Saturday’s seventh edition of The Match — this one featuring Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas — should be as entertaining as golf gets at this time of the year. That quartet hasn’t been playing a ton, but these exhibition events are more about the interaction than the golf anyway, and the interaction should be phenomenal.

Woods and McIlroy will take on Spieth and Thomas at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday at Pelican Golf Club (more details here). The latter pair is favored, which led Thomas to joke Wednesday in a conference call that the sharps totally know what they’re doing when it comes to setting the lines.

There is plenty to be excited about when it comes to this particular event — perhaps Woods’ return to golf for the first time since July’s Open Championship most of all — and even though this best-ball match will only last 12 holes, it should be terrifically entertaining. Here are four things I’ll be looking for when the festivities get underway on Saturday.

1. Tiger’s health: There are a lot of very not serious items to tick off on Saturday night at Pelican, but Tiger’s health is not one of them. He withdrew from last week’s Hero World Challenge with plantar fasciitis and casually mentioned that he’d had other procedures earlier this year. He has insisted that he’ll be fine as long as he has a golf cart (he will Saturday), but I’m mildly dubious about his overall mobility.

There should not be (although there undoubtedly will be) any extrapolations made about next year’s major championships based on the 50 or so shots Woods hits at this event, but it’s been five months since we’ve seen him swing a golf club competitively. That’s not nothing, and the best swing of all time — whether it is affected by the myriad ailments Tiger feels in the rest of his body — will be under a microscope over the next 10 days (here and at the PNC Championship where he will tee it up with his son, Charlie).

2. Who is the best trash talker? Back to the more insouciant topics. There was debate on Wednesday about this. Tiger said he was limited in terms of the vocabulary he could use. Rory said he knows J.T. thinks he’s the best talker. J.T. and Spieth said they were so outclassed when it comes to wins and majors that they might have to take the nice guy route instead of going right at two guys with a combined 19 major championships. (Spieth and J.T. have five.) Banter at events like these is normally neutered, but hopefully the fellas get a little loose, and we get some top-notch one-liners.

3. Night golf: Spieth spoke about how he’s never played night golf before and how much he was looking forward to doing so. I am equally excited about some primetime East Coast golf in the winter. Normally, when golf is televised at these times, it’s on the West Coast, but this event should feel a little bigger than normal because it’s under the lights. I don’t know that this will affect the outcome (unless the lights on the carts malfunction for some reason), but it does add to the festivities a bit.

4. Best match ever: Up to this point, the most collective majors at a match like this one was 21 (Tiger and Phil Mickelson, multiple times). This group has 24 combined, and it represents the most collective talent at any of the seven official matches to date. Granted, 15 of those came from the guy who hasn’t played in five months, but three of the other players are among the 15 best in the world right now. If this thing is close late — and it likely will be — the battle for a meaningless victory certainly won’t feel like just another exhibition.

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A pull with the driver can be incredibly frustrating.

What I have always hated about a pulled shot is that, at first, it feels really solid. But then, when you see the ball heading down the left, you know you are in trouble.

With all the hype that slicing a driver gets, you may be surprised that pulling a driver is almost as common of a miss. I have a few ways in which you can help straighten out your driver and stop hitting a pull.

You may need a combination of more than one fix to get the driver straightened out.

1. Your Lower Body Stops Rotating

One of the top reasons that golfers pull the ball is that their lower body stops rotating as they come through the golf ball. In order to create power in the golf swing, you must rotate your body back. However, that rotation must also continue back through the golf ball.

If at any point during the swing, your lower body stops rotating, you will likely notice the golf ball is pulled. Pulling a shot with the driver very often deals with overactivity in the arms.

How to Fix It

There are plenty of drills to work on, continuing to rotate your lower body through the impact zone. However, I find that the majority of players that struggle with this mistake tend to be standing too close to the ball.

As you are setting up to hit your driver, make sure that you are not crowding yourself. When you do this, it’s hard to get the club to pass through impact and continue your rotation.

Another important thing to focus on is transferring your weight; as you move towards the finish position, all of your weight should be on the left foot; this ensures your rotation is considerably better.

2. You’re Coming Over The Top

If you swing over the top and your clubface is slightly closed, the chance of hitting a pull is quite high. An over-the-top swing is one where the golf club is not on a proper plane as it approaches the ball.

Most of the time, the club is above the plane and swinging across the body. This over-the-top motion will, at times, cause a slice.

How to Fix It

An over the top golf swing is common. If the individual parts of your golf swing are not working all that well together, expect to come over the top.

The one thing that I have always found to help players that come over the top is to try to create a slight pause at the top of the golf swing. When you create this pause, it can help you feel the space necessary to drop the club down on the proper plane.

In addition, if you start your backswing with a turn, you should have an easier time keeping the hands and the body working together.

3. Your Hands Are Too Active In The Swing

The hands play a really important role in the golf swing, but many amateur golfers get their hands overly involved in their swing. If you are working on trying to hit the ball straight, it’s best to have less activity in the hands and more arms and body working together.

You can sometimes use your hands to square up a face and hit a straight shot, but it’s certainly not consistent.

How to Fix It

One of the best ways I have found to keep the hands out of the swing is to stay more connected. Take a headcover and put it under each of your arms, near the armpit. Now take some swings without letting this headcover fall out.

You don’t need to take actual shots, instead, use it as a drill and then step up to hit a shot. You should notice that the body stays more connected and the chance of your hands taking over and pulling the ball are a bit lower.

4. You’re Holding Weight Back

The fact that you transferred weight back to your right side (for a right handed player) is a great thing. However, to play great golf with lots of power, the weight also needs to transfer back to the left side as you move through impact.

Golfers that hold weight back on the right side will send the club flying through impact, and it most often has a closed clubface.

How to Fix It

The key to learning how to fix holding your weight back is to learn how to effectively transfer weight in the golf swing. This will take a lot of work without hitting shots and trying to create muscle memory of what it feels like to swing the club back while simultaneously getting that weight to transfer.

Once your weight is loaded up the way it should be, you can go after the ball and explode with power.

This video teaches some of the basics of a great weight transfer and how it can improve your golf game.

5. Your Clubface is Closed

Another one of the more common reasons for pulling a golf shot is the fact that the clubface is closed. To give yourself the best shot at a long driver, you need a square clubface and a proper club path as well.

Sometimes at setup, a golfer will close the clubface to help prevent a slice. The problem, of course, is when the clubface is closed to the target line, it can also create a pulled shot.

While you are checking on the angle of your clubhead, make sure that you are also looking at the ball’s position. The ball position for a driver should be off the inside of your left heel. If you are playing it further back than that, it could result in a pull.

How to Fix It

This is one of the simple fixes in the game of golf. Learn what a square clubface looks like by using a straight edge of some sort. Setup with the club on the straight edge to see what a 90-degree clubface looks like.

On the takeaway, make sure you don’t adjust the shot and start closing the clubface down. A slice is a bad miss, but if you overcorrect too much, you end up with a pull.

6. You Have Poor Alignment

Amateur golfers sometimes take a stance that will set them up to the left of their target line. The pulled shot is not always caused by mistake in the golf swing and is instead caused right at setup.

If you are working on your golf game at the driving range, use alignment sticks to work on your tee shot alignment.

How to Fix It

Always pick a line for your clubhead, and then make sure that your feet, shoulders, and hips are square to this line. If your legs are open and your clubface is square, you could be setting yourself up to hit a slice.

If those feet are closed, and your clubface is square, there is a good chance you are going to pull your tee shot.

Take the time you need in your setup. It’s one of the most important areas of the golf swing. The setup is a way to ensure you get to the perfect impact position. I like to incorporate my aiming routine into my pre-shot routine so that it is done the same way every time.

