10 mini golf tips to improve your score

A young man celebrating while carrying a putter.

Here at Treetop Golf we pride ourselves on being a fun adventure to be enjoyed by every skill level. However, that’s not to say that we don’t love a bit of competition… Whether you’re playing with family or friends, nothing beats coming out of the jungle with first place bragging rights! If you’re looking to conquer the rainforest then be sure to follow our 10 mini golf tips to improve your score.

Tip 1

Perfect your putting grip

Before you even think about taking your first putt, you should make sure that your grip is correct. Squeeze too tightly and that smooth swing might just end up straight into the Sniping Viper, too soft and you’ll be rolling back down the slopes. The key is to have a firm, yet relaxed grip that gives you full control of the putter while also leaving your wrists flexible enough for a full and fluid swing. Once you can master this fundamental technique, you’ll be impressing the Fabulous Sacred Mask in no time.

Tip 2

Positioning is key

The jungle is full of winding paths and unsteady footing, which is why it’s key to make sure that you have a steady stance. Before taking your shot, try and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and square to the ball. This will give you a sold foundation to take your swing, allowing you full control of the club so that you can sink that all important putt (no pressure).

A man in a putting stance at Treetop Golf.

Tip 3

The jungle isn’t always straightforward

Just like professional golf, not every shot is a straight putt into the hole. The Tropical Trail is unpredictable, and the Ancient Explorer ruins has many slopes and obstacles scattered throughout. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the surface, keeping track of slopes, bumps and pesky wilderness that might ruin your score. Faced with a large slope? Then why not use that to your advantage to guide your shot.

A golf hole on the Tropical Trail at Treetop Golf.

Tip 4

Learn from other people’s mistakes

Unless you’re putting first, then be sure to join the rest of the jungle residents in watching people’s shots. If you see their shot has left them in a bad position, do the exact opposite! If they’ve just sunk an impressive hole in one, try to aim exactly where they did. There are also a few holes in the jungle that give you multiple routes, so always be on the lookout to see which one is the best to take.

Couple celebrating while playing mini golf.

Tip 5

A light touch is best

In mini golf, finesse will work better than power. If you’re over hitting the ball, then you will spend most of your time fishing it out of The Lost Lido! The key to keeping your score low is to use a gentle touch and gliding the ball through the course. Not all of the obstacles are predictable in the jungle, so if you’re planning on hitting as hard as you can then you are risking a bad bounce out of play. Be sure to control your strength and leave the power shots to the real course.

A young teenager putting at Treetop Golf while two women watch.

Tip 6

Master your putting speed

Throughout Treetop there are plenty of pits and traps that you’ll need to avoid. If you make the mistake of falling into one of the traps, then you’ll be soon praying to Mabel the Monkey for some good luck. Instead of going for that glorious hole in one, it’s sometimes smarter to keep your ball safe from danger so that you can simply putt in for 2. Remember, a score of 2 is better than 6 and with a bit of consistency you’ll be soon seeing your name on the Treetop leaderboard!

Tip 7

Smoothen your follow through

To keep your putting straight, it’s important that your follow through is smooth after you hit the ball. If you immediately stop your swing, you’ll find that your putts are off target and struggling to get over the slopes. If you begin to take your swing in one smooth motion, you’ll be notching up those low scores in no time.

Tip 8

Plan your route

As you trek through the jungle, you’ll discover lots of challenging obstacles and even wildlife residents that are aiming to trip up that high score. So, before you take your shot, be sure to assess the hole and plan the best route to navigate through unscathed. At times it’s better to take a more conservative approach, while on others it’s worth taking the risk for that sought after hole in one. A mix of both approaches and thoughtful planning is the key to consistency.

A hole on the Ancient Explorer at Treetop Golf.

Tip 9

Use your maths

Using your angles plays a big role in mini golf and it can be the difference between a good score and a great score. Bring your maths skills into play and you’ll already have an advantage over the local monkeys! Instead of hitting a straight shot, use the obstacles and try to visualise how the ball will bounce. By mastering this it won’t be long until you’re crowned king of the jungle!

Tip 10

Relax and have fun

Although we love friendly competition at Treetop, the main goal is to have a fun time. So don’t let a missed shot or a tough hole ruin your jungle adventure. Focus on your next shot and take it all with plenty of laughter. After all, there’s always next time.

Plan your trip today

Improving your score can take time and practice, but by following our mini golf tips then you’ll be well on your way to a low score and a position on the leaderboard. All that’s left is to plan your next trip at Treetop Golf and put your newly learnt skills into practice!

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