8 Most Common Consistency Killers in Golf and How to Fix Them

Do you ever have those days on the course where everything feels like it went your way?

All of a sudden, it seems like golf is easy, and your swing just clicks and does what you expect it to do. We are all lucky enough to have this happen from time to time.

However, the problem is that to be a great player, you need to make this happen consistently.

If you’re struggling with consistency in your game, make sure it’s not one of these most common consistency killers that’s getting you.

Consistency Killers in Golf (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read about all of these consistency killers and how to fix them, here are a few of the most important concepts to take with you.

• Your timing – the timing of the release, the weight transfer, etc.- makes a big difference in the accuracy and consistency of your shots.
• The lower body has to be active in the swing if you plan on repeating a move consistently.
• The lead wrist position is what controls the clubface throughout the swing; when you get the lead wrist in the correct spot, you’ll hit more consistent shots.
• A proper pre-shot routine, setup, alignment, and even visualization will help you strike the ball with a square clubface.

8 Golf Consistency Killers and How to Overcome Them

Failure to Release at The Right Time

Releasing the club is squaring the clubface through impact. If you do it too late, you hit the ball with an open clubface, and it heads to the right of your target.

If you do it too early, you’ll hit the ball to the left of your target. The key is to time the release properly so you can hit your golf ball straight.

The release drill is a great practice drill if you are struggling with impact position and the proper timing of your release. The drill is also located in the HackMotion app so you can work on it in real time.

Leaving Weight Back On the Trail Leg

Weight transfers throughout the golf swing. For a standard 7-iron full swing shot, your weight will start mostly balanced between the legs, and then it will transfer to the trail leg and then back to the lead leg.

Leaving weight back on the trail leg is a common cause of inconsistency for amateur players.

You can work on a drill, as seen in the video from Rob Cheney below, where you lean forward on the lead leg and preset the weight transfer.

If you find yourself finishing your swing on the back leg, your weight transfer is inconsistent.

Too Much Extension in the Lead Wrist at The Top of the Swing

After studying more than 1,000,000 golf swings and paying close attention to the lead wrist position, we found the number one cause of inconsistency in golf to be too much extension in the lead wrist at the top of the backswing.

Too much extension (or cupping) in the lead wrist opens the clubface.

You must square the clubface or turn that extension into flexion on the downswing.

Use the HackMotion to measure your exact wrist position and then compare that to the wrist position of a professional.

Golfers who have a flat lead wrist or even one that is slightly flexed can accelerate through impact without fear of leaving the clubface open. A great drill to practice this is the motorcycle drill. It will teach you to get your clubface square at the top.

Keep the Arms Working Together

The golf swing has many moving parts, and they all must work together to achieve low scores and maintain a repeatable golf swing.

One of the best ways to do this is to ensure the arms do not separate throughout the swing.

Take a slow-motion swing and look at the position of your elbows as you swing back and forth. Are they moving further apart or getting closer together?

It’s best to keep them the same distance apart throughout the swing. One way to do that is to put a ball in between the arms as you swing.

Improper Setup and Alignment

Setup and alignment are the boring part of golf. You can work on these areas of the game for hours on end and still feel like you aren’t getting anywhere.

The key is to use alignment sticks when you are practicing on the range. You have to start creating some visual aids for yourself that you can carry to the course.

If your clubface is aimed to the right of the target and your body is aimed to the left, you’ll hit a poor shot.

Ensure everything is aimed at the correct spot, trust your aim and setup, and then execute your swing.

Even a perfect golf swing won’t work if your setup and alignment are incorrect.

Not Creating Space with the Lower Body

The larger the muscle is, the easier it is to move consistently.

This is why so many professionals talk about taking the hands and arms out of the swing. They want you to focus on the lower body.

With a proper turn and rotation of the lower body, you can keep your club on the right plane, create space for attacking the ball from the inside, and hit high-lofted and solid golf shots.

Start your swing with enough space between your club and your legs. As you swing back, make sure the lower body is turning, as you swing through, let the lower body lead the way. This leaves space for the club.

Improper Shaft Lean at Impact

At impact, your hands should lead the clubhead, not the other way around. This forward shaft lean helps you compress the ball, control spin, and produce a consistent downward strike. The result? Better distance, improved launch, and more reliable contact.

But be careful: too much forward shaft lean can cause you to drive the club into the ground, making it difficult to get the ball airborne.

No Pre-Shot Routine

Last but not least is the lack of a pre-shot routine.

Last but not least: don’t overlook the pre-shot routine.

A solid pre-shot routine isn’t just about physical rehearsal; it’s also a mental reset. It helps you visualize the shot you want to hit and walk through the same steps every time, creating rhythm and confidence.

These consistent steps lead to a repeatable tempo and a more reliable swing. Great players don’t obsess over hitting a perfect fade or draw, they focus on making the same move every time.

The more repeatable your swing becomes, the easier it is to play consistent golf and start stringing together pars.

Final Thoughts

Each of these 8 most common inconsistency killers could be what is holding you back from breaking 90 or breaking 80. You may be unable to adopt them all into your game simultaneously.

However, work your way down the list and see which is causing you the most trouble in your golf game.

You may be surprised to see how much a lack of wrist control is causing this inconsistency. Use HackMotion to get your hands and wrists in the right spot and become a more consistent golfer.