Common Golf Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!)

Golf is a game of precision, patience, and practice – but even the most dedicated players can fall into common mistakes that can affect their performance. From grip and posture to alignment and club selection, small errors can make a big difference to your game. However most of these mistakes have simple fixes that can lead to more consistent, controlled, and confident play. In this guide, we’ll break down some of the most common golfing mistakes and, more importantly, what you can do to correct them – helping you sharpen your skills.

A proper grip and wrist position are essential for a consistent and controlled golf swing. An incorrect grip can cause the clubface to open or close, leading to erratic shots. Many golfers struggle with grip placement, often holding the club in a way that reduces control. To achieve a neutral grip, ensure that the “V” shape formed by your thumb and forefinger points towards your right shoulder if you’re a right-handed golfer. A weak grip can result in an open clubface, which is a common cause of slicing. To correct this, try rotating both hands slightly away from the target to strengthen your grip and promote a square clubface at impact.

Another common issue among amateur golfers is excessive wrist extension at the top of the backswing. While this doesn’t make it impossible to square the clubface, it does require extra effort to do so. By recording and analysing your wrist movement throughout the swing, you can identify and correct excessive extension, leading to improved accuracy and ball control.

Good posture is the foundation of a strong, consistent golf swing. Standing too tall or slouching can throw off your balance and impact your shot accuracy. The key is to maintain a relaxed yet athletic stance – spine straight, knees slightly bent, and weight evenly distributed. This setup not only improves stability but also allows for better rotation and a more controlled swing.

Focusing on proper posture helps prevent injuries and ensures a more powerful, consistent swing. By keeping your back straight, engaging your core, and maintaining the right stance, you’ll generate more clubhead speed and hit cleaner, more accurate shots. Small adjustments can make a big difference in both performance and long-term comfort on the course.

If you’re not sure where to start with improving your posture, contact one of our coaches, they’ll be able to review your current posture, identify any areas for improvement and give you hints and tips to achieve the perfect posture.

Alignment is a commonly overlooked fundamental in golf, yet it has a huge impact on where your ball ends up. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aligned parallel to your target line. Many golfers unknowingly set up aiming too far left or right, which forces them to compensate mid-swing – leading to inconsistent shots, slices, or hooks. If your alignment is off, even a perfect swing won’t send the ball where you want it to go. A common mistake is aligning your body to the target rather than aligning the clubface first. Your clubface should point directly at your target, while your feet, hips, and shoulders should be parallel to the target line – much like train tracks.

To improve your alignment, start by picking an intermediate target (a spot a few feet in front of the ball along your intended target line). Set your clubface to this spot before positioning your feet and body parallel to it. Practicing with alignment sticks or even placing clubs on the ground during practice sessions can help you build muscle memory. Another great habit is to step back after setting up and visually check if your alignment feels correct. Over time, proper alignment will become second nature, helping you hit straighter and more consistent shots.

Ball position plays a crucial role in the accuracy, distance, and trajectory of your shots. Many golfers struggle with slicing or hooking and immediately try to fix their swing without considering that incorrect ball placement might be the real issue. The position of the ball at the point of  impact affects the clubface angle – too far forward, and the face tends to point left (for right-handers); too far back, and it points right. Extreme misplacement can make it nearly impossible to hit your intended target, so finding the right spot is key.

Placing the ball too far forward or back can compromise your distance, causing excessive spin and reducing power. With a driver, a good starting point is just inside your left heel to help optimise your launch angle. Similarly, if you’re frequently chunking or thinning shots, check where your ball sits. Too far forward can lead to fat shots, while too far back might result in thin strikes. Small adjustments can significantly improve consistency.

Hitting the ball too high? Your ball may be too far forward, adding loft and creating excessive spin. Moving it back slightly can help lower your ball flight. Likewise, if you’re battling pull hooks, shifting the ball slightly back can straighten your shot, while persistent push slices may indicate a ball position that’s too far back – move it forward to improve your path. Before making drastic swing changes, experiment with ball placement first – it could be the simple fix you need.

Selecting the wrong club for a given shot is a common mistake, which can lead to poor distance control and unnecessary strokes. Many players default to their favorite club rather than considering factors like distance, wind conditions, and course hazards. For example, using a short iron when a longer club is needed may leave you short of the green, while overestimating your driver’s reach can land you with the opposite problem. To fix this, take the time to understand your average distances with each club and practice course management. Using a rangefinder can help make smarter decisions, ensuring you choose the right club to maximise accuracy and consistency.

Mastering golf requires patience, practice, and a keen eye for correcting common mistakes. From grip and posture to alignment and club selection, small errors can have a big impact on your performance. However, by identifying these issues and implementing the right fixes, you can build a more consistent and reliable game.

Correcting these common mistakes is the first step toward a more consistent game, but having the right tools is just as vital. If you’re looking to refine your setup, take a look at our guide on essential golf equipment, then put your new skills to the test by booking a society day for a round with friends. To ensure you never miss our monthly tips and club updates, why not bookmark our news & guides page to keep improving your game with Oakridge Golf Club?