Top 10 things professional golfers do but Amateurs golfers don’t by mileseeygolf

Pro Golf Tips: 10 Things That Set Professional Golfers Apart

Top golfer pros achieve remarkable performance not only because they are blessed with natural talents, but they pay more attention to little things on course. What sets professional golfers apart could be the setup postures of swing at address, the way they practice, the start line of putting, or even the mental side of the game.

One of the strategies of dropping your handicap and taking your game to the next level is by watching how golfer pros deal with these nuanced details. Access to this information can assist you in lowering your handicap, helping you to break 90, 80 and even 70.

There is a stark contrast between how easy the pros make the game seem and how struggling amateurs make it look. Here are the top 10 things that can improve an amateur's performance.

1. Correct Golf Setup

Golf pros never overly bend their knees, which amateur golfers usually do. Excessive knee bending leads to flattened hips and straightened spines, making it hard for your top half to make good contact with the ball. This results in topping the ball and weak shots with reduced distance and accuracy. Straighten those knees and maintain the forward tilt of your upper body during setup and swing.

2. Effective Warming Up and Purposeful Practice

A golfer pro never wastes a single shot and always maintains composure and confidence, even after poor shots. The secret is effective warm-up before starting the game. While amateurs might slice 20 yards in their first drive despite significant practice, professional golfers treat warm-up like it's the actual course. They make quality swings and intentional shots that match their planned routine.

3. Great Golf Course Management

Golf pros excel at course management, mapping out every shot like an architect planning a house. The best players know exactly where they should land the ball and where they can't hit it. They strictly adhere to their plotted routine and make precise shots, leaving themselves comfortable yardages to the green.

4. Focus on Wedge Shot Practice

While amateur players often focus on range and hitting lots of 7-irons and drivers, golfing pros hit tons of wedges. Wedges are ideal for drill purposes because they're relatively easy to hit and help develop precise, clean contact with the golf ball.

5. Paced Play

Professional golfers build speed gradually, like a plane accelerating on a runway. Their first few driver swings are relatively smooth before ramping up to full speed. This controlled approach extends to their entire game, following a well-planned routine and consistent pace.

6. Focus on Putting Start Line

Pro golfers are extremely focused on their putting start line. On Tour putting greens, you'll see pros meticulously choosing their starting line and using training techniques like gate drills, chalk lines, string, and tees to perfect their direction.

7. Strong Mental Game

Today's pro golfers understand that mental strength significantly impacts course performance. They treat each game as a marathon rather than a sprint, maintaining composure even after a bogey or double bogey. Consider incorporating mental training through pressure practice, patience practice, and emotion management.

8. Appropriate Shaft Stiffness

Many low-handicap amateurs believe they need extra stiff shafts for longer distances. However, amateurs typically don't have the swing speed, precision, and force of pro golfers. Using overly stiff shafts can make it challenging to hit straight, often resulting in rough landings.

9. Clean Clubs

Professional golfers habitually clean their clubs after each shot, understanding that even tiny debris between the club face and ball can significantly impact trajectory through changes in spin and velocity.

10. Premium Equipment

High-level golf professionals emphasize quality equipment. Premium tools like laser golf rangefinders provide crucial assistance in course management, distance ranging, and accurate shots, offering features like high light transmission, exceptional image clarity, and reliable performance in harsh weather.

Final Thoughts

While the difference between amateur and professional golfers can be significant, amateurs can take simple steps to elevate their game. Often, it's the nuanced details that determine how effectively you can lower your handicap and improve to the next level.