In order to have a successful golf game, there are some important things that need to be done. In this article, I will go over the most important and effective steps you can take in order to improve your golf game.
Step 1: Buy a good set of golf clubs
Golf equipment is very expensive and can often take up half of your budget. Therefore, it’s important to buy the right equipment that will not only improve your game but also be worth the price. Before buying any clubs, I would recommend getting fitted for them by a professional because their knowledge can help you choose clubs within your price range.
It is vital to have good golf clubs because they offer the best chance of hitting a good shot. You will need to do research and try clubs in order to find the right ones that fit your needs and budget. When trying out clubs, you should make sure to take note of how the weight feels when the club is swinging through the air, whether or not it goes straight, and how far it goes.
Step 2: Learn the rules of golf
The first thing you should do is learn the basic rules of golf. Here are the Table of Contents for the Rules of Golf (USGA). Learning all of these can be time consuming but will pay off in the end because knowing what to do when something happens on your course can affect your game.
Step 3: Always keep score
Keeping track of scores during each round is very important because it allows you to see how well you are doing compared to previous rounds.
This step takes some time but will eventually become a habit that lets you know what areas of your game need the most attention. Another benefit of keeping score is that it lets you know what day of the week you’re at your best.
Step 4: Always play by the rules
When playing a round of golf, always remember to play by the rules. When something happens, such as hitting into another player’s line or hitting out of bounds, make sure to always call it before continuing the hole.
Making sure to play by the rules will not only keep you out of trouble but also let you know where your game needs improvement.
Step 5: Establish a handicap with the USGA Golf Handicap Information Network
After playing enough rounds, it is important to establish a handicap so that you can compare your scores to others. A handicap is a way to let other golfers know how well you’re doing as a beginner golfer and can help you meet new friends.
Establishing a handicap with the GHIN network is easy and free. All you have to do is register an account, enter your scores from one or more rounds, and the GHIN network will compute your handicap based on the international standard.
You can register for an account here.
Step 6: Get a lesson from a golf professional
Getting lessons from a golf professional is very important because they are able to see your swing and offer you tips that may help improve it. You don’t have to get very many lessons if you have a good instructor because they can be somewhat pricey.
If you want to save money, I would recommend practicing what you learned in your lesson for a few weeks or months until you feel comfortable enough to do it on the course.
Step 7: Work on your short game skills
In order to lower your scores, it is important to work on your short game skills. This includes things like chipping and putting because these are the shots that take up most of your score each round.
If you can get good at these two things, you can save yourself a lot of strokes by being able to recover from difficult situations around the green.
Step 8: Practice with a purpose
For every practice session, make sure to have a purpose in mind. Whether you are working on your short game skills or trying out new clubs, it is important to focus on one thing at a time to get the most benefit from practicing.
After each session, always take note of what you worked on and how much trouble you had with it. Doing this will let you know what days are good for practicing certain aspects of your game.
Invest in some golf swing training aids like Lagshot Golf, Tour Striker, Orange whip and the like. Learn how to use them and keep after it.
Step 9: Keep practicing
The most important part of improving at golf is to keep practicing because the only way to improve is by playing rounds and practicing what you learned in lessons or on your own. The more time you put into improving, the better you will get!
These are some fundamental building blocks to improving your golf game. We admit there is nothing like pounding balls on the range or playing 18, but for real improvement the devil is in the details…and the short game.
