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8 common sense tips to lower your scores

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When you’re playing golf — especially when you’re working to improve something specific in your game — your head is often jumbled with so many thoughts that you forget to use common sense. You can save critical strokes on the course, however, by thinking logically, and not being bogged down by endless swing thoughts and fears.

Here are my 8 common sense tips to help you get through your next round of golf in the lowest number of shots possible.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

When deciding what line to take over a water hazard off the tee, everyone seems to select the one that would get them across on a “good drive.” Positive thinking is great, but what about those shots you don’t catch perfectly? I’ve watched people hit countless poor drives in a row, only to come to a shot over the corner of a lake and use the carry yardage for their best drive rather than making an adjustment based on how they were swinging that day. What happens next is rarely pretty.

Use history to your advantage

Obviously, it would be nice to come out of the gates every round with your A-game, but that’s often not the case. That’s why I suggest playing the first six holes conservatively, and then using that information over the next 6-12 holes to create an adjusted game plan. If you’re controlling the ball well over the first six holes, you know you can be a little more aggressive on the next six holes, and vice versa.

Have a go-to shot off the tee

So it’s the last hole of your match and you must hit the fairway; what shot do you hit on you best days, your average days and your bad days?

All golfers need a tee shot they can rely on regardless of the way they are playing. It might curve a lot, not go very far or fly really low, but you know it’s going to finish on the fairway. Unfortunately, most don’t have such a shot, so if their A-game isn’t working then it’s a crapshoot off the tee.

Have an exit strategy

The best article I have ever read on golf strategy was an old Golf Digest interview with Lee Trevino when I was about 12 years old, and I still remember it more than 30 years later. They asked him why he felt he he had an advantage over his peers on Tour, and his reply was simple: “I had three guys playing for me, while the other guys only had one.”

Trevino went on to explain that he had three different shot patterns he’d use: his A game, B game and C game. Thus, when is A game wasn’t there, he’d drop back and use his B game or his C game. “One guy always showed up ready to play,” Trevino said. How many times have you tried to hit your stock shot over and over on the course, waiting for it to work “this time.” Be more flexible with your game like Trevino, and you’ll see your average score drop.

Think target, not swing

Good luck with the idea that you can play with 15 swing thoughts in your head; the results are rarely any good. Your best golf comes when you are on autopilot and only see and think about the target. This sounds easier than it is, of course, but try your best to only think about where you want the ball to go, especially when you’re swinging well.

If you must have swing thoughts, choose one and keep it simple

If you think that my last tip is great in theory, but does not work for you because you must think about your swing, then please choose one swing thought and keep it simple. Avoid mechanical thoughts like fire the hips to right field, hold the shoulders back and drop the hands. Instead, focus on things like tempo, tension and a smooth transition.

Don’t try to do too much

I had a good player ask me how often he should curve the ball different ways during a round. “Don’t try to do it too much,” I said. Golfers need to make the game simpler, not more complex.

Sure, there are times when you must curve the ball a lot, or use a trajectory that’s different from your stock shot, but really… how often is it necessary on the course? And how much time do you actually spend practicing different trajectories?

If you’re not striking the ball dead center of the club face most of the time, don’t try to become a great shot maker… not yet, at least. But if you want to start playing for paychecks, the nuances of shot shaping might be for you. Far fewer PGA Tour players work it both ways than most golfers think. Just ask Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry.

Work around your weaknesses

The golf gods didn’t give any golfer a full bag, as they say. Everyone has a weakness within their game that’s not quite up to par with the rest of their game. So if you’re horrible from 30 yards, then why would you leave yourself a 30-yard shot? Work on your weaknesses, but don’t let them ruin their scores in the meantime.

Remember, use your brain first, emotions second, and your ego third, and I promise that these common sense tips will improve your scores quickly.

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Tom F. Stickney II, is a specialist in Biomechanics for Golf, Physiology, and 3d Motion Analysis. He has a degree in Exercise and Fitness and has been a Director of Instruction for almost 30 years at resorts and clubs such as- The Four Seasons Punta Mita, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera, The Promontory Club, and the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. His past and present instructional awards include the following: Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, Golf Digest Top 50 International Instructor, Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor, Best in State (Florida, Colorado, and California,) Top 20 Teachers Under 40, Best Young Teachers and many more. Tom is a Trackman University Master/Partner, a distinction held by less than 25 people in the world. Tom is TPI Certified- Level 1, Golf Level 2, Level 2- Power, and Level 2- Fitness and believes that you cannot reach your maximum potential as a player with out some focus on your physiology. You can reach him at [email protected] and he welcomes any questions you may have.

