Newbie to golf - need strategy

[metroplex]

I've been reading Gary McCord's Golf for Dummies and getting a bead on the fundamentals (grip, stance, swing technique) but I'm not sure what the best strategy is to becoming a beginner/intermediate level golfer within 2 months or even if it is possible. Some people recommended lessons, but that can get costly after several lessons but I'm open to suggestions. I've been also reading up on the equipment and lingo and haven't the foggiest on what to do. I just know that I'll probably end up buying a decent set of clubs instead of starting with starters.

[RemyM]

See a Golf Pro and take lessons. Sometimes you can find beginners golf clinics, or group lessons that will be cheaper then individual lessons. Our lives start by being taught how to do things by other people, why should golf be different. My game improved tremendously when I started taking formal lessons and got fitted for clubs. So I wouldn't run out and spend a bunch on clubs right away either. You are better off with a starter set for now and once you take some lessons and develop a swing then you can get fitted for clubs that match your swing. Never buy clubs off the shelf, reputable golf pros don't charge for club fitting if you buy the clubs through them.

[kent1146]

I think that it is highly unlikely for you to get to the level that you are imaginging in 2 months without professional lessons (or personalized coaching from a friend that is very good at golf). It also helps tremendously if you have experience in another sport with hand-eye coordination involving hitting small objects with a stick, like baseball or hockey.

A golf swing is a very unnatural motion. It takes most people several years to develop the muscle memory for it to feel "natural". And once you do that, you still need to find your feel for chipping, putting, iron shots, and driver shots... all 4 are different swings.

My advice if you want to get good is to get a decent set of clubs, and get professional lessons. If you are looking to save money, then get cheaper starter clubs, but stick with the lessons. Learning HOW to swing is much more important than WHAT you swing.

[mellojoe]

At least get one lesson. One lesson changed me from being horribly frustrated to enjoying the game immensely. There's only so much you can get out of reading. When you have someone stand in front of you and say, "Yes, that is what you should be doing" and "No, you are not looking like you should" helps out a ton.

More importantly they can say, "You're doing this good, but this is what you can be doing better" and that gives you EXACTLY what you are asking for in this thread a strategy .

That first lesson is the key to unlocking the door. The rest is up to you, but you should at least get that first one.

PS: I asked the guy at the local driving range. He offered me my first lesson free. We were just shooting the breeze and I asked him, "Do you have a guy around here that gives lessons? How much?" And he said, "Too much. Hang on, let me get a bucket and we'll go hit some." And he sat there for a solid 30 minutes just showing me stance, grip, and a basic swing. It was perfect.

[jking]

If you can't afford lessons or just don't have the access to a teacher, if you really want to improve your scores quickly on your own, focus the bulk of your practice on the short game.

And when you go out to play an actual round, set yourself a realistic goal. Don't set yourself one that's either too easy or too difficult. My Uncle took up the game and went out attempting to make a 6 on every hole. While that may work for some, I think it was too easy for him to feel good about going home having shot a 108 for the day. He got to that level and has never improved. On the flip side, don't go out expecting to par every hole, or you will just end up going home frustrated.

As a suggestion, I always tried to just shoot for bogey on every hole. Now that I can do that consistently, I am trying to get my pars where I can. Hopefully one day I will get to making more pars than bogeys, then I will move onto something else. But to be honest, I play my best golf when I'm not even thinking about my score.

So I guess what I'm saying is, set yourself a lot of intermediate goals. Don't expect to be Tiger Woods out of the gate, but at the same time don't ever quit trying to improve.

[Cody]

Yeah a lesson is the way to go, i had my friends who are both around a 15 handicap show me the ropes for about 2 days and after that i was on my own. Just those two days for me have been tremendous. I play with family who never took lessons and they've been playing for years and i can almost shoot the same scores as them.

[golf_junkie27]

I suggest you read Ben Hogan's book, "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf."

Focus on improving all things that happen before you actually swing a golf club. Have a pre-shot routine, work on grip, posture and alignment. I can't emphasize enough the importance of alignment. I see so many people, including myself, get lazy with their alignment and hit a good shot that has a poor result.

Also, if you don't take a lesson, then purchase a DVD that focuses on the mechanics of a golf swing. Practice, practice and practice some more. You will know when it's time to go to the golf course.