7. Your Grip Is Too Strong

Our only connection with the golf club is the grip. Golfers with strong grip have their left hand turned more to the right than they should. This extra turn of the hand allows the right hand to fit more under the club.

With one hand rotated more on the bottom of the club, it takes a more active role and makes it easier for a golfer to release the clubhead at impact.

For players that slice the ball, this has always been a great quick fix. However, most amateur players tend to overcorrect. If you overcorrect and your grip starts to get too strong, it will create a pulled shot. Many times these pulls turn into hooks.

How to Fix It

Finding the perfect grip on your golf club is an art. There are grip trainers out there that make it easy to see exactly where your hands should be on the club. However, it’s best to invest time in this process and learn how to grip the club in a neutral position.

Start by ensuring your left thumb is not wrapped too far to the right of the center of the grip. Instead, keep the left thumb a bit more straight down the shaft.

When your left hand is in this potion, the right hand should fit more on top of the club than under it. This positioning takes the right hand out of it a little and allows you to get your golf shot on the proper path.

I would work on keeping this same grip in place for all clubs, aside from the driver.

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.

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Pulling the golf ball has always been one of my least favorite misses. The problem with the pull shot is that it feels so good. As soon as you pull the ball, it feels like it’s going to go a long way.

Most pulls are solid strikes.

I know a lot about pulling golf shots and this ball flight because it’s a common miss for me. The good news is that there are some easy fixes to help you eliminate the pull shot and get your ball flight straightened out.

Here are some reasons you are pulling your irons right to left and the best ways to go about fixing it.

What Happens When Pulling Your Irons

Pulling your irons is when the ball starts out immediately left across a right-handed golfer’s body.

A draw golf shot starts out to the right or straight and then makes a turn left.

However, with a pull, this is not a shot that turns; it simply goes straight left from the tee.

The club face of the golf iron is often square when this happens and that is why the shot stays straight as opposed to having much of a turn.

A pulled shot typically goes a long way, as the clubface is often square or even slightly shut. However, it can still hurt your score as it will likely be off the green or rough.

5 Reasons Why You Might Be Pulling Your Irons

Doesn’t it always seem that in golf, there is never a simple, quick fix to the issue? The first part is always to determine what it is that is causing the problems in your game, and then it’s a matter of fixing it.

I’m going to give you 5 of the top reasons you are likely pulling the ball and then some tips on determining which one is the problem and how you can fix it.

1. Ball Position Too Far Forward

One of the simplest and most common reasons for golfers to pull the ball is that their ball position is too far forward. When the ball is up closer to the front of your stance, it’s very easy to pull the ball.

What happens here is by the time you make contact with the ball, your body has already started to rotate towards your finish, and your clubface may even be slightly closed.

The ball position for many amateur players is a major issue because of confidence. In golf, there is a lot of inconsistency in the setup and stance.

In fact, if you watch professional golfers, they take quite a bit of time to ensure that their setup is perfect. At the address position, golfers must feel like the body and clubface can return to square for an ideal impact.

One way to know if ball position is the issue is if you are pulling your irons and not your driver or your hybrids but not your wedges. Essentially, is your setup correct for some clubs but not others?

Use golf alignment sticks and even a mirror to practice your setup and ensure that the ball position is where it should be for each club.

2. Club Face Slightly Shut

Sometimes amateur golfers intentionally shut the clubface of their iron or even driver to help avoid a slice. Although this issue doesn’t typically fix a slice, it can undoubtedly decrease one if you have a hard time releasing and rotating the club head.

However, there are also times when a golfer who slices it suddenly stops slicing. When this happens, the clubface is still shut, but the slice spin is no longer on the ball.

Hitting the golf shot with a slightly shut clubface like this can cause a pull.

I’ve seen many players that have no idea how to lay a clubhead flat. So many will close it, thinking that it is square.

One of the best ways to test if your clubface is square is to simply hold it up to a 90 degree angle. You can even set up with the club in a door jam and look at how it looks. You want the base or sole of the club to be directly up against the straight edge.

For those closing the face of the club, the toe will be touching the straight edge. For those that hold the clubface open, the heel will be touching the straight edge.

3. Body Stops Rotating

Timing in a golf swing is so important. If the hands and the body are not working together, the results of the golf shots are not going to be ideal. Essentially players must ensure that they are rotating their lower body both back and through each shot.

If the body stops rotating and the arms continue to swing, the ball is going left.

So many players worry about the fact that they are stopping their body rotation, but sometimes this is a cause of never really starting.

When you take the club back, make sure that you are turning your lower body to rotate, and then just keep that motion going as your arms swing back.

If one goes without the other, the dispersion rates in your game will be a bit out of control.

One way golfers can work on this is by hitting chip-type shots. The chip shot is a mini representation of the full swing. Getting your lower body to turn back in a chip will force it to turn through, resulting in a much straighter shot.

4. Club Path Over The Top

Have you ever been told that you bring the club over the top on the downswing? This is a very common club path for the amateur golfer, and it can create an impact position with a slightly closed clubface and golf shots such as hooks, pulls, and sometimes even a slice.

If your club path is over the top, there are likely two reasons for it.

The first is that you may have taken the club outside on the takeaway and never gotten it on the proper path. The second reason is that when you tried to make the transition from the backswing to the downswing, you never got the club dropped into the correct position.

That transition from the backswing to the downswing is tricky for many amateur players. When you get to the top of the swing, if the downswing starts with hands and arms, chances are the club will be coming over the top of the path.

Instead, at the top of the swing, there needs to be a start of a rotation that uses the legs to pull the arms into place. This is one of the more difficult shot fixes, and it can take time to get the swing plane and swing path correct.

Use an alignment stick, make sure your takeaway is perfect, and then feel as though the club drops into place at the top of your swing.

5. Improper Weight Transfer

Last but certainly not least is an issue with weight transfer that can cause you to pull your shots. If your weight hangs back a bit at impact and the arms continue to rotate and swing through the shot, it often shuts down the clubface and causes a pull.

As you set up to hit a golf shot, the weight should be somewhat balanced. Then as you make a turn back, it goes to the right foot (right-handed golfer), and then, through impact, it is already transferring to the left.

Golfers that learn to make impact with most weight transferred to the left side will see more power and straight shots with a square clubface.

You will know improper weight transfer is the culprit of your bad shots because of the finish position you are in. If you are leaning back, work on weight transfer.

How to Identify and Fix This Problem

Sometimes a pull shot is a quick fix; other times, you may be working on this issue for a while.

One of the best ways to identify what the issue is in your golf swing is to take a video. So many golfers have a great phone that they can use to have a friend take a video down the line and head on.

Go through these videos in slow motion and see if any of the five reasons why you are pulling your irons right to left seems like they may be happening.

In addition, you can meet with a golf professional who will quickly identify what the issue is and give you a plan to fix it.

Luckily, the pulled golf shot is still a good strike.

Therefore it becomes most important to make these minor tweaks and get the ball flight straightened out. You won’t need to reinvent the wheel here; simply changing the setup, working on better body rotation, or getting the swing plane straightened out will do the trick.

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.

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Golf’s popularity is at an all-time high! Even though the year 2020 was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Golf Foundation reported that over 24.8 million people played golf during that year. This was the sport’s most significant boom in participation in 17 years.

Even in 2022, brands like Callaway and Titleist are seeing an increase in the overall sales volume of their golf clubs. The popularity of golf should continue to increase. Here are 10 reasons why:

1. Golf is a Fantastic Stress Reliever

Let’s face it. Life is always stressful. Whether it’s a global pandemic or a possible recession, there are always things that cause anxiety.

