuing a higher level of personal fitness to improve your golfing skills is something that’s certainly worth your effort and time. When you’re focused on improving your game, your will simultaneously be doing something that’s good for your overall life. before you get started, create a list of all your fitness goals and ensure they are in line with your goals on the golf course. Train diligently and you should see the results quickly.
Sore muscles and muscle strain are quite common injuries in golfing. Performing the golf stretches described above regularly will help to boost your level of flexibility and improve your range of motion, which should help you relax your swing better, improve your accuracy, raise your confidence, and give you a better ability to swing harder and faster.
Performing golf stretches regularly can also help to prevent the common golf injuries, which include herniated discs, back strain, shoulder injuries, elbow injuries, knee injuries, as well as hand and wrist injuries. Plus, even the most basic of golf stretches will help you feel better. However, glossing over them could cost you dearly.
Are these methods helpful to you? Let us know if you follow any of these stretches and find them useful. If you find something right, wrong, or even fail, let us know too. We shall reform it.
Don’t forget to let us know about any stretching exercises that really satisfied you and made you feel better, or even improved your game significantly. If you had already been doing some more methods that we didn’t mention in our post, kindly let us know in the comment section below.
How To Get Spin On A Golf Ball
Golf Ball Spin – The Basics Of Sidespin And Backspin
When you think about how your golf ball spins, most golfers dream about the best approach shot that lands perfectly on a green. The ball then bounces once or twice and spins backward a couple of feet. When mastered in this way, the spin on a golf ball can be a fantastic thing. It can assist you with holding firm greens, setting up short Birdie chances, and accessing tough pins.
However, there is another side of spinning a golf ball that can negatively impact your game. A similar spin that might help you achieve your short putt could also divert your ball in the wrong direction.
When imparting sidespin, as opposed to backspin, it will send the ball in the incorrect direction almost instantly after it comes off your clubface. The golfers that battle with the slice is well aware of this scenario. If you are one of the many players that have issues with the slice, then you are placing a left-to-right spin on your ball, which is what causes the ball to rapidly veer off the course.
So from this analysis, it is safe to say that ball spin on a golf ball can either be bad or good.
When a golf ball is deployed intentionally and correctly, it can assist you in achieving great play when you are out on a course. Yet when the imparted accidentally, or hit in the incorrect direction, this can result in serious issues when it comes to the way that you play golf. Learning the correct way to control your spin is perhaps among the most important techniques that you need to master when playing golf.
How Does Golf Ball Spin Work?
In general, your golf ball will rotate (turn) in a direction that your spin is moving at when the ball leaves the ground. So when you hit your shots with a left-to-right spin, your ball will curve towards the right. The level of spin which moves in this direction is going to decide how fast your ball will rotate when it leaves the ground. The spin rates that are low result in slight curves, while spinning rates that are high result in out-of-control shots.
When it comes to just about any type of shot hit on golf courses, regardless of who hits it, there will be a degree of sidespin present. It is virtually impossible to strike perfectly straight shots, so it is normal that your ball will curve slightly to either the left or right when it leaves the ground. This also doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with the way you swing. Every professional golfer has a ball flight pattern they prefer, and it is very rare even for pros to hit a ball straight.
The other side of this equation is the backspin, which is another important consideration. Instead of taking a ball from side-to-side, the backspin causes the ball to move down and up.
In a similar way to sidespin, each shot you hit will have some form of backspin other than putts. As the rate of backspin increases on the ball, the height of your trajectory also increases. The shots that soar up high will have a lot of backspin, while the shots that are lower will have a spin rate that is lower.
The majority of work that you conduct on a driving range will center around eliminating sidespin from your shots. Once again it is important to know you are not able to totally do away with your sidespin, but you are able to decrease it to a stage where it is no longer stopping you from being able to play good shots. An excessive side spin occurs when the club moves across a ball through the impact, instead of down a direct target line.
To explain this further, we will use the slice example to explain this point. When you are setting up to hit your drive, you choose your target line and then set up your clubface and your feet to match. When aiming to strike shots that are relatively straight, your club should be moving down this line through the impact, making sure your club is in a square position to this line. However, when hitting a hook or slice, the club path will move either right or left through your ball. The path that your club takes will have a relationship that is inverse to the created spin, which means your ball is going to spin to the right when your club moves to the left, and the ball will spin to the left when your club moves to the right.
