Common Golf Mistakes

Common Golf Mistakes: The Low Hanging Fruit for Better Scores

In the average round of golf, I’d guess you hit about 10% of your total shots “great.” Another 30-40% what you would consider good shots, and the rest are considered misses. 

The point is, your golf game is a game of misses.

The average golfer makes endless mistakes, but the good news is that you can still score well. You don’t need to hit every shot perfect to get the most of your golf swing. 

But there are some mistakes that are too easy to fix to let them happen over and over again. Keep reading to learn the most common mistakes the average golfer makes and the best ways to fix them quickly.

When you’re done reading and implementing, your bad habits will go away and you will hit the ball much better.

Most Common Mistakes in Golf 

One of the reasons golf is such a challenging game is that there are so many components to it. Unlike baseball where you need to hit, catch, and throw, golf has about 100 other things to learn.

To make it all happen, you need the right equipment to match your ability and golf swing. Then, you need to learn how to hit all 14 different clubs. Then, you need to create routines and practice in a way that actually helps you improve. 

Finally, you have to put it all together for 18 holes, which takes at least four hours these days. You also need to learn how to hit the ball off the tee, rough, sand, swing faster to hit the ball farther, and everything else.

Needless to say, there is a lot that can go wrong. Keep reading to steer clear of easy to fix mistakes and these golf tips will hopefully lead to better scores more consistently.

Using the Wrong Clubs or Golf Ball

Before you even show up to the course, you might be making the game harder on yourself. If you are playing golf clubs that aren’t suited for your game, good luck scoring your best.

Golfers tend to do this in one of two ways.

The first and most common is that beginner golfers think they’re better than they actually are. This leads to playing clubs that are too heavy, stiff, or unforgiving and makes ball striking nearly impossible.

No judgment, I’ve been there myself. Just remember, you aren’t Jack Nicklaus who makes swinging a club way too easy. Play the clubs that help your game!

The other way is that you might mess this up and still play with older clubs that haven’t advanced as your game has leveled up.

Needless to say, playing the right clubs for your game is key to success. While you don’t necessarily have to get fitted for each club in the bag, it can help if you’re committed to improving. 

But please don’t think that a new set of clubs is the key to getting better overnight. While it can help, it’s not a magic fix to shooting the scores of your dreams.

Also, don’t forget to play the right golf ball too. Your golf ball needs the right compression and characteristics to match your swing.

Click here to learn more about golf balls.

Neglecting a Pre-Round Warm Up

Once you have the right clubs in the bag, don’t forget about warming up either. Don’t expect an athletic motion on the first hole without warming up.

Unfortunately, we all know someone in your regular golf group that rushes to the first tee and skips the warm-up entirely. While that might work when you’re young and flexible, it’s a terrible long-term strategy.

When you don’t swing and warm up before a round, it’s an easy way to open yourself up to injury. Plus, it’s really tough to score well in the first few holes if you’re not loosened up. You’ll also probably struggle on the greens since you didn’t hit the practice green before the first hole.

Instead, make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before the round. This leaves you time to check in, hit some balls, and get yourself mentally prepared for the round.

Even if you don’t hit any balls on the driving range, make sure to stretch and take practice swings. 15-20 practice swings with a heavy club is better than nothing!

You also want to spend time feeling out the speed of the greens too. This way you can understand the firmness/speed for chipping and putting on the golf course. 

Common Golf Mistakes

Hitting Balls Without a Purpose (No Target) 

I would argue the biggest mistake that I see 90% or more of golfers make is mindlessly hitting balls on the range. So many beginner golfers (and skilled players for that matter), hit ball after ball without a target. Or, don’t go through any sort of routine, analyze the shot, or take a break. 

Not to mention, most golfers also hit way too many balls to begin with. You don’t get any extra credit with the golf Gods for hitting a jumbo bucket instead of a small bucket. While there’s a time and place to hit more balls (like when you’re making a swing change), it’s not every session. 

Instead, make sure each golf swing is intentional and you have a clear picture of what you want to achieve.Specifically, ensure you have a target for each shot and use alignment aids as well. 

