How to Fade

A fade shot is where the ball curves in a controlled manner from left to right if you are right-handed (the opposite direction if you are left-handed). To hit a fade shot, move the ball up in your stance and position your stance slightly open. The swing needs to be steeper than usual and on an outside-to-in swing path. When you strike the ball, the face angle needs to be to the left of the target. The lower the club number, the more curve you will get with a fade. A fade hit with a driver will curve between 1 and 15 yards, with less deviation as you go up the irons.

How to Draw

A draw is where the ball curves in a controlled manner from right to left if you are right-handed. Compared to a fade, the draw is harder to pull off successfully. The ball needs to be slightly back in your stance, and you need to be in a closed stance (feet and shoulders aiming to the right of the target). The swing path must be inside-to-out, sending the ball to the right. To achieve this, line your body up to the right of your intended target and set the club up so it is closer to your body. A good tip is to bow the wrist, which will help close the club’s face. As with the fade, the curve deviations should be between 1 and 15 yards, depending on your club.

How to Use Indoor Golf to Improve

The ability to fade or draw your shots will improve your game, as you will be able to strategize your approach to the green better. Dogleg corners can be more easily cut, and obstacles such as trees in your line of sight can be avoided without taking extra shots. To make fade and draws a part of your game, you will need to get comfortable hitting them; otherwise, you will end up constantly hooking and slicing the ball. A virtual driving range has an advantage over a regular driving range as it lets you see the exact flight of the ball after every strike and will tell you how much spin it has. Using this data, you can make the necessary adjustments to your swing and stance to perfect your curved shots. A virtual driving range will also give you an accurate idea of which club you can most consistently hit a fade or draw with and how different clubs affect the amount of curve.

Once comfortable, you can go on a virtual course of your choice to put your new ability into practice. A course with dogleg holes, obstacles, and hazards will give you plenty of opportunities to fade and draw shots in the exact situations you would find yourself in on a golf course. If you work with an indoor golf pro coach, they will be able to give you feedback based on the data from the simulator to improve your shot shaping. When you next go for a round of golf, you will be able to deftly get around the course, lowering your scores and improving your overall ability and enjoyment of the game.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to fade or draw your shots is the next step if you want to improve your game and dramatically develop your ability to maneuver around the golf course. Players who score lower are able to do so because of their ball control. Using indoor golf simulators, you can perfect your fades and draws by accurately tracking your shots and using the data to improve your swing.

Battling the elements is one of the most challenging aspects of golf, and of all the elements that a golfer will face, the wind is the most common and challenging to overcome. When even a gentle breeze can affect a ball’s flight, most players expect high scores if there is a moderate to strong wind blowing across the course. The good news is that just as the challenges of playing in the rain can be overcome by adjusting your game, you can also adjust your swing and shot selection to compensate for the wind. Understanding how different wind directions affect a ball’s flight will help keep your scores down. In this post, we will examine how to tackle a headwind, tailwind, and crosswind and how you can best prepare yourself to be a competent golfer in windy conditions.

Hitting into Headwind

If hitting into a strong headwind, it is better to drop a club or two rather than try to hit the ball harder. A common phrase in golf is “Swing it easy when it’s breezy,” and the meaning of this phrase is that if you hit the ball harder, you will likely create extra backspin, which will cause the ball to go higher and off your intended line. A steady swing with a lower club will get you the necessary yardage without compromising your shot. When judging the distance for your club selection, a general rule of thumb for hitting into a headwind is to add an extra yard to your shot for every 1mph of wind. For example, if the headwind is 10mph, you would add 10 yards to your shot distance. To keep the ball under the wind and reduce the spin as much as possible during its flight, move the ball back in your stance.

Hitting With Tailwind

Striking the golf ball with the wind behind you can be advantageous as it will carry the ball further. This is great for when your main focus is distance, but you will need greater swing control for precision shots, such as hitting the green, to ensure you don’t overhit. A tailwind will not only add distance in the air but also make the ball roll more when it lands. You also need to hit the ball with enough backspin so that it doesn’t drop out of the sky too soon. When hitting with a tailwind, the general rule of thumb for club distance is to divide the wind mph in half and then subtract that number from your yardage. If the wind is 10mph, divide it by half to get 5 and then subtract 5 from the distance.

