What's the best tip you have ever received, and how did it change your game?

[Johnny_Clocks]

Just hoping to find some gold nuggets. Cheers

[cnosil]

Best “tip” was don’t rely on tips to improve your game; find quality instruction/coaching instead.  

[Johnny_Clocks]

Seems like it would have been easier to not respond than to invalidate my question. 
 

I was really just trying to start a conversation, not “relying on tips”.

 

 

[cnosil]

Just now, Johnny_Clocks said:

Seems like it would have been easier to not respond than to invalidate my question. 
 

I was really just trying to start a conversation, not “relying on tips”.

I don’t think it invalidated your question and your conversation can continue.   I simply answered your question from my perspective.  The best advice I ever received was not to rely on tips and chase different things because I can’t analyze my own swing or anyone else’s to know what tip would be beneficial.   It has improved my game and scoring because I have relied on people that know what they are doing to tell me what I should be doing.   

[RickyBobby_PR]

Have a stock shot and use it all the time.

The number of pros on your who move the ball both ways is 5.

But I agree with the tip @cnosil got. Get a good instructor and build your game and don’t chase this tip and that tip. It leads to rabbit holes, frustration and longer time to undo the bad

[cnosil]

9 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Have a stock shot and use it all the time.

The number of pros on your who move the ball both ways is 5.

Totally agree with this information, but are they really “tips”?   In my mind it is part of a bigger discussion on playing strategy.   

[MNMGA2023]

For me, the best tips have all been around basic course management...know where to miss (or what danger to avoid), shoot for the center of greens and not at the pins, take your medicine when you are in a bad spot (don't go for the hero shot that almost never works)...good golf alot of times is boring golf.  

 

All of these "tips" have helped me go from a 12 handicap to a 11.8 handicap.  

 

Maybe I need lessons. 

[Paul Hedrick]

During a lesson one time, the pro suggested I stand closer to the ball then I feel comfortable doing.  When I remember to do this, my shots are better.

[KC Golf]

So far the best tip I got this winter was getting my aim checked with a laser for my putter.
Realized that if i had low tension in the hands / shoulders and put the ball in the Center of my stance my aim was very accurate. 
Has improved my putting stats by 2+ strokes gained and better feel for distance too since I am striking the sweet spot more regularly. 
2nd best tip was creating a reliable go to shot for 50 yards with my 56. I can adjust it now for anything between 40 and 60 yards now.  Increased my scrambling stats by a few shots per round. Very happy with it. 

[Gusset]

One tip that I recently took from Mark Sweeny when he was a guest on the Sweet Spot podcast: you're usually better off overestimating the break on a putt than underestimating it. I'm over-simplifying the entirety of his discussion with that summary, but I've found it helpful.

Edited August 10, 2023 by Gusset

[JerryB]

Best tip I've gotten is to stop trying to kill the ball.  Doesn't mean I always listen, but when I catch myself and actually rein it in a little, my shots are much more consistent.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Jason Day towel drill... Thanks @GolfSpy SAM for passing that video onto us!

[Usmcgyrene]

I once watched a video on how to work the ball by Lorena Ochoa. It was all about manipulating the clubhead at address and changing your aiming point. With minimal practice, at least for me, it works really well.

[Tallwood88]

Over the 45 years of playing, it's hard to pick one. I'll give you two. We all have a useful tool in our pocket. No, not that one. I meant our phones. And our phones all have a high-resolution camera. Use it. I set it up on my bag when I'm at the range or even at my net in the backyard. You may not like what you see but when we can see ourselves in the video it's pretty easy to see things we are doing right or wrong. For me it was my increasing tendency to not rotate the hips very much and my swing path was getting way too steep. Game changer for me.

The second one is about putting. It's all about the very tiny target. Think small, miss small. Don't aim at the hole. Your laser focus is a particular blade of grass on the edge of the hole or a little discolored speck on the green. It works.

[CigarsRumGolf]

 Keep a cigar going and keep it in your mouth….Keeps your head still.

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by CigarsRumGolf
Wrong word

[tchat07]

Each shot is an individual opportunity to execute what you want. Your score is a compilation of those shots. Don't shoot for a score instead try to execute as many good shots as you can and add it all up at the end. 

[bfleck69]

Use a 9 iron or 8 iron on long sand shots near the green. This allows the ball to roll out to the pin. 