Then, before each golf swing, ask yourself questions like:

  • Where is my target?
  • What is my swing thought?
  • What is the ideal shot shape?
  • How far do I want the ball to go?

Finally, after each shot analyze what happened before rapid fire hitting the next ball. Ask yourself questions like:

  • How was my contact?
  • Did I have a good tempo?
  • What did I feel in my swing? 
  • Did the ball start on the right line? 
  • Did the ball move in the right direction? 

Check out this article for more practice tips.

Skipping a Pre-Shot Routine 

Another common mistake that so many amateur players make is not having a pre-shot routine. I think the reason that most people skip this vital step is because they don’t understand the benefits.

Here are a few that should convince you to do so:

  • Gets you in the zone.
  • Use practice swings to create a clear image in your mind.
  • Helps you minimize nerves and focus only on the target. Instead of technical thoughts like “Get more shoulder turn, swing faster, short backswing, lead hand”, etc.)  
  • It’s one of the few things that every PGA Tour player has in common. If it works for them and they’re making millions of dollars to compete, maybe you should too.

Now that you see some reasons why a pre-shot routine is crucial, start creating yours today. Each player is different – just make sure it helps you feel confident over every shot. Also, don’t make it lengthy and slow down play either. 

Need more help?

Click here to learn more about creating a pre-shot routine

Always Using Driver

For many golfers, the driver is the most fun club to hit in the bag. But that doesn’t mean you should use it on every par 4 and par 5 on the course.

On each tee box, you need to assess if the driver is even the right play to begin with. In general, it’s the best club for par 5’s as long as there isn’t a ton of trouble or hazard at your normal distance. 

But par 4’s, it really depends on how you’re swinging that day and if the hole calls for it. For example, if you’re playing a mid-length par 4 and there’s trouble on both sides of the fairway, the driver might not be the strategy. 

If you’re making good contact that day, then go for it. However, if you can’t find a golf swing to save your life, take a 3 wood and give yourself a chance to get on in two (even if the approach is longer). 

The same goes for short par 4’s. A lot of average golfers try to rip a driver, even if they can’t reach the green. Then, they’re left with awkward 50-60 yard shots to tucked pins which isn’t a high percentage play for most golfers. 

Sometimes using a shorter club off the tee will make it easier to score better. 

Using Too Many Long Irons Instead of Hybrids 

Another common mistake for a lot of players is not playing enough hybrids. Instead, golfers think they can play unforgiving, heavy, long irons trying to impress others.

When the truth is, 90% of amateur golfers should have at least one hybrid in the bag.

For example, I’m a scratch golfer and carry a hybrid, plus a driving iron style 4-iron. Once I put the pride aside and started playing clubs that were more forgiving, my long game improved instantly. 

Hybrids and utility irons made it so much easier to hit the 215-240 yard shots. I found myself with a lot more eagle looks on par 5’s and more greens in regulation too.

Don’t forget, golf is a game of misses. These clubs make your misses so much more playable than a hard to hit long iron.

Click here to learn more about hybrids.

Not Taking Enough Golf Club 

Think about the golf course you play the most. If you picture each green and where the trouble is, my guess is that 90% of the holes have trouble in front of the green. 

Rarely, are the hazards (thick rough, steep bunkers, water, out of bounds, etc.) long. Sure, it happens occasionally, but in general, almost all of the trouble is short of the green.  

Why?

Because course designers know that so many golfers don’t take enough club. That’s why they strategically place the majority of trouble short of the green. 

To put yourself in more scoring positions, club up! This will help you miss in better spots and hopefully, have more birdie putts each round. 

Coming Over the Top On Your Golf Swing

If you’re like most golfers, chances are you’ve battled (or are still battling) the dreaded over the top move. This is one of the bad habits that cause a weak slice and you lose distance.

The key to stop coming over the top is to learn how to shallow the golf club. Alongside pre-shot routines, it’s one of the few things that 99% of professionals have in common.

When you shallow the club during transition, it makes it easier to compress the ball and instantly improve ball striking. You’ll also find the flight will straighten out and you’ll add more distance to your game.

