How to play your best
When we are playing our best, we are happy campers. Here are a few tips to take to the course and to make your round more enjoyable.
Tee it up
When you get to the tee box, find a flat and level ground where you can stand and make a balanced swing. Lay your club down and make sure the turf where your ball will lie is not in a divot. Move to a new spot if you are not comfortable or the ground where you stand on is not ideal.
Use a tee on every occasion whether it is a par 3, 4 or 5. The reason is because when you tee it up, you are guarantee a better lie than without a tee.
Use a tee on every occasion whether it is a par 3, 4 or 5. The reason is because when you tee it up, you are guarantee a better lie than without a tee.
Make a few practice swings
After teeing up your ball, back up and make a few practice swings. It is hard to say how much but swing the club at least once and not more than 5 times. All you want to do is to get the body moving and your arms swinging. You don't need to be hitting the turf so raise your club off the ground and make a few good, easy swings. Just swing your club and feel good about your body. Remember to breathe.
Tip: Don't beat yourself up
I'm all for the saying 'Work Hard, Play Hard' but it doesn't mean to expect yourself to perform 100% at all times, especially on a golf course. Even the pros have good days and bad days. If it wasn't that way, Brooks Koepa will win every week. Look at Jordan Speith. He was top of his game and he practically won every week then suddenly, he tweaked his swing and now, people are wondering whether Jordan will ever win again. The key here is to not beat yourself up every time your shot goes astray. It can happen to the best players and it can certainly happen to us the amateur player. Keep your emotions at bay and work on your fundamentals. Keep a mental log on what is not working and defer it to when you are on the range. Play your best and see you on the green.
It is important to keep a positive attitude at all times. It can be difficult to keep your head up when shot after shot goes bad but remember that you cannot perform at your best when you are down on yourself. A positive attitude will go a long ways and give you the necessary fuel to propel you to the winner circle.
It is important to keep a positive attitude at all times. It can be difficult to keep your head up when shot after shot goes bad but remember that you cannot perform at your best when you are down on yourself. A positive attitude will go a long ways and give you the necessary fuel to propel you to the winner circle.
Tip: Don't analyze your swing during your round
When you're playing a round and your swing goes haywire, do not try to analyze your swing on the golf course. It is not the right place to try something new or break down your swing. You are playing a round and time is an essence. You have to keep up the pace and play a half decent round so that you can still enjoy your round.
A lot of amateurs will tweak their swing as the round progresses but don't be tempted on trying something extraordinary or a new tip from a playing partner. Tips and nw techniques are things to be tried on the driving range and not on the golf course, especially when you are actively playing. I have seen it too often when an amateur breaks down their swing to the point where he is unable to hit anything. The result was not good. The golfer packed up frustrated and angry, and walked off the course midway through his round.
I always profess that there are two modes in golf. Practice vs Play. Switch your brain to practice when you are on the range or in the practice area. And switch to Play when you are on the golf course playing a round. Don't switch back and forth. Have you ever heard someone say they left all the good shots on the range? It's because in practice mode, you get to hit it again and again until it feels right. In play mode, you get one chance and all your energy and focus has to go into the one shot.
So next time you are out playing, switch your brain to play mode and keep it locked until the round is done. See you on the green.
A lot of amateurs will tweak their swing as the round progresses but don't be tempted on trying something extraordinary or a new tip from a playing partner. Tips and nw techniques are things to be tried on the driving range and not on the golf course, especially when you are actively playing. I have seen it too often when an amateur breaks down their swing to the point where he is unable to hit anything. The result was not good. The golfer packed up frustrated and angry, and walked off the course midway through his round.
I always profess that there are two modes in golf. Practice vs Play. Switch your brain to practice when you are on the range or in the practice area. And switch to Play when you are on the golf course playing a round. Don't switch back and forth. Have you ever heard someone say they left all the good shots on the range? It's because in practice mode, you get to hit it again and again until it feels right. In play mode, you get one chance and all your energy and focus has to go into the one shot.
So next time you are out playing, switch your brain to play mode and keep it locked until the round is done. See you on the green.