| Are you starting to play golf? There are a lot of | | | | custom-fitted clubs, I would avoid them as a |
| things to remember and learn, aren't there? Some | | | | beginner. Custom-fitted golf clubs are best for |
| things are important, while others seem absolutely | | | | intermediate-level players who have developed a |
| trivial in comparison. Can you tell the difference? Here | | | | stable golf swing. At this (intermediate) level, you will |
| is a list of 10 questions which beginners often ask | | | | find a custom-fitted driver, putter and wedges very |
| about learning to play golf. | | | | helpful to lower your handicap. |
| 1. What is the best way to learn golf? | | | | 7. What are the best clubs for me? |
| Get golf lessons for beginners. There is no question | | | | As a beginner, a cheap, complete set of secondhand |
| that most people learn golf best by having a live | | | | golf clubs is best. Know that you will make mistakes - |
| human instructor. You want an instructor with a good | | | | many, many mistakes. You WILL bang your club into |
| reputation. For a start, don't get personal one-on-one | | | | the ground and bend it. You WILL lose control of |
| instruction (even if you can afford it). You want to | | | | your club and bend it. You WILL miss the ball and |
| attend a class with a few other students. This gives | | | | break your club. |
| you a little bit of competition, which always helps to | | | | You really need very cheap clubs that you dare to |
| motivate your learning. In the long run, it is also easier | | | | make mistakes with. This is your learning set - these |
| for you to find people to play with after your lessons | | | | clubs are expendable. You should expect to replace |
| end. | | | | your clubs several times over your first few years of |
| 2. What should I learn first - how to drive the golf | | | | playing... if you seriously expect to lower your golf |
| ball, chipping or putting? | | | | handicap. |
| In general, that depends on your golf instructor. Many | | | | A $400 Callaway driver is not a good club for a |
| commercial golf schools and trainers emphasize golf | | | | beginner. An expensive club like this will paralyze your |
| swing instructions. Why? Because that is what most | | | | game. You won't dare to swing it hard. You'll be too |
| beginning golfers want to learn. Most golfers, | | | | afraid of breaking the club to get any practice in. On |
| especially beginners, want to emulate Tiger Woods | | | | the other hand, a "cheapo" secondhand X-Factor |
| spectacular 200+ yard drives. | | | | Super Zolex off eBay is a different matter. Who |
| However, what most amateurs don't realize is that | | | | cares how many of them you bend or break while |
| pros earn their living by superior putting. 30% to | | | | learning to drive the ball? |
| 40% of your game is spent putting. This statistic | | | | 8. What are the best golf swing training aids? |
| even applies to the pros. Many high-handicap players | | | | To be blunt, go sign up for golf lessons for beginners. |
| find that getting some dedicated golf putting | | | | Next, buy four or five boxes of golf balls to practise |
| instructions helped to slash their handicap. | | | | with. You can get secondhand balls in good condition |
| As a beginner, you'll find yourself in trouble most of | | | | from Amazon for as little as $0.50 a piece. Top |
| the time. You'll probably find yourself spending 15 to | | | | players like Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh (one of the |
| 20 strokes chipping the ball... on your good days. | | | | top earners on the golf circuit) don't just rely on their |
| Learning how to play your pitching wedge and sand | | | | natural talent to win. They hit hundreds of golf balls |
| wedge well is a must. | | | | everyday. If you expect to improve your golf swing, |
| Regardless, don't forget to ask your golf instructor | | | | go hit at least one bucket of balls every weekend. |
| to evaluate your grip. Before you even learn how to | | | | Frankly, for beginners, most golf swing training aids |
| swing the club, you need to learn how to grip a golf | | | | are useless unless used under the guidance of a |
| club correctly. In my circle, it used to be an important | | | | skilled instructor. Until you consistently make good |
| part of golf swing teaching, but I hear that modern | | | | contact with your golf balls and can hit the sweet |
| golf trainers place less emphasis on the grip. Why | | | | spot of your club relatively often, any commercially |
| should you care? Because many players hook or slice | | | | available golf swing training aid is a waste of time and |
| their balls due to an incorrect grip. There is no reason | | | | money. |
| not to learn how to grip your golf club correctly. If | | | | 9. Can I learn golf from free golf lessons online? |
| you need more help than your instructor can give | | | | Well, the PGA has some pretty good videos. But |
| you, why not buy training grips? Amazon sells them | | | | don't expect to get something for nothing. Most free |
| for as little as $5 (at the time of writing). You may | | | | golf lessons online will not give you everything. You |
| find them uncomfortable at first, but that just shows | | | | need to know that these sites expect to sell you |
| that you have a problem with your grip. | | | | something. That means there is usually some |
| 3. What should I wear on the golf course? | | | | important detail hidden from you. If you are naturally |
| If you are taking golf lessons for beginners, pick up | | | | talented at sports, you could probably work out the |
| the phone and ask your instructor. However, golf is | | | | hidden key. But for most of us, we need everything. |
| very commercialized nowadays. On most courses, it | | | | And that means paying - whether it is a DVD course, |
| is OK to wear any kind of collared shirt and | | | | an online course or face-to-face golf lessons with a |
| (non-jeans) trousers. Many places are starting to | | | | human instructor. |
| allow even t-shirts and casual khaki pants. | | | | 10. What is the perfect golf swing? |
| 4. Should I tip my golf instructor? | | | | There is no such thing. If you look at the pros, you'll |
| Would you tip your waiter for good service? If you | | | | find that everyone swings differently. That said, |
| thing your instructor helped you a lot, then tip him to | | | | there are two main types of golf swing - the one |
| show your appreciation. | | | | plane swing and the two plane swing. The one plane |
| 5. What clubs do I need to play golf? | | | | swing was pioneered by Ben Hogan and Jim Hardy, |
| You need exactly 14 golf clubs in a real game. You | | | | and employs a more natural rotary swinging motion |
| need a driver (1-wood), 3-wood and 5-wood, a set | | | | where you match your arms and shoulders |
| of (7) irons from 3 to 9, pitching wedge, sand | | | | throughout the swing. Today, you can see Vijay |
| wedge, putter, and one more club of your choice. As | | | | Singh and Tiger Woods employing this type of swing. |
| a beginner, you'll find yourself in trouble a lot - picking | | | | Many other pros use the two plane swing, where |
| a third wedge or a hybrid club can be very helpful. | | | | they blend the flat rotation of their body with the |
| 6. What are custom-fitted clubs? Do I need them? | | | | upright swinging of their arms. For those of you old |
| Many years ago, most people just went to their local | | | | enough to remember him, this is how Jack Nicklaus |
| golf shop to buy clubs off the shelf. Nowadays, golf | | | | plays. |
| shops are a lot more advanced. They can actually | | | | Unless you intend to go pro, it doesn't matter to you. |
| customize your clubs to the way you swing them, | | | | Just follow what your golf instructor teaches you in |
| sometimes for free! | | | | your lessons and you won't go wrong. |
| Unless your instructor advises you to get | | | | |