When you start practicing the way you swing in your efforts to lower sidespin, you should mainly focus on finding a method to move your club down a target line as effectively as possible at impact. When achieving this, even when your club-face is either slightly closed or open when striking the ball, this will still produce relatively good shots. It will only be when the swing path that you are using is off course significantly that you will experience those unwanted slices and hooks when you play your next game.
How To Impart Backspin
When you start to get away from the wrong way to spin your golf ball and move towards a more positive way to spin, you can now start working on finding the right technique to achieve more backspin when it comes to wedge shots for improved stopping power. To achieve this you have to strike the wedge using a downward-facing blow, and you also need to aim at making contact that is clean as often as possible.
When you achieve clean hits on your golf balls, this allows the grooves on the wedge face to grip the ball followed by generating an effective backspin rate.
The other element present in the overall spin equation will include the ball. The type of balls that you use also contribute greatly towards the amount of spin that your shots will possess. The cheaper balls that feature hardcovers offer a lot less spin, while high-end golf balls that have softer covers will spin a lot faster.
It is important to choose golf balls that match up to the shot types you prefer to play and your overall skill level. Once you start to understand how spin works and how it impacts every shot that you play on a course, it then becomes possible to take the way you play to the next level.
Professional golfers are very familiar with the technique to use in order to produce favorable backspin. Even though the task of how to get spin on your golf ball is not easy to start with, it is still possible.
All that is required from your side is to learn the correct technique that the professionals use when it comes to back spinning a golf ball. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to spin a golf ball.
- Take The Grass Into Consideration.
The first consideration involves the type of grass you are playing. If the surface is uneven and irregular this will provide a resistance that is higher when it comes to your golf balls.
This type of resistance will reduce the way your ball spins. When the grass is too long, the grass may become trapped between your golf ball and your clubface, which also contributes towards slowing down your spin.
It is still possible to create an effective backspin when hitting your ball in long grass, yet your spin will be much easier when you take shots from well-groomed and manicured grass.
- Choosing Your Ball
Golf balls are available in 2 main types which include softcore and hardcore. These balls are very different from one another. It is a far easier task to backspin softcore balls when compared to the hardcore varieties. So when you start experimenting with how to backspin your golf balls, make sure you practice with softcore balls. These types provide more control, along with gripping your clubfaces a lot better.
- Choose Your Golf Club
The next consideration involves the golf club that you should be using. If you want to spin your golf balls, you should go for a lofted club.
The clubs that feature a greater loft will make it easier to achieve backspin. The measurement between the loft and angle is higher in a loft club, which helps to create a boost when it comes to the backspin.
In addition to this, the height of the golf club also contributes to backspin shots. It is recommended to use the clubs that feature below 7 irons.
- How To Position Yourself
To get a spin on your golf ball, you first need to ensure you are positioned correctly. The way that you are standing should mean that your club can reach the ball easily. Keep the ball about an inch away in order to create your backspin.
Aim at putting your ball deeper, by using a downward angle which will boost the overall distance from the loft and angle of your clubhead. If the 1-inch distance is preventing you from achieving the backspin that you need, change the distance slightly until you feel comfortable with your shots.
- Your Aim
As soon as you feel comfortable with the positioning, aim at hitting your ball hard with a clubface. Compression is important when producing backspin.
When your clubface makes contact with the ball make sure you use a consistent speed. This speed will assist with developing the backspin you need. If the speed of your club slows down just before you hit the ball, this will also decrease the potential of your backspin.
- Your Swing
The correct swing is just as important when it comes to achieving backspin shots. Many golfers are not aware of the right technique when it comes to swinging a club, which could be assisting them when it comes to mastering backspin shots.
To get a spin on your golf ball, raise your golf club in a straight and upright direction followed by bringing the club down to impact with your ball.
Aim to boost your attack angle so the ball is impacted at an angle that is steeper. It is also important to make sure your club impacts your ball first before hitting either the ground or soil.
- Maintain A Good Follow -Through
It is important to maintain a good follow-through. Focus on retaining a grip that is firm on your club, especially during impact. Many golfers end up miss-hitting their golf balls when they are using the incorrect grip.
It is also important that your club is lined up in such a way that it doesn’t touch the ground when you impact the ball.
