There is so much the average amateur can learn from watching the professionals negotiate 18 holes of golf. Much of the possible education is on course management and strategy. The top pros play the percentages and we amateurs often don’t.
Professionals can put bad shots behind them, they don’t exacerbate problems in difficult situations, they don’t consistently under-club, they don’t take their heads up too soon to look where the ball has gone, they don’t drink a can of beer at the halfway house…
There’s plenty for us mere golfing mortals to soak up and attempt to put into practice. But there are certain things the professionals do that most amateurs would do well not to try and emulate. Here are five things that amateur golfers shouldn’t copy from the professionals.
Swing Hard
Bryson giving it big licks
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The top pros practice and train… A lot… They have grooved their swings and honed their bodies to the point where they can properly go after shots and still maintain technique, rhythm and balance. If you look at the average ball speeds on the top pro tours – they are a different league to what an average, Saturday amateur can produce. These guys and girls are athletes, and they can swing hard and in control if and when they need or choose to.
Most amateurs simply can’t do that. Trying to swing hard throws everything out of sync – timing and stability go awry and so, generally, does the ball. As an amateur, always swinging within yourself will deliver more consistent and better results.
Take the Lofted Route
Phil Mickelson loves a lob wedge
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Did I mention the pros practice quite a bit? They will spend hours on, and around the practice greens perfecting their short game technique. They have such confidence in their touch and feel that they can pull of any sort of short shot from close to the putting surface.
Often, they will pull out their most lofted club even when there’s nothing ahead of them. That’s the club they have most control with when it comes to generating spin and getting the distance spot on.
Let’s face it – most of us don’t have that checking high-lofted pitch in our lockers. Amateurs will almost always fare better if they take less loft on a pitch. If in…
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