The Game and The History / LEARN TO PLAY THE CORRECT WAY

LEARN TO PLAY THE CORRECT WAY

When a person becomes fascinated by the game of golf, through reading its history or actually playing a round with friends, the game can become an obsession. Many want to take up this fascinating game. But it is best to start the correct way. Few tips more valuable to the beginning golfer than this: do not invest a lot of money in golf clubs and other accessories until you know more about the game and how to play it.

what to do first

Suppose the beginning golfer has tried the game once or twice with borrowed clubs and now wants to get a set of clubs that will be his or hers alone. What is the next step? Many experienced golfers and professionals would advise this individual to look for a good set of golf clubs at a garage sale or auction. A fine beginners’ set may even be available through the classified section of the local newspaper.

These used sets will work well enough for the beginner. Seasoned golfers buy new clubs quite often, sometimes every year or two. This puts excellent clubs on sale all the time. It is probably best to invest the extra money in lessons and a season pass at the local course, rather than in an expensive set of clubs. A more experienced golfer who is also a trusted friend may be able to help the beginner look for clubs in the right places. This experienced friend may also be able to eliminate later problems by making sure that the shafts, club heads and grips are in good condition.

It is also important to make sure that the clubs fit well with a person’s height and arm length, though this will become more important later. Be sure to ask if it is possible to play a round or two with the clubs before buying them. Many golfers who are selling an older set of clubs will understand that this is important and will have no problem with a new golfer trying the clubs first.

GOLF LESSONS

Lessons from a golf pro or a very experienced golfer will allow the beginner pick up the game much more quickly. This early step may eliminate much of the frustration that comes with learning the game. But it is not absolutely necessary that a beginner take lessons. Some people seem to have a natural ability for the game that makes them better than another player right away. Others may struggle for months before feeling they have started to grasp the basics of the game.

Hitting a golf ball is not like hitting a softball or baseball. The swing is different and the grip on the club is different. Of course, the ball is sitting still. But as many golfers have found, this does not make the game easy. In fact, hitting a golf ball in the right direction and the right distance is very challenging. That is why beginning golfers often choose to attend a golf school or a golf academy.

This is, however, one of the more expensive options. The instruction from a teaching professional can be the best investment a beginner can make, if the person learning the game makes a commitment to stay with it long enough to really understand what is required. Many people start out thinking that they can learn to play golf in a few hours and when they don’t they get frustrated, even angry. Unfortunately, this scares some away from the game for the rest of their lives.

A couple of options for the new golfer to consider are package lessons. For example, a single session of 30 minutes may cost from $25 to $100, but if the beginner signs up for six lessons, a discount is often applied. Local golf professionals and club professionals often have these packages available or know of a teaching pro that does.

The beginner may also want to talk with golfers on the local college golf team or even an accomplished amateur who plays at the local club or municipal course. These individuals sometimes offer individual lessons, even on an informal basis. Getting a few starting tips from someone like this can help the beginner more than they may realize at first. Most teachers, professional and semi-professional alike, will emphasize working on a comfortable swing and on accuracy first. The swing may seem a bit awkward the first few times, but this will change if the beginner is patient.

Accuracy is more important than distance for the new golfer, as is balance during the swing and understand how to line up for a shot. Most of these basics will be introduced in the first lesson or two from a reputable professional. Some professional teachers will concentrate on the motions the body makes during a swing. With these successful methods, hitting “through” the ball is emphasized. In fact, the striking the ball is just one part of the learning process.

the driving range and the basics

Many of the larger golf courses will have a driving range available for practice. Communities sometimes have a driving range as part of their recreation area. Beginners should get in the habit of spending time on the driving range, hitting a bucket of balls on a regular basis. The best time to practice is right after a round, when you have in mind some things you want to work on. But it is probably best to do this after working with a teacher once or twice so the beginner knows what to work on.

In addition, many new golfers will go to a driving range and hit an entire bucket of balls with the longest club in the bag, the driver. One teaching professional compared this to learning to drive by getting behind the wheel of a racing car at Indianapolis. It is just as important, even more important, to learn to swing properly using a shorter club such as an iron or wedge. Even hitting a golf-ball sized whiffle ball in the back yard is good, repetitive practice for the new golfer. Another good place for the beginner to spend some time is the par-3 course or the executive course. At these layouts, distance is not the most important aspect of the game. Accuracy is rewarded with the short game.

Many golfers who have played for just a short time will say they have a favorite club. Often this is a 7 iron or 8 iron, a shorter club with which they seem to have less trouble hitting and controlling the ball. It is true that as the club gets longer, it is more difficult to hit the ball straight and long. Basically, this is because the shaft is a bit shorter and the club head has more angle on the shorter clubs. It takes more club head speed to hit a long iron the correct way. That’s why many teachers concentrate on one of the shorter clubs as a learning tool.

fine tuning and special shots

The simplest advice many experienced golfers give to beginners is not to worry about trick shots and specialty shots in golf. A good teacher often says something like, “We’ll learn those one at a time. Later.” But no matter when you work on scoring shots and shots that can get you out of sand or other trouble, make sure you visualize the situation. Get a picture in your mind of what you are trying to accomplish.

Create a “real” situation when practicing these shots and work toward a good result. For example, when you are trying to pitch the ball a short distance onto the green (from just off the edge of the green) it is important to get the height needed so the ball lands softly. Many golfers make the mistake of letting the hands get ahead of the ball when hitting this shot. This can take some of the loft off the shot, making it more difficult to stop the ball on the green. Hitting from a hillside lie is another example of a shot that is best learned in real situations. There are a few basics to follow in the stance and swing that make these shots work better.

These are just two limited examples of what it takes to be “good” at golf. Golf is a game involving dozens of different types of shots. Even experienced professionals are learning the game after decades of successful play. The most important factor in learning the game is patience. If a beginning golfer brings this trait to the game, it can remain enjoyable for years.

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