Hitting Through a Crosswind

A crosswind can have a massive effect on the flight of your ball. There are two ways to hit a ball with a crosswind: with the wind or against the wind. Of the two, hitting with the wind is the easiest to judge and the most forgiving. So, if the wind is going left to right, aim to the left and let the wind bring the ball back. Playing against the wind requires much more skill. A golfer must hit a fade or draw in the opposite direction of the wind so that the curve of the ball’s flight into the wind will produce a straight shot. Do note that, as with hitting into a headwind, aim for less backspin so the wind won’t impact the ball’s flight. To gauge the strength of the wind, throw some grass in the air, or if you can see it, take note of the flag. For your short game, low chips are better than pitch shots.

Practice on the Driving Range Before You Play

Aside from just warming up before the round, you can use the driving range as an effective way to gauge how the wind will impact your game. This will give you the best idea of how to adjust your club and swing selection to combat the windy conditions. Pay close attention to how the wind affects the ball on high shots if the wind is going across you. If you are able to hit with a headwind or a tailwind, pay attention to how much distance you gain or lose on average using the range markers.

Practice With Indoor Golf

Playing golf in a strong wind can be a frustrating experience, especially for those new to the sport. The most effective way to not let windy conditions completely derail your round is to be comfortable playing in adverse weather conditions, and this can be achieved by playing indoor golf on a virtual simulator. One of the adjustments you can make on a virtual golf simulator is the weather conditions, allowing you to set the wind speed and direction both on the virtual driving range and on the virtual courses. You will be able to see the ball’s flight on the screen and accurately see how the wind affects your shot, giving you a greater understanding that can be applied to the golf course.

Caddyshack (1980)

Caddyshack is arguably the most famous golf film ever made. It is a comedy classic by Harold Ramis and is considered one of Bill Murray’s iconic roles. The film is a humorous and over-the-top look at what it takes to run a golf course, casting its satirical eyes over everyone from the management to the caddies, the maintenance men, and the players. A key part of the film that is relatable to many golfers is the power dynamics and belittling between the players and the disastrous shots that they play. The film has become endlessly quotable with “Stop thinking…let things happen…and be the ball” considered sage advice for all golfers.

Happy Gilmore (1996)

This American sports comedy follows the journey of a failed hockey player who discovers a talent for golf through his eccentric playing style. The film has become a cult favorite amongst golfers who can emphasize with Happy Gilmore’s desire to drive the ball as far as possible and his frustration with the sport. By poking fun at some of golf’s stuffier elements, the film also made golf more accessible and was credited with an increase in interest among the public after it was released.

The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)

Directed by the late great Bill Paxton, The Greatest Game Ever Played chronicles the true story of Francis Ouimet, who became the first amateur to win the U.S. Open. The film covers the class prejudice that was common in golf’s early years when it was considered an upper-class sport. Shia LaBeouf stars as blue-collar worker Francis Ouimet, who defies his father to practice golf and beat British golfing champion Harry Vardon (played by Stephen Dillane of Game of Thrones fame) to win the U.S. Open. The Greatest Game Ever Played is a great retelling of one of golf’s greatest underdog stories.  

Tommy’s Honour (2016)

A biopic on the early days of golf by Jason Connery (son of Sean Connery) that centers around Scottish golfing champions Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris. In golf history, the two Morris hold a prominent place as being both the oldest (46 years and 102 days) and the youngest (17 years and 156 days) British Open winners. The film follows Young Tom Morris’s rise as a golfer as he challenges his social standing and his father’s legacy to become one of the sport’s best-ever players. It is a fascinating and emotional look at two of golf’s pioneers and the sport’s impact on their personal and professional lives.

