Best Golf Tips for Mid Handicappers: Drills & Strategies That Actually Work
Congratulations on being a mid-handicapper. Many people who play golf never earn this title, so it’s something to be proud of and a testament to your skill and dedication to the game. But don’t stop there.
You are close to joining the rare company of low-handicappers, and with a few adjustments, it could happen within the course of one season.
The drills and tips below are specifically designed for mid-handicappers and will help you develop your overall game.
No longer do you need to visit the range and mercilessly beat balls. Your goal now should be to identify your weak points and work on improving them.
So, whether you need help with your short game, long game, or mental game, the tools you need are right here and will help you achieve the coveted low-handicap reputation that few ever attain.
Mid Handicapper to Low (Key Takeaways)
If you’re happy with your mid-handicap status, then do NOT read these key takeaways. These are designed for golfers who want to lower their handicap and achieve their best scores ever.
- Focus on your wedges and short game to save shots and take double bogeys out of play.
- The goal of your driver should be to safely get you ready for your second shot, not to hit it as far as possible.
- Use technology such as Hackmotion to track movements, progress, and drills so you can practice effectively.
- Always practice your putting, whether it’s at the range or just before a round.
- Create a pre-shot routine and game plan so there is less decision-making on the course and more time to focus on the variables of each shot.
Contents
5 Tips for Mid-Handicappers to Lower Their Scores
If you don’t read any further, then at least work on your short game to lower your scores.
But if you’re serious about improving, then use a combination of the tips and drills below to soon be considered a low-handicap player.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
Dial in Wedge Play and the Short Game
For mid-handicappers, the fastest route to shaving strokes is upgrading proficiency within 100 yards.
Many squander strokes by mishitting chip shots, chunking or blading pitches from short distances.
Spend dedicated practice time on chipping, pitching, and bunker play. Learn multiple shots (bump-and-run, flop, mid-flight pitch), focus on delivering clean contact, and develop a reliable pre-shot routine.
Improving your short game will consistently turn potential bogeys into pars and eliminate double bogeys—a huge key for breaking into single digits.
- Create a wedge chart so you know what swings create what distances with each wedge.
- Play executive courses with smaller greens to improve accuracy.
- Practice chips with different clubs, and do not neglect the bump and run.
- Use your putter from off the green when in doubt; your worst putt will be a lot better than your worst chip.
Consistent Tee Shot Strategy Over Distance
Mid-handicappers tend to get seduced by chasing extra yards off the tee, resulting in more drives finding trouble. While distance matters and it’s very fun to crush a drive, accuracy and consistency are far more important.
A lot can go wrong with the driver since it’s the longest club and operates at the highest speeds.
Recognizing this to harness the power is the first step among many driver tips that you will need to create consistency off the tee.
Adopt a “play to the fairway” mindset. Choose a club you can reliably put in play, even if it means hitting a 3-wood or hybrid on tight holes. Learn your dispersion pattern (miss left, right, both?) and plan accordingly.
Use tee box alignment to encourage your natural ball flight, and aim for the fat part of the fairway. Hitting more fairways translates to fewer penalty strokes and more opportunities to attack greens.
Track Stats and Analyze Your Game and Practice Sessions
Use a simple scorecard or golf app to track stats: fairways hit, greens in regulation, up-and-downs, and putts per round.
Over time, a pattern emerges that shows you exactly where you are losing strokes (in drives, approach shots, the short game, or putting).
You can also use Hackmotion to track your swing habits. This system will monitor your mechanics with everything from proper wrist action to smooth tempo.
It promotes focused, effective practice and measurable improvement—a classic trait of golfers who graduate to lower handicaps.
Don’t Neglect Putting
Putting may be one of the strong points of your game, but I assure you, there is a lot of room for improvement.
The putter is the most used club in your bag and can have the most impact. You should always stay sharp with it and work on improvement.
You don’t have to grind out hours and hours on the putting green, but a solid 20-30 minutes each practice session is required. And, you should always warm up your putting before every round, even if it’s a course that has familiar greens.
Putting only requires two skills: the ability to judge line and weight
If you want to narrow it even further, then focus on weight. You’re line will never be that far off unless you play a new course with undulating greens. Use Hackmotion to practice and hone your weight, eliminating 3-putts and potentially even making a few from outside your normal range.
Pre-Shot Routine and Course Management
Consistency starts in the mind. Develop a repeatable pre-shot routine for every shot, focusing on visualization, alignment, and breathing. This reduces tension and increases focus under pressure. Learn to accept bad shots and move on—don’t let mistakes affect your next swing.
