walking up by the green with the wrong club for the pitch shot; realizing you SHOULD walk back to the cart for the right club but instead try to use that wrong club thinking you can pull it off.
My habit is to be looking at my lie and line to the hole as I approach the green....Good procedure to follow: Grab putter and my wedges. Once I have taken my shot, I leave my wedges at the edge of the green on a direct line from the hole back to the cart. Saves time and I will never leave a club behind.
What about hitting a 6 instead of a 9 and putting it to 3 feet and briefly thinking you're a great golfer before realising it wasn't a 9 and that you just chunked a 6 LOL!
I have a brother in law who constantly mocked me for hitting two or three more clubs than him into the green. e.g. "I hit wedge, what did you hit? SEVEN???? What a wimp." (I have a twelve foot birdie putt, he is the front bunker.) He made me play from the back tees one day. I managed my game to an 83. He shot 92. I just don't play with him anymore.
My most common mistake: noticing on the tee shot while I'm ready to hit that my ball is too high or too low on the tee, and being too lazy to correct and do my routine again. 100 % chance of bad shot following
Thinking about the score or results rather than the current shot. This sometimes happens to me after a really good shot causing me to follow it up with a bad one.
Number 8, it depends on the club you’re hitting and the arc of the trajectory. A good rule is for every yard of elevation add half a yard to your distance. And the opposite is true for downhill shots.
These are great tips that took me years to learn from better players (especially when talking medal play course management). -Sounds insanely obvious, but always ID your ball. I have had caddies and spectators find my ball only to realize it is not when getting to the green. -As you said, avoid compounding mistakes. If you hit a bad shot, play for bogey. You may come out with a par. But you’ll avoid double and triple bogies. Has helped me make a lot of cuts in amateur events.
Aww man…. I never use more loft than is required. Your scores will thank you for it. Let the “shot” dictate the club. Never try to manipulate the wrong club for the shot. I’m very disappointed if I leave a chip more than 4 feet away. I’ll use anywhere from a 9i to a 57*. Practice with different clubs to get the feel of how far they roll out. It will knock at least 5 shots off your score on average. Trust me.
Going for the hero low percentage shot which ive made a handful of times instead of the smarter play to save bogey.. but it's sure a lot more fun to pull off the hero shot
You take the time to read a putt and adjust the line on your ball to the line of the putt...then you change your read and line when you are standing over the ball.
When I got new clubs I took them to the range to test and record how far I could hit. Not thinking about the not so great range balls. First Iron shot on the course and it went 15 yards past the flag.
I tried to pull off a miracle 5 wood on the last hole of my round yesterday. If I had punched out from behind the tree I could have easily taken bogey instead of the triple that ruined my round. Ego kills!
When you decide to lay up then often you subconsciously take the pressure and tension off of yourself and then make a more smooth and relaxed swing that can result in you finding the sweet spot and making really good contact, which in turn ends up with your ball going that be farther than intended.
I'm 73yo with bad legs, ankles and back. As a result, I haven't been able to golf in Many years. But, I still enjoy learning what I should have done. Thank You for talking to we golfers as intelligent adults that have Not just taken up the game.
Mistake #1, focusing too much and not enjoying the round. You are out, you play golf and you should enjoy it instead of putting to much pressure of making a certain score or whatever.
@@hankvoight3326 So? What's that got to do with the price of fish? Golf is, first and foremost, recreational. It it only a very small proportion of golfers who ever play formal competitions of any sort.
I use the laser rangefinder and sometimes disregard the distance shown. I am almost always over the green if I use one club less. I also rush my putts. I know I shouldn’t but still do. Good video
Good video I would add when on a par 4 we go for the driver or 3 wood most times. When if you took a 5 or 6 iron off tee wood leave a better shot to green where the woods end up in rough or tree. Hope this helps
Great list! #5, the one about the fairway bunker, is good advice for stroke play. For match play maybe not so. There will be times in that format where you have to throw caution to the wind.
I find that I begin to get tired by the 12th hole. My distance suffers yet I still use the same clubs without adjusting for the decrease in club head speed.
Relatable. The 'guy who takes twelve practice swings and then still Duff's it and the swing looks totally different' is missing, as is the person who knows they slice/hook but still aims down the middle and gets confused why they end up in the bushes all the time? But my favorite is the 'tee it up too high guy' who pops it straight up in the air on most tee shots. Half a ball higher and no more is needed!
When playing uphill or downhill lies forgetting to take into account additional or reduced clubhead loft. Sometimes to disastrous effect (e.g. hitting a fairway wood from downhill straight into a pond instead of over it).
There is one important point you could add about under-clubbing uphill shots. Most uphill shots are also hit from an uphill lie. If so, you must add that into your calculation. I see many players add one club for such a shot wondering why they still came up short.
Nice bit of advice I'll bet I've made all those mistakes at sometime or another and probably still do time to give myself a good shake I think and get a grip that looks a nice course
I remember Butch Harmon saying he could lower the scores of his trainee pros by a couple of shots a round if he could remove all the flags prior to them playing so they cant see where the hole is cut. Aim for the middle of the green every time and you'll hit far more. Great tip for us all I reckon.
99% of amateurs think they hit the ball farther than they actually do. Lay up tip. Take 2 clubs less then you need to reach trouble. i.e. you hit a 7 into the bunker, you might just reach it with an 8 as well. But more importantly, how far out do you want to be? What's your best distance? Hit it to that distance, no further. Why leave 50 yds, when you hit a great wedge from 90 yds?
This kind of thinking has helped my game tremendously over the last few rounds as a new golfer. Been aiming to leave myself 125-140 yards for my approach as my 9i and pwedge are my 'best' clubs. Has resulted in more fairways and lower scores since I can tee off with an iron on most par 4s.
And of course the other thing is, you always hit lay up shots absolutely pure. There's a lesson there somewhere, but I've played 33 years and cannot learn it.
If 99% of golfers think they hit the ball farther than they do, if they take the club that they think will reach the trouble, they'll come up short every time, right?
