Golfing for Beginners: How to Get Started and Develop Your Skills

Golf is a sport that requires a lot of skill, focus and practice to excel. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced golfer, optimising your practice routine is essential to improve your game. In this article, we will discuss some tips for optimising your golf practice and taking your game to the next level.

  1. Set Goals

Setting goals is the first step in optimising your golf practice routine. Without clear goals, you are just hitting balls aimlessly on the range. Your goals should be specific, measurable and achievable. For example, if you struggle with hitting fairways, your goal could be to hit 50% of fairways during your next round. Once you have set your goals, make a plan to achieve them and track your progress regularly.

  1. Work on Your Fundamentals

The fundamentals of golf are essential for a good golf swing. These include grip, stance, alignment, ball position and posture. Spending time working on these fundamentals during your practice routine can help you improve your swing and overall game. If you are not sure about your fundamentals, consider taking a lesson with a golf pro who can assess your technique and provide guidance on how to improve.

  1. Practice with a Purpose

Practicing with a purpose means focusing on specific areas of your game that need improvement. Rather than hitting balls randomly, focus on specific shots or areas of your game that you want to improve. For example, if you struggle with bunker shots, spend time hitting bunker shots during your practice routine. Practicing with a purpose can help you improve your weaknesses and build confidence in your abilities.

  1. Use Training Aids

Training aids can be a useful tool to help you improve your game. There are a variety of training aids available on the market, from swing trainers to putting aids. These aids can help you develop a better swing, improve your ball flight, and enhance your putting skills. Consider using a training aid that addresses a specific area of your game that you want to improve.

  1. Practice Short Game

The short game is one of the most important aspects of golf, and it is often neglected by many golfers. Spending time practicing your short game can help you save strokes on the course and improve your overall score. This includes chipping, pitching, and putting. Spend time practicing different shots from around the green, and focus on your technique and accuracy.

  1. Play with Better Players

Playing with better players can be a great way to improve your game. Watching how better players approach shots, handle pressure, and manage their game can help you learn new techniques and strategies. Additionally, playing with better players can challenge you to step up your game and push yourself to improve.

  1. Keep a Practice Journal

Keeping a practice journal is a great way to track your progress and identify areas that need improvement. Write down your goals, practice routine, and track your progress over time. This can help you stay focused, motivated, and accountable.

In conclusion, optimising your golf practice routine requires setting goals, working on fundamentals, practicing with a purpose, using training aids, practicing your short game, playing with better players, and keeping a practice journal. By following these tips, you can improve your game and take your golf skills to the next level. Remember, practice makes perfect, so stay committed and consistent with your practice routine, and you will see results.

Weekly Practice Plan

If you go to the range and don’t really know how to practice then here is a handy range session plan to help you optimise your sessions.

Structure your 100 balls practice

*Technical work at home - 10 minutes rehearsing your ideal swing in the mirror as slow as you can. Once you get your desired position, exaggerate that feeling and go too far. Keep swapping between these feelings to create more awareness of your movements.

*Technical work: 20 balls using the same club and without a target. Focus on creating the desired movement patterns performing shots slowly and adding any drills that will give you feedback if you are doing it correctly or not. You may want to video your swing for better feedback of your desired motion.

*Transition training - 10 balls with different clubs to different targets. Go through your full routine each shot.

*Performance training - First to 10 points. Play against a friend on the range going to different targets and score points for who gets the ball closest.

Tempo Training - 10 balls varying tempo of your swing from crazy smooth to pushing yourself to crazy fast.

*Driving accuracy test - 10 shots varying the fairway with each shot. The average fairway is 32 yards wide and the average tour player hits 57% of fairways.

*Shot shaping - 10 balls shot shaping and trajectory variation. Work on your ability to vary trajectory and curvature.

*Chipping - Median leave game. 9 balls from 20 yards off a good lie.

100 shooter 11 foot

90 shooter 10 foot

80 shooter 7 foot

Average Pro 6 foot

Kick away the 4 closest and 4 furthest away to reveal your median leave

*Putting - work from home focussing on start line. Get a 1 meter ruler and place upon a fat floor. Your goal is to putt your ball down the ruler without it falling off the side 3 times in a row.