The Phantom of the Open (2021)

While most underdog golf films are about a talented individual proving everyone wrong, The Phantom of the Open is about an underdog who is absolutely terrible at golf, proving all his naysayers to be 100% correct. The film covers the bizarre true story of Maurice Flitcroft, played by Mark Rylance, an amateur golfer with very limited experience who claimed he was a professional to enter the 1976 British Open. He is famous for earning the worst score in the tournament’s history, and as a result, the competition changed the rules to make sure someone as unqualified as himself couldn’t enter again. It is a feel-good film and a heartwarming tribute to the dreamers of the world, and many golfers just starting out will sympathize with Flitcroft’s ability on the green.

Honorable Mention – Goldfinger (1964)

While not a golf film, Goldfinger arguably features cinema’s most famous golf scene. Shot at Stoke Park Golf Club in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England, the match between Sean Connery’s James Bond and Gert Fröbe’s Auric Goldfinger remains iconic. From the ‘strict rules of golf’ conclusion to both players cheating to get an edge, Goldfinger presents aspects of golf not usually seen on screen. An interesting side note: preparing for this scene got Sean Connery hooked on golf. He would become one of golf’s most famous celebrity players and devotees.

Sofa Swing Practice

This simple but effective swing drill was made famous by golf legend Nick Faldo. You don’t need any equipment apart from a sofa or a flat surface below your knees. You then put your left hand over your right so that the backs of both hands are touching (opposite if you are left-handed) to create the same rotation and movement of a golf swing. You then lightly put your knees on the sofa, and as you swing back, your knees shouldn’t move, keeping you on the right swing plane. When you swing down and follow through, the right knee should slide towards the left knee. If you move your right knee too early, it will go into the sofa. A simple home drill that can be practiced anywhere.

One Handed Chipping

Unless you have a dedicated space to hit golf balls, foam golf balls are recommended to remove the risk of a wayward ball causing damage. Hold the club with your trail hand and gently swing to make contact with the ball. The purpose behind the drill is not to hit the ball hard but to get the right feel as your trail hand moves the club around you in a natural arc. The more you practice and get comfortable, the more solid the strike will be.

Two Ball Indoor Putting Drill

Putting is the most famous indoor golf drill, and a good putting mat is an affordable investment that all serious golfers should consider. If you don’t have a putting mat, then another simple drill is to practice your accuracy by putting between two golf balls. Start with the two balls close to you and move them away to make the drill harder. The distance between the two balls will also make the drill harder or easier. This drill can be done on any surface, but carpet is ideal as it best matches the surface of a putting green.

Head Against the Wall Putting

Another simple putting drill that can be done at home. A common issue amongst golfers is keeping their head still and over the ball when putting. Any head movement will make your shots much less consistent, affecting your scores. To work on this, put your head against the wall and the toe of your putter against the baseboard and start doing practice strokes. As you get used to the feeling of not moving your head, you can start hitting balls. For golfers who prefer an arc shot when putting, move the putter head slightly away from the baseboard on the takeaway. This drill will improve your putting consistency and help you avoid the bad habit of moving your head when putting.

The Hip Bump Drill

The difference between a good golf strike and a great one is how you use your hips. A common issue with many amateur golfers is starting the downswing with the arms instead of activating their lower body first. For this drill, you will need a large ball, such as an exercise or beach ball, and set the ball between your front hip and the wall. Then, cross your arms across your chest or use a club to make a full backswing. Before you initiate the downswing, push your front hip into the ball and then slowly follow through to impact. Repeating this drill will get you used to moving your hips first before the rest of your body moves, giving you more power in your swing.

If you can’t get to a driving range or golf course, practicing at home is a great way to improve your game. If you are looking for another way to practice without going outside, virtual golf simulators are a great alternative. Our GolfX locations will allow you to practice every aspect of the game on virtual simulators, play some of the most famous courses in the world, and, through our food and beverage options, make your practice session a social occasion.

Wet Weather Equipment

While not necessary, adapting your equipment to the rain will improve your comfort levels and ability to strike the ball well.

