I SLASHED My Handicap by 5 Shots and Moved Back a Set of Tees

The Breakthrough: Smarter Setup, Lower Scores

Alex begins by describing a student who had plateaued. Despite working on their swing regularly, they couldn’t seem to get past their current handicap barrier. The breakthrough didn’t come from more practice. It came from tweaking how they set up at the tee and changing their strategy off the box.

The most surprising part is that they moved back a set of tees, further from the hole, and yet still improved scoring dramatically. How? Because this shift forced better focus, better strategy, and cleaner execution.

Alex explains how changing setup variables like tee height, stance, and ball position can have a compounding effect on the rest of your game. It was less about hitting longer and more about playing smarter and more consistently.

Key Adjustment 1: Tee Height and Ball Position

One of the most impactful changes was increasing tee height with the driver. By teeing the ball slightly higher, the student was able to create a more sweeping, upward angle of attack. This not only helped reduce spin but also added carry and improved accuracy.

Alex shows how higher tee height encourages a launch angle that maximizes distance with less effort. This is perfect for players who tend to hit down on the ball or struggle with slicing.

Combined with moving the ball slightly forward in the stance, this created a more efficient and repeatable launch pattern. No swing change required—just smarter setup.

Key Adjustment 2: Stance Width and Stability

The second change Alex implemented was a slight increase in stance width. For many amateur golfers, narrow stances lead to instability and excessive sway during the swing. Widening the stance just enough helped the student stay more centered, improve balance, and enhance rotational control.

More balance meant fewer mishits, better ball contact, and more confidence—especially with the driver and longer clubs.

Key Adjustment 3: Tempo and Rhythm Over Raw Power

Another critical change Alex encouraged was a shift in mindset from swinging harder to swinging smoother. The student was often rushing the transition from backswing to downswing, trying to muscle the ball. This led to timing issues, inconsistent contact, and overcorrection.

Instead, by focusing on tempo and rhythm, the student was able to create better sequencing. A slower, more deliberate transition gave the body time to rotate properly and square the clubface at impact. The results were obvious. Straighter drives, more center-face contact, and far fewer costly mistakes off the tee.

The Strategy Shift: Moving Back to Move Forward

One of the most counterintuitive but powerful moves in the video is the decision to move back a tee box. At first glance, this seems like a harder way to play the course. But Alex explains how this small change caused a complete mindset shift in his student.

By moving back, the student stopped trying to overpower the ball. Instead, they began playing smarter golf. This included taking more conservative lines, choosing the right club for the situation, and avoiding risky hero shots that often result in double bogeys or worse.

This new perspective helped eliminate big misses and led to more consistent scoring. Playing from further back made the golfer commit to each shot with more discipline and better planning. Ironically, moving back helped the player advance their game forward.

Visual Proof and Real Results

Alex includes compelling before-and-after footage showing the difference these setup changes made. In earlier swings, the student’s contact is inconsistent, and their ball flight is erratic. After implementing the adjustments, you can see better launch conditions, improved accuracy, and more confident movement throughout the swing.

The most significant metric, however, is the handicap reduction. Dropping five shots in a short period is no fluke. It’s the result of intentional, strategic change.

What You Can Learn

If you’ve been stuck at the same handicap for months or even years despite practicing regularly, this video is your wake-up call. It shows that real improvement often comes from how you manage the game and set yourself up, not just from grinding at the range.

Ask yourself the following:

• Have you recently evaluated your tee height, ball position, or stance?
• Are you playing from the optimal tees for your skill level and mindset?
• Are you prioritizing rhythm and balance over brute force?

Making small, informed changes to your pre-shot routine and course strategy could save you several strokes per round without ever needing to tweak your swing mechanics.

Final Thoughts

This video is a great reminder that golf improvement doesn’t always come from big swing changes. Sometimes, a smarter setup and better course management can deliver massive results. Alex Elliott shows that small tweaks can unlock big breakthroughs, and for many golfers, that’s exactly what’s needed.

If you’re serious about lowering your handicap and finally breaking through a scoring barrier, this case study proves that a better strategy and setup could be the missing piece.