21 Best Golf Tips For A Beginner

If you are starting to learn golf, you may know by now that it is a challenging game. However, challenging or not, you also know that once you start you cannot stop because it is just as impressive as it is challenging. One of the things that should probably cheer you up is that even professional golfers continue to learn new golf tips every day.

If you want to have a better understanding of the game, learn more golf tips that will go a long way in improving your understanding of everything golf. The following article takes you through some of the best golf tips to help on and off the course.

Make Use Of What You Learn And Do Not Stop Learning

Even the best golfers have been on the receiving end of golf tips from other players that improved their play at one time or another. One such player is Tiger Woods who at one time was on the receiving end of a putting golf tip from another top tour player Steve Stricker.

The golf tip helped woods to improve his putts for that season and more. In the course of your learning, one thing you have to understand is that some of the golf tips are helpful while others are not. Differentiating between your good and bad abilities may be challenging.

You may even use some of the bad golf tips before realizing that they are not helping you to better your game. However, it will not hurt to try out as many golf tips from your learning as you can until you figure out those that work for you and those that do not.

1. Start With A Par 3-course

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The first most important golf tip if you are a golf beginner is to start on a smaller course than the usual 18-hole golf course. An 18-hole golf course takes a golf player between 4 and 5 hours to play one round of golf.

It is tiring covering the yardage of an 18-hole especially if you are playing it without enough swinging skills, which is why it is advisable to start playing on the smaller 9-hole course, or the par 3-course. A smaller course helps you to have a better understanding of the course, the game and management skills required of you by the club.

A smaller golf course also means that you will spend much less time looking for lost balls. You can use the time you save from retrieving balls to hone up your short game golfing skills.

2. Do Not Forget To Carry Along Your Golf Equipment Or Polish Up Your Golf Etiquette

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If you are going for your first game after training, do not forget to carry the right golf equipment with you. Even after several lessons, your swing may not be the best, and you may still end up losing a few balls. Check out retailers selling second-hand balls at much lower prices.

Buying second hand will make the pain of losing several of them less severe. Remember to carry the right clubs and remember you do not have to start with the maximum 14 clubs in the bag. Knowing the right golf etiquette is necessary on the course to prevent discomfort while swinging or breaking course and golf rules.

If you still do not know about the golf etiquette in the club you are playing at, it does not cost you anything to make inquiries. If you are playing an 18-hole course, you may end up doing 4 to 5 hours for just one round.

Make sure that you go to the greens prepared which means you should include waterproof clothing, an umbrella just in case it rains, sunglasses in case of too much sun, energy snacks, water, a scorecard, a pen, and do not forget comfortable golf shoes.

Also, if you are using a golf cart on the course, do not forget to abide by the golf art rules set by the club and USGA. In some golf courses, golf cart rules change depending on the weather and tournament. Before you pay for the cart and green fees, find out the rules in effect for that particular day.

3. Do Something Related To Golf Each Day

To keep what you learn from others burning, you should do something golf-related every day. It will even help you more if you take around 10 minutes each day to do something related to what you are learning than taking one long golf session in a week. Doing something golf-related often helps to prevent rust from building up by keeping your game fresh.

4 Manage Expectations

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The following golf tip is one that you will not hear much about on the course or in many other places, but it is as essential as other golf tips and one that beginners should take seriously. One of the most frustrating things that many players go through is to expect too much from their abilities only to perform lower than expected.

Managing your expectations as a player makes you more realistic about your abilities, which in turn make you happier and successful. Do not be too hard on yourself, but instead, try to have as much fun on the course as you possibly can, and laugh off any mistakes you make.

Before you think of golf as a competitive sport, treat it just like any other fun game that should leave you happy and relaxed.

5. Find A Routine That Works For You

Many great players have individual repeatable routines that work for them on the golf course. The routines include having the same rhythm on everything they do daily, which includes walking through the course at the same pace, doing the same things before taking their shots and so on.

Being a good golfer also includes feeling comfortable on the golf course. Part of being comfortable on the course includes maintaining a routine that works for and to your advantage each day. The routine you choose should also be unique in that it does not belong to anyone else.

6. Whatever Happens, Never Give Up

After the necessary learning curve, the next part of the curve is playing real golf in a real golf course, with skilled golfers. Sometimes things may not go your way, and the urge to throw in the towel may become too strong to ignore.

