Golf Tips

John Pawlett asked:


Golf can start an afternoon hobby and turn into a real passion as you get more involved with it. Learning how to play golf is not difficult and going through all the initial steps is actually fun and rewarding. Here are a few golfing tips that will help you start of on the right foot and turn into a real golfer:

Don’t go for the shiniest, most expensive set of golf clubs. As a beginner you will miss a lot of the subtleties of professional golf equipment, so it’s not worth spending thousands on the latest technology and golf club models. Start with a cheaper set of clubs, maybe even a used one.
A good golf set would have a putter, two woods and five irons. The irons are usually the odd numbers, such as 3, 5, 7 and 9 plus a wedge. If you want to experience different club types without actually purchasing them you can always rent a set from the golf course. As in most cases, beginners play their first golf rounds with a more experienced friend so you could always borrow some clubs from them.

Golf coaches are a better alternative than friends when it comes to teaching you how to properly play golf. However, if you are just starting golf for the fun of the game, a friend might be a good tutor initially. The only problem with friends teaching you how to golf is that they do not have the necessary skills to explain all the complexities of the movements, swings and strategies. A golf coach is experienced in giving you complicated terms in plain English.
You can sign up for golf lessons at most golf courses, and this is a good investment if you have a competitive nature and a few friends that doubt your golfing skills. While costs can vary from one extreme to the other per hour, you can also get a group booking that will save you some money.

Learning Golf from an instructor would be ideal because he is the one who will not only teach you ABCs of the game but will take you to the next levels one by one.

1.The Instructor should be able to chalk out a personal plan and then he should ensure that the plan works as planned and desired.

2.Swing, which is natural and is difficult to change. Due emphasis must be given to swing. It is for the instructor to improve your swing. The instructor should be knowledgeable enough to explain the fundamentals leading to swing.

3.The instructor must ensure that your game improves everyday. There is a saying that You’ll get worse before you get better! but you and your instructor should try to prove it wrong.

4.The instructor must behave like a friend; he should encourage you for a good shot and should correct it if there is something wrong or not-so-good shot.

5.The instructor must have the habit of less talking and more teaching. He should always focus on the training, similarly as a learner one should also follow it but aim at learning only.

6.The instructor is like a life partner as far as the Golf is concerned, he is always there to help, guide and support you.

That is why Learning Golf is not as easy as any other sport. One has to put all necessary efforts to learn and become a good player. Once you have the basic notions about golf it is time to make the most out of this game. Ambition and determination are great when developing your golf skills, but do not let these reduce the enjoyment levels of the game.

Nathaniel

Joel L Nelson asked:


The two most common problems golfers seem to struggle with are a) slicing the ball and b) inconsistent ball striking. Perhaps you blister it right off the sweet spot one time, and the next you hit it fat (behind the ball) or thin (on top of the ball) even though you are absolutely sure your set up, grip and swing were virtually identical between those same two shots. Or maybe you find yourself aiming way to the left (if you are right handed) hoping that by the time your ball finishes its impressive banana-shaped flight it will end up somewhere near the fairway. Then, low and behold, you line up like that only to hit it straight into the trees. After struggling with the same two problems for many years I have found what I believe is the root cause of both problems, and would like to share with you what has helped my golf game immensely and hopefully can help yours also.

We all know that the key to a consistent golf shot is returning the club head to a square position at the point of impact. If your club face is open at impact, the ball will slice. If it is closed at impact, you will hook your shot. Also, if you do not return the club head so it contacts your ball cleanly on the ground you will either be hitting fat or thin, neither of which you want to do. Although a lot of things can contribute to those problems the one thing that I have noticed in my own game and in observing others who have these two problems is this: too much lower body movement during the golf swing. Very simply put if anything below your waistline is “loosey-goosey” when you are swinging the golf club the likelihood of making good shots consistently is almost nil.

Watch the professionals on television some weekend and concentrate on their knees while they swing, especially when they are hitting a driver off the tee. You will immediately see that no matter how hard they swing, their lower body is very, very still during their entire swing motion. In some cases the distance between the inside of their two knees does not even change until after the club impacts the ball. Try to catch the ladies tour on television and watch their knees. Since many of them wear skirts when they play the lack of lateral movement in their knees is readily apparent.

