10 basics that will help beginner golfers play the game better
- Nail the basic fundamentals. You can spot a good golfer before they even hit the golf ball. Their key fundamentals of...
- Understand how the ball gets into the air. One of the greatest challenges beginners face is getting the ball in the...
- Know how far your clubs go. Even as a beginner, one of the...
Full Answer
Why a beginner's guide to golf?
At Golf Digest, this may be the language we speak every day, but we also know it's a language that can scare prospective golfers off before they ever pick up a club.That's where this online beginner's guide comes in. To those who know nothing about golf, our goal is to shepherd you through this uncertainty. What kind of clubs do you need?
Do other players really care how good a golfer you are?
For instance, it’s worth noting most other players don’t really care how good a golfer you are provided you’re not dramatically impacting their experience. That means not slowing the round down even if you’re struggling (better to give yourself a reasonable number of strokes for each hole and picking up for that hole after that).
Do you know the rules of golf?
Yes, it's true, the Rules of Golf is 182 pages long and understanding many of the game's 34 rules is important. But don't worry. Most golfers, including those guys who turned their noses up at playing with a newcomer like you, have very little knowledge of how to play the game correctly.
Why is it important to have a good driver in golf?
If you’ve got a driver you can trust, you’ve gone a long way to starting the hole with confidence, purpose and most importantly distance. That gives you a fighting chance to enjoy most of the day because there’s nothing worse in golf than being out of the hole before you’ve actually started it. How do I know if I’m ready for the golf course?
Does practicing golf make you better?
It Improves Your Game Faster Than Anything Else Whether that's at the driving range, putting green or on the course, there is no substitute for good practice. The more time you put forth practicing, the lower your scores will be. Even better, no time spent practicing can be considered bad.
What skills does golf improve?
Golf's 7 Essential SkillsPre swing fundamentals - Grip, Aim and Setup. Grip – Most golfers have never held a golf club properly. ... Club face control. Accuracy is a combination of aim and clubface control. ... Strike, don't scoop. ... Swing Plane. ... Pivot. ... Effortless power, not powerless effort. ... Width in your golf swing.
Is learning to golf worth it?
If you're a beginner, golf lessons will be well worth the money. A lot of it will depend on how good of a coach you have but it is a great way to shortcut success. Just like with any other sport, you always had a coach. Golf shouldn't be any different.
Is golf a life skill?
It's engaging and offers much more than simply hitting a ball down the fairway. I encourage everyone to go beyond just playing mini golf, try the real thing, and if you need someone to go with you, I can always be persuaded to play. Golf is a life skill, learn it.
What is the hardest part of golf?
The hardest shot in golf is being a foot or two off the green in rough with the pin 15 feet or less away on the green. Brian S. A greenside shot with the ball sitting down in deep rough or a fried egg in a trap to a tight pin with the green running down to a water hazard.
What are the physical benefits of golf?
Golf, specifically, provides moderately intense physical activity, such as walking, carrying your bag, and swinging. This increases your heart rate and blood flow, which results in a healthy heart, enhanced brain stimulation, and improved balance. Spectators and caddies can benefit from golf too!
Does golf build character?
Character Building Beyond learning the game, golf naturally promotes great character-building habits that will carry across into your everyday life. By playing golf, you naturally build honesty, patience, and problem-solving skills.
How is life like golf?
Golf reminds you of your mortality. Like life, a round of golf begins in easy optimism, progresses through a lengthy middle period in which hope and despair are mingled, deteriorates into regret, confusion, and resignation, and comes abruptly to an end.
What do kids learn from golf?
Playing golf strengthens the spine and core muscles, and can encourage children to try other sports and activities too. The physical skills they learn in golf, such as hand-eye coordination, can carry over and help them succeed in other sports and develop lifelong healthy exercise habits.
How does golf affect your body?
12) Control your breathing. You might not know it, but golf can create so much stress that it triggers the “fight or flight” response in your body. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases, and your mind begins to race. These are all things that make it harder to focus and stay in the moment.
Why is short game important in golf?
Having a great short game can be a shield that protects a golfer from all of the errant shots that occur in your long game.
How to improve putts in golf?
There are two ways you can do this. The first is by working on your speed control, and the second is learning to square the putter face at impact.
What is the best golf tip?
Reducing double bogeys is probably the best golf tip I could give to any golfer. One of the biggest mistakes that most recreational golfers make is getting too aggressive with shots around the green, and going for a low-percentage play like a flop shot.
How to calm yourself down during golf?
Here is a simple breathing exercise you can do on the course to calm yourself down and relax yourself. Plenty of professional golfers do controlled breathing during their rounds because it actually works. Most golf tips don’t explore this part of the game, but it’s an essential tool to have on the course.
What is the best way to get a rhythm in golf?
