Beginners

[aidanmcg33]

Hi, I have two friends that want me to show them a few things to get them started in golf. They are total beginners, and the first time they held a club was last week when I showed them how to grip the club. What steps should I take them through in order for them to grab some of the basics so I can then send them to a pro.

[geezer]

I'd say just send them to a pro right away, before any bad habits get ingrained.
If you really want to teach them something, IMO good posture is the most important of the fundamentals. Slightly flexed knees, bend from the hips, no slouched shoulders etc...

[VanillaEps]

I'd say just send them to a pro right away, before any bad habits get ingrained.

And stick your butt out.

[ClintonM3]

tell them to read this
http://golf.about.com/

click on the left where it says "Beginners"
There are many FAQ on the most basic stuff.

[kafka01]

I think it depends a little bit how good your theoretical knowledge of golf is and if you can clearly differentiate between effects and causes. If you have a firm grip on the theory i´m sure its more fun to show your buddies the basics in person than just giving some material to read.

But keep it to the basics and dont try to fix any upcoming problems if you dont understand for 100 % what the causes are and how they can be fixed.

I´ll probably show a buddy of mine the basics in a couple of weeks too, since he wants to look into golf. So i gave it some thought about what makes sense. I decided i will go from small to big - meaning putting, chipping, pitching, full swing since the swing on every next step is just an addition (beside some specifics in each category). That means he wont be able to play til we reached the full swing, but that shouldnt be the focus. And in case something goes wrong i have a pro watching over the little project.

[Shindig]

Hi, I have two friends that want me to show them a few things to get them started in golf. They are total beginners, and the first time they held a club was last week when I showed them how to grip the club. What steps should I take them through in order for them to grab some of the basics so I can then send them to a pro.

This really depends on where your strengths and weaknesses are. Theoretically, you might have a superb long game, but you chip horribly and 3-putt most greens. Now, I sometimes try to help the guy who introduced me to golf. But I don't try to correct his grip (I haven't checked his grip, so it might be good), or tell him to hit down on the ball, or tell him how high up to tee the ball. What things do I help him with? "Dude, you shouldn't be using blades." "Dude, your clubs say Ben Hogan on them. Were they his childhood set?" "Dude, you swing slower than I do. Use something more flexible than X." "Dude, you don't need a 1-iron. Get a second wedge." And most importantly: "Dude, I'm glad you had a good time. I think you'd have a better time - and shoot a lower score - if you took a lesson from a pro."

[Guest]

I think you should to send your friends to pro.Yes' it expensive.
but If they start by themself and they have wrong swing. They muscle
can remember they swing and it's very hard to build muscle to member
new swing.I start play golf by myself and my swing very bad.
My mum send me to pro. I spend many time to fix my swing.
If you have good basic swing.You can learn by yourself very well when you
understand basic swing.

[Kellfire]

I went to two lessons hosted by a pro and his helper that was based indoors on a golf simulator. His assistant tried to insist that I had far too strong a grip and tried to convince me to hold the club with my right hand much too far wrapped over my left thumb which caused me considerable pain in my wrists and also made my grip on the club very weak. He said that I had to stick with it. I didn't.

Personally, I don't think I'll ever go to a pro for lessons. I don't want to be amazing, I just want to be decent enough to enjoy playing.

[aidanmcg33]

I want them to go to a pro, but they want me to show them enough so they aren't completely useless when they go to him. And I know they would have a far bigger improvement with the pro that with me trying to help them. So might take them to the range sometime the pro is teaching and have them in the bays next to him, so maybe they will listen and see that hes better at explainin things that I am.

[geezer]

Believe me, there aint nothing the pro hasn't seen before. There is nothing to be embarassed about being a total beginner, explain this to them.

Then say, "look at my handicap, now look at this professionals handicap. Now who would you rather be taught by?"

[janzaruk]

Yeah man. get them to a pro. I feel I know the game pretty well, and I am a 11. I wouldn't feel confortable teaching much more than a putting stroke. Golf swings are COMPLICATED. You know that, so explain that to them. Try and tell them that you helping them develop any sort of swing could potentially be bad for them learing the right swing.

And the poster above is right, I went to a pro when I first learned. His name was Alan Tappe. He watched me shank a bucket's worth, and then within 30 min I was hitting balls that would stop on concete with a seven iron.

Good luck, and hope they listen to you

[kafka01]

Personally, I don't think I'll ever go to a pro for lessons. I don't want to be amazing, I just want to be decent enough to enjoy playing.

Oh come on - I see so many really simple errors people make and the pro could fix them in no time without much hassle (especially in grip/basic understanding of the swing). It won´t make you play amazing cuz this actually needs a lot of practice but it will help you enjoy your game a lot more .

[Golf4life]

I went to two lessons hosted by a pro and his helper that was based indoors on a golf simulator. His assistant tried to insist that I had far too strong a grip and tried to convince me to hold the club with my right hand much too far wrapped over my left thumb which caused me considerable pain in my wrists and also made my grip on the club very weak. He said that I had to stick with it. I didn't.

Sorry to hear about your BAD EXPERIENCE! indoor golf lesson, well that explains why. What's your expectation of a being decent? Nah nevermind, i cant relate to your thought process.

******* To the person that started this thread.. As many others have stated get them to see a golf pro. Specially if they have any indication being athletic, they will pick it up right away. Have you ever taken lessons? if yes.. then you may want to share some of that experience...

[Kellfire]

Oh come on - I see so many really simple errors people make and the pro could fix them in no time without much hassle (especially in grip/basic understanding of the swing). It won´t make you play amazing cuz this actually needs a lot of practice but it will help you enjoy your game a lot more .

Sorry to hear about your BAD EXPERIENCE! indoor golf lesson, well that explains why. What's your expectation of a being decent? Nah nevermind, i cant relate to your thought process.

I understand where both of you are coming from but here is my thinking...

If I go to a pro, I'll feel like what is nothing more than a hobby is becoming a bit too scripted. I'd much rather get there entirely on my own, though I may well go to a pro at some point in the near future. I'm going to play out this golfing year without seeing one and then assess where my game is after that. I'd class being decent as being around a bogey golfer and as I improve, I can definitely see that happening without seeing a pro.