How To Get Better At Golf Without Lessons – 15 Tips

Practice makes perfect. Dedicating some regular practice time each week will help you develop your skills and get better at golf. This article covers the best tips for golfers to get better at the game.

If you’re looking to improve your golf game, you’re not alone. Millions of people around the world play golf, and many of them are looking for how to get better at golf. While there is no magic bullet that will suddenly make you a great golfer, there are certain things you can do to improve your game.

How to get better at golf: best practices

Best practices that can help you get better at golf. Here are some of the best things you can do to get better at golf:

1. Master your swing

To improve your golf game, it’s important to have a strong understanding of the golf swing and know how to swing a golf club. The golf swing is a complex movement that involves coordination and timing. 

While it may seem daunting at first, the key is to break it down into smaller, manageable pieces. Once you have a good grasp on the individual components of the golf swing, you’ll be well on your way to putting together a solid swing that will produce consistent results.

Step-by-step golf swing technique

1. Start by taking your stance. Place your feet shoulder-width apart, and align your clubface with the ball.
2. Take a slight swing back and up, keeping your arms relatively straight.
3. As you reach the top of your backswing, begin to turn your hips and shoulders towards the target.
4. As you come down into your downswing, accelerate the club head towards the ball.
5. At impact, your weight should be shifted towards your front foot, and your arms should be extended.
6. Follow through with your swing, and finish by turning your hips and shoulders back to their original positions.

2. Adjust Your Tee Height

Adjusting the height of your tee can help you achieve better launch and spin of the ball off your driver, resulting in more distance off the tee.

 A higher tee encourages a positive angle of attack and impacts higher on the driver’s face, which increases the launch angle and reduces spin for optimized launch conditions. 

Studies show that nailing the proper tee height can deliver up to 25 more yards of carry distance, with strikes above the middle resulting in an average of 244 yards of carry compared to 219 yards for strikes below center.

Therefore, it’s worth experimenting with teeing the ball higher if you’re struggling to keep up with your fellow golfers off the tee.

3. Work On Your Alignment

Making proper alignment is essential to ensure that the ball goes in the desired direction. Proper alignment can help you hit straighter shots, improve your accuracy, and ultimately lower your scores. 

Beginner golfers can use an alignment stick or club to ensure parallel alignment of their eyes, arms, and feet to the left of the target. The use of extra clubs or alignment sticks is not allowed during a round. 

4. Improve Your Short Game

Want to lower your golf score? Focusing on your putting, chipping, and pitching skills is a great way to start.

• Putting skills –

Putting is a critical part of your short game, so try this drill: place ten balls three feet from the hole and aim to sink them all. If you miss one, start again.

Practice this for fifteen minutes every day and gradually increase the distance. As you improve, your confidence will grow, and you’ll see results in your game.

• Chipping skills – 

It’s critical to maintain a loose grip and put more weight on your front foot when chipping in golf. As you take a backswing with the club, push your right knee in the direction of the target.

Keep your left wrist flat throughout the entire motion. The club’s shaft ought to be parallel to your left arm. You should swing your body forward while using your left arm to control the chipping motion.

• Pitching skills –

For optimal results with your pitch shot, it’s recommended to utilize your arms rather than your wrists and forearms.

To execute the swing correctly, maintain a “V” shape with your arms. By maintaining the “V” shape, you can add a pleasant spin to the ball and achieve a high flight.

Before executing the swing, stand over the ball with it positioned directly below the left side of your face. Also, ensure that your spine is straight before initiating your swing.

5. Optimize your Launch and Spin

The spin and launch of a golf ball are closely related, as a higher launch can lead to more spin, and more spin can result in a higher launch.

The optimal loft and spin figures for each individual vary slightly, depending on their ball speed and angle of attack. If you can come closer to aligning these numbers with your preferred club, you’ll lose less distance. This ensures that you’re fully utilizing your current speed and maximizing your distance.

Here is a chart for reference: 

6. Use a Golf GPS or Rangefinder

Navigating the golf course is important, and with many courses no longer providing golf cart GPS, the use of rangefinders and golf GPS watches has increased.

While rangefinders are great for determining distance, a golf GPS gadget provides a bird’s eye view of the hole, and golf watches combine GPS with score and stat tracking.

By using a rangefinder in conjunction with a golf GPS device or watch, you may avoid playing blindly and make wiser decisions.

7. Use The Right Clubs For Your Size And Strength

Another important tip for improving your golf game is to make sure you’re using the right club. If you’re using clubs that are too heavy or too light for your size and strength, it will be difficult to hit the ball consistently.

• Hit a driver you can handle

Switching to a lighter club is one of the easiest ways to increase your distance and control off the tee, especially if your swing speed is under 90 mph. 

A lighter club allows you to swing faster with the same effort, just as reducing a sports car’s weight increases its speed and handling. 

However, a lighter driver doesn’t refer only to a lighter shaft; it includes the clubhead and the grip as well. Lightweight and durable materials can give you an edge and help you achieve more off the tee.

• Stop hitting 3 wood

The 3 wood is a difficult club to hit accurately, especially for beginners. It requires a lot of skill and practice to hit consistently well.

Utilizing a 3-wood only offers a 3% advantage in terms of striking the fairway, which is not enough to make up for the distance gained with a driver. 

By focusing on hitting shorter, more accurate shots with other clubs, you can improve your accuracy and gain confidence in your abilities.

