Golfers, like you, often seek tips to improve and shoot lower scores. Better performance makes golf more enjoyable. While playing with friends is fun, nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off on the course, especially after 18 holes.
Even newcomers to golf recognize its unique challenges—managing the course, adapting to weather, and mastering various shots. Your mental state also significantly impacts your performance; a strong mindset is crucial.
In this article, I’ll share my 15 best Golf tips for beginners. These proven methods will enhance your skills, making golf more enjoyable and helping you become a better player. Golf is both fun and challenging, and while some days may test your commitment, maintaining optimism and the “Just keep swinging” mentality will help you maximize the game’s enjoyment and rewards.
Here are key beginner tips to elevate your game and break through barriers.
1. Selecting the Right Golf Gear
One of the most valuable golf insights I’ve gathered through the years is the importance of using the appropriate equipment. If you find yourself playing with blade irons or unforgiving clubs while consistently shooting in the 90s, you’re making the game unnecessarily difficult.
When it comes to your gear, you should consider three key categories: golf clubs, shafts, and balls.
Golf Clubs
The first thing to think about is playing clubs that are designed for beginners. You need to play the right clubs for your current ability as they are more lightweight and designed for beginners. This means they’re easier to hit straight and far above all else.
Please note, playing the right clubs for your game might not always go over so well with your golfing buddies. Meaning, they might give you some grief for a set of hybrid-like irons or cavity back wedges.
But who cares if your friends give you grief for carrying hybrids or a 7-wood instead of long irons. At the end of the round, the only thing that matters is your score!
Shafts
While playing forgiving and lightweight clubs is important, the shafts of the clubs are equally important. Too many players opt for heavier, stiffer shafts which kill total distance.
Instead, make sure your shafts allow you to swing with speed and get the most from each club in the bag. Most beginners will benefit from graphite, a regular flex shaft (for men) in the beginning of their golf journey. As you advance and increase swing speed, you can test out different shaft weights and flexes to maximize each golf shot.
Use the Right Golf Ball
The final thing to think about in terms of equipment is your golf ball.
Whether you’re a veteran or beginner golfer, you want to make sure to play the right type of golf ball. As a beginner, you want one that emphasizes more on distance than spin.
As you evolve and start shooting lower scores, you can try out a softer golf ball to help you spin it with your shorter clubs. Balls have different compression rates and newer golfers need softer golf balls to offset slower swing speed.
Plus, buying the right golf ball for beginners will also save you money too. As a beginner, you’re bound to lose more golf balls and cheaper balls are usually a better fit for your swing too.
2. Master the Basics
While many golfers seek tips for hitting longer shots or pulling off impressive trick shots, it’s essential not to overlook the fundamentals. A significant portion of your swing is determined during the setup, even before you make contact with the golf ball. This is why professional golfers continually refine their setup because they understand that a tiny error at address can lead to a flawed swing.
Here are some key checkpoints to review before taking your swing:
Proper Stance
Begin with a solid stance, ensuring that your feet are shoulder-width apart and your knees are flexed in an athletic position. I also recommend slightly flaring your lead foot to facilitate hip clearance during the downswing. For longer clubs like your driver or fairway woods, widen your stance to accommodate the longer club length, allowing for a full shoulder turn during your backswing.
Good Posture
Once your stance is established, focus on maintaining good posture. Aim for a flat back, tilted hips, bent knees, and a slightly backward-tilted head at address. Not only will this promote a more consistent swing, but it may also reduce the risk of potential injuries.
Find The Right Grip For You
Another crucial tip is to ensure that your grip matches your swing. If you’re new to golf, start with a neutral to strong grip. One common mistake among golfers is using a weak grip, resulting in a slice that affects many players and decreases overall distance. If you’re a beginner, opt for a strong grip, as it should benefit you in the long term. As your swing evolves and you identify patterns, you can adjust your grip strength as needed.
Remember that mastering these fundamental aspects of your setup is key to building a solid foundation for your golf game. Prioritizing these basics can lead to improved performance and increased enjoyment on the course.
3. Ensure Proper Alignment
A crucial element of your setup is aligning yourself with your target.
A common mistake many golfers make is failing to align themselves squarely with the target. This can lead to the development of undesirable habits. For instance, if you’re aligned to the right of your target, your body will naturally attempt to correct and pull the shot back to the left. Conversely, if your alignment is to the left, your mind will make adjustments to guide the shot back toward the intended target.
Even if you’re not consciously aware of your alignment, your subconscious mind is actively engaged. It compensates for poor alignment by making alterations in your swing. Over time, this can result in the formation of persistent bad habits that are challenging to rectify.
Before attempting to make changes to your swing, take a moment to assess your alignment. You can ask a friend to record your swing on the course or use alignment sticks at the driving range. The closer you align yourself to the target, the greater the likelihood of hitting a more accurate golf shot.
4. Master Your Tempo at the Driving Range
Ever watched PGA Tour players and wondered how they make golf seem effortless? While I can’t cover every golf tip they employ in one article, I can share a critical piece of wisdom.
