Golfing is not just a game, it’s an art, a test of temperament, a war against yourself. Being a successful golfer has more to do with being able to understand the environment, the course, the conditions you are in, and then adjust your game accordingly. More age groups than ever before are playing golf.
Unlike many other ball sports, Golf is not a reactive sport, but rather a proactive sport. The ball is always waiting for you to make a move, rather than you waiting for the ball to be in a situation where you can make a move. If you want to improve your Golf game, there is a lot you can learn, but in order to learn you need to have the right gear that will help you progress towards your goal in a calculated, measurable way.
These are some of the things that can help you regardless of whether you are a Pro or it’s your first day on the course.
1. Putting Greens
If you want to get yourself something that will be an entertaining activity and will actually help you improve your game, you need a putting green. We mean not any putting green but a quality putting green for golf that replicates the feel of natural grass. If the feel is too artificial you will be back to square one when you hit the golf course.
2. Rangefinder
Even if your vision is 6×6, calculating distance and elevation over a large open golf course require a very different skill set. There is a reason that Golfers have a spotter to assist them in calculating the distance and consequently, deciding which club would be best. Modern rangefinders can be a complete game-changer for a golfer of any skill level. Even if you have played on the course a dozen times, you just can’t beat the accuracy of a laser-guided rangefinder. The only way to improve your accuracy is through calculation. Even the pros rely on highly accurate yardages mentioned in Tour books. Calculating elevations is even trickier and laser pointers simplify this task as well.
3. Club Tracking
Modern technology has made it possible to fit an incredible amount of electronics in the small area behind a club. Even the handle under the grip of the club is loaded with sensors that tell you everything you need to know about your shot. The greens are the most challenging part for most golfers. More than managing your stroke and finding the center of the putter, it’s a task in itself to choose a putter that will do the job in the situation. Through club tracking tools you can analyze how well each type of club or putter is performing and better understand what works best for you in certain situations.
4. Training Balls
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The entire process of making a shot is just as much a calculation as it is muscle memory. No matter how much research you have, or how good your equipment is, if you haven’t put in the hours, you aren’t going to see results in golf. While practicing with real balls is a great option, not everyone has access to a course or shooting range all the time. Modern training balls help out in this area a lot. They are designed to behave just like real golf balls at the initial strike and have nearly identical launch conditions; the aftermath is not so severe. These training balls won’t break windows or your wallet.
5. Putt Trainers
Putting is what differentiates a good player from a great player. There are a number of putting training tools, but the basic ones are the best. Get yourself a simple plastic putt trainer which has a parabolic slope and use that to practice form till you develop muscle memory of the movement and you can get it right shot after shot. These are inexpensive and you can do it comfortably at home without causing a disturbance.
6. Nets
Long-range shots can be a problem to practice since you don’t have space at home. This is solved with practice nets. In these nets, you can unload with all your force and the ball will never be more than a few feet away. This gives you an opportunity to practice your full-range swing and really work on the angle of your long shots.
There are different areas of golfing that require different types of practice and proficiency with various clubs. Moreover, you also need to be able to understand the course that you are playing on and adapt accordingly. With enough practice with your equipment, you will know how to make the best use of it out on the course, and if you can couple this practice with practicing in an environment that simulates the course, that is ideal.
