Instruction
How my student dropped 20 shots from her scores in 12 months
How would you like to go from shooting in the 90s to the 70s within one year? You might not believe me when I say that I have a student who accomplished this unlikely feat.
Most golfers don’t break 100, let alone break 90 in their entire lifetime,let alone in 12 months. My player did it and swept the field in a two-day tournament shooting 76-72 in windy and wet weather conditions… and she did it with less than 20 hours of golf instruction over the course of a year.
I’m going to give you the secret to her success.
As a full-time golf instructor, I work with a group of players that have a variety of different athletic aptitudes, body types, motivation levels, cognitive function, etc. I can say with confidence that no one formula works for everyone, but at the same time, I know there is a formula that works. If you can manage to get over yourself, or whatever excuses you create and just do it, you’ll see results.
My student followed the formula to a T, and because of this, she was able to pull off such a dramatic improvement in her game. I believe that everyone can improve, including you. Perhaps a 20-shot improvement in a tournament is a stretch, but it’s possible.
Here were the three key elements in the success of my student that are markers in every other success story that I’ve been a part of.
1. Find Weaknesses and Fix Them
My student was positive by nature and optimistic about her improvement, but she wasn’t delusional about her successes. She enjoyed playing well, and when she did, I recognized it. But her focus in our time together was largely on errors. We realized them, worked on ways to feel the difference between the error and the correction, and then I sent her off with drills to improve her patterns to eliminate the errors.
When her body was unable to produce the patterns due to lack of strength, I needed to outsource the job to a trusted fitness professional. She started regular sessions with Jason Meisch, my go-to for strength, conditioning, and 3D work (Jason is a TPI MP-3, GB-2, Owner of PEAK Golf Fitness). Jason and I coordinated our plan so that she was working specifically on the areas that I had outlined, beginning with his full 3D and movement evaluation. She joined his six-month, off-season program designed to structure a student’s workouts in five hours per week. The program also gave her access to a bio-feedback golf device from K-Vest called K-Player for unsupervised practice and workouts.
Her practice program was developed with her swing goals in mind. They were incorporated into workouts, which were built to work on weaknesses in her movement patterns as well as other performance limitations that were affecting her swing goals.
2. Practice with Feedback
It’s so easy to hit balls until you think you “have it,” but by then you’ve already rehearsed the wrong way for the entire time that it took you to figure it out. Some people get lucky and actually do figure it out (see: Ben Hogan or Bubba Watson), but for the rest of us mere mortals, figuring it out on our own is not a wise idea. The reason is simple; golf is a very complex movement with many required parts. The likelihood that you’re going to simply figure it out is low. You might, but in my 1,000+ hours of lessons a year, I rarely see it happen.
My student was not about figuring it out entirely on her own. Yes, she needed to feel the swing on her own, but she was open and interested in my guidance. She used 3D feedback through K-Vest that Jason and I set up for her, and she was at his gym several times a week working on her movements. Through this method of feedback, she could learn how to do some of the movements that she was supposed to do.
3. Leave Your Excuses at the Door
I can think of two-dozen reasons why I should eat more raw vegetables, but until I actually do it, it’s just a dream. The students who improve actually do what is on their game plan. They don’t make excuses for not working on it, and they don’t cut corners. My player didn’t push back along the way to her 20-shot drop. She was focused, accepted the tasks I gave her, didn’t find reasons why she couldn’t do it, and didn’t show frustration. I’m sure motivation or drive plays a big part in this piece, so perhaps the next time you’re wondering whether you really want to improve, ask yourself honestly if you’re ready to put some sweat into it. Nothing good comes for free, and that saying absolutely applies to golf.
I wish there was a magic pill that someone could take and his or her game would instantly improve. Sometimes, small technical improvements do seem like magic pills, and it’s fun when those breakthroughs happen. Keep in mind, however, that old habits die hard. Just because your swing is working in a lesson or on Sunday of your practice round doesn’t guarantee it will work all the time.
