Golf is all about minimizing your mistakes. Even tour players miss their target every once in a while, but they hardly ever put themselves in a position where they can’t save par. That’s what makes them so good.
For amateur golfers like you and me it’s a different story. We can make a mistake that completely take us out of a hole, and then get so frustrated about it that it takes us another 2 holes just to get things back on track. This is one of the main reasons why playing good golf is so hard.
If you can avoid the three common mistakes I’ve listed below you’ll have a better chance of keeping your head in the game for all 18 holes and turning in a score you’re proud of.
Thinking a slow start leads to a bad round. So you made a double bogey on the first hole. So what? Get over it. There’s a lot of golf left, and plenty of birdies and pars out there to be made. Getting off to a slow start doesn’t mean you’re going to finish with a high score, but letting it get to you and keeping a negative attitude for the rest of the round definitely does.
Not playing ready golf. When you step onto the 1st tee you’ve got to focus your mind on your game. You should constantly be thinking your way around the golf course and planning for your next shot. Part of this process is paying attention to the other players in your group and being ready to hit when it’s your turn. Playing ready golf is not only good for your scorecard - it’s a requirement if you want to be invited back by your playing partners.
Going for the flag. It seems like every round I see one of my playing partners make this mistake. They shoot for a suck pin and when they miss they leave themselves with an almost impossible next shot. After a few painful chips and putts they finally tap in for a double or triple bogey and storm off to the next tee. Wouldn’t it have been a lot easier just to shoot for the fat part of the green?
If you can avoid these 3 common mistakes you’ll have a lot easier time focusing on your game and dealing with the ups and downs that the golf gods deliver.
Helping you get the golf swing and game you've Always Imagined!
Daniel is the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf and Best Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".
