Golfers spend countless hours refining their grip, stance, and swing mechanics. Yet, as every seasoned player eventually learns, the most difficult course isn’t beneath your feet—it’s in your mind.
That’s why I wrote The Modern Psychology of Golf: Mastering the Mental Game to ElevatePerformance. The book explains how to sharpen focus, manage nerves, and change the way you think about the game—so your physical skills finally match your mental clarity.
But let’s not keep everything inside the book—here are three practical, usable mental game strategies you can start applying in your very next round.
1. Breathe Into Every Shot for Relaxation and Rhythm
Tension undermines rhythm. Before every swing, take a slow breath in through your nose, then breathe out completely. As you exhale, relax your shoulders and lighten your grip pressure. This easy reset helps you approach the ball relaxed, not hurried.
2. Focus on the Next Shot, Not the Last One
Every golfer has experienced a bad hole—an errant drive, a missed putt, or a double bogey. The important part is not letting it affect you afterward. After each shot, ask yourself: “What’s the best next shot I canplay?” That forward-focused mindset helps eliminate frustration and prevents your score from escalating.
3. Build a Pre-Shot Routine to Boost Confidence
Consistency breeds confidence. Develop a simple routine before every shot—such as visualizing the ball flight, taking one rehearsal swing, and then stepping in. The more automatic your routine becomes, the less room there is for doubt or second-guessing when it matters most.
From Quick Wins to Long-Term Mastery
These tips are only the start. In ‘The Modern Psychologyof Golf,’ I explore more proven strategies to help you:
Few swings in golf are as admired as Rory McIlroy’s. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive player, you’ve likely marveled at his effortless power, smooth rhythm, and pinpoint accuracy. But what really makes Rory’s swing so effective—and is there anything the rest of us can learn from it?
Absolutely. Here are three core attributes of Rory’s swing that every golfer can study and apply to their game.
🔑 1. Lower Body Power & Hip Rotation
Rory’s swing begins from the ground up. He uses exceptional lower body movement to generate power—especially his hip rotation through impact. Rather than just relying on arms or shoulders, Rory starts the downswing by driving his lead hip toward the target, allowing energy to transfer up the chain through his torso and arms.
This dynamic move gives him exceptional clubhead speed and balance. His feet are grounded, but his hips are exploding.
Why it matters:
Creates effortless distance
Improves ball-striking consistency
Keeps your swing stable under pressure
Try this drill:
Practice starting your downswing by shifting pressure into your lead foot while clearing your lead hip. Imagine squashing a bug under your front foot as you rotate.
🔑 2. Wide Arc with a Full Shoulder Turn
Another signature Rory move is his wide, high takeaway and full shoulder turn. He keeps his left arm extended and away from his body while his torso rotates fully—almost as if he’s winding up like a spring, building coil and storing energy without tension.
Why it matters:
Maintains swing width and plane
Builds power through stored torque
Promotes a fluid, repeatable motion
Try this drill:
Hold a club across your chest and rotate your shoulders as far as you can while keeping your hips quiet. This teaches you to separate your upper and lower body—the secret to building spring-loaded torque like Rory.
🔑 3. Head Stability & Focused Eye Line
Watch Rory closely and you’ll notice something subtle but essential: his head stays stable throughout the swing, especially through impact. His eyes are quiet, fixed on the ball or just in front of it, helping him maintain balance and sequence his motion more naturally. This stability isn’t a rigid stillness—it’s dynamic control. His body rotates freely, but his head remains centered on the ball.
Why it matters:
Improves ball contact and low-point control
Enhances tempo and timing
Reduces the tendency to sway or lift
Visualization tip:
Imagine you’re wearing a GoPro on your cap. Try to “film” the ball all the way through the swing with minimal head movement.
🏁 Conclusion: Play Like Rory—Your Way
You don’t need Tour-level speed to benefit from Tour-level fundamentals. By working on these three keys—lower body engagement, a wide/full backswing, and head stability—you’ll set yourself up for a more powerful, consistent swing.
🔗 Want to see how these concepts apply to your swing?
There’s something magical about watching a player who can work the golf ball both ways on command. As Lottie Woad demonstrated during her historic Augusta National Women’s Amateur victory last year and continues to show being in contention this year, the ability to shape shots is a game-changer on challenging courses.
The 21-year-old Florida State standout from Farnham, England, has proven her versatility by conquering both Champions Retreat and Augusta National’s demanding layouts. Her impressive closing birdies on 15, 17, and 18 to claim last year’s title showcased not just nerves of steel but a shot-making arsenal that allows her to attack pins from any angle.
