Most amateur golfers have some bad habits that they need to eliminate to see improvement in their games, but is there one glaring mistake that trumps all of them? According to four-time major champion Rory McIlroy there is.
McIlroy and his TGL teammate, Keegan Bradley, recently hung out with the GOLF crew to answer some burning questions. From the best shot they’ve ever hit in a tournament to a course they’re itching to play (but haven’t yet, to their favorite Taylor Swift song, the boys opened up about themselves in a fun way.
But when it came down to some nitty-gritty golf instruction, McIlroy also delivered the goods.
Rory McIlroy says this is a common mistake made by amateurs
Look, we’re all on a quest to play the best golf we can. Unfortunately, we sometimes just can’t get out of our own way — which is why chronic bad habits can turn into round-killers.
So what does McIlroy think is the most common mistake that amateur players make? His response probably hits home with most amateurs.
“Honestly, it’s trying to play shots that they can’t pull off,” McIlroy says. “It’s a really boring answer, but if most amateurs just played within themselves, just took on what they could, and didn’t try to do too much, I think they would shoot better scores and their handicaps would come way down.”
Boring or not, that’s pretty damn relatable, isn’t it?
How many times have you pulled the wrong club because you think you can hit the perfect shot, then leave that club 20 yards short? Or tried to shape a shot because you’ve pulled it off one other time on the range? Or tried to increase your swing speed without having a full understanding of how your swing mechanics should look and feel?
I could go on, but you get the point: Follow McIlroy’s advice and play within yourself and what you’re capable of, and the game will be more enjoyable.
By taking a deep breath, regrouping and playing smart, you could actually end up seeing your scores drop.
