Instruction

How to avoid the learning plateau

Published

12 years ago

Feb 21, 2014

You’ve started playing better golf and you’re on the verge of achieving your goals. You’re hitting more fairways and greens. Your handicap is dropping quickly. Your buddies are asking whether you’ve been taking lessons. More importantly, you feel confident and content on the course. Then the plateau arrives, and your development grinds to a screeching halt.

After a period of improvement, progress naturally slows. The final stretch is always the hardest. And when you’ve become accustomed to improvement, a plateau can feel like a brick wall you’ll never break through.

Happily, this isn’t the end. Here’s how to push past the plateau and take your game to the next level.

Get a Coach and Develop a Plan

If you’re seriously committed to getting better, the first step is to work with a qualified instructor. If you’re already working with one, continue to do so. If not, get started as soon as possible.

Apart from the obvious benefits of having a coach (swing tips, real-time feedback, advice on strategy), a key advantage of working with an instructor is the chance to formulate a personalized improvement plan that you can follow in your own time. Your plan should include basic drills for ball striking, short game and putting which, if performed properly and often, will turbocharge your development as a player.

Your improvement plan should form the foundation of your training routine, but don’t get too regimented or obsessive with it. Your training routine should be in a constant state of evolution, with an emphasis on addressing longstanding weaknesses and solving current problems.

Once you have a plan in place, follow it closely and check in with your instructor every few weeks to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments. Sessions with your instructor will not only keep your swing on track, but they’ll also keep you accountable and serve as important milestones along your journey to becoming a better player.

Stay the Course

Understand that progress takes time. The reality is that you won’t shave five strokes off your handicap by next week, but you might shave 0.05 strokes off in that time, and then another 0.05 the week after that if you do the work.

It is easy to become bored, frustrated and impatient when you’re training hard and not seeing any improvement. It is even easier to question whether your training routine is working, or to deviate from that routine, especially if your game regresses (which it is likely to do if you’re making big changes). These urges must be resisted if you want to get past the plateau and continue to improve.

In the words of Tiger Woods, trust the process. Some improvements might be invisible to the naked eye, but they are real and they add up over time. Remember that each round is different, and a few bad rounds don’t mean that you’re suddenly a bad golfer.

Increase the Intensity of Your Practice Routine

Plateaus occur when we fail to adapt to changing circumstances.

Take a body builder, for example. In order to grow his chest, he bench presses 200 pounds for three sets of eight reps. The workout is desperately hard, but it makes his chest muscles grow significantly. Eventually his chest muscles adapt, the workout becomes easy and his growth slows. If he wants to continue to grow, he needs to increase the intensity of the workout by adding weight, increasing the number of sets or increasing the number of reps (or a combination of the above).

The same principles apply to golf. The drills that helped you drop from a 10 handicap to a 5 handicap won’t necessarily get you from a 5 handicap to a scratch unless you increase their intensity.

There are three main ways of increasing the intensity of golf training.

The first is to make your target more difficult to hit.

If you hit range balls toward a target (say, a green 150 yards away), you should limit your target to a certain half of that green, or perhaps hit toward a longer target (say, a green 180 yards away).

The second is to increase your repetitions by setting a goal of hitting your target multiple times in a row.

If you previously accepted hitting the target once, aim to hit it three times in a row before allowing yourself to aim at another target. Once you consistently hit the target three times in a row, aim to hit it five times in a row.

The third (and probably the most fun) is to use different clubs or different shots.

Instead of hitting a straight 8 iron to that green 150 yards away, try hitting it with your 7 iron. Better still, try to hit it with a low fade or a high draw. Challenge yourself to hit different shots on the range and you’ll soon become more adept at controlling your golf ball on the course.

Never allow yourself to settle into a comfort zone. To get maximum improvement, all drills should be difficult but achievable.

Compete

Compete on the course and off it. Keep records of all your rounds and try to reach specific goals or beat previous records. If your best score at your home course is 75, aim for 74 every time you tee it up and reward yourself when you get there.

Similarly, keep logs of your training drills and try to beat previous records. If your standard short putting drill is making 10 in a row from 3 feet, then next time you get to 10, keep going and see how many you can make in a row. Eventually your standard drill should grow to 15 or 20 in a row from 4 or 5 feet.

One of the best ways of getting over a plateau is to play with better players. Try to find a partner who plays at a slightly higher level than you and challenge yourself to beat him or her in a match or a certain statistical category (you don’t even have to tell them that you’re competing). Even if you don’t win, you might pick up some handy hints that will serve you well in your quest to get better.

Change It Up

An actively engaged player will improve faster than a bored one, so train creatively.

Visit a different driving range, play a new course and find a new short game area. Practice in the morning instead of the afternoon. Try a new drill you read about in a magazine. You’d be surprised at the big difference a small change can make to your mental state.

A key benefit of changing your surroundings is that it can introduce new challenges that expand your skillset. A different practice green will require you to brush up on your green reading skills and test your distance control. A different range will have different targets, which could help you improve with clubs you don’t often use. A different short game area might allow you to play shots you don’t often try.

Working on new skills in a new environment is unquestionably one of the keys to getting past a plateau. Best of all, a change of venue might introduce you to some new people, and who couldn’t use a new golf buddy?

Look For Improvements Away From the Range

One of the worst things about hitting a plateau is that no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to improve. However, if you look closely, you’ll identify opportunities for incremental improvements everywhere that don’t include swinging the club.

You can probably find another few hundredths of a stroke per round by improving your body through enhanced nutrition and hydration, or engaging in golf-specific strength, flexibility or endurance exercises.

Most players can benefit from additional course research prior to each round (Google Earth is a great tool, as are course websites and traditional yardage books), or advanced statistical analysis of recent rounds to identify the areas which are holding you back.

Maybe it’s time to invest in new or properly fitted clubs, or to clean the grips on the clubs you’ve got. Are you using the correct balls for your game? Do you know your exact distances for each club? Do you know if you tend to play better in a cart or walking? Do you miss more putts short, left or right? Do you have a good pre-round warm-up routine? Do you engage in any mental training or reading about the game?

Regardless of your expertise, there is almost always something you can do to get a little bit better that doesn’t require you to hit more balls.

Play

Perhaps the most important aspect of any golfer’s improvement plan is playing the game. Practice is only valuable if you can apply the lessons on the course. Play as often as your schedule will allow so that you can gauge the state of your game and know what areas of your game require the most work.

Chances are, if you’re practicing hard away from the course, the plateau is actually just another phase in the cycle of improvement, and you’ll soon be shooting lower scores once again. But if you truly are stuck in a rut, adopt some or all of the tips listed here and you’ll be back on track in no time.

Instruction

How to play your best golf when the temperature drops

Published

3 months ago

Feb 3, 2026

Brendon Elliott

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!

Instruction

3 lessons from Brooks Koepka that’ll actually lower your score

Published

3 months ago

Feb 2, 2026

Brendon Elliott

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.

Instruction

What we can learn from Blades Brown’s impressive American Express performance

Published

3 months ago

Jan 29, 2026

Brendon Elliott

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.