Because of this, folks have to find ways to blow off steam. Playing golf is great for that, as multiple studies have shown how spending time on the golf course can have a positive influence on a person’s mood.

Reducing stress helps lower anxiety, decreases the chances of depression, helps improve sleep, and improves blood pressure. Simply put: when life gets tough, find the first tee because golf is a fantastic stress reliever.

2. Playing Golf is a Great Way to Meet New People

With more people working from home than ever before, the need for in-person social interaction is at an all-time high. Folks who play golf get the opportunity to meet new people from all parts of the world. These types of social experiences help ward off feelings of loneliness and depression.

A few years ago I got to play a couple of rounds of golf with a gentleman from The Netherlands and we are still friends to this day. That kind of stuff just doesn’t happen as often with other sports. The social nature of golf is a huge plus!

3. Golf is Good Exercise

Many folks falsely assume that most golfers have the physique of John Daly (no offense Big John, we all love you!). That couldn’t be further from the truth. Most players on the PGA Tour are fit as a fiddle.

Believe it or not, golf is good exercise. This is especially true if you walk the course instead of using a golf cart. According to a study by Golf Digest, the average golfer walks between two and six miles during an 18-hole round, depending on whether they choose to ride or walk.

All of that walking is a huge boost to the cardiovascular system. Several studies have shown that a person’s mortality risk severely decreases just by walking a few hours a week. One particular study at Edinburgh University showed that playing golf could extend a person’s life by as much as five years because of the positive impact it has on the heart and lungs!

The golf swing itself works a variety of muscle groups. Completing a full golf swing works the legs, hips, glutes, shoulders, chest, and arms. It also works the lower back and oblique muscles to a larger degree.

4. Golf is Incredibly Fun

One of the simplest reasons for golf’s popularity is that it’s fun! Ask any new golfer who has recently caught the bug for the game and they’re likely to tell you that golf is so fun that it’s addictive. For most of us, life can get too serious at times, so golf is a great way to add some much-needed fun back into our lives.

It’s almost impossible to describe just how much enjoyment a golfer gets by hitting a good approach shot near the pin or sinking a few putts. Or, how about striping a titanic drive right down the middle of the fairway? There’s just nothing like it!

Contrary to popular belief, you also don’t need a huge bank account to enjoy golf. Some of my best memories were when I was learning to play the game on a 9-hole course that only cost $9 to play! Who says you have to have lots of money to have a good time?

5. In Golf, Age Really is Just a Number!

One amazing thing about golf is that it can be played by people of all ages. Think about how cool that is! There are very few sports that you can safely play at 80 or 90 years old and golf is one of them.

For that reason, more and more seniors are taking up the game. No wonder lots of retirement communities are on or near golf courses! Playing golf is a terrific way to stay active during the retirement years and lead a much more fulfilling life.

On the other end of the spectrum, golf is also a fantastic sport for young kids to play. Even if your children aren’t quite old enough to play, most will still enjoy riding in the golf cart with you and learning the basics of the game. Making golf a family outing can create lots of fond memories.

6. Golf is Business Friendly

A golf course is a fabulous place for business professionals to network. Many lucrative business relationships start with two or more folks playing a casual round of golf. Prospective clients are usually much more receptive to business proposals after sinking a long birdie putt than in some stuffy boardroom.

Many businessmen find that their customers and colleagues are more likely to open up while playing golf. This is probably because the golf course provides a neutral setting where everyone can get relaxed and comfortable. If your business just isn’t growing as fast as you’d like, the answer may be to play more golf!

7. Golf Teaches Lots of Life Lessons

Sports, in general, can teach us a bunch of life lessons. However, no sport builds character or teaches integrity and patience like golf. Since golf can be insanely frustrating, it can teach a person to be more in control of their emotions and actions.

While it may be tempting to throw (or break) a club after a tee shot into the water or a wicked slice into the sand trap, this shows a lack of emotional maturity. It’s much better to try to laugh it off or take just a deep breath and realize that frustration is simply part of the game. It’s also a huge part of life!

Golf is a journey of self-improvement. It takes a great deal of character, determination, and hard work to consistently hit good shots and take strokes off your handicap. Developing these types of traits will help you build a better life off the course.

8. Golf Provides a Great Opportunity to Connect With Nature

There’s just something special about being outdoors and getting some fresh air. It’s good for the mind, body, and soul. Playing golf allows folks to enjoy the beauty of nature while also getting a healthy dose of vitamin D, which has been shown to help our bodies fight off viruses and other types of illnesses.

Just how important is spending time outdoors? Studies have shown that spending time outside strengthens the immune system, improves digestion, and improves circulation. That’s just the physical benefits of spending some time outside.

The mental health benefits of being outdoors include enhanced creativity, better concentration, stress reduction, and better overall mood. All of these positive statistics about being outside should make us want to set more tee times on a weekly basis.

9. Golf Can Be Enjoyed With Friends and By Yourself

Very few sports can be played both with others and by yourself. Golf is one of those rare sports that offer this type of flexibility. You can play 18 holes with three of your best friends or you can choose to enjoy the solace of playing a round all on your own.

A beautiful thing about golf that some spectators may not know is that the golfer’s main opponent is himself. That may sound a bit weird but it’s true. Even most amateurs aren’t worried about beating their buddies, they are simply just trying to shoot their best-ever score.

Team sports are great for building camaraderie but there are certain restrictions involved. A power hitter in baseball can’t work on his swing unless he has a friend that will throw him some batting practice pitches. Golfers don’t have that type of problem.

10. Golf Can Be Enjoyed On Vacation or At Home

Have you ever taken a golf vacation? It’s an exhilarating experience and we highly recommend it! There’s something refreshing and invigorating about traveling around to different venues and playing different golf courses.

Some of my favorite vacations have been quick weekend getaways to play a couple of new golf courses. Whether you’re a fan of exquisite golf resorts or a quick visit to a new course in a different city, playing golf is a great way to spend a vacation.

Are you more of a homebody than a mover and shaker? That’s okay too! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying all of the pleasures that your local municipal golf course has to offer.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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In the summer of 2006-07, I played off a 6-handicap. I played and practiced consistently, and then winter arrived, which was also rugby season.

I didn’t touch a golf club for 4-months, and in my first round back, I lost a matchplay-Stableford game against a 24-handicapper. I could not hit a ball and asked myself why I suck at golf?

The answer was a combination of factors. I neglected the game and stopped practicing. In addition, I was stressed and anxious about my final high school exams. In this post, I will explain why this wondrous game is not going your way.

1. You’ve Never Had a Lesson

The top reason why many amateurs downright suck at golf is that they never received the correct guidance. It is common for players to take up the game because their buddies play. Unfortunately, many of their friends are as clueless as them and have no business instructing others.

This causes rookies to pick up bad habits from the get-go and results in consistently bad shots and frustration. Rather than chase your tail, book a lesson with a PGA-certified instructor to avoid common mistakes. It also makes sense to do it right rather than play the game for years and never progress.

Coaching teaches you to correct mistakes in your golf shots on your own accord. This takes time, and it is why lessons are an investment.

Think of it like school. You cannot become a lawyer or doctor without going to college. Well, you cannot reach the ranks of a scratch golfer if you do not have the guidance of professionals.

2. You Never Visit The Driving Range

If you have received lessons in your life but still struggle to play golf, you may lack practice. This game is not like riding a bike. When you stop swinging a club and putting in the time, the results are disastrous upon return. An area I am well-versed in.

