5 Mistakes Every New Golfer Makes

5 Mistakes Every New Golfer Makes

Golf is a surprisingly old sport, and it doesn't look like it'll be disappearing any time soon: 29 million Americans play golf currently. The youth of America are keeping the game alive. If you're one of these newbies, check out these 5 common golf flubs novices make in their first few years playing this wondrous game.

1. Getting Too Driver-Happy

We get it. Driving a ball 400 yards is a ton of fun, but not every hole calls for the use of a driver, especially since new golfers aren't always very accurate with them. If you're on a course with a narrow fairway and a lot of potential hazards, you're better off with an iron or a hybrid club.

Your score will thank you for it.

2. Practicing Your Putts Incorrectly

Rookie golfers love trying to hit shots from 20+ yards out on the practice putting green, but this isn't going to be applicable in a real-game situation very often. You're better off practicing your putts from 8 feet or under. Nail down the ultra-short game first before practicing tough shots from distance.

3. Aiming for the Flags

New golfers always seem to be chasing the elusive hole-in-one without realizing that it's nearly impossible and that it sets you up for failure down the line. Getting a good score in golf is all about course management, so you're much better off by aiming for manageable, realistic targets rather than trying to bomb it onto the green.

4. Choosing the Wrong Wedges

Wedges are probably the most confusing club for beginners, and there's a lot of misinformation out there. But the trick to wedges, if you're a newbie, is to buy a set of wedges with higher loft (the angle of the wedge) than usual. It's also important to make sure that your wedges are only 5-6 degrees greater or smaller than each other. So your pitching wedge should only be 10-12 degrees less than your sand wedge.

This will help you get more distance on the ball and help you get some more consistency with your wedge shots.

5. Swinging Too Fast

Golf has a steep learning curve, and this is partly due to the very tricky biomechanics involved in the sport. Like a basketball jump shot, a golf swing is a full-body movement and any single incorrect movement can set the whole thing out of wack.

This is why new golfers should slow their shots down. Before you start putting serious power behind your swing, you should make sure you've got the fundamentals down. Otherwise, your fast swings will be inconsistent, erratic, and you'll quickly grow dissatisfied with your game.

Now That We've Got These Golf Flubs Out of the Way...

Hopefully, learning about these golf flubs will give you the self-awareness you need to coach yourself the next time you're out on the golf course. The road to an improved golf game is paved with unintentional mistakes. Maybe this article will help make the journey smoother.

And if you're looking for a place to play make sure to check out our golf course and contact us to book a tee time today!