What is the secret to dominating the game in golf? Some of our top teachers reveal their favorite tips.
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With the Solheim Cup completed less than a month ago, and Friday’s matches in the Presidents Cup are now underwaygolf fans have been enjoying the thrill of match play a lot lately. While these formats feature top pros competing head-to-head, they also provide a valuable learning opportunity for recreational players.
If you look closely, you can pick up on the clever strategies that tournament players use – and you can even use some of them to win YOUR Next match event.
To better explain what these Tour-trusted trends are, I consulted four top teachers to share their expertise and insights, as well as some of their favorite match-play tips, all of which will elevate your game. Check them out below!
1. Seize the Moment Early
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You’ve probably seen the impact crowds and momentum can have during a competitive game like the Presidents Cup or Solheim Cup. While your events may not draw huge crowds like the pros, the momentum in these matches is just as strong – here’s why GOLF Top 100 Teachers Drew Steckel says it’s crucial to capture that energy early.
Steckel says that by doing this, the mental battle will be in your favor, forcing your opponent to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone to try and get the momentum back on their side.
“Now the ball is in their court to make a mistake because you put pressure on them early,” Steckel says.
Seizing the moment early also frees you up mentally, which helps you avoid making emotional decisions or taking low-percentage risks.
So what’s an easy way to build momentum? Steckel says to spend extra time practicing your presentation before the round.
“It’s hard to beat someone who’s hitting well,” adds Steckel, “Even if you’re making 15 feet to halve the hole, it creates the same feeling as a birdie.”
And if you can make some strong shots from the goal, the momentum of the match will be on your side.
2. Don’t keep score
It’s not unusual for amateurs to keep their score on their side during a gaming event, but Steckel explains that it can actually take your focus away from the main goal.
“It’s not about the score, it’s about winning against that opponent,” Steckel says. “Now, you want to do things well and you want to score the best you can, but you’re also not playing individual shots.”
Instead, Steckel says to take it one moment at a time and avoid dwelling on the past or getting ahead of yourself. Staying in the moment is key to maintaining your competitive edge and prevents you from mentally giving up before the hole is over.
3. Stay on offense
One of the fastest ways to lose a game is to play defense. But according to GOLF Top 100 Teacher Trillium Rose, for amateurs, that doesn’t always mean being aggressive with your strategy.
“When we look at Mark Brody’s research, it’s the approach shots that make a big difference in scoring,” says Rose. “I call them offensive shots. You’re going after the needle as opposed to defending where you’ve missed the green and now you have to reach and avoid a bad number.”
For the tour pros, offensive shots can look like taking a dangerous line on the pin, or going for a par-5 in two, and you’ll see plenty of those this weekend at the Presidents Cup. But for the average golfer, it can be as simple as hitting the green because you’ve properly accounted for elements like wind, temperature or slope.
Rose says you can improve these shots by focusing on two things.
First, choose the shot and club with the highest chance of success. Sticking to the shots you know will keep your confidence high and help you avoid big mistakes that can be costly.
The second is to prioritize making a smooth swing with strong contact. When you generate stable contact, in the center of the faceRose says you maximize the performance of your clubs. This increases your chances of hitting the green and helps you stay on the attack.
4. Assume your opponent will go all out
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When you watch the pros, you’ll notice that the game’s strongest competitors are those who aren’t easily distracted or overwhelmed by their opponents. The same can be said for amateur players – and a great way to build your mental game before a match is to shift your focus away from your opponent.
It may sound counterintuitive, but GOLF Teacher to watch Rick Sessinghaus says that shifting your focus away from your opponent helps you stay in the moment and focus on controllable things.
A great way to do this is to assume that your opponent will do everything. Assuming they bring their A-game, Sessinghaus says it will help you avoid being too confident or too ahead of yourself before you know the outcome of the hole. This is also a smart way to stay cool and calm on the course.
“Assume they’re going to make a great shot and assume they’re going to make the first long shot,” Sessinghaus says. “Then you’re not surprised and it doesn’t shock you when they do.”
5. Stoplight Golf Master
Knowing when to hit and when to back off is a skill, and one you’ll see the pros demonstrate this weekend during the Presidents Cup. If you want to improve your risk analysis in green, GOLF Top 100 Alumni Tom Patri says to use his simple rule.
According to Patri, there are three types of hole locations you will encounter on the course. The first is a red hole site, which are pins that shouldn’t be attacked because the risk doesn’t outweigh the reward – like pins with little green to work with, or that are protected by bunkers or side hazards.
Another type is a yellow hole slot, which requires a strategy before deciding what shot to hit. This varies depending on confidence in the shot and where you are in the match. Patri says to consider your shot form and the chances of you making that type of shot. If it’s out of your comfort zone, or if you’re in the game, you may not need to take the risk. However, if you’re a few points down or playing in your natural ball flight, Patri says playing aggressive is fine.
Kevin Sprecher, Top 100 Teachers
The last type of hole location is a green flag, which are the pins you should always attack. Typically, these hole locations will be closer to the center of the green, or are located away from potential hazards. But just because the location of the hole is on the green doesn’t automatically make it easier or mean you’re guaranteed to score a par or better. These should be treated with the same amount of focus that you would give a more difficult pin.
Patri’s stoplight method is a good way to simplify your decision-making process and get on your own game, not your opponents.
“You can’t be in love with or afraid of a player who has different powers than you,” says Patri. “Generally, those situations lead to a loss of the hole, so you have to play to your strengths when trying to score.”
6. Reframe your mindset
Most average golfers view nerves on the golf course as a negative. But according to Sessinghaus, with the right frame of mind, nerves can actually become a strength. He refers to one of the players he works with, Collin Morikawa.
“Collin actually likes being nervous and he likes the pressure because it really increases his focus,” Sessinghaus says.
So how can you learn to embrace these feelings and stop seeing the pressure as something to avoid?
Sessinghaus says the first step is to reframe your mindset. When you see high-pressure situations as a negative thing, you unconsciously create a threat. This causes your brain to tell your body to produce a stress response – otherwise known as a fight or flight response. Doing so often leads to muscle tightness or speeding up your process.
Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, think of high-pressure shots as a challenge you’re excited to take on.
Sure, you’ll still feel some adrenaline — and maybe an increased heart rate or a few butterflies in your stomach — but Sessinghaus says to remember that these aren’t bad things.
“Enjoy the adrenaline and enjoy being a little uncomfortable,” says Sessinghaus. “It’s a cool feeling that you don’t normally get, and those are (often) signals that it’s important.”
The second step in learning to embrace your nerves is to focus on what’s important and what you can control, like your breathing.
Sessinghaus says a great breathing exercise to use is to breathe in for three counts, then breathe out for six counts. This short-to-long breathing technique helps activate your parasympathetic response, he adds, which is responsible for slowing your heart rate and relaxing your muscles—both of which are essential when it comes to executing a shot. important.
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