I need golf help

BA_Colt

BA_Colt

Don't make me slap you the kielbasa.
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
14,169
I just took up golf. I know I have too many hobbies now but whatever. My experience with golf is I have been to the range 5 times. Today I was using a 3 wood. My fist 8 balls went straight an a decent distance. The next 10 or so either went almost straight up, a few feet, or I hit the rubber tee and the ball went nowhere. What am I doing wrong? I have not taken lessons, perhaps I will but not right now. Any help will be appreciated.
 
The only thing I know about golf was something a corporate executive taught me decades ago: hit the little ball before you hit the big ball. When he saw my confusion, he explained that the little ball is the golf ball.

"And the big ball?" I asked.

"The earth."

Probably someone more familiar with the sport will be along to advise you shortly. :D
 
You take lessons or you re-invent everything everyone learned, on your own. Certain techniques are so easy to see once someone shows you, then it's practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, ... then go to a golf course and play a game.

You need to develop an effective grip, from there, learn a consistent swing, then build stamina by hitting buckets and buckets of those little balls with the cute dimples into an open field.

Do this at a range alongside other aspiring golfers, so you learn the proper terminology from the start.

$#(^& &&&*)( $#)( *^&%%@# !!!
 
As a career 30 handicap golfer who gave it up two years ago, I don't know whether to commend you or feel sorry for you.

Get a basic lesson right off. The Pro can show you the very basics and tell you what to look for.

If you just want to whack the ball at the range for fun, I recommend using the 7 iron for most of your "practice" It is easier to get up in the air and you feel like you are making progress, but it goes far enough to be satisfiying.
 
I play once in a blue moon. I used to be into it but have pretty much given up on it.

From what you've described, slow down. You're in too big of a hurry to hit the next ball and your back is getting tired. Your shoulders are beginning to drop so you're getting under the ball too much.

You are new to the sport and have to develop the muscles to go with it just like any other repetitive activity.
 
Keep your heaqd still and backswing slowly, pause at the top of the backswing for a second and then swing smoothly through the ball.

-Tye
 
BA_Colt said:
I just took up golf. I know I have too many hobbies now but whatever. My experience with golf is I have been to the range 5 times. Today I was using a 3 wood. My fist 8 balls went straight an a decent distance. The next 10 or so either went almost straight up, a few feet, or I hit the rubber tee and the ball went nowhere. What am I doing wrong? I have not taken lessons, perhaps I will but not right now. Any help will be appreciated.
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the mishits are not the result of the same mistake.

a 3 wood, as opposed to a driver (1 wood), has a shallower club face, so when hitting off a tee it is generally better to have the tee very low or hit off the mat.

when you pop them straight up, the ball is going underneath the ball and making contact with the top of the clubhead rather than the "sweet spot" on the clubface. this is referred to as hitting the ball "fat".

the ones that only go a few feet (whether straight, left, or right), are being hit off the soleplate (underneath the club), and topped. this is referred to as hitting the ball "thin".


i would recommend practicing with a 7 or 8 iron off the mat. the longer the club, the more difficult it will generally be to hit. the 3 wood is the second longest club in the bag.
 
Those stupid rubber things that you hit off the mats at the range are terrible. Besides not being adjustable they are often too high for anything but the driver and too low for the new large drivers. Your tee height adjusts for each club. The lowest being a Wedge and the highest a Driver.

If you set a ball on the tee and then place your club beside it, the equator of the ball should be in the middle of the club face. Generally for a 3 wood, it is about 1/2" to 3/4" above the DIRT. Not above the grass.
 
