Golf is a game of accuracy. Regardless of all the tips and tricks out there, it comes down to getting the ball into the hole with the least amount of swings. All players experience highs and lows when hitting the links. However, they want to improve their game over time and enjoy the sport in all its glory.
Is there a proven method to become a great golfer? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are several key components to improving your game.
This is how to be a successful golfer.
What Does Being Great Mean?
There is no shortage of books and blog posts telling you how to master something, but they can be misleading. Regardless of what you are doing, becoming an expert takes education, dedication, effort and practice.
Your skill set will develop over several years, depending on the amount of time you put in. Ten thousand hours is an appropriate benchmark for mastering something if you create the right habits and methods.
Get Good Clubs
Knowledge and practice are best implemented with high-quality equipment and purchasing the best clubs you can afford. Getting fit for your clubs will immediately improve your game because there is no one-size-fits-all. Visit a professional trainer at your local club, and they will set you up for success.
Learn about the different types of clubs to purchase and see what works best for you. Clubs are expensive, so if you can’t afford a whole set immediately, purchase individual clubs you use the most and buy a great putter.
Another smart option is to do a golf club trade in. Some golf shops have trade-in programs to upgrade your gear for less money. Other players are doing the same thing, and while they get a superior set, the ones they traded in may be better than the set you had. This way, everyone upgrades for a fraction of the cost.
Ultimately, purchasing a good set of golf clubs will make you a better player and improve your results on the course.
Get Your Eyes Checked
Nothing is more frustrating than blurry vision when playing golf. Clear sight is required for coordination, aiming, and depth perception.
Have your eyes examined and fitted for contact lenses. While you won’t see pros on tour wearing glasses, many get Lasik surgery or wear contacts. This is because glasses are too unstable to use while playing sports. You will see a dramatic difference when your vision is corrected while playing.
Take Some Lessons
Lessons are vital for improving your game, whether you are a new golfer or a seasoned pro. A golf course has so much room for error, so you need the right techniques to direct the ball where you want it to go.
Lessons help guide a new player with proper technique and correct any improper habits and forms a regular player has developed. You will learn things like:
- Stance
- Grip
- Swing
- Follow through
Learning how to play the sport properly is the key to greatness. While new techniques may seem uncomfortable or awkward initially, they will become second nature and dramatically improve your game.
Practice
Learning is helpful for understanding golf mechanics, but once you have a set of movements to play well, you must repeatedly implement them. There is no replacement for action, and you can’t buy skills. It will take constant practice on the course to improve. With each swing, your body develops muscle memory, becoming second nature.
Practice your swing until you get it right, then practice until you can’t. Your golf ball will never sit in the same position on a course. However, as long as you constantly train, you can have excellent results, regardless of placement.
Become Fitter
Golf is a physical sport, and while it is not like running marathons or playing hockey, you engage your entire body with every swing. Getting into better shape will help your overall game. Fatigue is a factor in golf, so you must build stamina and strength to maintain your swing for all 18 holes.
Start an exercise routine that includes:
- Walking
- Stretching
- Weight training
- Calisthenics
Getting fit also means shedding fat, and this is best achieved with a healthy diet of high-quality protein, healthy fats and lots of fruit and vegetables. Also, it is wise to cut down on or eliminate unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking.
This is how to be an excellent golfer. As with anything in life, if it is worth doing, it is worth working hard to become an expert. Follow these steps to become the master golfer inside of you, and enjoy the journey, one swing at a time.