Trying to lift or scoop the ball

  • Newbies often think they need to get under the ball to get it into the air using a scooping motion. This is awful and it’s one of those things that has to be pointed out to you. It causes a list of errors including fat, thin, and topped shots. It also causes dramatic losses in power and consistency.
  • Why Does this Happen? It’s simple. The ball is on the ground, one thinks they have to lift it to get into the air.
  • The Fix: Hit the ball first, trust the clubs loft to do the rest.

Poor Setup (Grip, Posture, Alignment, Ball Position)

  • Many people’s swings are doomed before the even move the club. Grip is too weak causing a slice, standing too close to the ball, standing too far, ball in the wrong part of your stance. It’s why the first thing you learn in a golf lesson is grip and stance.
  • Why does it happen? Because swinging a golf club and hitting a ball that doesn’t move seems easy and intuitive. But golf is freakin’ hard.
  • The Fix: It’s actually quite easy. Be a stickler of the fundamentals while practicing. There’s no rush on the range, make sure your grip and position are correct.

Over the top swing path (Slice City, USA)

  • The downswing comes from outside-in, cutting across the ball. This is the #1 ball-flight killer for beginners. It is death. More deadly than every disease that’s ever existed or war that’s been fought. Napalm has brought less destruction and death.
  • Why it Happens? Often from poor sequencing, upper body/arms starting down before the lower body, or an inside takeaway that forces compensation.
  • The Fix: Feel the club dropping “inside” on the downswing (shallow the path). Drills like alignment stick on the ground or “pump” swings help groove an inside out path. Start the downswing with the lower body/hips.

Bad course management and club selection

  • Not gonna lie, I’m a culprit of this. Beginners, in general, tend to swing too hard, or don’t account for hazards. They also find themselves afraid to club up because they’ll overshoot the green which leads to them often coming up short of the green, especially on par 3s.
  • Why it happens? Because you’re new to the game and there’s already so much in your head before you even tee up the ball
  • The Fix: Play within yourself. Use your clubs average distance, not it’s farthest. Avoid trouble when you can, don’t hit hero shots toward hazards (easier said then done).

Neglecting the short game

  • Chips, pitches, putts are roughly 50%+  of shot’s in any given round. Half of your practice if not more should be dedicated to shot’s 50 yards and in. This is where you’ll see strokes disappear from your score card.
  • There really is no why it happens or fix for this, other than you stink at putting because you don’t practice it enough and you fix it by practicing more.