You need to consistently work on every element of your game to see improvement. I understand that most of our readers are busy professionals who lack time to sneak in an hour or 2 practice session. However, you need to make time if you wish to lower your total strokes.

Those with limited time may consider a golf simulator. This setup allows you to work on your ball-striking consistency after work from the comfort of your home. The point is that no matter where you are, you need to consistently practice to see results.

3. Your Practice Sessions Have No Purpose

Besides practicing, you need to do it with a purpose. I recently spoke to Scottish golf coach Peter Arnott about practicing with intent and how that sets Tiger Woods apart from the rest of his peers.

Instead of aimlessly hitting golf balls, Tiger would look to replicate scenarios he may encounter on the golf course. Arnott explained that Woods would pull out a rangefinder, pick his mark and then play different shots to get the ball to that exact point.

For example, he would picture a tree in front of him and draw the ball within a few feet of the desired target. Conversely, he would practice fades, stingers, and punches to prepare for any shot necessary.

This story is relevant to you because most amateurs do not have a goal when conducting a drill at the range. This means that they walk away from the practice session unaware of whether they have improved and were able to achieve their objective.

Work on specifics. A simple start could be to hit 60% of your shots straight. Focus on squaring your club face up at impact to deliver straighter shots. If you do not achieve your objective, conduct a debrief to understand the errors.

4. You’re Using The Wrong Equipment

A major issue that I find with amateurs who have never been coached is their golf clubs. Because they never received the guidance of an expert, they are swinging the incorrect specs.

I often notice casual golfers using shafts too stiff and heavy for their swing. This reduces their clubhead speed and causes low ball flight and a loss of distance.

Conversely, faster swingers use shafts that are too flexible. As a result, these golfers consistently balloon their shots and lose distance through the bag.

Aside from shaft flex and weight, lofts are a sore point for casual golfers. If you are swinging a weak lofted club for your swing, you may launch it high and lose total distance. Contrarily, slower swing speeds are best suited to weaker lofted long irons and woods. These players need all the ball speed and available spin to achieve consistency in this area.

Golf influencers are divided on the value offered by club fitters. However, I suggest getting fitted for your first clubs. This is because you are likely clueless about the ideal specs for your game, and you do not want to waste money on the wrong gear.

Club fitters will set you up on a launch monitor and analyze every element of your swing to find suitable woods, irons, wedges, and a putter.

5. Your Grip Is Incorrect

I have spoken frequently about the need to consistently work on your game to stay on the fairway. Now, let us look at your actual setup and swing. The way you grip a golf club impacts your control. If your grip is too tight, it often prompts golfers to strike the ball with a closed clubface, leading to a hooked golf shot.

Conversely, a weak grip can cause your clubface to open at contact, prompting a slice. If this is your issue, our guide on 8 simple steps to a better golf grip will provide the necessary inspiration. Nevertheless, I will give a brief rundown below.

There are three predominant grip setups, the baseball, interlock, and overlap.

I use a baseball grip and have done it for 28-years. In essence, this type of grip features all 10-fingers touching the rubber portion of your golf clubs. Every coach I have ever had has attempted to change this, but the other grips feel uncomfortable.

6-time Open Championship winner Harold Vardon pioneered the overlap grip. It is the most common grip among amateurs and professionals. Right-handers need to wrest their pinky on the knuckle of their left hand. If that is uncomfortable, you can try placing your pinky in the interdigital folds between your left index and middle finger.

Although every golf instruction book recommends this setup, I find that this weakens my hold on the club. That causes me to produce excess movement of the wrists, and I leave the clubface open at impact. Therefore I push or slice every shot.

The final setup is an interlocking grip, which Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods employ. Jack suggested that this setup gave his smaller hands the most control over the club. What you do, is feed your right pinky between your left index and middle finger. As a result, you lock your hands around the club.

The most significant point is to ensure you can release the clubhead at the top of the backswing along the intended club path. If your grip is correct, you will generate maximum power and enjoy a long, straight shot.

6. Your Golf Ball Is Positioned Incorrectly In Your Stance

The next issue that amateur golfers face is their ball position in their stance. This is tricky, as each club or shot requires a different ball position. Your ball should sit parallel to the inside of your lead heel on tee shots. This gives you ample time to clear your hips and square the face through impact for straight drives.

Next, you place the ball a few inches back from your driver position for shots with fairway woods or hybrids. This trend continues until you have a wedge in hand, where you position the ball marginally back of center.

As you can see, the longer the shaft is, the further forward the ball needs to sit in your stance.

Besides the shaft length, you need to adjust your ball depending on the type of shot you wish to play. When your ball is teed up it should lie forward in your stance. This enables you to strike the ball on your upswing to lift it off the tee.

Furthermore, when you place the ball back in your stance, you strike it at a steep angle of attack. This causes you to deloft the clubface and launch the ball low. You also set the ball back in your stance if you wish to draw the ball. Lastly, a forward ball setup is the best way to induce a fade.

7. You Don’t Strategize

Struggling golfers have a tendency to walk up to the ball and whack it. They do not think about the layout of the hole, their next shot, and the best way to make par.

Take your time to examine the layout and the conditions. Which side of the hole gives you the easiest route to the flag? Which direction is the wind blowing? By thinking about these questions, you can lower your scores by putting yourself in a prime position.

Even if you do not hit your target, you can miss in a safe area that still gives you a shot at the flag.

8. You Have No Pre-Shot Routine

A pre-shot routine is what separates superior golfers from the rest is a pre-shot routine. Many amateurs do not get into a rhythm before their shot, leading to inconsistent results. It brings order to your mind and encourages structure from your practice swing to impact.

Employing a pre-shot routine gives you a moment to clear your mind and focus on executing your task. A practice swing is necessary to help you identify if you are aligned correctly. You can clearly see if you are on track to strike the ball cleanly with a square clubface. If not, reset and repeat the routine.

You cannot expect to achieve consistent results from tee to green if you do not undergo the same process before each shot.

9. Your Short Game Is Your Worst Nightmare

We have a guide dedicated to short game tips and drills that will improve your up and down record. So, I will be brief on this topic. If you cannot chip and putt, you are doomed. That is where it counts.

I suggest spending more time on the practice green mastering your short game before you try to bomb your drives like Bryson DeChambeau. Throughout my golfing journey, I have suffered an erratic long game, which forced me to master my chipping and putting.

Learn how to read the break of the greens and understand different grass grains. In addition, work on your flop, pitch, and chip shots, to get up and down. Finally, work on your putting touch to eliminate 3-putts and reduce bogies.

10. You’re More Concerned With Distance Than Accuracy

Every golfer longs for more distance. How they try and achieve it is the real issue. For starters, these golfers purchase expensive equipment, hoping that it is a magical cure.

Next, they force their swing to increase velocity but impact their rhythm, tempo, and smash factor. The unfortunate result is a loss of distance and accuracy. Effectively, a lose-lose scenario.

My solution to this is shortening your swing, which is how I currently operate. Yes, I lose distance compared to a full swing out of the sweet spot. However, I am hitting more fairways and greens in regulation than ever.

Therefore, if your full swing is causing your ball to fly all over the golf course, think about shortening it.

Further Reading: Focus on the fundamentals of the game by reviewing our 10 tips to help you break 100.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Low loft golf drivers are an impressive piece of engineering. They are shaped to produce explosive ball speed and increased forgiveness for maximum driving distance and accuracy. Despite that, many amateurs struggle to launch a big stick.

In this post, I highlight 10 common reasons why you can’t hit your driver well.

There are countless reasons why you cannot make solid contact with a driver. However, it only takes a single error to unravel your setup.

