As an avid golfer, Nathan Washam is thankful to live in the Bay Area. With countless golf courses around, any golf lover will have the itch to play as much as possible while improving their game. Today, Nathan Washam of the Bay Area will look at some of the more unique ways to shoot your lowest scores yet this golf season.
While it is true that golf requires a certain level of athleticism, so much of the game of golf comes down to confidence. Nathan Washam believes a good golfer can push aside all outside thoughts when they are standing over their shot. When a golfer thinks about what every part of their body is doing instead of letting their swing take over, bad things can happen. For this reason, Nathan Washam recommends prioritizing one’s mental health. Self-care can have a major impact on one’s game. If a specific golf outfit has a player feeling more confident, they should wear it. If a specific ball brand seems to go further than others, play with those golf balls. Anything a player can do to clear their head and ensure they are as present mentally as they are physically on the course will shoot better than ever before.
While Nathan Washam of the Bay Area doesn’t necessarily think players just starting out need to worry about custom-fitted golf clubs, a player who is looking to take their game to a more serious level can absolutely benefit from custom clubs. The majority of golfers start their playing days using the clubs of a family member or just purchasing a set that offers the best price. Players who graduate to clubs fitted to their specific dimensions will instantly notice an improvement in their game. Apart from having golf clubs that are the proper length, customization also allows for a player to choose the grips that they like best. As Nathan Washam of the Bay Area mentioned, confidence is essential in golf. Having clubs that feel right in one’s hands will allow lower scores to be consistently achieved.
The body swinging the clubs is just as important as the clubs themselves. Tiger Woods started a trend amongst the pros, where weight training became necessary. The PGA Tour is now jam-packed with guys who are dedicating hours upon hours in the gym. Nathan Washam of the Bay Area recommends exercising outside of the golf course but to think of exercises that help increase one’s strength and flexibility. Golfers will routinely turn to Pilates and yoga workouts to strengthen their core and feel great swing after swing after swing. It’s also a good idea to stretch before every round of golf one plays. The stretching period is a great time to get the body loose and feel better throughout the round. Golfers who head out a lot should also start to incorporate a cool down, and some nighttime stretches prior to bed. Stretching will speed up the recovery process.
Nathan Washam believes that golfers should play rounds where they are looking to score as low as possible, but they should also play to work on a particular part of their craft. Homing in on chipping out of the bunker or how to hit a consistent 5-iron shot will pay dividends when the time comes in a real round of golf. Understanding that golf can be expensive, Nathan Washam will often turn to golf instructional videos on the web. There are plenty of online tutorials dedicated to putting, chipping, and much more. These videos will often inspire creativity on the golf course and open up a golfer to new tactics they can utilize when they are playing for real.
One of the practical exercises that newer golfers ignore the most is taking the time to learn how to properly read a green. There are few better ways to shoot a lower score than to consistently two-putt. This is nearly impossible without understanding how to read the way a golf ball is going to break on a green. Again, there are online videos that can help newer golfers recognize what to look for. When on the course, a player should get down and read the putt. If they have the wrong read, they should get down and try to recognize how they miscalculated.
Finally, Nathan Washam of the Bay Area recommends visualization to all golfers looking to shave a few strokes off their final score. Looking over the layout of a course is a great way to visualize the different situations that may present themselves during a round of golf. When the mental reps have been completed, it becomes much easier to react with confidence to just about any situation.
