Factors That Influence Accuracy: The fraction of a second that your clubface touches the golf ball determines how accurate your shot will be. If your clubface is misaligned even just five degrees, a 250-yard shot will fly 50 yards away from where you aimed (Kroen). To ensure that your clubface isn't misaligned and that you hit your shots straight, you should focus on improving your physical fitness and swing technique.
Be aware that it may be your equipment that is ruining your accuracy. Before you spend lots of time training for golf accuracy, make sure it's not
your equipment that is causing your shots to fade or draw. For example, golf clubs that are too long or have too much flex or balls with too much spin for your ability level can decrease your accuracy. If you are worried that you might have the improper equipment, read our
Golf Balls and
Golf Clubs articles before you waste time working on a swing that is already solid.
Physical Fitness: It has been scientifically proven that better physical fitness leads to more distance and accuracy in your golf game (Farrally). To improve your golf accuracy you must incorporate physical fitness training into your schedule. You must develop flexibility, balance, strength and endurance to get the most from your swing ("Your Body is the Foundation of Improving Your Golf Swing"). If your body isn't properly prepared, it will try to compensate for the lack of physical ability by altering your swing technique. That breakdown of mechanics will greatly hurt your golf accuracy.
Generic workouts and exercise programs won't help you achieve an accurate, powerful swing ("Better Golf Exercise to Improve Your Swing"). You need to focus on golf-specific muscles and motions. Golf training aids and golf-specific exercise equipment are great ways to strengthen the areas of your body needed for golf accuracy.
Golf training aids not only teach you the correct way to swing, but also strengthen your golf muscles. In particular, weighted clubs are a good way to increase your flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. You can get evenly weighted clubs, head weighted clubs, wind resistance clubs and even clubs filled with water. Each type works differently, but they all force you to use an exaggerated effort while swinging. Using that extra effort while practicing will make your body better able to swing your regular clubs. After training with a weighted club for a period of time, your body will become much stronger and flexible, which enables you to be much more accurate.
In addition to golf training aids, there is golf-specific workout equipment that can strengthen your body and improve your accuracy. You can find power cords, weighted balls, grip presses, gym balls, wrist rollers and much more online or at a local sporting goods store. For example, the Golf Swing Ball is a six-pound ball that you hold between your hands and strap to your wrists. Using it for a variety of exercises can improve your trunk stability and strength (intheholegolf.com). Another example, the Portable Golf Gym comes with stretch, power cords that help you develop club head speed, accuracy and shot distance (golftrainingaids.org). The golf fitness equipment will prepare your body so that it can execute a much more accurate swing.
Swing Technique: If your body is in good golfing shape and you have the appropriate equipment for your experience level and ability, all you need for golf training accuracy is to improve your swing. There are many ways to sharpen your golf swing that will enhance your golf accuracy. From your address to your transition to your downswing, each phase of your swing must be perfect to make precise shots. Lessons, training aids and independent instructional materials can show you how to improve. For detailed information about how to find the best golf lessons, golf instructional materials and training aids, read our
Golf Instruction,
Golf Training Aid and
Golf Teaching Tool articles. But, if you're looking for a really quick fix, look at your grip. Your grip directly determines whether your clubface is square at impact, and if your grip isn't correct, you'll have a tough time squaring your clubface and hitting accurate shots (Kroen).