Above all, if possible, take at least one lesson that focuses on what a proper swing looks and feels like. Then practice, practice and practice some more. You don't get better at the golf course, you get better at the range.

[GaijinGolfer]

Id agree with the notion of focusing on your short game. Having a strong short game is the best way to lower your scores.
Taking lessons would also be a good idea, but IMO once your full swing is halfway decent you should focus on chipping and putting.

[scooterguitar]

As I'm trying to get my game back some from years ago, I am wondering...would videotaping yourself at the range be helpful or more evil
I have thought about doing this, but am afraid if I do I will be so discourgaed and just give up!

[MrSandman]

Don't be afraid of spending time on chip and putt courses. It should never take you more than 3 shots to get in the hole from 100 yds. You can work on this at the chip and putts and really improve rather quickly in this very important area.

Sometimes chip and putts are circuses, little kids running around, etc... Just learn to block that out of your mind, keep your focus on never making more than 3, and take the practice session seriously. If you can finish your round with a 3 average or better, you'll be on your way to respectability in no time.

[mrgilmore]

When u go out and play dont worry about how other people play, for example if ur playing with a friend and they hit 50 meters further than you dont try and hit as far as them, this will only cause mistakes. Play your own natural game and focus on accuracy to start off then once you get a bit more confident you can give the ball a bit more of a whack.

Im not a very big hitter but im probably one of the most accurate golfers at my course. Meaning im hardly in the trees or have a really terrible lie. Which defiinetly eliminated alot of shots

[RemyM]

As I'm trying to get my game back some from years ago, I am wondering...would videotaping yourself at the range be helpful or more evil

It would be good only if you knew how to analyze your swing and could figure out what is wrong with it. If not, let a pro do it for you.

[glindog]

One thing you can do to check yourself after you have a rudimentary understanding of grip, posture, etc is to stand in front of a reflective surface, eg. mirror, or in my case, the reflection from a glass door at night. I'll make a normal swing and freeze at different points and see what it looks like. You can rotate so you have different angles too. This helped me see that, among other things, my swing plane was way too steep, I was going way past parallel, etc......

[Avid Golfer]

I've been reading Gary McCord's Golf for Dummies and getting a bead on the fundamentals (grip, stance, swing technique) but I'm not sure what the best strategy is to becoming a beginner/intermediate level golfer within 2 months or even if it is possible. Some people recommended lessons, but that can get costly after several lessons but I'm open to suggestions. I've been also reading up on the equipment and lingo and haven't the foggiest on what to do. I just know that I'll probably end up buying a decent set of clubs instead of starting with starters.

I'd say your off to a good start focusing on fundamentals.

Beginning/Intermediate level as you term it is an arbitrary term. Can you be more specific what your goals are? Lessons will be of benefit if your doing something wrong (like hitting extreme hooks, slices, or fat shots) and you can't figure out how to correct it on your own, or you want to learn to hit a shot that you don't know how to hit. As far as equipment and lingo go I don't think its worth your time to pay much attention to either at this point in your golfing life. Most equipment is over-rated, and most golf lingo is misused (used incorrectly). Unless there is something you can't do with your current clubs (like hit intentional hooks or slices) then there is no reason to seek out new clubs. Like I said in the beginning you are off to a good start focusing on the fundimentals. I recommend you find pictures of the pros at setup, and model yourself after what the majority of them do similar to one another. If you want to expand your knowledge of the swing father without having to pay the high price of lessons I recommend you pick up books or vidoes by established tour pros (Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Nick Price, Annika Sorenstam, Bobby Jones, and/or Ben Hogan) and the instructors who have taught them (Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Jim Mclean, Rick Smith, etc).

[lolzzlolzz]

I don't recommend lessons as most people don't teach properly.

Get some cheap clubs; a standard set is fine. Then get Hogan's 5 Lessons. Practice the things in the book every day for 30 minutes, and in two months you will be "intermediate" or close to it. In 6 months you will be breaking 80 or very close to it.

I say this because it works. The other day I shot a 79, and I've only bought three things for my golf swing since I started a year ago (besides balls, tees, etc): Hogan's 5 Lessons (book), The Secret of Hogan's swing (book, not necessary), and a set of clubs from Walmart for $150.

Forget about putting and chipping, just learn how to swing the club for now.