This Is Why You’re Bad at Golf
It’s a sunny day with a light breeze and clear blue skies. To enjoy the perfect weather you and your buddies head to the golf course. You’re pumped up because you’ve spent countless hours perfecting your swing. You tee up, get in stance, and swing just like you did during all of those hours of practice. Then, you shank it 90 degrees and almost take out someone right next to you.
Let’s face it – you’re bad at golf.
The good news is that pretty much everyone is bad at golf in the beginning. As americangolf.com says, “Golf is going to put a whooping on you for a long time to see if you have the focus and grit to stick around.”
If you do have that grit and are ready to focus, we’re going to explain a few reasons why you’re bad at golf and what you can do about them to start improving your game. Or at least not endanger those around you during your next outing.
1. You have a bad attitude
When it comes to a golfer’s attitude, no one could have said it more perfectly than Payne Stewart did: “A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.”
In golf, attitude is everything. So before you try to change everything about your swing or start practicing 24/7, take a look at your attitude first.
David Toms shares his thoughts on attitude in a GolfWeek article:
“Attitude…is all about a choice. You can get to a U.S. Open and let it beat you up, complain about it, talk about all the bad pins and the unfair bounces … but everybody has to play. In the end, everyone plays the same golf course. So you just have to learn to handle it.”
Easier said than done, right? While it may not be easy, if you want to improve your skills you must have the right attitude. In order to do so, ensure you are setting realistic and attainable expectations of play and be willing to maintain a positive outlook even when everything is going wrong. (Source)
2. You neglected the fundamentals
Whether you are a beginner or you’ve been golfing for years, if you don’t have sound fundamentals you’re going to be bad at golf. Many golfers will skip over practicing the fundamentals because they just aren’t very exciting.
However, even pro golfers are still constantly practicing the fundamentals. Jack Nicklaus, for example, would spend thousands of hours working on his stance because he knew that proper fundamentals would give him the best chance for success. (Golf Dash)
When it comes to the fundamentals of golf, start with your setup. Follow these tips to ensure that your setup is rock solid:
- Use alignment sticks (or anything with a straight line) to make sure your clubface, feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned to hit your target. (Golf Digest)
- Keep your chin up and your head steady (Purtzer Golf Academy)
- Allow your arms to hang down without tension with shoulders over toes
- Make sure you are the correct distance from the ball
- Bend at the hip joints, not waist, creating good angles in hip crease and knees
- As the club is traveling through the impact zone, work on extending your right arm and keeping it extended at the target during the follow-through. (Golf Digest)
3. You haven’t asked for help
If you know you’re bad at golf and want to get better, you have to pinpoint where you’re going wrong. Of course, reading this article is a great step toward figuring out where you could be messing up. But to really evaluate your performance, you’ll have to ask someone to watch your swing.
Your local pro will be able to catch any mistakes you are making and explain where you will get the most benefit in the shortest amount of time. Perhaps it is something you’ll be able to change fairly quickly, or it could be a bad habit you’ll have to work on for a little longer. Regardless, asking for help will give you confidence knowing that you’re practicing the right thing.
4. You’re swinging too fast
Let’s be real, we all walk up to the tee box with the same intentions: hit the ball straight and as far as we can. However, reality does not always reflect our expectations. Even though you might think that crushing the ball as hard as you can will result in a distant drive, it can often lead to whiffing the ball. Thus, if you think that you’re bad at golf, another contributing factor could be that you’re swinging too fast.
An article in Golf Digest explains that it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you swing. What’s more important is your rhythm. The article continues by saying, “Your full-swing rhythm should be the same from swing to swing and from club to club, whether you’re hitting a driver or an 8-iron.”
To develop a predictable shot pattern, you’ll have to use the same rhythm with each club in your bag. Rob Neal, Ph.D., an expert in golf biomechanics, has determined that the best players, no matter their tempos, swing with a ratio of 3-to-1 from start to impact on their full shots. What exactly does “a ratio of 3-to-1” mean? Try this the next time you approach the tee box: during your backswing count one-two-three, then just one to get to the ball. Slowing down your swing to focus on your rhythm can ultimately lead to an improved shot.
5. You’re not disciplined
One of Mark Wahlberg’s secrets of success is having discipline in all aspects of his life, from his faith to his family to his 4:00 AM workouts and even his golf game. However, Wahlberg takes things to a different level during his time on the course: he sprints from hole to hole, using his game as another opportunity to get in a little workout.
Of course, we’re not saying you’re bad at golf because you aren’t sprinting throughout the course (although doing so can improve your game and overall fitness). We’re just pointing out that golf is a sport that requires discipline. You must have the discipline to learn the correct fundamentals as well as make time to practice.
To sum it up
As we all know, there are an infinite number of factors that could explain why you’re bad at golf. However, following these five examples can serve as a starting point for the next time you’re out on the course. And if you’re up for a challenge, learn how Mark Wahlberg uses golf as a workout by reading this post.