Great golf is all about repetition, and the tempo of your golf swing is at the heart of it. Working with beats can be an extremely effective way for all golfers to find a rhythm that works for them, and allow them to repeat it from swing to swing.
What is impact in golf?
It’s because no matter what your swing looks like beforehand, if you can control what the club is doing when you make contact with the ball you can have a successful outcome. The DST Compressor is a unique swing trainer that helps golfers get into an optimal position, and has caught fire on the professional tours simply because it works.
How to grip a golf club properly?
DO: Learn how to grip the club properly.#N#DON’T: Try to keep your head “down and still” through impact. Let it follow through with the rest of your body .#N#DO: Bend from your hip s.#N#DON’T: Bend from your knees.#N#DO: Get your lead shoulder under your chin on the backswing and finish with your face , chest and hips and facing the target.#N#DON’T: Stay flat-footed through impact.#N#DO: Concentrate on the short game by chipping and putting before focusing on long irons (3-iron, 4-iron, etc.) and your hybrids, fairway woods and driver.
Who said golf is the greatest game ever invented?
In the immortal words of Arnold Palmer: “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening—and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”.
Do you take range balls to the golf course?
Always be ready to hit your shot when it’s your turn. DON’T: Take range balls to the golf course. Many are limited-flight models, so it’s just not worth it. DO: Take the time to learn basic rules and etiquette.
Is golf the greatest game in the world?
Getty Images. Golf is the greatest game in the world—just ask anyone who plays! But getting started as a beginner can be a daunting—and often intimidating—prospect. To help you (or someone you know) take the plunge, here’s a definitive list of dos and don’ts for the aspiring player.
Who taught kids how to play golf?
The Hall of Fame golfer-turned-commentator Johnny Miller once described teaching his kids how to play golf as starting out by letting them whack balls into a pond because it was fun to see the splash. Notably, there was no talk about how to hold a club, how to swing it, or anything else technical.
How long has Golf Digest been around?
There’s a reason Golf Digest has been around for 70 years, and it’s because there’s no shortage of topics to cover when it comes to the greatest game there is. But best to keep it simple with some basics here first. When you’re ready for more, we’re here.
What time is a good time to check tee time?
Often, late afternoons are great options. There are a number of tee-time aggregators (Supreme Golf, GolfNow or TeeOff.com), which is good for searching for a tee time at multiple courses at the same time.
Is there a rule for golf?
It’s true, golf has plenty of rules, but you should take solace knowing even many experienced players don’t know all of them. If you’re venturing out onto the course for the first time, really the most important thing is to be respectful of the people you’re playing with and the golf course itself.
Is there a better time to learn golf?
There has never been a better time to learn golf, and if you’ve come this far, it’s probably because you’ve figured that out on your own. By its nature, golf is uniquely suited for a social-distancing world —it’s a game played over a vast outdoor space, a worthwhile source of exercise, a diversion for the mind.
Can you practice with plastic balls?
Plastic balls are great if you don’t have a mat and are practicing in a field near you or your backyard. Those won’t hurt anyone, and will allow you to take a full swing without losing a ball. Also, look into retail stores near you: Some offer practice time by the hour. That’s a great alternative for winter practice.
Do you need golf shoes right away?
Our purpose here is to give you the basics—not only how to hit a golf ball, but what you need to hit the ball with, and anything else necessary to start your golf journey on the right foot (speaking of which, you don’t need golf shoes right away). There’s a reason Golf Digest has been around for 70 years, and it’s because there’s no shortage ...
How to get better at golf swing?
Start out by hitting one of your wedges or short irons, warming up your golf muscles with half-swings. Then increase the length and speed of your swings, and move on to your middle irons. Work your way up to the driver, and after you hit some balls with it, go back to a short iron or wedge.
Who said there's golf and then there's tournament golf and neither one resembles the other?
Part 9: Outings. The legendary amateur golfer Bobby Jones once said, "There's golf and then there's tournament golf, and neither one resembles the other.". If you're signed up to play in an organized golf event or outing for the first time, don't let those words unnerve you.
How many pages are there in the rules of golf?
Yes, it's true, the Rules of Golf is 182 pages long and understanding many of the game's 34 rules is important. But don't worry. Most golfers, including those guys who turned their noses up at playing with a newcomer like you, have very little knowledge of how to play the game correctly.
What to eat before a round of golf?
The best foods to eat for a round of golf are lean protein (such as chicken or turkey) and complex carbohydrates (such as all-bran cereal or a banana). You should eat before the round and again at the turn, or on the back nine, to maintain energy and concentration. And drink lots and lots of water.
Can you play from another hole?
It's (mostly) OK to play from another hole : If your shot lands in another fairway, you can play the ball as it lies as long as that fairway is not designated as out of bounds (white stakes or lines). If you don't see white stakes or lines, you can play back to the hole you're playing.
