Confessions of a 20+ Handicapper
Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Why is a 20+ handicapper dishing out golf advice?” But hear me out—when you’re struggling to break 100, you pick up a few tricks along the way. I’m always on the lookout for ways to up my game, even if most of my golf tips come from YouTube, better golfers around me (which is, well, most of them), and the occasional deep dive into the Google rabbit hole.
Below is a collection of golf tips I’ve gathered through a mix of observation, reading, and some good old-fashioned trial and error. If you’re also trying to shave a few strokes off your game, give these a shot—and hey, if I’m missing any golden nuggets, feel free to share! I could use the help!
Grip Like You Mean It: Think of your club like a delicate handshake—firm, but not crushing. A neutral grip (club resting diagonally across your fingers and palm) keeps that ball from veering off into oblivion. Just be careful—I’ve left the course with bruised pinkies more than once. Know when to lighten up!
Stance & Posture: Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and lean forward from your hips like you’re about to sit on an invisible barstool. Voilà—perfect posture for a smoother swing. This one’s a struggle after years of my mother drilling proper posture into me. Back straight, shoulders back, chest out — great for walking, not so much for swinging a club.
Alignment is Everything: Align your body parallel to the target line. Use a club or alignment stick to double-check, so you’re not accidentally aiming at the nearest tree. Alignment and aiming are totally illogical to me. I’m told to look where my feet are aiming, but what I see as “spot on” usually ends up aiming right. My solution? Just aim left of where I think I should!
Ball Position (It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All): Short irons? Center that ball. Longer clubs? Move it forward a tad in your stance. Simple as that. It sounds simple, but I had a hard time remembering. Now I say to myself, “short center, long forward” as a little mantra.
Swing Tempo—Slow and Steady: No one ever praised a rushed swing. Keep it smooth, maybe even count “1-2-3” in your head to maintain that rhythm. I’ve noticed I have a natural pause at the top of the swing—it seems to help keep my swing steady.
Eyes on the Prize (Not the Ball): Focus on your target, not the ball. It sounds weird, but it helps with balance and makes your swing feel more natural. This one throws me—it goes against every golfer who’s ever told me to keep my left eye on the ball. I’ve tried both and get mixed results, so your guess is as good as mine!
Weight Transfer (Channel Your Inner Dance Instructor): As you swing, shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot. It’s like a waltz, but with golf clubs. Unfortunately, I can’t dance, so this “tip” is another one that doesn’t quite compute for me.
Master the Short Game: Most of your shots are within 100 yards of the green, so spend time practicing your chipping, pitching, and putting. Your scorecard will thank you. Well, duh! We all know the short game makes or breaks your score—it’s actually doing it that’s the hard part. putt can be incredibly rewarding and the reason you come back to the course.
Course Management—Play It Smart: Don’t go all “Happy Gilmore” on every shot. Consider hazards, wind, and course layout before making a move. Sometimes, the safest shot is the smartest one. When I have a wayward shot, my goal is to get it back in a good position and worry about the stroke count later.
Practice Makes…Improvement: Let’s face it, there’s no “perfect” in golf, but regular practice can get you pretty darn close. Focus on mechanics, short game, and fitness to keep improving. Practicing bores the heck out of me. I don’t get how you stand at a driving range and hit ball after ball. I need to be moving and have different scenery.
Remember, golf is basically a puzzle. Some days you’ll feel like you’ve got all the pieces, and other days, well, you’re just happy to be outside. Incorporate these golf tips, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll see your score drop (or at least you’ll have more fun trying).