In order to keep the new movement or movements that you’re working on, you’ll have to repeat it with enough reps and in a way that your brain will remember and store as a recent memory. Often we forget, and we revert to the same old, same old. Be sure to keep an eye on whatever it is you’re supposed to be attending to in your game until you know you can repeat it under pressure in a relatively permanent way. If you do, a drop in your scores is sure to come.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
RBC Heritage Tour Report: More minis, course-specific setups, Spider & GTS launches
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
Best fairway woods of 2026: The most versatile fairway woods + the most forgiving fairway woods
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
The 24 players who can win the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB: 2026 Masters
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.J. Spaun’s winning WITB: 2026 Valero Texas Open
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft:...
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2021 Truist Championship
Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship 2021 (now the Truist Championship) marked a significant return to form,...
Collin Morikawa WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Tour (14 degrees) Shaft:...
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
-
Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
-
Whats in the Bag3 days ago
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
chyhiem
Jul 12, 2017 at 11:04 am
I recommend this for all my fellow golfers out there!!! Weird Golf Swing Vsl Converts Like Crazy. Proven Winner Pays 75% Commish + 1-click Upsells And Insane Conversions With Super Low Refunds!!!
http://7307bykpr7uacrbcvc2rtnnfw2.hop.clickbank.net/
You won’t regret it! My family and I sure didn’t!
tazz2293
Jul 6, 2017 at 11:41 am
Great article Trillium
Having a plan to improve is critical in golf.
I was always a poor putter. I finally dedicated myself to improving. I made a plan, have been working the plan. Now I am seeing my hard work and plan to improve my putting paying off in better scores.
A quote from Benjamin Franklin comes to mind. “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
setter02
Jul 3, 2017 at 5:34 pm
I guess let me know when it happens to more than just 1 student…
Kibad
Jul 3, 2017 at 12:13 pm
What would you suggest for practicing with feedback when you don’t have access to cutting edge technology? In many occasions, I end up practicing my swing flaws until they are deeply ingrained.
QV
Jul 2, 2017 at 10:48 am
So you’re saying you have to practice hours and hours on end, and nobody can ever get good by just watching Pros play on TV from the couch and playing only once a month without ever hitting balls. Check. Got it. It’s that simple, huh? All you have to do is spend time and money practicing and playing? Whoa what a concept!
Was
Jul 2, 2017 at 6:46 pm
Takes one to know one to be able to suck at this game like you eh
Ude
Jul 2, 2017 at 11:48 pm
You just joined the club of dumazz sucks licking gearhead clubs … slurp slurp
QV
Jul 2, 2017 at 10:47 am
Blah blah blag meaningless drivel yada yada yada
Ude
Jul 5, 2017 at 12:34 am
It’s meaningless to the brainless gearheads like you
DrRob1963
Jul 2, 2017 at 6:37 am
I’d believe it.
My Mrs got keen when she was 45 and playing off 40. Good equipment, good advice & lessons, plenty of play & practice time – she was off 15 within two years and blitzed the club’s most improved player 2 years in a row. Plays off 13 and having a ball now – so it is possible, if you apply yourself, to make significant improvements with your golf.
If you want it – Go for it!
C
Jul 2, 2017 at 5:10 am
Thanks for your story. I did similar myself
after playing for a year I decided to get serious and went from shooting over 90 consistently to shooting in the 70’s consistently.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is of course how you make yourself better in anything.
The first thing I did was make sure I knew where my ball was going to go or miss. I worked for weeks to get a consistent draw with my irons. This also helped to eliminate the heavy shots I would get from coming over the top.
I worked hard on chipping and short iron play. I also started putting for atleast 20 minutes before any game. The best results in putting came from starting with 4 foot putts until you are 99% sure they are going in and then move out to 6 foot. After that I would make sure I get the pace of the green correct for the day by rolling about 20 putts from about 20-30 feet.
I played holes atleast 2 times a week after work (in summer) and hit balls at the range specifically the Thursday or Friday before the Saturday comp (my weekly round). The most valuable practice I have done at the range would be changing club ever shot for an in game simulation. Driver – 9iron, driver- 7 iron, 5iron 9 iron and so on. I found this to help much more with consistence compared to just hitting 10 7 irons in a row.
Learning some course management also helped me.
I did not receive any lessons in the time going from a 23 to a mid single figure handicap. Just worked hard and didn’t give up. Took me about 12 months (give or take a few weeks) to get from in the 20’s to single figures.
My next goal is to get my HC to 0. I know what I need to do. I just need the time to do it.
