If your golf game starts and stops at putt-putt, these tips from Ned Weaver, StoneWater Golf Club’s director of golf and a veteran PGA pro, will have you on par with your playing pals.
Think before you swing. Turns out fixing your posture also comes in handy for golfing. In addition to lining yourself up with the ball, make sure your weight is distributed evenly on your feet, get a solid grip on the club and check to make sure the ball is stable on the tee. “Just concentrate on the fundamentals and everything you do before your swing,” says Weaver.
Take a chip or three. Got your drive down, but find it hard to finish? To make your putt, pitch and chip as good as your drive, you need to practice your short game as much as you do driving the ball. “People just don’t spend as much time practicing it because they want to be able to hit the ball further and they spend more time on the range,” says Weaver. “If they spend equal time on the short game as they did the long game and the range, they’d do better, they’d get better.”
Know your limitations. Most importantly, know your abilities. If you’re not a big hitter, play shorter courses. If you lack accuracy, stick to courses with fewer bunkers and water hazards. “A lot of people don’t think about [this],” Weaver says. “It’s kind of like trying to hit a shot that you really can’t hit, but they’re going to try it anyways.”
3 Tips To Improve Your Golf Game Now
Thinking before you swing, practicing more than just your driving and knowing yourself are big first steps.