“When you can work the ball both ways, you’re never out of position,” is a sentiment echoed by many elite players. This skill becomes particularly valuable on courses like Augusta National, where approach angles can mean the difference between a birdie putt and a treacherous recovery.
Let me share four key tips and a practice drill to help you develop this essential skill in your own game.
Tip 1: Understand the Fundamentals of Ball Flight
Before attempting to shape shots, you need to understand what makes the ball curve. For a right-handed golfer, a draw moves from right to left, while a fade moves from left to right. The primary factor is the relationship between your clubface and swing path at impact.
For a draw, the clubface must be open relative to the target but closed relative to the swing path (with an in-to-out swing direction). For a fade, it’s the opposite – the face should be closed relative to the target but open relative to the swing path (with an out-to-in swing direction). The ball starts primarily in the direction the clubface points at impact and curves away from the path. Only by creating this foundational understanding of what is needed to shape the golf ball can you then begin working on it.
Tip 2: Adjust Your Setup for the Desired Shape
Woad’s ability to work the ball starts with subtle setup adjustments. For a draw, position the ball slightly back in your stance but still forward of center. Close your stance by pulling your lead foot back slightly, and strengthen your grip by rotating both hands clockwise on the club.
For a fade, do the opposite: play the ball slightly forward, open your stance by dropping your trail foot back, and weaken your grip by rotating both hands counterclockwise. These adjustments naturally promote the swing path and face conditions needed for each shot shape.
Tip 3: Visualize the Shot Shape
The mental aspect of shot shaping cannot be overstated. Before each shot, Woad likely visualizes the exact curve she wants to produce. Stand behind the ball, pick a specific starting line, and imagine the ball’s entire flight path, including where it will land and how it will roll.
This visualization primes your body to make the subtle adjustments needed to create that shot. Your brain is remarkably good at figuring out how to achieve what you clearly visualize.
Tip 4: Maintain Your Tempo
One common mistake when attempting to shape shots is changing your tempo. Whether hitting a draw or fade, maintain the same rhythm and tempo as your standard shot. The shape comes from setup and minor swing adjustments, not from swinging harder or softer.
Woad’s smooth, consistent tempo throughout her swing is a key reason she can reliably work the ball in pressure situations, like she’ll experience on the second nine today at Augusta National.
Practice Shapes Using The Gate Drill
Set up two alignment sticks or clubs on the ground about 5-7 yards in front of you, creating a “gate” about 3 feet wide. Position this gate slightly right of your intended final target as you work on a draw and slightly left for working on a fade.
The challenge is to start your ball through the gate and then curve it toward the target. Begin with slight curves and gradually work toward more pronounced shapes as you gain confidence.
Practice this drill regularly, and you’ll develop the feel and confidence to shape shots on demand – a skill that might help you navigate challenging courses like Lottie Woad has at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Remember, shot shaping isn’t just for elite players. With dedicated practice and these fundamentals, you can add this valuable dimension to your game and unlock new scoring opportunities on any course you play.
Nothing separates weekend warriors from elite golfers like putting. The pros sink putts with confidence, while amateurs often struggle with consistency. If you want to roll the ball like the best, you need more than just luck—you need a solid routine, proper technique, and a confident mindset. Here are five pro-level tips to help you make more putts and lower your scores.
2017 NCLM Conference Golf TournamentPhoto by Aaron Hines
1. Master Your Setup and Alignment
Pros take their setup seriously. Even a perfect stroke won’t get the ball in the hole if you’re not correctly aligned. The key? Keep your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders parallel to your target line. Many pros use alignment aids in practice to reinforce proper positioning. Also, ensure your eyes are directly over the ball or slightly inside the target line for optimal accuracy.
2. Develop a Smooth, Repeatable Stroke
One of amateur golfers’ most common mistakes is getting too handsy with the putter. Pros focus on a consistent stroke powered by the shoulders, keeping the hands quiet. A smooth pendulum-like motion leads to better distance control and accuracy. To improve, try the “gate drill” by placing two tees slightly wider than your putter head. If you don’t hit the tees, your stroke will stay on path.
3. Read Greens Like a Pro
Good putting starts before you even stroke the ball. Pros read greens from multiple angles, considering grain, slope, and speed. A great technique is the “low side read,” where you examine the putt from the side that slopes downward. Use your feet to feel subtle breaks, and practice lag putts to develop a better sense of green speed. The more you understand the break, the more putts you’ll make.