N
Jul 2, 2017 at 5:09 am
It also depends what you mean by a player ‘shooting in the 90’s’. Most people on here will know there are thousands of players out there that shoot 85 regularly but are equally capable of carding a 90 in competitive golf.
Much more believable if you view it that way (to see someone drop from being capable of shooting mid 80’s to mid 70’s)
Em-Smizle
Jul 1, 2017 at 8:41 am
I only listen to women when they say dinner is ready
Looper
Jun 30, 2017 at 11:39 pm
Talent is only discovered by a very good instructor… Well done TR…
No truer words
Jun 30, 2017 at 7:11 pm
You get out
What you put in
Matt
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:31 pm
Hi Trillium, great post. Any practice advice for returnees to golf (nearly 20 years off) who no longer have the time they once did? Personally speaking, I don’t have massive ambitions but do have a goal to drop half a dozen shots per round and get back to ‘consistently’ playing in the low-mid 80’s and occasionally break 80. As a dad with spouse, home and a busy career prioritised, I have time for little more than 18 holes and an hour or so practice most weeks – dropping those shots subsequently feels like a puzzle to unlock. I’m reasonably fit, can play year round, have fitted clubs, an ok grasp of course management, mostly hit playable shots off the tee & 2 putt. Looking for consistency with my approach and short irons however as I’ll get on a run of pars and bogeys then start leaking shots like a sieve with a handful of doubles and triples. My country club is a tough little course with boundaries or water features on most holes that often send visiting single digit players home with tails between legs.
FlyPhish
Jun 30, 2017 at 3:34 pm
It really depends on which 20 strokes you are trying to drop. I went from a 24 to an 8 during my first season playing ‘real’ golf, i.e. not just wedding and charity scrambles. Dropping strokes after that has become noticeably slower.
BallBuster
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:57 pm
I came very close to that a few years back after a serious injury and not playing for a while. I was only a 16 or so before that and ballooned to mid-20’s. I read the books Peak and Talent Code and realized the need for purposeful practice, having challenging goals but achievable, and getting feedback (albeit not a pro’s eye…). You are right in attacking weaknesses too. I got to the point where my metric was 9 out of 10 consistently good long irons that fit into my acceptable rating system and nothing less. That made my ball striking in general way more consistent and the other iron shots that much better and confident. Funny how other critics on this page cite your failure to mention short game/putting, but ignore your results. Good job and I’m sure your student is very happy with the results.
Kyle
Jun 30, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Yes, working on fitness is a great way to improve your game. The one thing I didn’t see in the article was anything about short game. The one thing I notice when playing with players in the 90’s vs players in the 70’s is the ability to get the ball up and down around the green. Players that score in the 70’s get is close for the most part and can make a short putt. To many times I see 90 players not able to chip the ball on the green let alone get it close. I would say that if you are a 90 and above golfer and you want to see your game improve, save your money on range tokens and practice your short game.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Kyle, in the private lessons that we had together we worked very closely on her short game. You’re absolutely correct that the short game is a fast way to lower scores. At the same time it also improves the ability to make solid contact in a reliable way.
JD
Jun 30, 2017 at 10:27 am
1. Dont waste money on lessons that can be put towards range time and actually playing golf.
2. Buy clubs that are better than you are currently to give yourself a goal of hitting them pure.
3. Watch youtube.
4. Go to the range with 3 swing goals until its second nature. Then find three more, watch youtube, repeat.
5. Dont forget to putt.
Trey
Jun 30, 2017 at 11:10 am
I can’t tell if you’re trolling here or not. If you are, well done… if you’re not… this is the worst guidance I’ve ever come across on this site. Its a really funny comment regardless. I just can’t decide if it’s funnier if I read it as a joke or if I read it as actual advice.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 1:27 pm
In some ways I agree with JD. Practice is good. Pay attention to what you’re trying to do (find three YouTube videos and stick with them), and take responsibility for your own improvement by ditching lessons. Oh, and putt. I get it.
There is also a lot that can go wrong in this plan… if it’s what you can do, then go for it. But my suggestion here is to be careful with what videos you pick. Not everything is useful and some things you may not even need to do.
JD
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Na I’m dead serious. If anything buy a 3 lesson package at golf tec and get some statistical insight into some swing changes, but there is so much info out there on the web on how to fix your issues, the tricky part is knowing exactly what plagues you. Obviously practicing a bad swing only makes you worse, but I’m advocating actually learning why you’re missing greens or fairways then finding video lessons that you feel will fix them.
