When you’re just starting out in golf, improving your swing can feel overwhelming. But here’s the good news: with the right practice routines, you can quickly build consistency and confidence. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on the best golf drills for beginners. These simple yet effective exercises will help you refine your stance, grip, and timing—without the confusion. Want to know the secret? It’s all about repetition and structure. Just like learning the best drills in any sport or craft, golf requires a solid foundation before you advance. And while tools like the best hand drills cordless or the best electric drills cordless are built for power and precision, golf drills are designed to sharpen technique. Ready to unlock your potential? Let’s dive in and explore the essential steps every beginner needs.
Top Picks
Best Golf Wisdom: Harvey Penick's Little Red Book
This twentieth anniversary edition of Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book offers classic golf instruction distilled into clear, practical advice. It includes new illustrations, rare family archive materials, and a foreword by Davis Love III, adding depth and authenticity to its legacy.
Golfers and experts alike praise its simplicity, calling it essential reading for both beginners and professionals who want to sharpen their game without overcomplicating the fundamentals. While advanced players seeking detailed technical breakdowns may find it less comprehensive, the book’s straightforward approach is exactly what makes it so enduring.
Overall, this book delivers exceptional value as a blend of wisdom, storytelling, and timeless instruction, making it one of the most influential golf guides ever written.
Best Simple Swing: Easy Golf Swing: with PGA Dave
Easy Golf Swing with PGA Dave simplifies the game by focusing on natural motion and practical drills rather than technical swing theories. Designed for beginners, seniors, and players who struggle with consistency, the book introduces a one-thing-at-a-time approach to help golfers find their own repeatable swing.
Readers appreciate the clear, encouraging tone and the emphasis on making golf enjoyable again, noting that it reduces frustration and makes progress feel achievable. Some advanced players may find it less detailed for high-level swing mechanics, but its simplicity is exactly what makes it accessible and effective for most golfers.
Overall, this guide offers solid value for players looking to rediscover confidence and fun in their game, making it a practical and motivational resource on the course.
Best Practice Guide: The Practice Manual: The Ultimate Guide
The Practice Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Golfers provides a research-driven approach to mastering golf practice. Drawing from modern motor learning studies, it introduces strategies like ball flight laws, variable practice, and SIPFATS to help players make measurable progress. Unlike many swing-only guides, this book emphasizes training plans that lead to lasting performance on the course.
Golfers and coaches value its depth and practical application, noting that it changes how they approach both practice sessions and competitive play. Some may find the material information-heavy, but the structured methods ensure that committed readers can see long-term results.
Overall, it delivers outstanding value as a comprehensive manual for golfers serious about improvement, offering a blend of science, strategy, and actionable drills that benefit both players and instructors.
FAQs
How to practice golf as a beginner?
As a beginner, the key to practicing golf effectively is building a strong foundation. Start with short practice sessions focused on fundamentals like grip, stance, posture, and alignment. Instead of hitting hundreds of balls at the driving range without direction, break your practice into small segments—work on putting for 15 minutes, chipping for 15 minutes, and then take 20–30 minutes to practice your full swing. Always use alignment sticks or markers to ensure consistency. Most importantly, track your progress and focus on quality, not just quantity.
What is the 80/20 rule in golf?
The 80/20 rule in golf refers to how you should allocate your practice and gameplay focus. It suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In practical terms, this means spending more time on the areas of your game that impact scoring the most—putting, short game, and wedges—rather than only focusing on long drives. By prioritizing short game practice, beginners can see faster improvement in their scores.
What drills can improve my golf swing?
Several drills can help refine your swing mechanics. The “mirror drill” allows you to check your posture and swing path visually, while the “slow-motion swing drill” helps you feel each stage of the movement. The “one-hand drill” builds control and grip strength, and the “tee drill” encourages proper ball contact by placing a tee slightly ahead of the ball to ensure you strike through impact. Incorporating these exercises into your routine can gradually improve swing accuracy, rhythm, and power.
What is the 20 20 20 rule in golf?
The 20 20 20 rule is a practice strategy designed to keep beginners focused and consistent. It breaks practice into three equal parts: 20 minutes on putting, 20 minutes on chipping and pitching, and 20 minutes on full swings. By structuring your time this way, you ensure balanced improvement across all aspects of your game. This method prevents over-practicing one area while neglecting others, making it an excellent approach for golfers at the early stages of learning.
