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How To Golf

Learning how to play the game of golf can be a frustrating and difficult challenge. Many people consider this game to be one of the most difficult to learn so it is important to have some patience at the start. Some of the best players in the world learned the game of golf backwards which means that they learned how to putt and chip first before they refined their full swings. This is probably the ideal way for most amateurs to start also when it comes to learning how to play golf.

Putting:

Putting is like a game in and of itself. There are a lot of different putting styles out there and the interesting thing is that even the most awkward putting techniques have been used to win professional tournaments. The key with putting mechanics is to pick one approach and stick with making minor refinements and tweaks but never completely overhauling your basic mechanics. It takes your body time to adjust to any big mechanical changes so if you are always making changes to your mechanics you will never be as good as you can be.

Chipping and Flop Shots:

You need to spend some time before each round hitting some chips and flop shots from different lies around the greens. Look for difficult lies and learn how to hit from them well as this will make the shots you face on the course seem much easier. Do not be ashamed to skull a few chips or hit a few fat shots around the greens during practice, you would much rather hit your bad shots around the practice greens than on the course where the score matters.

Wedge Play:

Becoming a good wedge player is a function of practice since the only way to develop good distance control is by hitting lots of wedge shots from varying distances from 40 to 120 yards. If possible be sure to hit a bucket of balls on the range before each round to work on your full swing, hit at least 20-25% of those balls with your wedge as it is a critical club in order to shoot lower scores.

Long Irons:

The full swing is simply an extension of the shorter swings so do not make drastic changes in your mechanics from your shorter wedge shots to your full shots. Everyone has a unique golf swing so learn to work with your own swing type and do not try to copy some professional golfer if you do not have the same body type and flexibility as that player. There are some basic keys to keep in mind for the full swing.

Key 1: Use a light grip

Most new golfers tend to choke the club and this can lead to many swing flaws and poor shots. Using a light grip ensures that the club releases fully through impact for maximum club head speed and distance.

Key 2: Keep the head down

This is a common tip but it is accurate as lifting the head before a full release will usually result in a slice so be sure to keep your head down and let the momentum of the release bring your head up instead of you trying to prematurely see where the ball is going.

Key 3: Use proper equipment

Getting fitted for the right club length and type is important so visit a local golf pro and get your clubs custom fitted if you can. This is particularly important for the driver. If you have a very high club head speed over 120 mph then you will need a stiff shaft driver with loft less than 9 degrees. These are just a few tips to help you learn how to golf and shoot lower scores. Click here to learn more secrets to improving at golf.