If you observe the top players in golf, you’ll notice that they have one essential trait in common, regardless of their other differences: they all possess excellent tempo, even if their swing speeds vary.
All great players all have a 3:1 tempo.
This means their backswing takes three times as long as their downswing. So, if you want to emulate anything from the professionals you see on TV, focus on your tempo. Whether your swing is swift or slow, your tempo should adhere to this 3:1 ratio for full shots.
Maintaining the right tempo is crucial because it directly influences your swing, transition, and follow-through. By mastering your tempo early on, you’ll pave the way for a more consistent and enjoyable golfing experience.
5. Maintain Composure and Stay Positive
Picture this: you’ve just hit an exceptionally poor shot, perhaps a duff from the first tee or an out-of-bounds mishap after a stellar front nine. How do you react in such situations?
Do you take it personally and unleash frustration upon yourself, as though you’re the first golfer ever to make an embarrassing shot? Or do you choose to chuckle it off and concentrate on the next shot?
To become an exceptional golfer, it’s crucial to grasp that errant shots are an inherent part of the game. Even the most exceptional players occasionally produce less-than-stellar shots, and they’re compensated handsomely for their golfing skills. Consider Justin Thomas, one of the finest ball strikers in the game, who even hit a shank during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championships, a tournament he eventually won.
The fact remains, as long as you swing a golf club, you’ll encounter subpar shots. The key is to ensure that a single poor swing doesn’t trigger a chain reaction of more poor swings, leading to a complete meltdown on the course.
Release the tension, keep in mind that golf is meant to be enjoyable, and remember that there are far worse places you could be than on the golf course!
For additional motivation in managing your frustration during a round, consider this advice from Tiger Woods to his son Charlie: “Son, I don’t mind how angry you get. You could explode for all I care, as long as you’re completely committed to the next shot. That next shot should be the most important shot in your life, more vital than breathing.”
It’s alright to let off a bit of steam, but never let it overshadow your focus on the next shot.
6. Embrace Your Driver
If you’re a new golfer, chances are you have mixed feelings about your driver. This club, with its minimal loft, tends to expose flaws in your swing more than others. While off-center shots can be intimidating, strive to establish a consistent driver swing.
Don’t fret if you can’t consistently hit it straight just yet. Especially as a beginner, prioritize distance over accuracy. If you can send the ball a long way down the fairway, you’ll set yourself up for shorter approach shots to the green, which are generally easier to execute than using hybrids or fairway woods.
Here are a couple more tips for your driver:
- Increase the loft. If you’re new to golf, make sure your driver’s loft is set to at least 10.5 degrees or higher. This loft angle makes it easier to launch the ball into the air with a full swing, optimizing your tee shot distance.
- Check your shaft. As a beginner, don’t make the game harder by using a stiff shaft. Instead, opt for a regular or senior flex shaft, depending on your age. This choice accommodates the likelihood of having limited upper body mobility in your swing, making it more forgiving and easier to use.
7. Practice Your Short Game
While your driver is crucial, don’t overlook the importance of your wedges and putter. Improving your scores is often as simple as dedicating time to practice shots around the green. Invest some time on the chipping green, working on a variety of shots like flop shots, bump and runs, and bunker shots.
8. Tee It Forward
For those new to golf, I strongly suggest teeing it forward. Don’t complicate the game by attempting to play from the farthest tees or even one step back from them. This will result in numerous lengthy approach shots, potentially slowing down your round and making it less enjoyable.
Instead, opt for teeing it forward or consider starting on par-three executive-style courses. As you progress in your golf journey, continue to explore various tee options and new golf courses. I’m willing to bet you’ll have a much more enjoyable time on the course and probably keep the group behind you content as well.
9. Invest in Early Golf Swing Lessons
If you’re a newcomer to golf, you’re in a fortunate position because you haven’t had the time to develop the bad habits that plague many long-time golfers. Instead of attempting to self-learn golf, consider enlisting the guidance of a qualified swing coach. Even just a few golf lessons focused on the basics can significantly accelerate your progress.
A skilled swing coach will assist you in achieving the correct alignment of your feet, hips, and shoulders toward the target. They can then help refine your takeaway, transition, and downswing mechanics. Additionally, they can work with you on chipping and pitching skills. Establishing correct habits right from the beginning sets the foundation for becoming a proficient golfer right from the start.
10. Establish a Pre-Shot Routine for Consistency
To elevate your golf game, it’s essential to establish a pre-shot routine.
Having a pre-shot routine serves several purposes. It keeps you focused during your round and maintains consistency in your game. This way, when you’re on the brink of achieving milestones like breaking 100, 90, or even 80 for the first time, you won’t self-sabotage. Surprisingly, many golfers, including average ones, often skip this crucial step.
Your pre-shot routine begins as soon as you halt beside your golf bag and assess your target using a laser or visual judgment. Following this, you should take practice swings that replicate the shot you intend to make. This practice ingrains the motion of your practice swings into your muscle memory, making it easier to execute when you’re ready to hit the actual shot.
In summary, your pre-shot routine assists you in selecting the right club, identifying a target, aligning yourself correctly, and maintaining the right mental focus. It’s advisable to practice this routine initially on the range for more effective training, as it will become second nature when you’re on the course.