I will pay special attention to the equipment specs, your grip, and distance. Besides highlighting the problem, I have provided solutions to improve your performance with this club.

1. Incorrect Loft

Before I bring out the errors of a driver swing, let us talk about your tools. You cannot achieve your desired launch angle, ball flight, and distance when you do not possess the correct equipment.

The first area of concern is the loft of your driver. If your clubface possesses less loft for your clubhead speed, you will struggle to consistently launch your shots. As a result, you lose, carry, and total distance off the tee.

Conversely, golfers with an accelerated driver club head speed may generate excess spin with a weaker lofted club face. Therefore, their golf ball achieves an abnormally high apex and lands softly, leading to a loss of total distance.

The majority of amateur golfers suffer from playing with strong lofts rather than with the weaker construction. I suggest carrying too much loft on your driver compared to too little.

2. Incorrect Shaft Flex

Like loft, your shaft flex is impacted by your swing speed. Golfers who generate rapid clubhead speed are best equipped for an extra stiff shaft. The reduced flex on your downswing boosts your control over the clubface position through impact. This enables these golfers to produce a straighter shot.

Moving along, we look at players averaging 97 to 104 mph of driver clubhead speed. True Spec Golf suggests that a stiff flex is a way to go. Most average male golfers fall into the category of a regular flex shaft. These are created for swing speeds between 84 to 96 mph.

Golfers who generate less than 84 mph of golf swing speed should contemplate a senior or ladies flex option. These constructions provide maximum flex to help slower swingers increase velocity for an optimal coefficient of restitution (COR) at impact.

My point is that if your shaft is too stiff for your swing, you will not produce sufficient ball speed and spin at contact. That causes your ball to launch low, costing you a significant distance off the tee. Contrarily, a lighter, flexible shaft causes faster swingers to initiate a higher spin and balloon their shots.

3. Longer Shaft

45.75-inches is the length of the average driver shaft, which is over 8-inches longer than a 7-iron. The reason I mention the 7-iron is to show the length’s contrast between the two. This variation requires a different ball position in your stance for a square clubface at impact position.

I will go into detail about ball position in a bit. For now, allow me to explain the other challenges of a longer shaft.

Most amateur golfers let their club rip rapidly from the top, which can throw off their swing tempo, leading to an unflattering smash factor.

Longer shafts are challenging to control, and your driver is the tallest of all of them. This lack of control can cause you to lose distance and slice or hook your golf ball all over the course. If your driver is not working, think about using a 5-wood or hybrid off the tee as a temporary solution.

Visiting a club-fitter to identify your ideal specs is the best approach for long-term fixes. They will address your issues and suggest the equipment that combats your mishits.

4. Heavier Clubhead Weight

On top of the longer shaft, a driver’s head is heavier than other clubs. On the bright side, it means you have a larger surface area to strike the ball and additional mass in the sole. Therefore, they contain a larger sweet spot to impart rapid speed onto the ball and reduce backspin.

However, the problem occurs between the top of your backswing and impact. Due to the added weight, you struggle to get the clubface into a square position for impact. Generally, this results in an open face at impact that produces a slice.

5. Your Grip Offers Limited Control of The Golf Club

Now that club specs are out of the way, let’s address the issue of your grip. This is where it goes wrong for the majority of amateurs. I am not talking about whether you use a Vardon, interlock, or baseball grip. I am referring to the number of knuckles you display at address.

Mark Crossfield explains that the strength of your grip impacts the point that your driver connects with your ball. For example, displaying 4 knuckles represents a strong grip. You need to manipulate your wrists at the top of the backswing to get your clubhead on plane for impact:

In addition, 2 to 3 knuckles represent a neutral grip. They are more comfortable for the average golfer to maintain control of the driver and optimize power and speed on the downswing.

Lastly, a weak grip is where 1 knuckle is visible. Crossfield suggests that you should bow your wrist to close the clubface to a square position with this grip.

A weak grip is expected to cause a fade or slice shot, whereas a sturdy grip can open you up to hooks. In addition, a neutral grip is the best setup to induce straight flight to spend more time on the fairway.

Therefore, think about weakening the grip if you are hooking your shots. Conversely, golfers renowned for slicing their shots may need to strengthen their hold on the golf club.

6. Incorrect Ball Position

Aside from grip, ball position is the biggest non-equipment reason for them missing the sweet spot.

Your driver is the longest club in your bag unless you carry a broomstick putter. This means you need to position the ball closer to your left heel if you are right-handed. As a result, you give yourself the time to square your clubface up for a straighter tee shot.

Aside from the length of the shaft, your golf ball is teed up. Therefore, you need to position the dimples to enable you to strike them on the up. The low point in your swing needs to occur a couple of inches behind the tee. This is to prepare your clubface to launch it high and long.

If you place the ball too far towards your back foot, you will produce a steep angle of attack, causing you to hit down on the ball. Unfortunately, most average golfers do not generate the power and velocity required to launch their ball far into the distance.

Contrarily, some golfers tee their ball up too far ahead of their front foot. This causes golfers to reach for the dimples, leading to their club’s sole bouncing off the turf before it gets near the ball. The likely outcome of this maneuver is a topped shot.

7. You Don’t Rotate Your Shoulders or Hips

Your driver shaft is longer, and the head contains added mass compared to the rest of your clubs. This means you should induce optimal hip and shoulder rotation during a full swing to get your driver on plane for impact.

Reduced rotation causes a loss of power and restricts your ability to produce the desired club path and swing plane. This results in a weak shot and a golf ball that veers off its target line.

When golfers remove rotation from their swings, they rely on their arms to guide the club and generate force. Typically prompting you to cast your club at the top of your swing and attack on an inside line. This leads to an open clubface at impact and a sliced shot.

If you struggle with rotation in your swing, you should review our guide on how much hip turn to induce. These tips simplify the process and help you correct the fundamentals of your lower body rotation.

8. You Lean Back Before Impact

Striking a golf ball with an upward angle of attack is a confusing motion for casual golfers to fathom. It is the opposite approach to every other shot we play. That is why many struggles with executing it.

One way golfers attempt to propel their clubface upward towards the ball is leaning back before impact. This sends the sole of your driver into the turf prior to the impact, leading to a topped shot and lost yardage.

The most common cause of this action originates from the lack of weight transfer from your trail leg to your lead leg. By keeping the weight on your back foot, it prompts you to fall back, and the club bottoms out early,

Rotation is grueling to master. However, if you follow the tips I have provided, you will be capable of enhancing your power, accuracy, and consistency.

In addition, you should review our 9 best shoulder turn drills to ensure that you are executing the task efficiently.

9. You Overswing

This is a challenge I faced for over a decade. Whenever I pulled out the big stick, I had a tendency to lose my mind and attempt to smash the plastic off the ball.

I took my club too far back, which caused it to fly off path at the top of the swing. From there, it was impossible to bring it on plane for contact. The outcome was, more often than I wanted, a nasty slice that propelled my ball well right side off my target.

After years of erratic tee shots, my new coach at the time suggested shortening my backswing. He proposed that this would help me keep the driver on plane and increase the consistency of my strike. I tried it, and it worked like a charm. The downside was that I lost distance, but I would happily sacrifice 10 to 15-yards for accuracy.

I’m not the only one with this problem. I see it frequently with amateurs looking to swing like Kyle Berkshire and accelerate their clubhead speed. However, they do not produce sufficient rotation and fail to keep their clubhead on the path, leading to an inaccurate drive.

Work on shortening your swing at the driving range, and focus on keeping your clubface square through impact. It is astonishing how much more fun golf is when you are playing your second shot from the fairway.

