Few Questions...

[D_E_A_N]

Hi there, I have been playing golf for four months and was just wondering how long it took to break your first 100?

Also i'm looking at getting some new gear are the january sales good for the newer clubs etc?

 

[DaveM]

Breaking your first 100? Is a bit like how long is a piece of string. It really all depends on you. As for clubs keep an eye open for new models comming out. The older model can be discounted by up to 50*.

 

[CMAC]

No idea! That's not meant to be flippant but before putting score pressure on yourself just work on the fundamentals of the game plus enjoying yourself, then you can start thinking about bettering each rounds scores. That's not to say I wouldn't keep a score if I felt I was having a good run, just don't pressurise yourself to early in your golf life, that will come I assure you.:smirk:

 

[pokerjoke]

Breaking 100 took me about 6 months.
The main reason was not understanding the basics.
Grip,allignment etc.
Trying to hit the ball too hard,and lifting my head too early.
No idea of course management,always having a ten on the card,sometimes more.
Get them basics right and it can happen sooner than you think.

 

[connor]

I been playing over a year play off 27 and still at times hit over a hundred but only by a couple. I know my first ever round of golf I hit 136 haha

 

[D_E_A_N]

I was around that Connor! I went round 18 this weekend in 112. I had my first lesson this week too and learnt alot. My swing was swaying and he sorted it out completely. I think if I carry on it may be sooner than I think! If I didn't lose as many off the tee I know I could scrape pretty close to 100 alone.

The reason I ask about January sales is I have seen a bag I like (Powakaddy PVC) and is £150 in AG and it's currently on sale for £105 on direct golf and I have a voucher for £10 making it £95. I'm also after a new driver but again think it will be best waiting til after Christmas?

 

[Phil2511]

I would say to you that it will help you big time if you improve course management. The first time I parred a par 5 it was driver, rescue then 9 iron and 2 putts. Other par 5 was driver 6 iron 8 iron 2 putts. Before this I was always trying to hit my 3 wood and getting bad results. Thing is I wouldn't have hit green in 2 so why try to play for the risky shot was what an old boy told me.

A par 3 at our place is and index 7 and trouble left and right. I know quite a few boys that are about 10,11,12 hcap that hit Pw, Sw 2 putts for a bogey rather than risk losing teeshot with long iron and playing 3 off the tee.

Look at what hazard is on the hole too. Our 14th is a 471yd par 5 with 2 bunkers 100yds before the green that are full width of the fairway. I used to hit 3 wood as second shot to try and carry them and either sliced into the dung or landed in them. So the old boy told me to lay up and play up and it works.

Also short game is very important, wedge shots from 100yds in, bunker shots, chipping and putting. Being good at this is where it counts. Better wedge play means you should be closer to the pin, better bunker play, chipping and putting helps when you do miss the pin.

I recall my friend telling me about a match he was caddying in at a links course and while 3 guys took driver off the tee 1 sliced it out onto the beach OOB, the others played a draw and one came back onto the fairway the other stayed out and went OOB. The 4th guy went last and hit Pw, then 4 iron 4 iron 2 putts and made a par.

 

[Phil2511]

As you say you are losing balls off the tee why not hit irons until you become consistent with the driver?
If you are on a short par 4 you still will likely need another shot to get on the green so instead of driver wedge why not take 6 iron + 8 iron?

But if you are taking lessons then stick with it even if you start to play badly which you likely will at certain times as you try to get the bad parts changed to good parts in your swing. Then practice as much as possible to embed what you learn and become as consistent as you can.
The silliest thing I see is someone taking lessons and not sticking with what they are being taught because they lack the patience to stick with it until it sinks into your head and you get the muscle memory built up to repeat it without having to think about anything.

 

[BTatHome]

With regard to Jan Sales. I think you may find some bargains but generally speaking I would more inclined to pick up bargains 2nd hand when first starting out. Bags/clothes etc are fine for the sales but club bargains are harder to find and you'll save even more by picking up someones club when they upgrade

 

[D_E_A_N]

Thanks for the tips guys! Don't know what it is about using my driver off the tee! Can't help but get the big stick out! As for sticking to what you're taught it was such a dramatic change I love the challenge of the change in swings! I was hitting a slice caused from out to in swinging but now I'm hitting from the inside alot more and my irons shots are lightyears ahead! Wish I'd have had lessons sooner!

Course management is definitely going to change next weekend though and I'll let you guys know what happens to the card!

 

[Junior]

I agree with the 2nd hand route. Get yourself a quality set of Callaway x22's, Ping G5's. Better than splashing out on new set of budget clubs. Ebay or golfbidder are not bad places to start.

With regards to breaking a hundred, just try to keep it in play, practice your putting and take your punishment when you hit a wayward one and it should happen in no time. Good luck !

