The One Golf Tip Everyone Should Know

Understanding how golf is played can be complicated to any beginner. Like every athlete starting on a journey to learn a new sport, looking for that one definitive tip that will catapult their game to the next level is ever elusive. If you think about it, there cannot be one universal tip for any sport that will fit every athlete. Or is there?

I have searched for years looking for that one golf tip that works for everyone. I have watched hours of videos and read reams of articles. What I have found is that the one tip varies depending on the source. I guess this is not surprising, but provides a roadblock for many beginners because they do not know how to sift through the white noise. Their level of knowledge prohibits many tips them for discerning the value in most tips. Fortunately, I think I have a solution that will work for every player that is in three simple stages.

I can provide a roadmap, but it is up to you to figure out the how to get there. **PSA – your local professional is your best source of information and guidance; do not be afraid to use them.** My process is designed for players wanting to improve their game; it is very simple and it works like this:

  • Expand your golf knowledge. Understanding things like etiquette, rules, scoring, and mechanics is only achieved through research. Be a student of the game. Understand your sources of your data and try to stick to ones that are proven to be successful. This process is free and can be endless depending on your desire to learn. My PSA fits into this step. I have used many different sources and ones from players like Jack Nicklaus work best for me.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice. Golf is not a game that 99.5% of players are naturals. It takes effort to improve and this can only be achieved through practice. The method of practicing is entirely up to you, however I would advise that deliberate practice is the best way forward. You will be surprised on how fast your golf game will improve if you focus on a specific skill for a short period of time.
  • Have fun on your golf journey. I have stressed this point many times through my years of writing. If you are not having fun playing golf, what is the point? This is a sport that is meant to challenge our competitive spirit, however if you are not having fun playing then I suggest you move on. Many times I have watched players become so frustrated they could spit nails. How fun can golf really be for them? Have fun playing golf because it makes the journey so much enjoyable.

My life long golf journey has been a roller coaster of fun. I deliberately chose a path that has led me down some fantastic roads where I met some amazing people, played some breath taking courses, and improved my life off the golf course. There is so much that golf offers that it is difficult to sum up its rewards in just one statement. If you follow my outline above, I think you find that your golf game will enhance your life. The choice is yours; create the golf path you want!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

2 thoughts on “The One Golf Tip Everyone Should Know

  1. Jim, like your three step process; love your PSA. I think Ben Hogan was the king of focused practice and he jotted notes down about his efforts. In today’s game Matt Fitzpatrick is completely dedicated to focused practice and also logs notes about every shot he hits during play. A little too anal for me but I get the method.

    I’ve tried to adopt Hogan’s approach and log each of my practices in a spreadsheet, but I also grade them. When I struggle, I’ll sort on only practices that graded out with an ‘A’. Usually a recurring theme on what worked in the past presents itself and I’ll use that to right the ship.

    In the end, they’re all WOOD band-aids stuck on at some point in your journey.

    Play well!

    Brian

    Liked by 1 person

    • Brian,

      I have never tracked my practices, however during warm up before a round, I use my results on the range to shape my round. Sounds like many of us use the same process with slight variations. I am not surprised as we are students of the game.

      Cheers Jim

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