Jump to content
TESTERS WANTED! ×

Biggest Mistake Average Golfers Make?


Recommended Posts

I played a lot of weekend late evening 9 hole rounds this summer to squeeze in some golf when I could.  I ended up playing at least a few holes with a lot of different people.  90% of them were at least 20+ 'cappers and most seemed to have some sort of basic set up problem....grip, alignment, ball position, posture, etc.  The swing usually went off the rails from there.  

I also like DaveP's underclubbing choice.  

Modern Bag:  :ping-small: G410 LST 10.5*, Hzrdus Smoke RDX 6.5 Flex;   :titelist-small:  915F 3w, Diamana S+ 70 S flex;  Snake Eyes 18* 2h, 23* 4h & 27* 5h; :mizuno-small: JPX 900 Forged 6 - PW, PX LZ 6.0;  Edison 2.0 49*, 53*, 57* KBS Tour 120 S;   :ping-small:  Heppler Fetch;  Ball - :Snell: MTB-X; Bag - Jones MyGolfSpy Edition! 

Shot Scope H4, MG600 Rangefinder

Classic Bag:  Driver - :wilson_staff_small: Persimmon; 3w - :Hogan: Speed Slot; 5w - :wilson_staff_small: Tour Block; 3 - pw - :wilson_staff_small: Dynapower; sw - Ram Tom Watson;  putter - bullseye standard or flange.

Link to comment

Id say trying to play the hero shot.  Just because you actually pulled It off once doesn't mean its going to work even most of the time and sometimes you need to just take your medicine and get it back into the fairway instead of trying to hit the 200 yard shot out of the rough and over water.

"I suppose its better to be a master of 7 than to be vaguely familiar with 14." - Chick Evans

Whats in my Sun Mountain 2.5+ stand bag?

Woods: Tommy Armour Atomic 10.5* 

Hybrid: Mizuno MP Fli-Hi 3H

Irons: Mizuno T-Zoid True 5, 7 and 9-irons

Wedge: Mizuno S18 54* and Top Flite chipper

Putter: Mizuno Bettinardi A-02

Ball: Maxfli Tour X

Link to comment

Swing-wise: Their stance & setup gives them no chance to put the club on the ball solidly. 10 minutes with a pro and some alignment sticks would do wonders.

Course management-wise: Not playing within their abilities. Driver on every hole, usually wild. Trying to carry bunkers, penalty areas with no prayer. Underclubbing. Basically, not understanding what shots they are capable of hitting consistently and hitting those.

Link to comment

Taking a lesson (because they need it) and expecting results after hitting a large bucket of balls.  Pros tweak their swing, and they will take weeks if not months to make it work, and they are good.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

Link to comment
13 hours ago, silver & black said:

Making a tee time.

@silver & black as in not making it on time or just making a tee time lol!

and as most people already hit the main ones, i definitely agree with the "trying to apply every swing tip from every instructor". Everyone has a different teaching style and is not correct for everyone. I say choose one teacher (Youtube or in person) and stick with them. I stuck with Clay Bollard from Top Speed Golf and definitely helped my game. 

Also not taking your medicine when needed! Hit that punch out from behind the tree instead of trying the hero shot like someone else said.

Don't think anyone mentioned not using the right clubs. Always shake my head when I see 20+ handicappers using bladed irons because "that is what the pros use." 

 

Driver : :taylormade-small: SIM2 Max 9* MC Kuro Kago Silver 60 Stiff

Woods : :benhogan-small: GS53 3 Wood 14* Mitsubish Tensei Blue 73g Regular

Hybrids: sub70logo.png.3c207e4e90c1eeca7b9a917b5fa4b848.png 949X Project X HZRDUS RDX Black 

Irons : sub70logo.png.3c207e4e90c1eeca7b9a917b5fa4b848.png 699 Pro Black 5-AW 1* flat KBS Tour V 90 Stiff Shafts 

Wedges : File:Kirkland Signature logo.svg - Wikimedia Commons 52, 56, 60 

Putter : :taylormade-small:Spider Red

Bag : datrek-brand_1456761019__86876.original.jpg.7c24f9ae71c7730ce29a828226731487.jpg lightweight cart bag | motocaddy.jpg.258c0b46e60c2804fc6b1f64bca0aef3.jpgDry Series Bag

Ball :  :taylormade-small: TP5 PIX (2019) | Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-7_24.05-AM-300x118.png.9f1c4cb1d62511ee40a05bd6d5795f97.png ProV1x (2021)

Rangefinder : 836d5c8b9e44880db86abcd3b735255d.w2480_h836.jpg.bcd4050c642957abbdca7453a6cb0469.jpg ULT-X

Pushcart : motocaddy.jpg.258c0b46e60c2804fc6b1f64bca0aef3.jpgM5 GPS DHC Electric Push Cart

SoCal, USA

Right handed HDCP 16.4

Link to comment
On 9/29/2020 at 1:24 PM, Shapotomous said:

I played a lot of weekend late evening 9 hole rounds this summer to squeeze in some golf when I could.  I ended up playing at least a few holes with a lot of different people.  90% of them were at least 20+ 'cappers and most seemed to have some sort of basic set up problem....grip, alignment, ball position, posture, etc.  The swing usually went off the rails from there.  

