Golf lessons are great. They can teach you a lot of the basics. They also build confidence and knowledge. And they provide tips most golf books and magazines can’t provide—the biggest benefit of all good golf instruction sessions. If you take lessons from a knowledgeable pro, they can help take your game to the next level.
But golf lessons only go so far. If you can’t take what you learn from the practice range to the course, lessons aren’t all that helpful. In fact, learning to take it from the range to the course is one of the keys to breaking 80. But that’s easier said than done.
Below are 8 golf tips to take your game from the range to the first tee:
1) Play “holes” on the range: Put another way, work on shots that you hit a lot when playing your favorite courses. Pick out a target, and then try to hit it. That beats “grip it and rip it” every time. Also, never hit the same club twice in a row. Use this routine for the courses you play a lot and you’ll lower your scores.
2) Swing away with the driver: Warming up hitting the driver more than any other club isn’t necessarily a bad idea. After all, it’s the second most important club next to the putter. It sets up many shots, so it’s critical you master this club. It also helps with balance and builds confidence.
3) Work on swing mechanics: The practice range—not the course—is the best place to work on your mechanics. The key is memorizing the “feel” you learn from practicing. That frees you to hit shots without distractions. Also, it’s okay to have a mechanical “key,” but don’t let it interfere with course management.
4) Hit it solid: If you want to simplify things on the range, work on hitting the ball solidly off the center of the clubface. Don’t let off-line shots bother you. You can always adjust for accuracy later on. Instead, focus on hitting the ball flush every time.
5) Play “odds and evens”: Playing odds and evens provides a structure to practice. Here’s how it goes: Hit your odd-numbered clubs one day. Then hit the even-numbered clubs the next day. Then go back to the odds the third day, and so on. Playing odds and evens provides a sense of a routine and structures your practice sessions.
6) Skip mid-range putts: You want to hit three types of putts on the practice green. Start with two to three-foot putts on the practice green to build confidence. Then practice the 15- to 20- footers. Focus on your pace when hitting these putts. Finally, hit some 40 to 50 footers. Lag putting helps you stand tall, so you have room to swing the putter—a key to good putting.
7) Accept the swing you have: Just because you hit the ball poorly on the range doesn’t mean you’ll hit it poorly during your round. So banish any negative swing thoughts when you get to the first tee. Instead, focus on hitting the ball solidly and play with confidence.
8) Limit on-course thoughts: Nick Faldo used to take four swing thoughts to the course. His mantra: Sit, coil, pull, release. But you’re not Nick Faldo. Instead, limit your on-course swing thoughts to one or two. Any more than that and you get confused. A good one to try is saying low and slow as you start your backswing.
Keep these golf tips in mind next time you hit the practice range. They’ll help you learn the art of taking what you learn in practice sessions and golf lessons to the course. Do that well and you’ll not only break 80 but also lower your golf handicap. Isn’t that what matters?