Beginners Golf tips from a beginner
If you’re reading this article, I’m assuming you’re a beginning golfer looking for tips on how to approach the game and really enjoy the experience. Well, I applaud the fact that you’re going this direction because a lot of people start playing the game and experience a high degree of frustration. In this article, I, a perpetual beginner golfer, will share some important perspectives for you to consider as you approach the game. Some will play a string and some won’t, just take it for what it’s worth and hopefully you’ll gain the knowledge to help you enjoy the game as your skill increases.
lessons When I first started playing, my wife gave me lessons along with a set of clubs for beginners. This was very useful on one hand, but ended up being wasteful on the other hand. Because? Not because she did something wrong, she did everything right. What happened was that I took the lessons, didn’t practice outside of the lessons, and was too intimidated to venture out on an actual golf course. At that time I didn’t have any friends who played golf and so there was no one to help me with etiquette (the do’s and don’ts of golf) and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. As for the lessons, I got the most out of the lessons by applying a combination of elements; One: I read some books, watched some videos, started to understand the lingo, and tried swings on my own. At that time, he had been playing for a few years, so he had also gained a lot of experience on the golf course. In the end, when I took the lesson, I had a much better understanding of what he was trying to convey and with practice on and off the field, I was able to apply it and see a real difference in my game.
EQUIPMENT I started with beginner clubs in my bag and played with these clubs for some time. For a beginner, I think this is fine because he usually hasn’t acquired enough skill and knowledge to make detailed club selections like the pros. I would suggest starting with a few beginner clubs and over time adding to the set as you find you need additional selection. Don’t spend a ton of money on your newly added clubs, just go to your local thrift store or discount chain and buy something from the bargain bin. At this point, your swing has more effect on the game than your clubs, so save your money for now. As your game improves you can upgrade your driver and 3 wood first. This is due to the ego boost it gives you while playing the game. You get to hit the ball off the tee and potentially enjoy the excitement together with your friends. Get yourself another set eventually, but remember, you’re not a pro, so secondhand is fine, unless spending the money isn’t an issue for you.
TIPS FROM FRIENDS
All of my friends have watched the golf channel, read books and magazines, and received advice from other friends. When you play golf on the course, you will either be a group of friends or a group of strangers that the course has matched you up with. Either way, because your skill level will be so obvious as you cut, lose the ball, pick the wrong club, your teammates will inevitably not be able to give you more advice than you can absorb. Handling this is a case by case situation. The etiquette tips are valuable because you now learn how to proceed with confidence in the course. Technique advice should be listened to and taken based on the skill of the person giving it and the time it takes to give it, you can’t turn a round of golf into a lesson (unless that’s the purpose). Try to listen politely but try to be consistent, especially if you’ve been taking lessons and are trying to reinforce newly learned techniques. Sometimes you have to pretend to do what the friend says so they’ll leave you alone and you can get back to what you really want to do. Follow your own judgment and have fun along the way.
PRACTICE
The golf swing has a very unnatural feel and therefore needs to be practiced to allow it to begin to feel natural. As you learn more aspects of the swing, practice is important in building muscle memory around the swing. The challenge with practice is that as a beginner you are very likely to practice incorrectly and actually reinforce incorrect movements. Because of this danger, I think it’s very important to take lessons and practice swinging in small steps rather than trying to master the entire swing at once. Also training aids can help with this if you get the right ones. They provide feedback that helps you know you are swinging or practicing correctly. Video is also very helpful if you are a tech type of person. I have done this before and found it very useful. By reviewing the video, I learned that it was doing some pretty ugly things which I fixed before beefing it up.
OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS TO ENJOY
I’m not saying much here, I just learned over time that while I enjoy the game of golf and the challenge of figuring out the game from a technique and strategy standpoint, I’ve found over time that I love the game and social environment . aspect. The setting is usually absolutely beautiful because you are in nature among trees, manicured lawns, and hopefully blue skies. As a beginner, I would literally make sure I had snakes and soda (or beer if allowed) while playing. This turned the game into a picnic because my ball was everywhere at the time. The social side is obvious. Being with friends or meeting new friends. Remember that it is more than just hitting a ball.
MONEY
Golf can get very expensive because of the lessons, equipment, and greens on the course. For this reason, as a beginner, he should not let it get out of hand, otherwise he will end up spending a lot of money without much enjoyment. And spending the money can actually lessen the enjoyment he might have had. He try not to buy expensive equipment as a beginner. Try to avoid high cost courses as a beginner. This may require passing on invites from more experienced or wealthier friends. Try to avoid playing multiple times per week or limit it to 9 holes. Please use the driving range to practice, not the golf course. Don’t be afraid to overlook golf outings that are usually double the price of playing unless the purpose of the outing has meaning to you personally.
PRIORITY
Keep your priorities in line. Don’t rob your family of valuable golf time. In my personal experience, golf became a dirty word around the house and in retrospect; I made some calls with bad priority. Make sure your family always feels valued above your golf game, and try to play at times that don’t conflict with family time.