Under reading the break on a putt, better to go in on the high side than the low, not knowing how far you hit each club, not thinking what side of the fairway to play into off the tee which means not giving yourself any green to work with, the list goes on
Item 4 - Laying up. I find that I often get this wrong because if I play an 'easy' swing at the ball I strike it better and it goes further than usual, as opposed to trying to whack it and not making good contact.
Sometimes turning up was a mistake lol however my personal favorite is reading the putt from every angle then leaving it 5ft short on line or 5ft past, cheers.
I always check the markers against my laser on the first couple holes, especially on new course. #4 of laying up to leave a convenient yardage to center of green is absolutely gold. And as Ben Hogan said, the middle of the green is always in the same place.
Oh yeah.....And, as a measure of good sportsmanship, your fellow players should be kind enough to remind you to do so. I had this happen to me in a tournament. I was in second place on the third to last hole. The leader was in my group,. I hit two good shots into #10( our last hole was #13). Anyway, I was asked to move and mark my ball. I forget to replace my ball. The other two guys in our group had already putted out and returned to their cart. The other guy, the one who asked me to move my ball from his line, said nothing. I Putt out for par. He made bogey. I was now just one shot behind. We begin driving to the next hole when he says to me that I forgot to replace my ball. After a moment, I was not fully aware of the penalty. So I went back and finished the hole from the best location of where my ball should have been. This is incorrect as I discovered after reading the rule. Not the point. I am a competitor. I am also a good sport. I don't subscribe to gamesmanship. THat's almost as bad as cheating. And playing games makes one a prick. I would have reminded a player to not forget to properly replace his ball. It just courtesy and respect. Yes, I fully realize that each of us has sole responsibility to play by the rules. And we are responsible for our play. But THIS was bull crap. I lost to the guy by two stokes. I saw him at a few more events. I refused to speak to him.
The layup I was laughing that's me I played both days this weekend was 250 out both times topped my wood straight into a hazard each time I told my self should have hit an 8 iron to about 100yds 😂😂😂
Par 5's, Laying up to 100ish yards is so smart, but the rule I have for myself is, 230 or less, no trouble, give it a go. Biggest challenge, stay away from trouble.
First stupid mistake- Not taking lessons from a competent instructor if your goal is to become a good player. The only exceptions I know of are Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Second stupid mistake- Taking advice from your friends and other hackers that can't break 90 to save their lives or those you bet with on the course.
I would add 2: 1. Standing on the tee and knowing you are not even, or your foot is in depression, or the ball is teed a little too high, and thinking, it's Ok I can hit it anyway instead of backing off and making the needed corrections. 2. For amateurs picking the correct tee box is crucial to enjoying your round. I see too many people pick the tee box by the length and how far they drive the ball instead of by their handicap. I have played with too many people who I call are all drive but no arrive. Sure, they hit 300 yds drives, but you never know where they are going. And then they really have no short to middle game. So they shoot 98 or 101 and are miserable the entire time. I realize this video may have been geared towards tournament play. But wanted to add this for amateurs like myself.
I have a different distance problem when hitting at a range. The balls are harder and don’t fly as far as the balls I use on the course. I then find myself swinging harder on the range to make my 7 iron for example go as far as it does out on the course.
solid points. i like #6 as i have friends that hit their irons so far and its annoying in a way when its 150+ and theyre pulling out a pitching wedge and i have my 7 iron. but like you said it doesnt matter how you get there, as long as you get there.tbh i think that hitting your irons that far is almost a bad thing. great for long distance yes but it creats a bigger gap in shorter distance clubs. for instance id much rather do a full swing with my 56degree wedge to get me 80 yards, than them having to use a higher lofted wedge and anything but a full swing. also, your recovery shot on #2 is an amazing shot and a bad example of your point tho. you should have laid up but went for it and made it safely.
Agreed, a full swing is easier than a touch feel shot. Especially if you're not comfortable using the "clock" system. I like 9:00 for 100 yards, 52 degree wedge. I'm with you on the 150 7 iron, All day long.
#6...not ego-picking the wrong club...by itself lowered my handicap by about 4 strokes. I'm getting older and my clubhead speed is less than 10 years ago. So, I've adjusted my distances and I am now much more accurate than ever before.
Great video, I’ve been there on all of those. Add grabbing the 6 iron instead of the 9 iron or vice versa. As the ball sails over the green I’m thinking, “Damn! I’ve never hit a 9 iron that far!”
The amount you have to add on raised shots varies with every club you play as well as even the type of clubs you have and the ball you are playing. Your play style (spin+power) and the temperature will also be factors shots with high arcs and high spin will need less ajustment than longer shots. For example a lob wedge is coming straight down when it lands where as a 3 Iron will inevitably encounter a greater degree of resistance.
Toughest thing for me is to get out of my own head. I seem to focus so much on the little details to make a good swing that it doesn't happen all too often... If I could just relax, and trust my body that it knows what to do, then better things are going to happen.
The main thing that I see my playing partners do is come up short 95% of the time, on approach shots. This is nuts to me! Not sure if it’s an ego thing, or just always playing to hit that particular club absolutely perfect every time. I’ll sometimes hit 2 extra clubs(at least 1), than my buddies. However, I’m long as often as I am short, while they’re ALWAYS a mile short. My scores reflect this. While they talk about hitting their pitching wedge 160 yards that one time, all day, I’m shooting around par, and beating them by 10. Haha And as far as forgetting about speed, on a makeable putt…. I take my practice strokes imagining that I hit the putt, then simply “repeat” that stroke, once I dial it in. That takes speed out of the equation. Then, I can solely concentrate on starting the ball perfectly on my spot.
"Add a few extra yards when you play uphill" there's so many great holes at chautauqua country club, but one has a drive over a creek, then an iron to an elevated green.. elevation of 120 feet. With no space to miss behind it.