Waterproof Coat

Playing in the rain is not the most pleasant experience, but playing soaked to the skin is much worse, and it is highly likely you won’t play even close to your best. A good waterproof coat for golf will keep you dry and provide enough mobility to swing as normal. Pro shops sell waterproofs specifically designed with golfers in mind, and these are a much better choice than your everyday Mackintosh coat.

Gloves

Your golf glove is very important for gripping the club and controlling your swing, and the rain will have a negative impact on both. The best option is to invest in a pair of wet-weather gloves, which will not only keep your hands warm but also increase your grip on the club and prevent any slippage when swinging. If you don’t want to use wet-weather gloves, you must keep your regular glove as dry as possible. This can be done by removing it after every shot and putting it in your bag. It is best to have a few replacements on standby in case your glove does get wet.

Golf spikes

Golf shoes will always come with a good amount of grip and are suitable for most weather conditions. However, you can go one step further by investing in spiked golf shoes. These will give you a much more solid foundation when hitting the ball, especially from difficult lies.

Club Bag Cover

Keeping your clubs dry is paramount when playing in the rain. Wet clubs will not only affect your performance but could also be damaged by rust or mold if left damp for extended periods of time. Most golf bags will come with a cover, but if not, or you want better protection, you can buy a 100% waterproof hood from pro shops or online platforms.

Wet Weather Playing Tips

Golf in wet weather can be a very challenging and frustrating experience for golfers who only play in ideal conditions. Yet, although some adjustments must be made, it isn’t a major change from how you would regularly play.

Account for Less Ball Run

Wet ground dramatically affects how the ball runs when it lands, and the wetter and softer the ground, the less the ball will run. A simple rule of thumb is to strike the ball harder for every type of shot as the ball will either stop short or, especially for short game shots, stop dead on the wet ground. If you are struggling to find the distance with your usual clubs despite hitting the ball harder, try switching down a club.

Hit Your Putts Harder

The green is where the rain can really impact your game, as your putts will become much slower. To accommodate the conditions, hit the putt with the same power as you would if it was from a slightly greater distance. Knowing your striking strength is important here and can be improved through simple putting drills. The good news is that if you usually overhit your putts, the wet greens will be much more forgiving.

Know the Embedded Ball Rule

An embedded ball is when part of the ball is below the ground level after landing. This means that it is sunk into the ground or above the soil but still below the level of the ground, and it must be in its own pitch mark. The embedding rule (16.3 in the USGA rulebook) gives players a relief by letting them mark behind the ball, use their club to create an arc no closer to the hole, mark the extremities, and then drop the ball anywhere in the semi-circle area. On a wet course, your chances of embedding the ball are much higher if the ground is wet, so knowing this rule means you won’t have to hit a very difficult shot, which could affect your approach and scorecard.

Change Your Mental Game

As mentioned above, playing in the rain is more challenging than playing in dry weather, requiring you to adapt your mental game. If you are prepared to have a positive attitude towards playing in the rain and realize that your score will not be as good as it usually is, you will still have an enjoyable experience. Rather than seeing the rain as a hindrance, consider it a good time to practice playing in adverse conditions. This way, when it unexpectedly rains during a round or a tournament, you will be mentally able to adapt and not implode at crucial moments due to the weather.  

Indoor Golf

If the rain makes it impossible to play, as is often the case here in the Philippines, or it is not something that appeals to you, then Indoor Golf is your next best option. You can practice as you normally would on a virtual driving range or test your skills on a world-famous course. As mentioned above, playing in poor weather conditions requires some practice, and a virtual golf simulator is one of the best ways to do this. You can change the settings to create adverse weather conditions, such as the amount of rain. Using the FSX2020 software from Foresight Sports at our San Juan and BGC locations, you can even choose to play the live weather conditions of your chosen course.

Nobody likes playing in the rain, but being able to do so will make you a better golfer. Follow our tips above, and you will play your best no matter how wet you or the course are.

