Like Tin Cup says, “perfection is unattainable.” That sure doesn’t keep us from trying.

We golfers are a unique breed in that we’ll do almost anything to improve our games. Whether it’s new equipment or the latest swing trainer fad, we follow like lemmings.

Unfortunately, to see real improvement in golf, elbow grease is what ultimately gets the job done.

Not enough time to spend practicing? Don’t worry too much, because there are lots of simple things you can do to improve your game right away. Here are my top ten.

1. Get a lesson. Yeah, I know, that’s obvious. But it’s going to be the single most important long-term improvement you can make.
2. Get a club fitting. If you buy off the rack, you could be hurting your game. A good club fitter will match length, flex, lie, loft, etc., on your clubs to be able to milk the maximum performance out of your swing.
3. Spend at least one hour per week working on putting, not counting pre-round warm-up (do that too). A par round assumes 36 putts. This is 50% of the total strokes for the round. How many times do you hit driver in a round? Probably 12-15 at most and maybe less on a tight course. But I bet you beat your driver to death on the practice tee.
4. Drop the long irons and look to woods and hybrids to fill your medium to long range needs. These clubs are typically easier to hit with their lower centers of gravity. Plus, they can help on long shots from the rough.
5. Drop one of your medium or long irons and add a third or fourth wedge. Scoring happens within 100 yards. Getting within eight to ten feet gives you the best chance to sink your next putt, whether you’re a weekend duffer or a tour pro. Give yourself the tools to do the job.
6. Give some thought to the mental game. It’s not all about physical swing technique. Confidence and focus are bigger than you think. Pick up a good book on the mental game and read a little each night before bed.
7. If you do put in range practice, then practice with a purpose. When you’re at the range, DO NOT simply beat balls without a purpose in mind. Keep yourself focused on specific techniques and targets. Every shot must have a specific purpose.
8. When you hit the course, make sure you’re properly hydrated and fueled up in the food department. Snack on something like fruit or trail mix during the round and drink plenty of water. Ignoring these things can cause excess fatigue that will make you sloppy on the course. You don’t want to eat a huge meal right before playing, but not eating at all will likely cause you to get a little (or a lot) drained.
9. Give up the cart and walk. It’ll be hard at first, but there are lots of benefits. Not the least of which are the increased stamina and health and the mental clarity you’ll gain by having time to think between shots to plan your attack or to wash away negative feelings from bad shots.
10. If you don’t have time to do a serious workout regimen (optimal solution), then at least set aside several short stretching sessions throughout the week. Doing 20-30 minutes every day is great, but if you can’t free up that much time, then try for 3-5 days per week. Working on hip rotational flexibility is a big one, as well as flexibility in the back, shoulders, and legs.

If you don’t have the time or motivation to put in serious work, then hopefully you’ll find at least some of these tips useful for dropping some strokes.

Did you like this post? Get free RSS updates!

Leave a comment | Comment Policy | Trackback URL