Top 3 Factors That Influence Golf Ball Backspin
- The Speed Of The Clubhead
Speed has a direct impact on how much spin you are able to achieve on your ball. But what is actually meant by speed? It is the speed of the clubhead as it impacts the ball.
The chip shots of low-speed will never produce enough backspin. This means that you need to aim at hitting with increased clubhead speed.
The long wedge shots happen to be the most favored for backspin, while the overall loft of your club will assist even further.
The second important factor includes spin loft. Learning these techniques may seem confusing to begin with, but as soon as you have worked out what to do, they actually become very easy.
When hitting a ball with your club, a dynamic-loft and attack-angle is created. The angle that occurs between the loft and attack angle is what is known as the “spin loft”. Your attack angle includes the path that the clubhead travels when it impacts the ball. Aim to hit the ball as low as you can to generate more backspin.
So when it comes to a tee box it is important to lower the loft spin in order to achieve more distance. Yet when it comes to a backspin, the downward attack angle and a wedge are very important.
Should Your Clubface Be Open To Create Better Backspin Shots?
This is a question that most beginner players ask. A slightly open clubface is able to increase your backspin.
Yet it is important to only slightly open your clubface, because if it is open too far, it may cause the spin loft to become too high. This means you are not getting any friction which is also an important contributing factor when it comes to backspin.
When hitting golf balls you automatically create friction. Yet when anything is present between the ball and your clubhead, the friction rate will slow down. When you are able to ensure that these conditions are present, it will improve your chances of achieving better backspins:
- Fresh grooves on your wedges are extremely important. It is a good idea to change them out often.
- The high-end golf balls provide higher spin rates. Even though these balls might cost more, they will help to drastically improve the way you play golf.
- Playing in long grass will also reduce friction rates. This is why short grass and flat surfaces are better conditions to play golf on.
- It is important that the grass, your clubface, and your balls are completely dry. Rainy conditions are not great for creating backspin.
Optimal Conditions To Assist With Creating Backspin
Here is a list of the optimal conditions to achieve backspin:
- Faster and softer grass
- The wind. headwinds are winds that blow towards you (favorable conditions)
- The slope of the green that is pointing towards you
- A soft green accompanied by a tailwind (wind that blows against you) can result in a negative outcome (not favorable)
5 Easy Steps On How To Get Spin On Your Golf Ball
The lob wedge is a great starting point when you are practicing how to master your backspin. This can provide you with more confidence when you take long shots.
Step One: The Correct Stance And Ball Position
The first thing that you need to know is where to position your ball for backspins. For the standard shots, you probably position your ball in the middle of the way you are standing. But when it comes to creating a backspin, it becomes important to change things around.
Your ball should be placed closer to the back foot. The reason behind this is straightforward and logical. It becomes easier to hit downwards on your ball from these positions. From here all you have to focus on is swinging hard and impacting the ball.
To ensure you have the correct position, when you are able to see the end part of your golf club on the other side of your thigh on the back foot, then have the correct position.
Avoid exaggerating the position, you may think that positioning your ball even further back will create more backspin. Yet all you will be doing is lowering the loft when it comes to your club.
Step Two: Set Your Angle
Your next step involves setting up the right angle. The steeper attack angles are best for this technique. This involves hinging your fingers slightly earlier to achieve the correct angle.
Keep an eye on your backswing, and the angle that it comes down at should be as steep as possible.
Step Three: Avoiding Hitting The Turf First
This is a sub-step rather than an actual step. You will always hit the ground or turf when you hit a ball. Yet the key to achieving a perfect backspin is to make sure your club hits your ball before making contact with the turf.
When you are able to hit your ball first, it provides you with added control, which means the spin rate becomes higher. But if you contact the ground first, you lose a degree of friction and impact on your ball. This results in a lowered spin rate and a lower backspin.
Step Four: Hit Low On Your Clubface
Try aiming at hitting as low as you can on your clubface. This ensures your previous step. This also means you are achieving an increased friction level. This does take a bit of practice, but once you master it you will be able to hit far better backspin shots.
Step Five: Map Your Shots
This should actually be the first step you need to take. Learning the technique is very important, yet the factors that separate the amateurs from the pros involves the planning and thinking behind each shot. In just about any sport, your subconscious mind will take over. So once you have mastered the right techniques, they will come easily and naturally. What really matters when it comes to each shot is the projection and final execution.