AI in Golf

AI has many applications in golf for the players, the course owners, and the sport’s biggest brands. Golfers are increasingly using AI for next-level club fittings that can accurately recommend the exact club they need based on their swing data and video footage. Another example of how technology is being used is in the creation of clubs. Callaway’s Epic Flash drivers and fairway woods were created using data from a supercomputer that developed the optimal clubface technology. At a broader level, many golf courses now use AI chatbots to interact with players to book tee times and answer questions. With AI being implemented at every level, it is clear that it is here to stay. For the average golfer, though, the potential of an AI caddie is the most exciting development.

What is an AI Caddie?

AI caddies either come as an application or a wearable device, often both, to provide optimal support to golfers of every level. The two main ways that an AI caddie can help a golfer are through swing analysis and acting as a virtual caddie on a golf course.

Swing Analysis

Even though they are called caddies, the AI effectively acts as a personal trainer. An AI caddie is able to monitor your performance using a camera or tracking sensor in order to provide instant feedback on how to improve your golf swing. A good AI application will monitor every aspect of your swing, from the starting position to the follow-through, and provide detailed feedback on each area. Alongside providing insight on where to improve, some AI caddies can use the data gathered from several sessions to create a practice plan unique to you.

Virtual Caddie

AI golf caddies are revolutionizing how golfers tackle a course by providing hole analysis and club recommendations that were once only available to those who could afford a top caddie. If the AI application has the golf course in its database, it can provide a detailed map of each hole and show the optimal route to the green. It will also provide accurate yardage for hazards and dog ears, as well as information on wind speed and direction. This gives golfers a complete overview of a course only the best human caddies can provide. The virtual caddie will also remember your strokes for each hole and which club you used, allowing you to retrospectively go back over the hole and find areas of improvement.

Advantages of an AI Caddie

The AI caddie has democratized the access to data that was once only reserved for professional golfers and those who could afford the best coaches. Golfers of all levels can get accurate insights and recommendations without spending huge amounts on training sessions or hiring caddies. This has made individual improvement much easier as golfers can take the AI caddie with them to every practice session or course. Most golfers only take a limited number of lessons before striking out on their own due to financial or time constraints. An AI caddie is a personal coach in their pocket and is a minimal investment compared to regularly hiring a pro for lessons. Removing much of the guesswork on the golf course will also allow players to improve their overall game, especially if they play independently.

Disadvantages of an AI Caddie

The feedback from an AI caddie is excellent for showing you what is wrong and where you need to improve, but it can’t match an actual human trainer for showing you how to improve. The amount of data an AI caddie can produce can easily be overwhelming and difficult for an amateur player to implement into their practice sessions. A pro can make recommendations and then teach you how to implement them by correcting your swing. They will also be able to communicate better the best ways to work on different aspects of your swing, taking into consideration age, height, and mobility. Golf is fundamentally a very human endeavor, testing a player’s physical and mental capabilities. Constantly relying on artificial advice could stagnate the development of a natural instinct for the sport.

Whether you agree with it or not, AI is fast becoming an important part of golf. It can help golfers improve their swing and help them get around the course much easier. Despite this, golf will always be a human sport because as advanced as the tech will get, it can’t take the swing for you.

Range Finder

Range finders have become a universal part of golf, and if you are determined to improve your game, you should invest in one. A range finder will give you an exact distance to the green from the tee and anywhere on the fairway, removing all guesswork on how hard you should hit the ball. If you know your club distances, a range finder will allow you to make better decisions when choosing which club to use for each shot, especially if you need to avoid a hazard. If you want an even more accurate range finder, look for a slope rangefinder. These calculate how much longer an uphill shot or how much shorter a downhill shot will play, giving you an even better chance of hitting a low score.

Golf GPS Watch

Smart technology is transforming golf, and none more so than the golf GPS watch. The best golf watches come with thousands of preloaded golf courses that can aid golfers in several ways. A golf watch will give users an accurate map of the course and will be able to provide the distances to not just the green but also bunkers and water hazards, both back and front. After you hit the ball and find it, the watch will give you an accurate distance of how far it traveled. Your golf watch can also act as a virtual caddie and recommend which club you should use for the next shot based on previous data. As an added bonus, a golf watch can also be used to keep score.