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wouldn't get hung up about setting goals but go out and enjoy each game. The more relaxed you are the more chance you have of breaking 100 without thinking. As for new gear, probably a little hypocritical as I got new R11 irons yesterday but would you not be better off investing in a few lessons. Get the basics right and it'll help you towards the 100 barrier especially if you have a chipping and putting one too. That is where scores are made and lost.

I wouldn't be too fussed on a new bag. Look at clubs first. If you want a good driver I'd look at the Ping K15. Easy to use and very forgiving. Other than that you should (in my humble opinion) be looking at Game Improver models with a cavity back. These have a larger head than better player models but are more forgiving and will help get the ball up. Any of the Cally range X14 upwards would be ideal as would the original Taylormade Burner (or the 2.0 if the budget stretches)

 

[D_E_A_N]

During my lesson (I've just purchased 6 sessions) the pro told me that my irons etc are fine but the driver could do with changing. I have the Jack Nicklaus package set. Reason for a bag change is it's bright red and not really my thing, didn't think at the time as all the package sets were brightly coloured. I will definitely look at the Ping driver.

I was thinking of getting a Burner 2.0 driver. They are meant to be very forgiving aren't they?

 

[Captain_Black]

I am new to the game (been playing since July)
In the last few weeks I have been shooting mid - nineties.
I had 6x lessons at the begining (absolutely essential I think)
Then don't be in to much of a rush, practice plenty on the range with the full range of clubs.
The key is keeping the ball in play & not attempting too many hero shots.

As for clubs, I picked up some new 08 Callaway Big Berthas from AG at a bargain price & they are great game improver clubs.

 

[D_E_A_N]

I am new to the game (been playing since July)
In the last few weeks I have been shooting mid - nineties.
I had 6x lessons at the begining (absolutely essential I think)
Then don't be in to much of a rush, practice plenty on the range with the full range of clubs.
The key is keeping the ball in play & not attempting too many hero shots.

As for clubs, I picked up some new 08 Callaway Big Berthas from AG at a bargain price & they are great game improver clubs.

Are you a member of a club? Join with a friend? I want to join a club but my mates don't and I'm not exactly going to join a club and have no friends to play with, lol.

 

[Captain_Black]

Are you a member of a club? Join with a friend? I want to join a club but my mates don't and I'm not exactly going to join a club and have no friends to play with, lol.

When I started I played a local pay & play.
Then I became addicted to golf & needed to play & practice more, I thought about joining a club for 3 weeks before I took the plunge, it was my best decision ever, I can practice & play whenever I want at no extra cost & don't worry about meeting people, especially when you start to play better, get a handicap & enter some comps, you will love it belive me.

Just do it.

 

[D_E_A_N]

One thing I have to ask to anyone who are a member of a club. Can you just take a bag full of balls and practice on the course? I wouldn't have thought so normally but you see it alot on vids on youtube etc.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

One thing I have to ask to anyone who are a member of a club. Can you just take a bag full of balls and practice on the course? I wouldn't have thought so normally but you see it alot on vids on youtube etc.

We have a practice ground at my place. Take your own balls and hit away. My club frowns on you practicing on the course but if it is quiet (Sunday afternoons etc) and you are out for a few holes I usually play a couple of balls and hit a few chips on each green. No-one seems that fussed

 

[D_E_A_N]

We have a practice ground at my place. Take your own balls and hit away. My club frowns on you practicing on the course but if it is quiet (Sunday afternoons etc) and you are out for a few holes I usually play a couple of balls and hit a few chips on each green. No-one seems that fussed

Thanks for clearing that up, that's what really tempts me to join a club.

What are your thoughts on the Burner 2.0 driver Homer?

 

[Phil2511]

What Homer says makes sense, you could play 2 balls off the tee and then play from the worst of those with your 2 balls, the idea being the better you are at the hard shots then the better you will become on all shots overall, ball below feet. above feet, uphill lie, downhill lie and semi rough, bunkers etc.

Regards the burner 2.0 driver, for me it was definitely not the one but when it comes to drivers in general its really a matter of find something you like the look of because if you dont like looking at it then you will never hit it as well, its a subconscious thing, then once you settle on a few, go try them all out and see which one works the best for you.
I found the burner to feel long and whippy and harder to control, heard quite a few mates say the same, whilst others love them. The G20 is a hard driver to beat and similar price to the Burner, I dont have one myself but did hit them and they are forgiving and very easy to hit, had a G15 before and couldnt find better until i discovered my current Nike in a sales bag, brand new but 2 year old model and for me its the best ive had yet.
I would guess that the G20 is the most popular driver in our club at present, quite alot of the single hcap players are using them as well as higher hcaps.