When you sway back and then forward, or if your hips move laterally more than an inch or two at most when you shift your weight you are probably too “noisy” with your lower body when you swing. Fixing this problem does not require a lot of strength or special skills, but it does require getting used to what will at first feel like an unnatural swing, but one that will be your best friend once you get accustomed to it and your muscle memory is trained to do it automatically.

One practice drill that you can do in your back yard to learn to shift your weight, instead of sway it, that does not even require hitting balls is to get a couple of quarter-inch diameter wood rods that are long enough to be waist high after you push them into the ground (3 to 3 1/2 feet long). You can buy them for very little at your favorite hardware store. Push one into the ground about an inch to the right of the back part of your right foot when you take a stance like you are addressing the ball, and one about an inch to the left of the back part of your left foot. If you have set it up correctly you are now pretending to address a golf ball with your normal stance, and you have two wood rods pushed into the ground in such a way that the top of each rod is about even with your waist and they are positioned just outside the heel of both your shoes respectively. Then take some practice swings. You should be able to make a complete swing without touching the rods with either of your hips or with the outside of your knees. This drill will also help you learn to make a full turn in your follow through while maintaining good balance. Do not stiffen up so much that you do not follow through. Just concentrate on shifting your weight to the inside of your back foot on your backswing, then shifting it to the inside of your front foot on your forward swing, while making a full turn at your waist without moving laterally during any part of the swing.

After a while you will be shifting your weight back correctly on your backswing but you will not be swaying your body when you do so. Likewise you will be shifting your weight forward correctly on your downswing but you will not be swaying in that direction. Just remember: shifting does not mean swaying! Now the concept of “coiling” your weight back and shifting it forward will make sense. Many golf tips will refer to coiling against the inside of your back leg on your take away, but for years I had no idea what that meant so I was swaying. Now, I shift, and my game has improved considerably.

Once you get used to how this new swing feels head to the practice range and hit a bucket of balls with your favorite iron without regard for distance. Any iron will do but a five or six iron would be a good choice if you are not sure where to begin. Just get used to your new swing while you hit real shots. At first, slow down both your backswing and forward swing. You are not trying to set any distance records. You just need to get the feel of your new swing. As you begin to get used to your new swing, start swinging at your normal pace, but do not swing any harder than you did before applying these techniques. If the driving range allows you to hit off real grass go ahead and push your wood rods in the ground and hit some shots that way.

Keeping your lower body “quiet” applies to all the shots you take whether it is a driver off the tee or a wedge from 15 feet off the green. By limiting your lower body movement and learning to shift, not sway, you will consistently return your club head squarely to the ball, thereby eliminating slicing and inconsistent ball striking.

Gina

Reggie Dunn asked:


For beginners there are three tips for playing the game of golf that my instructor gave me when I first started. It has been a real great help for me. With so much equipment available, people offering you tips for free together with the general understanding that you must take it all seriously, beginning in the game of golf can be perplexing.
1. Never Break the Bank with the First Set of Clubs You Have
When you begin, you are not going to enjoy all of the usefulness that you get from the best set of golf clubs. You are not going to have the club head speed or consistent contact that is needed because you are a beginner. What you can do is buy a cheaper set. A better idea would be to get yourself a set that has already been used. Until the time you realize which clubs would best suit you, you may also want to borrow a set from any of your friends who are already experienced players.
2. Take your Instructions from the Right Person
My suggestion is to really understand the rules of the game you need to get your training from a professional. Your relatives, friends and at times even people who do not know you may believe they have the golf tips for beginners that will take care of all your difficulties. It is very true that your friends who are quite good at the game may offer you tips which may help you when you are just starting. But golf pros are experienced in tackling swing problems and explaining things to you in terms of how swing problems may affect ball flight. I believe that even two to three lessons on golf will aid you to establish a strong basis for your game and lessons are available at almost any golf course.
3. Have Fun with the Game
One of the best golf tips for starters is to just enjoy yourself when your out in the field. This may sound too simple, but bear it in mind that considering everything you may not get your PGA card. Remember also that golf is a leisure game. So being competitive is all right and you are of course going to put in effort for improvement. But play it slow and steady and have a good time with your friends too.
The above mentioned tips for golfers who are just beginning can be a real good stimulant. Golf can be one of the ideal ways to spend your free time, given the conditions that you get the perfect clubs to start with, take instructions from the right people, and have fun.

