Right there’s no messing about here. We’re going to give you the ultimate list of golf tips for beginners. Over 50 of them, to be precise.
Have you ever seen this many tips in one place?
1. Start by making sure you take a few lessons from a professional golf instructor.
Be humble. You don’t know what you’re doing. Let someone who does help you get started.
2. Work really hard on your grip.
This will be essential for a good swing. Hey, guess what? That grip, it’s the only part where the club and your body meet. So work on it until you have it down.
3. Don’t grip the club too tightly.
Okay, I know what I just said, but yeah, you really don’t need to put your fingers through that. Blisters suck, and they will stop you from practising and playing. Treat that club like a long-lost friend.
4. Try your swing in slow motion at first.
Ever heard the expression don’t run before you can walk? Well, the same is true for golf. Suppose you are struggling, slow everything down. Take half swings, and do it in slow motion. Try and get an idea of what’s not working.
5. Swing through that ball, not just at it.
Believe it or not, your job isn’t done when you make contact with the golf ball. To get real distance on your shots and to create different types of shots, you need to be hitting through the ball. This little tip can help to revolutionise your game and ensure that you hit more consistently.
6. Pay attention to your posture.
There’s a reason that your instructor spends a lot of time on your set-up and rearranging your hip positions by centimetres. It’s because your posture being a touch wrong before a shot can lead to the end result being miles off. Think about your posture every single time you go to take a shot. Have it etched on your brain.
7. Keep your head still during your swing.
For beginners, this is a must, and I remember it being one of the first ‘tips’ I was ever told when starting out on my golf journey. Keeping your head down stops your body from coming up at the point of contact. I know. It’s extremely tempting to look and see where your shot has gone. But remember, it’ll still be there if you wait another second or two.
8. Don’t overswing.
I know sometimes it sounds like I’m contradicting myself here. But there is such a thing as overswing. Read up on it and make sure you avoid it, as it’ll send your shots where you don’t want them to go.
9. Practice that short game religiously.
Sure, you can hit the ball really, really far. But what does that matter if it takes you another ten shots to get the ball in the hole? The short game is revered in golf for a reason. That’s because it’s what can make the difference between a good score and a phenomenal score. Don’t be scared of going to the range and just practising your short game. You’ll thank yourself for it later.
10. Try putting with confidence.
What does that mean? Well, if you think the ball will drop in before you take the shot, it’s more likely to. I have no statistics to back that up at all. But as someone famous once said: the more I practice, the luckier I get.
11. Use a light grip on your putter.
Keep those hands loose when putting, and you’ll see much better results. It can be tempting to grip tightly like you would on a drive. But this will hinder your ability to putt. Try and stay loose instead.
12. When hitting out of a bunker, open the clubface and hit behind the ball.
Don’t worry about ending up in the bunker. It’s bound to happen. Learn how to get out of it, though. A bunker can ruin your day. This double tip is a great place to start. So get out there and practice, practice, practice.
13. Control your emotions on the course.
This is closely related to the last one. If you make a bad shot, try and control your anger. It’s very easy to get frustrated in golf, but I can guarantee that you will not make a better shot the next time if you are fuming. Calm down and learn how to control your emotions. It will also make you a better golfer in a competitive setting, as your opponent will not be able to read you as easily.
14. Play with people who are better than you.
There’s a saying that goes, “surround yourself with people that are smarter than you”. The same goes for golf. Playing with better golfers will give you insights into how to become one.
15. Watch golf on TV to learn from the pros.
You likely do this already if you are interested in playing golf. But you can learn a lot from shot selection through to technique from watching the pros. Just don’t be upset when you can’t completely recreate what they do. Those guys and gals are professional, after all.
16. Read golf magazines and books.
If you can ignore those ads, these magazines can have great interviews and tips that can drastically improve your golf game. Hint at a subscription for a gift. It’s better than more balls for Christmas!
Check out some of the good ones here.
17. Find a golf course that suits your level of play.
To avoid frustration and ensure that you don’t get put off at the beginning of your golf journey, it’s important to play your level. That means not going to difficult courses that are above your ability. You will become frustrated and potentially annoy other golfers.
18. Use the proper clubs. Shot selection is important.
There are a lot of clubs in your golf bag for a reason. Learn which clubs are the best tool for the job. Understand what you can do with each one. Try getting them fitted to ensure they work for you.
19. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your swing.
Once you are settled into a basic swing, it can help to experiment and see what happens. Understanding what tiny changes do to the end result is a big part of understanding golf and getting a better swing.
20. Practice, practice, practice.
This one goes without saying, but you won’t improve if you don’t get out there. Remember that saying that we talked about earlier? The more I practice, the luckier I get.
21. Play in tournaments to test your skills.
Sure, practising is a great way to improve. But playing in pressure situations will dramatically improve your game. Golf can be a very high-pressure sport, so if you can perform consistently under pressure, then you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better golfer.
22. Stay calm under pressure.
This is closely related to the last point. But if you can keep a level head in golf, then you’ll be a much better golfer. Keeping calm when there’s a lot of pressure will help you to take a better shot, make the right decisions and execute better. Also, no one likes an angry player.
23. Visualise your shot before you take it.
Before you take a shot, it’s a great idea to think about how the shot will go. Visualise your swing and where the ball will go. Of course, this won’t make it happen, and most of the time, the end result will be different from what you planned, but it will help you to think about your shot and focus.
24. Have realistic expectations.
Look, you don’t need me to tell you that you’re not going to be a pro overnight. You might not even be able to hit the ball straight until a few months of practice. But keep humble. Unrealistic expectations will just disappoint you when you don’t meet them. And this will cause you to quit early.
