Well these past few weeks I've been golfing quite a bit with some co-workers and friends. I was never really big on golf and didn't really appreciate it that much but over the past few weeks I've been invited to play quite a few times and I can see why people get hooked on the game. I have a set of clubs, not sure what brand name they are or even if they are brand name but I'm not looking at getting a new set. I'm not sure what to get just yet so I thought I'd see if there are any golfers here? I had my eyes on a set of either Ping or Taylormade, I'm leaning to Ping though, I like how they felt wile I practiced with them...but I'm starting to realize that golfing is kinda like a status thing and one part of golfing is looking the part :shrug: I see this every time I go to the driving range :shrug: I'm just learning to golf, well really just trying to develop a swing. So far so good, I don't need a new set of clubs but they sure look nice. For the time being my current set will get me by, so maybe next season I'll pick up a new set of clubs. Any who if any of you guys have tips and you'd like to share I'd love to hear it. Oh now that I'm playing more golf I sure can appreciate what the pros can do, I've been watching some videos of Tiger Woods and other great players and boy they make it look easy, golf is not an easy sport...heck before I started playing golf I didn't even consider it a sport but now that I got my feet wet it's a very challenging sport. I have a co-worker who is a pro golfer, registers to quite a few tournaments....I managed to con him to give me lesson through the winter so hopefully come next season I'll be a much better golfer. Oh another thing I didn't realize is that walking 18holes is quite tiring, I play quite a bit of soccer and work out regularly and even then after 18holes I'm beat well I'm sure the more I golf the better I'll get.
Nica, im really glad you are getting into golf. I actually got a golf scholarship to College of the Southwest and played 4 years there. Golf is a great game. As far as your equipment goes, just starting out i would offer this advice...get a forgiving club. Something like Ping or Callaway in what is called a "cavity back". I have a set of titleist blades and a titleist driver..but neither are forgiving at all. I would look into the Nike Sasquatch and Callaway FT (I think) drivers. Although Cleveland makes a great driver as well. Golf is a lot like detailing, there are many many options out there in the market and it all comes down to personal preference...as far as your swing goes, its obviously pretty tough to offer advice without seeing you swing, but assuming you are a right hander..2 important things are keeping your head still and your right knee bent throughout your swing...you stay on balance and can have a good path to the ball....and also if you want to PM me sometime before you get your clubs and decide what you want, my college golf coach gets a sick discount with a couple of companies, and i can see if he has met his quota and can talk him into getting them for you..but also there is nothing wrong with ebay for golf stuff either...
Sweet Nica! I played golf all durring highschool. Im a scratch golfer...shoot around par when i play. I just dont have the time to get out practice more to better my score. I have Ben Hogan muscle back. You can find some great deals on ebay.
I started playing golf more than 10 years ago and since then I've become a decent player. Here's what i learned: 1) Buy a decent set of clubs, preferably in used but good condition. Older generation of Ping, callaway, taylormade can be had for cheap. Choose the one that feels best to you, not because one is 'relatively' cheaper/more expensive. I don't suggest getting knock-offs, quality and consistency in those are iffy at best. Keep in mind that some clubs like older pings have different 'color code' to fit your swing style/height etc. I suggest going to a Golf Mart and have a salesperson check you stance, lie angle etc. Here's an example LINK. If this is not possible, just get a 'neutral' set. If you buy a used, but decent set of clubs, you'll have the confidence that your clubs will do exactly what it should do. In other words, you won't be able to blame your clubs if you hit a bad shot, it will all be your swing technique :doh:. This is one less thing to worry about in the back of your mind. 2) The best time to get a lesson is when you are starting out. You don't want to ingrain bad habits when you are starting out because it is really hard to correct them once your brain develops that technique. If you start right, it will be better in the long run. Get a few friends and enroll in a group lesson, cheaper and more fun. 3) Don't mind the golf fashion show and status thing. I've seen a lot of golfers sporting the latest and most expensive clubs/drivers but can't hit shit. You know what, i don't care. If they can buy great equipment which they can't hit properly, good for them. Be concerned with your own progress, in time, you will be confident enough to get those. At this level, you don't want to waste money and end up looking like a poser. 4) Keep at it. Play when you can, either at the range or course. Develop a routine and tempo and be consistent with it. Take notes of what your weaknesses are and practice them at the range. Don't go to the range blindly and start whacking balls without any sense of purpose ( like many beginners that i see at the range). Get a small notebook and jot down which ball positions, head placement, hand positions feel good and are effective. Note the distances of your clubs. As J BELL said, golf is a lot like detailing. A good car detailer, develops a system /routine. These may seem tedious at first but becomes second nature. Develop a good shot routine and practice them EVERY shot in the range or course. 5) Keep it fun. Golf is a frustrating yet addicting sport. Smile when you hit a bad shot...the next one will be better (at least that's what i tell myself). Right now, I have 2 sets of clubs a Mizuno MP14 (about 8 years old) and Mizuno MP33 (6 years old) and a 5 year old Mizuno driver that looks like a 3 wood compared to the newer massive drivers that i see in the range today. Despite their age, i've never found anything that feels as good as those two sets. These are blades so i don't recommend you start out with them. :support:
oooh wicked advice guys...well here is what I've done, I went to a Callaway fitting centre here in town and they video taped my swing to date and let me tell you it's not pretty :shakhead: I'll be taking lessons through the winter from the co-worker I was telling you about. Current set of clubs I have are Alien, well the irons are Alien the driver is quite cheap so I was going to get a new driver and some new woods but I'm in no rush for the time being...seeing as I'll learning how to properly swing a golf club. Golf is an intense game and there is so much technique in to it I think that's what appeals to me, the fact that it's so challenging. Oh and I totally understand what you guys mean by saying a "forgiving golf club" makes a huge difference. I'm looking forward on the golf lessons and lots of practice of course. Oh one thing though is that driving range compared to playing a round of golf is completely different. J Bell, I'll keep you in mind when it comes for me to purchase clubs. Oh that reminds me the current set of clubs I have doesn't have a Sandwhich club..lol..sorry if I spelled it wrong I should snap a picture of my current set of clubs for you guys....a co-worker gave them to me, they were collecting dust and they aren't too old either maybe two years old or so. So what kind of sandwhich club should I get...from what I understand is that the club is supposed to have more loft :shead: right? Boy a scratcher huh..man I'd love to keep my score under a 100 but like I said I need to work on technique hopefully by the end of winter I'll have the swing and technique down pat...I hope :beg: i'll post the video of my beginner swing for you guys to look and well shake your heads at lol :shrug: we all have to start some where though :thumb:
Cool, glad to hear you're into golfing Carlos! I have gone to the range and played a round of 18 holes myself and would like to learn from everyone about the sport. I can't really afford my own set of clubs at this point in time so I guess I'll do some thorough researching/reading instead, hehe.
