[Photo: Ross Kinnaird]

Matt Wallace is one of the smartest, and most thoughtful, golfers in the game.

He’s not afraid to speak honestly, and despite racking up multiple wins across the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, his vibe is that of a humble student of the game. When things go right, he knows why. And when things don’t, as they so often do in this brutally difficult game, he’s quick to find out why.

RELATED: Bernhard Langer’s advice for playing this game for decades to come

It makes Wallace a really insightful person to talk to when it comes to learning how the rest of us can get a little better ourselves. So last offseason, that’s what we did. Wallace shared advice on his process, some things he’s learned, and a few things the rest of us can use to improve, too.

Here are some highlights:

1. A mental routine for fewer thoughts

You’ve done the work, now it’s time to hit the shot. How do you do that best?

Wallace thinks of it like a computer. You’ve plugged in the information. All that’s left is to hit ‘enter’. It’s a trick Wallace uses to keep things as simple as possible.

2. When you’re struggling, remember the goal

Bad days are part of golf. They’re going to happen. When they do, don’t go down the never-ending rabbit hole of quick swing fixes. You’re on the course, you need to accept what you have that day, and remember the ultimate goal: getting the clubface square, and striking the golf ball pure.

3. ‘The best fix I ever had’

Wallace has always struggled with getting steep on his downswing and hitting pulls left – a problem a lot of us can relate to. How did he fix it? By closing the clubface at setup.

That may seem strange – if you’re missing left, why would you want to add another left element? – but Wallace says it works because it forced his body to counteract. Take note.

4. A better way of practising your short game

Wallace jumped from outside the top 60 on tour in Strokes Gauned: Around the Greens to inside the top 5 in one season.

How? By being extremely regimented with his practice. Basic wedge shots, one pace longer each time…

5. Use LPGA swings as a model

Looking for a pro’s golf swing to emulate? Then look no further than the women’s game. Their games are more centred on accuracy than power – and their swing speeds are more comparable to ours.

6. You go low with your putter – not by chasing pins

How do pros shoot such low scores? Not by aiming at every pin they see.

Wallace says pros are very selective with which pins to chase. Low scores come instead from giving yourself good opportunities with your putter. The red numbers come on the days when your putter gets hot. Don’t sabotage your chances by getting overly aggressive with your full shots.