Write down a “game plan” for your round. Using basic reminders such as “center of green,” “two-putt,” or “fairway first” to simplify the game will help a lot. Over time, this builds resilience and keeps big numbers off your card.
- Choose Your Shot and Visualize: This will help your body act responsively and use your natural instincts rather than trying to force shots. Always choose a shot you know you can execute.
- Purposeful Practice Swings: Recreate the swing you want to use behind or beside the ball, then at address, all you have to do is repeat that swing.
- Don’t Attack, Navigate: The best offense is a good defense when it comes to shooting lower scores. Play within your skill set and be honest about the current state of your game; this will keep you out of trouble and out of harm’s way.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
Proven Drills for Mid-Handicappers to Improve
There are plenty of drills for mid-handicappers to use that will help, but these ones specifically will address each part of your game so you can improve evenly.
Towel Under Arms for Wedges
This drill will add consistency to all your wedges, allowing you to create an accurate wedge chart. Using this drill with Hackmotion will also help you improve both your mechanics and your feel.
Getting your wedges dialed in could be the most important aspect to work on for mid-handicappers who want to change titles.
- Video Timestamp: 3:36-7:18
Towel Under Arms for Wedges – Step by Step
- Place a towel across your chest and secure it by tucking each end under each arm.
- Take your usual stance and make smaller swings (from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock).
- You can use this with different wedges and play with the ball position.
- This is an excellent drill for warming up, as it helps you maintain tempo and keep your body and arms in sync.
Putt Stacking Game
This is the most important putting drill/game you can use. It will help you determine your speed on any green.
Being confident in your weight control is a tremendous asset to have, and it does take work. Use this drill during every practice session and before every round, and watch your 3-putts disappear.
- Video Timestamp: 0:18-5:47
Putt Stacking Game – Step by Step
- Lay down two clubs or alignment sticks four feet apart with the first one about 20 feet away from you, perpendicular to your target line.
- Line up your putts so you don’t have to hit over the first alignment stick, but can measure easily when it has passed it.
- Hit your first putt so it passes the first alignment stick but just barely.
- Hit your second putt so it just passes your first ball but does not pass the second alignment stick.
- Continue this sequence to see how many putts you can get in between the two alignment sticks.
- The game is over if one of your putts comes up shorter than the previous putt or goes longer than the second alignment stick.
Stabilize Your Driver Swing
Using extra-long alignment sticks or the underside of a staircase at home, you can work on optimizing your driver swing through the impact zone.
Many mid-handicappers have too much movement in their upper body and not enough in their wrists.
This drill, coupled with the Hackmotion sensor, will help you reverse that so your drives become more consistent without losing any distance.
- Video Timestamp: 3:39-6:56
Stabilize Your Driver Swing – Step by Step
- Set up your alignment sticks so they are only a few centimeters from the lead side of your head.
- Take practice swings with proper wrist action, as recommended by Hackmotion, while also keeping your head still and not letting it touch the sticks.
- Do not hit balls with this drill as it will negatively affect your follow-through.
Optimal Trail Wrist Drill for Irons
Consistent contact is what all golfers crave, but it is crucial for mid-handicappers looking to improve. With Hackmotion, you can easily optimize both wrists and track your progress using the app. The app also offers dedicated drills tailored to your swing style.
For this drill, all you need is your trusty alignment stick and your favorite iron. It’s not meant to hit balls with, but it will give you the precise feel you need to feel what low-handicappers feel through impact.
- Video Timestamp: 5:28-7:14
SOptimal Trail Wrist Drill – Step by Step
- Grab an iron and grip it along with your alignment stick so it’s the same length as your club shaft but sits two inches apart near the clubhead.
- Use the alignment stick to represent your lead arm to ensure it’s always ahead of the clubhead.
- Monitor your trailing wrist either manually or with Hackmotion to ensure it’s in the correct position through impact.
- Many mid-handicappers flip their wrists, causing the alignment stick to fall behind the club head.
- When you’re comfortable, drop the alignment stick and recreate the small swing while hitting balls, but keep your Hackmotion on.
Final Thoughts
Golf can get harder as you start to shoot lower scores. But with these tips and drills, you can make the transition much smoother.
Using Hackmotion will help speed up the process even further because of its advanced sensor technology and ability to recommend other drills that address specific problems. It’s like having a certified PGA professional right on your wrist.
Embrace the practice tee more and be diligent with your time spent on the course and the driving range. If you do that, you won’t be a mid-handicapper for much longer.
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