Michael Kim has done plenty to earn his reputation as someone worth listening to when it comes to golf.
The American finished the 2025 season ranked 37th in the world and has become a steady presence on the PGA Tour in recent years.
He has also grown a strong following online, known for sharing useful tips and regularly engaging with fans on social media.
In a recent chat with YouTuber Pat Mayo, Kim offered up some straightforward advice for amateur golfers looking to improve their game.
Michael Kim shares pre-round tips for amateur golfers
Kim had some simple advice for amateur golfers on how to get ready before hitting the course.
Unlike professionals, most recreational players do not have an hour to warm up, so it is important that they make the most of their limited time.
Kim suggested starting with a few relaxed swings to get loose, followed by practicing hooks and slices to improve clubface control.
“Hopefully, you give yourself a bit more than 10 minutes to make sure you don’t injure yourself when you hit the driver all of a sudden, and you haven’t done anything in the last week,” he explained.
“I would say, as the lowest common denominator, most people will be able to gain something from this, make sure you take some long lazy swings to start out with just getting some stretch and blood flow.
“During practice, I think the best thing an amateur can do is hit some hooks and slices. Let’s say you start off with like a 20-yard hook and a 20-yard slice if you can then lessen the curve over time.
“That helps you build a lot of club face awareness because it’s like okay that’s what I need to do it at home that’s what I need to do today for fade or slice so. You can’t go wrong doing that, no matter what your swing looks like, so those are probably my two suggestions.”
Michael Kim shares his thoughts on putting for amateur golfers
Kim also detailed the methods he uses to coach amateur golfers on their putting, specifically when they are utilizing the practice green.
While he mainly uses AimPoint himself, the 32-year-old suggested a more straightforward method that involves using the shadows from flagsticks to help read putts.
“I’ve leaned a lot into AimPoint these days, which I know some of your listeners are really going to hate,” Kim began by saying.
“So, a lot of my practice has been setting a baseline for one percent, two percent, three percent, and stuff like that.
“Putting-wise, something I try to do with kids at a clinic is, if the green has some pins or flags, you can mess with the shadow. There’s going to be a shadow, and you can have kids hit putts along the shadow to give them a bit more of a visual sense.
“Sometimes, a lot of kids and some amateurs don’t even know where they’re really looking. If they have some visual aspect, that can help.”
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