How to hit a golf ball
12 Reasons You’re Bad at Golf
Improve Golf
Are you tired of slicing your drives, missing putts, or wondering why your game just isn’t improving?
Golf can feel like an unsolvable puzzle, where every swing seems to bring a new frustration.
Understanding these common mistakes is the first step to transforming your game and unlocking your potential.
The truth is, most golfers struggle because of common, fixable mistakes that hold them back.
Ready to identify what’s really keeping you from shooting lower scores and enjoying the game more?
Let’s dive in!
1. Poor Grip
Your grip is the single most important connection between you and the golf club.
A poor grip, whether too tight, too loose, or misaligned, can cause all kinds of problems, from slices and hooks to a lack of power.
If your hands aren’t placed correctly, the clubface won’t return to square at impact, leading to inaccurate shots.
A grip that’s too tight creates tension in your wrists and arms, reducing the flexibility needed to generate power.
On the other hand, a loose grip can cause you to lose control of the club during your swing, leading to mishits and a lack of consistency.
Tip: Focus on creating a neutral grip, where your hands work together. The “V” formed by your thumb and forefinger should point toward your right shoulder (for right-handed golfers).
Grip the club firmly but not tightly, imagine you’re holding a small bird, firm enough to keep it from flying away but gentle enough not to hurt it.
2. Inconsistent Stance
Your stance sets the stage for your entire swing.
If your feet are positioned inconsistently, you’ll struggle with balance, leading to poor weight transfer and an unreliable ball strike.
An overly wide stance can restrict your movement, while a stance that’s too narrow makes it harder to stay stable through the swing.
An inconsistent stance also affects your posture, potentially making it difficult to rotate your hips properly or causing you to lose balance during your swing.
Over time, this inconsistency will translate into erratic shots and frustration on the course.
Tip: Set your feet shoulder-width apart for most shots, but adjust slightly based on the club you’re using.
For example, with a driver, your stance can be slightly wider to promote stability and power, while for a wedge shot, a narrower stance encourages precision.
Practice this in front of a mirror or use alignment sticks to ensure consistent setup.
3. Lack of Focus
Golf is not just about physical ability, it’s a mental game too.
If you’re easily distracted or can’t focus on the shot at hand, you’re likely to make mistakes.
Whether it’s external distractions or internal doubts, losing focus can cause even the most skilled golfers to falter.
Overthinking is another form of losing focus.
Constantly analysing your mechanics during your swing can lead to “paralysis by analysis,” where you’re so caught up in thoughts that you lose your natural flow.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
4. Improper Club Selection
Choosing the wrong club can easily lead to poor results.
Many golfers overestimate how far they can hit each club and often select one that doesn’t match the situation.
For example, using a 5-iron when a 7-iron would suffice might lead to a shot that’s too long, while under-clubbing can leave you short of the target.
Each club in your bag serves a specific purpose, and knowing how far you can hit each one is key to playing smart golf.
Ignoring factors like wind, elevation, and lie can also contribute to poor club selection.
Tip: Take time to track your distances with each club, either on the range or using a golf GPS.
Understanding your actual yardages will help you make better decisions on the course.
Consider wind, lie, and hazards when choosing a club, and don’t be afraid to take one more or less club than you think if the situation demands it.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
5. Poor Posture
Posture is the backbone of a good golf swing.
Poor posture, whether you’re slouching or standing too upright, can throw off your balance, hinder your rotation, and prevent you from generating the power needed for consistent shots.
A hunched back restricts your ability to turn effectively, while standing too straight can lead to an overly flat swing plane.
Additionally, poor posture leads to bad ball striking, causing fat or thin shots because you’re not making solid contact.
Over time, these issues can compound, making it harder to find consistency.
Tip: To improve your posture, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and tilt forward from your hips, not your waist, allowing your arms to hang naturally.
Your knees should be slightly bent, and your back should be straight but relaxed. Practicing this setup in front of a mirror can help ensure you’re in the right position every time.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
6. Swinging Too Hard
One of the most common mistakes golfers make is thinking that swinging harder will produce more distance.
While it might seem logical, over-swinging often leads to loss of balance, poor contact, and a lack of control.
You might even hit the ball shorter because your form breaks down when you swing too hard.
Over-swinging also puts unnecessary stress on your body, increasing the risk of injury, especially in the lower back, shoulders, and wrists. A smooth, controlled swing will generally produce more consistent and longer shots than trying to muscle the ball.
Tip: Focus on smooth acceleration rather than brute force.
