So you want to become a better mini-golfer? You are certainly in the right spot.
The mini-golfing advice that I’m going to share with you are tips that the average mini-golfer doesn’t even think of.
With that being said, you can expect to get an unfair advantage against anyone in your group of friends who wants to compete against you. Sounds interesting? Then be sure to keep reading on.
How Do You Always Win At Mini Golf?
Mini-golf is a sport like many others; if you want to win more, then you’re going to need to put in the time and practice in order to achieve better results.
Aside from getting in more rounds of mini-golf, I’ve assembled a few of the most popular mini-golf questions that I’ll also be answering for you.
By the time you’re finished with this article, you’ll be on the right path to finally get the lowest score out of your group on mini-golf friends.
1) How Do You Choose The Right Mini Golf Putter?
If you’ve ever gone mini-golfing before, then you’ve most likely noticed that most mini-golf courses come with a buffet-style of putters to choose from.
The two bullet points down below are a great excerpt from an article I did that talks about mini-golf being luck or skill. It’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the right putter:
- If you’re shorter, then you’re going to want to use a short putter.
- Likewise, if you’re taller then you’re going to want to use a longer putter.
However, you’re reading this article to get the edge, and not just a very small advantage.
So overall, I would recommend that you purchase your own putter and bring that with you any time that you go mini-golfing.
While it might sound a little weird to do, this is something that you’ll notice others doing more often when you go mini-golfing yourself.
After all, how often do you see professional golfers change their putters? It happens, but not on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (unless they are having big problems with their putter).
By purchasing and bringing your own putter, it allows you to get more comfortable with the feel of it. After all, putting is the biggest part of mini-golf and you want to be comfortable with it.
After all, not all putters are created equal. You’ll also have to factor in a new putter into the costs of mini-golfing. However, you could have one sitting around in your garage so it might not even matter.
Speaking of putting, let’s now move on to the next tip when it comes to aiming.
2) How Do You Aim Better In Mini Golf?
Before you strike the ball, you want to make sure that you know exactly where you want the ball to go. Keep in mind that on longer holes, you might not always be able to get a hole-in-one.
If you’re looking to compare regular golf and miniature golf, both of these activities come with knowing exactly where you want the ball to go. That’s usually the first challenge. The second challenge is actually putting the ball where you want it to go.
So here are a couple of tips for you when it comes to aiming in mini-golf:
- Place the ball in the center of the putter.
- Align the ball and the putter in a straight line of where you want it to.
- Keep your eyes down at the ball during the entire time (until you’re done hitting it).
Don’t make the mistake of taking your eyes off the ball before you actually hit it. I’ll talk more about that in the next section, but I wanted to bring it up now because it’s a very common rookie mistake.
Lastly is a bonus tip. You want to be able to visualize where the ball will have to go in order to get it where you want it.
Knowing where you want the ball to go is the simple part. After all, it’s mini-golf, and everyone wants to get in a hole-in-one. Rather instead, you’ll get better at aiming when you understand where your ball has to go.
It might sound like something that is a very small detail, but many people do certainly not do this. They simply step up the ball, whack it, and hope that it gets as close to the hole as possible (or even goes in).
3) How Do You Hit The Ball In Mini Golf?
Here are a few of the important steps when it comes to properly putting the ball in mini-golf. Please note that I’m going to add a few of the previous tips as they are very important:
- Place the ball in the center of the putter.
- Keep your feet evenly spaced apart with the ball in the middle.
- Align the ball and the putter in a straight line of where you want it to.
- Bring the putter back about a foot, and then slightly pause at the backstroke.
- Lightly bring the putter forward, strike the ball in the center, and follow-through.
- Keep your eyes down at the ball during the entire time (until you’re done hitting it).
The above picture is the perfect example of where you want to keep your putter when you’re first lining up your shot. When you have the proper routine, practice becomes so much easier.
Speaking of easier, here is another little tip that will help when it comes to not only putting better but overall decreasing your score.
4) Create The Clearest Path Possible
This is something that I’ve done so much when playing both regular golf and mini-golf, that I’ve started doing it for others as well. Hey, what can I say, I’m a good sport 🙂
So whenever you go to make your putt, make sure you move any possible nuisances that are getting in the way of you making your putt.
In mini-golf, this is certainly something that is allowed to do. While you can’t move around any obstacles that are part of the course, however, you can move things such as:
- Grass clumps.
- Dirt and debrit.
- Sticks and stones.
- Branches and sticks that shouldn’t be there.
While these mini obstacles might not sound like a big deal, they can certainly affect the speed and trajectory of your putts. In simplest terms, these obstacles are capable of raising your score.
If you’ve ever watched professional golfers putt before, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. They’ll even go out of their way to move the smallest hair-sized and paper-thin blade of grass on the green.
5) Practice Your Short Game
There’s a golfing quote that I’ve heard more times than I’d like to explain. It also happens to be very true, which is why I’d like to share it with you today:
Drive for show, putt for dough.
When I’d golf and hit 300+ yard drives, this quote seemed to be on repeat like a broken record (which was fun). Anywho, I understand that there’s no driving in mini-golf, which means that you need to put a much bigger emphasis on putting.
When it comes to mini-golf, you’re going to save (or lose) a ton of shots when it comes to those shorter putts.
I’m not talking about the gimmies that are 2 inches away from the hole. I’m referring to the ones that are just outside gimmie range.
You’ve most likely had those three, four, or five-foot putts. They are deceivingly hard though. You think that it’s going to be a straight shot in, only for you to lip the cup and then come out with another longer putt that you need to make.
These are the types of putts that you need to practice the most.
This is also a huge reason why you see so many professional golfers and mini-golfers practicing their short game so much, as that’s where you can really work on your score.
Related: Can You Play Mini Golf Professionally?
Speaking of practice, let’s talk a little bit more about that with the last tip.
6) Practice As Much As Possible
It’s no secret that the more you practice, the better you’re going to be at any sport (especially mini-golf). So there are a few options when it comes to practicing and getting better at mini-golf:
- Go to an actual putting green and practice your putting.
- Pick a specific mini-golf course that you’d like to get better at.
- There are also options for mini-golf sets where you can practice at home.
It all comes full circle when we go back to the first tip of buying a putter and practicing with that. Given the amount of practice that you’d be putting in to get better, it makes even more sense to use one specific putter.
Lastly, I want to give a little reminder that mini-golf should be fun. While it can be frustrating to miss a few clutch putts, it’s certainly going to happen (especially the more you practice).
Closing Words About Winning Mini-Golf Every Time
So here is a quick recap when it comes to winning putt-putt or mini-golf every time:
- Buy your own putter and bring that to play.
- Properly aim and visualize before making a putt.
- Place the ball in the center of the putter and cleanly follow through.
- Clear your path of any obstacles that just might affect your overall shot.
- Practicing those short putts can significantly help you lower your score.
- Don’t forget about practicing every aspect of mini-golf (there are a few ways).
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about how you can become a better mini-golfer. These tips will certainly help you win and be competitive when playing against a group of friends.
