Effective Strategies to improve your performance on the golf course.

Nicholas Sharratt
15 minutes ago
4 min read

Golf is a game of precision, patience, and practice. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, there’s always room to sharpen your skills and lower your scores. It’s about consistent effort, smart practice, and understanding that you generally can’t argue with physics. In this post, I’ll share some important strategies that have helped my students improve their performance and their enjoyment of the game.

Practical Golf Game Improvement Tips You Can Start Today

Improving your golf game starts with focusing on the basics and building a strong foundation. Here are some practical tips that you can apply right away:

Practice Short Game Skills

This is by far the quickest way to improve your score. Recent data taken from many thousands of golfers of all abilities has produced some significant outcomes. You are three times more likely to have a shot from 0 to 50 yards excluding putting than 160 and upwards. I am always surprised when giving a playing lesson the student will always remember the poor driver but not the four shots then have taken from thirty yards. You have to invest time into your short game. Spend at least half your practice time on chipping, pitching, and putting. Investing more time into all areas of 50 yards and in will turn that triple into a bogey and that par into a birdie. Ignore at your peril.

Use Video Analysis

A good coach is a connected coach. Be it Skillest, CoachNow or V1. You have the technology inyour pocket to film your golf swing. Please don’t play the Social media comparison reach out to a qualified coach. We all have swing faults we would wish to change. But picking your fights with your own technique will be more beneficial to your consistency and therefore scoring performance. Choosing and then sharing your swing with online with a coach or in person will be a better use of your time.

Eye-level view of a golfer practicing putting on a green

Understanding the Importance of Scoring.

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is assuming the perfect score comes from hitting every fairway and green in regulation. The golfing Majors that are broadcast often show the top 100 golfers in the world at the top of their game. They are gerneally hitting every fairway and green in regulation. But you are a probably juggling a business or work, a family or partner practice time is valuable and hitting a 3000 balls a week is not going to happen. So accept its okay to to hit 9 or 10 fairways and 12 or 13 greens. Remember you have been practising your short game!

Start scoring on every social game

Taking this approach will create a fighting mentality “grinding it out” is a phrase you might of heard of. Learning to pick your shots and not take on shots that you have never executed will be a big help.

Use different scoring formats

There are many different scoring systems in golf. Mix it Match play is a big help, playing against your opponent hole by hole. This makes you realise that you can win even with a poor score. Better ball is fun, foursomes and greensomes. Changing formats will help you become a better “player” not just technique, technique.

Reflect After Each Round

Take notes on what went well and what didn’t. This reflection helps you focus your next practice session on specific weaknesses.

What is the 70/30 Rule in Golf?

The 70/30 rule is a simple but powerful concept that can help you prioritise your practice time effectively. It suggests that 70% of your practice should focus on the shots you use most often, while the remaining 30% can be spent on less frequent or more challenging shots.

For example, since most golfers hit drives, approach shots, and putts regularly, these should get the bulk of your attention. Meanwhile, specialty shots like bunker shots or long irons can be practiced less frequently but still need some focus.

This rule helps you avoid spreading yourself too thin and ensures you’re improving the parts of your game that will have the biggest impact on your score.

Wide angle view of a golf course with a player teeing off

Building Mental Toughness and Course Management Skills

Golf is as much a mental game as it is physical. Developing mental toughness and smart course management can shave strokes off your score.

Stay Positive and Patient

Golf can be frustrating, but keeping a positive attitude helps you recover from bad shots and stay focused.

Visualise Your Shots

Before each shot, picture the ball’s flight and landing spot. This mental rehearsal improves confidence and execution.

Play to Your Strengths

Know your best shots and use them to your advantage. For example, if you’re better with a 7-iron than a long iron, consider laying up instead of going for risky long shots.