Click here to learn more about shallowing the golf club.

Always Aiming at the Flag

Rangefinders are a great tool to help you navigate each hole, but they can cause chaos too.

Here’s what I mean… Most golfers lock in the pin distance and then take dead aim. When in reality, you should hit the pin for total distance, then consider a lot more.

Specifically, you want to think about:

  • What is the distance to the flag? Unless it’s a pitching wedge or less, going at the flag is usually a bad idea. Instead, take your medicine and play for the fat part of the green to avoid short siding yourself. 
  • Where is the best place to miss? Remember, golf is a game of misses, so plan for them, especially from longer range. For example, if I have 170+ yards to the green, I’m almost always aiming at the middle green or shaping it toward the flag. That way, if I hit it straight, I’ll miss with plenty of green to work with. 
  • Where is the trouble? Finally, make sure you understand where a double bogey is lurking and avoid it at all costs. Aim away from the trouble and focus on where you want the ball to go (aka, don’t focus on the trouble before the shot itself). 

These tips should help you find the dance floor more often and likely lead to lower scores. 

Neglecting Inside 100 Yards

If you look at most rounds, roughly 50% or more of all shots happen inside 100 yards. Yet, most golfers skip practicing from here and wedges too. Instead, opting to hit irons and woods and the driving range.

If you really want to improve your game and lower your handicap, work on the short shots twice as much. This will lead to more par saves, more birdies, and likely more confidence as well. 

Not to mention, when you have a strong short game, it can cover up a bad ball striking day. Plus, it’ll drive your playing partners crazy when you’re the golfer who is all over the place but still making pars. 

Not Using a Gap Wedge 

Speaking of wedges, make sure you have the proper wedge spacing in your bag.

Specifically, make sure you have a GW so you don’t have a 20-30 yard gap from pitching to sand wedge. This will make it easier to hit your approach shots close, and it can help with a lot of other shots around the green.

A gap wedge can help you with long chip shots/bump-n-runs and long bunker shots too.

Try to find the right wedges so they’re all spaced equally. For the average golfer, this wedge is far more important than a high lofted, sometimes hard to hit lob wedge. 

Common Golf Mistakes

Using the Wrong Type of Putter 

Putting is all about feel and confidence. It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young, weak, or strong, it’s all about getting the ball in the hole. 

But a lot of golfers don’t use the right type of putter for their specific stroke. When this happens, the putter is actually making it harder to get the ball in the hole. 

For example, if you’re an in to out putter, you should use a blade style. This type of putter has adequate toe hang and will allow the face to square up at impact. 

That’s why you should find the right type of putter for your game. 

Click here to learn more about the two types of putters.

Not Practicing Short Putts 

If there’s one thing I would hope you take away from this, it’s the importance of short putts. The better you are at holing the short putts (3-6 feet), the better you will score every round.

Here’s what Dr. Bob Rotella said in his book, Putting Out of Your Mind, about why pros work on short putts the most. “Practicing from close range assures them of making most of the putts they try. Second, they know the importance of critical importance of short putts. If you’re solid from, say, two to five feet, it makes it so much easier to make your longer putts.” 

Mastering the short ones will instantly help build confidence, which can travel to other parts of your game. Plus, it ensures you don’t waste any strokes when you’re trying to save par or have a kick in birdie putt.

As Dr. Bob also said, “Good players will tell you that the difference between low round and high ones is usually sinking short birdie putts and getting up and down to save par when they miss greens.” 

Hone your short putts and watch your game instantly improve. 

Forgetting About the Mental Golf Game 

While golf is hard because of all the shots you have to learn to hit, it’s also difficult from the mental side of things too. Even if you have the right clubs, a perfect golf swing, and a solid short game, it’s not always enough.

You need to work on the mental side of things just as much (if not more) than the physical side of golf. Because as I’m sure you know, an average round of golf is an emotional roller coaster.

One good swing and you think “Today is the day.” The next swing, you chunk one and are scrambling to save par after a perfect drive. That’s just how golf works, so your mind better be ready for the ride.

