Using these 4 tips could lower your score and could help you win a bet or two next time you tee it up. We all know you should get in better shape, drink less often, stretch more, do your mental yoga and show up early to practice before each round. If you don’t follow that pattern these tips might help lower your score next time you play .
1. Hit the driver less often
That is correct, most of us hit the driver way to often. It is fun to hit the driver all the time but not really a great plan to shoot lower scores. If we are swinging great go ahead and hit the driver maybe six to eight times. Most days you should be using your 3 wood more often than the driver. Most golfers actually hit their 3 wood off the tee just as far as their driver and hit the 3 wood in play more often. You may ask, what about the par 5’s? Answer honestly, how many par 5’s have you hit in 2 in your last 20 rounds. Even if you have hit 5 that is about 5 out of 100 attempts at going for the green in two. So if the par 5 is 500 yards hit 3 wood 225 yards off the tee, then 5 wood 200 yards and then you have a wedge from 75 yards! Do you really think your score better trying to hit the crap out of the driver off the tee? Then figure out what your scoring average is on par 5’s and you will get my point, hit the 3 wood more often.
2. When you get in trouble get out of trouble
You just hit a ball off the tee 50 yards off line into the trees and what do you try to do on your next shot? Hit a ball between two trees with a gap of 20 feet, stupid move that happens all too often. You may also hit the ball way left of the green and try to hit a flop shot to a small area of the green over trees. Or you could aim away from the hole, hit putter on the ground to the other side of the green and not make a big number. The point is, when you hit a bad shot don’t follow it up by taking a big risk and hit another bad shot. Take your lumps, make your bogey or double bogey and move on with your round.
3. Keep your swing speed mellow
80% is 100% in the golf swing. Why do we try to swing so hard when we know it causes us to lose 
balance, swing poorly, lower our club head speed and hit errant shots. Next time you play evaluate how good your coordination is that day. Estimate of how goo your coordination is that day and how fast you can swing without tension or lose your balance. Really focus on your feet and feel what you maximum speed is for an efficient swing. Then swing the club a little slower and never faster during the round. Really try this and see what happens.
4. Make good decisions
What is more important, good decisions or good swings? Definitely good decisions. If you gave a tour player an 18 handicap average swing they would still shoot in the 70’s. They would make a quick assessment of what they could and could not do. Based on this they would make the best decisions available on each shot. Try to make logical decisions on every shot next time 
you play. If you have a 30 putt don’t nail it past the hole 8 feet, roll it up close. If you are 150 yards out should you be hitting a 7 iron or a 5 iron or maybe even a 5 wood. It you draw the ball and your 175 yards from a tucked right back pin over water should you aim at the pin? Don’t let your ego influence your club selection. Challenge your self next time you tee it up and try to have a perfect mental game. You will most likely never have a perfect coordination day, perfect ball striking day, perfect short game or putting day but you can achieve a perfect mental day!
Try these 4 simple thinks next time you play and I guarantee you won’t score higher and most likely you will score lower.
Jim Hartnett, PGA
www.myhome4golf.com