I also like DaveP's underclubbing choice.  

You should have introduced yourself to me when i joined up with you 😬

:ping-small: G430 Max 10K 

:titelist-small: TSiR1 15.0 Aldlia Ascent 60g

:titelist-small: TSR2 18.0 PX Aldila Ascent 6og

:titelist-small: TSi1 20 Aldila Ascent Shafts R

:titelist-small: T350 5-GW SteelFiber I80 

:titelist-small: SM10 48F/54M and58K

:ping-small: S159 48S/52S/56W/60B

:scotty-cameron-1: Select 5.5 Flowback 35" 

:titelist-small: ProV1  Play number 12

 

 

Link to comment

Playing the wrong tees.  
 

And under clubbing as I think @DaveP043 mentioned. 

:ping-small: G430 Max 10K 

:titelist-small: TSiR1 15.0 Aldlia Ascent 60g

:titelist-small: TSR2 18.0 PX Aldila Ascent 6og

:titelist-small: TSi1 20 Aldila Ascent Shafts R

:titelist-small: T350 5-GW SteelFiber I80 

:titelist-small: SM10 48F/54M and58K

:ping-small: S159 48S/52S/56W/60B

:scotty-cameron-1: Select 5.5 Flowback 35" 

:titelist-small: ProV1  Play number 12

 

 

Link to comment

All good stuff here and welcome to MGS. I am going with @DaveP043 on this. Underclubbing. More often than it average golfers are not going to get all of the club every time. I add to this in saying know your actual distances. Arccos has helped me so much with this.

Check out my reviews:

:ping-small:  G710 Irons Official Review I :Fuji: MC Shaft & :EVNROLL: V Series Putter Official Review

:cobra-small: 2022 Forged Tec's Official Review I Logo.png.7f297574516267afc6959b36be364cf9.pngNitron Push Cart Official Review

WITB:

Weapons of grass destruction (link to WITB)

:ping-small: Traverse is filled with all this shiny metal and tracked by :Arccos:

:cobra-small: RadSpeed 8* - MotoreX F1 6X :taylormade-small: SIM 3W - Project X HZRDUS Green

:titleist-small: U505 Driving Iron 17* - Project X HZRDUS Black :cobra-small: SpeedZone 4H - Project X HZRDUS Black

:cobra-small: 2022 King Forged Tec's 4-PW - KBS $ Tape 130 :titelist-small: 48 (SM8), 52 & 60 (SM7) - Nippon Modus 125 S 

:EVNROLL: ER2VI :titelist-small: PROV1X #19 

Are you a veteran? Check out the Veterans Golf Association (VGA) Thread!

Link to comment

Under clubbing and along with that not knowing the distance of each club, the real distance, not what you think it is!!!

Chris

Far and Sure......

  :callaway-small:          GBB Epic  11*             

:callaway-small:               GBB Epic 7W (Heavenwood)

:ping-small::             G410 4 thru GW

 :callaway-logo-1:   MD3 54*,60*                                                         

:cleveland-small:         Huntington Beach Soft #4

:bridgestone-small:   Tour B RX

 

 

Link to comment

I'll add not paying attention to all aspects when it comes to equipment. I play regularly with a guy that hasn't changed his grips in years, wears shoes with worn out cleats and plays with old water balls. He typically shoots 105-110. And yes he can afford all of the above, just doesn't appreciate the value or care.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Left Hand orientation

:taylormade-small:SIM 2 D Max with Fujikura Air Speeder Shaft 

Cobra  Radspeed 3W/RIptide Shaft
:ping-small:  410  Hybrids 22*, 26*

Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts 

:titelist-small: SM7 54* Wedge

:ping-small: Glide 3.0  60* Wedge

:odyssey-small: O Works putter

:ShotScope: V3
:918457628_PrecisionPro:NX9-HD

:CaddyTek: - 4 Wheel 

EZGO TXT 48v cart
:footjoy-small: - too many shoes to list and so many to buy

:1590477705_SunMountain: And  BAG Boy

Golf Balls: Vice Pro Plus 

2020 Official Teste:SuperSpeed: Beginning Driver Speed  - 78

2019 Official Tester :ping-small:  410 Driver

2018 Official Tester :wilson-small: C300

Link to comment

Underclubbing is point 1, 2, and 3 (along with underclubbing)

Besides that, I would also mention focusing to much on the pin, not the green. Once they're on the green, thinking too much about the line, not enough about the speed. Last, trying to make up for those mistakes with one swing on the next hole instead of just playing the shot in front of them.

