Taking up Golf

[Welshbeef]

Just booked myself up for 10 hours of 1-2-1 lessons not cheap but I'd say a well worthwhile investment. I'm hoping my best ever round of 119 will be reduced by hopefully 20 shots....

[FellowPazzini]

Welshbeef said:

Just booked myself up for 10 hours of 1-2-1 lessons not cheap but I'd say a well worthwhile investment. I'm hoping my best ever round of 119 will be reduced by hopefully 20 shots....

Sounds good, would really like to do that myself but I'm not hearing good stories about these teaching Pro's and their wicked ways of keeping you going back for more. Would be interested on a report back on how much difference you feel it has made to your game.

Well, after my own hype and confidence after the last couple of range sessions and garden chipping that went strangely well it went horribly wrong on the course (again). Driving not too shabby at all, irons not great but improving, wedge work was terrible & putting was average. The 20-50 yard chips suddenly started going 90 deg to the right, was really odd. On a positive note though I did manage to ping off the post from about 130 yards, very nearly my 1st birdy but a miss 10ft putt around half a cm away which ended as a easy par.

It does seem to take a while to warm up. Getting 50 ball sat the range before hand would be a good idea.

[DuncanM]

Welshbeef said:

Just booked myself up for 10 hours of 1-2-1 lessons not cheap but I'd say a well worthwhile investment. I'm hoping my best ever round of 119 will be reduced by hopefully 20 shots....

This is great news and will help a lot

Are you sure the lessons are hour long? They're usually half hour per lesson.

Re golf balls, I'm of the opinion that it does matter right from the start but it's just an opinion.

[roboxm3]

This thread's been a bit quiet recently so I thought I'd give a bit of an update...

Still hitting the range once a week and working on the things highlighted by djstevec plus whatever happes to be poluting my mind on that particular day.

I also had a go on the Mizuno 'Swing DNA' club / machine / thingy... Based on my 3 swing average stats I apparently need an S300 shaft as opposed to the R300s recommended to me by the Mizuno fitting centre when I bought my current clubs (entirely possibe / reasonable as that was about 5yrs ago).

So, as a result of the above I now own clubs with S300 shafts...two sets...until I decide which ones I want to keep
I have some MP60s - which is what my current (with R300s) clubs are and some MP33s because they're beautiful and supposedly the holy grail of golf clubs...if you're a Mizuno fanboy.

Next stop: the range, to have a hit of each and see what I think...although, despite my lust for the 33s the 60s are in better nick...and I know what I'm getting into with them...which brings me on to my next question...

Does anybody here know of a good club-fitter in the East Anglia area?
I'm not a member of a club and the range that I use don't do club-fitting...
I'd also be interested to hear if anyone has had any clubs refurbished and if so, who by and would you recommend it?
It seems to be more popular to do so in the US but I'm sure I could find a home for those 33s if they could be returned to their former glory.

[Skii]

Here's my quick update

These were up for £140 on ebay via American Golf, they accepted an offer of £120 and the clubs are out for delivery today. Can't wait to try them out !

[SpeckledJim]

roboxm3 said:

This thread's been a bit quiet recently so I thought I'd give a bit of an update...

Still hitting the range once a week and working on the things highlighted by djstevec plus whatever happes to be poluting my mind on that particular day.

I also had a go on the Mizuno 'Swing DNA' club / machine / thingy... Based on my 3 swing average stats I apparently need an S300 shaft as opposed to the R300s recommended to me by the Mizuno fitting centre when I bought my current clubs (entirely possibe / reasonable as that was about 5yrs ago).

So, as a result of the above I now own clubs with S300 shafts...two sets...until I decide which ones I want to keep
I have some MP60s - which is what my current (with R300s) clubs are and some MP33s because they're beautiful and supposedly the holy grail of golf clubs...if you're a Mizuno fanboy.

Next stop: the range, to have a hit of each and see what I think...although, despite my lust for the 33s the 60s are in better nick...and I know what I'm getting into with them...which brings me on to my next question...

Does anybody here know of a good club-fitter in the East Anglia area?
I'm not a member of a club and the range that I use don't do club-fitting...
I'd also be interested to hear if anyone has had any clubs refurbished and if so, who by and would you recommend it?
It seems to be more popular to do so in the US but I'm sure I could find a home for those 33s if they could be returned to their former glory.