Herman

Jeffrey Veal asked:


The sport of golf has been with us for thousands of years. People from every corner of the world have enjoyed the tranquility of a few hours spent out on the golf course. The apparent simplicity of playing the game has fooled many people. It is easy to forget the sportsmanship that is involved in the game as you watch someone who plays the game well. Hitting the ball is not as easy as it seems, as so many people who don’t play seem to think. To become good at golf, you will have to put in a lot of hours practicing. There are no two ways about it. A good understanding of how the whole body is involved in a golf swing is important, also. If you are brand new to the game, the following tips can help your game get off to the right start.

Taking golf lessons is probably the best thing a beginning golfer can do to make sure they get started in the right direction. A lot of people overlook this not realizing just how much golf lessons will mold the way you play the game. Believe it or not, golf is considered a sport. Just as with any sport, there is a great deal of learning, practicing, and time spent playing the game. So many people forego the actual practice, instead opting to go out on the course and start trying to play. They don’t realize they are short changing themselves by missing out on tips that can help their game. The game of golf can be complex, but at the same time it can be very fulfilling with the aide of some good golf lessons.

The next best advice to beginning golf is to practice, practice, practice. A good rule of thumb is to double the amount of time practicing compared to a golf lesson. For instance, if you had a golf lesson that lasted for an hour, practice at least two hours. Practice like this every time for a least three times a week. You’ll be introduced to a new technique during your golf lesson. To really grasp and utilize this technique, spending double the time practicing compared to the lesson will help enforce the technique. You’ll be able to break down the technique and eventually work it into your game. The only way to really get something out of these lessons and other golf tips is to practice them. Otherwise, they won’t do you any good.

Another tip, one that is commonly overlooked because it is so simple, is to watch someone who really can play the sport well in action. Take the time to check out the professionals on TV. Go to a professional tournament if you ever get the chance. If one of your local courses has an amateur tournament, check it out because you will see some good talent there, also. The good thing about watching the professionals on TV is the super slow motion replays that they now have. You can really study the swing from start to finish with these replays.

Just remember, the game of golf is one of the most challenging, while at the same time it is one of the most rewarding activities you’ll ever attempt. It has even stumped some of the most gifted professional athletes who excelled at other sports. But, with a true passion for the game along with some good lessons and plenty of practice, you could be the next Tiger Woods.

Kathleen

Joel L Nelson asked:


Practice is important in any sport and golf is no exception. To really improve your game you must spend time fine tuning your swing. But many golfers simply “hit balls” on the practice range without checking to see if they are improving. Here are some tips to help measure the effectiveness of your practice sessions on the driving range.

First, you must identify your objective on the range. Some people are trying to fix a slice or a hook while others are trying to add distance to their shots. If you do not know what your objective is you will not know if you have achieved it. You may not have a noticeable flaw to correct but you need to train your muscles so you can make good shots consistently. So hitting consistently is your objective in that case. Just make sure you have a clear idea of your purpose.

Second, it does not matter too much if you quit slicing or hooking the ball, or if you add 30 yards to your drive if your shots are spraying to the left or right. You may have eliminated the slice in your ball flight, but did the ball actually go towards your target? I have heard people “oooh” and “ahhh” over their practice shots even though one went well to the left of what appeared to be their target line and the next went just as far to the right. Make sure you identify a target and gauge if you are hitting the ball within a few yards on either side of that target until the balls rolls to a stop.

