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6 tips to help improve your golf game both mentally and physically.

Golf.

As a player, the palms of your hands might start to sweat, and your heart starts to race just thinking about the game. Isn’t golf supposed to be a relaxing sport?

Isn’t it the kind where you get a group of friends together to shoot the breeze and play a round? The idea always seems to be better than reality. Whether you want to admit it or not, there are few people out there that play golf just for fun. And if you’re honest, chances are that you aren’t one of them.

Golf can be fun and relaxing, but it also requires discipline, concentration, and practice. One small move can mean the difference between a shot down the middle of the fairway and spending the next hour rummaging through the bushes trying to find your lucky ball.

Now, you can spend hours at the driving range, dig up your back yard to create a putting green complete with all the curves and slopes of a traditional course, or even spend all your free time with your clubs, but there are a few important things that we have to remember as both golf enthusiasts and human beings.

We aren’t perfect. Conditions change. Not every course is the same. And really, at the end of the day, the reason to be out on the course is simply that: to be out on the course.

When you look back on all of the golf you’ve played in the past year or two, which hopefully has been a lot since it is a great outdoor, socially distanced activity, it’s unlikely you remember each shot you lifted your head on, or chipped too far to the left. It was more about the feeling of enjoyment; the feeling of being out there with your buddies, or maybe even more enjoyable, being out there in the peace and quiet.

Yes, that all sounds great, but it’s likely that even if you are on the course just to play, you’re still looking for ways to improve your game. As they say in golf, you never see a perfect shot (because, you know, you’re supposed to keep your head down when you swing) so we’ve done some research for you and found a few popular tips to consider to help your game both mentally and physically.

Your Brain

1. From Tee to Hole and Everything In Between

The time it takes to walk or drive from shot to shot can be used to your advantage. Your mind is as much engaged as your body while you play, so allow yourself a break in concentrating on your game. Reset your mind by thinking about something you enjoy: your kids, the nice day, your next vacation, or whatever it is that will give your mind a break from your game briefly and to release any stress that may have been building during the last hole.1 As you approach your next shot, focus in again and when you step up to the ball, your mind will be ready too.

2. Manage Your Expectations

Try playing a round where your score is not your main goal. It sounds unconventional, but this may help to ease any performance anxiety or stress that creates pressure2. When you feel pressure, each shot becomes focused on the outcome, rather than on process of hitting the ball the best way you can. Limiting anxiety can open your mind to focus on the fundamentals rather than worrying about your overall score.

3. Practice Makes…Better

Putting can be a frustrating part of the game. To combat the negative thoughts around this part of the game, try dedicating some time to some various putting drills to gain confidence in reading the green, taking shots from different distances, and getting more comfortable with how to direct your body and club to give you a solid and well-aimed stance3. Practice does not make perfect, but it can make you feel more comfortable as you near the hole. From swing lengths to different grips, there are many tips out there, but one thing remains consistent: practice, practice, practice.

Your Game

4. Imagine Hitting a Second Ball for Power

To practice more power in your shots, imagine that there is another ball sitting out in front of the one you intend to hit, as you swing through, imagine your club extending out to also hit the second ball4. This visualization helps you to avoid pulling up short by extending the length of your swing even after you hit the ball, giving the ball more distance and power.

5. Visualize to Keep Your Hands Low

Rather than continue to purchase the latest and greatest in club technology when you want more power and drive in your swing, try keeping your hands low on the club and as you swing through5. This helps to limit flight trajectory of the ball. Adjust your hands until you feel that the club will hit the turf as you swing and visualize digging your club into the turf when you hit the ball to make solid contact.

6. Don’t Pitch your Wedge

Stay calm. These shots are mentioned often enough in lists for improving your game to see that they are difficult for most. First of all, it’s important to try and not throw your club out of frustration when these shots go south. Second, take time to check that the face is open before you begin your downswing. Dial in the positioning of your hands on the grip, the angle of your wrists, and your specific stance and follow through to allow for the face to be open during the backswing and also through the downswing as you hit the ball. Keeping an open face is important and will give the ball more lift without feeling the need to add power, which will ultimately make for inconsistent wedge shots in your game6.

We hope that with just a few tips to think about, your heart rate will come down and you can relax as you lace up your golf shoes and head out on to the course.

We want you to enjoy the things you love, and we also want you to succeed. We could also go on and on, but after all this talk about golf, we’re ready to get out there and try some of these tips ourselves!