Yes, honing your golf swing technique is important, we wouldn't lie to you about that. But it's not the only thing that's important. There are lots of ways golfers can get better without making wholesale changes to your golf swing. Using the right strategies, understanding how to practice efficently, and making clever mindset adjustments on the course.
In short, becoming a smarter golfer.
It's a topic we've been tackling on our Golf IQ podcast as part of our recent 10-part series. You can listen to that podcast series (and subscribe right here!).
In the meantime, let's break down some stuff that'll make you a smarter golfer.
1. The 20/20/20 Rule
What's the best way to work on your move? To actually make a swing change stick, especially when you don't have lots of time to spend?
For that, remember Golf Digest Top 50 coach Tony Ruggiero's 20/20/20 practice rule.
First hit 20 golf balls swinging in slow motion, making the move you want, sending the ball only a fraction of the distance.
Then hit 20 normal golf shots, but with five exaggerated swing rehearsals before each shot.
Finally, hit 20 golf shots with your full routine, forgetting the swing stuff.
You can change the exact number of balls, but the format should stay the same.
2. The 78-22 Rule
Dr. Bhrett McCabe is a top sports psychologist who works with lots of tour players, yet he sees them make the same mistake as the rest of us.
When golfers don't have their "A" game, they tend to focus on what's missing, which sends them into a downward spiral.
So instead of focusing on the 22% of your game that isn't going right, take a glass half full approach. Appreciate the 78% of your game that is working for you that day, and have the awareness to play towards your strengths.
3. The 5(ish)% Rule
Golf is a game of misses, an old cliche that is annoyingly true.
How do you play your misses?
Easy: Matt Fitzpatrick assumes that a mis-hit shot travels 5 percent shorter than his standard distance. So, a 150 yard shot travels only travels 147 yards. For amateurs, assume a mishit shot travels closer to 10 percent shorter—so that 150 yard shot goes just shy of 140 yards. When there's trouble short, budget accordingly.
4. The 4.5% Rule
Not having fun on the golf course? Or just up for a fun experiment? Then try this:
- Look at your home course's yardage from a given tee box
- (example: Blue tees, 6,000 yards)
- Now, calculate 4.5 percent that yardage
- (4.5 percent of 6,000 yards is 270 yards)
Is your average driving distance shorter than that 4.5% number? If so, move up a tee box and try again.
This formula roughly equates to what a course feels like for Rory McIlroy, whose average driving distance is about four-and-a-half percent of the average PGA Tour's course length. You can learn more here, but long story short, the chances are you're playing tees that are way too far back. Tee it forward—it'll be more fun.
5. The 80-20 Rule
Most amateur golfers tend to have their weight too equally distributed between both legs at setup when they chip, which causes them to hit too far behind the ball. The 80-20 rule, where golfers stack 80 percent of their weight on their lead leg, prevents chunks by promoting a more descending blow onto the golf ball.
6. The 1/3rd Tee Rule
Yes, the way you tee up the ball matters.
Need more distance? Tee the ball up so the bottom 1/3rd of the golf ball is under the top of the driver. It'll launch the ball a little higher, help it spin less, and make it go farther.
Need more accuracy? Tee the ball up so only the top 1/3rd of the golf ball is above the top of the driver. It'll launch the ball a little higher, and spin more, to help it stay in play.
7. 5 Second Rule
A little basic, but a good reminder for two of the most important parts of the game.
With the driver in your hands, you should be balanced enough to hold your follow through position for five full seconds (Unless you're Scottie Scheffler, and you can hit the ball as well as him).
With the putter in your hands, you should keep your head down for a full five seconds from the time you start your stroke. As Butch Harmon says, it'll teach you to putt with your left ear.
8. 2 Knuckle Rule
No two golf grips are the same—and that's ok! Golfers can and should tweak their grip to suit how their body moves, but to do that, you need to understand the basics.
When you look down at your grip, if you see two knuckles on your lead hand, that's considered neutral. If you see fewer than two knuckles, your grip is "weaker" and you're more likely to miss to the right. If you see more than two knuckles, your grip is "stronger," and you'll be more likely to miss to the left.
9. The 6-inch Rule
Sway gap is an important, new age measurement which you can learn more about right here. It measures the difference in the location of your lower body, and the location of your upper body, at impact.
As a general rule of thumb, your lower body should be about six inches ahead of your upper body at impact. That will help make better contact with both your irons and your driver.
10. The Overread Rule
Ideally, you read the putt in front of you exactly perfectly every time. And maybe you'll see a pig flying past when you do.
Putts are confusing, and you won't get all of them right. But it's important to remember that missing putts low—under-reading putts—will hurt you more than over-reading putts will. That's because when you under-read a putt, gravity is working against you, and pulling the ball further away from the hole. When you play too much break, gravity is at least moving the ball closer to the hole right up to the point it stops rolling.
So remember: When in doubt, go high and soft.
Once again, you can subscribe to the Golf IQ podcast right here!