This means learning what your ball is going to do once it lands. This will mean taking your surrounding conditions and the greens into consideration. Imagine the shot in your mind, whether it is going to jump forward or stop before the backspin occurs needs to be something you think about. This can assist you in feeling more assured and confident when it comes to your shots.
Here is a final checklist you can use to get spin on your golf ball:
- Map your shots
- Use high-quality balls that feature softer centers
- Take the weather conditions and the greens into consideration
- Dry and fresh grooves on your wedge
- Hit low on your clubface
- Achieve the best spin loft
- Hit downward on your ball
- Hit the ball before you hit the turf
- Maintain a high and consistent speed during your swing
As with any other technique that you learn when playing golf, practice with the right equipment is essential to achieve the desired results.
Golf Tips On How To Score Under 100
This is a major milestone for amateur golfers and it can take years to perfect your game to this point. However, the average golfer tends to look at this score and assume it’s impossible in their case? Is this true? Is it truly impossible unless you are a seasoned pro with years of professional experience on the PGA tour?
No, it’s certainly possible as long as you apply the tips listed in this guide!
Here are some of the most important tips for golfers looking to better their scores.
1) Begin with Your Technique
Your technique has to be the main starting point when it comes to scoring under 100. Without a solid foundation with your golfing technique, the rest of your game isn’t going to iron out as easily as you want it to. This is why most of your time has to be spent watching videos of yourself and seeing where things are going wrong.
Each golfer tends to have subtle technical issues but it’s the major ones you have to eliminate.
For example, are you keeping your feet a shoulder’s width apart while driving the ball? Are you gripping the club properly or is your grip all over the place as soon as you set up to play a shot?
There are certain technical flaws such as your grip, stance, and swing that simply have to be fixed. Without making these adjustments and reviewing your video, it may become difficult to bring the score down. This is why you want to start by grabbing a golf club and practicing your technique with someone recording in the background. Take the video home and start breaking down your technique frame by frame. Look at online instructional videos to see where your technique is going wrong.
It may not seem easy at first, but over time you are going to start to spot potential flaws in your swing. As soon as you do this, you can start to make adjustments and build a strong foundation. This is the only way to make sure you are heading in the right direction with your golfing technique.
A lot of golfers forget that it’s not just about creating a strong foundation, but also maintaining it. Make this a habit whenever you feel like a plateau has been reached and your score isn’t improving the way you want it to.
2) Play Safe on Your Worst Shots
Each golfer is going to have a set of “worst shots” while playing outdoors.
This is going to vary from golfer to golfer based on what they’re good at. In general, the average person will not be good at keeping the ball straight when it’s time to drive it down the middle. They will start to see the ball curve in the air (right or left) and that leads to a horrible starting point for the rest of the round.
It’s important to play safe with your worst shots if you know they are the ones that ruin your score. Let’s assume you are not going at driving the golf ball. Why not ease up on the power and not go for all-out distance? Why not play it safe and make sure it stays in an accessible part of the course that’s going to allow you to move forward without having to make a miracle shot?
A lot of golfers want to play that miracle shot right away and that’s a mistake. You want to make sure your worst shots aren’t ruining your round. This is how you’re going to start to notice an improvement in your score.
In these scenarios, you have to manage your approach and understand it’s a marathon. You have to build towards a good score and that’s not going to happen if you immediately try to go all-out on your worst shot. Take it slowly, measure your options, and go with the safest possible shot that will set you up for the remaining shots. Until you learn to maintain this mindset, you are not going to score under 100. In fact, this is one of the most common mistakes people make when they are playing.
3) Don’t Blindly Start with the Driver
When you are ready to start, why do you always reach for the driver?
This is a common question asked by PGA instructors when they’re speaking to young athletes and that applies to the average person too. It’s not always about reaching for the driver and simply pounding the ball as far as possible. Yes, this tends to work in some situations but that’s not always ideal for those who don’t play this shot as well as others.
If professionals are willing to make adjustments, why aren’t you?
This is why it is important to think about your options and then start based on what will work well for that scenario. When people start with the driver, they can tend to curve the ball one way or the other. This is not a good situation to be in and puts you in a horrible starting position. Instead, you want to stay focused on using a club that will keep the ball in the middle. This is going to create a strong starting position that leads to improved results later on in the round.
