New Member

[Nick_Toye]

Hi,

I'm not really new to golf, played it off and on since I was a kid, but never stuck at it. I live near a driving range and Brackenwood golf course on the Wirral, so thought I would make the effort and get out on the course.

Just been to the driving range and hitting around 160 yards on average, but have a blister on my left hand even though I was wearing a glove. Not a good start.

Any tips on how to improve my game? Is the magazine a good resource?

Nick

 

[jammydodger]

Welcome to the forum Nick

 

[viscount17]

hello and welcome.

this may be controversial but imo, as a beginner you should be looking for lessons and staying away from books.
a magazine article may tell you what to do but it can't show you how (even with pictures). what you try to do may look the same as an illustration, a pro will see what's right and what's wrong.

you need to learn the language too. all the hints and tips inevitably assume that you have a degree knowledge of the game.

 

[madandra]

Hi and welcome also,

I think your blister was caused by gripping the club too tight mate. Get a starter lesson and then try and progress at your own pace.

 

[0]

Hi and welcome

Two pieces of advice

1) get lessons from a PGA Pro - you don't teach yourself to drive so why do it with golf and it is worth every penny

2) When holding the club imagine you are holding a small bird. You don't want it to fly away but you don't want to crush it to death either

If you do number 1 it will also solve the issue with number two.

 

[CannyFifer]

Welcome aboard, there's a few on here with blisters too but are all good guys with plenty banter I've been told to treat it like a tube of toothpaste you want to just come out.(read that in the mag)

 

[Timh27]

hello and welcome to the forum

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome along. The magazine will definitely help give you some ideas but you need to be talking to your PGA pro and getting lessons. It sounds like you have a grip issue. Gripping it too tightly will make the arms tense and rob you of extra distance. It might also be you aren't gripping it correctly. A few starter lessons to get the basics sorted will save so much frustraion further down the line

 

[Nick_Toye]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm 34 and have been playing since I was probably in primary school, but as my old mate used to tell me, don't murder the ball - despite the urge to do so. Always stuck with me, but I've never really took the ball by the horns, but now I want to.

I actually noticed on the range walls that I can get lessons from £20 an hour, I don't think I would need that many to get me started - but the foundation of what I need to do.

I understand basics like keep your head still and down, I saw Tiger's coach doing that for him at the Open, and I understand about letting the club do the work.

It's just ironing out the bad habits and being pointed in the right direction.

Going to investigate the lessons I think.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Head down is a misnomer as it will restrict your turn and coil on the backswing. Keeping it still is a better picture to focus on. A few basic lessons on address, posture, grip etc will get you sorted but make sure you check these regularly when you play and practice so old habits don't creep in

 

[haplesshacker]

Howdy.

Despite what Cannyfiller says, were not a bunch of tosQ"^ really! He's probably been on the vino again anyway. (TIC). Before I get slated!

They're a good bunch on here generally. And we also have a resident Pro in Bobmac who's a regular pundit on here.

Welcome along, and be prepared to waste several evenings a week on here. It beats the wife's soaps!

 

[Nick_Toye]

Its going to be a once a week event for me - the range, probably looking at learning more through the winter ready for next spring.

I presume the golf seasons are Spring to Autumn?

 

[Nick_Toye]

Ain't that the truth. Can't believe soaps still get aired, I mean who wouldn't want to watch gentleman swinging irons and woods?

 

[mally]

Hi there, sorry to jump in with my first post but i recently took up a course of lessons with my local pro and the change in just a couple of lessons was most evident. I even went for one lesson when my timing was off (it may have been the red wine the night before) and the coach made it known that you cannot be on your game every day which gave me a lot more confidence. All in all i would highly recommend a few lessons

 

[haplesshacker]

Hi Mally. Where-abouts in Hampsire are you?

 

[mally]

Hi there up in portsmouth, you in chandlers ford area then

 

[haplesshacker]

Park Gate. Off junc 9.

Take a gander at the arrange a game part of the forum. I'm organising a game at East Horton on Friday 24th Sept if you're interested.

Where do you play?

 

[mally]

Used to play at Cams Hall but now switched to Southwick as it is geared around the armed forces, would love to play but am getting ready to go away again at the moment when you teeing off on the 24th then

 

[mally]

I forgot to say, you will have to keep me in the loop as i would love to play a few more courses around the county

 

[haplesshacker]

9:15 ish for bacon etc, then onto the par 3 nine hole, then off to the new Greenwood 18 hole just after an early lunch.