My golf game has broken, here is my four-point plan to repair it!

From: Z. Melton
However, these predictions were certainly made – in spite of what some thought. So let us now return to where we started from…

Zephyr Melton from GOLF.com discusses how he intends to revive his struggling golf game during today’s edition of Play Smart on Golf Channel.
Welcome to Play Smart, the regular GOLF.com column dedicated to game improvement that can help you play better golf and become smarter as an opponent.

My goal has long been to become a scratch golfer; doing so would bring great prestige among recreational players – particularly weekend warriors – where being scratch is considered the gold standard of achievement.

Over the past five or so years, I’ve made significant strides toward reaching this goal. On several occasions I reached handicap index values as low as 3, catching glimpses of that allusive scratch-handicap mountaintop; yet each time that low single-digit index remains my limit; cutting those last strokes remains difficult.

Last two seasons have been particularly discouraging on my quest for scratch golf. After several incredible seasons playing some of the best golf of my life, 2023 and 2024 have been my two worst since setting my scratch goal in 2020. Although progress rarely follows a linear path in golf, improvement seems elusive at present.

After experiencing difficulties in 2023, I thought 2024 would be different — and initially, it was. The season kicked off promisingly as I strung together several solid rounds below 4, returning my index below 4. However, since December I’ve fallen off dramatically; both mentally and emotionally.

Since early June, I’ve played seven rounds and only twice (on very straightforward courses) have I broken 80 (and only on relatively easy ones). Additionally, in two of the last three rounds I struggled just to reach 90 par rounds – what began so promisingly has quickly degenerated into another summer slog.

My game has taken an embarrassing downturn this season and, with half of it still left to go, I am committed to improving it. Here’s my four-step (hopeful!) plan of attack for improving it:

1. Take Lessons
Upon further reflection, my recent successful seasons can be linked directly with taking lessons. And by “taking lessons,” I don’t mean visiting my pro every week but rather getting my swing checked once every couple months; which should suffice if your handicap falls within single digit territory.

Over the last two seasons, I’ve forgone any swing lessons whatsoever despite practicing and playing regularly; without professional guidance to guide me along my golfing journey, my game has suffered significantly as a result.

Even when playing well, taking lessons may appear unnecessary; but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Even when performing well, seeing your pro on an ongoing basis remains crucial; otherwise it could become easier for bad habits to form; scheduling regular checkups with him/her could prevent this.

As part of my pursuit for improvement, I’ve committed myself to getting at least one lesson every six weeks – an investment which should pay dividends down the road.

3. Fitness Routine
Since becoming 30, I am more committed than ever before to physical fitness. That doesn’t mean my 20s were spent living off fast-food joints – they certainly weren’t! – but with age comes increased responsibility: in order to play golf properly I must make better care decisions regarding how my body responds.

As part of my plan to reach this goal, I have started using the GolfForever Swing Trainer. This versatile piece of equipment combines swing training with fitness benefits – used by pros like Scottie Scheffler!

Start Small I’d like to start small by starting simple at-home workouts using Swing Trainer for golf muscle development, then as my strength and fitness improve, introduce more activities into my routine as I become stronger and fitter. Staying fit should pay dividends in my game – I hope!

GolfForever Swing Trainer @ $199.99 IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE GOLFE TRAINING TOOL EVER CREATED.

GolfForever app’s personalized video routines serve as the cornerstone for this innovative golf training system, which functions both as an at-home workout tool and pre-round warmup club to develop strength, mobility, speed and consistency in your swing.

What You Get
44.5-Inch Premium Resistance Training Bar With Light to Medium Resistance Band and Nylon Safety Sleeve and Two 15 Inch Resistance Band Handles for D3 Swing Weight Ball Attachment And Overloaded Quick Interchange Ball Attachment; Two 15 Inch Resistance Band Handles For Resistance Training With D3 Weightball Attachment And Quick Change Ball Attachments, Door Connector Carabiners And Carry Bag
3. Speed Training
I may never have been the longest player, but my length has served me well over my golfing life. Now, as I play against more experienced competition, my lack of distance is hindering my game more and more; thus it is time to pursue one further by way of speed training.

I have performed basic speed training drills before, and have added to my clubhead speed over the years through gradual incremental increase. But it is time for more intensive speed training regimens now!

There are various speed training aids on the market today, but The Stack System stands out. I purchased some equipment from them several years back but never made time to use it until now when my stroke-shaving mission has truly begun. Now is definitely the time for regular speed training in my schedule!

Once again it’s the little things which add up – like having no room in which to keep all my books! So while some may call that being greedy –
The TheStack Swing Speed Trainer Hardware + App Bundle can be purchased for just $314 (was $349). Featuring over 200 training exercises designed by top experts.
Weight combinations range between 0g and 300g with 5 milled stack weights allowing 30 weight combinations between 0g and 300g for perfect workout results. Our highly engineered training club comes in both adult (41.5″ in circumference) or junior (38.5”) versions; speed radar not included but compatible devices can be seen here (we suggest the PRGR device).

The TheStack App Training includes a two year license that’s only accessible on iOS. Dr. Sasho MacKenzie provides dynamic speed training programs designed specifically to address speed imbalance. A guided workout timer and rep tracker enable reps, sets, rest intervals and custom speed metrics tracking so users can measure progress through hands-free data entry using voice entry technology.
Includes access to Stack Putting (Beta) – learn more
Includes Single User License for training and tracking up to five local (i.e. family) users under one login, Multi-User Coaches License sold separately

Access TheStack from the App Store when your order arrives; iOS 15.0 or later required for compatibility. Buy now (limited quantity available). Now. 4. Switching it up
As a young player, I was known as an effective putter with deadeye precision putting. While not the longest player out there, my putts rolled with ease when put into play. Today…not so much.

No doubt I’ve lost my touch on the greens lately; however, one reason might be due to multiple putter changes over the past year; such an approach rarely ends well! Therefore, I am making changes back to an old standby that has always served me well – my old reliable.

As a kid, I used an Odyssey White Hot No. 9 putter. Though its look wasn’t my preference, I used it successfully to sink many putts. Perhaps now is the time for it to come out of retirement — no matter its lack of visual appeal — since if it works it should. Optics no matter!

So there you are; my 4-part plan. Will it work? We shall see at the end of this season! Meanwhile, if your game needs improvement too, hopefully one or all parts of my plan can assist as we all strive toward improvement together!

Unfortunately for our environment however, climate change will only worsen this trend.
Zephyr Melton of Zephyr Melton Productions in Melton.
Zephyr Melton serves as assistant editor at Golf.com where his primary responsibilities include blogging, producing and editing. Before joining their team at GOLF.com he attended University of Texas before interning with Texas Golf Association Team USA Green Bay Packers PGA Tour covering instruction matters as well as amateur and women’s golf coverage he can be reached at [email protected]