If there’s one thing we all know about golf, it’s that things can get away from you in a hurry!
Just when you think you have momentum after a couple of good holes, you slice your tee shot into the woods, have to take a drop, top your approach shot, chunk your wedge shot, then 3-putt your way to finish off the hole — leaving you with a massive score that could be a round wrecker.
So what’s the real key to get better at golf? It’s not about trying to be perfect on every shot, according to PGA Professional Anthony Wik, it’s about understanding how to manage each shot.
In the video below, Wik told me what that means — and how it’ll lead you to playing better golf in no time.
How to Get Better at Golf
During my recent on-course golf lesson with Wik, he shared some insights during our 3-hole challenge together — where I tried to shoot even-par playing a par 3, 4, and 5 with him as my lifeline.
As the prototypical average golfer, I needed a simple reminder about how to get better at golf without all the swing changes and technical stuff to worry about.
So when I asked Wik what the simplest way to improve is, he gave an interesting response.
“People don’t talk about this enough, but golf is not about your good shots,” Wik says. “Golf is about managing your mishits.”
Essentially, if you’re someone who loses strokes off the tee by trying to bomb driver, maybe it’s time to swallow your pride and use an iron off the tee instead. Sure, it’s not the popular decision, but it might be the smartest one!
“Knowing your tendencies and knowing where your bad shots can end up, that’s how you play golf,” Wik adds.
The best golfers in the world know their strengths and weaknesses better than anyone, so they use that info to make smarter decisions on the golf course — whether that’s club choice or using solid course management.
“If you ask the average PGA Tour guy, ‘how many good, solid shots are you hitting in a round of golf?’ — when they’re shooting 65 to 70 — they’re managing their misses. That’s all golf is,” Wik explains.
So if you really want to know how to get better at golf, consider taking Wik’s advice and start by managing your misses. By avoiding 6-10 bad shots each round, you can shave strokes fast and get closer to accomplishing your golf goals much faster.
Looking for more golf tips and golf lessons? Subscribe to the Rainmakers Golf Club on YouTube for all your instruction and game-improvement needs.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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