why can i not hit it well on the dolf course

by Prof. Yasmeen Bartoletti 8 min read

The first sign that gets in the way is you try too hard to play well. Most highly motivated players, sometimes perfectionists, have trouble playing well on the course because they try too hard to play well. You cannot play your best golf when you try to too hard to hit a perfect shot, make every putt, or hit every drive long and straight.

An example of this might be if your posture is not balanced and in good position, you may practice enough to slow your swing down to make some contact. By hitting ball after ball you can time these adjustments enough to hit really good shots on the range because of the repetition.Aug 15, 2020

Full Answer

Why can’t I hit the golf ball far?

Oct 16, 2016 · Meaning – the golf course is much tighter and more claustrophobic when getting ready to hit. And if you hit a bad shot on the range, all you need to do is take as much time as you’d like to make the necessary corrections and then drag another ball over to hit.

Do you try too hard to play well on the course?

Oct 17, 2018 · The reason you’re not hitting the golf ball far is likely due to: Your swing speed (mph) Your ball speed; Your ball spin rate; Your accuracy & straightness of shots; How Swing Speed Affects How Far You Hit the Ball. The number one factor that separates most golfers ability to hit the golf ball far is swing speed.

Why don’t some golfers hit the ground on their practice swings?

May 16, 2020 · Here are some reasons why you might not be as consistent as you would like and how to make the necessary adjustments to improve. 1. Inconsistent Set Up Good posture is the key to balance and good...

Why can’t I take my practice game to the course?

The first sign that gets in the way is you try too hard to play well. Most highly motivated players, sometimes perfectionists, have trouble playing well on the course because they try too hard to play well. You cannot play your best golf when you try to too hard to hit a perfect shot, make every putt, or hit every drive long and straight.

Why cant I take my swing from the range to the course?

It's the same as that common golf question, “Why can't I take my range game to the course?”. My answer is: “Swing mechanics don't change, tempo does.” Your swing mechanics are as they should be. It takes time to build and learn movement patterns, they don't change in the course of one round.Mar 17, 2017

Why do I try to hit the golf ball so hard?

Swinging hard usually just means rushing the swing from start to finish, putting in a lot of effort without getting much in the way of results. To gain control over your swing while still having the capacity for serious power, work on making a big shoulder turn away from the target.Mar 24, 2021

Why can't I hit a good golf shot?

1:162:09Golf beginner mistake: Don't go down on the golf ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipVery deep into the ground to be sure that you can have the correct impact position make a fewMoreVery deep into the ground to be sure that you can have the correct impact position make a few practice swings. And you feel that you can stay in the same height.

Why can't I hit a golf ball all of a sudden?

For golfers who, all of a sudden, can't hit a golf ball, chances are the balance is being lost on the backswing. As you take the club back, weight needs to transfer to your right leg and then to the left foot as you swing the club through.

How do you swing faster and not harder in golf?

How to Swing a Golf Club FasterLearn this fact: Gravity is enough to help you develop clubhead speed. Several years ago, Dr. ... Watch good players swing. ... Relax your body, especially your arms. ... Focus on swing rhythm. ... Practice swinging as quickly as you can while you stay relaxed and keep your rhythm.

How do I make my golf swing smoother?

0:080:59How To Swing The Golf Club Smooth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's just try and feel like a nice smooth hinging of the wrist we're not forcing it we're justMoreLet's just try and feel like a nice smooth hinging of the wrist we're not forcing it we're just going 10 20 40 60 80 to get to that position at the top and then we can sort of maintain.

Why are my drives not going far?

One reason you might not be hitting the ball very far is that you have too high of a spin rate with your driver and irons. An easy way to spot this is watching how high your shots go in the air. Golf shots that get hit with high back spin rates tend to climb higher into the air.Apr 15, 2022

Why am I topping my drives?

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.

Why don't my drives go far?

Golfers who are tense or anxious when they address the ball have trouble generating maximum clubhead speed. Tight muscles cause the swing to be shorter and slower. Your goal is a long, loose swing not a short, tight one. Consciously think about relaxing your shoulders before you begin your swing.

Can't even hit the golf ball?

If you have too little flex in your legs your ability to generate a powerful swing will be reduced drastically. If you have too much flex in your legs you will have a hard time hitting the golf ball cleanly and potentially struggle hitting fat and chunky golf shots.Feb 14, 2022

Why am I losing power in my golf swing?

It can often be the result of casting, but when the clubhead passes the hands too early, you add too much loft to the club and lose distance as a result.Feb 27, 2020

What do you do when you can't hit a golf ball?