35 Comments

35 Comments

  1. devilsadvocate

    Jul 6, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Lol is that you Swanson?

  2. IHateGolfIsAwesome

    Jul 3, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    I’m kind of wild off the tee with any wood (kind of = very). So I use a “3 iron” approach on many par 5s. 6i to get it out around 185, then 7i another 170, and a 9i for the final 150. My playing partners razz me but I don’t care – I’m so tired of hitting and hunting, so this works for me (usually ;).

  3. Jerry

    Jul 2, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Smizzle – just because you can break 80 sometimes don’t make you the man.

    • Bill Mac

      Jul 3, 2016 at 7:56 pm

      I’ve said it before. “You are the man.”

  4. DR

    Jul 2, 2016 at 12:28 am

    Why such a hater. We need more positive things in the world.

  5. Roger

    Jul 1, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    Tom, as always a great read and advice.
    Lee’s A,B,C games, priceless advice.
    I,m just rebuilding my bag as its mid winter.
    Looking at all clubs to be Super Easy to use…not game improvement, but well fit weapons!!
    At Easter..off the Tee no warmup used 5 iron then 7 iron then 1 putt in from a metre away…that was the fail safe option for sure!!
    Just bought an R7 Quad driver, had a similar R7 2 years ago and it was my Most Accurate Driver Ever…

  6. Pingback: 8 Common Sense Tips to Lower Your Scores - Dan Hansen Golf Instruction

  7. Bob Pegram

    Jul 1, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    This is why a golfer who hasn’t played a course will often play better because they are just trying to keep the ball in play rather than making hero shots. Hero shots just happen. Play the shots you know you can hit.

  8. David Largen

    Jul 1, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    Par 5’s made easy… Say you are in the fairway 250 yards from the green. Instead of hitting 3 wood and trying to go for it. Hitting it in the trees, water or ob. How easy is it to play a 150 yard shot… a 7 iron for example. Your in the fairway 100 yards from the green with a wedge. You will make many more pars and birdies and a whole lot less others…

  9. Steve S

    Jul 1, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Great article.. about common sense! Which most golfers don’t have. No.s 6,7 and 8 fit a good friend of mine. He is always over-estimating his distance capability. Because of that he comes up short 9 out of 10 times…..and he is always surprised. I’ve seen him hit his 5 iron 190 yards, twice. But he always uses it for 190 yard shot and can’t believe it when it goes 165.

  10. David Largen

    Jul 1, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    After reading these tips it reminded me of what my dad told me one day. We were playing a par 71 golf course and he said I could bogey every hole and still shoot 89. At the time i had never shot in the 80’s before. That thought took all the pressure off me that day and i shot 89. Thanks Dad…

  11. JJVas

    Jul 1, 2016 at 11:19 am

    My key recently has been to play aggressive to conservative lines. Like most people, I tend to get a bit guidey on tight courses with the driver. Bad move unless you like the trees. If you’re tense, take out a FW, H, or long iron. If you’re swinging driver… HIT IT! Most of us can split the fairways on wide open courses because we’re free. I’m trying to keep that thought no matter where I play… so far, so good.

  12. NC Golfa

    Jul 1, 2016 at 7:52 am

    Great points, Tom. So, often I get caught up on how to best execute my swing and fail to think about course strategy. Last time, I had started my round out with three great holes and snap hooked a driver
    on a narrow hole, which put me into a tail spin for the rest of the round. I believe going to a 5 wood and playing for bogey would have been the right call.

  13. Gordy

    Jun 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    I think the biggest tip for any golfer who isn’t a pro is just be happy to be on the green putting for birdie no matter the distance. And be happy with a par that is makeable. The biggest trap golfers fall into is getting mad with proximity to the hole. The average on tour is like 30ft or close to it. So, for the recreational golfer, being on the green putting for birdie is a plus. My 2 cents, I am a 5 handicap and my goal is to just have a birdie putt on every hole and have a shot for the green. When I took that approach my birdies went up, and my score went down. From a 8 to a 5. And I shoot almost par from time to time.