Ive played golf since 1984. Forget all the new clubs, balls, drivers etc.. and for that matter dont even bother going to the range untill you have taken a few lessons. You could beat balls all day long, but unless you know what you are working on, all you are doing is reinforcing bad habits. 3 one hour lessons will get you up and running, then take another 3 lessons in 8 weeks. Then one more lesson in 8 weeks. Now pratice and play once a week. At that point you might be ready from some nice clubs, look around and try to get used ones you will save a bundle. Good luck.:thumbup:
 
Ben Hogan has a book out - been awhile since I looked at it and I can't even remember the name of it, but he addresses 5 phases of the game - grip, swing, stance, etc. in a way that is really easy to understand that will help you avoid some of the pitfalls that all beginners fall into. I started out playing with my dad when I was around 22-23 and was really awful. Dad was trying to help, but it was somewhat hopeless. Found the book at a garage sale and it really helped my game. I never did any better than bogey golf, but for someone who did not have the time for the game, it really helped. Eye on the ball - quit looking up.
 
Thanks friends!
I went back and hit another bucket of balls. I choked up on the club took a 1/4 step back to my right and did ok. I figured I was hitting under the ball when it was going straight up. When I went back I hit from a different "tee" and the rubber tee was lower. With the 3 wood I was hitting straight and just past the 100 yard flag. I do not have my own clubs and this is what the range lent me. I do however need a glove as I have a hot spot on my left thumb and index finger and a broken blister on my little finger.
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To be honest, my best suggestion when it comes to golf is to buy a fishing rod/reel and some tackle. If you want to spend three or four hours out in the sun, go fishing. :p
 
Rupestris said:
To be honest, my best suggestion when it comes to golf is to buy a fishing rod/reel and some tackle. If you want to spend three or four hours out in the sun, go fishing. :p
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I already fly fish and tie (some of) my own flies. I really have a case of AADD hobbies.
 
Esav has it right. Take a lesson first. Even a hard headed idiot like me learned a lot from lessons.
As for the blisters, a glove will help a lot, I don't use one but most people do. You are probably gripping too tight. Most people do. Grip the club as tightly as you would hold a bird. Not tight enough to hurt it but tight enough that it won't fly away.

Ben Hogan's book is "The Five Fundamentals".
 
Fantastic sport/game and trust me even more addictive than fly fishing.

Give it a chance...take lessons! Grip, aim, stance, and posture starting out will save breaking down the mistakes and rebuilding. At the very least use an 8 or 7 iron at the range. Drivers and fairway woods only exacerbate problems. If you must hit from a tee place the height so half the ball is above the top of the wood/metal and half below.

Just like tennis or fly casting golf is muscle memory. Take a lesson and work on it a few days then take another lesson. Also golf is just like fly fishing, after you learn to cast it's time to move on to fishing. Golfing, after you learn to hit the ball with some consistency the fun starts.

I only remember a Bobby Jones video "How I play Golf" and it's probably worth renting. And if you're renting DVD's watch "Dead Solid Perfect" with Randy Quaid, "Tin Cup" and the classic "Caddyshack" featuring an old classmate of mine!

If this ever makes it to Wine and Cheese I'll answer the question "why do they call it golf?".
 
Grip hard with your left hand, and soft with the right, let it just go along for the ride. Your left elbow remains straight, and your backswing ends with your left wrist bent. You swing through the ball, with your wrist whipping the club right before you hit the ball, and swing all the way through, with your head remaining looking at the ground. It is easy......

Yeah right. I enjoy the game, but do not play more than once or twice a year. I played in Highschool for 3 yrs and enjoyed it immensely, but best game ever was an 89, which is not that good. Now, if I break a 100, I am happy. I do count all my swings, and penalty strokes, no cheatin for me.
 
cj65 said:
Grip hard with your left hand, and soft with the right, let it just go along for the ride. Your left elbow remains straight, and your backswing ends with your left wrist bent. You swing through the ball, with your wrist whipping the club right before you hit the ball, and swing all the way through, with your head remaining looking at the ground. It is easy......

Yeah right. I enjoy the game, but do not play more than once or twice a year. I played in Highschool for 3 yrs and enjoyed it immensely, but best game ever was an 89, which is not that good. Now, if I break a 100, I am happy. I do count all my swings, and penalty strokes, no cheatin for me.
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I always carry my sticks in the truck with me. I rarely get to play but one of these days when I go to LA I hope we can get together and play a round.:thumbup:
 
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