Your swing should feel fluid and balanced, with your body and arms working together.
Practice hitting 70-80% shots at the range and observe how your accuracy and distance improve with a more controlled approach
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
7. Lack of Practice
Many golfers expect to improve without putting in the time to practice.
Playing rounds is fun, but it’s not enough if you want to see consistent improvement.
Without dedicated practice, especially in key areas like your short game, putting, and driving, you won’t develop the muscle memory or confidence needed to lower your scores.
Practice isn’t just about repetition; it’s about focused, purposeful practice.
If you’re just going through the motions, you might not be addressing the specific issues that are holding you back.
Tip: Set aside time for deliberate practice.
Spend time at the driving range working on your swing mechanics, but also focus on your short game, as chipping and putting are where most strokes are gained or lost.
Break your practice sessions into specific areas, such as putting drills, chipping exercises, and full-swing practice to address all aspects of your game.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
8. Poor Weight Transfer
Your golf swing is a rotational movement that requires a proper transfer of weight from your back foot to your front foot.
If you’re failing to shift your weight correctly, your swing will lack power and consistency.
Golfers who keep their weight on their back foot, or worse, reverse it, often experience weak shots, topped balls, and slices.
Effective weight transfer is what allows you to deliver power to the ball while maintaining balance.
Without it, you’re essentially just arm-swinging, which leads to erratic and ineffective ball-striking.
Tip: Practice drills that emphasise weight transfer, such as the step drill, where you step forward with your front foot during the downswing to feel the shift.
Ensure that, at the finish, most of your weight is on your front foot with your body facing the target.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
9. Bad Ball Position
Ball position plays a crucial role in how well you strike the ball.
Placing the ball too far forward or back in your stance can lead to thin, fat, or topped shots, as well as issues with trajectory and distance.
Each club requires a different ball position relative to your stance, depending on the loft and length of the club.
For example, with a driver, placing the ball too far back can cause you to hit down on it, resulting in a low, weak drive. With irons, placing the ball too far forward might lead to thin shots.
Tip: For drivers, position the ball just inside your front heel to allow for an upward strike.
For irons, the ball should be closer to the center of your stance, with shorter irons more centered and longer irons slightly forward.
Experiment with ball positioning on the range to find what works best for each club.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
10. Inconsistent Tempo
Tempo is the rhythm of your swing, and getting it wrong can lead to all sorts of problems.
If you swing too quickly, you may lose control, while a swing that’s too slow might lack power.
Your tempo should be smooth and consistent, allowing your body and club to work together.
An inconsistent tempo also makes it harder to replicate your swing, leading to unpredictability in your shots.
Without a consistent rhythm, it becomes much harder to control the clubface and deliver solid contact.
Tip: Focus on a 3:1 tempo, your backswing should take three times as long as your downswing.
Use a metronome or count in your head (“one-two-three, one”) to help you maintain this rhythm.
Start by practicing slow, controlled swings and gradually increase speed while maintaining balance and timing.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
11. Overcomplicating the Swing
Golfers often get bogged down by too many technical thoughts.
While it’s important to understand the fundamentals, focusing on too many details during your swing can lead to mechanical, unnatural movements.
This overthinking leads to tension and prevents you from finding a natural flow.
Trying to perfect every single part of the swing at once is overwhelming and can result in “paralysis by analysis,” where your mind is so focused on mechanics that your body can’t swing freely.
Tip: Simplify your approach. Focus on one or two key swing thoughts, such as maintaining a smooth tempo or keeping your left arm straight (for right-handed golfers).
Once you feel more confident with these basics, gradually incorporate more advanced elements if needed.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
12. Tension in the Body
Tension is a golf swing killer. When your arms, shoulders, or even hands are tense, it’s hard to execute a fluid, smooth swing.
Tension leads to restricted movement, reducing your ability to rotate and generate power. This tightness can also cause erratic shots, such as slices or hooks.
Tension often comes from overthinking or trying too hard to hit the ball a certain way.
As a result, your natural swing is restricted, and the ball doesn’t travel as far or as straight as it could.
Tip: Relaxation is key to a good golf swing. Before each shot, take a few deep breaths and consciously relax your muscles.
Practice swinging with soft, loose hands to promote fluidity. The goal is to feel tension-free throughout your body, allowing your arms and body to move freely.
Tip: Develop a pre-shot routine to clear your mind and focus.
This could involve taking a deep breath, visualising the shot, and picking a small target.
A consistent routine will help you stay mentally engaged and minimise distractions, allowing you to execute each shot with confidence.
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