Other times, you might start with outstanding performance, but at the 9th hole, you feel like the next 9 are not your thing. It will help if you commit yourself not to give up, however difficult it gets. Your failed shots should not scare you to give up. Staying positive is some guaranteeing that you will improve to become a skilled golfer at the greens.

Work On Your Long Game Strategies

Modern golf is more power-oriented and all about distance than it is just about the golf ball. Making a well-struck drive makes every golfer’s adrenaline going. However, without enough technique and finesse, no player would produce enough power to achieve their desired distance.

7. Your Knees Are The Secret Of The Iron Game

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When hitting the ball off the ground with your irons, your best bet for an excellent long game is how you bend your knees. Several players put emphasis the position of the shoulders, back, and arms which is not a wrong move but only if you are teeing up for driver shots.

If you want the best iron-shot alignment, try putting your chest on top of the golf ball and combine this with all the other postures to provide your knee with a better game for the irons.

What Pro Players Say about using this golf tip

Rory McIlroy, a star in this generation suggested that to get the best iron shots; you need to move your need to swing as you move your weight down and forwards. The move he said allows the swing to angle in front of the golf ball. Drive your left knee towards the ball to move the weight and straighten it as you take a full swing.

Butch Harmon, another golfer professional, suggested that you swing with your right knee pushed towards the left knee, which helps to shift forward your weight. The move, according to Butch, also eliminates trying to chip the golf ball. 

8. Do Not Fight The Wind

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A windy day is something that no one can help bit it is not all doom for golf players as some people assume. Wind should be your ally instead of your enemy, especially if you are playing a long game. The mistake some players make in trying to compete or fight the wind is hit the ball, or swing too hard.

Contrary to what some people believe, hitting the ball or swinging too hard to generate a long game instead generates backspin that sends the ball higher to cut short the distance desired. Again, “instead of swinging harder to fight the wind, you should swing downwind to make the swing easier” said Butch Harmon on his contributing golf tips about making the wind your ally.

The best way to take a swing when it’s windy is to take an inch or so further from your usual swinging position, squat a little bit of moving your center of gravity and making a 75% swing to delay the impact.

Butch also went on to advise players to take more clubs along with them during the windy days for better chances of making the perfect swings. Butch further advised that staying on top of the ball during impact was also another way of beating the wind.

Delaying impact helps to provide you with more room to turn before taking the swing. Patience provides you with more benefit, which is why you need to exercise it when it is windy for better results. The bottom line here is, do not fight the wind, but allow it to work for your benefit. 

9. Have A Second Ball To Hit In Your Imagination

Using an imaginary ball is one of the golf tips you never get to hear too often but it is as important as the rest. It is not wrong to emphasize what you want to do before an impact from a mighty swing. However putting too much emphasis on what to do before, neglects the importance of what happens after the impact. If you are a beginner and making this mistake, you do not have to beat yourself about it because even veterans do the same.

It is also something that many players do unconsciously, but it is something you can also fix if you admit that it is an issue affecting your swing. Instead of pulling the club to quit at impact, you should try to visualize a second ball in front of the ball you are about to hit, place your imaginary ball between your real ball and the target line and hit the second ball after hitting the first one as you make a swing.

If visualization becomes hard, opt for an actual second ball to use. The exercise helps to build your muscle memory, improve after impact extension, and distance gain.

Work On Your Short Game Strategies

The long game is all about distance and power, while the short game is more about accuracy, technique, and finesse. Short game strategies applied in the greens also make golf more appealing and a fun game to play.

It also brings out the diversity of golfing styles applied on the greens by different players. Short game strategies on the greens also bring out the richness of golf that you do not find in many other sports. How do you work on improving or maximizing your short game strategies?

10. Ensure That Your Eyesight Is Good

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Having good eyesight may seem like an obvious health standard for anyone playing on the greens. Having good eyesight is also something several players overlook. Others overestimate their ability to see things until they find themselves in situations where their ability to judge distances is not as good as they thought it was. During putts, many players put all their focus on directions and breaks, and little on distance.

11. Make Your Hands Flexible For Chip Shots

One of the most common mistakes golf beginners make when taking a swing is having a tight grip of the club. What they do not know is that the nature of the grip can make or break a short game.