You can’t just slice a drive then go on YouTube and type how to fix a slice. You have to inherintly understand why you’re slicing… is it alignment, over the top, takeaway, weight distribution, lie angle… my point is in learning WHY. Once you know why you can fix anything on your own.
I did this myself over about a year and half, went from shooting high 90s to high 70s. Bought some AP2s that I loved looking down at but was probably out of my league, but it drove me to being a better player because I wanted to learn to build the confidence to hit them pure.
Ok that’s all, ending rant. And no I don’t have SELF MADE tattoo’d on my knuckles… yet.
Looper
Jun 30, 2017 at 11:35 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Brian
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:48 am
Oh, so all I need to do is fly back and forth to PEAK Golf Fitness in Maryland 5 days a week, spend thousands of dollars on golf lessons and specialized athletic training, and I can shoot in the low 70s by the end of the year? Where do I sign up!
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Hi Brian,
Of course not, that would be silly. The concept is that you should have a specific game plan. It doesn’t cost thousands of dollars to have a plan. In this case she spent money but not thousands. And if it’s not in the budget, then the next best thing is to be very disciplined and do it on your own. It’s just like having a fitness plan… can you do it on your own – YES. It is easier if someone spoon feeds it to you, likely.
I encourage you to go over where your weak areas are and improve them.
Best of luck
acemandrake
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:26 am
The last paragraph said it best: Knowing what to work on is only as good as the time put into it.
Many golfers avoid the range; however, that’s the place to ingrain correct swing mechanics.
Like anything else, the amount of enjoyment from spending time on the range will vary from person to person.
Greg
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:18 am
What did all of this set her back (ballpark figure or range)?
When you said “less than 20 hours of golf instruction” it was not clear that golf instruction was being replaced with what sounds like a very expensive specialized personal trainer.
coastieyaker
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:35 am
It pays to have money at your disposal to hire top notch instuctors and fitness pros. No wonder the majority of tour pros come from rich families
bigdawginva
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:46 am
My guess is between $8,000-$10,000. $100 an hour for lessons ($2,000), $5,400 on the fitness program (based on the link provided) and the rest on incidentals. Of course that doesn’t take into account the time required which I estimate to be about 10-20 hours per week for a year for the fitness program, practice and instruction. Unlike Charles below I certainly believe someone could drop from the mid-90’s to the mid-70’s in a year if they had enough money and time to dedicate to a structured improvement program.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Hi Guys,
Yes, she spent money on my time and that with her fitness trainer, but it didn’t have to be that way. The underlying message is that if you identify your weaknesses and then work hard to get through them, you can improve. It’s not easy to do that alone. In her case and for those who are in a place where they can invest in a an expert coach or trainer it’s easier. At the same time, there are PLENTY of people who pay the money but don’t see results because they aren’t pushing themselves to make a change and be uncomfortable. I could have written the article on those people as well (it just wouldn’t have been as encouraging).
All in all, don’t get hung up on the money. Find your weaknesses and work on them. You’ll all see improvements if you can manage even that little bit.
Trill
ibo
Jul 5, 2017 at 6:22 am
Well, I’m not doubting your methods but I’m putting in the time while paying $10 a month on an instructors’ website and I’ve dropped from 19 to 11 in 5 months (I started playing July 2015 so 2 years now), and I’ve already broken 80 twice. I train 60% on short game and I hit the range twice a week (3h per week now, used to be more last year) plus at least 1 day of playing a week. So that’s 7-8h per week. I’d say I’ve put close to 1,500 golf hours of practice in two years but I’ve read / watched golf stuff extensively (I’d say another 300 hours). You need to read a lot but I can tell if you put in the time to do the research before going to the range you can correct yourself without needing to spend thousands of dollars. Just video yourself, learn to correct what’s wrong, the rules of ball flight and you should be good to go. Being fit to ingrain muscular memory helps but it’s definitely not key. Repetitions don’t come from a sculpted body, but from a correct motion, regardless if you are overweight or not.