[archship]

When I was a much younger man, my golf buddies in Wyoming would get a kick out of and even take real bets on my wife calling me during a round… what hole, how bad my blow-up on that hole would be, etcetera. Finally, the leader of the group, a middle aged Hispanic man, gave me the best “golf” advice I ever received by telling me to just do everything she needs and especially do it BEFORE hitting the course so that she would let me play in peace. 26 years later, she lets me go practically every day and I’m the one that texts her when I get to #7 (we now live on a course in South Carolina) so she can come out and wave as I play through.  Happy wife, happy life. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by archship

[CindyM]

being a new golfer, keep your left eye on the ball and make sure not only your feet but shoulders are lined up to your target

[Richard Fahrney]

My golf tips come from watching YouTube videos. About 6 months ago Danny Maude had a chipping lesson given by Pete Cowens. I had never heard of Pete and learned that he is the coach to most of the European players. Now the worlds best go to him for help including Brooks, Rory and Hedeki. Since watching his chipping and bunker videos have have gone from an 18 to a 13. JT, give him a call. 

[Bobby Mieczkowski]

As I was just getting back into golf a year or two ago, there was a video Rory posted on his Twitter account about the path of the arms/club on his take away (club goes straight/ almost over top the head versus across the shoulders. As a bugger guy it really fit my swing profile and improve my game

[Mr_BogeyPro]

The best advice I ever received was from a senior golfer named One Putt - Bob. He got his nickname because, though he was not long off the tee, he would be in the middle of the fairway every hole. Then he would hit his iron on the green or close. If he was off, his chipping was amazing, and he always had less than a 3-foot putt. 

He said, "the game is easier if you play from the middle of the fairway". Though this is not revolutionary, I stopped trying to bomb 300-yard drives which I would hit the fairway 20% of the time, and started slowing the swing for a controlled drive. Now I hit the fairways 75% of the time. 

It also made me realize the short game is the most important!

[Therealmattymoore]

Back of your glove goes to the target line through impact… so simple and effective

[6 Million Dollar Man]

Shorten your backswing but learn still to swing hard.

[Shapotomous]

Lots of good tips listed.  I agree for swing changes it is best to have lessons from somebody that knows what they are looking at to analyze your swing.  What you think you are doing from a feel and the reality can be vastly different. 

You can get a lot of useful tips for strategy / course management improvement.  One I see on here a lot is to take an extra club for approach shots.  Most amateurs come up short due to ego & not hitting the sweet spot consistently.  

[Preeway]

Best tips are playing tips rather than swing tips. Always rely on a teaching pro for quality instruction. Some of the best playing tips I’ve received and now pass on to my son…

1. Aim for the center of the green rather than the pin

2. Don’t try to make putts over 10’. Instead try to miss close. You’ll be amazed at how many more putts you actually make and you’ll three putt less often. 

3. Don’t play the hero shot. Take your medicine and get into position where you still have a chance at par and bogey at worst. 

4. Don’t play more than you practice. This one is hard sometimes. 

5. Last one. Don’t try to fix your swing on the course. Play with the swing you have that day and work on your swing on the driving range. 

[RCGolf]

Best “swing tip” I ever received was to “stay connected and swing left”.(left arm tight to chest In backswing, right elbow tucked to your “hip” on the downswing) ( it gets me into so many good positions, most notably proper amount of side bend at impact). And it leaves me with one swing though! And best tip for my game was to CLUB UP! Hard to make putts if you’re not putting!

[KM144]

19 hours ago, cnosil said:

I don’t think it invalidated your question and your conversation can continue.   I simply answered your question from my perspective.  The best advice I ever received was not to rely on tips and chase different things because I can’t analyze my own swing or anyone else’s to know what tip would be beneficial.   It has improved my game and scoring because I have relied on people that know what they are doing to tell me what I should be doing.   

I heard a story about Tiger along these lines a few years ago. After he and Sean Foley parted ways, Tiger would call up different coaches and experts to have these little hour long chats. As the story goes, Tiger would “throw out” about 95% of what was said and keep maybe one or two different concepts from each guy to further his game. 
 

I think the lesson there is that a lot of what we hear is “noise” and what we do hold on to is deeply personal, player to player. So find the 5% of advice that resonates well with you and take that to improve your game. 
 

For me that’s picking a precise spot on the golf ball, on the front of the ball for wedges and irons, on the back of the ball for woods and my putter. Keep your eyes focused there until your swing naturally rotates your head towards the target. 
 

I hope the context helps!

Edited August 11, 2023 by KM144

[UpstateGolf]

Don’t be afraid to play some old man golf here and there. Use 8/9/pw for bump and runs around the greens, take more club than you need on approach shots, don’t get worked up if your driver only goes 230 when it usually goes “300” 

[Brad F]

I have lessons with my swing coach every two weeks which has helped immensely but as for a tip;

 

He told me when the pressure is getting to me or if things are beginning to unravel then to "Stand a bit taller, swing a bit softer".

It helps me to settle the nerves and hit a nice consistent draw.