Golf - Beginner needs help

[Dibby]

I recently took up golf. Bought a full set of clubs and all that jazz.

I'm just going to get to the point and list my current failings as even a half decent golfer:

• Loose grip
• Wild swing
• Lost golf balls
• Feel uncomfortable in stance
• Miss the ball on occassions :lol:

And the few plus points:

• Strong drive when I connect
• Decent putting
• Good understanding of shot types and situations

Can anyone offer any tips for a beginner?

Thanks.

EDIT: Just remembered that the golf outing I went to on Sunday was filmed so I have two tee-offs that I may be able to put on youtube.

The first hole, I put two balls over the road to my right.

The second, I hit a pretty sweet drive.

 

[Yid-ol]

maybe slow down your swing, dont try and belt the ball so far down the fairway (or rough in some cases :lol if you slow the swing down you will have more controle over it, no miss as much, not be as erratic in the swing, and hopefully not lose as many balls! :up:

the lose grip... do you just grip the club little finger next to other hands finger, or interlock them? i dont have huge wrists, so i normaly slide my first 2 fingers between the other hands first 2 fingers next to them so its mroe of a strong grip.

The stance will be the hardest, everyone has there own way of standing to how they swing, maybe explain what feels wrong about it and someone might be able to help a little bit more

 

[antiloqus]

the best way ive heard the strength of grip needed explained is to imagine you are holding a tube of toothpaste but without squeezing any of the paste out. although I would wear a glove while doing this for the extra grip incase you go a little too loose :wink:

 

[Dibby]

I'm gripping the club with my index finger of my right hand between the little and ring fingers of my right and my left thumb below my right.

 

[Dibby]

the best way ive heard the strength of grip needed explained is to imagine you are holding a tube of toothpaste but without squeezing any of the paste out. although I would wear a glove while doing this for the extra grip incase you go a little too loose :wink:

I don't have a glove yet. Do they aid much in terms of grip?

 

[Yid-ol]

I'm gripping the club with my index finger of my right hand between the little and ring fingers of my right and my left thumb below my right.

Are you left hadned then? Try moving down a finger, so the little finger is between middle and ring finger?! it just means ther is more strengh in the wrist and less likley of the club turning in your hand. Might feel abit weird to start with, but it does help if you get used to it

I don't have a glove yet. Do they aid much in terms of grip?

They do, i would say get one.

 

[Dibby]

Are you left hadned then? Try moving down a finger, so the little finger is between middle and ring finger?! it just means ther is more strengh in the wrist and less likley of the club turning in your hand. Might feel abit weird to start with, but it does help if you get used to it



They do, i would say get one.

Sorry, I meant I'm gripping the club with my index finger of my left hand between the little and ring fingers of my right and my left thumb below my right.

I'll try that. Cheers.

 

[Defsta]

Just don't broke your back like I did yesterday

 

[Bonjour]

Get a glove (for your left hand if you're right handed). It will help no end.

First try to nail the swing with your 7 iron, then work up. You might find an hour's lesson, just to get you started, will be a massive help.

Also, which clubs are you using? The correct clubs can make the world of difference. The Mizuno MX-19's are excellent for beginners.

 

[chrissivad]

The first hole, I put two balls over the road to my right.

This is just a guess as i haven't seen your swing.

But it could be your hands and coming through faster than the head of the club.

This results in you hitting across the golf ball and slicing it.

It could be two things (that i know of, could be many more);

1: Your right hip is is coming through too quick, pushing your shoulder out and your hands forward.

2: Your breaking your wrists, and playing more of a cricket shot.

 

[don1]

try and shorten your swig and swig a bit easier you might get more control of the ball but if you book 2 or 3 lessons this will be a help to you before you pick up any bad habbits

 

[Shanks]

Your grip sounds all over the place.

On the BBC website, they have picture guides for various grips, but I've used it recently.

I played at a decent standard around 5/6 years ago, I was around a 14 handicap.
However, I'm playing a crap 28 at the moment. I've got a horrible fade to my shot, my club selection is horrible and my short game has gone to pot, completely and utterly.

I know what I am doing wrong with my swing, but its hard to change it, I did buy a new set of clubs (Wilson Di7's), and it says you get an extra 20 yards or so out of them, so from around 150 yards, I'm struggling, my 8 iron goes over the green from around the 150 mark, my 9 iron short, so I need to work on that part too.

Here is the link about the grip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/skills/4226142.stm

 

[Dibby]

This is the grip I'm using:

I recently bought a set of Ben Sayers M2i Irons and Ben Sayers Powerpact XS Driver + 5 Wood but haven't given them a go yet.

 

[KentuckyYid]

You'll be surprised how many peoples grips are wrong for them. Go get yourself fitted. Fairly recently I bought a set of Callaway FT Fusions but if I hadn't of got myself fitted out they'd have been wrong for me and a waste of money.

There are thousands of golf lessons available for free online to improve all aspects of your game.

If you're brand new to the game it's better to start on your short game then work yourself out to driving. By the time you're working on your long game (shots are harder) you should have a better understanding of controlling the clubs.

 

[Dibby]

I have now sorted my grip and playing quite well now. My new clubs arrived this morning too. :grin:

Ben Sayer M2i Irons

Ben Sayers PowerPact XS Driver and 5 wood

Wilson Harmonized 425 Putter

Love them

 

[mattwilson]

show me a photo of the topside of your grip, doesnt matter too much if you have an interlocking or baseball grip - thats just preference... let me see where your thumbs sit on the upper side of your golf club

go to the driving range with just your 7 iron and hit 50 balls, tell me what happens to the majority of them, if they go left or right, up or along the deck, if you hook/pull/slice/push

i've been playing for 20 years (since i was 5) - i'm sure i can give you quite a few pointers

 

[Dibby]

show me a photo of the topside of your grip, doesnt matter too much if you have an interlocking or baseball grip - thats just preference... let me see where your thumbs sit on the upper side of your golf club

go to the driving range with just your 7 iron and hit 50 balls, tell me what happens to the majority of them, if they go left or right, up or along the deck, if you hook/pull/slice/push

i've been playing for 20 years (since i was 5) - i'm sure i can give you quite a few pointers

OK, great.

I'll get a pic of my grip as soon as I can.

Thanks.

During my round on Monday, I was slicing more than were going straight there is definately something more wrong.

 

[mattwilson]

if youre slicing then its more than likely that you've got the club face slightly open when its connecting with the ball, could be affected by a dodgy grip though or standing too far away from the ball - more than likely going to be the first point though.

if youre still missing the ball sometimes like mentioned in your original thread then just slow down your swing a bit

 

[Dibby]

if youre slicing then its more than likely that you've got the club face slightly open when its connecting with the ball, could be affected by a dodgy grip though or standing too far away from the ball - more than likely going to be the first point though.

if youre still missing the ball sometimes like mentioned in your original thread then just slow down your swing a bit

I slowed my swing on Monday and the missed swings have now been eradicated.

I was trying to bust the ball at the start which caused problems.

 

[mattwilson]

yea... to be honest i was trying to knock the cover off the ball for like 10 years!! its such a tempation when youve got a driver with a massive head in front of you!

accuracy > all... let the club determine your distance.

when youre swing is sorted, you should be able to hit a 7 iron 150ish yards (depending on your size), add 10 yards every time you go down a club and take 10 off every time you go up one