2024 is the year of the short set!

Driver: TaylorMade BRNR 11.5* stiff

Hybrid: PXG 0311 GEN5 19*

Irons: JustGolf Forged Blades (4, 6, 8, PW)

Wedge: 56* Forged Prototype

Putter: PXG Blackjack Center Shaft 34"

Bag: Sunday Golf Loma XL

Link to comment
2 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

I'll add not paying attention to all aspects when it comes to equipment. I play regularly with a guy that hasn't changed his grips in years, wears shoes with worn out cleats and plays with old water balls. He typically shoots 105-110. And yes he can afford all of the above, just doesn't appreciate the value or care.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Great point. It’s funny too because while golf is known as an expensive sport....equipment can be found so inexpensively these days. 

Check out my reviews:

:ping-small:  G710 Irons Official Review I :Fuji: MC Shaft & :EVNROLL: V Series Putter Official Review

:cobra-small: 2022 Forged Tec's Official Review I Logo.png.7f297574516267afc6959b36be364cf9.pngNitron Push Cart Official Review

WITB:

Weapons of grass destruction (link to WITB)

:ping-small: Traverse is filled with all this shiny metal and tracked by :Arccos:

:cobra-small: RadSpeed 8* - MotoreX F1 6X :taylormade-small: SIM 3W - Project X HZRDUS Green

:titleist-small: U505 Driving Iron 17* - Project X HZRDUS Black :cobra-small: SpeedZone 4H - Project X HZRDUS Black

:cobra-small: 2022 King Forged Tec's 4-PW - KBS $ Tape 130 :titelist-small: 48 (SM8), 52 & 60 (SM7) - Nippon Modus 125 S 

:EVNROLL: ER2VI :titelist-small: PROV1X #19 

Are you a veteran? Check out the Veterans Golf Association (VGA) Thread!

Link to comment
On 9/29/2020 at 9:54 AM, PurePuttsGolf said:

What do you think is the biggest mistake average golfers make?

I don't think there are wrong answers here, I'm curious what everyone thinks!

I say alignment because of how all the problems that can snowball from poor alignment.

 

#1 they walk on a golf course

Now we got that one out of the way:

#2 not practicing

#3 not understanding the golf swing well enough

#4 improperly fit equipment

#5 over-swinging

#6 poor course management

#7 not knowing how far they hit their clubs accurately

#8 consistency. (Focusing on distance over accuracy)

#9 trying to be a hero - you are not Tiger, Phil, or Bryson

#10 losing your cool - you're not good enough to be upset about a bad shot

Honorable mention: caring more about drinking than golfing doesn't help scores. 

All this is part in jest and part serious.

I want to encourage everyone to enjoy golf. I hope people learn more about their own game than anyone else because you are the one executing the shot. Learning basic swing mechanics, swinging within your ability, course management, and aiming for the back of the green number more often will lead to a more enjoyable round. 

Golf is simple - people are complicated.

5w Taylormade SLDR S 19* - 220yd, Ping G2 5-U - 190-105, Maltby M+ 54* & MG 60* - 95-75, Evnroll ER8, Titleist 816 H1 4h 21*, Maltby 4 Hybrid Iron 24* - 210-200, Callaway XR16 8* - 235 carry

886809507_image1(5).jpeg.56bc697c3b02b1fb00feb8d4b66389bc~2.jpeg

Link to comment

All of the above....compounded by standing at address for an excessively long period of time....tensing up and thinking of every swing thought imaginable.

Bad shot....stand over the ball longer.  

:Sub70:    849 Pro Evenflow Riptide 60g 

:tour-edge:   EXS 7wood  Tensei Blue R

:Sub70:    699 4-7i   USTRecoil 660 F3 R

:Sub70:    699 Pro 8-AW  USTRecoil 660 F3 R    

 :Sub70:   JB Forged 54 and JB Forged 58 Full Face

:Sub70:    TAll Wide Blade putter

:918457628_PrecisionPro: NX9

Grint_Shield_Logo.svg The Grint Pro

Link to comment

One of my personal pet peeves with less experienced golfers (or at least less knowledgeable ones) is when they don't clean their clubs - EVER. I've got a buddy that I play with on occasion who shoots in the mid-90's on average. He loves golf, but every time I tee it up with him the grooves on his clubs are completely filled up with dirt and grass from the last 10 rounds he played.

