Jax Harlan: 5 Mistakes Every First-Year Golfer Makes
JAX HARLAN.
Golf, minus the ego
The Library
Free guide · first-year golfers

You don't have a swing problem.
You have five fixable mistakes.

The free guide that shows you exactly what's going wrong on the course, and the 2-minute fix for each one.

Get the free guide
No spam. Just the guide, and regular tips from Jax Harlan.
Check your inbox.
Your guide's on its way.
Most first-year
golfers
topped it
After the
2-minute fix
flush contact
The front five

Five holes. Five mistakes.
Five two-minute fixes.

Hole
The mistake
The fix
1
The white-knuckle grip
Gripping the club like you're holding on for dear life kills clubhead speed and consistency. Relax your grip, hold it like you're holding a bird, firm enough to control it, gentle enough not to hurt it.
2
Teeing the ball too low
A common beginner mistake that causes topped shots and grounders. Tee it high enough that half the ball sits above the clubhead when the club rests on the ground behind it, higher than most beginners think.
3
Swinging as hard as you can, every time
More effort usually means less control and worse contact. A slow exhale before every swing lowers your heart rate and loosens your grip, both of which slow your tempo back down. Try it before your next shot.
4
No pre-shot routine
Walking up and just swinging leads to inconsistent setup, which leads to inconsistent shots. Build a simple 5-step routine: pick a spot six to twelve inches in front of the ball, one slow practice swing, set your feet and breathe, look at the target once, then swing.
5
Playing clubs that fight you
Game-improvement irons and a higher-lofted driver make the ball easier to get airborne while your swing is still coming together.
A golfer at the driving range, addressing the ball, shot from behind at sunset

Why five, not fifty

My first year of golf was rough. I topped more balls off the first tee than I want to admit, and most of the advice I found online assumed I already knew what I was doing.

So this guide is built the way golf actually teaches you, one hole at a time. Five real mistakes, five real fixes, nothing you need a lesson to understand.

It's a preview of the full approach inside First Year Golfer, but the guide stands on its own. Free, five minutes to read, and you'll know exactly what to work on next time you're at the range.

Get your guide

Five mistakes. Five fixes. Straight to your inbox.

Get the free guide
No spam. Just the guide, and regular tips from Jax Harlan.
Check your inbox.
Your scorecard's on its way.