11. Gain Knowledge from Your Playing Partners
While practice sessions are undeniably valuable for improving your golf game, there are times when you can learn a great deal by observing other golfers. Teaming up with more skilled and experienced players can be incredibly advantageous. Many golfers are willing to share their insights and experiences, making this collaborative learning process far more valuable than attempting to figure everything out on your own.
Even if you end up losing a match and wagering some money, the lessons you gain from playing with these golfers can extend to various aspects of the game, including putting, course management, mental attitude, and more.
So, if you’re a high handicapper or just starting out, consider playing a round or two with a golfer of intermediate skill. Observing how they navigate the course can provide valuable insights into improving your own game.
12. Play Golf More Often
Many golfers believe they need to achieve perfection during every range session before venturing onto the golf course. However, the reality is quite the opposite – you should allocate less time to perfecting your golf swing on the driving range and more time actually playing rounds of golf.
Consider this: golf is the only sport where you don’t practice on the same field of play. In contrast, basketball players practice on the court they compete on, just as football players do on the field. Golf, on the other hand, operates differently, which is why it can be challenging to transfer your range performance to the course.
Instead, gather your friends and spend more time on the golf course. By doing so, you’ll immerse yourself in real scenarios that teach you about club selection, handling various lies, understanding how your body performs, and much more. This hands-on experience on the course will help you become a more well-rounded and skilled golfer.
13. Master Your Wedges
If you’re looking to elevate your golf game rapidly, prioritize improving your skills with wedges. Developing confidence with your sand wedge, pitching wedge, and gap wedge can lead to quick reductions in your score.
The essential step here is to dedicate more time to practicing your short game. While it might not be as exhilarating as smashing drives on the range, the ability to score effectively from 125 yards and in is paramount. The sooner you enhance your proficiency in this short-range scoring area, the quicker you’ll achieve your golfing objectives.
14. Cherish Your Putter
While many golfers have a deep affection for their driver, they often overlook the importance of selecting the right putter. In truth, your putter is the most critical club in your bag.
Putting can significantly influence your score because you use the putter on every single green. It’s essential that your putter inspires confidence because even if your golf swing isn’t performing at its best, solid putting can rescue your round.
15. Enjoy Every Round
Like many folks, you have a lot going on in your life, balancing work, family, and other commitments. That’s why it’s crucial to relish every opportunity you get to play this wonderful game.
Approaching each day of golf with a sense of appreciation and gratitude can significantly enhance your performance. Even if your score doesn’t reflect your expectations, maintaining a positive attitude not only enhances your experience but also contributes to a more enjoyable day for your playing partners. Moreover, when you derive satisfaction from your rounds, you’re better positioned to identify areas for improvement during your practice sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Tips for Beginners
What’s the best golf tip?
In my experience, the best golf tip you can follow is to master your tempo. Many players rush their swing either on the backswing or downswing, disrupting their rhythm and making it challenging to consistently achieve low scores.
Even if your swing isn’t flawless, maintaining a consistent 3:1 tempo, where your backswing is three times as long as your downswing, will help you strike the ball with the center of the clubface more frequently. Who wouldn’t want that kind of consistency on the golf course?
Conversely, the worst golf tip I’ve heard, and one that persists over decades, is the advice to “keep your head down.” This recommendation can actually hinder your game.
The truth is, you don’t need to keep your head down. If you focus too much on keeping your head down for an extended period, you limit your rotation during the downswing, which can lead to various swing issues.
Instead, think about keeping your chest down, not your head. Allow your head to rotate up and through during the downswing to maximize power and consistently strike the ball effectively.
How to Consistently Break 80 in Golf
Players who consistently shoot in the 70s aren’t fundamentally different from those in the low to mid-80s. To achieve scores in the 70s and progress toward becoming a scratch golfer, you should focus on the following:
- Prioritize Your Short Game: If your goal is to break 80 and perform at your best in golf, allocate twice as much practice time to your short game as you do to your long game. For instance, if you have 90 minutes for practice, spend 30 minutes on putting, 30 minutes on wedges, and 30 minutes at the range. During the range session, dedicate significant time to practicing various wedge shots and drives. Fine-tuning your short game is more manageable than perfecting your full swing because it involves less lower body movement and shorter motions. The quicker you improve your putting and wedge play, the sooner you’ll excel in your golf rounds.
- Master Your Mental Game: Golfers who consistently shoot in the 70s don’t frequently succumb to frustration; they effectively manage their emotions rather than allowing them to disrupt their rounds. They understand that poor shots and bad breaks are inherent in the game. Instead of dwelling on each errant shot, they acknowledge the setback and move forward.
- Plan Each Shot: To break 80 consistently, ensure you have a strategy for every hole. Avoid simply swinging and hoping your shots find the fairway or green. Instead, create a comprehensive plan for each hole, including a tee box strategy, approach shot strategy, and a focus on avoiding situations where you’re short-sided. Only attempt shots you’re confident in executing; resist the urge to attempt heroic shots that may backfire.