Three Golf Lessons Learned from U.S. Open Mistakes

For those fans who stayed glued to their television sets during the 118th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the golf tournament proved exciting with lessons to be learned...if you paid attention!

Professional golfers make errors, albeit fewer than the average player; ball striking is much crisper but nerves can still wreak havoc, with golfers dropping like flies down the home stretch.

Brooks Koepka kept his cool throughout the U.S. Open and, although he physically played golf better than the pack, it was his mental strength which led him to victory, which leads this week's Golf for Beginners blog to the three lessons learned from U.S. Open mistakes.

1. Golf Tip #1: Don't let nerves get the best of you.

There weren't enough deep breaths to be had as Tony Finau, Patrick Reed and even Koepka (on 18) yanked shots and  3-putted down the back nine on Sunday. A steady mind won the U.S. Open for Koepka.

2. Golf Tip #2: Don't let the round get away from you.

Not caring how the hole will turn out when you are spiraling into double or triple bogey territory is probably one of the worst ways to play a round of golf. Take time with your golf shots, make each shot count and stop the bleeding. Move on after a bad hole and make each hole its own adventure.

Case in point - Phil Mickelson striking his ball on the green while it was rolling - bad and good move - he knew that he was going to score high so he stopped the bleeding but, did he really care about his round after his two-stroke penalty? Phil finished his Saturday round with an 81...good for most amateurs but bad for one of the top players in the world.

3. Golf Tip #3: Take responsibility for your round.

It's not the course, it's not the wind...it's YOU! Yes, even at Shinnecock Hills...
Once you stop criticizing, stop the negative self-talk and replace it with positive comments, your round will improve. An angry golfer makes mistakes. Your entire group is playing in the same conditions...deal with it.

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello tweeted after a 76, "It was not a fair test of golf. Greens were unplayable, with unnecessary pin positions. USGA found a way to make us look like fools on the golf course. A pity they managed to destroy a beautiful golf course."

Best advice for a golfer facing problems during his or her round?

Stay focused in the present and stay flexible in case of surprises...that's golf!

What lessons did you learn from the 2018 U.S. Open? Comments welcome below and tag us with your thoughts on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

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Golf Tips for Warming Up and Increasing Power If You Have an Injury

There are a plethora of golf tips floating around on the internet - some are worthy of a read and others, well, they can be a bit ridiculous... and put you into positions that can really hurt you!

This week, Golf for Beginners has found a few, simple golf tips that shouldn't cause golf injuries during practice and should help better prepare you for course play.

Golfworld has reported that PGA Tour injuries are on the rise, from back and spine problems to sore wrists, hips, and knees; why are these injuries becoming more commonplace?

When you watch Tiger Woods swing a golf club, you will see that his motions are not necessarily natural - these sustained actions over time have forced Woods to have an orthopedist on-hand for multiple surgeries. His recent comment during the pre- U.S. Open press conference says it all, "I had no expectation or thought that I actually could be here again...It was about my standard of life, forget golf...".

Warming up before practice and before a round of golf can greatly reduce injury and allow you to swing more smoothly.  The Mayo Clinic advises that taking just ten minutes to limber up with "a brisk walk or jumping jacks" will help prepare you, as well as stretching hands, spine, shoulders, pelvis, and legs before you try to take any swing...yes, even before chipping and putting.

Another important warm-up to add to your routine, if you do not already do it, is to swing your golf club a few times at a slow, easy speed to loosen up as well as encourage proper motion.

Even if you have been previously injured, there are ways to increase power in your golf swing.

An article in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) maintains that there are ways to enhance performance through proper training programs. Physical therapist, Erik P. Meira, found that "injuries may be associated with lack of warm-up, poor trunk flexibility and strength, faulty swing technique, and overuse."Skitterphoto.com

In order to combat injury, Meira suggests simple fixes to not further damage already tender areas. One common sense idea is, f you carry your bag and have a shoulder injury, take a cart instead.

As for increasing power, "a warm-up of windmills, trunk twists, static stretching, and air swings with a club for 7 weeks increased the golfers’ clubhead speed by 24% when compared with that of the control group."

Older folks benefitted from "flexibility, core stability, balance, and basic resistance exercises."

Play it safe when going out onto the golf course or when practicing your swing. Don't overswing, stretch before a round and get out and exercise on a regular basis to keep your body strong and limber. Remember, golf is a game but it is also a sport!


IMPORTANT NOTE: Golf for Beginners is not saying that you won't get injured during practice; the simple tips above can help your warm-up routine but should not be tried if you have an injury if you are ill or have any physical issues - ALWAYS consult a qualified doctor, professional or golf instructor before taking any risks or playing a sport.

Give us your golf tips for warming up and increasing energy either below, in the comments section of this golf blog or on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Photo: Pexels.com, Skitterphoto.com