Chipping requires that you have your hands soft, flexible, and loose for lighter grip. Softer hands also help to ease the tension in both the wrists and arms, providing you with a better chipping opportunity. It also helps you to focus on other basic stances such as keeping your back straight and chin high to chip better.

12. Rotate Your Body Through The Swing

Pitching and chipping involve making short shots; an exercise you may assume does not require the movement of your entire body. However, if you want to have a stable connection with the ball, you need to rotate your entire body forward while taking the swing.

The following is a simple golf tip guidance to help you with the rotation procedure. Swing your club backwards and as you do so, kick the right knee towards the left knee for a downswing. The move yelps to free the right side of the body, which in turn makes it easier for the whole body to rotate through the swing.

13. Find The Correct Speed

Even though speed is a crucial factor when powering off the tee, another common mistake that people new in the game of golf make is using too much speed to come at the ball. It would be best if you learned how to control the tempo for short shots for more target line precise hits.

If you find it hard to control your tempo, take a deep breath before the swing, ease the grip on your club, and without overthinking, take a swing without rushing the ball for a gentle acceleration.

14. Use the Sand Wedge Putt

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The sand wedge putt became popular back in the 70’s after Lee Trevino popularized its use. Today, many players use the sand wedge putt, but golf beginners and amateurs find the wedge intimidating.

The sand wedge is one of the most straightforward clubs to pull of which is why it is an excellent addition to every player’s golf equipment. The wedge is handy when the ball goes to the edge of the greens or lands on a light rough. It also comes in handy when you have sitting on the edge of a fringe or backup against a lie of a rough.

Getting the ball rolling from any of these places is not easy considering that the flat blade of the putter may have trouble gliding through grass, which is taller than a fringe. The sand wedge has a heavy and sharp clubface that helps to wade through long grass quickly and sharply to retrieve the ball.

15. Pick Clubs That Match Your Style Of Play

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Golf rules stipulate that the maximum golf clubs you can carry during a round are 14. The 14 clubs you carry come in different types for the sole purpose of tackling varying situations on the golf course. Beginners and several amateurs are not always sure of which club to use for particular situations on the course, which leads to them using the one they think, is most comfortable with their swing.

Differentiating between a putt and a driver is easy, but the same is not regarding the wedges and irons. Before making any mistakes concerning the right club to pick, you should read everything on the best golf clubs so you can differentiate them easily. Here are some golf tips regarding the clubs to use in different situations on the greens.

Use irons and wedges with the least loft angle for each situation at hand. If you are chipping a less than the 20-feet distance to the flag, use a 9-iron wedge that will correct the problem quickly.

If you are taking long shots or the longest chips, you should opt for 4-irons or 5-irons. Any middle irons will also do well in such situations. One thing to remember is to keep a consistent technique when using any of the irons.

During cold or damp days, use the 8-iron instead of the 9-iron.

During the windy weather, eliminate backspins by using shorter irons to play short of the flag.

If you are under pressure or have an adrenaline rush on the greens that makes you want to hit the ball with more swing, always reach out for a 9-iron.

16. The Ball Lie Should Have Your Close Attention

The ball positioning within the golf course is the golfers lie and is one of the places to pay close attention to as a player. You may hit the ball to the course from the fairway, sand, rough or a cart path. Irrespective of where you hit the ball from the lie will have a significant effect on the shot you make.

You can estimate the most likely distance your shot will attain from the lie by multiplying the percentage placed in the right corner and the carrying distance of the club. When doing the calculation, you need to remember that different golf clubs have varying adversity levels on different surfaces.

What the pros say

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Tiger Woods one of the best golfers in the history of the game once said: - “The secret of sticklers putt back then is his square stance, as well as the left hand brush through the ball.” Tiger Woods shared how one of the best putters in the history of golf and one of his best friends Steve Stickler helped him to putt better by revealing his best-putting secret. Today, many golfers use the same golf tips for smooth rhythmic putts from beginning to the end. The putting style does not use strength but slight brushing of the ball off the grass.

17. Focus on Your Left Arm

The left arm is very crucial when it comes to pitching and chipping. Some players, mostly amateurs and beginners, have problems just before impact when the left arms stop to cooperate.

