They say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at anything, and golf is no exception. There’s no substitute for time spent on the course, learning to manage the course, your strokes, and your mental abilities. However, if you want to improve your golf, you need to look beyond simply playing the game.
The really good golfers are on a lifelong quest for improvement, never resting on their laurels or thinking they are good enough. There’s no reason we all can’t continue to improve our game – in fact, continual improvement is something we should all be focussed on. Here are some ways you can keep on learning about golf, and improve your game exponentially.
Read books
If you’re old school, there are plenty of books and guides available to help you improve your game. Many are written by famous players or coaches, and you’ll find truckloads of guidance and tips about everything from club selection to swing shape, ball positioning to your stance, and everything in between. If you learn best by reading, there are plenty of resources out there that you can use on your quest for continual learning.
Online
There is a wealth of golf drills available online for anyone to access – in fact, the internet is awash with golf drills, videos, breakdowns, advice and techniques for you to practice in your own time. Of course, like anything, some websites are better and more comprehensive and useful than others, so it’s wise to find and use the quality ones. Here’s a list of 20 of the best golf websites to get you started.
There’s so much information out there that it’s a wise idea to use it and apply it to your game – particularly if you’re a visual learner and prefer to watch rather than read about something.
Your local golf pro
If you’re serious about improving your golfing skills, it’s very worthwhile accessing the expertise of your local golf professional. Not only do they have a world of knowledge about the intricacies of golf, they can also apply it personally to your game. They can give you valuable insights about the way you play and move, where you’re weak, where you’re strong, and specifically how you can improve weak areas of your game. Book a few lessons with a pro to fine-tune areas of your game, or book in a session every few months or so to ensure you are staying on track and maintaining good technique. While this is the most expensive option, it gives you some serious bang for your buck in terms of return on your investment.
Read the rule book
It may not sound very exciting, but golf is a game full of detailed and sometimes obscure rules, and knowing them can pay huge dividends for your game. An in-depth knowledge of the rules will often give you an advantage, as you’ll know how best to approach certain situations. And in a game of averages like golf, any little advantage can be a significant one. Read through the rule book occasionally and become more familiar with the rules – you never know when that knowledge might help you out (and your playing partners will be impressed with your level of knowledge!).
Play with better players
If you always play with players of your own standard, you might be missing out on a golden opportunity to improve. If possible, play a few rounds with players who are better than you. You might have to swallow your pride, but you may also learn some handy tips and tricks about how better players approach their round. Keep your eyes and ears open and observe and learn – even ask questions if the other players don’t mind. Most good players are happy to help out and enjoy sharing their knowledge.
Watch the pros
This one is fun – who doesn’t like the opportunity to kick back for a few hours and watch the pros strut their stuff? But don’t just watch them mindlessly – consider this as an opportunity to learn as well. Watch their game with intent. Watch how they prepare for their strokes, watch how they position themselves and the ball, watch the intricacies of their swing – and watch how all this affects the outcome of the stroke. It’s a great chance to look at cause and effect objectively – and there’s plenty you can learn just from watching the masters do what they’re good at.
Take advantage of technology
There’s plenty of high-tech golfing aids around that can really improve your game if you pay attention to what they’re trying to teach you. Gadgets like rangefinders, which provide insights into each shot and help you have more control over your game; or swing analysers, which provide real time feedback of dynamic swing data and are designed to help golfers better understand their swing tendencies. And that’s just for a start – there are a lot more gadgets on the market that can give you great feedback and insight that you can apply to your game.
Parmaker’s golf tips
The Parmaker website and e-newsletter provides a large collection of golf videos and tips to help you improve all aspects of your game – and it’s free to access! Check out all the handy and insightful videos and blog posts here: or sign up for our monthly golf newsletter here (scroll to the bottom of the page).
There’s so many ways you can keep learning about golf – and embarking on the journey of continual learning is sure to pay dividends in your game.
