From absolute beginner - how long did it take you to improve?

[RussUK]

I've been playing for 5 years and only just started seeing a real improvement. I have reasons for my slowish progress (stated in another post) but things clicked earlier this year. I had one of those lightbulb moments and found my swing. Ball striking getting way better as is consistancy and as of the weekend the distance is improving a lot too.

Just stay patient and it will come and you may find lessons help you.

Re the injuries, my range only have matts but they have a hard "bare lie" part and a longer, softer strip with holes for rubber tees. I always use this part as its better on the wrists. If your range doesnt have matts like this then an option could be to buy one. You can actually get small portable one with rubber tees from sports direct. Pop it in a bag and drop it on the range matt (slide theirs out of the way a little if you like) and hey presto, a much more wrist friendly surface.

I also played in the past with a guy who tees every shot up as he has had so many wrist issues.

[Dipshlappers]

On 9/11/2017 at 5:48 PM, RJN12 said:

Ouch - sounds bad. Mine are different - wrists, fingers and elbow - basically over-use/tendonitis. I am in very good shape, but my forearms/wrists are probably weaker than I thought. I've been slowing down now for a few weeks, and it's def getting better. 

May be worth doing some digging on what you could change to lessen the blow to your wrist and elbows while your swing improves.  Friend I usually play with and myself found fixes, or components to focus on which alleviated our golf related ailments.  Golf digest article on some swing adjustments to help with wrist and elbow pain...hopefully this helps

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/fitness-avoid-injuries

"Funny - I've always thought of golf as a bit of a weakling game, but I stand corrected - everyone seems to go through severe injuries at some point,,,,"

I was in the same boat before I started.  It's quite a humbling game...as you find out over, and over, and over, and over, then again.