My home golf course has a lot of large trees with branches that reach out a ways. I quite often forget to look at overhead branches when I pull out my pitching wedge for a high approach. 🤦♂️
"...it's hard to do sometimes when you're a bit annoyed and the red mist is descending." I love that imagery. I never heard it put in those words, "red mist". Love it and will be using that phrase.
From The Free Dictionary: red mist A state of extreme anger, excitement, or competitive arousal, such as might cloud one's judgment or senses. Primarily heard in UK.
I sometimes forget about the wind, especially gentle wind from behind or ahead. Also, seeing the general direction of the green on fairway shots to gauge how fast a ball will stop. Also, forget to assess my lie on approach shots. Also forget my preshot routine and thus rushing my shot. Also, hitting it fat because I swing too hard instead of easy swing w a long club.
Spending too much time overthinking the shot with practice swings then when you actually take the shot because you got so much in your head you fat the shot and don’t make clean contact. Not only does this frustrate yourself it frustrates your playing partner slows down play and ruins your game.
Missed a one foot putt today in the comp doing almost exactly what Neill showed in the video - cost me the gross win and left me at 36 points net exactly. Oops! ;-)
This is an outstanding video: wish I could Like twice. The lay up advice and avoidance of the heroic, if applied, will shave a few shots off my next round, for which I thank you.
Not checking what club you actually have in your hand, and hitting (say) a 6 instead of a 9. I've done that, hit the perfect shot, got excited while it's in the air, and then look on in disbelief as it goes into the bushes over the green.
Forgetting to use a pencil with a eraser!!!!!!!!!! I have been told 97% of all average golfers shots end up short. So I always hit an extra club. It is amazing how much better I became! Once a round I over hit a green.
I think just getting up to the ball on a lay-up and not picking a specific target...with no focus I often hit the ball way off line...occasionally I even do it with a driver if it a wide open fairway
Here's one I see far too many people do: When the pin is in the front of the green, people hit the club that goes that exact distance only when you hit a full shot perfectly. There are several things wrong with doing this. 1. Unless you're hitting a very lofted club, you have to consider you need some roll to get to that "exact" distance, and most people don't take that into account. For a longer club, that means the roll has to start before the green, and if there is a bunker or soft ground in front of the green, you just found it (and not the green). 2. How often do amateurs actually hit it the full distance for any given club? If you club up one and hit it flush, the worst that will happen is you hit the back part of the green, but you're still putting. If you hit it a little short, you're pin high! But...... 3. If you don't hit the full distance you were trying for when aiming for a front pin, you're now off the green AND short-sided (possibly in a bunker or swale too) which is the worst place to be around the green.
Been playing since I was 4 I’m 19 now ... always had a slice and I’m a lefty golfer... got some tips from my cousin saying that my head club was closed and not open when I would swing and it would just go left or right... gotten better but my slice is still there any tips on how to fix my slice ???
Uphill or Downhill approach shots... a good rule is every 15 feet of rise, add 1 club. 15 feet of fall for downhill shot, decrease 1 club than your normal club. If you had a 45 foot rise, you would add 3 clubs to what you would normally hit for the measured yardage for example.
When you are setting up, you feel that something isn’t quite right in the set up. But will you stand up from ball and start again? No you carry on and duff the shot. Hardest thing in world to do is stop your routine and start again.
Just hit the ball on my practice chip swing today!!!!!!!!!! So frustrating! The worst part was trying to tell the others, who didn't see, that this was my practice swing :-)
Feeling chuffed with myself somewhere on the back-9 for still using the ball I started the round with.. Guaranteed to be lost within the next 5 shots. Also, dreaming of my 1st "Hole-in-One" on every par 3 tee box, and then walking off with a ring
Biggest mistake play within your limits and don’t try to match players who are much better than you. Its easy to lose your head when people in your group have Tee’d off perfect shots with their driver on the middle of the fairway 270 to 290 yards. It’s now your turn and you know you are not as good as them and have a bit of slice when you hit it full power. Best thing to do here is to think layup. So just hit 220 yards middle of fairway smooth and relaxed. No point for trying to hit it 280 when you know your swing is never accurate at that yardage. Play within your limits and play to your strengths. Don’t try to match people who play from scratch it ends in disaster and frustration
I won a knockout final (matchplay) against a higher handicapper once like this. I had to give him 21 shots but he kept trying to belt the shit out of everything to keep up with me. After I won 4 & 3 the pressure was off him and he got 3 and 4 points per hole on the remaining holes. All as he had to do was play his own game, not mine.
Jpgundarun Exactly when a golfer plays to his strengths he doesn’t need to belt the shit out of it. For example you can easily make up ground and recover on a great second shot. As long as you have power with control and your short game is solid you can have a great round. People get too jealous when they see a big driver shot, they start comparing cock size and get into an unnecessary battle of trying to hit longer beyond their ability. Always play your smooth controlled game and you will catch up or if you don’t accept you are playing with a much better player and be a sportsman for god sake!!
because I did it this weekend I'd add taking the wrong club out of the bag. this weekend in a stableford I hit a perfect shot with a fairway wood and wondered why it hadn't gone as far as I expected. Well, it would have if I'd used the 3 wood I meant to use instead of the 5 wood I actually used! when I started playing as a boy my uncle always said to me with a bunker the only rule to worry about was "don't try to be clever, just get out of it" but I'd say number one stupid mistake is not knowing how far you actually hit your clubs.
Hitting the ball on practice and just get it out of the trap are for everyone, a lot of the other stuff is for people who see pros and enter club tournaments. Hitting 3 chips inside 20 yards on a public course (dub it short, line drive it over) with less than ideal grass off the green adds a lot of stokes. Not marking the ball on green, then lining up the line on the ball with your 'line' like the pros, I quote 'line' because my lines outside of 3 feet are terrible but being 5 degrees off that 'line' is worse. Hitting a 40 foot put more than 10 feet left or right of the hole also adds a lot of strokes.
