ShoeTips can help correct most of the mistakes hurting these 15 real golfers' games

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We’re digging Luke Kerr-Dineen’s 3x/week Play Smart columns. As Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com, he’s steadily cranking out fun, helpful, quirky stories— common-sense tips on healthy snacks to munch on the course, Tony Finau’s post-win, 3 am McDonald’s pig-out, Bryson’s rationale for competing in the World Long Drive Championship, simple tips for scoring better, and why a 39 degree shoulder tilt matters. Consistently good stuff!

Here’s our response to his August 28th column, “15 real golfers reveal the biggest mistakes hurting their game”, to show how using ShoeTips can help solve nearly ALL of them… https://golf.com/instruction/15-golfers-reveal-biggest-mistakes-hurting-game/

1. 'Not taking enough club' -- Rex might make a better club decision if he thought more about his "BALL POSITION" to ensure solid contact: "Place the ball in the optimal position between your feet to best suit your selected club and type of shot." "SMOOTH" might help him swing more easily: "Visualize a controlled swing, free of excessive tension and abrupt movements."

 
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2. 'Confidence to close out a round' -- Our "BREATHE/FOCUS" tip is the perfect reminder to take one shot at a time, stay in the moment, and focus on a consistent routine. "Remember to take a deep breath or two before you start your swing routine. Bring an attitude of relaxed concentration and awareness to your process." "BACK AND THRU" is another good one: "Create a good rhythm as you take the club back and follow through, completing your swing with confidence."

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3. 'Overthinking' - You never want to have more than one, or at most two, swing thoughts in your head. "FEEL" is good: "Take a comfortable practice swing, giving no thought to mechanics. This is the swing that will produce the shot you imagine." And "VISUALIZE": "Decide exactly where you want the ball to go, let the image of the ball’s full trajectory fill your mind, and imagine the feel of your swing."

4. 'Green reading' -- Luke’s suggestion to invest in GolfLogix app is right on.

5. 'Bad tempo' -- Here's what good "TEMPO" looks like. "This is the natural pace or rhythm of your golf routine. Focus on maintaining a uniform pace throughout."

6. 'Being too hard on myself' -- "BALANCE" helps you calm yourself, so you feel grounded, mentally and physically. "Stand over the ball and feel a low center of gravity, with all of your weight resting evenly on the soles of your feet, until you feel grounded and centered in your stance."

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7. 'Bad grip and fundamentals' -- "SOFT HANDS" is an obvious choice: "Notice the tension in your hands, forearms, and shoulders as you begin your swing routine. Learn to sense when you tense up and dial it down." And "POSTURE": "Remember to begin your swing from a relaxed, comfortable, well-balanced and athletic stance."

8. 'Rushing warm up' -- We agree that stretching before a round and getting in touch with your body can be better than banging balls in a frantic effort to prepare to play.

9. 'Playing the wrong tees' -- Select the tees that suit your game and enjoy your round!

10. 'Swaying on the backswing' -- "TURN" is a good choice: "Feel your upper body and hips rotate freely on your backswing, then rotate through the downswing until you face your target." And "SWING PLANE" "As you take your club back and through, maintain your posture and swing down your target line." 

11. 'Not committing to the shot' -- "COMMIT/TRUST" is perfect.: "Select your precise target and the appropriate club/swing. If you have doubts, change your plan and fully commit to it." And "IMPACT": "Focus your attention on making clean and crisp contact, striking the ball first, then the ground." 

12. 'Alignment' -- "ALIGNMENT", of course: "Be aware of your feet, hip, and shoulder alignment. Make sure they are set up properly in relation to the target to accommodate your particular shot shape."  To ensure a consistent pre-shot routine, "VISUALIZE": "Decide exactly where you want the ball to go, let the image of the ball’s full trajectory fill your mind, and imagine the feel of your swing." 

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13.'Leaving putts short' -- Practicing 5-15 footers is probably the best idea. These two swing thoughts might help too: "FEEL" "Take a comfortable practice stroke, giving no thought to mechanics. This will produce the shot you imagine." and "BALANCE": "Stand over the ball and feel a low center of gravity, with all of your weight resting evenly on the soles of your feet, until you feel grounded and centered in your stance." 

14. 'Hanging back' --  "POSTURE" and 'TURN" would help here. (see definitions above)

15. 'Not staying with the shot' -- "FINISH": "Complete your follow through while maintaining balance until the ball has landed." And "HIT DOWN": "Hitting down makes the ball rise with a penetrating flight." 

We’ve organized our 18 interchangeable swing tips into 3 categories: FOCUS, which relates to your mind; FEEL, which relates to your body; and TECHNIQUE, which relates to your swing mechanics. Use the two that will help you the most right now or write your own custom tip using a marker on the back.

Ellen Rudolph