My tips page contains frequent golf swing tips that you can try immediately on the practice range or course. Some of the topics include iron play, driving, the grip, putting, bunker play and many more.
Quite often, I will post a golf tip after I have played a round of golf. If I have encountered a certain situation on the golf course or used a specific technique to execute a golf shot, I will pass it on to you while it is fresh in my mind. These tips come from my many years of experience and tournament play.
Remember a golf tip is simply a “swing thought“. Golfers do have different swing thoughts from time to time depending on what is working for them, however, I know that I have never played with more then one swing thought at a time. Focusing on multiple swing thoughts or tips deverts your attention from what I consider the most important elements of an accurate golf shot – envisioning your shot and aiming at the target.
If you have any questions on a specific golf tip just go to my Email Page and send me a quick note. I will respond with an answer to you as soon as possible.
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Golf Tips
Accelerate Your Putter Head – We always here that we should accelerate our putter head for better contact and a more consistent putting stroke. The question is when should this acceleration take place? You must accelerate your putter head before your putter gets to the ball. Once you’ve hit the ball the speed of the putter head is irrelevant. So next time your on the putting green focus on creating acceleration prior to actually hitting the ball.
Apply Ground Force During the Golf Swing – Most amateur golfers lose leverage early in the swing by lifting their body. Professional golfers do the opposite and apply even more force which gives them a more stable base in their golf swing. Focus on maintaining and even increasing the force you apply to the ground throughout the swing. More solid foot and ground contact will help you hit consistent golf shots.
Balance in the Golf Swing – There are as many golf swings in the world as there are golf tips. What golf tip can help every golfer improve their golf score? The answer is maintaining balance during the entire golf swing. Disregard all other golf swing tips and focus on making an 80% golf swing. Never swing any harder than what allows you to stay in balance during the entire swing.
Bunker Tip Clip the Tee – If you are having trouble getting out of the sand pretend there is a tee under the ball and just clip the tee.
Bunker Tip Distance Control – Control the distance you want the ball to fly out of the bunker by adjusting the length of your follow-through.
Bunker Tip Long Blast – Use body turn to propel the ball. Keep your lower body still, swing back three-quarters and turn through to a balanced finish. Control distance with the speed at which you turn the body.
Bunker Tip Uphill Lie – For an uphill lie in the bunker tilt your shoulders on the same level as the slope, take a wider stance, swing a little harder, and swing up the slope. You can carry the ball to the hole as it will land softly.
Chipping Tip – If you are having trouble with your chipping focus on making a stroke in which the backswing and follow-through are equal distance. The result will be a more consistent tempo and better distance control.
Chipping Tip – Use the same chipping stroke but adjust your club based on the distance you want the chip to travel. On short chips choose a pitching wedge or 9 iron, mid range chips use a 7 or 8 iron, and long chips try a 5 or 6 iron. Play the ball back in your stance for all chips, use an arm swing and get the ball on the ground as soon as possible.
Chipping Tip – Rather than focusing on a spot to land the ball look at the hole and get a feeling for hard to hit your chip to go the proper distance. Keep that feeling in your head throughout the chip.
Stop Chilly Dipping Chips – Most chilly dips are the result of decelerating the clubhead before you make contact with the ball. Focus on accelerating the club in your forward stroke before you make contact with the ball. This will make you more aggressive and rid you of the dreaded chilly dip. Also, remember to keep your head in a consistent position throughout the stroke.
Count One-Two on Putts and Chips – To improve your putting and chipping tempo, count one-two during your stroke. Keep your count consistent and make contact with the ball on the count of two. This will improve the tempo of your stroke and allow you to make much better contact with the golf ball.
Draw Tip – To hit a draw take a slightly closed stance, stand tall throughout the swing, take an athletic posture, swing along your stance line, and feel that the back of your left hand squares to the target a couple of inches before the ball.
Driving Tip – If you have to drive into the wind tee your ball low with the top of ball no higher than the top of the club face.
Driving Tip – To improve your accuracy off the tee focus on completing your backswing and make sure you swing at 80%. You’ll still hit long and your shots will fly much straighter.
