Breaking 80 regularly and slashing your golf handicap is easier said than done. Among the keys to going low is learning strategies designed to help you save a bad round when your game starts to falter.
One way to do this is to have a set of easy, on-course fixes at your disposal.
They can help you correct minor flaws in your swing that occur during a round. The on-
course fixes can help you stop the bleeding until the round finishes. Then, you can head to the practice range to iron out your swing flaws before you play again.
Below are 7 proven on-course fixes I recommend for weekend golfers. They’ll help you right the ship when you start playing poorly. The fixes address common swing flaws—flaws I see all too frequently.
Easy Fix #1: Hooking/Slicing
Most golfers hit either a fade or draw off the tee as a natural shot. But some days your fade or draw turns into a bad slice or a big hook. When this happens, changing your grip is a possible fix. Make sure that your grip is consistent, like you’re shaking hands with the club. Too many golfers try to make the club pay for their mistakes by “wringing the life out of it” when things go south.
To correct a hook, rotate both hands a bit toward the target at address. To correct a slice, rotate both hands a bit away from the target. Think of the fleshy part of the palm of your bottom hand as a guide for your club face; where it’s pointed on contact is where the ball will likely go.
Easy Fix #2: Fat Tee Shots
Even the best golfers hit a fat tee shot now and then. But when it happens three or four times in a row, that’s trouble. Here’s an easy fix to fat shots I teach: Maintain the angle of your shoulders at address throughout your swing. In a good setup your back shoulder is slightly lower than your front shoulder. Keep it that way. Resist the urge to lean too far back in your back swing, or come off your feet through your follow-through.
Easy Fix #3: Underswinging
Backing off on iron shots can cost you yardage—especially with the long irons. To remedy this, give it all you’ve got when you reach the hitting zone with long and middle irons. The idea here is to swing as hard as you can while still being able to hold your follow-through. Keeping your balance is critical.
Easy Fix #4: Hitting Sideways
What weekend golfer hasn’t shanked one? But when it happens with your irons consistently in the middle of a round, it can cost you strokes big time. Stop the bleeding by slowing your swing down. Maintain focus. You can also go up one club and use a three-quarter swing at three-quarter speed, but only if you’re advanced enough to where you think you can do so consistently and with confidence. Otherwise, you’ll start to psych yourself out by tinkering too much with swing and club lengths.
Easy Fix #5: Chunked Wedges
If you’re chunking wedge shots, it could be your wedge’s bounce. Not all wedges have the same bounce angle. Since casual golfers usually have a steeper swing than the pros, low bounce angles can be the kiss of death. Use another club that has less of a bounce angle.
Easy Fix #6: Knockdown Shots
Mastering the knockdown (or “punch”) shot saves you strokes. But you may not hit this shot often enough to stay sharp with it. If your knockdown shot fails to work while on the course, try leaning on your front side at address. Stay there throughout the swing. This forces you to swing a little steeper and produces a shot with a low, penetrating trajectory.
Easy Fix #7: Poor Lag Putting
Poor lag putting rates as the top reason golfers three-putt. The best way to prevent this is to make sure you strike the ball “pure.” A good way to do that is to imagine a pushpin stuck in back of the ball. Imagine you’re driving the pin all the way into the ball when putting. This image helps you maintain your clubface angle and your stroke’s firmness.
Breaking 80 is a challenge. So is reducing your golf handicap. To do both, arm yourself with a set of proven on-course fixes to correct minor swing flaws during a round. You can address more permanent fixes afterwards. Applying these fixes at the right time can save strokes and help salvage a bad round.