Third, always hit a variety of clubs in a random order on the range. This will better reflect how a real round of golf is played. You never hit your seven iron fifteen times in a row on a normal round of golf so do not get locked into hitting only your seven iron on the practice range even if it is your seven iron that needs the work. For example, to work on your seven iron try hitting your seven a few times, then hit a 3-wood a couple of times, then hit a four-iron, then a wedge, then back to the seven for a few shots. This will help you practice your set-up routine for various shots since usually you address the ball and take your stance slightly differently for woods, low irons and high irons respectively.

Fourth, do not be in a hurry. Take a break for a minute or two after hitting a dozen balls or so. If you exhaust yourself you may begin making poor swings due to your tiring out that would almost never happen in a round of golf because on the course there is almost always a few minutes between shots that require a full swing.

Finally, take time at home some evening to write down on an index card the swing keys that help you prepare for taking a golf shot. Most people will have a list of five to eight things. Go through your set-up routine in your mind and jot down, in order, what you do to check your alignment, grip, stance, weight distribution, etc… and take that card with you to the practice range. Then read it over before EVERY practice shot for the first ten or fifteen shots. Train your mind to go through that list so it becomes a habit when you are playing a round of golf.

Hopefully you will develop your own list of golf tips from your time spent on the practice range and you will graduate from just “hitting balls” to actually tuning your swing by having a yard stick by which to measure your results on the practice range.

Kathleen

Shakil Zaman asked:


There are many factors that can contribute to helping to lower your golf scores and reduce your handicap and course management is one of them. This is an often overlooked aspect of golf as people seek to develop a perfect swing in order to play better golf. The fact is that proper course management can make a huge difference and it really is a big part of the mental game of golf.

Every course has it unique challenges and every hole is also different. It is important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are first. When you play a new course analyze each hole and come up with a game plan. Your game plan should have an element of flexibility, for instance if it is windy then you will need to adjust accordingly and hit lower shots and choose longer clubs, you may hit more punch shots that stay under the wind if the wind is in your face.

If the wind is helping you might decide to go ahead with a driver on a par 5 and go for the green in 2 shots instead of using a 3 wood. A good tip to follow is to analyze each hole from the green looking back to the tee. This view will let you see the hole better and will allow you to pick better landing spots on the fairway that will give you a better and flatter lie for easier approach shots.

When hitting approach shots into a green you are generally better being short than long unless there is water or some other hazard short of the green. Most courses are very unforgiving if you go long on a hole as you will usually find yourself in the trees or even out of bounds. The pin positions on a hole should influence how you hit your approach shots. For most amateurs it is good advice to pick the fat part of the green instead of shooting at tight pin placements that bring water and other hazards into play like bunkers.

It is important to play high percentage shots that you know you can pull off more often than not. If you find yourself 275 yards from a hole and have never hit a 3 wood that far then do not try to pull of a miracle shot on the course. Instead just lay up safely with a shorter club and then use your wedge game to get the ball close to the hole. Do not forget to take the hardness of the greens into consideration when hitting your approach shots. After the first couple of holes you should be able to get a good idea of how much roll the greens have.

You should always hit the shot you know you can hit rather than some shot you saw a pro hit on tv. Also be sure to swing within yourself and under control as this will help to promote more accurate swing mechanics. Also when checking for wind direction on a hole it is best to look at the tops of trees instead of just throwing up some grass in the air since the wind at ground level may be swirling due to trees and hills whereas the golf ball will be more affected by the wind higher up.

Before each round make sure to come up with a specific game plan and club selection off the tee for each hole and stick with it. If you made a decision to not go for a specific par 5 in 2 shots then do not change that plan and hit your driver just because some of your playing partners decided to go for the green in two. The biggest key to course management may be simply playing the high percentage shots that keep you out of trouble and allows you to hit the most fairways and greens in regulation. Use some of these golf course management tips to help you play better golf and shoot lower scores.

Lillie

Andrew Green asked:


If you do not yet know all of the top golf tips that there are to be found then you had better get a move on. If you want to improve your game that is. There is no better way to brush up on your playing than to make use of some great golf tips. And the best thing about golf tips is that they are so darn easy to find.