Swing Analyzer

Improving the golf swing is the never-ending goal of every golfer, and a swing analyzer is the best way to do this, aside from working with a pro. There are different types of swing analyzers available, ranging from devices that clip onto your golf glove or strap to your arm to those that clip onto your club. Each analyzer is connected to an app that will give you an accurate reading of every swing. The feedback you will receive will include your swing tempo, swing speed, and your attack angle. An analyzer that attaches to your arm will be able to measure your wrist angle and how it changes during your swing. If you are still struggling to achieve a consistent swing, an analyzer will tell you why.

Portable Launch Monitor

Just like a swing analyzer, a launch monitor is one of the most effective tools for analyzing your ability as a golfer. As the name suggests, a launch monitor will provide feedback on the ball after you have hit it. There are many different versions available depending on your budget, and a good launch monitor will provide feedback on ball speed, direction, and spin. All this information can be viewed immediately, giving you an accurate way to improve your striking. The more advanced models also have added AI features that can act as a virtual trainer and provide instant feedback.

Indoor Virtual Simulator  

The ultimate golf gadget is an indoor virtual simulator. This setup is frequently seen in golf tutorial videos and is one of the most effective ways to improve every aspect of your game. Using a launch monitor, projector, and screen, you can recreate the driving range and some of the world’s most famous courses in your own home. An indoor virtual simulator allows you to practice at your own convenience while providing a wide range of data on every shot. Do note that an indoor virtual simulator can be expensive to set up and you will need to ensure you have enough space. If a golf simulator is out of your budget, don’t worry; you can still take advantage of the benefits through our two GolfX locations in San Juan and BGC.

If you want to improve your golf game or eliminate the guesswork of getting around the course, consider investing in a golf gadget. These tools will help you find and improve any faults in your game to become a better golfer.

Blade Putter

The blade putter is the traditional putter and has been used by many of golf’s best players, most notably Tiger Woods with his iconic Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS. Its clean, uniform design has made it the choice of golf purists.

Pros

Arch Stroke: The blade putter’s toe hang design places more weight on the toe side, allowing the putter face to open naturally. This makes blade putters perfect for those who prefer an arc stroke, also known as an inside-to-outside stroke.

Greater Feel: Blade putters offer a softer feel, giving golfers a lot of feedback from their strikes. This allows players to adjust their strokes for greater accuracy and precision.

Precision: Blade putters are much more accurate over longer distances than mallet putters, especially for putts over ten feet.

Versatility: While they may be less forgiving in terms of ball striking, blade putters are much more versatile when playing on courses with varying green speeds.

Cons

Unforgiving: Because of the small club head, you have a lot less leeway to make a mistake when striking the ball.

Harder to Line Up: Blade putters don’t have alignment lines, making it much more challenging to line up the putter with the golf ball.

Less Stability: Blade putters are much less stable than their mallet counterparts due to their lightweight design. This makes overall consistency and accuracy much more challenging.

Mallet Putter

The counterpart to the blade putter is the mallet. These putters come in a variety of shapes, but they are usually either a box shape or a semi-circle shape and will have a large club face. While considered the best option for those starting out, many of the top players in the world now favor the mallet, including Scottie Scheffler, who uses a TaylorMade Spider Tour X L-neck.

Pros

Alignment Guides: Due to the larger size of the club head, manufacturers are able to include alignment lines that can help with striking the dead center of the ball.

Larger Sweet Spot: Another advantage of a larger club head is a much larger sweet spot. This makes the mallet putter much more forgiving than a blade putter.

Extra Weight: The extra weight increases the club’s stability, which makes good contact much more likely. This makes them ideal for those with a low handicap or new to the game.

Straight Back Stroke: Mallet putters favor players who swing the putter in a straight line.

Cons

Extra Weight: While the extra weight increases the stability of the club head, it also makes it harder to control, especially on shorter putts.

Fast Greens: Mallet putters can be less accurate on fast greens due to their heavier weight, leading to over-hitting.

