Well, on a driving range to be exact. I’m not stepping out on a course until I can consistently hit the ball straight and (somewhat) far.
It was only my first time, but man am I bad! I think my best drive was 150 yards and many, many balls went off in unintended directions. I did pick up pretty quick on the value of a full follow-through though.
Today I am a little sore. I guess now I know which muscles to stretch before the next time.
You’d be better off learing to use an iron. They are easier to hit. Yes you will not hit it as far, but you will not hit it as far off line either. I would say try using something from a 6 on down through a pitching wedge. If you think about it, a 6 iron that goes 150 yards and stays on the fairway, is much better then only sometimes getting a drive on the fairway. You can still make most par 5s in 3-4 shots. I wouldn’t worry about par when you play since most people do not make par consistantly. I usually have my own par which is +1. If I get mostly 5-6s I’m happy.
Thanks! I will take that advice. I stuck mostly to the driver yesterday, since it was my first time out (ever) and just wanted to get the feel of it really. I swung the 5 iron a few times but didn’t have much success at all. Once I get the idea of swing and stance, I will open myself up to the irons a bit more I figure.
After all, I’m only supposed to use the woods twice (at the most) on each hole, right?
What really scares me is the short game. I figure I am just going to shoot for ones rather than waste time putting
A reformed golfer checking in (reformed in that I realized that I didn’t have the time or patience to play enough to get good - and playing a lot is what it takes to get good). I once shot an 80 and said, “That’s it - that’s as good as I can do. I quit.” Haven’t picked up a club since. Here’s some thoughts:
Play golf. A driving range is ok for getting the basic mechanics of your swing down, but playing on a course sharpens them. Plus, you learn course management that you can’t learn on a range.
2 The short game is where strokes are lost. If you’ve got a yard, take a dozen balls out in the yard and pitch them around (“I’ve got to hit the telephone pole at the end of the yard in two shots” - that sort of thing).
I never hit a driver. A 3 wood off the tee on a par 5. For par 4s I used a 2 iron (which I could hit nearly as far, but much straighter). I never did learn to hit a fairway wood worth a damn.
You are only as good as your last shot, and you’re only playing against your own best score. I had friends who were highly competitive on the course, and I refused to participate. I was out for a walk and happened to be hitting this little white ball around as well.
HAVE FUN. That’s what games are supposed to be about.
Here’s a rule for when you start out. Hit the driving range range again and try this. Instead of trying to hit the ball hard, use a steady slow to medium downswing. When beginning, a slow stroke will always go straighter and further than trying to crush it.
*can’t wait to hit the course this afternoon! * (note the screenname )
Driving the ball 150 yards on your first day isn’t bad. It took me a few tries before I even had anything resembling a proper drive. I now use only irons (2 and 4) to drive off the tee, because I get more distance and consistency than I do with my driver. I might as well leave the driver and woods at home.
Spend as much time on the practice green as you do on the driving range. Practice putting and pitches on the practice green, not just putting. And practice long pitches and irons on the driving range, practice getting certain distances and aiming.
What skutir wrote: TAKE LESSONS. Why ingrain bad habits right off the bat? I usually recommend to friends who want to take up the game to smoke crack instead, it’s cheaper and less addictive. Welcome to game. As Tom Waston once said, It’s not life or death, it’s more important than that. (Of course pre-BE ALS diagnosis).
I agree with everything plnnr said but I would clarify this. You do learn a lot about course management and such playing a par 72 golf course, but you can also learn the same things with considerably less stress on a par 59. I don’t know about what golf courses in your area are like but at the course where I play, rounds on a weekend can take up to 5 1/2 - 6 hours. And this is because of one hacker shooting a 120-130 because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Find an executive course in your area, it’ll be cheaper, it’ll help you with your irons and you can still use you woods on occasion. The one I frequent is a par 59, 3500 yards. Plenty of kids and families golfing and learning there, plus it’s still a tough little course for the more advanced players as well.
And take lessons, it was the best thing I ever did for my game.
I’m really hoping to get lessons, I’m just trying to find something that won’t suck my wallet dry. A bad year to take up Golf I guess, what with buyiung our first house and all, but eh…<shrug>
I’m trying to not clog up a course for the reasons Kid_A mentioned. I don’t want to bring other golfers to a halt while I ‘figure it out’. I did see an ad today for a course that offers an atmosphere suitable for families and beginners, so I may give that a go.
I’m also looking for a range near the office so I can get out and maybe hit half a bucket on my lunch hour… is that bad?
So, you want me to tee-off with a 3-wood or a 2-iron? To a person who’s only ever read “How To” books over the winter, that sounds odd. I’ll try it though. Whatever works.
And I should also mention here that I’m not looking to get that good. I just want to be able to hold my own so to speak. You know, be able to go out and shoot a round with friends and neighbours. I’m not looking to be all that good, I just don’t want to be the worst guy there!
Hit whatever you can hit consistently straight. Personally, whenever I pulled the driver out of the bag I felt like I had a bowling ball at the end of a fly rod and I just knew, knew, knew that I was never going to get the head of the club around. Consequently, I’d never get the club head around. With a 3 wood or a 2 iron, I knew I could make good, clean contact, and with my 2 iron I had the added benefit of knowing that I could hit it straight and true. I couldn’t hit it 200 yards, but I’d still be in the middle of the fair way. Of course, I would then proceed to skull my 5 iron to the green or knock it onto the next tee box (I also had the uncanny ability to find sand traps - my friends even chipped in a got me some sun tan lotion because I spent so much time “on the beach”).
I would say try using the 3 wood first. The 2 iron tends to be the most difficult club in the bag to hit, aside from the driver. But I do know people who for the life of them couldn’t hit a wood but can nail a 2 iron 230 yeards consistently. I also know people who swear by the 15 and 17 woods in their bag.
Find out if you’re a woods or an irons person. As a beginner, you’ll probably find contact easier with a wood.