Five Performance Tips For Improving Your Golf Game

Every golfer would like to play better, but how?

The answer to this is not as straightforward as you might think. Many factors can affect your golf game, and it is essential to know what they are to figure out the best way to improve.

The tips in this article are designed for immediate implementation to drive results over time. They are not listed in any particular order but will significantly impact your golf game if you are committed to them when practicing, playing, and reviewing your progress.

Start Slow. Be Patient and Be Consistent – No Excitement, Just Focus!

There is a lot of information out there on how to play golf. There are many golf tips for beginners. The problem is that it’s overwhelming, and it can be challenging to know where to start.

The most important tip for beginners – start slow, be patient and be consistent. Focus intently on getting your ball back into a position to be successful with your next swing. Do not get caught up in the idea of “hero shots” when you find yourself in a tough spot.

Exciting golf is generally risky golf, and while it is entertaining to watch on the PGA Tour or to see who can hit the farthest on the driving range, it naturally leads to poor results on the golf course for amateur players.

Safe play is usually dull and will not get a standing ovation from playing mates; however, if your goal is to play stressless golf and score lower, it will show quick results.

Take a Lesson – Find the Right Instructor or Coach for You!

It’s crucial to find the right instructor or coach for you. It’s not just about finding someone good at teaching but also someone who is a good fit for you and your learning style.

Before you commit to purchasing a lesson, contact the coach and get a good “vibe check” if they do not match your communication style, it could lead to wasted time and money.

If you are a beginner, it’s best to find an instructor who will teach you the basics and be patient with your mistakes. If you are more experienced, finding an instructor to help you work on your weaknesses and improve your skills might be better.

I cannot recommend this tip more. The impact of learning the biomechanics and intent behind a safe and proper golf swing can massively help your game while also preventing injuries that occur from bad form.

I must suggest that anyone refrain from swing tips over the internet. There is no “one-swing-fits-all,” get with a coach that builds a direct plan for you. If you follow someone for golf drills or practice formats, that is ok but swings very on a player’s ability, flexibility, and past injury history.

Set Golf Goals and Track Your Progress!

Goals are the backbone of self-improvement and success. To achieve your goals, you need to set them first. It is vital to ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. The best way to do this is by using a goal-setting app or a notebook.

Whichever you prefer, ensure that your goals are accompanied by an execution plan. Do not write down that you want to make more greens in regulation (GIR) without a plan. For example, if you wish to have more GIR per round, think about how that would happen. Maybe the reason your missing greens is because your missing fairways first.

If you are not the best player out of the rough, more fairways could be the catalyst that drives that number up. If you are missing a lot of fairways, maybe a driver is not your best option from the teeing area.

What if you have a good tee shot and hit many fairways but still miss greens? Is the distance from the green after a drive in range of the club that you are not consistent with?

Analyzing your game is extremely important when setting goals to progress your game. Set realistic goals and be honest with yourself when tracking your progress. If you do this, over time, your game will improve.

Practice Makes Progress – Practice Putting Every day!

The more you practice, the better you get. This is true for all things in life, from putting to writing, to playing golf. Practicing your putting every day will help you improve your game and lower your scores.

The more time you put in, the better you’ll be at it. It’s a simple concept but one that many people don’t follow.

Practicing it every day is the best way to get better at putting. Putting is integral to golfing and usually determines who wins or loses a round.

The idea of putting practice on a daily basis generally catches people off guard. They first say, “how am I supposed to get to a putting green each day?” Or “I do not have the time to practice every day.”

However, putting practice does require a golf course or even a practice green; you just need a carpeted room, your putter, and a golf ball.

You also do not need to practice putting for hours to improve. The goal is the get more confident with your putter in your hand. While most amateur golfers could never compete with the world’s elite drivers, they could compete with some of the best putters. They just need to practice.

Putting is a crucial part of the game as this is where scoring occurs on the course. What is the point of greens in regulation if you three-putt around every green? A quick twenty minutes of putting around your living room will improve your experience on the green.

You can also look into putting mats or training aids to take this at-home practice to the next level.

Keep a Video Diary of Your Golf Swing!

Keeping a video diary of your golf swing can be an effective way to improve your golf game. You may not realize it, but you are making many subconscious adjustments to your swing to compensate for any flaws, which can lead to inconsistency.

The first step is to record your golf swing to analyze it later. Ensure you have a camera on hand and point it at yourself when hitting the ball.

Reviewing this video will help identify any changes or improvements that need to be made for you to improve your consistency.

If you have tracked down a good golf coach that fits your style, they will be able to provide you with different focuses and checkpoints that you will want to see in your swing.

Most golfers feel as if they are completing the swing one way when their swing is doing something completely different. Recording your swing and looking at it during a practice session will help you build out your swing in a fantastic way.

Adjustments can be made in real-time, and you can see if your swing matches what you believe you are doing.

Concluding Thoughts

Golf is a popular sport, and it can be tough to make time for improvement. Dedicating more time to your game and being committed to being good will lead to future advancements in your game.

Start with the recommendations here, and as you progress, make changes to your goals, the plan to reach them, and track them honestly.

While there are many great tips for new, struggling, and veteran golfers to improve their play on the course, I have found that these few tend to fit the majority.

Leave a comment below if you have a tip that improved your game tremendously, different from the five I have listed above.