Price: Mallet putters are universally more expensive. If you are looking to invest in one, it may be worth considering secondhand options.

Verdict

In simplistic terms, the blade putter is more suited for those who can control the golf ball better, making it more suited for high handicap players, while the forgiving nature of the mallet putter makes it better for those with less playing experience. Ultimately, your choice of putter will depend on your playing style and preference. Test out different models in the club shop and speak to a pro coach to determine which putter club head suits you best.

A low handicap is considered a holy grail for golfers. If you can post a handicap between 0 and 10, it shows that you are a highly competent player and can easily get around a golf course without making many mistakes. While calculating your handicap is easy, lowering it can be challenging. It is very common for golfers to plateau in golf and get stuck at one level. While some may argue that the handicap isn’t that important for casual players who play recreationally, knowing your handicap and improving it can be hugely motivational and a good indicator of where you are as a golfer. If you play regularly and have been stuck at one level (or number) for an extended period, it is a clear sign that certain areas of your game need improving. In this post, we will look at 6 ways to lower your handicap.

Improve Your Driver Consistency

If you are serious about lowering your handicap, you will need to work on being consistent with your driver. Your first shot off the tee can make or break a hole, and a good first shot will give you the best chance of making a low score. To attain this consistency, you will need to hit the driving range frequently and keep practicing until you hit a good straight drive more often than you don’t. A virtual driving range (see below) is an effective way to comprehend where your drive needs improvement.

Reduce the Number of 3 Putts  

Nothing adds to your score more than constantly making three putts. If you want to lower your scores and lower your handicap, you must be hitting two-putts on a regular basis. As with the driver, consistency is the difference between being a high-handicap and a low-handicap player. You can implement many drills to improve your putting and green game, and you should also work on your short-game distance control to get the ball as close to the pin as possible.

Next Level Ball Control

The ability to bend the golf ball to their will is what makes the pros so good. The more you can get the golf ball to do what you want, the easier it will be to get around the holes. A useful skill that will lower your handicap is being able to slice and hook the golf ball on command. You will be able to navigate dog-tail courses more economically and get yourself out of trouble if you find a tree or hazard in your direct line of sight.

Work With a Pro

Most golfers plateau because they reach a level and don’t know how to progress. If you find yourself stuck at the same handicap despite frequently playing and practicing, your best course of action will be to work with a pro. No matter your level or how long you have been playing, a pro can improve every aspect of your game and teach you new shots (such as how to curve the golf ball). A good way to work on your game with a pro is to play a course with them, either as your caddie or a fellow player, so that they will be able to find and tweak issues that may not be apparent on the driving range.

Indoor Golf

If you want to lower your handicap, you must play a lot of golf. If getting to a golf course regularly is too costly and time-consuming, you should turn to Indoor Golf. Our golf simulation software at Golf X allows users to practice on a virtual driving range, showing you data points such as distance, ball flight, and ball speed that will give you an accurate picture of every shot and show you exactly what you need to work on to lower your handicap. You can also play on digitally accurate replicas of some of the world’s most famous courses, which will test every aspect of your game. The benefit of practicing on a virtual course is that you can take as long as you want and even replay shots without worrying about being pressed for time. The wide selection of virtual courses will also allow you to try different types of courses and challenge you in new ways compared to playing the same holes at your local golf club.

Lowering your handicap may seem like a difficult task if you have plateaued, but with the above tips, you will gradually improve your game and consistently get lower scores.

Contrary to its outside perception, golf is among the most inclusive sports. This is because it is one of the few sports that people of all ages and levels can play together. The unique feature of golf that allows this is the handicap system. Even if you have only been playing for a year, you could play against a player who has played for twenty years and still have a competitive game. This also allows players with varying handicaps and playing abilities to enter a golf tournament, and every golfer would still have a chance to compete and win. Yet, for many new players, the handicap system can be confusing. In this article, we will break the golf handicap down.

What is a Handicap?