Can golf make you think too much?
When in doubt, go back to basics: Golf can really get you thinking too much. There's a lot of information out there, and the most mind-numbing part can be the instruction. When you're a new golfer, you can't help but read it and watch it, but too much can be, well, too much.
How to hit a golf ball correctly?
To correctly prep your posture for action, stand with a club pressed against your thighs. Then bend forward from your hips while slightly flexing your knees. If you do this without hunching your back, your arms will hang straight down. Perfect. Now grip the handle with your glove hand and check that it’s at roughly a 45-degree angle to your forearm. Once you’ve taken hold with your gloved hand, add the other. Congrats! You’re in perfect setup posture. —Sean Hogan
How does lag work in golf?
Tip: Once you get to the top of your swing and you’re ready to start back down, feel like you’re rotating your hips as hard as you can. That will create the lag. Lag creates speed, and speed creates power. “Cameron uses the principle of elastic energy to create his speed,” says Foley.
Why does my golf ball go wayward?
Often, shots go wayward because of a misaligned clubface at address. Place an alignment stick just outside the golf ball, so it creates a 90-degree angle with the target line (photo, above). As you set up, align the leading edge of the club with the stick, then pull it back to its regular position.
Why do I slice my clubface?
If you slice, it’s probably because you’re not closing the clubface fast enough through the hitting zone. To improve your ability to deliver a square clubface (relative to your path), make practice swings with your hands split apart on the grip.
How to crashland a golf club?
Picture a plane on top of the shaft as shown here. If you pull the club too much to the inside through impact or under/ over-rotate the clubhead, you’ll crashland the plane (above left). Work on getting the toe of the clubhead to point up post-impact, with your arms and hands extended (right). See the plane landing safely and you’ll find yourself in a better position through the hitting zone. —Michael Jacobs
How to play downhill lies?
One constant for downhill lies is that they tend to produce shots that come out low and to the right, so you need to make four adjustments: 1) go up one club; 2) aim left; 3) move the ball back in your stance and set your shoulders at the same angle as the slope; 4) stay balanced and centered throughout the shot. Avoid any inclination to “lift” the ball up. Stay in the shot, swinging down with the slope of the hill you’re standing on, and use the lower ball flight to your advantage. —Michael Hunt
How to get more speed in tennis?
Even better, feel like you’re squatting. Pushing into a squat and pulling out of the ground like this helps clear your entire body and generates more speed. The ball won’t know what hit it. —George Gankas.
How to get low scores in golf?
Here’s how…. 1. Keep the ball on the ground around the greens. One of the quickest ways to lower your score without improving your technique is to be diligent in choosing ...
How to lower your score in golf without improving?
One of the quickest ways to lower your score without improving your technique is to be diligent in choosing the short game shot with the least risk. Typically, the less time the ball spends in the air or the smaller the stroke or swing you take, the less the chance for error. Reaching for your highest-lofted club every time can can translate ...
How many wedges do pro golfers carry?
There are so many great wedges to choose from these days. Many pro golfers carry up to four wedges in their golf bag, and this doesn’t even include lower-running bump-and-run shots that you’d hit with other clubs. All these options can be a bit overwhelming, especially since many of us don’t have enough practice time to truly have this distance control down to a science.
When teeing off on the side of the tee opposite where the wind is coming, what
When it’s windy, teeing off on the side of the tee opposite where the wind is coming can make a huge difference in your ball curving less. For example, if the wind is left-to-right and you tee off on the far right side of the tee box, you would automatically aim more left. Aiming more left would angle you more directly into the wind and ...
Is every shot going to be perfect?
The more you accept that every shot is not going to be perfect, and that’s completely OK because it’s the nature of the sport, the easier it is to be calm and realistic.
Do we make mistakes in golf?
We all make mistakes during a round of golf. There is an art to knowing when to be aggressive and when to back off and play safer. When you find yourself in a location on the golf course that would require you to hit a “hero” shot to save your score, you’re better off simply taking your medicine instead, and playing your ball into a spot that leaves an easier next shot.
What does the smart teacher say about golf?
The smart teacher here says, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”. Golf is an equation; the parts in the swing have to balance. When you’re playing well, your parts are in sync.
What did the 40-handicapper say to his wife?
When he arrived home, his wife asked him how he did. He said: “I’m never going back; the pro tried to change my swing.”
When or whether, a golfer should stop playing the game of golf?
Before writing this, I took a look around the internet myself to see if there were any useful articles somewhere else but to my mind – finding such suggestions as ‘when it’s not fun anymore’ or ‘when you can’t make 3 birdies in a row’ didn’t seem very helpful.
Is whether you are getting any enjoyment from the game at all
Which is something that I’m going to take a closer look at in How to decide whether you should give up playing golf – part two.