Butch Harmon, one of the celebrated golfers, says that “The trick is to learn to keep your left arm moving through the shot” Harmon’s drill helps to hit a typical chip by taking the right hand off the club after impact to allow the left hand to be the only one holding onto the club. The left hand on the club minimizes deceleration and powers the shot with more ease.

The left-arm also provides you with complete control of the swing. When you are hitting a golf ball, always aim for a dimple sitting at the back and hit it with the clubface center. Allow your left arm and wrist to lead the backswing and contact with the golf ball.

Take Care Of Your Health On And Off The Greens

You should take care of your health on and off the greens because you can have a fulfilling game if your health is not proper. Remember that golf is a challenging game that requires you to be fit enough to maintain high performance on the greens.

You may have all the right equipment, right attire, observed all the regulations, followed all the golf tips, and gone through training using the best instructors, but if you lack adequate health, you are better off staying at home. How do you maintain a healthy stance on and off the greens?

18. Before A Round, Flex Your Hips, Back, And Shoulders

Once you hit the greens, you will not have enough time to do any stretches, which is why it is advisable to do them before you start teeing. The first main exercise that you should do before you start playing is stretching the lower back and shoulders.

One movement is enough to stretch both parts of the body, which saves you the agony of spending lots of time on particular exercises. Flexible shoulders are a huge benefit because they provide you with consistent and powerful swings.

Flexing the shoulders also helps to ease shoulder pains, which are the most common injuries during a round of golf that happens due to sudden and explosive swing movements. A strong and healthy lower back also helps to provide you with a powerful swing. Follow the following quick golf tips on stretching your lower back and shoulders.

  • Using your golf cart as a pole, twist a towel around it and hold it firmly with both your arms
  • Stretch your arms out as far away as you possibly can
  • With your feet at shoulder-width apart, bend your body downwards. Hold this position for 30 seconds to feel the stretch on the shoulders
  • Lean slightly to the side to allow your side muscles to stretch
  • Repeat the same with the other part of the body.
  • For stretching the hips, use one hand to hold the towel and kneel on the grass
  • Using the freehand, pull your feet towards the hips and hold this position for 30 seconds
  • Do the same to the other side of the body

The above are simple stretch exercises that will ensure your muscles have enough flexibility to withstand the energy you put across while swinging the clubs.

19. Do Not Make Any Excuses

Even the most skilled golfer has his or her story about how they ended up performing poorly. They score shots that are not similar to the ones they make on any typical play day and feel that the issue is not with them. It is a challenging game, yes, but you do not have to put the blame elsewhere if things do not go your way.

The reason for the poor performance, of course, could be due to your golfing partner not playing your style, the clubs being wrong for the shot, the golf course being too tricky, the roughs and many more. The list is endless, but blaming external forces for your misfortunes will not help. Try fixing the issues to avoid going through the same experience again.

20. Do Not Allow The Outcome Of The Game To Cause You Any Stress

In the majority of the cases, you will go to the golf course with great focus and commitment in the hope that you make great hits from well-calculated swings. However, it does not always go as planned, and the game may disappoint you irrespective of the positive energy.

Do not allow this to stress you because one thing you have to know is that golf is a very unpredictable game even for the most skilled players and great golf tips. Instead, laugh it off, practice and learn some more in the hope of improving the next game.

21. Prepare Yourself With Some Money For The 19th Hole

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After you finish the 18-hole round, pray that you have some money set aside for the surprise 19th hole. If you are new to the course, the 19th hole may sound foreign to you, but it is the term golf players use for the after the golfing experience. It is the place where players get together to talk about the game, enjoy a few drinks, compare scorecards, a show of their latest golf attire and equipment, talk about their next tournaments and much more.

The 19th hole is a great place to be because you pick new golf tips that you did not know or missed from your trainer, and you may even find players selling their golf equipment at second hand throw away places. Arm yourself with some cash because the 19th hole may need your presence.

Wrapping It Up

Any small change in the game of golf can make a huge difference in the outcome of the final scores. The changes include how you take a swing, your stance on the course and even how you address the ball as it lies on the greens. Learning the best golf tips is a continuous process as there is also something new to ponder over the challenges, the rules, the etiquette and many other small things are what make the game one of the, most exciting and beautiful sports to play and watch. I hope that the above golf tips will help you to play better or inspire you to get your clubs back for an excellent and fulfilling round of golf.

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