4. Control Your Speed
Even the best read means nothing if your speed control is off. Pros focus on rolling the ball with perfect pace, often aiming to have it finish about 12-18 inches past the hole if they miss. A great drill to improve speed is the “ladder drill,” where you putt balls to stop at different distances within a designated zone. Mastering speed prevents those dreaded three-putts and boosts confidence on short putts.
5. Commit to Every Putt with Confidence
Doubt is the silent killer of a good putt. The best players trust their read, commit fully to their stroke, and let go of the outcome. Before you putt it, take a deep breath, visualize the ball rolling smoothly into the cup, and step up with confidence. A hesitant stroke leads to missed opportunities, but a committed one—even if you miss—sets you up for long-term success on the greens.
Now, grab your putter and have some fun out there! 🏌️♂️
The golf swing begins with a unified movement of the clubhead, hands, arms, and shoulders. This movement, known as the “one-piece takeaway,” ensures that all upper body parts move harmoniously. Following this initial action, the hips start to rotate, responding to the movement of the shoulders. As the hips turn, the lower body—knees and feet—follow as the weight shifts back, over, and around the rear leg.
During the latter stages of this one-piece takeaway, it’s crucial to eventually allow the right elbow to fold naturally against your right side as the club continues back and up. This technique keeps the arms connected to the body, maintaining a compact and controlled swing.
The one-piece takeaway sets the initial rhythm and pace of the swing and syncs the sequence of movements: clubhead, hands, shoulders, hips, and then the lower body. This order is vital for correctly coiling the upper body against the lower body, creating a spring-like mechanism that unleashes substantial power during the downswing.
Proper takeaway execution is also fundamental in harnessing power through angular momentum, often referred to as the “lever system.” Effective use of this system is key to generating tremendous force and enabling a ball-first, then turf contact—essential for tight lies. Furthermore, striking the ball with a descending blow is critical; it imparts the necessary spin for the ball to stick in the landing/target area.
Additionally, the natural flow of the one-piece takeaway greatly influences the club’s path. Ideally, the club should move straight back, then slightly inside, before turning upward. This motion ensures that the club follows a similar, semi-circular path on the downswing, facilitating a clean and consistent strike from the ball through to the follow-through.
Contrarily, forcing the club too quickly to the outside or inside during the initial backswing can disrupt this path, leading to potential mishits like pulls or slices. Thus, mastering the one-piece takeaway is crucial as it lays the foundation for a powerful, repeatable golf swing, enabling consistent, clean, straight shots.
This detailed guide to the one-piece takeaway improves your initial swing motion and lays the foundation for a powerful, precise, and consistent swing.
It’s been quite an Olympics in Paris so far, hasn’t it?
Adding to the fervor was the Men’s Golf competition at Le Golf National, which ended with dramatics, star power and a medal decision that went right down the final hole.
In the end, as he’s seemingly done all year, it was the USA’s Scottie Scheffler finishing with the gold medal after a scintillating back-nine 29 to finish at -19. Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood finished one back at -18 to take silver, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama nabbed the bronze medal.
Scheffler’s play this year has been something to marvel at. He’s having a historic ballstriking season, and its his iron play that allowed him to stay within reach of the podium for the first three rounds . . . and then pounce in the final round with a magnificent 62.
So, you may be thinking, “What could I possibly learn from such a good golfer like Scottie?” Well, in fact, there’s a lot. But we’ll focus on two things that stood out at Le Golf National.
Solid iron play begins with solid fundamentals
One of things you have to admire about Scheffler is his commitment to always being in a fantastic position to strike the golf ball. His grip, posture, setup? They’re flawless.
But that’s also because he’s always checking to make sure things stay squeaky clean. It can be easy to shift your feet (no pun intended with Scottie) open or closed, maybe grip a little tighter, or be a little more rounded in your posture. Believe it or not, when Scottie starts his warmup each round alongside his longtime PGA Coach Randy Smith, he practices with a molded grip club to make sure his hands are sound.
🚨 DO YOUR DRILLS KIDS
This long iron belongs to Scottie Scheffler. (One of the best ball-strikers in the game.)
Notice how it has a formed grip on it. That formed grip ensures the user holds the club properly.
Here’s the club at this year’s PGA Championship while Scottie was getting ready at Valhalla:
One of those molded-grip clubs is only $10-11 at your local sports store, so it might not be a bad purchase. Aside from your grip, if you’re heading to practice or play this week, try these tips:
Scottie’s shots never seemingly left his target at Le Golf National. Everything is aligned to where he wants his ball to go. Try this: At the range, or even on the course, find your target. Then find something draws a direct line between your target and you maybe 3-4 yards in front of you. It could be some grass, a divot, a dead turf spot – whatever it is, align to that so you know you’re aiming at your target hundreds of yards away.