I played with a deaf bloke that kept doing this. I finally yelled at him 'You're a foot in front!!' He replied, 'You can call me all the names you want, I'm still 3 up'
I have an idea what the answer is, but you should clarify the better option for #8. For example, walking 20 yards back for a full sand wedge shot from a dry lie.
The gurus who give you 3-4 swing thoughts! When you are over the ball, clear your mind or say just take the club back smoothly, if you have multiple swing thoughts going through your head at this stage you are going to stuff the shot up. Have 2 good practice swings and then go for it.
(1) Playing with a long hitter and trying to hit the cover off the ball instead of playing your own game. (2) Trying to tee up high with a gusty wind behind you and launching the ball into outer space (3) rushing your putt because other player(s) are finished and on their way off green (4) running out your car onto the tee ill prepared physically or mentally (5) not concentrating on a wayward drive's ending because you're raging mad, then lose a ball or hold up the group (6) running out of balls because you never checked your stock (7) not wearing sun lotion (8) leaving your wedge on the side of the green while you go to putt and forgetting it (9) forgetting who's honour it is on the tee - the embarrassment (10) thinking about Paige Spiranac at any time during your round.
Playing the wrong ball from the rough ,check brand, number and for any distinguishing marks or logos,also identify your ball to your playing partners on the 1st tee.Senior golfers with poor eye sight and poor memory,you know it makes sense
At number 1, surely Rule 9.4a comes into play and the ball is replaced with no penalty as no “stroke” was played and the ball was moved accidentally? Any thoughts?
Wind. Most people don't understand or fully respect the effects of wind on a ball. Whether it be how wind and spin affect the distance and flight characteristics on full shots, as that relates to club slection, shot shape, trajectory, etc. Or especially on and around the green. Downhill-downwind chips and putts are faster than they would be in calm conditions, and the opposite is true. Cross-breezes also affect the line. Sounds obvious, but it's seldom given its proper consideration.
With a 5-iron, hooking a hanging lie above the feet from the right rough to the left rough or worse, OB. With the same 5I, slicing (or YIKES-Shank) a ball below the feet from the left rough to the right rough. Better to use a wedge and just get it on the FW.
One thing I'm seeing others do a lot that I used to do is when your game isn't going that well, to just start doing things that will make your game worse. Why tee off next to the trees if you can tee off further away from the trees. If you sent your ball in the woods, your next stroke shouldn't be a razor thin line along the edge of the trees. If you're having trouble with chip shots and you end up near the green with really flat grass, don't chip it with a wedge, use an 8 iron chip shot or putt it. It's not any of these specifically, but that when your game starts going a little badly, I see too many people who just start making bad decisions that are really obvious. If I had to sum it, it's "Don't give up the rest of your round because of one or two bad holes."
walking up by the green with the wrong club for the pitch shot; realizing you SHOULD walk back to the cart for the right club but instead try to use that wrong club thinking you can pull it off.
My habit is to be looking at my lie and line to the hole as I approach the green....Good procedure to follow: Grab putter and my wedges. Once I have taken my shot, I leave my wedges at the edge of the green on a direct line from the hole back to the cart. Saves time and I will never leave a club behind.
I have done that many times.
@@patersonplankrd I just carry the wedge with me and place it on the edge of the green in the path of the cart
And seemingly never pull it off 😂
LMAO
Hitting a 6 instead of a 9 and watching the ball go 40 yards past the hole . . .
Oh... Great call! Doesn't happen often but when it does...
What about hitting a 6 instead of a 9 and putting it to 3 feet and briefly thinking you're a great golfer before realising it wasn't a 9 and that you just chunked a 6 LOL!
Done that a few times! I keep the two of them as far apart as possible in the bag.
Or hitting a perfect 6 on a par 3 covering the flag all the way, watching it end up way short and then realising it was a 9 😳
That’s why they have lines under the numbers so you don’t get confused
Driving 45 minutes to the course and then driving 45 minutes back to get your clubs.
... then going back again to get your shoes! Ha ha
Steve's Place doh!
Never left my clubs at home but probably at least once per 18 I leave a pitching wedge on a green and have to cart my sorry ass back for it.
@@InWitheNew same lol
chance DO
One of the best comments here is about not caring what club other players are using.
Oh yeah....I tell my golfing buddies. "I have no ego to bruise"....
I have a brother in law who constantly mocked me for hitting two or three more clubs than him into the green. e.g. "I hit wedge, what did you hit? SEVEN???? What a wimp." (I have a twelve foot birdie putt, he is the front bunker.) He made me play from the back tees one day. I managed my game to an 83. He shot 92. I just don't play with him anymore.
@@tannhauser7584 sounds like a twat.
@@tannhauser7584 My guess is that he's a manager that has to control everything, and when things go bad blame's it on someone else.
You can ask what they hit and what they normally hit that club-that’s a big help. I this case, he sounds like a jerk
My most common mistake: noticing on the tee shot while I'm ready to hit that my ball is too high or too low on the tee, and being too lazy to correct and do my routine again. 100 % chance of bad shot following
I've done that too or standing on an uneven patch of grass while you tee off and being too lazy to change the tee location lol
yes!
I did this twice yesterday, lol. Once was with an iron on a par 3 - "I'll just make sure to hit down in it still?". 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
only if you suck
Thinking about the score or results rather than the current shot. This sometimes happens to me after a really good shot causing me to follow it up with a bad one.
Thats a great point!
"causing you"? you mean...your own thoughts causing you to hit a bad shot? LOL
@@touristguy87 That’s literally what he said. Are you slow?
@@CertifiedPG idiot what else is responsible for his bad shots than his own thoughts?
Me Monday. Looked at the scorecard and noticed I was +9 after 6 and got really excited then went to the 7th hole and +4'd the hole.
Number 8, it depends on the club you’re hitting and the arc of the trajectory. A good rule is for every yard of elevation add half a yard to your distance. And the opposite is true for downhill shots.
These are great tips that took me years to learn from better players (especially when talking medal play course management).
-Sounds insanely obvious, but always ID your ball. I have had caddies and spectators find my ball only to realize it is not when getting to the green.
