Beginner Struggling - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by robey1978 

Roper, I see what you are saying and you make a good point. I am trying to use the majority of the clubs in my bag and I am only using these clubs a few times going round the course. Do you think, as a novice, it is better to use fewer clubs and try and master these clubs first before introducing more clubs? Say, 5 wood off the tee, 7 iron on the fairway and wedge on approach.

 

I've always thought it best to try and use more clubs because I've heard people say they never take certain clubs out of their bags because the are scared to use them and I didn't want to only use certain clubs. I wanted to be able to use a broad range of clubs (which I obviously haven't mastered either!).

I would recommend that you stick with a few clubs you feel confident about, at least until you can start to gain some level of consistency. Something you might think about is take the odd irons (9,7,5) and a 3 wood, then whatever wedges you like along with your putter. That keeps it a little simpler, and you learn some shotmaking by getting your 7 to fill where you might hit an 8. At any rate, you won't start to see the need for the missing clubs until you gain consistency, and then I would add them when you can hit your 7 iron and be fairly sure of how far it will go. If possible, you should also look into getting hybrids for at least your 3 iron (when you start using a full set if you follow my advice), and possibly even down to a 4 and 5 iron. This really helps you get the ball into the air, and I often will swap out my 4 iron for a 4 hybrid on a non-windy day, because it's easier to hit and it gets into the air effortlessly compared to its iron counterpart.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robey1978 

Logman, it was a long journey from Mars! :) I just thought there was the right way to swing or the wrong way. I've been taking lessons for about 5 months now and I feel I'm a little way down the track that I'd rather keep going the way I am for now, but thank you for the advice.

Good luck mate, enjoy the journey

Quote:

Originally Posted by robey1978 

I feel like I'm almost there but there are just a few things that aren't quite right and it affects my score significantly. 

I hope you're a patient guy 'coz that feeling isn't going to go away any time soon ....

In the meantime, enjoy learning the great game of golf.  It's well worth the effort and for sure, 'the more you put in, the more you get out'.

p.s. Audaxi is giving you some good advice.  I wish that someone had said the same thing to me 10 years ago - and that I'd believed him ....

Seems we all struggle with the same problems. I have never shot under 100 and I hope to break this next year. Fall started :(

After each round (9 holes most of the time) I always have the feeling that I have played 5 to 10 strokes too much. Most of these are embarrassing puts and at least five toppers.

The biggest difference for me between the driving range and the course is that at the driving range it doesn't matter if a ball has a slice or hook. You just pick up another one and start all over again. At the course it makes a big difference. So the tension in the body and the mind is completely different. Besides that, like almost all starting player, I'm focusing to much on distance in stead of on consistency. I do play wonderful shots (at least in my eyes) and varies these with the ones mentioned above. While this is a drawback, it gives my the feeling that the swing is there and that it is just a matter of time when all pieces fall together resulting in a much more consistent play.

So, likes other have mentioned here: Hang in there and go step by step. And we may not forget that we can't all be scratch players.

This sounds so familiar. I remember times where I was happy getting 2 out of 10 balls flying somewhat straight. Some things that helped me in the beginning to manage the first steps:
 

• Start with the very basics and them right and really ingrained: Grip, Posture, Address
• Slow down on the range: Not only with how fast you swing (Distance will come with proper technique, no sense in trying to hit the ball as hard and fast as you can causing a major slice or a fat shot) but also take your time inbetween shots. Get accustomed to a pre-shot routine, do some practise swings, do swings without a ball in front of a mirror
• Reduce your backswing. Seriously, don't try to be the next Dustion Johnson, limit your backswing to around 90-100° arm radius, will make it much easier to get back to the ball on the correct plan consistently.
• Do one step at a time: It is easy to get flooded with information, especially on the internet, but really try to take one step at a time. 
• Accept that swing changes will cause you to feel uncomfortable and, in the beginning of the change, hitting the ball worse than before
• No need to take your driver or even woods on the course if you are not confident with them. Happens just way too often, people swinging their driver as hard as they can resulting in a slice 9 out of 10. But what they do is thinking "I hit a great drive once and played par on this hole, so I need to use the driver more often". You can play bogey golf with only your irons.
• Get a good coach and/or post your swing on this site here. Evolvr does also seem to be very helpful