Tips that make a difference on the course

Over the past 12 months, I have been very fortunate to work with a number of people that are every golf instructor’s dream. They were very keen to improve, they wanted to do the practice and they actually did it, writes Matt Chalmers

As a result, it has been very rewarding for me to see them achieve some of the goals we set at the start of the year.

My personal favourite was being there to see one gentlemen make his first ever birdie when he sunk a 15 foot putt. I watched him carry out his pre-shot routine as we had practiced and calmly slot the ball into the middle of the hole.

This week, I sat down with a number of these people and asked them what tips had made the biggest difference for them on the course. 

Picking a specific target: During playing lessons, I ask people what their intended target is for a given shot. The normal responses are ‘the fairway’ or ‘the green’. If you are vague and unspecific with your target, it will harm your game. Whatever the outcome, the result would be a fluke. Be specific. Pick something on the horizon and stare at it. Narrow your focus and commit.

Listen for the ball landing in chip shots: Looking for the ball before you have made solid contact in chip shots will cripple your game. A great drill is to practice keeping your eyes down until you can hear the ball land on the green in front of you. If you can keep them down, you will stand a better chance of delivering a descending blow into the back of the ball and producing good contact.

Lining the ball up on the putting green: If you point the logo of the ball directly at your intended target line, you can then line your putter up with it and know exactly where you are aiming before you make your stroke.

This allows you to be 100 per cent confident and commit to each and every putt. Please do this, it will improve your putting immediately.

Naturally, there were many other things mentioned in our discussions, but these three were the ones that were most commented on. If you are keen to improve in 2013, please consider adding these ideas to your game and see what happens.

For more information on this topic or to find out about the golf coaching services offered at Awali Golf Club, contact me on 39761873. Happy Holidays!