-As you said, avoid compounding mistakes. If you hit a bad shot, play for bogey. You may come out with a par. But you’ll avoid double and triple bogies. Has helped me make a lot of cuts in amateur events.
I've done them all! You've left out one really important one, I think...Using a lofted club green-side when a bump and run is the percentage play!!
I do that 10 for 10
I agree. Bump n run is usually the better shot 7 out 10.
Amen, brother!
Aww man…. I never use more loft than is required. Your scores will thank you for it. Let the “shot” dictate the club. Never try to manipulate the wrong club for the shot. I’m very disappointed if I leave a chip more than 4 feet away. I’ll use anywhere from a 9i to a 57*. Practice with different clubs to get the feel of how far they roll out. It will knock at least 5 shots off your score on average. Trust me.
Going for the hero low percentage shot which ive made a handful of times instead of the smarter play to save bogey.. but it's sure a lot more fun to pull off the hero shot
you could just ask your playing partners to give you a bad score and save everyone time
Biggest killer of my scorecard! Am trying to cut those out..
You take the time to read a putt and adjust the line on your ball to the line of the putt...then you change your read and line when you are standing over the ball.
You have a birdieputt and youre so obsessed with that putt and go for it and end up 2 yards past....and with a bogey..
3:05 "The red mist is descending." Brilliant. Know that mist all too well!
Yep, I have a hard time keeping my temper and not beating myself up.
When I got new clubs I took them to the range to test and record how far I could hit. Not thinking about the not so great range balls. First Iron shot on the course and it went 15 yards past the flag.
Oh man, I didnt even think about the range balls being rocks. Nice tip
I tried to pull off a miracle 5 wood on the last hole of my round yesterday. If I had punched out from behind the tree I could have easily taken bogey instead of the triple that ruined my round. Ego kills!
We've all done it!
When you decide to lay up then often you subconsciously take the pressure and tension off of yourself and then make a more smooth and relaxed swing that can result in you finding the sweet spot and making really good contact, which in turn ends up with your ball going that be farther than intended.
I'm 73yo with bad legs, ankles and back. As a result, I haven't been able to golf in Many years. But, I still enjoy learning what I should have done. Thank You for talking to we golfers as intelligent adults that have Not just taken up the game.
Mistake #1, focusing too much and not enjoying the round. You are out, you play golf and you should enjoy it instead of putting to much pressure of making a certain score or whatever.
Yes, well said
I think it’s fun to compete and shoot low scores.
Can’t even stress this enough, so accurate
You’ve obviously never played college golf
@@hankvoight3326 So? What's that got to do with the price of fish?
Golf is, first and foremost, recreational. It it only a very small proportion of golfers who ever play formal competitions of any sort.
I use the laser rangefinder and sometimes disregard the distance shown. I am almost always over the green if I use one club less. I also rush my putts. I know I shouldn’t but still do. Good video
Good video
I would add when on a par 4 we go for the driver or 3 wood most times. When if you took a 5 or 6 iron off tee wood leave a better shot to green where the woods end up in rough or tree. Hope this helps
Yip that would be my biggest mistake! 🙂
Just play to somewhere 100-150 yards, easy swing for GIR. Such a hard concept for most players.
Great list! #5, the one about the fairway bunker, is good advice for stroke play. For match play maybe not so. There will be times in that format where you have to throw caution to the wind.
Neil, a simple rule for slope is +/- 1 club length for every 15' change in elevation.
I find that I begin to get tired by the 12th hole. My distance suffers yet I still use the same clubs without adjusting for the decrease in club head speed.
Relatable. The 'guy who takes twelve practice swings and then still Duff's it and the swing looks totally different' is missing, as is the person who knows they slice/hook but still aims down the middle and gets confused why they end up in the bushes all the time? But my favorite is the 'tee it up too high guy' who pops it straight up in the air on most tee shots. Half a ball higher and no more is needed!
When playing uphill or downhill lies forgetting to take into account additional or reduced clubhead loft. Sometimes to disastrous effect (e.g. hitting a fairway wood from downhill straight into a pond instead of over it).
There is one important point you could add about under-clubbing uphill shots. Most uphill shots are also hit from an uphill lie. If so, you must add that into your calculation. I see many players add one club for such a shot wondering why they still came up short.
Good point Rick
Excellent video, I have done most of those mistakes ! But in future I will try to use your good advice and hopefully save a few shots. Thank you
Nice bit of advice I'll bet I've made all those mistakes at sometime or another and probably still do time to give myself a good shake I think and get a grip that looks a nice course
I remember Butch Harmon saying he could lower the scores of his trainee pros by a couple of shots a round if he could remove all the flags prior to them playing so they cant see where the hole is cut. Aim for the middle of the green every time and you'll hit far more. Great tip for us all I reckon.
99% of amateurs think they hit the ball farther than they actually do.
Lay up tip. Take 2 clubs less then you need to reach trouble. i.e. you hit a 7 into the bunker, you might just reach it with an 8 as well. But more importantly, how far out do you want to be? What's your best distance? Hit it to that distance, no further. Why leave 50 yds, when you hit a great wedge from 90 yds?
This kind of thinking has helped my game tremendously over the last few rounds as a new golfer. Been aiming to leave myself 125-140 yards for my approach as my 9i and pwedge are my 'best' clubs. Has resulted in more fairways and lower scores since I can tee off with an iron on most par 4s.
And of course the other thing is, you always hit lay up shots absolutely pure.
There's a lesson there somewhere, but I've played 33 years and cannot learn it.
If 99% of golfers think they hit the ball farther than they do, if they take the club that they think will reach the trouble, they'll come up short every time, right?
That''s a really long explanation of "course management"
Under reading the break on a putt, better to go in on the high side than the low, not knowing how far you hit each club, not thinking what side of the fairway to play into off the tee which means not giving yourself any green to work with, the list goes on
Item 4 - Laying up. I find that I often get this wrong because if I play an 'easy' swing at the ball I strike it better and it goes further than usual, as opposed to trying to whack it and not making good contact.
