A Beginners Guide to Getting Better at Golf

You might think that someone who just started playing golf probably doesn’t have many tips on how to get better, and you’d probably be right – but there is something to be said about a “beginner’s mind.” There’s a Buddhist saying that states, “If you meet the Buddha on the road, and he introduces himself as such, run away.” It means that you need to be very wary of someone who claims to know everything. A beginner’s approach to life can be beneficial to anyone at any level.

A beginner’s mind is one of the most powerful tools for transformation available to humans. It is one of the reasons that children learn and problem-solve so quickly – their minds aren’t trapped in the box of how things “should be done.” They approach life with a mindset of wonder. This is one of the things that makes golf so addicting. I believe golf is a game of lifelong beginners and a golfer’s only goal is to continually try to approve. So, take it with a grain of salt, but here are my top tips for getting better at golf, from someone who just started learning how to golf:

Tip #1: Pick a coach and/or coaches you trust and listen to only them.

Find coaches who speak your language, make you feel comfortable, and inspire you to believe you can get better. Find your coach(es) in whatever way you feel comfortable – locally at a course near you, on YouTube, golf.com, or wherever. Once you pick your people, only follow their directions.

As an African American woman who is new to golf, when I pull up to the range there is no shortage of cis-gendered, middle-aged, white men who want to offer me tips. Which, on one hand, is great... in theory. As a beginner, anything that can make you better is great. On the other hand, you might end up changing something that you did well, based on the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you. They don’t know your body, they don’t know your swing, they don’t know your mind, and they don’t know how you are going to internalize a movement.

Tip # 2: Film yourself.

Film yourself from the start. Film every single practice session. Sure, you are going to feel like a total weirdo walking up with your tripod and a camera but, for me, to improve it’s imperative that I’m able to see what I’m doing wrong. That’s how I make the connection, “Oh, I’m doing something weird with my wrist” or “Oh, my hips are not moving quite the way I want them to.” It's frustrating to be on the range and not hitting well, and not knowing how to correct the problem. A lot of people then begin to adjust parts of their swing unnecessarily, because they don’t know why or where they’re going wrong. When you can’t pinpoint the error in your swing, it might sound like a good idea to listen to the advice of every golfer you know and their mothers (though in this particular case, probably their fathers), because you need to know what to fix. Eventually, if you watch your ball flight enough, you will be able to tell exactly what you’re doing wrong.

Tip # 3: Do indoor and/or no ball practice before bed.

Literally right before bed. Right before you get under the covers, try to integrate this into your routine. Practicing before bed helps absorb the movement into your subconscious so that the next time you are addressing a ball, you’re not thinking about your swing as much. It's already in your subconscious mind, it's in your physicality, it's in your body.

Tip # 4: Most training aids that you “need” to purchase are unnecessary.

I’ve wasted so much money on things that I don’t need. Luckily, I did all the buying and testing, so you don’t have to. Although I found most to be a waste, I did find two of them to be very helpful.

(2) Pure Strike Golf Training Disks. You don’t even need to spend money on these specific disks – anything you have laying around that’s the same size will do the trick. Even a Ritz cracker or a leaf will work if you don’t mind putting it on the ground wherever you practice. The disks help train the impact zone, or strike zone, of your iron. I have found this training aid to be the most successful tool for training my swing.

(1) Standard alignment stick. A good shot can be seen as a bad shot if you have the wrong alignment, and vice versa, a bad shot can be seen as a good shot with the wrong alignment. Alignment sticks are very versatile and can be used for so many different things.

Tip # 5: Dress the Part.

This one I knew from the jump. You must put on the outfit before you ever swing a club. This might seem vain. It might seem like “all the gear and no idea”, but it’s a concept I’ve noticed growing up dance as well. When I was younger, if I looked good on stage, I performed better. That being said, it is more than just “look good feel good”. Clothing can be used as a tool to improve your confidence as well as your performance. For example, when I began golfing, I found my swing to be too loose - I was too flexible in my back. I find having a polo shirt on, or something that feels “buttoned up”, helps my swing look and feel more controlled.

Tip # 6: Practice every day.

You are not going to get better at golf only practicing once a week or whenever you have downtime to fill. It must be a daily commitment.

It has only been 4 months since I found my husband's clubs and became obsessed with the game of golf. Not to toot my own horn, but in that short span of time, I have progressed and gained a level of confidence that I am incredibly impressed with. I feel a deep sense of pride and accomplishment when I see how far my swing has come and I’m inspired to continue trying to get better.

Joie RuggieroOctober 16, 2022Comment