How to Lower Your Handicap

Written by Edward Dy on September 5, 2008 – 9:44 am -


Need to lower your handicap? Here are a few tips that will teach you how:

1. Move Up

If you Have trouble finding a mental breakthrough, play from the forward tees. This will alter your comfort zone and lower your scores. A shorter course will instill a “go-for-par” or birdie mindset that will remain with you when you go back to your accustomed tees. If you can’t score any better from the forward tees, then you might need extra work on your short game!

2. Practice Daily

You get out what you put into the game — the reason why regular practice is a must if you want your game to improve. If you think you’re time pressed, just take a club out in the backyard and swing it for 15 minutes a day and you’re done.

3. When You Play Golf, Play Golf

If you’re going to take the time to play, do it seriously and focus on each shot. Never make a careless swing during a serious round! Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun—it just means you should turn up the focus a notch. Use the driving range for working on technical skills, and the golf course for focusing on the real target: lowering your score.

4. Get Better Gear

This doesn’t mean spending thousands of dollars on equipment. However, tweaking an old set that’s not fitted properly can make a difference in the consistency and distance of your shot. Get your old gear custom fitted and see your shots improve.

5. Don’t Shortchange Your Short Game

More than half the strokes in a typical golfer’s game involve chipping and putting. Devote most of your practice to your short game. Just like football, advancing to the two-yard line means nothing if you can’t make it to the end zone.

6. Write it Down

Documenting your hits and misses can help you improve your game. Where do you hit good shots, and where do you hit poor ones? Did you hit right, left, or on top? How many putts of less than five feet do you miss? Keep a journal and consult it periodically and concentrate on areas that need work.

Sphere: Related Content

put your ads here

Tobacco Road Golf Club, NC

July 11, 2008 – 8:53 pm

Ten years ago this summer, a billboard went up on U.S. Route 1 south of Sanford, N.C., proclaiming the arrival of something totally different. “Tobacco Road: A Whole New Playing ...

Creamer Makes a Comeback at Highland Meadows

July 11, 2008 – 8:42 pm

“That Friday I was sitting in the locker room packing up my things to go home,” Creamer said in a Golf Channel interview after shattering the tournament’s 36-hole record by ...

Lovemark Included in Pinehurst’s Cut

July 5, 2008 – 9:55 pm

Jamie Lovemark has not played the 18th hole at Pinehurst’s No. 2 course since his second round of stroke-play qualifying on Tuesday. Lovemark, however, is certain to see the 445-yard, par-4 ...

The Golf Mat by Vijay Singh

July 5, 2008 – 9:49 pm

The traditional golf mat we use in the driving range often times cannot really fully simulate the feel of hitting the green. These golf mats usually gives us a painful ...

Overton Off to DC

July 4, 2008 – 10:44 pm

Overton and Pernice, who matched the course record on a soft, still day at Congressional with a 63, were at 9-under 131. Anthony Kim, living up to his billing as the ...

Saxton Wins British Amateur Championship

June 24, 2008 – 6:57 am

No matter who won, history was guaranteed to be made at the 113th British Amateur Championship. In the end, it was Dutchman Reinier Saxton who carved his own little niche ...

Distance Shots Required for Women’s Open

June 24, 2008 – 6:51 am

Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., home to the championship June 26-29, is the longest course to hold the Women’s Open. With five par 5s, four of them reachable in ...

Phil Mickelson’s Benching of the Driver Opens Latest Chapter of His Golfing Career

June 21, 2008 – 3:26 am

On the driving range Sunday at Torrey Pines, Phil Mickelson was hitting driver, warming up for his 9:20 a.m. tee time in the final round of the 108th U.S. Open. ...

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon

June 20, 2008 – 11:09 pm

The game of golf was born on rugged, wind-swept land like this. Where every hole, every hazard, and every shot is defined by nature's infinite presence. True links courses are ...

Joh to Face Song in WAPL final

June 20, 2008 – 10:57 pm

ERIN, Wis. – Tiffany Joh hasn’t spoken to her college golf coach, but she’s pictured Carrie Forsyth having a jolly good time watching live scoring from her California homeSix players ...

About ...

Here we'll share our knowledge, discovery and experience related to our hobby (and work). Most articles on this site are related to Golfing: Short Reviews, Tips and Ideas. More

Want to subscribe?

 Subscribe in a reader Or, subscribe via email:
Enter your email address:  
Find entries :