There really is no secret to becoming a good golfer. That statement may frustrate you, but it’s true. There is no magic spell that will make you a good golfer. It takes work to become a good golfer. It takes dedication and practice to develop your game.
Golf should be approached like anything else—with the understanding that the more time you allot to it, the better you will become.
While there is no secret to being a good golfer, there are some things that can help you become a good golfer.
Read all you can about golf.
Watch the professionals every chance you get.
Practice your long game at the driving range.
Practice your short game at home, or on a practice green.
Work on your mentality.
Practice your putting until you can average no more than two putts per putting green.
Develop your chipping so you get your ball onto the green and as close to the hole as possible.
Understand that once you develop a proper swing you will use it for every club; you will NOT use a different swing for different clubs.
Learn where to properly position the ball for each club in your bag.
Spend enough time actually playing the game to be able to recognize what your strengths and weaknesses are. This will enable you to pinpoint what areas you need to work on when you practice. In addition, knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are will help you make good decisions on the course.
Learn to always take a practice swing before you take your shot—even if you only take a half swing. After your practice swing, walk up to the ball, get in position, and take the shot. No fooling around or you’ll psych yourself out.
Relax. Relax. Relax.
Recognize when you are tired, frustrated, or downright angry. In those instances, take a break. If you continue, you’ll probably not do well, and you may develop bad habits.
Keep a balanced life and always keep the big picture in mind.
Remember that golf is just a game. It shouldn’t interfere with your family, friends, and work. If you find it is interfering with your personal and work life, you are probably taking the game way too serious and it’s probably not as fun as it once was for you.
Avoid Golf Injuries
- To become a better golfer and enjoy the game, you’ll need to avoid golf injuries.
- The average golfer will play about 35 rounds of golf a year—in addition to practicing. While golf is generally a low risk sport compared to sports such as football or skiing, golf does have its fair share of common injuries, and statistics show that around 80 percent of these injuries are the result of overuse.
- It’s a given that the better shape you are in and the more flexible you are, the less likely your chances will be of developing a golf injury. However, injuries can happen to even the most physically fit golfers.
- Here is a rundown of the types of golf injuries that are most likely to occur and how you can avoid them:
- Injuries to a golf partner due to errant backswings. Follow golf etiquette and make sure that no one is within your swing range before you take a shot. Also, make sure you are not within another player’s swing range when they are taking a shot.
- Injuries due to golf clubs being thrown in anger or disgust. These types of injuries can be very dangerous. You can avoid having these outbursts by developing your mental game and being mindful of players who have angry outbursts. Not only can throwing clubs result in injuries, it’s very unattractive and makes a player look immature.
- Injuries that have bone jarring effects on the player’s body. These types of injuries are often caused when a player swings the club, but instead of it hitting the ball, it hits the ground. While this situation can happen anywhere at any time, the more skilled you become, the less likely it will occur.
- Injuries and pain in the lower back. These types of injuries can be avoided by having the proper golf swing, increasing the range of motion in the lumbar spine extension and the hip, as well as stretching prior to practice or a round of golf.
- Injuries from carrying a golf bag. Carrying your golf bag every time you play can increase the chance that you’ll have back, shoulder, and ankle injuries. Golfers can avoid this by driving a golf cart instead of walking the entire course, or having a golf bag that can be pulled.
- Injuries and pain in the elbows. Elbow injuries are often the result of a poor swing, overuse, and inadvertently hitting the ground with the club instead of hitting the ball. Developing a proper golf swing, recognizing when you are golfing too much and taking a break, and stretching prior to practice or a round of golf can help reduce elbow injuries.
- Injuries and pain in the wrists. Wrist injuries are often the result of overuse, or weak muscles. Wrist injuries can be extreme, resulting in players having to take steroids and wear splints. Strengthening the forearm and hand muscles can go far in lessening wrist injuries.
- Injuries and pain in the shoulders. Shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff problems, as well as bursitis and tendonitis can develop in the golfer’s lead arm. Doing exercises and having warm up routines that target the shoulders can decrease the incidence of shoulder injuries.
- Lightning injuries. Golfers can avoid lightning injuries by seeking shelter in a clubhouse or a vehicle during a storm and being mindful of weather that is prone to produce lightning, such as those fast-developing storms that can occur on summer afternoons. Golfers should avoid standing in the middle of the fairway, near or under isolated trees, or near metal poles if lightning is in the area. Golfers caught in a storm should lie down in a sand trap, or bunker, and wait for the storm to pass.
Make it a Family Sport
You will become a better golfer and the game will be much more enjoyable for you if your family becomes involved in the game. In today’s busy world, people need to take advantage of all the ways they can to spend quality time together. Family golf is a wonderful way for busy families to spend time with each other because golf is a sport that men, women, youngsters, and seniors all can enjoy—regardless of their golfing abilities.