The only other thing I didn't really see covered already is golfers thinking too much about mechanics out on the course. It's one thing if they are out with the absolute intention of practice, but when they show up expecting to play well then get on the tee box and run through a checklist of everything someone told them or that "worked that one time"... 

Driver: :mizuno-small: ST190 9.5* Fujikura Atmos Blue 5S
Fairway Wood: :mizuno-small: ST190 15* Fujikura Atmos Blue 6S
Hybrid: :mizuno-small: CLK 17* Fujikura Speeder EVO HB
Irons: :bridgestone-small: J40 CB (3-PW) Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: :taylormade-small: Milled Grind 2 54* & 58* Dynamic Gold S200
Putter: :odyssey-small: Tri-Hot 5k Two 34"
Bag: :titleist-small: Players 5 Stand Bag
Ball: Maxfli Tour

Link to comment
1 hour ago, TR1PTIK said:

One of my personal pet peeves with less experienced golfers (or at least less knowledgeable ones) is when they don't clean their clubs - EVER. I've got a buddy that I play with on occasion who shoots in the mid-90's on average. He loves golf, but every time I tee it up with him the grooves on his clubs are completely filled up with dirt and grass from the last 10 rounds he played.

this is a huge pet peeve of mine as well, but it expands beyond golf and golf clubs 

i’ll never understand how people can’t be bothered to keep their stuff in good shape. 

image.png.926c5dbfc594427870bc33c43f290630.pngSIM2 8º | KuroKage XD 70TX 

  image.png.4f15ae5144722103242556b2db6d1033.pngSIM 3W 14º | Fujikura Atmos Black Tour Spec 9TX

image.png.bce9eebd9a20266703b359d88959bbcb.pngSIM2 5W 18º | Fujikura Ventus Black 10X
Titleist logo | Logo gallery, Golf birthday party, Logo designU500 2i | Fujikura Ventus HB Black 10TX
Titleist logo | Logo gallery, Golf birthday party, Logo design T100 4-PW | Dynamic Gold X7
Vokey Design Vector Logo | Free Download - (.SVG   .PNG) format - VTLogo.com SM6 52* SM8 56* SM8 60* | Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
SIK Golf Partners with GolfPlus to Host Entry Level Professional Events!  DW | BGT Stability Tour

Link to comment
1 minute ago, Chip Strokes said:

i’ll never understand how people can’t be bothered to keep their stuff in good shape. 

I hear you. Ever since I made my first "big" expenditure as a kid (a shiny new BMX bike that I spent months saving up for), I've developed a compulsion to maintain certain belongings in an OCD-like manner. My putter still looks like new even though I purchased it 3 years ago and play or practice regularly. It's not just because it's a Scotty or because it was expensive. I did the same thing when I was gaming a second-hand Odyssey White Pro #9 I picked up for $60. I clean my stuff regularly (and in the case of my SC, I'll wipe it down with Hoppe's Silicone Gun & Reel cloth to keep it fresh and prevent oxidation).

Driver: :mizuno-small: ST190 9.5* Fujikura Atmos Blue 5S
Fairway Wood: :mizuno-small: ST190 15* Fujikura Atmos Blue 6S
Hybrid: :mizuno-small: CLK 17* Fujikura Speeder EVO HB
Irons: :bridgestone-small: J40 CB (3-PW) Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: :taylormade-small: Milled Grind 2 54* & 58* Dynamic Gold S200
Putter: :odyssey-small: Tri-Hot 5k Two 34"
Bag: :titleist-small: Players 5 Stand Bag
Ball: Maxfli Tour

Link to comment
55 minutes ago, TR1PTIK said:

I hear you. Ever since I made my first "big" expenditure as a kid (a shiny new BMX bike that I spent months saving up for), I've developed a compulsion to maintain certain belongings in an OCD-like manner. My putter still looks like new even though I purchased it 3 years ago and play or practice regularly. It's not just because it's a Scotty or because it was expensive. I did the same thing when I was gaming a second-hand Odyssey White Pro #9 I picked up for $60. I clean my stuff regularly (and in the case of my SC, I'll wipe it down with Hoppe's Silicone Gun & Reel cloth to keep it fresh and prevent oxidation).

image.gif.b0031bb861d8d3009dd81b8baf7f7c96.gif

absolutely. i was raised on “the better you take care of your stuff, the better it will take care of you.” 

