The 3 types of golfers — and why only one improves fast
Most golfers think improvement is about what they practise.
It isn’t.
It’s about how they approach improvement in the first place.
If you’ve ever wondered how to improve at golf and felt like you’re putting in effort without seeing results, this is usually why.
Over time, I’ve noticed that almost every golfer falls into one of three types.
Not handicaps.
Not ability levels.
Ways of operating.
Only one of them improves consistently.
1. The Drifter
The Drifter plays plenty of golf.
They enjoy it.
They stay active.
They often say things like:
“I just need to get out more.”
“I’m not far off.”
“It’ll click eventually.”
Their practice usually looks like this:
Hitting balls without a clear focus
Chasing whatever felt good last time
Hoping repetition alone will solve things
Nothing is disastrous.
Nothing really changes either.
The Drifter doesn’t lack effort.
They lack direction.
2. The Dabbler
The Dabbler genuinely wants to improve.
They consume content.
They try drills.
They’re open to ideas.
Their practice tends to look like this:
Working on something new every session
Mixing advice from different sources
Resetting their swing before anything settles
They feel busy.
They feel proactive.
They rarely feel grounded.
The Dabbler’s issue isn’t motivation.
It’s too many inputs and no filter.
3. The Disciplined golfer
The Disciplined golfer doesn’t practise more.
They practise with intent.
They:
Choose one priority at a time
Understand why it matters
Stay with it long enough for change to stick
Their sessions are:
shorter
less dramatic
more focused
Progress compounds quietly.
The Disciplined golfer isn’t rigid.
They’re selective.
Why this golfer improves fastest
Because improvement isn’t additive.
It’s compounding.
Every time you change focus, you reset the clock.
Every time you jump to something new, you undo momentum.
The Disciplined golfer keeps the clock running.
Confidence doesn’t come from quick wins.
It comes from knowing you’re working on the right thing, in the right order.
Over time, what looks slow becomes inevitable.
This applies to:
beginner golf improvement
experienced players chasing lower scores
anyone struggling to align their golf goals with their golf practice habits
A simple question
Which one are you most of the time?
Not on your best weeks.
Not when motivation is high.
But on an ordinary practice session.
These aren’t fixed labels.
They’re patterns.
And the fastest way to change your golf
is to change how you approach improvement.
Sit with that.
It matters more than any drill.
A quieter next step
If this way of thinking resonates, it’s the same logic behind the Clear Swing System — a structured approach that aligns your goals, practice habits, and feedback so progress stops feeling accidental.
No pressure.
Just a framework worth exploring when you’re ready.
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This post is part of my weekly Sunday essays on improvement, habits, and systems in golf.
