If you really want to play better, to shoot lower scores, and drive your handicap down, don’t go looking for help on YouTube. The surest way to improve your game is to go see a PGA professional. You’ll get expert advice from those in the know.
According to every pro we asked, the place to begin shooting lower scores is on and around the green. “Improving your short game—chipping, pitching, and putting—can cut a significant number of strokes,” says Brae Burn Country Club head pro Chris Marinaro, who adds, “This will even help on holes where you hit it badly off the tee.”
Cian Curley, head pro at Trump National Golf Club Westchester, says, “Shooting better scores is very simple. PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME! Ninety percent of your practice should be from 100 yards and in.” He adds that you can make practice fun and effective by creating enjoyable games and challenges that replicate on-course scenarios around the greens.
And don’t forget putting practice, says Joseph Raitano, head pro at Mohansic Golf Course. “Master putts inside three feet from the hole,” he says. “That frees you up on longer putts, chips, and bunker shots. Nobody is going to consistently hit every green in regulation so being able to get the ball up and down and avoiding three-putts will dramatically improve your score.”
When it comes to the long game, course management skills will help lower your scores, too. Waccabuc Country Club head pro Martin Granda says, “Avoid penalty shots! Pay attention to and be realistic with your shots over water or penalty areas. If you make a mistake, don’t try a hero shot. They rarely work out, and your mistakes usually result in doubles and triples.”
Club selection can lower your scores, too, according to Phil Eyre, director of golf at Hollow Brook Golf Club. “Most people select a club into a green that will be flag high if they hit it perfectly,” he says. “Instead, you should take a club that will reach the back of the green. This will immediately increase the number of greens you hit.”
Improving any skill requires practice, but there’s more to building a better golf swing than hitting balls on the range. Nick Schremser, director of golf at Harrison Meadows Country Club, advises not to spend all your practice time on the range. He recommends on-course analysis as a good way to begin. “Record your shots on the course for clearer understanding of your strengths and weaknesses to give you an idea of what part of their game needs attention,” he advises. “Then, create a plan and commit to measurable goals.”
“Purposeful and smart practice targets weaknesses rather than random sessions,” adds Marinaro. “This leads to consistent improvement. Don’t just practice what you’re good at.”
Kevin Sprecher, director of instruction at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, says pounding a bucket of balls one after the other isn’t practice, it’s exercise. “You should take many swings—even in slow motion—without a ball to groove the move you’re trying to make,” he says. “Hit balls on the range as if they cost five dollars each. Make each one count.”
You can also cut strokes without even touching a club, says Westchester Hills head pro Heath Wassem. “Pregame stretching routines don’t take more than 5-15 minutes but will help reduce injuries and most importantly add yardage and repeatability to your shots,” he says. He points out this is especially true for older golfers. “As players age their strength does not diminish nearly as much as their flexibility does.”
A Lesson About Lessons
Pointers from Kevin Sprecher, director of instruction at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
- Go in with an open mind about your goals since they may need to be adjusted.
- You will hit differently at first, maybe even worse, because your body has to learn new movements.
- One lesson isn’t going to do it because it’s easy to fall back into old habits.
- You’ll see incremental improvement, but only if you practice between lessons.
- Come back for follow-up after you’ve had time to practice what you’ve learned.
Get Ready for Competition
Advice from Ambry Bishop, director of instruction at the St. Andrew’s Golf Club and coach of the St. John’s University Women’s golf team.
- A practice round on the tournament course is super important, but it’s about doing your homework, not practicing your swing. Check pin positions and different tee boxes.
- If there’s no practice round, get a yardage book or check the club’s website. You can also walk the course without playing it.
- Work on shots from the conditions you’ll encounter. How fast are the greens? How thick is the rough? Practice shots that you might have to make.
- The night before the tournament, shut yourself off from golf for a while. Eat some dinner, relax with friends, go to bed at a decent hour and get a good night’s sleep.
- On tournament day, don’t wear yourself out on the range. Just get your body loose. Keep in mind that the energy you spend on the range is energy you might want later in the round.
Practicing With a Simulator
Tips from Mario Guerra, head pro at Quaker Ridge Golf Club.
- Concentrate on the physical movement you’re trying to improve, not where the ball is going.
- Take a reality check. How far do you hit your seven-iron? You may think it’s 150 yards but hit it ten times on the simulator and you will have a number you can count on.
- Turn off the picture of the hole on the screen and put the metric you’re working on—like clubhead speed, for instance—on display.
- The data tells the story. You may feel you’re hitting with a square clubface, for example, but the monitor shows it’s actually 10 degrees open.
Count on Your Caddies
Insight from Kevin Hughes, director of golf services at Winged Foot Golf Club.
- A caddie will help the player understand the course because they know it intimately.
- Less is more. The caddie gives the player the information they need, and only that information, for each shot.
- Putting works the same way. After the caddie sees how aggressively the player strokes the ball, they will adjust their reads on the green.
- Divots and ball marks are the player’s responsibility, not the caddie’s.
- Communication is the key. Both the player and the caddie should make their expectations known ahead of the round.
- Once the caddie sees the player hit a few shots, they know what clubs to suggest.