Another key to good iron play is focusing on good compression. Scottie’s iron strikes sound different because he compresses the ball so well, with ball first, divot second contact. Try this: On your downswing, focus like you’re covering the ball with the center of your chest. Try half-swings with your wedges to dial in this concept first. Your hips should rotate open and then your chest center will “cover” the ball,” giving you a solid spine angle position that compresses the ball. Work your way up from wedges to irons and you’ll start feeling more confident.
Don’t forget to just have fun
To start the week, the Olympic Golf social media team had players take to mini white-boards like their first day of grade school and write a few fun facts about themselves.
The last question on each board was, “What’s your Paris goal?” Here’s what Scottie’s said:
While this isn’t a technical swing tip, it’s something a lot of golfers forget. Sometimes we get so caught up in the nitty-gritty of swing mechanics and pressures and “Why didn’t you make this putt” that it takes the joy away from playing the game.
Now, is it easier for Scottie to “just have fun” since he’s the best player in the world? Yeah, probably. But his Paris goal is wisdom for us all, no matter how good or bad we are at golf. That mentality helped Scottie all the way to the gold medal at Le Golf National and it can probably help you with your own golf goals. Think about these two thoughts the next time you tee it up:
If a bad shot happens, instead of wondering what went wrong, focus on what you can do on the next shot to minimize the damage. Leave that bad shot behind where it deserves to be. It’s easy to let it ruin your round . . . but what’s the fun in that?
Once you’re out on the course, let the mechanics go. Golf gets to be not a lot of fun when you’re trying to keep your lead arm straight on the 11th hole or hinge your wrists on a chip to get up and down for par. Instead, remember those fundamentals we talked about, set up and let it rip.
Hopefully these small pieces of advice have you on your way to playing better – whether it’s for an Olympic medal or a few dollars from your buddies.
In Thursday’s first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Cam Young hit a beautiful fairway wood from 273 yards to 3 feet. Fairway wood shots like this are shots that most amateur golfers can only dream of hitting. For most, just getting a fairway wood airborne is a significant achievement.
Struggling to hit fairway woods consistently off the deck, or the tee? You’re in good company.
Many golfers grapple with these longer clubs. But fear not, with the right techniques and practice, you can start hitting fairway woods better and add some serious distance and accuracy to your game.
Try these tips:
Get Fairway Woods That Suit Your Swing
First and foremost, it’s crucial to have the correct fairway woods in your bag. The loft and shaft flex should suit your swing speed and personal preferences. Once you have the right club, it’s time to focus on your setup and swing.
Trust The Equipment
Another key element is to trust the club’s loft. Fairway woods are designed to provide lift, so avoid trying to help the ball into the air by scooping or flipping your wrists at impact. Instead, trust the club’s loft and focus on making solid, confident conta
Understand How To Hit a Fairway Wood Properly
When hitting fairway woods off the fairway, a common mistake is to try and lift the ball into the air. Instead, focus on making solid contact with the ball at impact. Position the ball slightly forward in your stance, just inside your front heel. This setup promotes a slightly descending blow, ensuring clean contact with the ball.
Rhythm & Tempo
In terms of the swing, it’s essential to maintain a smooth tempo and rhythm. Fairway woods are designed to sweep the ball off the turf, unlike hitting irons, where you may take a divot after the ball. To achieve this, focus on a shallow angle of attack. Stay behind the ball at impact and maintain your spine angle through the swing. This will help you strike the ball cleanly and get the ball airborne.
Golf Tips: Copy Nelly Korda’s Swing Tempo With These 3 Keys
By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on Saturday, April 20, 2024
With no disrespect to Scottie Scheffler and his dominance in the men’s game, Nelly Korda may be the best golfer on the planet right now. Going for her fifth straight win this week at The Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the year, Nelly sits in a very familiar place near the top of the leaderboard.
One of the most striking things about Nelly’s swing is its fluidity. Her motion is smooth and graceful, with no wasted or unnecessary movements. Her natural rhythm and tempo allow her to generate power without sacrificing accuracy.
Another key element of Nelly’s swing is her balance. She maintains a stable base throughout her swing, which allows her to continually make solid contact and control her shot trajectory. Her weight shift is subtle and controlled, which helps her to maintain her balance and generate power.
Nelly’s swing also features a high level of coordination between her upper body and lower body. Her hips and shoulders rotate in a way that creates proper resistance between each other, allowing her to generate torque and power. Her arms and hands remain relaxed and passive, allowing the club head to do the work.
