What Gary Player says a 14-handicapper would drop to if he played every third shot for them

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Any mid to high handicapper will be desperate to get better at the game and if there’s one man to take advice from, it’s Gary Player.

Player – a nine-time major winner – has got well into the habit of handing out tips and tricks for the amateur player and via his social media pages, he’s given some brilliant content over the years.

Of course, a tip video is always nice to watch for an amateur and oftentimes, there is something to be taken away from them if you put the practice in.

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However, in and among the tip videos Player does, there’s also some interesting suggestions and opinions he dishes up.

Indeed, in giving out a swing tip in video last year, Player dropped in just how much better a a mid-handicap a golfer would have if he helped them play their round.

Gary Player says what a 14-handicapper would improve to if he played with them

Ask any experienced golfer who has played the game for some time and one of the most common opinions is that being good around the green and from small distances is key to saving shots.

For example, if you can putt well, then you can trim shots off your score easily, likewise if you can get up and down regularly in two.

And according to Gary Player, the ability to be good from 50 yards and in is key, so much so, that he claims if he took those shots for an amateur, their handicap would drop massively.

‘I cannot put enough emphasis on how important it is to be good from 50 yards and in,” Player explained.

“Take a weekend golfer who is a 14 handicapper, if he hit every drive and every second shot and I hit every third shot, he’s a three handicapper tomorrow, so that gives you food for thought.

“So here a 70 yard shot. What you’ve got to do is have that acceleration at impact, all the way through. My weight is on my left. I don’t go using my weight and turning my hips on this little shot. It’s so short, 70 yards, cock the wrist earlier, by doing that you get speed. If not, you get a push shot and you don’t want that. Watch the acceleration through the ball.”

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The best players from inside 100 yards on the PGA Tour

This is a great point from Player here and the fact we have stats that record approach to the green and approach from inside 100 yards proves how important it is.

In terms of the 2025 season on the PGA Tour, the names on the list are a bit more surprising than you might think, with world number one Scottie Scheffler not inside the top ten from less than 100 yards.

Still, Scheffler is top of the pile in other metrics, and that consistency is why he’s the best.