The fundamental skill of golf is the ability to hit the ball only. This means that the ball must be struck in the middle of the golf clubface. If you aim the ball straight at the target, it will travel the desired distance. You will be a better golfer if you can do it consistently.
Learn this skill by using your putter. You will find it easier to use small strokes rather than longer, more flowing swings.
You can practice hitting the ball at the spot you find. Hit a few golf balls at a time, trying to find that unique sound.
This spot is ideal for short putts. Instead of putting in five feet less, approach putts should go the same distance as you planned. Puttering well is all about making contact.
You can now move on to clubs that you used to hit greenside chip. The stroke’s trajectory can be changed, creating a problem for contact. The ball must be hit in the middle of it, from toe-to-heel of the clubface to top, and vice versa.
The club’s position on the ground is the new variable. With the exception of the putter and a handful of rare exceptions, shots with the ball on ground are made with a downward blow. The club strikes the ground directly in front of the ball, not underneath, definitely not behind, but right in front.
You can continue to hit chips after chip with a bunch of balls, just like before. Do not worry about the location of the ball. Only focus on the centered contact. The ball should be held between the club’s ground and the club. You will get the feeling that the ball is being pulled away from your clubface and the ground when you make the right contact.
Hit pitches from 60 to 100 yards by moving up to your wedges. It’s the same idea as when you were using chips to hit your balls. Hit the ball at the center of your clubface and make contact with ground.
The pitch has a greater swing so it is important to control the trajectory with more care. If the pitch is too steep, energy will be wasted and the club may end up hitting the ground rather than the ball. The margin for error in clean contact is too small.
The irons are after the pitches. A full swing is the exact same thing as a pitch. The swing is just longer. Keep in mind that the swing must go through the ball until it reaches the end. Think of the swing as hitting through the ball and not at it. This principle applies not only to shots that you’ve hit before, but also to your entire swing.
Now comes the driver. Now that the ball has lifted off the ground, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the swing is different. The ball may be teed up, but it will still lie several inches above the position where it was on the ground. This adds backspin, and the ball will fly in the air.
This club is the most important. Think of it as swinging through the balls. It is better to try to hit it to generate power or drive it to the fairway than to make mis-hits.