How to Start Learning to Play Golf

Learn to play golf faster and better.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An Eternal Beginner's Mind

1. 
   Learn a balanced, athletic set-up position.

   Find a good golf professional. Sounds simple -- Start a good business relationship with your pro...Please, don't start learning from a caring relative -- really bad idea. Many (not all) pros make their living by teaching, and there's a reason! It's a HARD game to learn on your own. Pros DO make it easier!

2. Take individual golf lessons. Group lessons can be fun, but you'll learn faster one-on-one. If it will make you feel better, go ahead and learn with one other friend. Ask for sessions of one hour, as the old 30-minute sessions aren't nearly as helpful.

3. 
   Start learning with a club from a fitting system that you can hit!

   This is ESSENTIAL: Ask the pro to learn with clubs that fit you. I'd recommend a 9- or 7-wood to learn your swing. You don't have to buy clubs right away, and maybe you shouldn't. But you'll learn much faster if the clubs you learn with really do fit you. Only buy clubs that you know you can hit -- don't buy a whole set first!

4. 
   Start by making a rhythmic but soft swing..

   Ok, here's a tip (if you must) before you go see a pro: Start at a driving range with a 9-wood. This is the best club to start with -- nothing else will help as much. Put your hands close together near the top end of the club with your left hand almost to the end and right hand touching it, bend your knees and hips slightly, and swing the shaft SOFTLY over your right shoulder and then over your left shoulder. Swing rhythmically on both sides: 1,2,3 -- 4,5 6. Next place a golf ball on a short tee (about 1/4 inch above the ground) and swing softly and rhythmically. Anything hard and aggressive at this point will not help. Watch the ball fly, and then go see a pro!

5. Big Key: Ask the pro to take you on the golf course at some point. Ask other people if they've ever been on the course with a pro...Not many have. This is important because if they don't show you what to expect ON THE COURSE you may never get there.

6. 
   Start in balance and finish in balance!

   If you're not satisfied, find a different pro! Pros are just like doctors -- you'll relate to some better than others.

7. Find some friends to play golf with. Your pro should know some who would be similar in ability. Most new players are looking for new friends -- it's just like learning ehow!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't let others tell you that the club doesn't matter -- it most certainly does! Remember this: If you (or they) can't tell that a club makes a difference then the pro didn't give you the right one.
• Golf pros are like doctors. If it's not working, get a second opinion.
• If you try it without a pro and you find it to be frustrating, don't forget -- that's what pros are for!
• Don't get frustrated if a well-meaning relative wants to help you play golf. Just remember -- they don't make their living by teaching. If you're going to, at least try it with just a 9-wood.

Resources

• click for clubfitting information

[LilacGirl]

on 7/15/2008 You could have written this article with me in mind. I'm a real beginner, but your article helps.

[CCrock]

on 1/3/2008 Thanks for this article! I've REALLY been wanting to learn to play golf. My husband was taking my to the park in the summer to teach me a swing, but he said the same thing...It's better if I learn from a PRO.