Shane
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:18 am
It’s never easy to get better, and I’m sure she worked very hard. For me, going from 100 to 80 (20% decrease in score) was achieved with learning basic fundamentals, muscle memory, strength training, repetition, etc..Now trying to go from 80 to 72 (only 10% decrease in score) is so much harder. I think it becomes more mental, and you have to learn game management, especially between the ears. It took me 3 years to go from a 20 handicap to an 8, and I’ve been working for the last 5 years to go from an 8 to a 6. So much harder!
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Shane,
You’re right. It’s a lot easier to drop 20 strokes from a high number than a low number. It gets exponentially harder as you improve…
It sounds like you’ve been doing all the right things because you’ve whittled your index down to a 6. That’s very good!
Deadeye
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:04 am
I recall my fifteen (then) year old daughter dropped twenty shots in six months. Her first eighteen hole round with her high school golf team she shot 131. Shooting 110 was a big improvement. Over the next year she dropped to the mid nineties. By the end of her junior year it was 86-87 routinely.
Senior year the average was 82-84 with a tournament low of 78 with a 37 (one over) on the front nine. She is now 23 and easily shoots 82-85 only playing occasionally. I think this is closer to reality for most young players.
bigdawginva
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:28 am
I’m not following this article. Is this an advertisement for getting a fitness instructor, a K-Vest/K-player or “here’s what you may get out of your golf game if you spend $10,000 ($2,000 on lessons, $5,400 for the fitness program and incidentals) and dedicate 20 hours per week (fitness and practice) for a year? I’d love to do it if someone like Ms Rose and Mr Meisch were in my area. Maryland’s just a bit too far a commute. I have no doubt I could significantly drop my handicap in a year if I spent $10,000 and 20 hours a week on lessons and fitness instruction with K-Vest/K-Player. 20 shots? Probably not but I’m not a 90’s golfer. I’d be happy with 5 or 10.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Hi BigDawg,
Your response made me smile. Of course you don’t have to spend what she did, but in her case she needed to structure. Many people can do it on their own much like they are working out in a gym. You figure out what you need and stick with it. Golf is similar but sometimes it really helps to have a second set of eyes give feedback from time to time (that’s where I came in). And she wasn’t about to know how to really push herself to a place with her physical fitness that would get her where she needed to be either. So for her, the structure was key. But that’s not to say you need it or everyone needs it.
What you do need is a clear cut idea of what your weak areas are so you can focus on them. And then the discipline to grind it out.
Hoping for the best for you,
Trill
bigdawginva
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:47 pm
Actually, having access to the resources aside (instructors and money), I’m more interested in how the relationship and path to improvement started. Was it something like:
YOU: “Hello The Divine Miss M. Nice to meet you. So, before we begin, tell me where your golf game is at and what your goals are.”
THE DIVINE MISS M: “Well, Ms Rose, I’m a 90’s golfer and would like to be a 70’s golfer in a year. Can you help me do that?”
YOU: “Well, that’s certainly a lofty goal but you should be able to do it if you’re willing to commit to a structured program I’ll put together. I was watching you warm up and I can see that you will also need a structured fitness program consisting of several hours per week. Are you willing to make the commitment? If you are and don’t deviate from the structured plan I put together than I feel confident we can knock 20 strokes from your game in a year”.
Obviously this was simply a facetious example but I’m quite intrigued how that initial dialogue transpired and your subsequent times together. Did she tell you up front she wanted to shoot in the 70’s in tournament golf? At what point did you know she needed structure? Was that when you introduced her to a plan for improvement?
golfraven
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:27 am
Where should I sign up? That would get me to scratch pronto!
bigdawginva
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:47 am
Click on their links. Don’t forget the $8,000 for the lessons and fitness program.
Charles
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:20 am
Sorry! I don’t believe. To shoot in the 70’s you must have a set of skills: 1 – a good tee shot. 2 – hit crisp irons from a myriad of lies. 3- have a sharp short game and 4 – make putts. I used to be a single digit in 1978, back then I had plenty of spare time to practice and used to play 5 rounds/week. And it took years to get there under pro supervision. Drop 20 strokes in one year looks like fairy tale.