Sometimes turning up was a mistake lol however my personal favorite is reading the putt from every angle then leaving it 5ft short on line or 5ft past, cheers.
Robin McGregor 5 ft past is better than anywhere short. Shows a better mindset IMO
@@stuartjb4066 To true
Hahah! This wins for the biggest laugh . . . .
My favorite, standing too close to the ball...after you hit it
Or worse yet ... it's closer to me after I hit it than before I hit it. I've even had a couple come back and thump me because of my stupidity.
I always check the markers against my laser on the first couple holes, especially on new course. #4 of laying up to leave a convenient yardage to center of green is absolutely gold. And as Ben Hogan said, the middle of the green is always in the same place.
When requested to move your ball marker on the green make sure you return your marker to the correct position before taking your putt. Easily done.
Oh yeah.....And, as a measure of good sportsmanship, your fellow players should be kind enough to remind you to do so.
I had this happen to me in a tournament. I was in second place on the third to last hole. The leader was in my group,.
I hit two good shots into #10( our last hole was #13). Anyway, I was asked to move and mark my ball. I forget to replace my ball.
The other two guys in our group had already putted out and returned to their cart. The other guy, the one who asked me to move my ball from his line, said nothing. I Putt out for par. He made bogey. I was now just one shot behind. We begin driving to the next hole when he says to me that I forgot to replace my ball. After a moment, I was not fully aware of the penalty. So I went back and finished the hole from the best location of where my ball should have been. This is incorrect as I discovered after reading the rule. Not the point. I am a competitor. I am also a good sport. I don't subscribe to gamesmanship. THat's almost as bad as cheating. And playing games makes one a prick. I would have reminded a player to not forget to properly replace his ball. It just courtesy and respect.
Yes, I fully realize that each of us has sole responsibility to play by the rules. And we are responsible for our play. But THIS was bull crap.
I lost to the guy by two stokes.
I saw him at a few more events. I refused to speak to him.
Not thinking of pace on putts is my only one but it's a big one I never would have thought of til now
The layup I was laughing that's me I played both days this weekend was 250 out both times topped my wood straight into a hazard each time I told my self should have hit an 8 iron to about 100yds 😂😂😂
Par 5's, Laying up to 100ish yards is so smart, but the rule I have for myself is, 230 or less, no trouble, give it a go. Biggest challenge, stay away from trouble.
I’d hit my p wedge 3/4 swing 100
First stupid mistake- Not taking lessons from a competent instructor if your goal is to become a good player. The only exceptions I know of are Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Second stupid mistake- Taking advice from your friends and other hackers that can't break 90 to save their lives or those you bet with on the course.
I would add 2:
1. Standing on the tee and knowing you are not even, or your foot is in depression, or the ball is teed a little too high, and thinking, it's Ok I can hit it anyway instead of backing off and making the needed corrections.
2. For amateurs picking the correct tee box is crucial to enjoying your round. I see too many people pick the tee box by the length and how far they drive the ball instead of by their handicap. I have played with too many people who I call are all drive but no arrive. Sure, they hit 300 yds drives, but you never know where they are going. And then they really have no short to middle game. So they shoot 98 or 101 and are miserable the entire time. I realize this video may have been geared towards tournament play. But wanted to add this for amateurs like myself.
Drive for show, putt for dough
Not enough club is the biggest mistake ! If I had a pound for everytime I've come up short, I'd have earned more money from golf than a decent pro.
Yep, my shotscope clearly tells me that 75% of my approaches are short and right.
I have a different distance problem when hitting at a range. The balls are harder and don’t fly as far as the balls I use on the course. I then find myself swinging harder on the range to make my 7 iron for example go as far as it does out on the course.
Yes - interesting. I think the quality of driving range balls makes a big different to the quality of practice you are able to put in
solid points. i like #6 as i have friends that hit their irons so far and its annoying in a way when its 150+ and theyre pulling out a pitching wedge and i have my 7 iron. but like you said it doesnt matter how you get there, as long as you get there.tbh i think that hitting your irons that far is almost a bad thing. great for long distance yes but it creats a bigger gap in shorter distance clubs. for instance id much rather do a full swing with my 56degree wedge to get me 80 yards, than them having to use a higher lofted wedge and anything but a full swing.
also, your recovery shot on #2 is an amazing shot and a bad example of your point tho. you should have laid up but went for it and made it safely.
Agreed, a full swing is easier than a touch feel shot. Especially if you're not comfortable using the "clock" system. I like 9:00 for 100 yards, 52 degree wedge. I'm with you on the 150 7 iron, All day long.
#6...not ego-picking the wrong club...by itself lowered my handicap by about 4 strokes. I'm getting older and my clubhead speed is less than 10 years ago. So, I've adjusted my distances and I am now much more accurate than ever before.
That west hills looks absolutely superb 👍
It is... well worth a visit if you can
Great video, I’ve been there on all of those. Add grabbing the 6 iron instead of the 9 iron or vice versa. As the ball sails over the green I’m thinking, “Damn! I’ve never hit a 9 iron that far!”
The amount you have to add on raised shots varies with every club you play as well as even the type of clubs you have and the ball you are playing. Your play style (spin+power) and the temperature will also be factors shots with high arcs and high spin will need less ajustment than longer shots.
For example a lob wedge is coming straight down when it lands where as a 3 Iron will inevitably encounter a greater degree of resistance.
Toughest thing for me is to get out of my own head. I seem to focus so much on the little details to make a good swing that it doesn't happen all too often... If I could just relax, and trust my body that it knows what to do, then better things are going to happen.
