In the world of golfing, there are generally two kinds of golfers: amateurs and professionals. The former are usually fairly new to the game, still learning the various ins and outs, while the latter have been playing for many years and have established themselves within the golfing circuit as top-tier players.
To the casual observer that has little knowledge of the game and its players, it might be difficult to spot the differences between these two classes of players, but there are some common variations that set the two apart.
Here we will look at the biggest differences between amateurs and pros, including their play styles and the types of tournaments that they participate in.
The Swing Style
Most professional trainers spent a lot of their time training alongside coaches, usually ones that are trained themselves to teach on a professional level. And while some amateurs might seek lessons, for the most part they will teach themselves, or learn from a friend.
Another commonality among amateurs is that they don’t often use the driving range to improve their swing, but the pros will spend a significant portion of their training sessions focussing on just a swing, or just putting, incrementally becoming more competent in the action so that they can employ it in a tournament.
A distinction can be made between the two by how the downswing is made; pros tend to hit the ball from within the target line, giving them the ability to produce a more powerful impact and send the ball further along the course. Amateurs, conversely, will make the downswing from outside the target line, which often mean losing both speed and accuracy.
Golf Tournaments
When taking part in a golf tournament, an amateur is not able to receive any money or other prizes, even if they win – although this can depend on the tournament itself. The idea behind most amateur events is not to give out prizes, but to allow players to earn the chance to make a name for themselves, and to hopefully gain enough skill and reputation to take part in more challenging events down the line.
Professional players play in tournaments as that is how they make their living, and it’s also why they spend so much of their time training and honing their skills, whereas amateurs might make their money from working or playing 21 at https://onlineblackjack.co.nz/. Most of their income is made up of prize winnings, as well as sponsorship deals, so they always have to try and perform at their very best.
Their Stance On The Game
Another important distinction between the two is how they generally approach the game. Amateur golfers will almost always play it for fun, usually on a free afternoon or over the weekend, but it’s otherwise very little more than a hobby to them. The pros, on the other hand, tend to live and breathe the game; it’s a vital aspect of their lives and they are always working to bettering themselves and their skills.