• Add more hybrids and fairway woods

Replacing long irons with more forgiving clubs, such as driving irons, hybrids, or high-lofted fairway woods, is essential to improve your long game.

These clubs are lighter, easier to hit, and more forgiving, making them an ideal choice for golfers struggling with consistency. 

It’s crucial to choose clubs that match your game and have specific distances to maximize your performance. This simple adjustment will help you improve your long game, gain confidence in your swing, and reduce the impact of misses.

8. Play the right ball

The best way to find the right ball for your game is to test different options on the course or driving range. Try out different brands, models, and compression ratings to see which ball feels the best and produces the results you’re looking for.

If the golf balls are too hard or too soft, they won’t respond well when hit with a club. So, it’s important to find the right balls for your individual needs.

9. Practice Regularly 

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to practice regularly.

The more you practice, the better you’ll get at making adjustments on the fly and executing shots under pressure. It’s also important to focus on specific areas of your game that need improvement. 

For example, if you’re struggling with your short game, spend extra time practicing your chipping and putting shots. By honing in on specific areas of your game, you’ll be able to take your skills to the next level.

10. Consult with a Pro 

If you’re struggling to improve your golf game on your own, it might be worth consulting with a professional golfer or instructor. They can help you identify problems with your swing or technique and give you specific tips on how to improve. 

Lessons can be expensive, but if they help you take your game to the next level, they’re worth the investment.

11. Practice yardages

Many golfers overlook practicing shots inside 125 yards. But in reality, most shots happen from within this distance. 

Instead of endlessly practicing mid-irons and drivers, focus on your short game. Spend time dialing in your wedges, learning to hit knockdown shots, and practicing your putting skills. 

Improving your short game will have a bigger impact on your score faster than making swing changes.

12. Focus On Your Grip

Your grip is one of the most important aspects of your golf swing. Make sure you’re holding the club correctly in your hands to ensure a proper swing.

13. Get Fitted For Clubs

Getting fitted for golf clubs can improve your golf game by optimizing club length, lie angle, shaft flex, and other variables to your swing, resulting in greater accuracy and distance. 

It can also enhance your overall experience on the course by ensuring a comfortable and natural fit with your equipment. A professional club fitter can help you find the right clubs for your swing.

14. Practice outside the golf course virtually

With advancements in technology and the increasing popularity of virtual experiences, practicing outside the golf course has become easier and more accessible than ever before. To get better at your golf game, you should:

• Watch golf on television

Watching and analyzing elite golfers will help you improve your game. Pay attention to how they judge, decide, and swing the shot. 

Consider making the same decisions as the pros while capturing the same shots. At your next practice session, try to replicate some of their shots. You may also use examples from the pros to create your own pre-shot routines. 

Checking the lie of the ball, the distance to the target, the wind direction, choosing a shot and club, picturing the shot, and practicing swings are all examples of pre-shot routines.

• Practice with a Golf Simulator

practicing golf with a golf simulator can be a convenient and effective way to improve your game. 

Using a golf simulator can be an effective way to improve your golf game. It provides a realistic golfing experience, allowing you to practice your swings and shots in a controlled environment. 

With the instant feedback provided by the simulator, you can adjust your technique and improve your accuracy, distance, and consistency. Additionally, using a golf simulator can help you stay engaged and motivated during the off-season or when the weather is unfavorable for outdoor play.

15. Work on your fitness for Golf

While golf is not a physically demanding sport, certain exercises can help you swing the club more effectively. 

Strength training, for example, can help you generate more power behind your shots, and flexibility exercises can help you make a fuller turn during your backswing and follow-through. 

So, if you’re more about taking your game to the next level, it’s worth incorporating some physical activity into your routine.

Other tips to consider

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been playing for years, there are always ways to improve your game. Here are some general tips that can help golfers of all levels:

1. Warm Up Before Playing

Don’t forget to warm up before heading out to the course. A good warm-up routine will help loosen your muscles, improve your range of motion, and get you mentally prepared for the game ahead.

2. Focus On Your Breathing

Controlling your breathing is crucial for a good golf swing. Take a deep breath in before swinging and exhaling as you follow through. This will help you stay relaxed and focused while swinging the club.

3. Get Your Eyesight Checked

If you can’t see the ball clearly, you’re already at a disadvantage. Make sure to get your eyesight checked and invest in a good pair of golf glasses if needed. This will help you better spot the ball when teeing off and making approach shots.

4. Set Goals

Set SMART goals to make progress in golf. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. 

Unrealistic goals can lead to discouragement. Without a clear target, it’s impossible to measure progress. Write specific, measurable goals like no missed fairways, hitting 80% greens in regulation, or breaking 90, 85, and 80. Over time, you’ll see your progress.

5. Stay Focused And Positive

Golf is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. It’s important to stay focused and positive while playing. 

When things are going well, it’s easy to get complacent and lose focus. On the other hand, when things are going poorly, it’s easy to get down on yourself and lose motivation. 

To enhance your golf game, it is crucial to shift your mental approach toward the sport. Embrace the reality of making mistakes and consciously strive to maintain a relaxed and focused demeanor while playing.

Conclusion

Golf is a game that players of all skill levels can enjoy. Whether you’re just starting or playing for years, there are always ways to improve your game. By following the tips in this article, you can take your game to the next level. Remember to focus on your grip, stance, and breathing to ensure a proper swing. And don’t forget to warm up before playing! With a little practice, you’ll be hitting the ball like a pro in no time.