Golf coach once claimed to cutting down handicap by 25 strokes in a year, shared tips

Handicap in golf is the numerical measurement of a player's skill to calculate how good they are at the game. The lower the handicap score, the better the player.

In 2023, golf coach Jess Ratcliffe shared tips for aspiring players that can help them cut their handicaps and improve their game. In one of her articles for Golf.com, she stated that these tips helped her reduce her handicap from 34 to 9 in just one year.

Ratcliffe suggested aspiring golfers to keep track of their scores. Keeping track of scores is important as it helps players learn about their progress in the game. Secondly, she said that self-improvement can be done by tracking scores and identifying areas that need improvement.

"Tracking your stats will help with this, or you might immediately know – maybe it was your greenside bunker play or chip and runs going too long. Take that one area and work on it," Ratcliffe said.

Moreover, she also suggested being confident and trying to play out of one's comfort zone. Another piece of advice Jess Ratcliffe shared is to get a good coach and practice regularly. She also advised aspiring players to not give up after a bad hole and instead focus on the process and improve their game.

Here are the ten tips suggested by golf coach Jess Ratcliffe that can help aspiring players cut their handicap score (via Golf.com):

• 1 Track your stats to see where you're leaking shots
• 2 Look for the low-hanging fruit in your game
• 3 Practice like the golfer you want to be, not the golfer you are
• 4 Fill your confidence gaps, especially around the green
• 5 Purposefully put yourself and your game under pressure
• 6 Find a coach who works with your potential
• 7 Think of swing changes like a slingshot
• 8 Go out on the course solo to experiment
• 9 Focus on the process, rather than the outcome
• 10 Never give up after a bad hole

---

How to calculate handicaps in golf?

To calculate a golfer's course handicap, the World Handicap System provides a formula that simplifies the process. Players need to know their Handicap Index and the Slope Rating of the course.

The Handicap Index is multiplied by the Slope Rating divided by 113. After that, subtract the Course Rating from the Par. Finally, add the result of the Handicap Index and Slope Rating calculation to the difference between the Course Rating and Par to determine the Course Handicap.

Here's the formula for calculating the Course Handicap as of 2024 (via Fortose Golf Club):

Course Handicap = [Handicap Index x (Slope Rating/113)] + (Course Rating – Par)

Different handicap systems have been used over time, but since 2020, the World Handicap System, governed by the USGA and R&A, has been used to calculate the handicap score.