Article by William R. Papp, Jr.

Each golf tip improves our game. It’s what we choose to do with it that determines the quality and the rate of improving our techniques. As with most anything, some golf tips are better than others and some will remain to be genuine and labeled the “best”. A majority of the tips we’ll receive will arise from somebody whom or something that we have at least one ounce of faith in and may be presumed reputable and trustworthy. Friends, family, TV shows, books & videos and even our local club professionals are all “tip sources” that you and I can and will be subjected to in our desires to improve. The tips that we “file” upstairs may very well be “good”, useful and/or legitimate but some just simply will not produce what we personally expect or even give off the desired results in a timely manner. Regardless and for the sake of my article, whether or not we use the tips or just let them go in one ear to later become filed away in our mental “recycle bin”, I’m simply going to be classifying every golf tip as a “good” tip. I’d say it’s fairly safe to point out that the majority of us have a desire to improve but are lacking some knowledge of WHAT to improve or HOW to make the necessary or correct changes to our golf techniques. The first time we’d swung a golf club, we’d created a golf “database” and ever since then, whether practicing and playing, we have used whatever golf tips we’ve acquired that work best for US. Foremost, we rely on our own trials and errors to gain feedback and to make adjustments. I too, wanted rapid improvement in my golf game and tried out many different and at times, uncomfortable tips n’such while practicing and playing. I had heard more than once of what I now would consider to be one of the “best” golf tips that I have stored in my database since taking up the game over twenty-five years ago. I, like many of you, was excessively and increasingly discouraged from trying “this and that” throughout half of my so called golf endeavor when finally, a local professional had mentioned a tip one day, that it takes approximately thirty days for a repeated “change” to become habitual. I had realized that I was not giving the “files” (tips) stored in my “database” a chance to mature. All of us will “try-out” a new golf tip but many will ultimately resort back, skip or toss that tip in our “recycle bins” just in time to start our next round. Patience and persistence have leading roles in our improvement whether we’re just practicing or playing. I’d like to categorize under “GOOD”, “BETTER” and “BEST” some golf tips that I have stored in my personal “database” and unless you’re an authentic beginner, I would be willing to bet that most of you have heard a few of these golf tips that I believe to have been sincerely conveyed with the intention of helping us to improve. I’ll start with some “GOOD” tips and then we’ll move on from there.

“GOOD” tip 1). “…don’t baby it” – That’s a good tip right? Who wants to regularly come up short? -

“GOOD” tip 2). “stay out of the trees” – another good one eh? Nobody wants to incur penalty strokes for lost balls. -

“GOOD” tip 3). “choke up” – That’s ONE way to minimize hitting the ball fat.

** Before I share some of my “BETTER” tips, remember that we do have a “recycle bin” but DO NOT empty it! Now for the “BETTER” tips.

“BETTER” tip 1). “get it to the hole” – It’s “better” than “…don’t baby it” because it encourages distance awareness. -

“BETTER” tip 2). “keep it in the fairway” – focuses on the “short grass” and distracts your attention from potential obstructions

“BETTER” tip 3). “lower your grip” – emphasis on the word “grip” as opposed to “choke” in “GOOD” tip 3).

** Now these golf tips were “BETTER” than the “GOOD” ones but being the golfers we are, we know there is always room for improvement! That’s why I saved some of the “BEST” golf tips for last.

“BEST” tip 1). “accelerate through the ball” – With this tip, we’re not “babying it” and it WILL get to the hole more often.

“BEST” tip 2). “align to a specific target” – unless your target is in the trees, you should not be concerned with them and ultimately you WILL hit more fairways

“BEST” tip 3). “grip down on the club” – a well stated golf tip aimed at shortening the length of a club in order to gain more control.

Now that I’ve shared a number of golf tips, perhaps expanded some “databases” and in hopes, helped many to remain persistent and refrain impatience, I would like to, in closing, simply remind everyone that whether we think of a tip as being a good one or a bad one, they’re all good! When it’s suggested we stand on the other side of the ball to execute a shot, we have the option to empty out our “recycle bin” or seek resources from our “database” so just remember that when our backs are against a tree and we have to “swing lefty” to produce a shot…we’ll have wished we hadn’t deleted THAT file permanently.

About the Author

Being an above average and avid golfer for more than twenty-five years, I am still in pursuit of my own “green” jacket. My desire to improve and compete gets my adrenaline flowing every time I practice or play. Along my journey, I cherish any opportunity to assist fellow golfers who sincerely possess the desire to not only improve their own techniques but who contribute to the improvement of others as well!

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