What low handicappers do that you probably don't

As golfers we all want to improve. That is surely the point of playing any sport.

First and foremost, we do it because we enjoy it (although when you watch the on-course behaviour and antics of some club golfers you may well wonder at the voracity of that statement). And then we want to get better.

One of the joys of our sport is that the handicap system means golfers of all standards get to play with and against one another. A scratch golfer knows that if he is playing, say, a 12-handicapper in a matchplay contest then he is going to have to bring his A-game with him if he wants to win.

What Better Golfers Do Differently From You

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

If you are a higher handicap golfer who regularly gets the opportunity to compete against better players then you cannot help but fail to notice that they do things slightly differently.

Yes, they will probably hit the ball further than you - that’s just a fact of life and something you are probably going to have to accept because they have a better technique than you do. 

But there is far more to it than that.

A low-handicap golfer will do all the fundamentals correctly - grip, alignment, swing basics. But perhaps the biggest difference centres around their strategic approach and their ability on and around the greens.

In my time, I have played to a fairly decent standard and I still have my moments. The old magic is still in there somewhere. Or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

I continue to work hard on two things - my short game and the way I tackle the course I am playing. 

I spend hours on the practice putting green, hitting putts from all sorts of distances. This gives me a feel. I also have specific drills. One of these is to hole six successive putts from three feet, then move to four feet, then to five feet and then to six feet. If I miss one then I start the procedure all over again. Trust me when I tell you that after I have holed five six-footers I am utterly focused on ensuring that the sixth one disappears. 

Such drills clearly groove your stroke but they also teach you to hole out under pressure - and this is something you can draw upon when you have to do it for real.

Low handicappers know precisely how far they hit their wedges. If they miss a green they know that more often than not they are going to get up and down - and they also expect to hole chips. The higher handicapper is hoping for the best. And that is hardly surprising because they simply don’t practice enough.

Better golfers will not automatically reach for their driver. They will assess the risks in front of them and pull the club that will put them in the best position. None of this is rocket science but high handicappers keep getting it wrong. If you continue to do the same thing over and over again, why would you expect the outcome to be any different?

Two Key Habits That Most Amateur Golfers Overlook

Aaron Holtom, the Advanced PGA Professional at Morley Hayes, East Midlands Golf Academy, who offers expert coaching in Derby, has some views on this subject.

He asks what low handicappers do that you probably don’t?

Aaron says: "Low-handicap golfers have two defining habits most amateurs overlook."

1. Elite Self-Awareness & Adaptability

"The best players know their exact tendencies on any given day. They don’t fight their swing - they adapt. I once played with one of Derbyshire's top players who knew his driver was producing a hook. His solution? He set up to intentionally slice every tee shot and still shot six under. Great golfers think like chess players, anticipating outcomes and having a Plan B and C ready when Plan A isn't working. They manage their game, not just their swing."

2. A Love for the Short Game

"While many high handicappers love the driving range, you’ll find the best players consistently on the practice green. They’ve fallen in love with chipping and holing three- and four-foot putts. They know scoring happens inside 100 yards and dedicate themselves to mastering these basic, scoring shots. You'll recognise the players at your club by who is routinely doing the simple things very, very well on the short game area."

So there you have it. Stop doing the same things. If you don’t do anything else, work on your short game.