Advice needed...what to focus on as a beginner?

[Driven2Distraction]

I'm probably the last person to be dishing out advice... but as someone who has recently returned to the game after 15 years.... I can honestly say that 95% of my problematic shots can be traced back to

1) set-up position
2) hip turn

I've found that by concentrating on these two things that everything else pretty much falls into place.... well, mostly!

 

[sweatysock41]

Barry,
Enjoy the game don't get hung up on what to concentrate on too much.
If you are having lessons concentrate on the area of your swing the Pro has highlighted. There are times when you will feel like why am I having these lessons because we all revert to 'bad' habits at some stage and forget what we have been taught when on the course.
The main thing is to concentrate on the swing when at the range and just enjoy the games on the course without pressurising yourself - improvement will follow from lessons.

 

[barrybridges]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions - very interesting and helpful as always!

I suppose in some ways I agree with it all - it's the basics that need to be mastered and the rest will follow. I guess where I'm struggling is trying to work out what the lowest-hanging fruit is to try and reduce my scores. The answer - it seems - is that there isn't one focus area but that I'll need to chip away at a few different areas.

I should have pointed out earlier that those figures for distance are without roll...so realistically I'm getting 230 - 240 yards for the driver off the tee.

Just going through my GS stats now and I think it backs up what others say about distance:

On par 3s, it takes me (on average) 2.0 shots to get on the green.

On par 4s, it takes me on average 3.11 shots to get on the green

On par 5s, it takes me on average 4.5 shots to get on the green.

Anyway, I felt that yesterday's round was an improvement anyway. My logic is that previously I would hit 50% bad shots and a mix of good shots that would get me out of trouble. Yesterday I didn't really hit any really good shots but then I didn't get into the trouble in the first place, so that's encouraging I guess.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm going to be brutally honest. If youa re only just under 100 you must be hitting ba shots somewhere. No high handicapper (indeed medium or low ones too) ever hits every shot perfectly. I am guessing that your lack of distance is caused by a lack of a decent turn (where the power is created and stored) and my advice is to really forget all this average nonsense and how far you hit each club but get a pro to show you how to hit each one properly. With a repeatable (if not text book) swing distance will come through tecnique, timing and tempo. Sorry if that sounds harsh but just the way I see it

 

[stevelev]

I second many of the comment already made. I think the most important thing is practise though. Rather than play 3 round per months, put the extra practise in.

I always think about the time HID would rather me be out for an hour and half at the range than 6 hours on the course and in the clubhouse.

When you practise, do everything the pro says, you're shots might get worse initially, but as you ingrain the skills your are practising the distance will naturally develop.

Also practise putting at home, take six balls and 4 golf tees. Stands 2 of the tees on their top about 12" apart to make a goal at about 6 feet from where you are standing, then the other 2 about 4 feet past them. Putt the first ball, it must pass the 'goal line', putt the next ball it must pass the first ball but not the last 2 tees. Do this for each ball, if you leave one short or putt it past the 2nd tees, start again. As you progress, you can stand further back. On the practise green just stand further away (15') and make the goals bigger, say 6' square.

Like many of the other, plenty on the short game, that where the points come from. Since I've been practising 60% of my time on my short game, I've knocked 6 shots of my handicap, just need the season to start to make it official.

Keep at it, trust your pro, and enjoy yourself, the rest will happen in time.

 

[Evesdad]

Barry you seem to be a carbon copy of me!! I've just not broke the 100 barrier. I've noticed on my shots it's ball flight a very low shot. I think I'm getting my hands before the club head and delofting the clubs. I'm just looking for a chance to get some lessons in. My short game has improved which I have noticed has helped my scores, but as op has mentioned it's frustrating if it takes 3 shots to get there!!

 

[sawtooth]

Its been said already but just concentrate on getting the basics right, especially the grip. Keep practicing and playing whilst trying to do the right things and your scores will tumble no doubt.

 

[ScienceBoy]

From experience of lessons, only started last year, set up and posture is everything. In 6 lessons the pro has not yet once mentioned how to swing the club, everything has been progressively improving my setup and ball position. I doubt he will, from the good setup it has been hard to get the swinging bit wrong!

 

[barrybridges]

I just thought I'd give you the feedback from the pro at my lesson on Saturday.

Essentially, the ball striking was good, but my swing plane was much too flat and I wasn't storing any power in my torso/left arm at the top of the backswing. So, although there was definitely turn, I was hitting with the arms still.

He spent some time working on my backswing and trying to start the backswing with the club outside of the ball (previously I was bringing the club behind me too soon) and hinging the wrists at the top rather than making it too rounded.

It still feels rather alien and I'm going to have to practice lots until it feels 'right', but when I do get it right I can really feel the tension on my left side where I've coiled up; my shots are also easily going much further: just with a 6i I was hitting 165 compared with 135 before.

 

[Region3]

Stick with it Barry, even if you start to play worse it'll be well worth it in the end.

 

[vince410]

im very new to the game also but from what i learned you can play well on the range but once you get out on course everything changes. its because you lose focus when theres more shots and different angles to think about.
thats what i saw on this site anyways, you can look at it if you want its bettergolftraining.com. they have all these different exercises to prepare you mentally. they say you have to practice your mind also to improve your game. have a look let me know what you think