Duplicate Your Shaft Angle at Address and Impact – We think about so many things during the golf swing that we forget to just let the swing happen. Here’s a simple swing key that will help you improve both the accuracy and consistency of your golf shots. Feel the angle of your shaft in the address position and then repeat this position as you return the club to the impact position.
Fairway Bunker Tip – Think about sweeping the ball out of the bunker. Your goal should be to contact the ball first. Set up as if you are swinging a driver, your weight on your right side, ball in front of center and keep your head back through impact.
Fat Iron Shots – If you are having trouble with your iron play and hitting a lot of fat shots, your golf club is probably bottoming out to early in the downswing. This will cause you to hit too far behind the ball. Try pointing your right thumb to the sky (right handed golfer) during the backswing. This will help you get the club in a more upright position and keep you from getting to flat and inside with your swing. Also, focus on brushing the grass as you contact the ball. Remember, you want your divot to start after you make contact with the ball.
Full Swing Weight Transfer – During the backswing you must transfer your weight to the right side (right hand golfer), however, this must be done without swaying. The key is to keep your chest and head centered over the ball. Make a full turn back and start the downswing by leaning your body toward the target. Once you’ve completed this transition all you have to do is fire your arms through impact.
Left Forearm Rotation – If you have trouble with a consistent swing plane focus on rotating your left forearm (right handed golfer) to start the backswing. This will keep you from getting steep on the backswing and help to create a more shallow swing arc. Also, don’t forget to start the club back by turning your shoulders.
Pitching Tip Low Pitch – To hit a low pitch shot that runs after landing, align your club squarely at the target and place the ball in the middle of your stance. Take a short crisp backswing and hinge your wrists then make the downswing firm and aggressive keeping your hands ahead of the ball through impact. Keep your follow-through short and hands low.
Pitching Tip Low Spinner – To hit a pitch that flies low, takes a few bounces, then stops cold, hit down on the ball with significant clubhead speed and swing the club toe up in the follow-through.
Pitching Tip High Pitch – To hit a high pitch shot open the face of your sand wedge and play the ball off the instep of your front foot. Swing your arms back farther and hinge your wrists more on the backswing. Then swing down aggressively, make sure you accelerate through the ball and finish high with your follow-through.
Pitching Tip Soft Floater – To hit a higher trajectory chip that lands softly on the green keep the clubface pointing up through impact.
Putting Tip – Steady Head – While there are many great tips for improving your putting the simplest is the best. Keep a steady head throughout the stroke and don’t get caught up with mechanics during the putting stroke.
Putting Tip – Four Tees – Here’s a great drill that will improve your putting accuracy. Place four tees on the putting green in the shape of a square. Make sure the tees are slightly wider then your putter. Next place a golf ball in the center of the square and take your putter back and through without hitting the tees. You’ll be surprised how the putter remains square to the intended line.
Putting Tip – Eye Position – To improve your putting consistency make sure your eyes are directly over the ball at address. To check this drop a coin from your eyes and see if it lands on top of the ball.
Putting Tip – Longer Forward Stroke – If you are inconsistent with your putting focus on making the length of your backswing shorter then your follow-through. No matter the length of the putt have a longer follow-through and chase the ball to the hole.
Putting Tip – Release the Toe of the Putter – While the pros use different putters, and have different setups and putting methods, they have one thing in common: They release the toe of the putter down the target line. To get the correct feeling for the stroke, feel the toe squaring the face of the putter at impact and then releasing down the target line. You want to have a one piece stroke (move the putter with your arms and shoulders) and feel like the toe opens slightly on the backstroke, squares the face at impact, and then releases straight down your target line.
Putting Tip – Shoulder Position – Maintain square shoulders during the entire stroke. I think about keeping my left shoulder in the same position so it doesn’t open early at impact.
Putting Tip – Face Alignment – To become a better putter align the face of your putter on your intended line and make sure not to change its direction as you build your address position.
