Most amateur golfers I meet are working harder at the game than they need to. They are watching swing videos at midnight, buying new drivers and grinding on the range trying to fix a slice that has been there for three years. The elements that would genuinely lower their scores are often far simpler, and far less glamorous, than anything they are currently chasing. After years of competing at a professional level, here are seven things I wish every amateur knew.
Build a pre-shot routine and trust it completely
One habit I’d encourage every golfer to develop is a consistent pre-shot routine. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick your target, take one committed practice swing, then step in and trust the shot. Too often, I see players overthinking or letting one poor shot affect the rest of their round. Golf is just as much a mental game as it is a physical one, so learning to reset and move on after a mistake can save you far more shots than chasing the perfect swing.
Train your body, not just your swing
One thing I always remind golfers is that a better swing starts with a body that can move well. If your hips, upper back, or core lack mobility and stability, your body will naturally compensate, leading to inconsistent shots that often get mistaken for technical flaws. In the UAE, the heat makes this even more important, as fatigue can affect your focus and decision making long before your swing breaks down. A simple 20-minute mobility routine a few times a week can noticeably improve your consistency on the course.
Stop trying to hit the ball so hard
This is probably the most common problem I see on a golf course and it is costing amateur players more shots than anything else. There is a deeply ingrained belief that the harder you swing, the further the ball goes, and that further is always better. It is not. A well-struck shot with a smooth, controlled swing will travel further, fly straighter, and land more predictably than a poorly struck shot swung at full aggression, every time. Solid contact is the priority and this comes from a swing that is in control of itself. The next time you are on the course, take one more club than you think you need and swing at about 80 percent effort. The results will surprise you.
Play to your strengths, not against them
One of the most frustrating things to watch is an amateur standing over the ball trying to manufacture a shot shape they do not own yet during a round and while under pressure. Straightening out your ball flight is a long-term goal for the range and the lesson tee. When you are actually playing, your job is to work with what you have. Accept your tendencies, aim accordingly, and suddenly a shot that feels like a problem becomes a weapon you are choosing to use. If your normal shot curves slightly right, don’t try to force it straight every time. Instead, aim a little left of your target and let the ball naturally curve back towards it. The best amateur players I have ever played with are not the ones with the prettiest swings. They are the ones who know exactly what their ball is going to do and commit to it completely.
Fall in love with the short game
If you want to lower your score, spend the majority of your practice time inside 100 yards. Pitching, chipping, bunkers and putting are the shots that determine your scorecard far more than driving distance ever will. The short game requires feel, and feel requires repetition over time. It cannot be rushed, which is exactly why so many amateurs avoid it in favour of the instant gratification of the driving range. However, this is where shots are genuinely saved. A player who gets up and down consistently from around the green will beat a longer hitter who cannot chip.
Know the course before you play it
Before you pull a club on any hole, take thirty seconds to assess where the danger actually is, whether it be water, out of bounds, thick rough, or fairway bunkers. Understand where they sit relative to your natural shot shape and then make a plan to avoid them tactically. This does not mean playing fearfully. It means playing intelligently. Sometimes that looks like taking an iron off the tee instead of a driver. Sometimes it means aiming ten yards left of where instinct says to aim. Penalty shots are the most demoralising way to drop shots, and many of them are entirely avoidable with a moment of honest thinking before you swing. This is also where a bit of data helps. Apps like Golf Hero, which turns your scorecard into clear performance stats, can show you exactly which holes or shot types are costing you strokes, so you’re not just guessing where the danger is.
Master your setup before anything else
In my experience, around 90 per cent of swing problems trace back to a poor setup. Grip, aim, stance width, ball position and face alignment are the foundations that everything else is built on, and crucially, they are some of the very few things you can control completely on a golf course regardless of conditions, pressure, or how your round is going. A consistent, well-rehearsed setup gives your swing the best possible chance of doing what you intend. Get a lesson focused entirely on it; check it in a mirror at home; build it into a pre-shot routine. It is unglamorous work, but it pays off on every single shot you hit for the rest of your golfing life.
Golf has a habit of rewarding patience over power, and the players who improve fastest aren’t the ones chasing a perfect swing – they’re the ones willing to get the boring stuff right. Take these one at a time, be honest with yourself about where you actually lose shots, and give it time. The scores will follow.