If you find it difficult to stop your backswing ¾ of the way back, try to slow it down. A slower swing makes you more conscious of your club’s position to stop it at the precise moment.

10. You Hit Down on The Ball

The final reason why you may struggle with a driver is that you hit down on the ball. This is the natural approach for shots with your irons and wedges. However, a driver carries a longer shaft and is made to hit teed up golf balls.

If you place it too far back in your stance you are bound to attack the ball from a steep angle. Instead of connecting the ball on the up, you hit down on it, reducing the loft of the clubface. As a result, the low point of your swing comes directly after impact rather than before.

Although this works for some professional golfers, it is not the recommended approach for amateurs. With this setup, you should generate maximum clubhead and ball speed to launch the ball long. That is no problem for professionals who catch the center of the clubface more than amateurs.

When you find yourself hitting down on the golf ball, its position in your stance. Move it towards the inside heel of your lead foot to give you the space to catch it cleanly on the upswing. That will helps you hit your driver consistently high and long.

Additional Reading: Those who can strike their 1-wood but lack consistency should read about our 20-driving tips for longer, straighter results.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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My non-golfing buddies have often mocked me for playing what they consider a seniors’ game.

They think golf is boring and a terrible way to spend half of your daylight. However, the game is challenging, carries various forms, and can be played deep into old age. To disprove the haters, I have compiled 11 little-known reasons why golf is actually fun.

This list explains why golf is a rewarding game that challenges everyone who attempts to play it. Plus, I mention why major golf provides entertainment and intensity that few sports events can replicate.

1. It’s Rewarding

Although golf can frustrate amateurs and professional golfers, it also ranks high among rewarding sports. That is because it requires consistent practice, patience, and all-around performance from tee to green.

Golf can deliver rewards in various forms. On bogey days, a welcome par or a good shot stops you from feeling sorry for yourself and brings joy. Better rewards include your first par, birdie, or eagle.

However, nothing beats breaking a barrier for the first time. For example, you break 100 for the first time by shooting a 99. After that, your next goal is to break 90 and then 80. If you are good enough, breaking 70 should be a goal.

These are long-term goals. They are most fulfilling to a golfer, besides a hole-in-one. Considering the odds of carding an ace, we will sidestep that topic for now.

2. You Get to Be Out In Nature

Getting out into nature is vital for clearing your head and disconnecting from the noises that distract our daily lives. It is a chance for us to relax and think about nothing other than the beautiful day and how to approach your next shot.

3. The Game of Golf Is a Marathon

Golf is a marathon. What I mean by that is that it requires constant practice and improvement. You do not strike a ball like Tiger Woods after a couple of coaching sessions. There is always something to improve to lower your total strokes and hit more consistent golf shots.

Handicaps help us determine our overall progress, but they do not indicate the individual elements of our game. However, the end goal of any golfer is to lower their handicap to a target number. Ideally, you will aim to play off a scratch, but realistically, that is a pipe dream for most amateurs.

Furthermore, there is no time limit to achieving your goal, take all the time you need. You determine how quickly you want to improve. Those hoping to fast-track the process should prepare for an intensive schedule of lessons, practice, and playing.

The reason that practice, patience, and perseverance make golf fun boils down to the rewarding feeling when the mission is accomplished.

4. The Handicapping System Evens The Playing Field

A handicap reflects the average number of strokes you finish over par every round. For example, golfers who shoot 86 on average on a par 72 course are roughly a 14-handicap. Conversely, golfers who consistently card 72 on the same course are scratch handicaps.

The importance of handicaps is that it enables all golfers to compete against each other as equals. Therefore, if the 14-handicapper shoots a gross 82 and the scratch golfer cards 71, the higher handicap player wins.

14 subtracted from 82 gives a net of 68. The scratch golfer deducts 0 from 71, resulting in a 71 net score. Therefore, the 14-handicap player had a lower net score and defeated their opponent by 3 strokes on net. This structure is typically applied in stroke play tournaments.e

The beauty of handicaps is that no matter their skill level, golfers can compete as equals in any tournament.

5. It Strengthens Friendships

Golf builds friendships for life. Playing 18-holes with your buddies every week forges stronger friendships. It also brings 4 hours and 30 minutes of laughs, especially when one of your friends is having the worst round of their life.

You can grab a couple of beers or your beverage of choice and carry them in your bag around the course. This brings about a relaxed environment with minimal anxiety and maximum fun.

If you recently moved to a new city, invite your colleagues for a round of golf. They could be the ideal group of new friends and future golfing buddies.

6. The Majors Are Exciting

Let me change the scope for a moment. Playing different golf courses is not the only way to enjoy the game. Watching the world best is another way to experience the fun and excitement of golf. Majors provide the ultimate test for the finest players in golf.

Besides the pressure of playing in one of these events, the layouts are brutal. The US Open and PGA Championship are my two favorite tournaments because the course is long and hard, and the pin placements are sadistic.

Now, it is horrible being a professional golfer, but it is fun for us amateurs to watch names like Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson struggle to return bogey-free rounds. In addition, most tournaments are never won until the very end, which keeps fans on their toes and biting their nails.

Then, there is the ultimate excitement. A playoff. When two or more players return the same 72-hole score, the event proceeds to a playoff, either sudden death or over 3-holes. This is the golf version of a soccer penalty shootout.

You can see for yourself in this epic playoff between Haotong Li and Thomas Pieters at the 2022 BMW Championship.

7. There Are Different Scoring Formats

There are multiple scoring formats in golf to keep the game interesting. Most rounds follow the Stableford format, which uses points. This system carries a shot limit, which varies depending on your handicap and the stroke of the hole.

My favorite format is match-play because you could hit a bad shot and still halve or win the hole. But, if you had a blowout and carded a triple bogey on the first hole, you only go one shot down. That allows you to walk to the next hole, hit your tee shot, and make a solid recovery.

Other formats include foursomes, better ball, scramble, and the classic stroke play. In a foursomes format, you team up with a buddy, and each player hits the alternate shot. Therefore, you hit the tee shot, your partner hits the approach, and you finish with the birdie putt. This format tends to employ Stableford scoring.

As the name suggests, better ball takes the lowest score of the players in your group on each hole. This is either played in groups of 2 or 4-balls. Scramble is arguably the funniest format. Each player hits their tee shot, and you take the best result. Then every player in your group lines their ball up from that mark and plays their second shot.

8. There Are Different Forms of Golf

Golf on an 18-hole course is not the only way you can enjoy the game these days. Short courses are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to a decrease in disposable free time. You can tackle 6-hole courses or 9-hole par 3 golf courses.

If you do not have an hour and a half for a short golf course, you can enjoy the game at an establishment such as Top Golf. Alternatively, you can play miniature golf and test your skills with a putter in hand.

The point is that there are multiple ways for you to enjoy the game of golf without spending hours in the sun. Although, I highly recommend getting a natural tan and enjoying time in nature.

9. You Can Win Prizes in Tournaments

I understand that many amateurs prefer to play casual rounds of golf with their buddies. However, if the opportunity arises, play in some charity or club competitions. You can win fantastic prizes such as golf clubs, footwear, vacations, and the odd bottle of liquor.

It is a rewarding feeling to win a prize. It offers a sense of accomplishment and means you do not go home empty-handed.

10. You Get to Drive Golf Carts

Personally, I enjoy walking around the golf course. I prefer the exercise and silence it brings. However, I am aware that many golfers are also closet gearheads and enjoy fast-moving machines.

Well, golf courses limit the speeds of golf carts, but they are still fun to drive. Be careful anyway, as golf cart injuries are not uncommon.