You have to understand the importance of knowing how your game works. If you are someone that pushes the ball one way or the other, why not go with something that will allow you to progress properly? Take out the 7 iron or 3 wood to get started. This will improve your results and allow you to eliminate some of the underlying issues.
4) Prioritize Each Shot
Having a plan is wonderful and it can be a great way to regulate yourself during a round. However, you want to make sure to prioritize each shot and not get ahead of yourself.
You can often end up overextended as soon as you assume something is going to happen. Always walk up to the ball and play your shot with an understanding that this is the only shot you have to care about. If the goal is to get the ball to the green then that is where your focus should be. Sometimes, when you start to think about the overall picture, it becomes difficult to hit each shot on its merit. This is when you start making mistakes and lose focus.
In your mind, there has to be a purpose behind each shot.
For example, let’s assume it’s time to use the wedge to bring it onto the green. In this case, your first and only priority is to get it onto the green. Don’t think about how close it is to the hole or what’s going to happen when it’s time to putt. As soon as you do this, your shot will veer to one direction or another and lead to a horrible spot.
Your goal as a golfer is to focus on following a step-by-step process where the next shot is the most important one. It’s easy to lose sight of this and assume you are going to make certain shots before attempting them. Don’t do this because that’s the reason the average golfer never scores under 100.
Create a simple process before each shot, collect your thoughts, and think about playing a safe shot. This is how you’re going to improve your score and become a better golfer.
5) Practice with a Larger Target for Putting
Putting is an essential component of golfing and has to be improved to score under 100.
If you look at any golfer that has scored under 100, they will have a respectable putting game. If you do all of the hard work to get close to the hole and can’t seem to hit that final shot, the entire effort will go to waste. This is why professional golfers are seen spending hours simply putting and practicing hitting close-in shots from unique angles. When you start to master this part of your game, the other flaws start to slowly disappear. You can quickly start to cover those mistakes by getting those difficult shots to go in.
So, what can you do when it comes to improving your putting?
It’s all about practicing with a larger target. You want to aim to set a small circle around the hole (2-3 feet circumference). When you start, the goal will be to have the ball finish within this practice circle (of course putting it in the hole is best!). You will want to master getting it in that circle consistently.
As you get better, you will reduce the circumference to 1 foot. This means your practice “target” becomes smaller. Over time, you will slowly become a pro when it comes to putting and hitting those challenging shots.
6) Conserve Energy
Conservation of energy is all about understanding how your body works during a game.
Let’s assume it takes multiple hours to complete multiple holes and it’s done under warm conditions. In this case, you will want to stay hydrated and understand the amount of pressure golfing puts on the body. Even the idea of traveling between rounds can be tasking on the body and it’s something to account for.
In general, your physical health and endurance will have a role to play. If you start breaking down and sweating after a few rounds, how are you going to do well as the day goes on? You will quickly fade away physically and mentally. Your performance is going to drop and the score will eventually get ruined too.
Some golfers start well when they’re full of energy and then become lethargic in the later rounds. You have to stay careful and conserve as much energy as you can. This includes reducing wasted practice shots and/or hurried traveling when you don’t have to. It’s these little things that are going to help you over the long-term. Along with this, you should always work on your cardio and create a proper routine (2-3 times per week) to focus on your conditioning.
Otherwise, you are going to be huffing and puffing in the middle of a game.
It’s a lot better to continue working on your cardio whenever an opportunity arises. You will be surprised as to how much of a difference it makes because a fitter golfer is going to maintain their focus over a longer period. This alone can be a game-changer and improve your score significantly.
Too many people get lost in the technical aspects of golf (which are important!) but it’s also about your physical fitness. You need to stamina and endurance to handle a long game with multiple rounds.
7) Create a Set Program
You will need to create a set program when it comes to upcoming practice sessions.
Look at some of the best golfers in the world and their success comes down to hard work. They have spent hours on the golf course working on their game and continue to make tweaks as they adapt. If you are unable to do this, you are never going to get that score under 100. Instead, you are going to be left stagnant and frustrated on the golf course.
The best way to go about this is to create a set program. The idea is to have a program where you are practicing different parts of your game to improve them.