Michael
Jun 30, 2017 at 8:34 am
Played collegiate tennis so I might be disqualified, but I went from 90’s to 70’s in less than a year … but honestly who cares. This how I view this article and articles similar to this. It is very easy to get good at a sport but it is difficult to become great. While many people may shoot in the 70’s in their life, only a few will be able to shoot in the 60’s. A huge part of golf is course management and playing to your strengths. Unlike other sports, you are the sole reason for your success and most amateurs golfers are ridden with poor course management.
dapadre
Jun 30, 2017 at 11:30 am
Best reply so far! Play to your strengths and course management., If ppl would adhere to this they would see improvement.
Im athletic and since I have followed these two steps, with guidance from my golf pro,m I have seen improvement. Ppl should also have realistic goals as you pointed out. Mine was getting to single hcp. This was realistic based on a.o. things the time I had to invest into it.
For example, playing to your strengths, my coach actually forbids me from using a driver. I hit my 3W avg 245/255 in the fairway 9 out of 10. He said the couple of times you hit driver 290+ compared to your 3w, you are better off going with 3w. Also course management, knowing when to take your medicine and playing to your strengths.
Michael
Jun 30, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I wish people would post more articles about Course Management because watching professional golfers play hides these intricacies. For example most amateur golfers hit the green less than 5 times (don’t have exact statistics) but it’s where they hit these shots that demonstrates the even larger gap with the pros. Here’s a hypothetical: 180 par 3 over water that to clear is 175. Most pros would hit their 182 shot giving them a little margin for error where a miss hit crosses the water. While an amateur would grab their 6 iron which they probably hit 175 on a good shot resulting in them swinging off tempo and miss hitting the shot slightly into the water. There goes a minimum of 2 strokes maybe 3 on one hole. There is an abundance of scenarios I could describe such as trying to flop a shot because you watched Phil Mickelson hit it to a 1 yard landing area … most pros wouldn’t even consider shots like these let alone amateurs. My number one tip for friends is to be honest with yourself about what you’re good at because it no matter how bad you are you do have a natural affinity for certain aspects of the game.
John
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:50 am
It would be nice to know three things – (1) how old was the student; (2) how long had she been playing golf and (3) was she a reasonably successful athlete in some other sport? For an athlete under 30 who hadn’t spent years grooving a bad swing, this is still a great success, but absolutely believable. For a couch potato in her 40’s or older who had been playing for over a decade, it would be a miracle.
Bishop
Jun 30, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Greg Norman is a very rare, but very possible example of one person who had the drive to pick up golf and become a professional in 18 months. Dropping 20 strokes is definitely possible. However, it will require time, money (usually), the proper game plan, and dedication.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Hi Charles,
To be fair, she was starting with a high score. But the fact that she shot such a dramatically low score at the same tournament a year later is noteworthy. That doesn’t mean she will never shoot anything above those scores, or still have things to work on, of course not. But it’s interesting nonetheless to track what she did… and that was the purpose of the article.
I agree with Michael below that it’s really hard to go from good to great. VERY hard. And most people will never get there…
Joe
Jun 30, 2017 at 7:16 am
The article is a bit anticlimatic… So she worked on fitness with a personal trainer?? what about specific golf drills to improve her swing, or short game? Or specific game plans when playing a course… I know it will be different for each individual but non-blanketed anecdotes would make it more insightful.
Trillium
Jun 30, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Hi Joe,
I thought it would be distracting to have specifics since the point isn’t to do what she did, but to have the same clear headed game plan combined with grit and perserverence. As a full time instructor I see many people who pay a lot of money to see me, NOT get better because they lack the aforementioned. I have students who know exactly what they need to do, they just don’t have the motivation to do it… so they don’t improve that much.
Because you asked, here is what we worked on:
She was hyper flexible at the top of her swing so she had a reverse pivot. This made me very nervous about the longevity of her game if her back would be stressed out over time. It also lead to an over-the-top cast. So I had her work on her abdominals and feel like her backswing was about half as long.
From there we could work on her club dynamics through impact. Because of the cast, her shaft lean was not ideal (scoopy). So we worked on half shots where she felt like the handle was more ahead of the ball through impact.
Once her core became stronger she could utilize the ground to create a more powerful kinematic sequence. Originally her upper body was so loosey-goosey that her legs had very little involvement. So after tightening up her backswing and then feeling a better approach path with the club on the forward swing into impact (from the inside instead of outside), she could use her legs, glutes, and abs to create power.
Intermixed through this we worked on putting and chipping..
Hope this helps,
Trill