How to teach a total newbie?

[Supermanwoot]

A really good friend of mine has been picking up golf lately, but he has always played baseball and has never gotten a formal lesson in golf. Now, I'm not saying I want to give him a formal lesson or anything, but I'd like to get him striking the ball.

Its not cool to see him on the tee. On our first hole he hit 4 shots before I hit my 2nd and then another shot before the other guy in our 3some hit his 2nd. He comes down with the club and hits the top of the ball because he tries to hit it like its out in front of him like you would in baseball.

Now I always played baseball too, but I was a pitcher so I never really hit much and I switched to golf a couple years back. I know one thing I was bad at was keeping that left arm straight but now it comes pretty naturally.

I'd like to take him to the range this week (possibly tomorrow or friday) and get some time in getting him hitting the ball in the right direction, UPWARD AND FORWARD.

I'm not a PGA instructor, nor do I plan to be, I'd just like to get this guy the basics because I enjoy playing with him and I know I'm not good but he is really competitive and feels bad when he cant compete.

I was thinking the first thing we should do is try to just get his arm straightened out and without a ball have him take divots slightly behind the center of his stance. Does that sound good and if so how long should that go on?

Please give me some feedback. I'm sure this would help me as well getting back to the basics in a lot of respects.

[mc0388]

First, you should make sure he wants your help. Some people like to figure out things on there own. Start with stance and grip. Once that is established practice the take away, 'keeping left arm straight and a getting his shoulder blades to face the target for a complete backswing. Have him practice 25% then 50% and then 75%, making solid contact. He should do this with a wide range of clubs 3i-PW. I would leave it at that for the first lesson.

Once his stance, grip and take away is established (maybe second day on range?) you could work on tempo, and teaching him how to start his downswing, contact positioning, and ending on a balanced finish.

I know there are a million different ways to teach some one to golf, but I urge you to keep it simple, slow, and be patient.

It might take him a few trips to the DR to get the hang of hitting a ball UP and FORWARD

[aca247]

A really good friend of mine has been picking up golf lately, but he has always played baseball and has never gotten a formal lesson in golf. Now, I'm not saying I want to give him a formal lesson or anything, but I'd like to get him striking the ball.

same here

[David in FL]

Please, the best thing you can do for him is to convince him to visit his local PGA professional. Do it now, and he won't have to eventually unlearn the bad habits that he learned from well meaning friends who aren't equipped with the actual skill-set necessary to start someone out on the right path.

[mc0388]

Please, the best thing you can do for him is to convince him to visit his local PGA professional. Do it now, and he won't have to eventually unlearn the bad habits that he learned from well meaning friends who aren't equipped with the actual skill-set necessary to start someone out on the right path.

Thats true as well

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

Teach him from the green backwards. I wish someone had taught me that way.

[Locke]

I just started myself and had literally never touched a club before starting but for what its worth...

I wish someone had explained to me:
* what all the golf jargon meant earlier. The terms squaring, open and closed, toe and heel for example.

* demonstration of the various grip types and showing me that the way you grip a putter or wedge isn't the same as a iron or driver. Maybe this is obvious to most and Im just dense but I didnt figure it out until my pro lesson. The pro actually said that I had a really decent swing and that it was my grip causing me to top the ball. (I was 10 finger/baseball griping the driver and irons) We worked on my grip first. Once he got me using the right grip for the club I saw instant improvement to my game.

[Supermanwoot]

Well today we both went to the country club. I'm injured so couldn't hit balls but we putted around for about an hour and a half then hit the chipping green. On both we played stroke score to holes. He beat me in putting but I won out in chipping/then putting. He just wants to break the wrists through the ball so badly and ends up skulling balls off the green.

Overall pretty good though, got to work around the green in the small game and we had a pro come out watching us from the clubhouse show us a few different shots to try around the green like the flop, chip, and pitch. I usually prefer the pitch myself.

Its just amazing how most of your strokes during play are going to come from the shots where you're closest to the hole...

[mc0388]

Teach him from the green backwards. I wish someone had taught me that way.

Nice I like that

[oneF457z]

I'd say you should be able to help enough to get him started. The advice given already will work, start with putting then move out. Whoever said 25% then 50% then 75% is how I try to help new people. Once they can make consistent contact taking a quarter swing (chip shot) then have them take a little bigger swing, etc.

Sending someone to their local PGA teacher might be the best thing for them eventually, but I'd hate to send someone who can't even make contact w/ a ball and have them spend the money for a glorified chipping session... Get some sort of swing established, then let a pro mold it.