Category: Golf

Golf Fit Series: 72 Tips to Shooting Lower Scores

Golf Fit Series: 72 Tips to Shooting Lower Scores

In a continual search to reach my own goal of shooting par golf (i.e., 72) this year, I have come across many tips and recommendations to consider. These tips come from a variety of sources – from golf professionals, trainers, and coaches to hacks, posers, and gamers.   As you might imagine, everyone has an opinion.

In light of all the wisdom handed down to me, I have compiled a list of the top 72 tips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for the Body

1. Monitor your grip pressure. ED
2. Do 20 minutes of dynamic warm up exercises or brisk walking before you play. KC
3. Turn the body more. Keep the hands relaxed. Pay attention to your posture. RK
4. Get in golf shape. Exercise regularly with cardiovascular exercise for endurance and core work for more power. Focus on the hips, shoulders, and abdominals. RB
5. Keep your lower body still for putting. DM
6. Loose hands make for quick hands. Stay loose. BB
7. If able, walk while you play golf. This will help you focus. FH
8. Do balance activities like single leg standing, lunges, and hip swings.  JK
9. Strengthen your glutes! The king of the swing. Try 30″ single leg bridges. LG
10. Stay relaxed (grip, body, mind). JK
11. Work out with weights at least 2x/week to improve strength and power. JR
12. Prepare for a shot by taking a deep breath, then release and focus. BB
13. Stretch at least 2x/week for 20 minutes each. As flexibility decreases, power goes with it. SD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for the Mind

1. Keep focused on positive thinking and visualizing. NA
2. Maintain confidence. Believe to achieve. JT
3. Visualize a successful shot before hitting it. MS
4. Slow the game down. Focus on one shot at a time. JM
5. Visualize each positive shot and success will come. JK
6. Have fun. Don’t over think it. Trust your shots. MR
7. Anchor yourself with an image that captures your strengths and power as an athlete. TM
8. Remember the three Rs: Recognize when you are distracted; Regroup – Shift your thoughts back to your intention; Refocus on the task at hand. TM
9. Think before the round. Play during the round. PN
10. Stay positive, stay positive, stay positive! AO
11. Control your breathing. It will help you control your mind and your focus. JM
12. Tell yourself what you want to happen. TM
13. Manage the temper! Stay on the present task at hand.
14. Have a game plan in place. Plan to play great. Execute the plan. PN
15. Keep having fun and you will continue playing, which will bring improvement. JK
16. Have emotional composure. Know how to stay calm in your mind and body. TM
17. Focus on the shot at hand. Don’t worry what might happen later. AO
18. Make a SMART goal, (10 Hcp by 12/31/2015, or break 80 by 12/31/2015). Plan a strategy, take action, and make it happen! TM
19. Be patient. Stuff happens! AA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for Practicing and Playing the Game

1. Improve your putting. KG
2. Take the club that will reach the back of the green. Then, if you miss hit, you might just be in the hole. JM
3. Practice! Practice! Practice! JG
4. Focused practice. Always have a target for every practice shot. BD
5. Never up, never in. Get the ball to the hole. RB
6. Only attempt shots that you are at least 80% confident you can hit. RB
7. On fairway bunker shots, take your normal stance, then stand one to two inches taller before you hit it. JG
8. Slow yourself down. TM
9. To improve chipping, practice chipping with your lead arm only. DS
10. Tempo, tempo, tempo! SA
11. Get a pre-shot routine and stick to it. For example, stand behind the ball on every shot and pick out a blade of grass one to two feet in front of the ball to help you aim. JG
12. On green side bunker shots, imagine the ball is sitting on a dollar bill and slide your club under the bill without hitting it. JG
13. Keep it fun. Let your creativity come out on the golf course. AD
14. On the golf course, play golf.  Don’t work on your swing. GT
15. Aim for the middle of the green. GT
16. Play more competitive matches. JK
17. Spend more time chipping and putting. SA
18. Feel more confident with your 3-7 foot putts by practicing with the accelerator. RS
19. Find a go-to club for your chipping and putting. And don’t let anyone steal it! FH
20. Monitor your tempo and rhythm. GT
21. Hit it straight. Shorten the back swing to 75%, if needed, to keep it in the fairway. DD
22. If you are above a 10 Hcp, use a driver with at least 10.5 deg of loft. PM
23. Spend 70% of your practice time chipping and putting. BD
24. Don’t spend all of your practice time on the range. Get out and play holes as often as you can. DM
25. Develop a consistent pre-shot routine. DM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for When Things Don’t Go as Planned

1. Practice healthy amnesia. Forget it and move on. JK
2. When you hit a bad shot, take your medicine and get back in play. CK
3. Avoid the big number, by avoiding high risk shots. DM
4. Remind yourself of a time when you were successful, or happy. Use this to regain confidence, to stay loose, and play great! KD
5. Control what you can, your composure. Accept what happens and focus on the next shot. JM
6. Have a strategy going into the match/game. Don’t panic if it doesn’t go your way every single time. AO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for Everything Else

1. Read “Zen Golf.” FH
2. Read “Own your Game” by Dave Stockton. LN
3. Read  Dave Pelz’s “Short Game Bible: Master the Finesse Swing and Lower Your Score.” GN
4. Read “Zen Putting.” FH
5. Read “The Fluid Motion Factor.” DM
6. Read Dave Stockton’s “Unconscious Putting.” LN
7. If it has been a while, take a series of lessons with a PGA golf professional. RB
8. Slow down to sail fast. AM (Tip from a friend of mine who sails but applies to golf as well)
9. Dress the part. Dress well to play well. DM

 

Find a few that work for you and shoot lower scores this year. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s blog on looking good to play well.