A new world standard for handicapping was implemented in Spring of 2020. If the 9th and 10th best rounds of golf in your last 20 rounds weren’t good, your handicap will improve without any practice. Only your top 8 rounds will count in the future.
Have you hit a “performance plateau” in your golfing career? What can you do to make progress? Read on to learn 5 golfing secrets to lower your scores.
1. Play to Your Strengths
If your drives are always erratic but your long iron game is solid, then don’t keep hitting those narrow fairways with your driver. It makes much more sense to play it safe and play to your strengths. Don’t feel obligated to always use your driver from the tee. Playing a 4-iron from the tee would be much safer if that’s where your strengths are.
When you have to make a difficult shot, don’t ask yourself “which club would Tiger use?”. Use one that doesn’t give you the yips.
By all means, take your driver out at the driving range. You will be able to improve your driving and one day it could be a great strength. Until then, when it matters, don’t feel obliged to tee off with the driver.
2. Fit for Golf
Your golf scores are affected by your general health. If you get tired on the second nine holes it’s likely your scores are suffering. Your level of fitness could make a difference in your golf performance.
Lose some weight, exercise more frequently, and stop smoking if you want to improve your fitness for golf. Your endurance will improve and you’ll have more energy. This is especially important if you like to spend some time on the practice ground before beginning a round of golf on the course.
3. Get a Grip
Your grip makes a bigger difference to your golf than you might imagine. If you slice the ball you’re likely holding the club too firmly.
Hold the club more lightly. Use your fingers. Make sure the V shape that your index finger and thumb make is aligned with your arm and right shoulder (if you’re right-handed). Don’t hold the club too tightly.
4. Cup Clue
Check the cup before you putt your ball to read the secret signal about which way the green is breaking in the last few inches of the putt. Unless you’re among the first golfers on the course that day, the rim of the cup will give you a clue.
If one side of the cup has been used more than another this will be evident. Look for some wear and tear and you’ll be able to anticipate which way the putt is likely to break and make the appropriate adjustment.
5. Target Consistency
We all know that consistency is key when looking to improve in any area of life. The bottom line is that you will never reap the amazing rewards of exercising, for example, if you don’t actually do it consistently over time. The same can be said for improving your golfing scores; be consistent with all your efforts.
By consistently playing golf and by following the tips in this article, like playing to your strengths, staying fit for the game, and having the right grip, you will watch your scores improve. And you’ll have a lot more fun too.
Another area for improving your scores is practicing to become more consistent with your clubs. If you shoot the same distance each time you play a particular club, it will be easier for you to select the right club at any given time and thus eradicate those wayward shots and lower your scores.
Share Golfing Secrets
It’s great to know some golfing secrets that will help improve your score but better still to share them with others. Discuss their merits and whether they work for you. Perhaps they won’t be secrets for long.
One last secret is to live on or near a golf course so you can play more frequently and have more opportunity for improvement.
