What All Golfers Can Do To Improve Their Scoring

Everybody who has ever picked up a golf club wants to get better. We all want lower scores, better ball striking, more accurate drives, fewer putts.

But most of us keep doing the same things and are then surprised when we don’t improve.

So what can you do to improve your game and your scoring?

Your Grip

There are some basics that you simply have to get right and, for me at least, top of that list is the way you grip the club.

There are three choices - the baseball grip, the Vardon grip and the interlocking grip. By far the most popular grip among the world’s leading players is the Vardon grip, although it is interesting to note that both Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, who won 33 majors between them, both used the interlocking grip.

It is not for me to tell you which one to use but please learn to grip the club correctly. If you don’t then you have no chance of playing this wonderful game properly.

Watch Now: Back to Basics Series - The Grip

The Set-Up

As somebody who plays a great deal of golf, I am constantly amazed at the way club golfers address the ball. All logic dictates that you should stand to the ball with your feet, hips and shoulders aiming in a straight line towards the target.

If you doubt the voracity of this statement, just take a look at the Tour pros. By and large, everything is squared up to the target unless they are deliberately trying to fade or hook the ball. Head down to the driving range and use some alignment sticks to find out whether you are aiming where you think you are! You might be surprised!

Watch Now: Back to Basics Series

Course Strategy

If your tendency is to slice the ball with your driver and you come to a hole with out of bounds, water, thick rough or trees on the right, why would you continue to reach for the big stick every time you play the hole and then wonder why you end up in trouble. Take a club that you know will keep the ball in play for you.

If you have a 220-yard carry over water ask yourself if there is another way - can you lay up or play around the hazard?

If you have a horrible flop shot over a bunker to a flag that is located six feet from the other side of the bunker, would it not make more sense to ignore the bunker and aim for the fat of the green?

If you are playing over water, I believe you should always take one more club than you need and focus on a nice smooth swing. You just might be surprised by the results.

Watch Now: How to Save Yourself Three Shots Every Round

Golf Lessons

If you are serious about improving your game surely it makes sense to book some lessons with your club pro.

If you choose this route, prepare for some pain. He or she will definitely want you to change things and many of them will feel utterly alien to you. Remember that they know what they are doing. They understand the golf swing and what you can do to improve your ball striking.

Practice Makes Perfect

So you have had your first lesson. Now head to the driving range or practice ground and try to groove in the changes.

Don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t click immediately - and don’t revert to your old habits. Change takes time and nothing worth the effort is going to be easy.

Do not go from a lesson straight out to the course.

Watch Now:  Effective Practice Series

Short Game Focus

Chipping

All golfers make their scores on and around the greens. How often do you practice your pitching and chipping? If you can get up and down in two most of the time I guarantee that your scoring will improve - and that you will break your opponents’ hearts.

When practising this part of the game ensure that you do so from all sorts of different lies and use different clubs.

Watch Now: How To Pitch It Close Everytime

Bunkers

Most club golfers struggle to get out of bunkers, and that is because they don’t know how to play bunker shots properly. I do not know anybody who has ever gone for a bunker lesson and it makes no sense to me. If you can learn to get out of a bunker every time then surely you are going to save shots?

Watch Now: Get Out of Bunkers Every Time - 10 Yard Bunker Shot

Putting

I make no apologies for admitting that I practice my putting more than any other part of the game. I throw three balls down and aim for different holes and different distances on our practice green. And I spend a lot of time on short putts.

Why not set yourself some targets? Hole six successive three-foot putts, then six successive four-foot putts and so on. It works for me and I am sure it will for you too.

Watch Now: How To Putt Better Every Time

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