Many golfers would take some lessons from a local teaching professional, go to a golf school, study the game from books, or watch some golf videos. These are some of the routes to golfing success.



Whatever method or methods you decide to take, learning and improvement will take place only when there is a change of behavior or performance. Such a change requires shedding bad golf habits.

To shed some of the bad golf habits your may have acquired over the years of playing, you need to do the following:

Firstly, you need to become knowledgeable. Knowledge of the game is empowering: it gives you confidence, which is an essential element in golfing success. You need to know golf mechanics, such as the fundamentals of strokes and swings - in particular, how different parts of your body may affect your overall performance.

Change is possible only when you know why you need to change, And the why comes from your knowledge - either from a good book, an article, a video, or advice from a pro. Knowledge is enlightening. If you are committed to golf, you should demonstrate your passion for knowledge for your golfing success.

But getting the knowledge does not guarantee you can shed your bad golf habits. Knowing is one thing, while doing is another, just as one can be a talkier without being a walker. For example, someone might have told you that great golf players do not keep their heads down after hitting the ball, and that you should let your head move naturally with your swing. However, you might still have the attitude that "I like to play it my way." A positive attitude propels the change of behavior, while a negative one prevents the change from taking place.

Yes, we all understand our drawbacks and weaknesses in golf. However, we are all creatures of habit. Once bad golf habits are formed, it is often difficult to change them. Although we may be aware of the necessity of these changes for golfing success, good intentions may not be enough: it takes behavior to demonstrate a real shedding of bad golf habits.

Changing bad golf habits or bad golf behaviors is often easier for beginners than for experienced golf players.

Why is that so?

Experienced golf players may demonstrate strong reactions to changing bad golf habits. These reactions include feeling awkward about adopting new golf behaviors. Therefore, to achieve your golfing success, you should focus on what you may gain through changing your bad golf behaviors rather than on what you need to give up.

Another tip for changing bad golf behaviors is to adopt a few changes at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. To sustain the changes of bad golf habits, you may need adequate resources. That means you need to acquire more knowledge to prevent reverting to previous bad golf behaviors. You must feel encouraged at all times. In other words, you need the support of others. To improve the game, you should play with those who will encourage and cheer your efforts in overcoming your bad golf habits.

Remember, your willingness to shed your bad golf habits creates progress. If you are ready and willing to improve your golf, you will!

Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Lau