An example of this would be:
- 75% – Putting + Chipping
- 15% – Mid Irons
- 5% – Driving
This is just one way of training and you can make adjustments based on your weak points. In general, you want to spend most of your time on putting + chipping because these are the shots that win you games. If you are unable to seal the deal with these close-in shots, you are never going to score under 100.
For the average golfer, you should at least spent 60+% of your session on putting + chipping. The rest can be used to divide between mid irons and driving based on what you deem needs work.
As soon as you do this, you will add structure to your sessions. It will lead to major gains on the golf course and you will become a better golfer.
8) Understand the Mental Side of Golf
This may surprise a lot of people but golf is often a psychological battle.
You have to fight with yourself to keep going while the pressure is on and the sun is beating down. You will have nowhere to hide and that type of pressure is difficult as the shots become harder and harder with each passing moment. This is why some of the finest golfers in the world start choking under pressure and ruin their scores due to silly mistakes. They become unnerved and don’t understand the psychological impact a moment can have.
So, how do you counteract this type of feeling? How do you stay even-keeled while on the golf course?
It’s always going to come down to your ability to compartmentalize each shot. You will want to head over and play each shot on its merit. Assess the situation, look at the conditions, and play your shot in a calculated manner. Do this and you will start to appreciate the benefits that come along with being psychologically stable.
Too many people don’t pay attention to this and then lose their cool under pressure.
Take the time to settle down, breathe in, and then play your shot. If that means you have to take a step back and reassess in the middle of a shot then that’s what you have to do. Don’t be embarrassed when it comes to making these decisions. They’re all a big part of the game and something you have to master as you become a better golfer.
If you are self-conscious, others are going to beat you during the game and win multiple holes. You have to pay attention to what is going on and start to train your mind to relax in crunch situations. Once you do this, the results will naturally come.
9) Write a Plan for Different Scenarios
Do you have a plan in mind when it comes to possible scenarios?
Golf is all about handling unique scenarios and learning to manage your approach along the way. This doesn’t always come naturally, which is why you want to have a little notebook in hand to follow. Of course, this doesn’t mean you start blindly following the strategy but it can act as a stabilizer, in case, you feel things are veering out of control.
A good example of a potential strategy can include:
1) 3 Wood – 180 Yards
2) 5 Iron – 150 Yards
3) Wedge – As Close to the Green as Possible
4) Putt – Close to the Hole
5) Putt – Make the Shot
You can see the breakdown and how it would be planned out. You write down the type of club, how far the shot should go, and what’s needed to keep you heading in the right direction. During the round, you are going to notice different things happen and that’s normal. You can always adjust the plan as you go but it can help guide you towards a better score.
For a lot of people, the idea of having a little notebook nearby helps with their peace of mind. They may not even look at it but simply knowing there’s a plan in place can be a game-changer. Try this as a potential solution and start feeling in control of your approach on the green. It is going to become a way for you to get closer faster than ever before while playing a round of golf.
10) Learn to Adapt
Adapting is the name of the game because several scenarios can pop up.
The idea of adapting can be based on weather conditions (windy/not windy), where you played the first shot, or what your worst shot is. You want to take all of these variables into account and then adapt. Don’t become blinded by your strategy and assume that is what you have to do. When that’s the approach you take, it’s easy to ruin your score simply because you didn’t have the heart to make adjustments.
Of course, there’s nothing with a little bit of strategization on the golf course. You should be willing to come in with a plan, but adjustments are a part of the sport and something you have to account for. Even the best professionals on the plant have to make adjustments because no one plays like a machine.
You are going to get things wrong and the weather conditions may veer your shot in one direction or the other. There’s no reason to panic because adjustments can be made in all types of scenarios. It’s all about being open to the idea and then adjusting on the fly. Over time, you are going to learn what to adjust and that’s when your score will improve.
Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes while adjusting because even the idea of adjusting is a major step forward. You will learn the rest as you go and improve your game.
Final Thoughts
These are the main tips on how to score under 100.
Is it going to be as easy as you want it to be? No, it’s going to take a while to master your craft but that’s the beauty of golf. It rewards those willing to put in the time and that’s what it all comes down to.
Stay patient, focus on implementing these tips, and watch as you become a great golfer in the coming months. Remember, once you start to get the hang of things, you will subconsciously make subtle adjustments that will go a long way in improving your technique. This is when your score is going to keep getting better.