Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Britt Olizarowicz
How often have you seen the male golfers out on the range helping the women? It happens on every range, every day across the nation. Most women are thankful to get some pointers on how to fix their game or improve their scores.
However, are male golfers the only ones that can help?
Can men learn a few things about the game of golf from women?
Absolutely!
As a female golf professional and a wife, my husband can attest to the fact that I’ve (attempted) to teach him a thing or two through the years. We know men can hit it far, and they can be competitive and aggressive, but there are some really great things that male golfers learn from women.
(If they listen!)
What Male Golfers Learn From Women?
Men outnumber women golfers 3:1. It’s much more common to be a man that likes golf than a woman that likes golf. So when we see things like the women’s average handicap being a little higher, some of it concerns the number of players in the game.
If you are a male golfer ready to take a little advice from the opposite sex, here are the things you should know.
Technique Is Important
Pure power and speed are helpful, but they shouldn’t be the only thing that matters in the golf game. In fact, the technique is incredibly important.
Women are more likely to ensure their hands are correctly placed on the club; their stance is perfect, the alignment is correct, etc. Most women can’t swing a golf club quite as fast as a man.
Therefore it makes sense to focus on these technique factors to maximize results on the golf course.
With modern launch monitors and video technology, it’s easier than ever to focus on technique and become a much more consistent golfer.
Also, nobody said to give up speed and strength; just combine it with proper positions.
Take That Extra Second
Women sometimes get a bad rap for being slow players. Some of the fastest golfers I’ve ever met (myself included) are women players.
Also, women golfers love to chat with their friends on the course and get caught up about all things going on in life. However, when it’s time to hit the ball, there is a moment of focus and concentration that happens.
Women have patience, and even when potentially working on that putt for bogey, they are calmer and more determined to make it. Some men get frustrated, lose their focus and their patience and start to get sloppy on the course.
Eighteen holes of golf is a marathon, not a sprint; it’s not over if you make a double on the third hole.
Hitting It Straight Matters
Sometimes it’s much easier to hit the ball straight if you are a slower swing speed golfer; however, hitting the ball straight always requires a square clubface at impact.
Women golfers are great with consistency and getting their shots to fly straight down the fairway. If you are still playing military golf (left, right, left), you can learn something from women golfers.
Most will go for a straight shot down the middle as opposed to hitting a hero shot intended to go over a bunker or a water hazard. Have at least one club in your bag that you can count on for a straight shot.
For many women players, this is a hybrid.
Golf Course Management
Golf course management is essentially your plan for the hole you are playing. Managing a golf
course is not hard to do, but you must be realistic about your playing ability.
This sense of realism is easier for most women golfers than for men.
Women are able to recognize their strengths and weaknesses on the course and take a bit of the ego out of it. It’s not often you see a man hitting an 8 iron as a layup on a par 5 when he could go with the 3 wood and try and get it on the green.
In fact, this just happened with my husband and me a few weeks ago.
I hit a great drive which left me with a chance at getting on the green with my 5 wood. I took out a 7 iron to lay up. He was baffled by this idea. When I had the chance, I told him I didn’t like the pin placement, and even if my 5 wood made it, the angle was not right.
This is golf course management.
Mentally Strong
If you want to learn what it takes to be mentally tough, go find a club championship match in the ladies’ C flight at any country club.
These women likely can’t break 100, and most won’t drive the ball much further than 140 yards.
However, they are out there to win. The mental strength is incredible.
Of course, there are plenty of male competitors out there that act this way, but it’s important to remember to stay mentally strong, even on the bad holes.
A 4 can turn into a 6, which can turn into an 8. Your mind is what helps you stay together out on the course and remain strong.
Rely On Your Friends
Many women golfers are interested in getting better at the same time as their friends. Tips are shared, and practice ideas are talked about. There is no hiding these swing secrets if one player discovers one.
Collaborative golf is a good way to describe this.
Many male golfers have a match going at all times. If you are playing against your friend, even if it’s for a nickel, will you tell him about his elbow sticking out like a chicken?
Probably not.
Don’t stop enjoying your friendly competition on the course; just think about having some rounds of golf that are more collaborative than competitive. It can be a good learning experience.
Keep Your Cool
Some women golfers have tempers; we have seen this. However, in over 30 years of playing the game, I’ve seen many more clubs broken or thrown by male golfers than by female golfers.
It’s not to say it doesn’t happen, but women are sometimes a bit better about keeping their cool on the course.
One of the best things to do when you hit a bad shot is to take a deep breath.
For me, the first thing my mind goes to is, “How can I fix this.”
The way to fix it is to finish out the hole with a decent score and then start the next hole with the mindset of going low. It’s the only thing that can be done.
Anything you can do to avoid losing your cool is going to help ensure that your bogeys don’t turn into triples.
It Is Supposed To Be Fun
In the end, golf is supposed to be fun.
Many golfers are miserable out on the course and fully admit to hating the game.
Do us all a favor and get off the course!
I suspect that you don’t actually hate the game; you hate the way you are playing. Instead of just quitting, try to find some area of the game you are good at and grow from there. Some women golfers are incredible putters, and they find great joy in this.
Others can hit their hybrid club perfectly straight every single time; that’s much easier said than done.
In the end, watch a group of women golfers enjoying the course, and you will usually see people having fun and doing what they want to do.
Tempo And Balance Matters
In my golf career, I’ve seen some really terrible golf swings from both men and women.
However, the majority of women can stay in balance a bit better than men.
Of course, you will probably say that this has to do with club head speed, but I think it’s more about tempo.
Women golfers still go after the ball with all the speed they have; they just know how to keep their tempo and finish while standing on their feet. You can do this as well; it just takes a bit of practice.
One of my favorite tips here, and one I’m working on with my 9-year-old son, is to let the backswing take longer than the downswing. It’s a simple thought, but it can have a tremendous impact on the shot you hit.
Final Thoughts
Throughout this article, I used a lot of generalizations about male and female golfers.
There are some women golfers out there finishing out of balance, breaking clubs over their knees, and trying to hit their 3 wood over all the water hazards. Right?
I’m not sure, but in the end, even if these are generalizations, the advice is good.
Take these tips, and see if they can help your golf game improve.
