THE beauty of being a golf coach is I know there is always something my student and I can work on.
This year I saw literally thousands of golf swings and not one of them couldn’t be improved in some way, shape or form.
With the swing made up of so many components, it can be difficult for everyday amateurs to master the lot in one, single movement. What’s even harder for amateurs is avoiding little mistakes creeping in, quite common if they’re focussing too hard on specific areas. But there’s ways to prevent fundamental errors ruining your form. Here are the five most common errors I saw this year.
1. Most amateurs have their weight too much in their heels at address. This creates pour posture and sequence. It’s important to position your weight in the centre of your feet at address.
2. So many players are shifting their weight while making a basic short chip shot. Instead, they should be leaving it on their left side (for right-handers).
3. The amount of people who came to me and said they bought a driver off the shelf and were not fitting by their local PGA professional was mind-boggling. A lot of players choose to use the same driver as their mates instead of getting the right loft, shaft and length. Not getting fitted for your clubs in this day and age is the No.1 mistake anyone can make.
4. I couldn’t tell you how many club members I saw practising with no purpose. Every day they just hit balls aimlessly instead of simulating their practice sessions to imitate the rounds they were about to play. To really maximise your improvement, and ultimately your enjoyment in the game, get your coach to tailor a practice program so you can take that correct feel and process to the course. With some dedication and commitment, you will be surprised at how many shots you will save. It’s about practising smarter, not harder.
5. The final mistake I saw made repeatedly in 2016 is arguably one of the most important in golf – players not stretching or warming up prior to their round. Stretching before golf should be automatic … muscle memory, like putting your seatbelt on before driving your car.
Make it your New Year’s resolution to arrive at the course an hour before your tee time so you can stretch properly, and warm up by simulating your round on the range. And if you need more advice, ask your local PGA pro. They’re there to help.
– If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]
