Understanding how to play golf is a challenge for most players. The ‘grip it and rip it’ mentality is king to their approach to lowering their golf score. As we watch the elite players on tour a mindset of trying to hit the ball long creeps into our whole game strategy. I do believe that length offers opportunities for lower scores, but not at the expense of accuracy. There has to be a fine balance between the two regardless of your skill level. Sam Snead (yes, I know I have used his videos a fair bit lately) offers three tips that will help all players shoot lower golf scores. It is a matter of checking our ego and selecting the proper swing/club at the appropriate time.

Snead offers three tips that I have talked about before at The Grateful Golfer. They are not profound, but should form the basis to your golf game. Two are swing related and the last (which I will explain more) is mental. All three are espoused by modern day swing coaches, so I think he was on to something over 60 years ago.

Having an ‘oily swing’ and taking more club are basically self explanatory. If we combine both tips, our swing will be less likely to fail when needed most. I have to think about the first time from time to time because my ego decides it wants it 15 seconds of fame. This challenge is something I have struggled with my entire golfing life. But alas, it is what it is. The last tip offered by Snead is worth further discussion.

The basic gist of Snead’s tip is to stay focused on what we want to happen, not what we want to avoid. The intention of hitting a good shot vice avoiding a poor one is a mindset I adopted many years ago. It allows me to avoid hazards and sets up my next shot without having to worry about adding extra stokes to my game. Visualizing and mentally preparing for what I want to happen is very important to saving strokes. Our bodies will respond to our minds request, so ensure you are requesting a positive result vice a negative one.

Sam Snead’s tips are nothing new to the modern golfer. These tips have likely predated Snead because they are the foundation of a great golf game. The words may have changed over the years, but the message has not. Therefore, next time you play ensure to swing ‘oily’, use and extra club on approach shots, and mentally visualize positive results. If you do these three things, I am confident the number you record on your scorecard at the end of the round will be lower than expected.

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