You can find hundreds of the best and most popular golf tips on the internet. In a matter of minutes you can have tons of amazing golf tips at your disposal and most of them will be so basic that you will be shocked at how quickly they will improve your game.

Your game needs to be excellent if you want to be able to rule the links at your home golf course. There is some [pretty stiff competition out there and in order to you to kick butt you need to know all of the latest and best golf tips. By doing a basic search online for some golf tips you will find all kinds from tips to help you improve your swing to tips to help you aim better. You will even find all kinds of golf tips to help you choose the best possible equipment in your price range. We cannot all afford the top of the line clubs so finding out how to make the most of your dollar is one of the best golf tips that you will ever come across.

You should spend more than on day searching for good golf tips. These should be something that you are always on the lookout for, you never know where you will come across some fantastic golf tips. You can get them from your friends who play or from watching golf shows on the TV. It does not matter who or where you get your golf tips as long as they can be put to use in order to make your golf game all that it can be and more.

If you are having some trouble in a particular aspect of your game then ask someone for some advice. Do not wait for good golf tips to fall out of the sky because this does not happen very often. You need to be brave and speak up. If you see someone doing something that you have had trouble with ask him or her how they make it look so easy. This is the best way to get the golf tips that you really need and that will really have the biggest impact on your game each time that you play golf.

You may even want to take a few lessons with your local pros. These guys are full of great golf tips and they are always willing to share. Take some lessons and really pick their brains in order to glean all that you can from them. And when the lessons are over ask if they have any more good golf tips for you to take home and mull over. They might just have some.

Kathryn

Dave Furnevall asked:


Fundamentals

Stance

A consistent position helps develop a consistent swing. A square stance will encourage a square impact. Keep feet perfectly parallel to the target line. If you imagine standing on a train track your feet are against one rail the ball is next to the other. Develop a comfortable standing position with your feet directly below your shoulders with your toes slightly outward facing.

Position the ball 2-3 inches inside the left heel for most shots. If it is too far forward you will be more likely to slice.

Moving one foot slightly forward will enable either fade (outside to inside) or draw (inside to outside). Experiment with the shot direction on how much you move your foot.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do always check the position of the ball using your clubs aligned on the ground.

Do take your time to settle into your stance and get relaxed.

Do be consistent with your stance.

Grip

A good grip is the foundation of your golf swing, enabling greater control and reducing your tendency to slice. A good grip helps keep the club-head square at impact and stops the shaft from rotating in your hands.

The most popular grip used by professional golfers is the Vardon grip.

Place your little finger on the lower hand on the club (right hand for a right-handed player – known as the trailing hand) and place it between the index and middle finger on the top hand (known as the lead hand). The thumb of the lead-hand should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand (the V). Look to get a relaxed and comfortable feel, a tight grip will hinder your swing. The V’s formed by the index finger and thumbs on both hands point between the chin and right shoulder. Turning hands anti-clockwise on the club shaft produces a weak grip, promoting a left-to-right flight of the ball (slice). Turning hands clockwise produces a strong grip, promoting a right-to-left flight of the ball (hook).

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t grip the club too tightly

Do keep the rubber grips on your club handles in good condition. Worn grips cause problems by forcing you to hold the club too tightly.

Do get a feel for the grip by practising frequently gripping and re-gripping the club regularly.

Alignment

When you are practising, make sure your use you clubs as alignment. Lay one club on the ground parallel to the target line and another from toe to toe indicating the direction of your stance. To indicate the ball position, lay another club at 90deg’s to the target line extending backward from the ball toward your feet. Now check it all. When you are happy with the alignment you can a club across your shoulders, hips and thighs to check everything is aligned parallel to the target!

Do’s and Don’ts

Do check, check and check again, it will be invaluable to troubleshoot any problems.

Don’t leave the club between your feet longer than necessary but feel free to leave one club on the ground parallel to the target line during practice sessions.

Swing Path

To get a straight shot you require an inside to square i.e. hitting the ball squarely swing-path. An inside to outside swing-path encourages a hook, outside to inside swing-path a slice. Imagine a line extending through the ball to the target, your goal is a swing-path that starts on the inside striking the ball while moving slightly to the outside.