A good mental game means:

  • Having fun.
  • Avoiding negative self-talk.
  • Accepting bad breaks as just part of golf.
  • Always thinking with an optimistic attitude. 
  • Forgiving yourself for hitting a less than perfect shot.  

And a lot more. Click here to read more about the mental tips for golf.

Getting Too Emotional With Each Swing

As I mentioned in the previous point, golf brings out all kinds of emotions. One second you’re happy, smiling, and loving every club in the bag. But a few bad holes later, you’re miserable, want to break every club, and counting down to the 19th hole.

The key is getting your emotions under control. That doesn’t mean you can’t get mad or frustrated either, it’s about not letting it affect the next shot.

Here’s what Tiger Woods told his son Charlie about getting emotional during a round. 

“Son, I don’t care how mad you get. Your head could blow off for all I care, just as long as you’re 10% percent committed to the next shot. That next shot should be the most important shot in your life. It should be more important than breathing.” 

Wise words from arguably the greatest golfer of all time. Getting mad, frustrated, and flustered is part of golf, but it’s about not letting it influence your next shot. 

Not Tracking Your Stats

If you want to start playing better golf, you need to practice your weaknesses. Unfortunately, most golfers only like to practice their strengths and avoid weaknesses entirely. 

The easiest way to learn your weaknesses is to track your stats after each round.

This could be as simple as tracking fairway, greens, and total putts. Or, you could use an app or stat tracking software to study your game in detail.

The reason this is so critical is that you can quickly identify what you need to improve. Then, spend 80% of your next practice session on your weakness.

Soon enough, your weak parts of your game will be just as strong as the rest.

Playing Hero Golf

To break 80, you only need 12 pars and seven bogeys. Or, 11 pars, five bogeys, and a double bogey. 

Think about it, you don’t even need a birdie to shoot in the 70s. Yet, so many average golfers think they need to hit it 300+ yards and attack every flag. In reality, you don’t. 

Instead, you need to focus on making pars and if a birdie falls in… great. If not, take a par and run with it. 

The point is, you don’t need to play “hero golf” and try to attack every shot you face. While it might be more fun than laying up and aiming at the middle of the green, the total score is all that matters.

Expecting Too Much From Your Game 

Finally, the last mistake that I can’t forget to mention is expecting too much from your game. I know guys who are 10 handicaps but are disappointed if they don’t break 80 or hit 10 fairways a round. 

Think about it like this, the best players in the world hit a lot of bad shots, so why do you expect to never hit a bad one yourself? Or, never miss a put that you normally make?

Good golfers especially, are way too hard on themselves. To keep things in perspective, here are some stats from the PGA Tour:

  • The average carry distance is 279 and they only hit 59% of fairways on average.
  • From 175-200 yards, they only hit the green 53% of the time. If they do find the dance floor, they are an average of 34 feet away from the pin. 
  • PGA players only get the ball up and down from the sand about 50% of the time. Their proximity from the sand is about nine feet. 
  • PGA Tour pros only get the ball up and down about 60% of the time. 
  • The average PGA Tour player has 29 putts per round.

While we see them swinging hard for 340 yard drives, crisp irons, and all the long putts made on TV, don’t forget it’s a highlight reel. It’s like social media, it’s a mirage.

Keep things in perspective so you don’t feel bad for only hitting it 250 or have 30 putts per round. 

Other Course Management & Swing Mistakes

Here are some other easy to fix mistakes too.

  • Weak grip.
  • Under reading putts.
  • Not choosing a target line.
  • Not shouting fore on the course.
  • Poor alignment (on the range and golf course).
  • All arms, no body swing (not enough shoulder turn).
  • Working on technical drills or using training aids at full speed. Use less speed to feel a full shoulder turn, better takeaway, etc.

Final Thoughts on Swing Mistakes

As you can tell, there are a lot of easy fixes to help your game.

The good news is that no matter how good you get, you’ll always want to get better. With golf, there is always something new to learn so keep an open mind and understand that mistakes are just part of golf.

But hopefully, these tips will help you address some easy fixes to play golf at a higher level.