New to golf and I'm addicted!

[Theironmilljoe]

Hello everyone. I'm 28 and I've always loved the thought of playing golf but was very afraid to go out onto a course incase someone saw me miss hitting the ball. Well after two months of playing every Friday I have to say I'm in love with the game, I bought an old set of mizuno t zoid xv oversized irons and a Dunlop driver from my uncle and had them re gripped. The last day I was out at our local 9 hole course I hit my first birdie, scored about 4 pars and the rest were bogies and double bogies and developed a sore left side around the rib cage.
After taking a painkiller I headed out this morning to the same course which it rained at all day and hit a few pars with a few bogies and a not to mention terrible hole were it took about 9 shots to get in the hole. I think it's class and would love to be playing twice a week if I could. Is there any irons that some more experienced golfers would recommend to getting more loft with each shot, for every 3 shots I hit well there is 2 shots that I completely duff.

 

[virtuocity]

I hate to sound boring but, can you afford lessons?

Clubs aren't the secret to getting the ball up in the air- hitting down on them (ball, then ground.... not the other way round) is.

Welcome to the forum!!

 

[PIng]

Welcome to the forum mate, where do you play?

 

[Siren]

Welcome to the forum mate.

Get yourself a lesson if possible and just practise

 

[bluewolf]

Welcome to the forum mate. You're in good company here. Where do you play?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Lessons are the way to go. Get a solid foundation to base your game on and you'll play better and enjoy it even more.

 

[Theironmilljoe]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I can afford lessons no problem and I've been thinking of taking a few as I think there is a flaw in my swing that keeps popping up especially when I've played a few holes. My uncle has been showing me the basics like keeping my hands in front of the ball and hitting down on it and it has definitely been working but I'm very inconsistent in hitting the ball cleanly every time. My side is sore at the minute around the ribs and when I hit a duff **** its like someone punching me clean in the side but I'm scared of missing a day on the course so just putting up with it at the minute.

 

[Theironmilljoe]

Oh and I'm in Northern Ireland and there's about 5 courses within 8 miles of where I live

 

[pbrown7582]

welcome, enjoy always something happening on here!

The sooner you get lessons and a solid foundation the easier it is to get consistent, so another shout out for lessons from me too.

 

[Dcross92]

I'd say no to lessons! Right now you're loving it lessons for me would only make me more frustrated! I used to play tennis at a high level and lessons killed me don't wanna risk the same with golf so am self taught. I got into golf about 2 years ago now play off 18. Just enjoy the game and if you keep going back something will click especially if you're making birdies n pars! We all have bad shots just enjoy the good!

 

[Theironmilljoe]

Yeah sounds good to me, I'm gonna book some lessons the next day I'm at the range. My uncle and I usually play match play every Friday at the course and today when we played he beat me by 6 so I would love to beat him. I also decided to use a 5 wood in a swamp like fairway today and wasted about 3 shots trying to hit with it. Golf can be a cruel game some days but it just takes that one shot from about 100 yards landing 1ft off the flag and you've forgot about all the bad ones. My putting by the way is pretty good and saves me but if I could cut out one of the bad fairway shots every hole I'd be doing real good.

 

[DappaDonDave]

Just practice

My bestester tip is a slow controlled backswing, helped me improve my striking

 

[Theironmilljoe]

Yeah I think your right, I do rush things a bit more when I'm on the course. What I have noticed is that's its a lot harder to hit off a soggy fairway than it is off a nice artificial grass Matt. Does that mean that it should be easier to hit the ball in the summer time?

 

[steve7]

Welcome to the forum,lessons will give you a good foundation as others have said,try to enjoy yourself to.

 

[Theironmilljoe]

Yeah I think lessons should help me iron out some bad habits. How much would a few lessons cost with a pro

 

[Wayman]

welcome

 

[Bucket92]

Prices vary from pro to pro. Some can charge £10 for half a hour, some charge £30. You could shop round and find the best value in the 5 courses that are near to you. Welcome!

 

[andrew_mac]

What part of Northern Ireland you from. I live in Glasgow now but originally from Co. Tyrone. I've taken up the game too in last year and lessons have definitely worked. Getting right foundations has helped build confidence and certainty when stepping up to the ball.

 

[virtuocity]

Also, as you're new to the game, have a think about cheaper group lessons over a longer period of time for a much cheaper outlay.

 

[Sledgehammer]

My side is sore at the minute around the ribs and when I hit a duff **** its like someone punching me clean in the side but I'm scared of missing a day on the course so just putting up with it at the minute.

You should really be careful with that and definitely not be playing golf as you will make it worse. I suffered from exactly the same re-occuring injury when I started playing and the only cure is complete rest.

You have pulled the intercostal muscle that supports the ribs, or its the joint that connects your ribs and spine.

See a physio.