Have you ever experienced the nightmare of wanting to improve your golf game, but no matter how hard you try, the worse you get? If so, this article is for you. It explores the reasons why you might be getting worse at golf.
You Need To Set Goals
When golfers complain that they aren’t seeing improvements, people usually advise them to practice more. Although the advice is well-intentioned—practice is very important—it leaves out a vital point. Simply practicing isn’t enough. You must practice with the intent to achieve certain goals.
Maybe you want to take a couple of strokes off the green. Maybe you want to lower your handicap. Whatever your goal is, it’s important to choose one and stick to it. This will direct your practice and give you a solid measurement of your improvements. Without goals, your practice is aimless.
You Do Not Have Feedback
Another reason why you might be getting worse at golf is you do not seek out feedback. When you have the advice of a mentor or a more experienced golfer, you’ll be better equipped to address issues with your swing. Golf is often a solitary activity, but when you isolate yourself from the input of other golfers, you miss out on chances to find areas for improvement.
You Do Not Make Yourself Uncomfortable
It can be very easy to make “golf practice” an opportunity to stroke your ego. Many golfers go to the driving range and simply whack their ball in any direction. Lazy golfers are pleased so long as the ball goes high, fast, and generally straight. But, if you really want to improve, you’ll need to go outside your comfort zone. Try shots you know are difficult and keep working on them until you find success.
You Lack Focus
Practice won’t help you improve if you aren’t fully invested in your work. You might say you practiced for an hour at the driving range. But how much of that hour was spent checking your phone, buying a soda, or talking with your friend? Only through actual focus can you hope to learn the key concepts of golf.
