[KhalJimbo]

Hi Guys and Gals

I would like to start playing Golf on weekends as I think it could be a nice to get out of the house a bit more and away from my consoles, but was wondering if anyone has any tips for me? I am based in the South and was thinking maybe just a buying a driver and starting out at the driving range a few nights each week?

[justincase]

The best advice i was given when i took up golf was to have lessons first,it's better to get in to good habits early

[deanym]

Don't start with just a driver - you're better starting off with a wedge or 6 iron to build up your style and confidence.

[booyaka]

Originally Posted by justincase

The best advice i was given when i took up golf was to have lessons first,it's better to get in to good habits early

lessons lessons lessons - practise practise practise.

Also make sure you get custom fitted for any clubs you buy - crazy not to.

Enjoy

[KhalJimbo]

Originally Posted by justincase

The best advice i was given when i took up golf was to have lessons first,it's better to get in to good habits early

I might try looking into some lessons, there are a few golf courses around here that I'm sure should offer lessons.

[Dony]

There are a few threads on the subject like this one.

Thinking about taking up golf......


If there is a decent range near you, pop in and explain that you are new to the game, and could they recommend clubs for you. Also ask if they do lessons.

They will usually lend you clubs to try out. It's takes a lot of practice but the feeling you get when you hit a ball where you want is very addictive, and pushes you on to do it again.

[lfc1394]

I would recommend having 3 lessons. Don't have them too close together as you need time to practise what you've learnt.

Borrow a set of clubs then go out and play a few rounds and see if it's for you.

I wouldn't go and invest in clubs till you are sure you want to take it up.

[sianba]

Hi
Dont buy any clubs until you can say you going to take it up for real, other wise you will end up with something you never use and be a waste of money, the reason i say this is Golf is one of the hardest sports to play and you might not like it when things dont go your way, but if you can over come this and then still want to play it thats when i will buy some clubs.

Also dont buy expensive as you need to get your swing and stance right and no matter how much your clubs cost they dont improve this at your leval, so start of cheap and then work your way up.

Also dont start with a driver hardest club in the bag, start with wedge and work your way down ie 9,8,7,6,5 etc.

Have some lessons first hire some clubs get the feel off the game then buy, if you want i have a good spare set of clubs which is just colecting dust if you pay for packaging cost i will send them to you, they contain a 3 to Wedge no woods but as i said dont use these yet.

So if you want them PM me with your details and ill send them to you, Hope you do enjoy it as it is the best game out there.

Sianba

[signs]

Go to your local driving range ,ask at the pro shop to borrow a 7 iron (they all lend them out) and go hit some balls

next go to a local pitch and putt and have a knock ,have fun

[gken74]

Do you have any friends who already play?

If so ask one of them, preferably someone who's good (low handicap) to goto the range/practice area with you and show you the basics and have a hit with a couple of their clubs.

Then if you enjoy it you could look in your local pro shop/driving range and pick up a couple of X-demo clubs cheap, like a 6 iron and a wedge. Then have a couple of more practive sessions to see if you enjoy it.

If you find yourself still as keen then enquire about booking a few lessons with a pro who runs group sessions as its a cheaper way of doing it.

I have introduced several friends to the game this way and all have stuck at it, but it can be very frustrating at times.

When the time comes to buy a set of clubs, please make sure you are custom fitted for them or you'll not get the full benefit from them....I'm a club builder and see this alot....the games hard enough without using badly fitted equipment....I mean you wouldn't walk into a shoe shop that only sold size 7 shoes and you are a 10 and buy a pair would you..?

Good Luck.

[minniepk17]

OK, firstly do not start with a driver, it is just about the hardest club in the bag to hit and is sure to put you off. I would suggets heading to your local club / driving range and speak to the PGA pro, he / she will be the best point of contact to offer advice on how to get started. Most golf club / range professionals will be happy to lend you a few clubs (especially a range pro) to allow you to get a feel for the game. If you like it then ask then about clubs - don't spend a fortune on clubs (second hand is grand - but check with the pro) and consider a half set - if you still love the game after a summers golf then you can consider an upgrade!

As for custom fit, there is no need to do this as you are just starting out, it can be expensive (brand dependent) and is really of benefit if you are over 6ft 1/2". I only went custom fit after more than 10yrs of playing and after getting my handicap into single figures (I'm also 6ft 3").

Most of all get a feel for the game, take the right professional advice and enoy a summer of golf before making any major club decisons.

[McFaber]

Try a pitch & putt course with your mates first off...If you like it, get down the driving range for a few hits, if you like that, start thinking about a lesson, then a round of golf at local municipal course again with your mates...with hired golf sets....some courses offer for hire really good golf clubs..
The early stages is all about learning to play golf, having fun and enjoying it, set the serious tone early, you'll end up not enjoying it at all...