Right Hand Position – Swing a club halfway back, and open your right hand on the grip. Your palm should be at a 45 degree angle to the ground facing somewhat to the sky. This will insure your right elbow will be down in a powerful position and that your clubface is square to your swing path. You can also achieve this position by pointing the butt end of the club at the target line halfway through the backswing.
Spine Angle – We hear much said about keeping our spine angle the same during our golf swing. A constant spine angle is really what separates the pros from an amateur golfer. Maintain the angle of your back throughout your swing. Also, keep your back side down during the swing and it will make it easier to maintain a constant spine angle.
Sync Your Golf Swing – When your golf swing feels out of sync focus on matching up your arms and body during the swing. The correct backswing sequence is swing your arms, turn your body, shift your weight. On the downswing shift your weight, turn your body, and swing your arms.
Swing Plane – If you’re having trouble maintaining a consistent swing plane as you start your takeaway, make sure you do not lift up your arms at any time during the backswing. Let them swing back and rise naturally from your shoulder turn. Also, as you reach impact make sure your left shoulder stays down and does not lift or spin out too early in the hitting area.
Swing Tempo – If you feel tense to start the golf swing there is a tendency to snatch the club back to quickly. This is a tempo killer. Remember that a faster downswing is a good thing, but a faster backswing results in poor tempo. Start your backswing smoothly and you will improve your golf swing tempo.
Swing Tip Balance – Swaying to the right on your backswing makes it difficult to transfer your weight back to the left side and finish your swing with a full follow through. To get ride of the “sway” feel like your body is inside a barrel or garbage can at address. Then just turn back and then through.
Swing Tip Belt Buckle – If you are having trouble hitting from the top to start your downswing focus on taking your belt buckle towards the target to initiate the downswing.
Swing Tip Complete Backswing – If you’re not hitting solid shots and your direction is poor make sure you complete your backswing by fully turning your back to the target.
Swing Tip Forearm Tension – Maintaining tension free forearms throughout the golf swing is the key to hitting consistent solid golf shots. This idea of soft forearms in the golf swing has always been one of my swing keys. When you are under pressure and need to execute a tough shot, focus on keeping the tension out of your forearms throughout the entire swing. This will help you make better contact and you will be surprised how far your ball will travel.
Swing Tip Quiet Your Lower Body in the Wind – If you have problems playing in the wind focus on keeping your lower body quiet throughout the golf swing. Grip down on the club, keep your body and hands ahead of the ball as you make contact, feel as though your lower body is fairly still, and stay on top of the golf ball.
Swing Tip Equal Grip Pressure – To hit more consistent golf shots try to maintain the same grip pressure throughout the swing. While grip pressure does increase naturally during the swing, try to feel that you have the same grip pressure at impact that you had at address.
Swing Tip Consistent Left Wrist – The position of the left wrist at the top of the swing should be consistent with its address position. A cupped left wrist at address should be cupped at the top. A flat left wrist at address should be flat at the top.
Swing Tip Power Key – To increase the power in your golf swing initiate a full coil in your backswing by turning your back to the target, lead with your hips to start the downswing, keep your left shoulder down with no lifting, and release the club with your right hand.
Swing Tip Steady Head – To improve the accuracy of your golf shots make sure your head remains steady through impact. A steady head insures that you will stay behind the ball, properly transfer your weight and keep your clubhead square at impact.
Swing Tip Swing Sequence – To sync your golf swing match up your arms and body during the swing. The correct backswing sequence is swing your arms, turn your body, shift your weight. On the downswing shift your weight, swing your arms, turn your body.
Swing Tip The Secret Move – The start of the downswing is the most critical part of the golf swing. You must initiate the downswing with a lateral move of the left hip towards your target. This move transfers your weight to the left side, drops your club into the correct position and gets your club moving back to the ball from the inside. This secret swing move will alleviate the over the top move that creates a slice, increase your power and accuracy, and help you to draw the golf ball.
Swing Tip Weight Transfer – The key to transferring your weight to start the downswing is to get your weight back to the left foot. It should feel as if your left foot is pushing down hard on the ground. This will keep you from lunging at the golf ball.
