Picking golf back up after a LONG time.

[Ryan_289]

Hi everyone.  After having a golf conversation with some of my friends a week ago I decided to get my clubs out and pick them back up.   I started playing golf at 14 and played pretty heavy (high school golf team)  until I went to college.  Since 2000 I probably have not played golf more than 10 times.  While I was never what I considered good, I usually scored in the mid 80s regularly.  I fought a slice but learned to play with it instead of fixing it.  (we had a golf team but no golf coach.  Small school)  I went to the driving range this weekend and went through a bucket of balls.  As to be expected my swing is long gone.  After about half a bucket I slowed my swing down and started hitting some better balls.  Still have the random slice if I really try to rip it.  Couldnt hit my driver for crap (never really could) but could hit the 3 wood pretty good.  I wasnt hitting my irons very well,  It seemed like I was picking up too much of a divot.  Any tips besides just keep going back and hitting range balls for a while before I hit the course?

My current bag consists of a set of 3-pw set of Ping Eye 2s with zz lite shafts  An old Callaway Steelhead driver and a Steelhead 3, both steel shafts)  I bought these used around 2002 when I thought I was going to start playing again.  I had given away my old set of clubs, they were a set of King Snakes (King Cobra copies) that my parents bought for me in 96-97.  A buddy recommended I look into hybrids but I have no experiance with them.

[boogielicious]

15 hours ago, Ryan_289 said:

Hi everyone.  After having a golf conversation with some of my friends a week ago I decided to get my clubs out and pick them back up.   I started playing golf at 14 and played pretty heavy (high school golf team)  until I went to college.  Since 2000 I probably have not played golf more than 10 times.  While I was never what I considered good, I usually scored in the mid 80s regularly.  I fought a slice but learned to play with it instead of fixing it.  (we had a golf team but no golf coach.  Small school)  I went to the driving range this weekend and went through a bucket of balls.  As to be expected my swing is long gone.  After about half a bucket I slowed my swing down and started hitting some better balls.  Still have the random slice if I really try to rip it.  Couldnt hit my driver for crap (never really could) but could hit the 3 wood pretty good.  I wasnt hitting my irons very well,  It seemed like I was picking up too much of a divot.  Any tips besides just keep going back and hitting range balls for a while before I hit the course?

My current bag consists of a set of 3-pw set of Ping Eye 2s with zz lite shafts  An old Callaway Steelhead driver and a Steelhead 3, both steel shafts)  I bought these used around 2002 when I thought I was going to start playing again.  I had given away my old set of clubs, they were a set of King Snakes (King Cobra copies) that my parents bought for me in 96-97.  A buddy recommended I look into hybrids but I have no experiance with them.

Welcome to the forum. We have a section called Member Swings. You can post of video of your swing and folks will help you out. It is hard to identify an issue without seeing the swing. 

[RH31]

I quit playing for more or less 10 years(age 40-50). It's took me a lot of swings to get the feel back.

I would take lessons. Specifically, video lessons, so you can actually see what you are doing right and wrong and what you need to focus on. Explain to the Teaching Pro where you were and where you want to get to with your swing and ask him to help lay out a plan to get you there.

Consider new clubs. I'm swinging new irons this year that are far and away the easiest clubs to hit that I've ever had in my hand.

If you want to work on some stuff out on the range; Grip, aim (use alignment rods), stance/posture, make a full turn, swing through and keep your balance. Making a full, balanced swing at whatever speed, to me is very important. It may take awhile to get your distance/clubhead speed back.

Good Luck!!!

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44 minutes ago, RH31 said:

I would take lessons

+1 for lessons - I took up golf again last year after a long time away and for the first six months was happy just hitting balls on the range and the course.  After I started taking a couple of lessons this year and have seen the benefit in my game I think it would have been wiser to start the lessons earlier.  There isn't much point trying to relearn an old swing if there are issues with it that need changing - better to get an instructor to tell you what the correct picture looks like and then go after it.