Thats whats so great about golf, is that you can never truly get anything down for good..just when you think you have something bites you big haha...thats what keeps us all coming back..
Carlos....from your description I think you should be looking at a sand wedge (SW). I have a Cleveland sandwedge now and its a love or hate club. Its one I have to practice with alot but love it around the green. I have been playing for about 12 years now and still learn everytime I go. As for clubs it personal preference. I am actually looking for new irons now but being left handed it hard to find set to try. I think putter and irons (including wedges) are the most important items. If you are not comfortable with them then you are in for a long day. Golf balls to me are important. I like softer covers as it gives me more feel but they are usually more expensive. Oh yeah and I love walking when playing. Great exercise and I feel like I get a feel for the course and yardage better. B/c if I ride I usually tilt back a few. Good luck!
Ping G10s, Graphite Reg. Flex will be good for a beginner. Test swing them at golf town! I think I am going to get myself a set on boxing day. EDIT: Why don't you try starting out with 3 wood instead of going right to a driver...It is a bit easier to hit.
I taught golf for 6 years while I was going to high school and college. Got my teachers card and haven't really golfed much since. I turned a scholarship down to Texas A&M due to cost, wish I would have had the money to go. Good luck in the hunt for clubs, which by the way are personal preferance. Go to Golf Town or something like it and hit all their clubs. You might be surprised what you like.
It's been pretty much covered but.....go hit a bunch of clubs and find the ones that feel the best to you. You're right on the money taking some lessons. Even the pro's still do and they have a swing coach. I take a few lessons/brush-up sessions through out the year and I play to a 0 handicap. Most importantly, go out have fun, it's a great game and don't take it to overly serious. Unless you plan on making a living at it.
Thank you all for the advise and feed back very much appreciated. Today I purchased a 6month pass to a indoor driving range, it really was a no brainer as the place is literally across the street from where I work. So during the winter when the temperature drops to -20C here or so I'll be inside practicing on my swing. With lessons and all I'm hoping to be a scratcher my self...but I got my whole life a head of me to become a good golfer :thumb: Oh and yes I need a Sand Wedge not a Sandwhich lol..:thumb: Sneek I too was going to wait for the X-mass specials, usually everything get's blown out because of the new clubs coming in...kinda like cars...um..kinda. Now the big question, what sealant do you guys put on your clubs? Huh come one I know you guys do it..I know I have..heck my pitching wedge has Pual's wax on it :whistle:
The best advice anyone can give is that practice makes the player....lots of it!! Secondly, form a constant swing, something repeatable. When you're learning swinging harder doesn't make it go further. Don't watch the pros and try to copy what they do, there is FAR too much going on there for the average person to understand or pick up. Form your swing, and make it smooth, no abrupt or jerky moves. You're an athletic guy, you'll pick it up fast
I havent used sealant but have used a Klasse AIO on my driver. Also I have a microfiber Ping towel. Who wants swirls on their clubs.
Sweet I'm in for that, with the lessons I'll be taking during the winter I should bring my game down to 80's or so...well at least I hope :beg: Oooh I say next summer we have a Detailing Bliss meet at a golf course :cheerl: :cheerl:
Watch the golf channel if you have it. There are alot of lessons that can be learn. As far as clubs go, I would go to a golf store, golf galaxy, buy used and get fitted for them its free. There is no need to spend $500 on some clubs you cant hit. Learn to hit the ball first, because your swing cant tell if the club is $500 or $50, its all in your body mechanics. Oh and spend a lot of time in your living room with a coffee cup, practice your putting. Its boring, but it pays off on the course. Good luck with the game, don't get frustrated, its" suppose" to be a relaxing game.
I agree with you Akoiso, there is so much mechanics in this sport it's insane. I mean everything must be in sinc, from the arms to the legs, from head to toe. Oh and yes short game is what I'm focusing on the most, if you have a good short game you'll always come ahead. Thanks for the tip(s).
