Whether you just picked up golf or have been playing for a while, you might have a few questions that you’re too afraid to ask your playing partners. No worries, we’ve got you covered!
In fact, there are no dumb questions when it comes to the game of golf. To answer some of those burning questions, we’ve enlisted our own Hally Leadbetter to share her advice on the game.
Q: I’m a beginner. Should I spend money to get fitted for clubs?
The quick answer is yes.
And no.
Leadbetter explains that while you may not need the newest and most expensive equipment, it’s still an investment into your game, and using hand-me-down clubs from other golfers isn’t going to yield the best results.
To avoid getting overly complicated, Leadbetter says to focus on two key aspects: the length and weight of your clubs.
“The most important thing is that the clubs you’re using are the right length for your body type and weight for your swing speed,” Leadbetter says.
Leadbetter says that addressing this will be worth your time and money.
Q: With limited time, how can I max out my limited practice time?
Make the most of your practice sessions by creating a game plan and practicing with a bit of intention. For example, if you have an hour a week, try splitting up your time to work on every area of your game evenly. Leadbetter suggests dedicating twenty minutes to your full swing on the range, twenty minutes to your putting and twenty minutes on your short game.
Leadbetter says to avoid hitting balls without a purpose.
“Spend some time working on your technique, but also practice golf,” Leadbetter says.
To do this, try incorporating your routine and a bit of competition or pressure into your practice sessions. Leadbetter suggests performing your routine before you hit shots on the range to get into your on-course mindset, having chipping competitions to up the ante when working on your game around the green and even using pressure putting drills to improve your performance and maintain your stroke on stressful putts.
Regardless of how much time you have, Leadbetter says to enter every practice session with a plan and a goal.
Q: Why do players draw lines on their golf ball?
Leadbetter explains there could be a couple of reasons for this.
The first is identifying their ball. In most competition rounds, it’s not uncommon for players to use the same kind of golf ball. The only way for you to be able to be one hundred percent sure which ball is yours is to have a unique marking on it. Common markings that players use to differentiate their ball from other players in their group are initials, dots, flowers, and even a line.
This line can also serve as an alignment aid on the greens, Leadbetter explains. There are many ways the pros use the line on their ball, but the most common you’ll see is aiming at the start line, so it’s easier to line up the putterface when stepping into the shot.
Give it a try to see if it helps you!