    • Ronald

      Jun 30, 2016 at 10:36 pm

      You’re a 5 and your goal is to have a birdie putt??? Get real

    • Ronald

      Jun 30, 2016 at 10:39 pm

      Wait I didn’t read the rest of your comment! If you are shooting par from “time to time” you are not a 5! You are a complete fool or a liar! Stop visiting this page

      • Egor

        Jul 1, 2016 at 1:08 am

        Ronald – I play frequently with a man who is a 6 hdcp. He occasionally shoots even par on a par 72 course with a 65.6 rating and 116 slope. He’s still a 6. He gets up and down very well and he hits GIR about 65% of the time or better. You can shoot even par from time to time depending on the course slope/rating and still have a 5-7 hdcp.

        It could be derived from your statement that you don’t understand the USGA handicap system. Be careful calling someone a fool or a liar when you don’t have all of the information and don’t understand the system of which you reference.

      • Egor

        Jul 1, 2016 at 1:13 am

        To add to my statement above, you took Gordy’s words and wrested them – he said “my goal is to just have a birdie putt on every hole” – note.. on every hole, that would be 100% GIR on 18.

        You do seem like a keyboard warrior – you may wish to spend some time warrioring your way over to the USGA website and read up on how the HDCP system works (math and all that.. )

        Gordy’s tips for the recreational golfer are very helpful and kind, your’s just came across as angry and grumpy.

      • devilsadvocate

        Jul 6, 2016 at 10:05 am

        It actually depends on the difficulty of the course… Shooting par from time to time on a US open course vs a local muni obviously requires diffent skill levels… That being said I feel a little bit of animosity coming from you… Seems as though you aim at every flagstick but look down on someone who probably shoots lower scores because they only try to hit girs and don’t try to hit it to a foot every time… Newsflash that’s how most good players approach their “approach” shots

  14. fw

    Jun 30, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Foot wedge. Just use a foot wedge

  15. Troy Vayanos

    Jun 30, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Great tips Tom,

    With number 8 I would add, make sure you always use more than enough club for not just getting over hazards but reaching greens in general.

    I can’t tell you how many times I see my playing partners continually coming up short close to 80% of the time with approach shots and especially on par 3’s.

    Cheers

    • David Largen

      Jul 1, 2016 at 12:40 pm

      Very ture… i don’t blame a 3 putt on my putting if i hit my approach to 40 foot. I blame myself for not hitting it pin high more often than not.

      • Troy Vayanos

        Jul 7, 2016 at 7:25 pm

        Thanks Smizzle,

        Yes this purple outfit is super comfortable and for me when I feel good my golf follows suit.

        No sorry, all my golf balls are brand new from my local golf store … Titleist ProV1x.

        Cheers

  16. Chris

    Jun 30, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    A really nice article. Great points. Wish I was as good as Lee though – sometimes, all my personalities fail to show up…..

  17. Steven

    Jun 30, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Great tips. I think many golfers would improve by playing with the shot they brought to the course. Know what the miss will be and play for it. Consistent golf usually has lower scores even if the consistent shots are bad.

  18. George

    Jun 30, 2016 at 11:09 am

    this is good advice Im just trying to shoot 90 and I think if I only use my 8 iron and higher for 3 shots on any hole that is 380 I will be able to acheive that. Put the driver up and excel at putting

  19. Weekend Duffer

    Jun 30, 2016 at 10:54 am

    good tips

  20. Rich

    Jun 30, 2016 at 10:51 am

    I’d say the relationship is doomed before it starts if you’ve already got an exit strategy sorted out! 😉

    • Tom

      Jul 2, 2016 at 10:56 am

      life’s like a box of chocolates. Ya never know what your gonna get.

  21. Tom

    Jun 30, 2016 at 10:39 am

    also sound advice for relationships.

    • alexdub

      Jun 30, 2016 at 11:32 am

      HA! Just reread this as though it was meant for relationships. So good! Everyone one of the points hits dead on.

    • Ryan k

      Jun 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm

      Aha good call Tom and nicely done Mr. Stickney! Good advice all the way around.

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Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

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How a towel can fix your golf swing

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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

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Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

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