7 Things Experienced Golfers Still Do That Make No Sense To Me

This isn’t about someone who just picked up the game or your buddy who shoots 130 once a year at the company outing. These are things golfers still do after many years playing the game. They still make no sense to me and it has nothing to do with being a good or bad golfer. See if you agree.

Aiming somewhere … but not at anything

A lot of golfers claim they’re aiming but they never actually pick a specific target. If you stood behind them and asked, “What exactly are you aiming at?”, most would point vaguely and say something like, “Just trying to keep it in play.”

That’s not a target. That’s a hope.

Golf is challenging enough for our brains to figure out so if you’re keeping things vague and not setting a specific target, you may want to start.

Refusing to get a putter fitting because “It’s too expensive”

The same golfer who just paid $600 for the latest driver refuses to spend a dime to get fitted for the one club they use more than any other. We’ve established that the ball is your most important piece of equipment, thanks to its use on every hole, but the putter is pretty close.

Golfers will change grips, play with lead tape, try armlock and claw grips … but a proper fitting? “Nah, that’s not worth it.”

Let’s be clear. It’s the only club in your bag that directly controls whether the ball goes in the hole or not. It could be time for a fitting.

Guessing yardages and club distances

A lot of amateur golfers, even experienced ones, still say they hit a 7-iron “about xxx yards” without knowing if that’s carry or total distance. There’s usually a big enough difference between the two that it matters.

If you don’t know how far you actually hit your clubs, it’s almost impossible to manage your game. That one time you flushed a 7-iron 175 yards doesn’t count. What matters is that your usual strike might only go 145 and that’s the number you need to play to.

Every golfer should spend time on a launch monitor and learn their true numbers. You can also use GPS tracking apps or a rangefinder on the range to dial them in. The tech is out there. Use it.

Going to the range without a plan

They’re at the range again. Fifty balls with a 7-iron, 20 with a driver, maybe a few wedges. No targets. No purpose. Just swinging and hoping it somehow transfers to the course.

Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. If you want to get better, you need to actually know what you’re working on and why. Otherwise, you’re just getting better at hitting range balls.

Refusing to move up a set of tees

There’s no medal for playing from the tips when you have no business being back there. The game is already difficult so why add 700 unnecessary yards?

Too many golfers treat tee boxes like a challenge to their ego. You’re not less of a player for moving up. You’re just giving yourself a chance to actually enjoy the round. Play the tees that give you scoring opportunities, not the ones where you’re hitting a hybrid or fairway wood into every par-4.

Playing a different golf ball every round

I’m guilty of this at times because I enjoy testing different technologies but I recognize it’s a problem.

Our testing has made it very clear that there are real performance differences between golf balls. You’ll see players pull a mystery ball from the bag or grab one they found in the woods and put it straight into play.

You can’t build consistency in your game if you’re playing something different every round. Spin, launch, feel all change. If you’re trying to improve, playing random balls won’t help.

Leaving headcovers off mid-round

I’ll never understand this one. Clubs are expensive. Yet some golfers toss the headcovers into the cart basket before the first tee and don’t touch them again until the parking lot.

Unless you’ve got something like the OGIO Silencer bag, your clubs are rattling around and hitting each other for hours. If you’re investing in your gear, take care of it.

Final thoughts

Most of these things don’t require more talent, money or time. They just require common sense and a little more intention. If you’ve been playing this game for decades, ask yourself if you’re still doing any of these.