Also you can direct the ball with the club face - straight 90deg to the ball

Clubface open (>90deg) to ball encourages a slice or fade

Clubface closed (

Gordon

David asked:


By Will Allen

The All About Golf Tips 7 Iron Chip which is THE BEST WAY for the majority of amateur golfers to get the ball close to the hole, is also sometimes referred to as the “chip and run.” The simplicity of this 7 Iron shot is the reason for it’s great effectiveness. Breaking the shot down to it’s basic, simple swing allows up to drastically lower the margin of error one would make using the classic chip shot. Here is the All About Golf Tips Strategy for hitting this simple shot: When the ball is in a position just off the green surface, get into a setup position exactly the same as you would during a full swing shot. Then choke down about two or three inches on the club. Move slightly closer to the ball to accommodate the choke. Make a stoke similar to a putting stroke only slightly harder. All About Golf Tips recommends that when you initally start using this shot you spend some time practicing it. All great golfers know that repetition is key to excellence. Also, All About Golf Tips knows that it takes practice to familiarize yourself with the distance control needed with different sized swings. Because the seven iron has much more loft than the putter it will be necessary to make a putting stroke. This putting stroke will be for a putt of the same length but only slightly larger than one used with a putter. This is a direct result of the energy of the stroke being used to hit the ball up (due to the loft) rather than 100% of the energy directed to forward movement as is the case with a putt on the greens surface. All About Golf Tips.com recommends that you only use this shot when the carry distance (or the distance it needs to travel in the air) is short enough to land the ball on the green (or the fringe). All About Golf Tips.com also wants you to remember when considering this shot that the ball will roll according to the flow of the green.

Jamie

George Gabriel asked:


Golfing can be an expensive past time, especially if you have to take golf lessons to boot. Taking golf lessons gives you the ability to have someone guide you and spot critical mistakes in your golf swing. There is another alternative to golf lessons even though golf lessons are the fastest and best way to a better golf game.

There is a lot of good reading material on the Internet that helps in solving your slice, hook, or whatever problem you have getting the golf ball to the hole. Taking a good golf book seriously and implementing the instructions on the course will turn your game around in no time. If your having trouble breaking 100, 90, and even 80. This article has a few tips on reaching your goals at your own pace.

Whatever book you decide to choose on the Internet or local store, read the chapters over several times before you take these instructions on the practice range. Practice at least three times a week. There are a few points to keep in mind when practicing any kind of new golf swing that amateurs tend to overlook.

Consider the slope of terrain that you are implementing your new golf swing. Take a large bucket of balls and practice the swing with different slope positions. Swing easy at first, then gradually step up to your normal swing speed. You’re not always going to have a flat lie out on the golf course. It may take half dozen balls or more to get comfortable with different types of fairway slopes, but once you follow the book closely and practice, you will soon overcome any problems at first. Be persistent!

Choose the shorter clubs first and gradually work your way to the driver. Do not leave any club in the bag. Practice them all. If you’re having trouble with a longer club, do not skip it and move past. Pause with the lesser club and go backwards until you gain confidence to move back to the golf club you dislike hitting. Pause at the club before and keep hitting it until you feel confident to play the golf club your having problems with.

Always shoot towards a target and always keep the distance in mind for each golf club. You will eventually have stronger wrists and arms as you progress through a full month of practicing three times a week. The distance will change as you move forward in your persistent self-golf training. The golf holes will get shorter. As you read through your golf book, look for tips on choking down on the club to take a little distance off your newfound power.

Find a nice quiet place to practice your short game. You need to be at least 100 yards out and work your way in with the putter being the last club to practice. If you are not hitting the greens, you must know how to chip and play out of bunkers. Mastering your short game will also take a bundle of golf strokes off your game.

Practicing your golf swing as much as three times a week for at least 1 month, and reading up on golf swing instructions will eventually move you towards a much lower scorecard if you are persistent with your goals.

Ashley