2 Common Short Game Mistakes To Avoid: Using The Wrong Clubs & Thinking Too Much
Are You Using The Wrong Club?
One of the biggest mistakes golfers make on the course is not using the right club. You can have a better short game, have more fun, and lower your score if you would just stick to a club which is the most comfortable for you when facing a specific shot.
For example, if you are confident using a 7 iron club whenever hitting the ball from 35 yards in, then use it. Just because you may have read that an amateur or pro golfer prefers another club when facing the same scenario, or have seen a golf training video which stresses the use of a different iron, it doesn't mean you have to follow their advice. Stick to what works, for you!
I'll give you a perfect example. Whenever Tiger Woods is facing a shot from anywhere around the green he always uses his 60 degree wedge. He doesn't try to use several wedges. He sticks to what works for Tiger. He is capable of using his 60 degree wedge to hit a flop shot where the ball only goes 25 feet, and he can also use the same wedge to hit a shot that travels 60 feet by adjusting his technique. Why? Because he is most comfortable with that particular club.
Short game success has just as much to do with your confidence and comfort levels as it does with technique and shot specifics. In time you will find what is called your “go to club” when playing through a specific shot. And when practicing your short game, those practice sessions should be focused around this club in order to improve at the fastest rate possible.
Stop Over-analyzing Everything
The reasons for choosing golf as your sport is to enjoy a game that is comfortable, confidence-building, and which is able to settle within your subconscious. This means avoiding the dreaded mistake over-analyzing everything. You must allow the game to come to you by just letting it happen.
You have probably taken a few golf lessons in the past, have put in hours on the practice range, and learned additional skills and tips from watching the pros on TV. It's time to trust these lessons and past experiences that you have had by allowing your subconscious to guide your way. Just take your swing – it's that simple.
The best thing you can do is develop a solid, consistent swing and grow your confidence with it. From that point on, the game of golf is simply hitting the ball towards the intended target, walking over and picking it up, and hitting it again, until you have reached the hole.
This may seem like an oversimplification, and of course practice and preparation are important, but if you spend time analyzing every second of the game to the point of seriously frustrating yourself, you are on the wrong track. Rather, enjoy golf and use your energy to focus and concentrate when the time is needed instead of mulling over every minor detail.
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