Discussion
My Brother plays a lot of golf, and keeps asking me to give it a go, tells me I would enjoy it etc etc
Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
Mike400 said:
My Brother plays a lot of golf, and keeps asking me to give it a go, tells me I would enjoy it etc etc
Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
He's your brother, what's the worst he'll do? Give you a wedgie? Just go and enjoy yourself Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
Heskey said:
Mike400 said:
My Brother plays a lot of golf, and keeps asking me to give it a go, tells me I would enjoy it etc etc
Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
He's your brother, what's the worst he'll do? Give you a wedgie? Just go and enjoy yourself Now whilst I wouldnt mind giving it a shot, no pun intended, I have only ever been to a driving range a handful of times as a kid and as such am a complete golf virgin.
Equipment isnt a problem, my brother recently got new clubs so has a spare set I can use.
Now I know golf is one of those sports you can spend years playing and still be crap, but I dont want to make a complete tool of myself on my first outing, so what do you suggest?
Spending a few nights on the driving range learning how to hit the ball properly, or just jump straight in with the brother?
Im more worried that other proper golf types might laugh at me, or ill get in their way or something...
Swing slowly.
I'm no exert but i do give pointers to a few beginners every now and then. I play with a guy whor eally tries to smash it everytime, a few months on and he's still crap. gave a little (2 minute) intro to golf to a guy the other day and he plays slowly, with the right club and just knocks the ball down the fairway.
take it nice and easy, grip securely, don't put too much effort into the swing. much better to have to hit 6 nice straight fairway shots that to smash the crap out of the ball and need to take 12 shots from the rouch eachside of the fairway!
I'm no exert but i do give pointers to a few beginners every now and then. I play with a guy whor eally tries to smash it everytime, a few months on and he's still crap. gave a little (2 minute) intro to golf to a guy the other day and he plays slowly, with the right club and just knocks the ball down the fairway.
take it nice and easy, grip securely, don't put too much effort into the swing. much better to have to hit 6 nice straight fairway shots that to smash the crap out of the ball and need to take 12 shots from the rouch eachside of the fairway!
Go to a 9 hole during the week around mid day. The place will be deserted so it doesn't matter if you make a cock of yourself.
The common mistake I always make (Hence why I am s
t at the game) is lifting my head when swinging.
Make sure the clubs are the right length for you or you'll be bending down and hunched over which won't do anything for your game.
The common mistake I always make (Hence why I am s
t at the game) is lifting my head when swinging. Make sure the clubs are the right length for you or you'll be bending down and hunched over which won't do anything for your game.
) with you and practice hitting the ball properlyIf you actually 'want' to go & learn to play golf properly, go and get some lessons straight away.
Golf is all about the stance, the grip and the swing. If you just flail wildly at the ball on the range for a few weeks you will pick up bad habits that will be hard to shake off. Get taught the basics properly, and spend some time practicing them.
In the long term if you stick at it, you will wish you did it that way from the start...
Golf is all about the stance, the grip and the swing. If you just flail wildly at the ball on the range for a few weeks you will pick up bad habits that will be hard to shake off. Get taught the basics properly, and spend some time practicing them.
In the long term if you stick at it, you will wish you did it that way from the start...
Just practice a bit and keep your swing the same. Dont try and hit the ball into next week as you will only make a fool of yourself. Just have a look at the old boys that play. Slow and steady. 150yrds each time.
When you do go on the course dont be worried about other people.
If you look around you will soon see there will be a few worse shots than yours. And if possible go on a week day as there will be less people on the course.
One final tip, If you are making an arse of yourself and feel you are holding people up just let them play through. Remember if we were all great there would be no handicap system and we would all be beating Tiger woods.
When you do go on the course dont be worried about other people.
If you look around you will soon see there will be a few worse shots than yours. And if possible go on a week day as there will be less people on the course.
One final tip, If you are making an arse of yourself and feel you are holding people up just let them play through. Remember if we were all great there would be no handicap system and we would all be beating Tiger woods.
Thing I find about a driving range hitting off a mat is it gives you a false sense of security, a field isn't a mat, you will find your hitting it well at the range then when your ball lands on the uneven grass you hit it like a girl. Still cant be bad practice so when you get on a course at least you can hit it.
And as for ettiquett some take it a lot more serious than others, for example I was texting my manager whilst on the course and some idiot shouts something about mobile phones must be on silence and only used for emergencies which it was!.
If its your very first time then I suggest a 9 hole council course rather than members only snooty course. Wont matter as much if your playing your ball off the wrong fairways on a 9 hole.
And as for ettiquett some take it a lot more serious than others, for example I was texting my manager whilst on the course and some idiot shouts something about mobile phones must be on silence and only used for emergencies which it was!.
If its your very first time then I suggest a 9 hole council course rather than members only snooty course. Wont matter as much if your playing your ball off the wrong fairways on a 9 hole.
Having at least one lesson will make a massive difference.
If I were you I'd have a lesson then hit a few hundred balls on the range practising what you've been taught. Then have another lesson and another few hundred balls on the range. Only after that go out on a course. If you go out onto a course without having a lesson it will really detract from your enjoyment.
For a first round I'd find a quiet course on a quiet day so you don't feel any stress with better golfers coming up behind you.
If I were you I'd have a lesson then hit a few hundred balls on the range practising what you've been taught. Then have another lesson and another few hundred balls on the range. Only after that go out on a course. If you go out onto a course without having a lesson it will really detract from your enjoyment.
For a first round I'd find a quiet course on a quiet day so you don't feel any stress with better golfers coming up behind you.
lots of people like to take the piss out of golf, but these same folk can't take it when someone takes the piss out of soccer!
anyway, golf is great fun. on a nice sunny day, i can't think of much else that's more enjoyable and relaxing.
and when you do hit a good shot, there is that nice feeling you get.
anyway, golf is great fun. on a nice sunny day, i can't think of much else that's more enjoyable and relaxing.
and when you do hit a good shot, there is that nice feeling you get.
Get some lessons (as advised), maybe 3 half hour slots on a driving range. Then practice a bit - then head out onto the course and see how you get on.
You won't get in the way as your brother will ensure you don't. As soon as you have golfers behind you, just wave them through so you're not holding them up.
Good luck! It's a great game once you get into it.
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