As a woman golfer, I can tell you I have heard both good and bad advice through the years.
Many times women golfers are looked at as entirely different players because of their perceived lack of swing speed. The good news is this is not the case, and there are plenty of ways that women golfers can improve and compete against anyone!
Here are 11 of our best tips for women golfers, tips that will actually work!
1. Low and Slow on The Takeaway
The golf swing takeaway should be low and slow.
So many women golfers try to push this and make it faster to gain clubhead speed. Trust me on this one; a nice low and slow takeaway will not cause you to lose your clubhead speed.
Get that speed by being strong and being in the right position at impact. Keeping it low and slow allows the hips to turn back and the wrist hinge to happen at the proper time.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Aggressive
Many women golfers have incredible tempo and rhythm in their swings that can significantly help with consistency.
However, there is something to be said for being aggressive as well. Don’t be afraid to go after the ball when the situation allows. Swing confidently and finish your shot with your hands held high, facing your target.
This is especially important on bunker shots. So many women slow down on these types of shots, and the result will be a golf ball still left in the bunker. Of course, you will need to learn the mechanics of the bunker shot, but once you have that down, don’t be afraid to swing with full confidence.
3. Consistency Is Key
If you can swing out of your shoes and get five extra yards or swing with consistency and hit it five yards short but down the middle, choose consistency.
Women golfers get a bit of a break by getting to play from the ladies’ tees; your goal is to become a consistent and accurate player from here, don’t worry about driving the green.
In addition, make sure you are consistent in your putting stroke. If your putting stroke is a bit inconsistent, there will likely be issues with confidence and your ability to make putts. Instead, try to focus on making a consistent stroke each time and improving the overall roll of your putts by doing so.
4. A Wider Stance Is Not Always Better
Many women golfers are told to take a wider stance by others in their golf game or even some family or friends that are trying to help.
The proper posture is essential for women golfers, and if your stance is too wide, it becomes challenging to get your weight off the back foot and generate enough club head speed.
I used to ask women golfers to stand with their feet together and hit shots, and the results were really surprising; many had much better success than you may think from this position.
5. Use Weights to Increase Clubhead Speed
If you want to hit the ball further and get stronger, go ahead and do it!
The equation to hit longer golf shots is a simple one. You simply need to learn to swing the club faster; you may need a little more strength.
Learn the basics of the golf swing and get them down, and then start swinging with a weighted club to make things a bit easier. A female golfer can make big changes to their total distances by working with weighted clubs.
6. Women’s Golf Equipment Isn’t Always Better
Women’s golf equipment is not always the right choice for all women golfers.
If you are a faster swing speed player or a taller woman golfer, senior golf clubs and even men’s golf clubs can be a good fit. Don’t get stuck on the idea that you need women’s golf clubs.
This also applies to women’s golf balls. Not many golf ball options for women are considered premium golf balls. Most are distance or soft feel, but very few offer high spin.
Don’t worry about the woman’s version of the ball; simply switch to something you can get the performance you need.
7. Look for High Ball Flight
Some women golfers have the wrong idea about ball flight and the impact it has on their swing.
You need a higher ball flight if you want to get more distance. That fairway wood that you’ve had all these years that is a bit heavy and won’t allow you to get the ball up in the air too high has got to go!
Find golf clubs that allow the ball to soar up high in the air and then use these to capitalize on distance and total carry.
8. Course Management Is Key
Golf course management is a huge part of playing great golf. If you are not sure the best place to hit your next golf shot, don’t even swing!
Women golfers should plan out every hole they play and be smart about where they are playing their shots. Sometimes this means aiming away from a bunker or laying up before a water hazard on a par 5.
In addition, women golfers should be especially careful to manage their typical ball flight and how that will play into the golf course management decisions. If you typically have a bit of a slice as a miss and there is water down the right, aim your drive down the left side of the fairway.
9. Find a Great Instructor
It’s great to work on your game and get better through lots of drills and self-driven practice but finding a great instructor makes this entire process so much more fun. With a great instructor, you can have something you count on and enjoy working with.
In addition, they will celebrate your wins with you, which can make this entire journey and process much more enjoyable. Golf tips from other beginners, your spouse, or friends are sometimes not all that helpful, and it’s crucial to get great information from those that know the game well.
Don’t feel the need to take weekly lessons if it is not your preference, but going to a lesson from time to time is a great way to improve your overall game and check in on your progress.
10. Short Game Shots Are Not All The Same
All chips and pitches are not the same, and as soon as you learn to design shots around the green, the better your chance will be of scoring. Most women golfers are not carrying enough wedges in their bags.
Women players very often just have a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Most professionals have a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. With each of these individual clubs, they are able to hit a variety of golf shots.
This means that accomplished players know how to hit shots that are low, high, quick stopping, long rolling, and more. Essentially learning how to hit a variety of shots around the greens will make you a much more competitive player. Not all chips are the same!
11. Get Involved in Golf Tournaments
If you don’t like competitive golf as an individual sport, try to find a friend to play some partner events with. Golf with friends is incredibly fun, and it will teach you so much about the game of golf.
Women’s golf events are sometimes just scrambles or team better ball events. You may not feel the pressure you think you will, and sometimes our games play really well with this extra pressure.
Getting involved in golf tournaments also allows you to practice for something and prepare. Having a goal to work on is really important and getting involved in tournaments is a quick and easy way to do it.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.