Going from beginner to breaking 100?

[iGolf]

Once again I turn to the forum for advice!

If you were to start playing golf again as a beginner (know what you know now) how would you go about learning the game and trying to break 100?

There seems so much to learn in golf and some idea of how to reach my 1st goal would be great.

Near by I have a driving range, 9 hole par3/4 and plenty of good full 18 hole courses. I have time to play/practice 2times a week and enough money to afford 1 lesson a month if required. I alreay have my own basic beginner clubs.

So what would you do?

 

[Robobum]

Go play and enjoy what you are doing. It's easier to become good at something if you enjoy doing it.

After that, grip, posture, stance, allignment. Most ingrained faults come back to these fundamentals eventually.

 

[viscount17]

lesson, practice, hit the par3, but as Robobum says - none of it is any use if you don't enjoy it

 

[iGolf]

Really enjoying playing and learning, I could practice all day every day if I had the time!

I'm just thinking that a little bit a structure and goal setting might speed the learning process up a bit.

 

[pokerjoke]

I would stop trying to hit the ball as hard as possible and looking where its gone before its gone[if you know what i mean].Then learn to enjoy the game instead of putting huge pressure on myself.When i started it regulary was 130 all of a sudden i shot 99 but i didnt know how,of course i do now,practice.

 

[JustOne]

If you were to start playing golf again as a beginner (know what you know now) how would you go about learning the game and trying to break 100?

Start here... http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=shawn+clement

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd start with lessons to get the basics and then I'd work on the scoring areas in between getting out onto an 18 holes somewhere and playing as much as I can.

 

[RGDave]

Once again I turn to the forum for advice!

If you were to start playing golf again as a beginner (know what you know now) how would you go about learning the game and trying to break 100?

I'd do it exactly the same again. Blood (?), sweat and tears (??).

Only, I'd go for more lessons. I'd go every 2-3 weeks from March-October instead of only when I was struggling.

 

[JustOne]

I'd do it exactly the same again. Blood (?), sweat and tears (??).

There's so much more info available nowadays. I used to stand out in the rain bedding in swing flaws as there was no one to ask and no one knew the answers.

Once you'd asked your pro a few questions he'd turn his back on you when you entered the pro shop.... or say "Have you booked a lesson" whilst looking down his nose at you from behind his Mars bar counter!.

After a lesson he'd just try and flog you more, so I heard... never had a lesson with the muddy funster, he didn't look trustworthy

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There is all this anti-lesson rubbish but have you never considered that if you went to a decent pro and not necessarily your club pro that they might be able to find something to help you shoot better scores. If the top pros go to a swing coach and they are working on their game everyday, then surely it makes sense for a newbie to the game to get some advice from a reliable source. When you learned to drive did you go out on your own and learn from your mistakes or have some lessons

If a club pro really does try and flog lesson after lesson or turn his back on you then he's not the guy you should be going to in the first place

 

[JustOne]

I'm not anti-lesson. I was 20 at the time and the pro was an imbecile. Like I said, ask 2 or 3 questions and it was like interferring with God! But at the time there was nowhere else, no internet forums, no youtube and even more important NO EBAY! to get some nice cheap gear... talk about being stuck with it!

Thankfully the business model has changed nowadays. You can find out information, even ASK where's a good place/pro to get lessons from. I think it's all a step in the right direction.

 

[iGolf]

I'm pro lessons, so it looks like lessons then as much practice as I can fit in.

Do think it's worth just focusing on my irons for now, get those to an ok standard. Then get a lesson for the woods?

 

[huttonline]

iGolf,

I'm in the same position as you. Completely new to the game, got some clubs, hacking round some par 3s. Am also on something of a budget.

I've had three lessons so far and had a couple of range sessions in between each lesson. Is making a huge difference - not that I'm hitting the ball well every shot, but there is definitely some progress.

Until I have a lesson on approach shots/chipping/pitching, I doubt I'll get near 100 on a full 18 (not tried yet, but enough evidence on par3s to know that it'll be a factor).

I'd also agree with the 'blood sweat tears' sentiment aka hard work and perseverance. It is so tempting to give up after a bad round or range session.

I've also enjoyed following other new golfers who I found on this forum. Tiger writes and blogs helpfully (www.projectscratch.co.uk) and as a new golfer I can associate with a lot of what he says!

My new golfer diary is at www.newgolfer.wordpress.com

Cheers

Simon

 

[19th]

If it is reducing numbers you are after, it never changes no matter how low your handicap drops...it is the short game that requires attention.

Pitch and putt until your back aches, until the greenside pitches are tickling the hole, until the putter becomes an extension of your arm and you can feeeeel the ball slide away from the putter head. You have now attended to 50% of ALL the shots you will play in a round.

For a break away from the feeeel side of the game go and give your testosterone a fling and hit balls hard. Once the fear of missing the ball goes, your eye is now in, go to a pro - how good he is, is not a big problem at outset but becomes a big problem as the basics take a back seat and finer points require adjustment later on. Advice on grip, weight, stance, timing etc are all negated if there is fear of missing the ball.

Go and enjoy and then enjoy some more.