11. It Helps Forge Business Relationships

You may not think that this factor ticks the boxes for fun. However, the fun comes after a large payday from the business relationship you forged on the golf course. It helps if you are a consistent golfer who can wrangle the upper hand over your opponent and potential client.

But no matter the outcome, you can bond a lot with an individual during a round of golf. The calming conditions give you the platform to get to know one another, which can be a challenge in the boardroom.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Talk about expensive sports and golf is bound to come up. A set of golf clubs, lessons, membership, and green fees are exorbitant for the average person. That is why many individuals unfortunately steer clear of the game. In this post, I detail why golf is so expensive.

Now, as crazy as it seems, golf seems like a plebs game compared to polo, showjumping, sailing, and wingsuiting. Jokes aside, I am well aware that the cost of golf is high for many to justify splurging on.

The Costs Associated with Playing Golf

Clubs

Average cost: $370 – $3500

In a recent post, I covered the topic, how much is a good set of golf clubs? The results highlighted the wide range of prices depending on your skill level. New golfers can expect to drop $370 to $580 on a set of golf clubs or consider a pre-owned package.

Mid-handicappers should budget $1300 to $2000 for a new set of clubs. Alternatively, second-hand setups start at $680.

Finally, low handicap golfers may drop as much as $3500 on a complete set. Conversely, a second-hand package can total $2700.

If you look after your golf clubs, they can last decades. For example, my TaylorMade r540 irons and R5 woods are still operating 16 years after I took them out of the box. Plus, I have a Spalding putter I received in 1995, and it remains in fine knick.

The point is that you do not need to purchase golf clubs frequently. However, as your game improves, you may desire to switch up your equipment more regularly than a high handicapper.

Remember that you may need to replace the shaft and grip on some clubs multiple times in their life span. Grips set you back $6 to $15 per unit, while a shaft ranges from $30 to $150.

Balls

Average cost: $16 – $50 (Per dozen)

Per unit, golf balls offer the lowest of your equipment costs. But, the expenses can quickly rise if you are irresponsible. If you lose 6 to 10 balls every round of golf, you should stick to the bargain bin. Losing that many premium urethane-covered balls will cause your golf expenses to soar unnecessarily.

Golf balls range in price from approximately $16 to $50 for a box of 12. Affordable golf balls generally contain ionomer covers which are excellent for lowering spin and boosting distance.

Conversely, expensive golf balls are fitted with urethane covers that deliver exceptional greenside spin and control. Plus, they feature a core that lowers spin and increases ball speed on long game shots. Superior golfers prefer the all-around performance of premium dimples.

If you are conservative with your golf balls and rarely lose one, a box will last you three to four rounds. I donate 1 or 2 to the Golfing Gods every round, which means a dozen should carry me through 6-rounds. However, I need to employ a new ball every 6 to 9 holes because of scuffing.

However, there are ways to enjoy the game without breaking the bank. Our post on the 13 best cheap golf balls in 2022 is a suitable place to start.

Golf Tees

Average cost: $7 – $13 (Per 100)

Tees form part of the essential accessories required to play the game. Tees are a minor expense, and you only need to purchase them once in a blue moon. For example, a pack of 100 wooden tees lasts me 5 to 7 months. Since I play twice a week, that is fantastic value for money.

Gloves

Average cost: $13 – $35 (Per glove)

Golf gloves help us improve our traction to better control the club. This enables us to optimize power on the downswing for maximum clubhead speed. In addition, gloves reduce the risk of blisters and injuries on your palm.

Gloves are not the most expensive gear, but their lifespan is limited. They tend to wear and tear rapidly, requiring a new one every few months if you play frequently.

Leather gloves offer a superior feel and are moisture resistant. However, leather does not provide the level of breathability found in synthetic gloves. Generally speaking, Cabretta leather gloves fetch a higher price per unit than synthetic designs.

Driving Range

Average cost: $6 – $10 (Per Bucket of 100 Balls)

Constant practice is essential to improving your golf scores and lowering your handicap. I recommend fitting in one range session per week at least. This costs you between $6 to $10 for a bucket of 100 balls.

Clothing/Apparel

Average cost: $130 – $420 (Including a golf shirt, golf pants, golf shoes, and rain gear)

The cost of your gear can quickly add up if you opt for premium golf attire. However, you must budget for a golf shirt, pants, shoes, and rain gear. On the affordable side, you can get away with paying $130 to $150 for your golf equipment. Conversely, an expensive look can set you back as much as $420.

Golf Lessons

Average cost: $75 – $90 (1 hour lesson)

I highly urge every golfer to seek the assistance of a professional sooner rather than later. If you are just starting out, book a few coaching sessions, and learn how to play the game correctly. Conversely, seasoned golfers who have never had a lesson should have one to identify specific weaknesses in your swing.

In my experience, the average cost of a 1-hour lesson ranges from $75 to $90 with a certified PGA professional.

I recommend starting with 5 lessons. After that, you can either add on more or go at it alone. 5-lessons are sufficient for you to cover the basics of your swing mechanics, posture, and alignment.

Playing a Round of 9 Holes

Average cost: $21 

According to Golf Magazine and National Golf Foundation (NGF), the average course fees for 9 holes in the United States is $21. Naturally, you can expect to fork out substantially more when playing at private courses.

A semi-private club generally asks for lower fees than private country clubs, as they welcome guests and members. Public golf courses such as your local muni are the best place to keep green fees down.

Playing a Round of 18 Holes

Average cost: $38

Furthermore, the NGF found that the average fee for 18 holes in 2021 reached $38. Now, these are prices that you can expect to pay at municipal courses.

In addition, these rates cover your green fees and nothing else. You will need $20 to $50 to rent a golf cart for 18-holes.

Semi-private and private Country Clubs can ask for as much as $200 to $300. In the case of Pebble Beach and Shadow Creek, those fees enter the realm of $550 to $1000 per round.

Membership Initiation Fee (optional)

Average cost: $1000 – $100,000+

Membership initiation fees vary depending on the golf course. Semi-private courses may ask for less than $1,000, whereas private courses request more than $100,000. This payment only gets you in the door and does not include your annual membership or green fees.

Combining the initiation fee with membership, green fees, and annual tariffs is where golf becomes unnecessarily expensive for the average person.

The good news is that nothing is forcing you to become a golf club member. Unless you are after a handicap. In that case, being a registered member makes life easier.

Why Rich People Typically Play Golf

Build Relationships

A common reason why people play golf is to build relationships, especially from a business perspective. The old adage suggests that golf is good for business. Beating an opponent on the links requires patience, astute decision-making, and a killer instinct. These qualities demand respect and are an ideal way to win over new business and friends.

Keeping Up Appearances

The Country Club I grew up at had many of these characters. They could not swing a golf club to save their lives and grew to hate the game. However, they needed to be seen at the club on weekends, to highlight their importance and status. These are individuals who play golf just for the image.

Generation Z and millennials would refer to their mindset as the fear of missing out. They feel that not playing golf reduces their credit among their peers.

Peace and Quiet

A golf course offers individuals a place to escape from chaotic, everyday life. You are forced to focus on your swing and aim for more than 4 hours, helping you take your mind off work.

Furthermore, the privacy of a club allows wealthy people to be in a relaxed environment without being bothered by others. There are acres of space with nobody else except fellow golfers, with whom you enjoy a common interest.

Finally, the peace and quiet offered on a golf course is a drawcard. It allows rich golfers to spend enjoyable time out of the office, listening to the sounds of nature.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Many golfers think that hitting a wedge shot high is a great benefit. However, there are problems with getting too much ball flight on your shots.

