It takes years of practise and dedication to get yourself to where you are competing at a high level
. Every golfer wants to reduce their handicap and there are a few things that you can do in order to do exactly that.
Practise difficult shots
Whether you are just starting out or you have been playing for years, there will be times when you do not quite time a shot well and you are left with a difficult next shot. Bunkers and long grass are main problems facing a golfer but if you practise them more often then you will not panic when you end up in them. Playing shots from a bunker can be especially tricky but if you just practise them they will start to get easier.
The other benefit from practising difficult shots is that when you hit a good ball and the lie is good, it will seem even easier. This should mean that you overall game will improve. Try hitting a few wedge shots from around the 130 yard mark too; you are likely to find yourself this far from a hole on numerous occasions so practising from this distance should help you during a round.
Slowing down your swing
A typical problem for golfers is they try too hard to drive the ball as far as they can. When starting off or if you are having problems with your drive, just slow it down. You want the backswing and downswing to be smooth and the club should really be doing most of the work. You spend hundreds of pounds on golf clubs so let them do their thing. Taking it slower on your swing should mean you hit the ball more sweetly resulting in a better drive.
Be Confident
Confidence is an important factor in all sports and in golf if you do not feel confident it will often show in the quality of your shot. Keep cool and believe in your ability, you will not always have the best round ever (ask the pros!), even Tiger Woods has bad rounds of golf. Confidence will also mean you take on more shots and if they come off you will soon see your handicap tumble. Enjoy your golf, practise on a regular basis and who knows, you may be playing on the main circuit in years to come.