1:534:01This Is Why You CAN'T Hit Through The Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReally again depends on the backswing. Position. So what you want to try and do in the back swing isMoreReally again depends on the backswing. Position. So what you want to try and do in the back swing is you always want to try and make sure that you're turning your shoulders.

Tiger struggles with it

A friend of mine sent me this video a few weeks ago after Tiger Woods played at the Greenbrier Classic. I want to show it to all of you to give you some perspective.

How do you fix this?

I believe the way to relieve this tension is a combination of two things. You need to get out on the course more, and learn to be more comfortable with an actual round of golf. Too many golfers are just not used to being on the course, and their nerves get the best of them because they don’t have enough experience.

Why do you put alignment sticks on the outside of your golf ball?

Taking an extra moment to add an alignment stick on the outside of your ball to avoid interfering with the proper swing path can pay dividends on the course. If you know where you’re aiming when you’re on the range, then you will know how to adjust when you go to the course.

How to be a better golfer?

Rather than being upset, better players often just go and get the ball and make the best of that situation. Learn the lesson from better players and do the best you can. Take a good practice swing. Understand your game as well as you can. Enjoy your good shots.

What does it mean when you hit it better on the range?

Even if you hit it better on the range than you do on the course, it is showing you potential and hope.

What skills can you work on when you are on the range?

One of the best skills you can work on when you are on the range is to have a consistent set up and set up routine that you practice on the range and take to the course.

What is a warm up on the range?

A typical warm up on the range would be to move steadily through your bag from short clubs to long clubs. While hitting the same club all the time can be just fine if you are working on a technique change, it does not resemble what happens on the course at all.

Can you swing on the range without knowing where you are aiming?

On the range, many golfers just swing without knowing where they are aiming, simply working on solid contact. While there is a time and place for that, it doesn’t always transfer to the course if you aren’t being more thoughtful with your practice time.

Is it better to swing on the range or to be more relaxed?

You are more relaxed on the range. There is certainly something to be said about the value of being more relaxed. Free swinging on the range and letting it go will allow you to stay more relaxed in your hands and arms and even your entire body, helping with better contact and distance.

Why is my golf ball not hitting the ball?

One reason you might not be hitting the ball very far is that you have too high of a spin rate with your driver and irons. An easy way to spot this is watching how high your shots go in the air. Golf shots that get hit with high back spin rates tend to climb higher into the air.

What happens when a golf club makes contact with the ball?

Every golf club in your bag has a different loft angle on the club face. As the club makes contact with the ball, it imparts spin on the golf ball.

How fast can a golfer hit a golf ball?

The number one factor that separates most golfers ability to hit the golf ball far is swing speed. PGA Tour pro’s can swing a driver 120+ mph with guys like Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson reaching 125-130 mph. Compare this to the average golfer who has a swing speed of 90 mph. Adding an extra 10 mph can make a huge difference ...

How fast can a golf club swing?

You could have your club swinging super fast, producing 115-120 mph swing speed but if you don’t hit the ball very square, all that energy will be lost during the transfer. Ball speed is often judged by “smash factor” which is a metric you get access to when you swing on a simulator like the Trackman.

Why is swinging harder better?

Swinging harder isn’t always the best answer because it can lead to out of control shots. You also have to improve your ball striking contact to maximize energy transfer from the clubhead speed to the golf ball, launching it into the air with fast ball speed.

What happens if you hit a banana slice in the rough?

If you tend to hit a hard banana slice into the rough, you’re probably losing distance from the golf ball curving off line. Same can be said for those who hit a duck hook that curves hard into the rough. Once you’re able to straighten out your swing, you should notice an increase in club distances as a result.

How fast can you swing a 300 yard drive?

Increase your swing speed to 110 mph and you could carry the ball 280 yards. For 300 yard drives, you’re likely going to need a swing speed above 120 mph as well as high ball speed and lower spin rates.

Why is golf so fun?

Golf can be more fun when you learn and practice the skills necessary to hit the long ball. Playing consistently good golf requires building a swing that delivers both power and accuracy. Not being able to hit the ball very far makes every course longer and puts more pressure on your short game.

What happens if you can't hit par 4s in 2?

If you can’t reach par 4’s in two, your wedge shots have to make up for this lack of distance. Fortunately, golfers who are not reaching their power potential can learn ways to generate additional clubhead speed through improved physical fitness and better swing technique.

How to get more power in golf?

To generate power you need to make a full shoulder turn. By coiling your muscles going back, you build up energy that will be released on the downswing. A full turn requires muscle flexibility. Golfers increase their flexibility through stretching exercises. Take your driver and grip it on either end of the shaft.