The main thing that I see my playing partners do is come up short 95% of the time, on approach shots. This is nuts to me! Not sure if it’s an ego thing, or just always playing to hit that particular club absolutely perfect every time. I’ll sometimes hit 2 extra clubs(at least 1), than my buddies. However, I’m long as often as I am short, while they’re ALWAYS a mile short. My scores reflect this. While they talk about hitting their pitching wedge 160 yards that one time, all day, I’m shooting around par, and beating them by 10. Haha And as far as forgetting about speed, on a makeable putt…. I take my practice strokes imagining that I hit the putt, then simply “repeat” that stroke, once I dial it in. That takes speed out of the equation. Then, I can solely concentrate on starting the ball perfectly on my spot.
"Add a few extra yards when you play uphill" there's so many great holes at chautauqua country club, but one has a drive over a creek, then an iron to an elevated green.. elevation of 120 feet. With no space to miss behind it.
old men dont die walking up the hill - stress at the bottom would take them out ( im old !!)
My home golf course has a lot of large trees with branches that reach out a ways. I quite often forget to look at overhead branches when I pull out my pitching wedge for a high approach. 🤦♂️
"...it's hard to do sometimes when you're a bit annoyed and the red mist is descending."
I love that imagery. I never heard it put in those words, "red mist". Love it and will be using that phrase.
How have you never heard that term?
@@m4ttfrost1 Maybe because this phrase is much more popular in the UK, and Jerry might not be from the UK.
From The Free Dictionary: red mist
A state of extreme anger, excitement, or competitive arousal, such as might cloud one's judgment or senses. Primarily heard in UK.
I am only too familiar with the descent of the red mist . . . . . .
The red mist is dropping, said that to myself a few times sometimes it helps me to put the breaks on it.
I sometimes forget about the wind, especially gentle wind from behind or ahead. Also, seeing the general direction of the green on fairway shots to gauge how fast a ball will stop. Also, forget to assess my lie on approach shots. Also forget my preshot routine and thus rushing my shot. Also, hitting it fat because I swing too hard instead of easy swing w a long club.
Spending too much time overthinking the shot with practice swings then when you actually take the shot because you got so much in your head you fat the shot and don’t make clean contact.
Not only does this frustrate yourself it frustrates your playing partner slows down play and ruins your game.
that happens to me when waiting behind a group...stand there for 10 minutes and overthink and over analyze and end up doing nothing good
Hitting driver off the tee when a straighter, but shorter club makes more sense.
Missed a one foot putt today in the comp doing almost exactly what Neill showed in the video - cost me the gross win and left me at 36 points net exactly. Oops! ;-)
Is your name really “Tap in”? Love it!
missed a lot of 1 footers
This is an outstanding video: wish I could Like twice. The lay up advice and avoidance of the heroic, if applied, will shave a few shots off my next round, for which I thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
brilliant, i can relate to this, and will keep this in my file
Not checking what club you actually have in your hand, and hitting (say) a 6 instead of a 9.
I've done that, hit the perfect shot, got excited while it's in the air, and then look on in disbelief as it goes into the bushes over the green.
Forgetting to use a pencil with a eraser!!!!!!!!!! I have been told 97% of all average golfers shots end up short. So I always hit an extra club. It is amazing how much better I became! Once a round I over hit a green.
I think just getting up to the ball on a lay-up and not picking a specific target...with no focus I often hit the ball way off line...occasionally I even do it with a driver if it a wide open fairway
Here's one I see far too many people do: When the pin is in the front of the green, people hit the club that goes that exact distance only when you hit a full shot perfectly. There are several things wrong with doing this. 1. Unless you're hitting a very lofted club, you have to consider you need some roll to get to that "exact" distance, and most people don't take that into account. For a longer club, that means the roll has to start before the green, and if there is a bunker or soft ground in front of the green, you just found it (and not the green). 2. How often do amateurs actually hit it the full distance for any given club? If you club up one and hit it flush, the worst that will happen is you hit the back part of the green, but you're still putting. If you hit it a little short, you're pin high! But...... 3. If you don't hit the full distance you were trying for when aiming for a front pin, you're now off the green AND short-sided (possibly in a bunker or swale too) which is the worst place to be around the green.
Been playing since I was 4 I’m 19 now ... always had a slice and I’m a lefty golfer... got some tips from my cousin saying that my head club was closed and not open when I would swing and it would just go left or right... gotten better but my slice is still there any tips on how to fix my slice ???
#12: i think for many beginners and even sometime intermediate players, it just to know where-about is the distance to the hole where you are.
11:10 bloody hell that was awesome
Uphill or Downhill approach shots... a good rule is every 15 feet of rise, add 1 club. 15 feet of fall for downhill shot, decrease 1 club than your normal club. If you had a 45 foot rise, you would add 3 clubs to what you would normally hit for the measured yardage for example.
When you are setting up, you feel that something isn’t quite right in the set up. But will you stand up from ball and start again? No you carry on and duff the shot. Hardest thing in world to do is stop your routine and start again.
Decelerating when in a tight lie or when you are going over a green side bunker?
Yes, we've all suffered with that one!
Just discovered your channel some great advice!
How do you hit the ball on a practice swing? I'm not a great golfer but I've never done that. Yet it's #1?
Keeping playing instead of giving the stupid game up is my worst mistake
Every golfer thinks this at least 3 times a round, at least if they play like I do 😂😂😂
Just hit the ball on my practice chip swing today!!!!!!!!!! So frustrating! The worst part was trying to tell the others, who didn't see, that this was my practice swing :-)
Made everyone of those mistakes.....many times.
Great post.
Feeling chuffed with myself somewhere on the back-9 for still using the ball I started the round with.. Guaranteed to be lost within the next 5 shots.
Also, dreaming of my 1st "Hole-in-One" on every par 3 tee box, and then walking off with a ring
Make sure you are hitting the correct ball. It only takes a second to check.
Biggest mistake play within your limits and don’t try to match players who are much better than you.
Its easy to lose your head when people in your group have Tee’d off perfect shots with their driver on the middle of the fairway 270 to 290 yards.
It’s now your turn and you know you are not as good as them and have a bit of slice when you hit it full power.
Best thing to do here is to think layup. So just hit 220 yards middle of fairway smooth and relaxed.