All the best

Manxstar.

[johnscarlet]

Originally Posted by minniepk17

.................. and enoy a summer of golf before making any major club decisons.

Summer ? what's that then

Welcome to the forum

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by minniepk17

As for custom fit, there is no need to do this as you are just starting out, it can be expensive (brand dependent) and is really of benefit if you are over 6ft 1/2". I only went custom fit after more than 10yrs of playing and after getting my handicap into single figures (I'm also 6ft 3").

First off, welcome to the forum

Sorry but that's really poor advice. I agree not to get custom fitted straight away but it's a must when you start playing. Standard Lengths,Lies and flexes are all different and should be adjusted to your swing regardless of your height.

The pro at my golf club did a survey over the first 3 years at our club and he found that 90% of players were playing with poorly fitted clubs.

Custom fitting is a must if you want to play the best you can.

All the best Jim, it's a great great game.

Regards

[signs]

Originally Posted by Ultima

First off, welcome to the forum

Sorry but that's really poor advice. I agree not to get custom fitted straight away but it's a must when you start playing. Standard Lengths,Lies and flexes are all different and should be adjusted to your swing regardless of your height.

The pro at my golf club did a survey over the first 3 years at our club and he found that 90% of players were playing with poorly fitted clubs.

Custom fitting is a must if you want to play the best you can.

All the best Jim, it's a great great game.

Regards

Does your Pro also run the club shop Martin

I would say don't bother also with the custom fit ,as a high handicapper your swing will differ considerably ,until you get a lot of practise and more consistent.Get to about 18 handicap then have a look at a fit set IMO

[sianba]

I agree Custom Fit Clubs is only when you get to a decent leval, how can you get custom fit clubs if you cant hit the ball of the floor no matter how much they are custom to you if you cant hit a ball ie because of your swing then custom fit clubs mean nothing.

As for the Pro saying 90% of golfers playing with incorrect clubs that might be right but i bet he is talking about golfers who have a 13-24 handicap and not a starter.

Your Alignment your Stance your Swing all need to be consistent before you buy Custom Fit Clubs otherwise how do you know what to fix, once the op has these lessons with a pro then takes it up for at least a year get the feel for it got a consistent swing and can hit a ball then he should look at the next leval ie Custom Fit.

Sianba

[minniepk17]

Originally Posted by Ultima

First off, welcome to the forum

Sorry but that's really poor advice. I agree not to get custom fitted straight away but it's a must when you start playing. Standard Lengths,Lies and flexes are all different and should be adjusted to your swing regardless of your height.

The pro at my golf club did a survey over the first 3 years at our club and he found that 90% of players were playing with poorly fitted clubs.

Custom fitting is a must if you want to play the best you can.

All the best Jim, it's a great great game.

Regards

Thanks for the welcome to the forum - sorry you disagree with me re:custom fit, but for a beginner the expense of getting a custom set of clubs makes no sense. I would agree with your pro, a lagre proportion of club golfers do play with the wrong equipment and should in most cases seek professional advice but for a beginner it is all about learning the ropes and finding out whether or not they enjoy the game - custom fit clubs are bit further down the road.

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by signs

Does your Pro also run the club shop Martin

I would say don't bother also with the custom fit ,as a high handicapper your swing will differ considerably ,until you get a lot of practise and more consistent.Get to about 18 handicap then have a look at a fit set IMO

Interesting you say that.....I have had my current clubs about 5 years now. They were custom fitted when I bought them and haven't been touched again since.

I went to my pro a couple of weeks ago and told him I had had them about 5 years, was worried about steel fatigue and asked him to give them a once over to advise if they they were still ok or needed replacement. He told me steel fatigue in irons is a myth, my clubs were in perfect working order but he did say the heads would have probably moved so he booked me in for a free custom fit on my own clubs.

Hmmm, sound advice I'd say.....not sales patter.

Anyone who plays golf seriously and doesn't get their clubs custom fit deserve to go home after each round moaning how crap they were.

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by minniepk17

Thanks for the welcome to the forum - sorry you disagree with me re:custom fit, but for a beginner the expense of getting a custom set of clubs makes no sense. I would agree with your pro, a lagre proportion of club golfers do play with the wrong equipment and should in most cases seek professional advice but for a beginner it is all about learning the ropes and finding out whether or not they enjoy the game - custom fit clubs are bit further down the road.

If you read my post I did say don't get custom fit straight away I do disagree with your comment about being only a benefit to someone over 6'2" though.