I have been paying close attention to professionals and their equipment, and you can see that they are now working on keeping the ball a bit lower but still including plenty of spin in their shots. For instance, the new Titleist SM9 wedges have a lower launch than previous models to help with this added control.

Here are 5 reasons why you’re hitting your wedges too high and how to fix it.

1. Bigger Swing Than Necessary

One of the first things that golfers should look at when trying to get their ball flight down is the size of the golf swing they are taking. If you are taking a big swing instead of a shorter, more compact motion, you may notice the ball getting up a little higher than necessary.

It’s easier to get a higher trajectory on the golf ball when you have more speed and a larger swing. To fix this issue, you can simply choose a different club and make a more compact motion.

How To Fix This Issue

Take a look at the distance you have to the hole.

Do you need to be using a 60 degree lob wedge to get you to the pin? Could you use something like a pitching wedge, take a more compact motion and keep the ball down just a bit?

The smaller swing is going to help make it easier on you when it comes to controlling the flight of the ball and the angle of your clubface.

2. Opening The Face

When you set up to take your backswing, ensure you are not opening the face of your club too much. For pitch shots and most chip shots, you can let the club sit as it lies and then uses this angle when you make contact with the ball.

Opening the face is really only necessary on full wedge shots where you are trying to go over a bunker or something. You will see some players do this with a sand wedge in the bunkers, but it’s not necessary around the greens.

How To Fix This Issue

Learn what a square club face looks like. Setup with the clubface at a square angle, and then work on maintaining that in your takeaway.

If you have a tendency to open the clubface on the backswing, make sure you have a swing thought of keeping the club square.

3. Ball Too Far Forward

The ball position could be the reason you are hitting your wedges too high.

When you want to hit approach shots to the green from a shorter distance, you will probably want the ball back in your stance. This, of course, does not mean behind your right foot (for right-handed players). Instead, it will just be back of the middle.

Some golfers have a hard time with ball flight being too high when they have the ball in the middle of the stance. Pushing it back just a little allows you to hit the ball on the way down and create a more penetrating ball flight.

How To Fix This Issue

When you are practicing on the driving range, use a golf alignment stick to see where your ball position is. Adjust accordingly and play around with different angles to find something that works for your needs.

Be careful not to get the ball too far back in your stance – this will result in poor shots.

4. Stance Too Wide

Keeping your stance too wide is not just a problem for ball flight, but it is a significant reason that golfers struggle with wedge shots as a whole. Regardless of your skill level, it is much easier to control a golf ball when your stance is more narrow. In addition, keeping that clubhead speed constant and accelerating is also much easier with a narrower stance.

The narrow stance can help players that are struggling with backspin on their golf chip and pitch shots as well. Again, that larger stance opens up the door to inconsistent turf interaction and more movement in the body and the hands.

I have always chipped with a narrow stance that is also slightly open. The open stance encourages a bit more rotation towards the target and a softer overall feel to the golf shot.

How To Fix This Issue

Learning how to get your feet closer together when you chip is one of the easiest adjustments you can make to your game. The average distance your feet are apart is about equal shoulder width. However, on these types of shots, I like to get my feet even more narrow than shoulder width.

It’s important to remember that the further you get away from the hole, the further your feet may need to come apart. Sometimes when you need that extra distance, your feet will have to go back to shoulder width.

5. Incorrect Angle of Attack

An incorrect angle of attack can cause a golfer to hit the ball too high. Many players try to hit the ball up in the air by lifting it.

These golfers often lean back on their right side and try to lift the ball up in the air. It’s so important for golfers to remember that this is not how the ball gets up in the air, and it certainly won’t help you get the spin and ball flight you need to approach a shot in this way.

The proper angle of attack for a chip or pitch shot is to hit down and through the ball. Golfers should hit the ball first and then take a divot after the ball. When you approach from this angle, the ball stays lower, but no spin is lost.

How To Fix This Issue

There are plenty of drills to help you learn to hit down on the golf ball. However, one of my favorites is the line drill. All you need for this is a bit of spray paint, where you can draw a line to use for practice on the driving range.

Spray the line and then set your golf ball up at the beginning of the line. As you hit shots, you are going to want to hit the ball and then take a piece of the line with you. You can keep practicing along this line with the concept of hitting down and through the ball.

The shot will have a cleaner feel, and it will actually even sound crisper. This drill will not only help you from hitting your wedges too high, but you will also have a better time making solid contact with other clubs in your bag. If you can’t spray a line on your green, you can always put a loose tee in front of the ball and focus on hitting this as well.

6. Wrong Equipment

Although playing with the wrong equipment may seem like an excuse for poor golf, sometimes it really does apply. If you have a wedge that is high lofted but also tries to increase loft because of a low center of gravity, you may notice that the combination creates a launch angle that you can no longer control.

As I mentioned, this year, golf manufacturers are starting to put out options to the market that actually help players control the ball flight and keep it down a bit on their wedges. We saw this with the new Vokey line and the Milled Grind options from TaylorMade.

If you watch the pros in person, you can see that their wedges have a much more penetrating ball flight, and the shots have quite a bit of spin as well. The shaft and clubhead combination you choose could encourage you to hit your wedges too high.

How To Fix This Issue

The best way to fix an issue where you are playing with the wrong equipment is to go for a golf club fitting. Launch angle, spin, direction, and total distance are just a few key parameters that a club fitting can teach you about the clubs you have in play.

If you don’t want to pay for a fitting just yet, try a friend’s wedge and see if you hit the ball the same height. If you do, then the equipment may not be the issue.

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.

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These days, you should be doing everything and anything to take care of your members and guests. Why? Because if you’re not doing it someone else will.  So why aren’t you offering a shipping service to your clientele? After all, don’t they deserve the best options?

Using Ship Sticks for your Clientele

Rental FOMO (Fear of missing out on club rental revenue)

Are you a resort and have Rental FOMO? Our service caters to golfer’s who are passionate about using their OWN equipment, not someone else’s. Our customers would rather drag their gear onto the plane if it meant not dealing with a set of loaner’s not fit for them. If anything, Ship Sticks should make a nice complement to your rental program. We’ve even figured out ways to help you drive revenue, completely wiping out the fears of Rental FOMO.

Afraid the service will be too much of a hassle?

Aside from physically attaching the label to the travel bag or box for your member or guest, our team literally can take care of the rest! This includes monitoring and arranging pickups, resolving any issues that may pop-up during transit, and communicate with the destination that packages are coming their way. It’s a completely free, outsourced service that you can implement right away. And you can trust us, we’ve been doing this since 2011 and have developed relationships with over 3500 facilities across the world. We will also take the time to customize our service to your needs. On top of that, we provide you with all the tools you need to succeed, including free shipping supplies.

Rather than asking yourself what’s in it for me, shouldn’t you be asking what’s in it for my member or guest!

Question the reliability of shipping?

What happens if your member or guest decides to fly with their golf clubs and they don’t make it with the airlines? They’re likely ripping their hair out on the phone for hours with the airline, getting nothing in return (besides a headache). Paying out of their own pocket for rentals it is!

With Ship Sticks, we will track your equipment in real-time from the moment they are picked up until the moment they deliver. We know exactly where your bags are and when they need to arrive. We even have the capability of expediting service when an unforeseen situation arises. And if we can’t get your equipment to you before you hit the first tee, we’ll cover the costs of rentals and other items you need for the day.

For the longest time, shipping was too expensive of an option for most. Thanks to millions of traveling golfers across the world we’ve been able to change that and offer the most aggressive rates the industry has to offer. And if all of this wasn’t enough, shipping with Ship Sticks has an on-time success rate around 95%, better than the airlines. Don’t be afraid, embrace shipping services – your members and guests will thank you for it!

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