Of course, Nelly’s swing didn’t develop overnight. It has taken years of hard work and dedication to reach the level of proficiency that she now possesses. The following three tips can help you find better balance, fluidity, and rhythm in your swing, but, just like with Nelly, it will take some time to really get things dialed in.
Focus on your posture
Maintaining good posture from set up and throughout your swing is essential for achieving balance and fluidity. As you get set, focus on keeping your spine and sternum steady and over the ball, with your weight evenly distributed and your feet shoulder-width apart. This will help you maintain your balance throughout the swing.
As you move throughout your swing, always try to maintain that feeling of centeredness, with those critical points of the spine and sternum steady and over the ball.
Practice your transition
Many golfers lose rhythm and fluidity during the transition between the backswing and downswing.
To improve this, practice your transition by slowing down your swing and focusing on the smoothness of the movement. Once you have mastered a slow and smooth transition, gradually increase your speed until you can maintain the same fluidity at a faster pace.
Use your hips correctly
A consistent and solid golf swing relies heavily on using your hips correctly. This helps generate power and maintain fluidity. Additionally, it allows for a consistent strike at impact and a reliable shot shape. Check out this sequence from Nelly:
Notice Nelly rotating her hips throughout the swing, starting with her backswing and continuing through to your follow-through. As you swing back, your hips should rotate around 45 degrees, with your upper torso rotating an additional 45 degrees beyond that. That resistance between your upper body, rotating closer to 90 degrees, and your 45-degree hip turn creates the wind-up, which is necessary for you to be powerful once you transition down from the top of the swing.
As you unwind in the downswing, your hips must lead the way and rotate out of the way so that your hands and club can approach the ball from the inside. Hips that do not clear properly in the downswing create problems with consistency in your swing.
Catch some coverage of The Chevron Championship this weekend . . . there’s a lot you can learn from one of the LPGA’s stars who’s on an unreal run!
The slice is enemy No. 1 for a lot of golfers. And it’s easy to see why.
A slice curves away from the target pretty quickly and zaps distance, making tee shots and approach shots less likely to find the fairway and green. The result? Higher scores.
Slicing the ball is a common fault because it’s a combination of a lot of common miscues but none more prevalent than an over-the-top backswing and open clubface at impact. Those two combined make it easy for the ball to spin left to right (for righties, opposite for lefties), and away from the target.
The good part about a slice though, is just like any swing fault, it can be fixed with the right prescription. We asked Jimmy Wisinski, the PGA of America Director of Instruction at Kent Country Club in Michigan, to share a drill on how the combat the dreaded slice.
Jimmy delivered with a great alignment-stick drill that you can do the next time you hit the range:
It’s the season for fixing slices! Try this alignment stick drill from Jimmy Wisinski, PGA for straight shots! pic.twitter.com/S5vMYuBHfj
Struggling On The Greens? This Putting Drill Can Help Instantly
By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Beyond some standard fundamentals, the art of putting is as individual as a fingerprint.
We all have unique factors influencing our approach to putting: our height, body type, tempo at which we walk and talk and, most impactfully, how we see a putt with our eyes all influence what we do with the flat stick, whether we know it or not.
We often force ourselves into a setup position that is too “squared off” or “technically sound” to allow our eyes to see that critical starting spot to roll the ball over just after impact.
Our brain, or subconscious, will actually reroute the putter on the downstroke if it feels that something is “off” visually when you make those last few looks with your eyes down the target line. This will lead to often funky-looking strokes and a potential massive loss of confidence.
If you’ve been experiencing some struggles on the green, not to fear. This drill below can help right away.
Find your spot
With three golf balls, start with a putt of 6 feet on the practice green.
Really focus on your putting line. Take a trip around the hole and see the line from all sides.
Once you are confident on the line, find a point on your line about 4-6 inches past your ball and align the mark on your golf ball to that point. Pro tip: Using your golf ball mark is a critical part to being a good putter!
As you start to get set up to the ball, make it a point to feel comfortable with what you see with your eyes as you are over the ball. How does the line on the ball look in relation to that intermediate starting point? How does your putter head look with regard to the ball and your intermediate starting point? Adjust your body, line, or even your putter head if it seems off a bit.
It is critical to get your setup conditions correct in terms of what you see as you are over the ball and not necessarily in a way that feels more “technically sound.” Your eyes and instincts, unique to you, are far more critical in allowing you to roll the ball end over end and over that intermediate spot on your line.
Once you start continuously rolling the ball over that intermediate spot on your line, this drill will allow you to putt with more confidence and think less about how technically sound your putting may be. Technique is essential, but it often handcuffs golfers by not allowing them to stroke the putt freely and confidently!