i just sent my high school baseball glove off to be reconditioned in the hopes that my son will use it someday and the guy doing the work couldn’t believe it was 20 years old. i lease my cars through my company and return them in better shape than i picked them up. i like nice things and i take pride in keeping them nice 

image.png.926c5dbfc594427870bc33c43f290630.pngSIM2 8º | KuroKage XD 70TX 

  image.png.4f15ae5144722103242556b2db6d1033.pngSIM 3W 14º | Fujikura Atmos Black Tour Spec 9TX

image.png.bce9eebd9a20266703b359d88959bbcb.pngSIM2 5W 18º | Fujikura Ventus Black 10X
Titleist logo | Logo gallery, Golf birthday party, Logo designU500 2i | Fujikura Ventus HB Black 10TX
Titleist logo | Logo gallery, Golf birthday party, Logo design T100 4-PW | Dynamic Gold X7
Vokey Design Vector Logo | Free Download - (.SVG   .PNG) format - VTLogo.com SM6 52* SM8 56* SM8 60* | Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
SIK Golf Partners with GolfPlus to Host Entry Level Professional Events!  DW | BGT Stability Tour

Link to comment

Welcome to MGS, @PurePuttsGolf. Fun question as you can see the varied responses.

I would say having unrealistic expectations.

Managing your expectations, based on your abilities, will allow you to have the most amount of fun on the course, and can provide a clear pathway to improvement.

In my :cobra-small: Ultralight Stand Bag:

Driver:    :callaway-small: Rogue 10.5° - LH -  Project X EvenFlow 60 Stiff
Woods:   :cobra-small: King F9 - LH - 3/4 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff
               :cobra-small: King F9 - LH - 5/6 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff
Irons:      :cobra-small: King F9 - LH - 5-GW - KBS C-Taper Lite Stiff
Wedges: :cobra-small: King Black - LH - 52° 56° 60° - KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Stiff
Putter:     :1332069271_TommyArmour: - Impact No. 3
Ball:        Maxfli TourX

Rangefinder: :skycaddie: LX5 Watch

Link to comment
13 minutes ago, palvord said:

Welcome to MGS, @PurePuttsGolf. Fun question as you can see the varied responses.

I would say having unrealistic expectations.

Managing your expectations, based on your abilities, will allow you to have the most amount of fun on the course, and can provide a clear pathway to improvement.

You hit a great point! Just have fun instead of getting so technical. 

Driver : :taylormade-small: SIM2 Max 9* MC Kuro Kago Silver 60 Stiff

Woods : :benhogan-small: GS53 3 Wood 14* Mitsubish Tensei Blue 73g Regular

Hybrids: sub70logo.png.3c207e4e90c1eeca7b9a917b5fa4b848.png 949X Project X HZRDUS RDX Black 

Irons : sub70logo.png.3c207e4e90c1eeca7b9a917b5fa4b848.png 699 Pro Black 5-AW 1* flat KBS Tour V 90 Stiff Shafts 

Wedges : File:Kirkland Signature logo.svg - Wikimedia Commons 52, 56, 60 

Putter : :taylormade-small:Spider Red

Bag : datrek-brand_1456761019__86876.original.jpg.7c24f9ae71c7730ce29a828226731487.jpg lightweight cart bag | motocaddy.jpg.258c0b46e60c2804fc6b1f64bca0aef3.jpgDry Series Bag

Ball :  :taylormade-small: TP5 PIX (2019) | Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-7_24.05-AM-300x118.png.9f1c4cb1d62511ee40a05bd6d5795f97.png ProV1x (2021)

Rangefinder : 836d5c8b9e44880db86abcd3b735255d.w2480_h836.jpg.bcd4050c642957abbdca7453a6cb0469.jpg ULT-X

Pushcart : motocaddy.jpg.258c0b46e60c2804fc6b1f64bca0aef3.jpgM5 GPS DHC Electric Push Cart

SoCal, USA

Right handed HDCP 16.4

Link to comment
23 minutes ago, palvord said:

Managing your expectations, based on your abilities, will allow you to have the most amount of fun on the course, and can provide a clear pathway to improvement.

That about sums it up better than I ever could have!

Golf is simple - people are complicated.

5w Taylormade SLDR S 19* - 220yd, Ping G2 5-U - 190-105, Maltby M+ 54* & MG 60* - 95-75, Evnroll ER8, Titleist 816 H1 4h 21*, Maltby 4 Hybrid Iron 24* - 210-200, Callaway XR16 8* - 235 carry

886809507_image1(5).jpeg.56bc697c3b02b1fb00feb8d4b66389bc~2.jpeg

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...