lower golf scores

Winning In Golf Is A Matter Of Inches

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

The smallest margins have a tremendous impact on our golf results. That certain par can turn into a quick double through a missed putt that causes us to mentally break down. That sudden appearance of a shank instantly makes us worry about our next shot. Hitting something on the fairway that shoots our ball into the rough or worse is not uncommon. Hitting the top of a cart post in front of the green and finishing 25 feet from the pin with a putt for eagle happens. The above examples of how inches make a difference in our score are some of the many real life scenarios I experience on the links over the years. It is crazy how such small margins, good or bad, can happen at anytime. I have often wondered if their is a way to prevent the unknowns from having an influence in my game…..have you?

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Golf is a mental game!

Golf is considered a game of inches including the six inches of real estate between our ears. Regardless of what is happening on the course, the thoughts generated while on the links is by far the most important aspect of our game that we need to control. Everyone experiences a good or poor bounce from time to time. It is how we react that makes the greatest impact on our score.

After experiencing many highs and lows while chasing a little white ball for a few hours, I can say without hesitation that how I mentally react to each shot is important. I do allow myself to be relish the good shots longer than poor ones, but that is one of my keys to success. I try to build on a great shot or lucky bounce in order to sustain a positive attitude. A poor shot or bounce receives a different response.

I try very hard to immediately forget a poor bounce or shot. I find that when the inches are against me, I need to focus on playing well and the next shot. I try to forget (notice I said the word try 😉 ) the poor result and work on how I can change my fortune. Most of the time I hit a solid next shot and carry on. I try not to let my past performance affect my future results. It really is a mental challenge sometimes, but one that all good golfers face while on the links.

Good golf is as much a mental exercise as physical. Over the years, many experiences (on and off the links) have shaped my mental approach to golf. I feel that I am mentally strong when playing and very few things affect how I think. This does not mean that I do not experience frustration from time to time, but it rarely stays in my mind for long. This approach is a learned thing, but it all starts with a decision to not let my mind be bogged down with negative thoughts. Golf really is a game of inches.

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

Lowering Your Score With One Skill

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

There is one skill that every player has in their bag that needs more attention. Regardless of your skill level, it is important to understand that to lower our golf score, we need to focus on the one skill that always needs attention. It is the one area of your game where you expend at least 40% of your strokes. If you had not already guessed, putting is the golden ticket to lower golf scores.

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Knowing Your Carry Distance Is Very Important

/ The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

Every golfer hits the ball differently and to different distances. We may be grouped in relation to our handicap, however rarely are any two golfers exactly the same. Regardless of performance, all golfers should understand and know how far they hit their clubs. It might surprise you to know that many of us do not hit the ball as far as we think! This oversight in our knowledge is costing us strokes every time we tee it up. Well, today we are going to change all of that!

I have touched on this topic in the past and hopefully you found the information helpful. I am revisiting this topic today because I found a video that is all encompassing on this topic. It is about 10 minutes long and if you are looking for some distance answers, I recommend you watch it all.

As a 5 handicapper (most days), my distances match what was stated in the video. I hit my driver about 240 and my 7 iron about 150 yards on average. On my good days, these distances are farther, but on my bad….well, you get the point. Fortunately I am able to adjust my club selection decisions based on what is happening on any given day.

I realized a long time ago that my distance knowledge would improve my golf game. It opens the opportunities on shot and club selection. This in turn allows increased scramble abilities, avoiding addition strokes from under/over yardage decisions and strengthens my overall tee to green game. Lastly, when I finally learned my club distances, my course management skills improved drastically. As you can see, this bit of knowledge has many applications in our game.

If you do not know your distances, I recommend you take the time to figure them out. It will be helpful in all areas of your game.

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

The Fundamentals Of The Golf Grip

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

The only part of the body that makes contact with the golf club is our hands. Through the grip, we are able to control the direction, distance, and accuracy of the clubface during contact. It is probably the single most important skill any golfer can learn in order to excel at golf. Personally, I use the interlocking grip, but that is not the only option open to players. For an expert explanation of the golf grip, I think it is important to default to Butch Harmon. He definitely lays out the fundamentals in a way we can understand and emulate.

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Start With Being Great At One Thing

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Golf offers so many different areas which any player can excel. Sometimes it is overwhelming to think of all the skills a player must learn in order to be considered a great player. Although the ‘great player’ moniker is relative, the point is that excelling at golf can be a challenge. For many amateur, learning how to play golf taxes their ability to be good, even great, at one thing because they feel then need to spend time on all facets of their golf game. I suggest that this is false and most amateurs should take a different approach to becoming a great golfer.

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