The golf handicap is a system that equalizes the playing field by allowing a golfer of a lower playing ability to subtract a higher number from their score or receive an extra number of strokes when playing against a better golfer. A golfer’s handicap is the number of strokes that they are estimated to take above or below the course’s par score. For example, a player with a handicap of 4 playing a 72-par course would be expected to be able to play the course in 76 strokes (72 + 4 extra strokes). In comparison, someone with a handicap of 15 would be expected to play the course in 87 strokes (72 + 15 extra strokes). Do note that the handicap number is not the number you are expected to shoot on a given day but rather an index of your playing ability. The lower the number the better the golfer. A high handicap is above 20, a mid-level handicap is 11-19, and a low handicap is 0-10.

How Do You Calculate Your Handicap?

There are two handicaps that you need to calculate: your personal handicap (known as the handicap index) and the course handicap. Because every golf course is different in terms of layout and difficulty, the course handicap adjusts the stroke allowance for each player depending on how challenging the course is. The handicap that you choose to use is decided before playing.

Personal Handicap: the average of the best 8 scores of your most recent 20 rounds.

Course Handicap: handicap index x (slope rating ÷ 113) + (Course rating – Course Par).

The slope rating, the course rating, and the course par will all be on the scorecard you are given at the clubhouse. The ratings will be different for each tee on the course. Here is an example calculation for a 15-handicap golfer playing a 72-par course with a slope rating of 116 and a course rating of 74. The course handicap calculation will be 15 x 1.02 + 2 = 17.3. The final number is always rounded to the nearest whole number, so the course handicap would be 17 for that golfer.

There are many apps available that will calculate your handicap for you, and if you want an official handicap, you can apply online to the World Handicap System or to your country’s association. In the USA, it is the USGA, and here in the Philippines, it is the NGAP.

How to Apply Your Handicap

The handicap has two different applications when playing with friends: stroke play and match play. In stroke play, the total number of strokes over the entire course determines the winner, while in match play, the winner is determined by the total number of individual holes won.

Stroke Play

There are two simple ways to apply the handicap in stroke play. In a match between two players, one with a handicap of 10 and one with a handicap of 3, they would calculate the difference between their handicaps, which is 7, and at the end of the course the player with the handicap of 10 would subtract 7 from his score. Another way is to use the handicap to determine the net score. Take the gross score (the overall number of strokes) of each golfer and then subtract their handicap index for the next score. Let’s use an example of a game between three players: Player A with a handicap of 10, Player B with a handicap of 3, and Player C with a handicap of 22. Player A shoots 86 and subtracts his handicap of 10 for a net score of 76, Player B shoots 78 and subtracts his handicap of 3 for a net score of 75, and Player C shoots 96 and by subtracting their handicap of 22 would get a net score of 74.

Match Play

For match play between two players, you subtract the golfer’s higher handicap number from the golfer’s lower handicap number, and the difference is the number of holes on which the higher handicap golfer will get a one-stroke advantage. All holes on the course are ranked 1-18 in terms of hardest on the scorecard’s “handicap” line. So if the handicap difference is 7 (as above), the lower handicap player would get a one-stroke advantage on the 7 hardest holes. Another way to use the handicap in match play is to take the handicap index of each player and then give them a stroke on however many holes equals their handicap. Player A, with a handicap of 10, gets an extra stroke on the ten hardest holes; Player B, with a handicap of 3, gets an extra stroke on the three hardest holes; and Player B, with a handicap of 22, gets an extra stroke on all eighteen holes plus an additional stroke on the four hardest.

Do You Need to Know Your Handicap?

While you will likely often hear players talking about their handicap, it is not required to have one. If you are a casual player and don’t bother with scores, you don’t need to be concerned about calculating your handicap. However, there are several benefits to knowing your handicap. Golf is a sport of continuous learning, and your handicap is a good indicator of your progress. You can use it to set goals and identify improvement areas when practicing. If working with a golf pro, they will be able to get a good read on your ability off of your handicap. Once you feel confident enough to enter a tournament or event, you will often be asked for your handicap.

No matter your level of golf, knowing your handicap is a great way to understand your own golf game better, play with different people, and serve as a marker for improvement.