25. Be patient, and don’t expect to become a scratch golfer overnight.
Similarly, patience is a very important skill in golf. Especially when it comes to making progress towards your goals. Be patient and understand what you need to progress. Don’t get angry.
26. Learn the rules of the game.
How can you expect to play if you don’t take the time to learn the rules of golf? Golf can be a very complicated game, with many rules that will not make you any friends if you break them. That’s why you need to take the time to learn them. You can check out our detailed golf glossary for some of these terms.
27. Be respectful of your fellow players and the golf course.
Again, one of the worst ways to make friends on a golf course is to disrespect your fellow golfers or the course. Golf is a sport of traditions and respect, so many sure you give this at all times.
28. Dress appropriately for the golf course.
Every course is different, but many have specific rules regarding what you can and can not wear when playing there. These are commonly proper golf shoes, trousers and a shirt with some kind of collar. Always check what you need before you head out, and make sure you have the correct gear if you’re thinking of playing on a specific course.
29. Use proper etiquette on the course.
Golf etiquette can be confusing, but it’s there for times when the rules don’t quite do the job. I know what you’re thinking – why don’t they just add it to the rules? Who knows, but make sure you know the proper etiquette and stick to it.
30. Use a golf cart or pull cart instead of carrying your clubs.
Golf can be tiring if you’re not used to it. So why expend extra energy carrying your clubs? Trolleys are great because it means you can focus on your next shot rather than where to put your bag without it falling over.
31. Don’t take your frustrations out on your clubs.
Go on break a club. Then buy another. Such a waste, and come on, they can’t defend themselves.
32. Take a few deep breaths before your shot.
The power of breath is often overlooked in golf. Deep breaths can help you to relax and bring your body to a place where it’s consistent and stable. Try it before your shots and see the benefits.
33. Concentrate on your shot, and don’t think about anything else.
In golf, it’s generally bad etiquette to try and distract an opponent. But you can be distracted by other things. Golf is played outdoors, and for that reason, there could be any manner of distraction at any time. So you must be ready to focus on your shot rather than anything else.
34. Trust your swing.
I see this all the time with beginners. They don’t trust their swing. So they end up half-heartedly swinging, and this causes errors. Swing strongly and true, and trust what you can do.
35. Stay positive, even if you’re having a bad round.
Momentum is a big thing in golf. Sometimes you’ll land a putt from across the green, and that makes you feel great. It can even make you perform better. Well, the opposite is also true. That’s why you should always try and stay positive. If things aren’t going your way, try and reset and think positively about your next shot. Don’t let it in your head!
36. Don’t get angry at your bad shots.
Again, getting angry after a bad shot is just going to make things much worse. Try and reset and tell yourself that the past shot will not affect your next one.
37. Accept that everyone has bad days on the course.
Everyone has a bad day at the office. As a beginner, these might feel more common. But you’ll have to learn to accept that sometimes and not let it get you down. Tell yourself that you’ll improve next time out.
38. Learn from your mistakes.
Mistakes are where you learn the most. Poor shot selection? You won’t do that again. Attempted a tough shot on a course? You’ll make a safer one next time. See your mistakes as an opportunity to grow.
39. Use a golf GPS or rangefinder to help with your yardage.
There are so many tools available for golfers these days, so make sure you make the most of them. A rangefinder will tell you exactly how far it is from where you are standing to the hole. Why is this important? Well, you’ll want to have a general idea of how far you can hit each club. Based on this you can decide which club to use.
40. Join a golf league or club.
Surround yourself with better players, and you will improve quickly. There’s no way better than to join a club or a league. You will get experience in tough high, pressure situations, and you’ll be able to learn from those around you. A win-win!
41. Play with people of similar skill levels.
Whilst you’ll learn a lot from better golfers, you will most likely lose a lot of time. So it can be good to also play with people who are at a similar level as you. That way, you won’t get too disheartened, especially if you are a very competitive person.
42. Find a golf buddy to help keep you motivated.
You can extend the last point by finding someone who is also going on the same golf journey as you. You will motivate each other to get down to the range and play with each other. You can also share tips and what is working for you both.
43. Set goals for your golf game.
Try and have some high-level goals and attach timelines for these goals. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t hit them, but having something clear to aim for will keep you motivated and keep you coming back for more.
44. Track your progress and celebrate your successes.
Don’t be afraid to celebrate when you hit these goals. It is important to track your progress, and when you hit a milestone, head into the clubhouse for a cheeky drink or two!
45. Take regular lessons from a golf instructor.
The difference here is the ‘regular’. Having a lesson or a block of lessons booked in will mean that you will keep turning up, even when things aren’t going your way.
46. Join a golf forum or online community.
There is a tonne of great videos on youtube or subreddits that you can join to have conversations with fellow golfers. In many of these, there are no stupid questions, and people will be happy to answer anything you might want to know. Just remember, you are the internet, so there may be some bad actors!
47. Listen to golf podcasts.
This is a new and emerging area, but golf podcasts are a great way to stay interested and learn a load of interesting and useful tips.
48. Go to golf clinics and exhibitions.
Want to improve quickly? Try a clinic or camp. You’ll be able to remember the tips clearly and get used to making them second nature much quicker.
49. Meet other golfers through social media.
If you want to be on top f the latest trends and tips, then there’s not a much better place than social media, especially if you can join some local groups on social media.
50. Have fun and enjoy the game!
Sometimes it’s good not to take yourself too seriously. Most of all, you’re playing golf to have fun. So treat it like a hobby and remember, you’re here to enjoy yourself.
So there you have it, 50 tips for beginner golfers to improve their game.