What happens when you swing a ball violently?

A violent swing action throws your timing off, making it impossible for the arms, shoulders and legs to work in harmony to deliver maximum power to the ball. Extending the backswing beyond parallel can also disrupt the timing of the downswing.

Why is leg drive important in golf?

Good golfers have powerful leg drive as the swing approaches the impact point . Leg drive helps generate speed and power. You may notice that you lose distance near the end of the round, and tired legs could be the problem.

Why is my golf bag not consistent?

1. Inconsistent Set Up. Good posture is the key to balance and good solid contact. Being in proper posture for each and every club in your bag will almost always lead to being more consistent in contact and direction.

How to be consistent in golf?

Being in proper posture for each and every club in your bag will almost always lead to being more consistent in contact and direction. A good goal would be to be bent forward from your hips so your hands hang directly below your shoulders as your hands will return to where they hang naturally.

How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?

You can carry up to 14 clubs in your bag and they are all a different length. That alone leads to insistency with many golfers. Taking a real practice swing allows you to get used to the length club you are swinging and if the ball is on the ground, also gives you the opportunity to have that club brush the grass.

What does it mean when you are off balance in golf?

If you are off balance at the finish of your swing, it is probably a sign that you are during your swing, too. 4. Clubs That Aren’t Forgiving Enough.

Do good golfers hit bad shots?

Good golfers hit bad shots all of the time. While their miss may often be very playable, they typically go on with their round, adjust and move on . This is a lesson that all golfers can learn.

Why is golf considered a life or death game?

For these players, golf is an arena to prove their abilities and to gain respect from others. Golf turns into an ego-protection , life or death game. Fear of failure and anxiety causes many golfers to play avoidance golf and this will kill any chance of a smooth swing.

Does trying hard help you play better golf?

Trying hard does not help you play better golf. The harder you try in golf, the more you tense up and control your swing. Many of my students cannot take their practice game to the course because of fear and anxiety. When they step on the course, it’s serious business; pressure. For these players, golf is an arena to prove their abilities ...

Do you become more score conscious when you play a round?

If you do this, you become more score conscious or result conscious when you play a round. When you’re on the range, it is easy to focus on hit ting solid shots and the process of hitting good shots. It’s OK if you hit a bad shot ; you just scrap over another ball.

Can you play golf if you try too hard?

You cannot play your best golf when you try to too hard to hit a perfect shot, make every putt, or hit every drive long and straight. You might be thinking to yourself “Aren’t I supposed to try hard?”. Trying hard does not help you play better golf.

Does it matter if you are a pro golfer or a high handicap player?

It does not matter if you are a pro golfer or a high handicap player, one of the biggest challenges golfers face is taking their so-called practice game to the golf course and performing as well on the course. Many players that come to me can hit the ball great on the range and putt well on the practice green, but when they step on the course, ...

How to hit down on a golf ball?

To Hit Down on the Golf Ball: At setup, position the ball in the center of your stance. Shift your hands toward the target just slightly so the club is in front of the club head. In the transition, think about pulling on the club with your lead hand instead of throwing the club out and down with the trail hand.

How to get better at golf?

As you take your golf setup, allow your head to float up a bit instead of tucking your chin close to your chest. Stay relaxed in the neck and shoulders. As you swing away from the ball, allow your head to slide away from the target. This accommodates for better rotation, better speed, and a better shot.

How does the club head change direction?

Think of the shape your club head makes as you swing through the golf ball. As you move through the transition at the top of your swing , towards the ball , the club head is traveling at a downward angle. At some point (more specifically, at the low point), your club head changes direction.

How to get a feel for swinging irons?

Take your iron setup without the golf ball. As you swing the club back, step the trail foot back and behind your body so it’s perpendicular to your lead foot. Then step the trail foot back into place as you swing through. This drill helps you get a feel for strong rotation and natural movement in the body.

What is the goal of an iron shot?

For an iron shot, however, the goal is to hit down on the golf ball. Another way to say this is that your moment of impact should occur before the low point of your golf swing. It’s important to make this distinction when discussing how to hit irons because this whole down/up thing trips up a lot of golfers.

How to avoid steepness when swinging a long iron?

However, you don’t want your angle of attack to be as steep as it is when you’re hitting a short iron. In order to avoid that steepness, position the ball just slightly forward of center.

How to get a short iron?

Try following these steps: Stand with your feet together, the ball aligned with the space between your feet. Step your lead foot towards the target, but make that step slightly smaller than you would if you were setting up your stance for a short iron. Take a step away from the target with your trail foot.

image