I’m often asked what I think is most important when you are trying to improve your golf. There is an interesting overlap between buying equipment and/or investing in lessons. I often hear comments like ‘I’m going to wait until I’m better and then I’ll buy clubs.’ or ‘I want to get better before I get lessons, it’s too embarrassing.’ Wake up call, you will not improve if you wait!!

I’m going to be honest with you right from the get go- nothing will do the work for you. It doesn’t matter if you have the shiniest, most expensive clubs, and throw money at Butch Harmon- if you aren’t willing to put in some time and effort in your game, expect your improvement to be slow and at times negligible.

So the answer is the same, no matter what level of golfer you are. Buy the right equipment that is customised to you, get some help from a professional then work your butt off.

Let’s start with equipment…

Having the correct equipment can really boost your ability to learn and to optimise your swing, improve consistency, accuracy, power and distance. And here’s the thing, more expensive or better looking doesn’t mean that it’s the best for you. So how do you know if you’re choosing the correct equipment to improve your game?

Get custom fit!! Go and visit your local retailer who offers custom fit options using a launch monitor to provide you with facts and figures. Although buying off the shelf can be ok, for most of us, these clubs will not allow you to perform your best. Here are a few considerations when buying new clubs:

Club design: Find a head that you like the look of, but that also provides you with the optimal launch and spin for your swing speed. Spoiler Alert: Blades are often not the best option!!
Shaft weight and flex: Having a shaft that allows you to optimise swing speed and promote the right launch conditions will help you hit the ball further and straighter.
Length and Lie: Length of club and the lie angle of the club head can have a massive influence on set up and posture, swing plane and your ability to get a good contact on the golf ball. This is vitally important for new or junior golfers as it may influence how their golf swing develops. Juniors and ladies need specialist clubs which are now readily available. Hand me down 20 year old, steel shafted, blades with perished grips are only going to make things harder and less fun.
Loft: Loft is particularly important when buying things like fairway woods and wedges. Make sure you get clubs that allow you to hit the correct distances for you- we call this gapping.
Grip Size: This is a completely underestimated component that can have significant repercussions in your golf swing. Smaller hands need thinner grips and bigger hands need thicker grips. You should also be offered a variety of textures so make sure you find something that you like the feel of.

If you are learning golf and want to get yourself a set of clubs, don’t go for the cheapest option. These entry level clubs are often heavy and made from cheaper materials. Not only does this mean that they will be harder to hit and will slow down your learning, but the re-sale value is much lower. If you’re going to buy a package set, make sure you go for a well known brand. It may be slightly more expensive, but you will be able to re-sell these and then upgrade when you are ready.

Buy a putter that you love! The putter is the most used club in the bag. Make sure that you invest in one that you love- they can be expensive but they will last a long time and will get well used. This is not the place to skimp!!

Invest in a good golf ball- Having the right ball for you will mean that you can get the ball to respond in the way you want on the course. When you are learning, this may not be as important, but if you are working on your short game, you will need to make some upgrades. Using a high quality ball with a soft cover that promotes spin will give you more control on those wedge shots.

Buy a range finder. This may not be important if you are just starting to learn the game, but if you are looking to improve your scoring on the course, then a range finder will help you to understand your distances better. You need to know your average carry distance (how far the ball flies in the air) and total distance (distance once the ball has stopped rolling). Knowing these numbers will help you to improve your course management and club selection.

OK, I have the correct equipment. What about game improvement and golf lessons?

It’s extremely tempting to head to the computer, click on YouTube and follow a heap of tutorials on there. I have my own page (head to Emma Fairnie Golf and Fitness if you’d like to check it out). BUT approach these tips and tricks with an element of caution. Golf coaches will select a topic, and then just throw an idea out into the YouTube stratosphere. A lot of the information is good and correct, but the question I always get my clients to ask themselves is, ‘Does this apply to me?’.

So here are my tips if you want to improve your game through learning:

Find yourself a nice PGA Professional in your area. Generally, recommendations are great but there are lots of coaches out there so find one that you feel comfortable with and can easily communicate with.
Set some goals and have a series of lessons to gain some continuity and accountability towards these, then go and practice.
Practice more. And practice what your golf coach has asked you to do. If you get stuck, give your coach a call. It might surprise you to hear that we actually love feedback- good or bad. It’s the only way we can really help you to achieve your goals. Be honest, transparent and let us know what’s going on.
Depending on what your goals are, we may ask for more feedback or tracking of your game. Big goals will require a big investment from you- both financially and time wise. Golf is hard, so expect to work hard.
Play more!! Get out on the golf course and start handing in more score cards. If your goal is focussed on dropping your handicap, this is a MUST!!

We are just heading into winter, so now is a great time to reflect on your year and your achievements. What did you do well? What could you do better? How are you going to move forward with your game?

As you start to answer these questions, feel free to get in touch to start the conversation about how you can invest most appropriately to improve your game.

Love,

Coach Em

FaceBook: @emmafairniegolf

Instagram: @emma_fairnie_golf_and_fitness

YouTube: Emma Fairnie Golf and Fitness

Golf HQ: www.golfhq.co.nz

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