No point for trying to hit it 280 when you know your swing is never accurate at that yardage.
Play within your limits and play to your strengths.
Don’t try to match people who play from scratch it ends in disaster and frustration
I won a knockout final (matchplay) against a higher handicapper once like this. I had to give him 21 shots but he kept trying to belt the shit out of everything to keep up with me. After I won 4 & 3 the pressure was off him and he got 3 and 4 points per hole on the remaining holes. All as he had to do was play his own game, not mine.
Jpgundarun Exactly when a golfer plays to his strengths he doesn’t need to belt the shit out of it.
For example you can easily make up ground and recover on a great second shot.
As long as you have power with control and your short game is solid you can have a great round.
People get too jealous when they see a big driver shot, they start comparing cock size and get into an unnecessary battle of trying to hit longer beyond their ability.
Always play your smooth controlled game and you will catch up or if you don’t accept you are playing with a much better player and be a sportsman for god sake!!
because I did it this weekend I'd add taking the wrong club out of the bag. this weekend in a stableford I hit a perfect shot with a fairway wood and wondered why it hadn't gone as far as I expected. Well, it would have if I'd used the 3 wood I meant to use instead of the 5 wood I actually used!
when I started playing as a boy my uncle always said to me with a bunker the only rule to worry about was "don't try to be clever, just get out of it"
but I'd say number one stupid mistake is not knowing how far you actually hit your clubs.
@8:47 if a 7 iron gets you to that bunker a 4ish should get you further which looks like the green.
On a long putt, stepping up and guessing the distance and putting it, WITHOUT pacing it and/or looking at the putt from the other side!
I do everyone of these hahahahaha and I would have duffed it in that annoying creek from That drop😂😂😂😂😂
Hitting the ball on practice and just get it out of the trap are for everyone, a lot of the other stuff is for people who see pros and enter club tournaments. Hitting 3 chips inside 20 yards on a public course (dub it short, line drive it over) with less than ideal grass off the green adds a lot of stokes. Not marking the ball on green, then lining up the line on the ball with your 'line' like the pros, I quote 'line' because my lines outside of 3 feet are terrible but being 5 degrees off that 'line' is worse. Hitting a 40 foot put more than 10 feet left or right of the hole also adds a lot of strokes.
teeing up in front of the markers is an easy one to do, and could cost you depending on who you're playing with
Yes, well said
I played with a deaf bloke that kept doing this. I finally yelled at him 'You're a foot in front!!'
He replied, 'You can call me all the names you want, I'm still 3 up'
I have an idea what the answer is, but you should clarify the better option for #8. For example, walking 20 yards back for a full sand wedge shot from a dry lie.
Aaagh. I've done No.7 so many times. Usually takes until the 9th before I realise. 🤯
Ditto
The gurus who give you 3-4 swing thoughts! When you are over the ball, clear your mind or say just take the club back smoothly, if you have multiple swing thoughts going through your head at this stage you are going to stuff the shot up. Have 2 good practice swings and then go for it.
Not watching what your ball does after it rolls past the hole- ie does it continue on straight, or break right or left.
Taking the wrong club out of deep rough or a bad downhill/side hill/up hill lie.
So what WOULD have been the correct drop for mistake #10, {the fairway creek)?
(1) Playing with a long hitter and trying to hit the cover off the ball instead of playing your own game. (2) Trying to tee up high with a gusty wind behind you and launching the ball into outer space (3) rushing your putt because other player(s) are finished and on their way off green (4) running out your car onto the tee ill prepared physically or mentally (5) not concentrating on a wayward drive's ending because you're raging mad, then lose a ball or hold up the group (6) running out of balls because you never checked your stock (7) not wearing sun lotion (8) leaving your wedge on the side of the green while you go to putt and forgetting it (9) forgetting who's honour it is on the tee - the embarrassment (10) thinking about Paige Spiranac at any time during your round.
Playing the wrong ball from the rough ,check brand, number and for any distinguishing marks or logos,also identify your ball to your playing partners on the 1st tee.Senior golfers with poor eye sight and poor memory,you know it makes sense
At number 1, surely Rule 9.4a comes into play and the ball is replaced with no penalty as no “stroke” was played and the ball was moved accidentally? Any thoughts?
Wind. Most people don't understand or fully respect the effects of wind on a ball. Whether it be how wind and spin affect the distance and flight characteristics on full shots, as that relates to club slection, shot shape, trajectory, etc. Or especially on and around the green. Downhill-downwind chips and putts are faster than they would be in calm conditions, and the opposite is true. Cross-breezes also affect the line. Sounds obvious, but it's seldom given its proper consideration.
With a 5-iron, hooking a hanging lie above the feet from the right rough to the left rough or worse, OB. With the same 5I, slicing (or YIKES-Shank) a ball below the feet from the left rough to the right rough. Better to use a wedge and just get it on the FW.
heading to the course in the first place
its a mistake I make about 40-50 times a year
I did the hitting the ball on your practice swing on 2 20 yard chips in the same round. Never again😅
The hill has more impact on lower lofted shots. If you hit the ball very high and you're winging 9iron, the hill won't affect you much
One thing I'm seeing others do a lot that I used to do is when your game isn't going that well, to just start doing things that will make your game worse. Why tee off next to the trees if you can tee off further away from the trees. If you sent your ball in the woods, your next stroke shouldn't be a razor thin line along the edge of the trees. If you're having trouble with chip shots and you end up near the green with really flat grass, don't chip it with a wedge, use an 8 iron chip shot or putt it. It's not any of these specifically, but that when your game starts going a little badly, I see too many people who just start making bad decisions that are really obvious. If I had to sum it, it's "Don't give up the rest of your round because of one or two bad holes."
Knowing you’re set up wrong but taking the shot anyway instead of stepping back and resetting. Me all the time.
My most common
For me, number 1 mistake by a country mile is letting a bad hole affect my next few holes and sometimes even my round!!!
What a perfect last name for a great golfer 😁