There is some golf advice that is well-intentioned but ultimately incorrect.
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Every time I’m within driving distance I’m reminded of just how much bad golf tips there is there. You can see it in the awkward swings that so many golfers are trying while practicing.
To be fair, it takes a lot of study and practice to really understand how to improve your golf swing. That said, this doesn’t stop many unqualified people from giving pace advice. Most of this advice (as you can imagine) is completely wrong.
Below are five common parts of golf tips you should ignore – and what you should do instead.
1. Slow down the ball if you lift your driver
We’ve all hit pop-up discs that skyrocket in the air with very little distance. When this happens, you’ve probably been told it was because you lifted the ball too high. In fact it is not so. When you catch the ball lower onestends to create a steeper angle of attack which is usually the cause of a pop-up. If you are struggling with putting the ball up, you need to focus maintaining a high toe height, tilting the shoulders away from the target and then swinging up over the ball.
2. Always use an open ball in the bunker
Opening the club face makes the ball travel higher and shorter and there are several examples where this would be useful. (For example, on short greenside bunker shots or when you need to clear a long lob.) Opening the face of the arm also helps expose the bounce and allows the club to slide through the sand. However, the opening of the face ANY bunker shots are not necessary. On longer bunker shots, for example, opening the face is not always recommended. This is also true for players with lower swing speeds. Many golfers can get away with squaring the club face, keeping in mind that the face should not close or the shaft lean forward at impact.
3. Keep your head down
It is clear which golfers have been told this advice as they are “paralyzed” in their pursuit. Keeping the head down for too long inhibits the body’s ability to move and rotate in forward motion. This often results in fat shots or much less distance. Instead, you should focus on seeing the club hit the ball and then let it swing back toward the target as you turn your body.
4. Always use a high pitched wedge close to the green
While hitting a high pitch to the flag is a nice shot, it’s not always necessary. Instead of hitting a sand wedge or lob every time you approach the green, first assess what type of shot is best for the situation. Then, make your choice of club based on this. Sometimes a crash and run with an iron will put you in better position than a high drop.
