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If you find yourself struggling with the game of golf. Maybe it's time to listen to some advice from a pro and some top amateurs.
Jimmy Hanlin has been playing competitive golf for over 5 years now, so he has picked up quite a few tips along the way.
1. Relax
You need to accept that golf is a slow sport. Many new players try to force the ball in to distances it can't travel, and this leads to bad shots. You need to take your time with each swing and make sure you are well focused on where you want the ball to go. If you rush everything you will struggle with accuracy.
2. Understand you don't always need to hit the ball hard
When playing against experienced players it is important not to overdo things, and try to play well enough to win the round. Hitting a drive as far as possible isn't necessarily going to help you achieve this. Instead of trying to go for max distance, aim to land the ball in a reasonable driving range.
3. Find your spine angle and stick to it
The body tends to be the most flexible part of our bodies, but this can be a hinderance when playing golf. Try and find an optimal joint position in which you are able to make consistent contact with the ball. It sounds obvious, but you may be surprised at how many players don't have very much flexibility in their joints. This can lead to bad body posture and poor swing mechanics.
4. Use a mix of swings to build up your strength
Just like any other sport, it is important to work on strengthening the muscles that are used during golfing. Try and make sure each swing you perform works on a different muscle group. This will lead to an increase in flexibility and allow for more fluidity within your swing.
5. Master the drive
The biggest difference between club players and professional golfers is the fact that professionals are able to hit consistent drives far further than amateurs. This is due to the fact that professionals have a good understanding of how to work with gravity, and are able to optimize their drives. This means getting the ball in to the air as soon as possible, while also ensuring it lands on the fairway.
6.Try to minimize the amount of times you need to adjust your stance
If you find yourself having to re-position your feet during a round of golf then this is going to lead to poor swings. It is important that you stick with one set up and practice it until it feels natural. Practicing in the same position as much as possible will give you the best chance of being successful.
7. Don't let making a putt become routine
This one may sound obvious, but many players get caught up in trying to get the ball in the hole as quickly and easily as possible. This means that they pre-maturely pull back their swing while standing over a putt, and often end up hitting the putt with a poor stroke. This is something to watch out for when practising on your own at home.
8. Keep it simple
There's no denying that the game of golf requires skill, but as mentioned before, this doesn't make you immune to the laws of physics. If you can't get the ball in to the air, or you're finding it difficult to control your trajectory then increasing your club head speed is a simple adjustment to try.
9. Don't let wind affect your game
There's not much worse than having unplayable conditions when playing golf. Wind can make scoring frustrating and most definitely affects how far the ball travels. You should try and prepare yourself for any wind before playing, with the help of a local weather report. If a strong wind is expected to be blowing when you play then don't struggle on in the hope it will die down.
10 . Take advantage of your body by learning as much about it as possible
If you have an understanding of how the body works it will help you to make adjustments that could have a huge impact on your game. For example, when swinging, you should be aware that crouching down leads to loss in control and power. Instead expand your chest and try to get as much room between the torso and the shoulder as possible.
11 . Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses
There is no point in trying to change something that you are already capable of. Think about how you play now and then try to find a way to improve on the things that come easily. It's important not to get frustrated when addressing the things that aren't naturally easy for you. There are hundreds of different golfing techniques, so you're bound to find one that will work for your body.
12 . Start practising easier shots, like pitches and putts first
Pitches are often one of the most frustrating shots for beginner golfers. Rather than taking this on head-first, try to get some easy pitch practice in whenever you can. It will lead to a much better understanding of how the ball reacts when it's airborne and in the process help you to learn how to adjust accordingly.
13 . Try to understand the concept of 'letting' the ball roll in the hole
It can be difficult to get your mind around, but by letting a putt go rather than trying to fire it in you will actually have much more control over how it lands on the green. Again this requires good control of body position and movement.
14 . Learn to strike the ball with a more downward motion, rather than an upward one
When you're learning how to play golf it can be tempting to get as much power in your swing as possible. While this will eventually lead to great results on the course, trying to force power out of your swings at the start will only lead to bad habits. Remember, you should be using gravity as your ally.
15 . Learn how to use gravity effectively
If you are looking for a massive boom in power then learning how to utilize gravity is going to be key. There are several ways that you can achieve this, some of which include transferring weight from one side to the other, and leaning away from the ball. Both of these can boost your swing power by up to 10mph, so they are well worth getting the hang of!
16 . Understand that you will have bad days on the course no matter how much skill you have
If you're looking for a constant upwards learning curve, then being familiar with the game is great, but it's also important to accept that you won't be at your best every time you step up to the tee. If you aren't playing well on a particular day, and you can't pinpoint why, don't push yourself! Try again another day when you're feeling more confident.
17 . Don't try to carry the ball too far in your long drive
Long drives are great when they connect with the fairway, but trying to carry a shot too far can lead to terrible dog-legs and other problems. Instead of shooting for distance, focus on positioning yourself closer to the landing area before you swing. It will leave you with more room for error and a higher chance of success.
Conclusion:
Well, that is about it! I really hope you enjoyed reading this article and take the time to utilize these jimmy Hanlin golfing tips. Good luck on your next round of golf!
If you need some other topics, please feel free to leave some suggestions in the comments below.
Enjoy!
