Consistency from Tee to Green With These Simple Golf Tips and Drills

What good is a training aid if it sits in your garage and what is the use of learning proper setup or putting if you don't put it into regular practice? Proper practice will give you a consistent golf game.

Golf tips and drills are only as good when they are put into action - if you don't use it, as the old saying goes, you lose it. 

This week, Golf for Beginners offers up three golf tips and drills for driving, chipping and putting - a well-rounded practice for the range which should help you during your round. The simpler the golf tip or drill, the more likely you are to remember and to use it so let's get started.

Golf Drill for Driving

You hit a pop-up and your golf ball only flew about 100 yards off the tee...and it was straight up! You could see your mates shaking their heads and you knew your next shot wasn't getting you on in regulation. Your golf club came down too steep and you need to shallow out your swing.

Top 100 Teacher Cameron McCormick offers this simple driver golf drill (during practice) to shallow out your swing which uses a towel or golf grip placed directly behind the golf ball.

Golf Tips for Approach Shots

PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk says he is not as long off the tee as the big bombers on Tour but what good is finding the fairway with your drive if you can't get that golf ball on the green with your second shot (on a par-4)?

Furyk's golf tips for approach shot accuracy include:

• Choose the right club, not just based on sprinkler head distance marker, but also based on conditions such as wind and how fast the green is or where trouble might be near the green. I was told by Hank Haney to always take more club than you need - club up if you feel that you may not make the distance.
• Avoid the bunkers and go long rather than short, if you aren't the best bunker player.
• Go for the center of the green - don't try to stick it close. Instead, get on in regulation and roll a solid putt.

Golf Drills for Putting

"Good putters are good aimers." says Dale Ketola, Director of Instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center. "You have to be able to read the line, have the correct speed and read the green."

Watch this short video for techniques/drills on making putts:



READ: Golf Tips to Improve Lag Putt Percentages

These golf tips were meant to inspire you and show you that, with a little bit of targeted practice, you can improve your game.

Offer up your best golf tips and drills in the comments section of this golf blog and follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter for more ways to improve your game!

Self Improvement On and Off the Golf Course

While we can’t control everything in our lives...like a bad shot on the golf course, we do have some say in what happens during our daily routines.

With a few smart strategies in place, you can employ some incredible self-improvement strategies that will enhance your life. Think through what you want to work on, whether it’s kicking a bad habit, developing a healthy one, or trying new things.

Below are a few ideas you should consider both on and off the golf course. Thanks to Stephanie Haywood for her help writing the non-golf portions of this blog.

Develop Confidence

Probably the most important part of a solid score on the course and for life, in general, is to develop a confident attitude. Do not live in fear of your next shot, think of yourself as a good golfer and always remember your best shots. Positive self-talk will help you immensely both on, and off, the course!

Tend Those Pearly Whites

Being busy, stressed, or tired can often mean something’s got to give. If you have neglected your dental visits for any reason, why not get back in the habit? Believe it or not, your oral health is actually a reflection of your overall health. There appears to be a link between what’s going on in your mouth and your mental health, heart health, and gut health. By making improvements in your oral health, you can be happier, healthier, and see all around betterment in your well-being. It’s a great way to ensure you have plenty to smile about, as well!

Go on a Golf Getaway Weekend

We all need a break every once in a while to recharge our batteries and clear our minds. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had some quality downtime, perhaps it’s time to head off on a much-needed weekend golf getaway. The good news: You don’t have to travel very far!

Myrtle Beach, for example, is a wonderful place to recharge as it offers everything from gorgeous beaches (including the 60-mile Grand Strand), dunes, and numerous shopping opportunities. Golf enthusiasts can also take advantage of the many beautiful courses throughout the area, giving you a great opportunity to get in a little exercise and stay active during your stay.

Make your getaway easier by booking a golf package with better rates on both golf and hotel accommodations. Leaving the chaos of life behind for a few days will allow you to recharge your batteries.

Address a Hurting Heart

Sometimes, when we go through something very upsetting or traumatic, it can be easier to set aside our emotions than to deal with them head-on. This can be especially true when it comes to grief, although as Psychology Today explains if we don’t explore our painful emotions stemming from a loss, it can lead to what is termed incomplete grief. There are some wonderful resources out to help connect you with support groups, information, and advice.  

Straighten Out Your Finances

As tax time rolls around, many of us have to pause to consider our overall financial picture. If you aren’t in the position you would like, it may be time to take a gander at your finances and set things right. If you never created a budget for home use, it’s the perfect time to do so.

Start by listing your monthly income from all sources and tally it. Then, list all your monthly expenses, including your fixed expenses and your more flexible ones.

Your flexible expenses are things that you can alter, such as clothing and entertainment (golf is not flexible for many people like myself), while the fixed ones you can’t change easily, such as your housing and car payment. Deduct the expenses from the income, and your end result should be zero. If you’re in the red, cut some expenses, and if you’re in the black, put more money into savings or toward paying down debts.

Pulling Things Together

In golf as in life, once you set goals for yourself, how will you achieve them? You might be surprised to learn setting goals doesn’t normally prove helpful. You are actually more apt to see success by setting goals in a stepping-stone style. Clarify what you want to achieve and how you will get there, and rather than trying to do things in an all-or-nothing manner, pick just a few ideas to work toward at a time. That way, you’re less apt to become overwhelmed and discouraged.  

We all have things we could be working on in our lives. If you are looking for ways to enjoy a better quality of life, there are choices you can make and gains to be had. Do some self-introspection, set some goals, and make self-improvement a priority!

What type of self-improvement methods do you apply to your golf game? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

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