[sianba]

Anyone who plays golf seriously and doesn't get their clubs custom fit deserve to go home after each round moaning how crap they were.[/QUOTE]

Ive got mine custom fit and still go home moaning how crap i am LOL

Si

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by sianba

Anyone who plays golf seriously and doesn't get their clubs custom fit deserve to go home after each round moaning how crap they were.

Ive got mine custom fit and still go home moaning how crap i am LOL

Si[/QUOTE]

Same as me Si but I can't go home and blame my clubs

[McFaber]

Once you've had a custom fit and unless your swing don't radically change overnight, one should have a good idea what his preferential flex, loft, lie is.
As long as you know this, custom fit is not required every time you time you change your irons...

[gken74]

[QUOTE=Manxstar;8990997]Once you've had a custom fit and unless your swing don't radically change overnight, one should have a good idea what his preferential flex, loft, lie is.
As long as you know this, custom fit is not required every time you time you change your irons...[/QUOTE]

Eh that's no very good advice as one OEM's spec's are different from another...there isn't a standard between them all so you can't just order clubs at 1/2" over & 2° upright...

For example...

Callaway standard 7 iron spec is 35º Loft & 62.0º Lie

Mizuno standard 7 iron spec 36°Loft & 61.5° Lie

[Ultima]

[QUOTE=gken74;8991226]

Originally Posted by Manxstar

Once you've had a custom fit and unless your swing don't radically change overnight, one should have a good idea what his preferential flex, loft, lie is.
As long as you know this, custom fit is not required every time you time you change your irons...[/QUOTE]

Eh that's no very good advice as one OEM's spec's are different from another...there isn't a standard between them all so you can't just order clubs at 1/2" over & 2° upright...

For example...

Callaway standard 7 iron spec is 35º Loft & 62.0º Lie

Mizuno standard 7 iron spec 36°Loft & 61.5° Lie

Beat me to it.

[Lin3ar]

In my opinion custom fitting for a beginner is a total waste of time.I have played off 5 or less for 20 years plus and my swing changes from one day to the next so a beginner will have no chance.

The money would be far better spent on a couple of lessons to get the basics of grip and stance correct.Take those lessons to a driving range with a 7 iron (certainly not a driver) and get to the point where you can get the ball up in the air on a regular basis and then go for a couple more lessons to sort out your technique.

Then practice, practice and practice some more.Don't be discouraged by bad shots as everyone (from Tiger Woods down) hits bad shots.

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by Lin3ar

In my opinion custom fitting for a beginner is a total waste of time.I have played off 5 or less for 20 years plus and my swing changes from one day to the next so a beginner will have no chance.

The money would be far better spent on a couple of lessons to get the basics of grip and stance correct.Take those lessons to a driving range with a 7 iron (certainly not a driver) and get to the point where you can get the ball up in the air on a regular basis and then go for a couple more lessons to sort out your technique.

Then practice, practice and practice some more.Don't be discouraged by bad shots as everyone (from Tiger Woods down) hits bad shots.

Are your clubs custom fit?

[Lin3ar]

Originally Posted by Ultima

Are your clubs custom fit?

No, off the shelf Ping S58's.

I did have a Titleist set of irons custom fit a few years ago but they were fitted to how I was swinging on that particular day.
As soon as the fitter brought out the swing speed measuring equipment I felt myself hitting the ball harder and harder and ended up with X-stiff shafts which I couldn't deal with

[Ultima]

I can't get my head around the advice not to have clubs custom fit.

I agree about having lessons and practicing and buying cheap clubs to make sure you are going to enjoy the game or not but if you want to get better at the game and play to the best of your ability custom fitting is a must. If you continue to have lessons and your swing changes, have the clubs adjusted to suit. Most club pro's or American golf type outlets offer free custom fitting when buying new clubs anyway so why not?

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by Lin3ar

No, off the shelf Ping S58's.

I did have a Titleist set of irons custom fit a few years ago but they were fitted to how I was swinging on that particular day.
As soon as the fitter brought out the swing speed measuring equipment I felt myself hitting the ball harder and harder and ended up with X-stiff shafts which I couldn't deal with

Have you ever had lessons??

[McFaber]

[QUOTE=gken74;8991226]

Originally Posted by Manxstar

Once you've had a custom fit and unless your swing don't radically change overnight, one should have a good idea what his preferential flex, loft, lie is.
As long as you know this, custom fit is not required every time you time you change your irons...[/QUOTE]

Eh that's no very good advice as one OEM's spec's are different from another...there isn't a standard between them all so you can't just order clubs at 1/2" over & 2° upright...

For example...

Callaway standard 7 iron spec is 35º Loft & 62.0º Lie

Mizuno standard 7 iron spec 36°Loft & 61.5° Lie

Of course any decent player would do their homework before-hand...