I'll be interested to see what you find. I've just bought a set of MP62 with Nippon NS Pro 1150 to replace my trust Ping Zings. £140 on ebay, great condition - amazing value.

I'm not convinced i'm good enough to make the 62s sing, and considering 60s or 57s as a potentially slightly friendlier alternative.

[roboxm3]

SpeckledJim said:

I'll be interested to see what you find. I've just bought a set of MP62 with Nippon NS Pro 1150 to replace my trust Ping Zings. £140 on ebay, great condition - amazing value.

I'm not convinced i'm good enough to make the 62s sing, and considering 60s or 57s as a potentially slightly friendlier alternative.

I suppose it depends what your bad shot(s) it really... Mine are numerous (but improving) but hitting the ball out of the middle of the club isn't really one of them; they're mainly swing path / club head impact angle related and if I fat it, I fat it...not much any club can do about that really!?

I'm also a bit odd in that I don't really think the game should be easy and on that basis I generally tend to play with what I like and what suits my eye (hence the MP-33s) as I address the ball and not necessarily what would bring my scores down...that should be down to getting better at golf in my eyes.

I'd definitely recommend the 60s though, I still think they're some of the best looking clubs, feel great when hit well but don't particularly sting if you do catch one a bit thin and on the toe...

[danneth]

Skii said:

Here's my quick update

These were up for £140 on ebay via American Golf, they accepted an offer of £120 and the clubs are out for delivery today. Can't wait to try them out !

Nice choice Sir, heres my FULL set which I bought from a very well known pro I paid £1 ( one ) for them, never looked back since.

[roboxm3]

danneth said:

Nice choice Sir, heres my FULL set which I bought from a very well known pro I paid £1 ( one ) for them, never looked back since.

A well known pro from Worksop??

[marksx]

Well I am getting worse at this sport!

I played 18 holes at Howley Hall if anyone knows it.

Sooo many toppped shots. I got round in 161. Eventually.

People watching my swing don't see a huge amount wrong with it. Maybe I am just trying to hit the ball too hard. Towards the end I really slowed my swing down and saw an improvement. But it was really slow.

[Skii]

danneth said:

Nice choice Sir, heres my FULL set which I bought from a very well known pro I paid £1 ( one ) for them, never looked back since.

Very nice, I'd love the Lob wedge to complete my set - a well known Pro ? do tell !

btw - I see the 1 Iron is looking very pristine..

[DuncanM]

marksx said:

Well I am getting worse at this sport!

I played 18 holes at Howley Hall if anyone knows it.

Sooo many toppped shots. I got round in 161. Eventually.

People watching my swing don't see a huge amount wrong with it. Maybe I am just trying to hit the ball too hard. Towards the end I really slowed my swing down and saw an improvement. But it was really slow.

161 over 18 means you'll benefit more from range work imo.

Get a good tuition book as per my earlier posts to Welshbeef, or even better some lessons and you'll soon knock 50+ off that score

[simoid]

DuncanM said:

marksx said:

Well I am getting worse at this sport!

I played 18 holes at Howley Hall if anyone knows it.

Sooo many toppped shots. I got round in 161. Eventually.

People watching my swing don't see a huge amount wrong with it. Maybe I am just trying to hit the ball too hard. Towards the end I really slowed my swing down and saw an improvement. But it was really slow.

161 over 18 means you'll benefit more from range work imo.

Get a good tuition book as per my earlier posts to Welshbeef, or even better some lessons and you'll soon knock 50+ off that score

161 is a lot of shots

I topped it often when I first started. I think I was trying to get the ball up in the air with my swing, but this isn't needed as the loft on the club does it for you.

Perhaps think about hitting the ball "out the way" rather than "up" which may feel a bit strange at first.

And I'd recommend spending 15 or 20 quid on a lesson with a pro, this is far better use of funds and time than a few hundred driving range balls

[SpeckledJim]

simoid said:

DuncanM said:

marksx said:

Well I am getting worse at this sport!

I played 18 holes at Howley Hall if anyone knows it.

Sooo many toppped shots. I got round in 161. Eventually.

People watching my swing don't see a huge amount wrong with it. Maybe I am just trying to hit the ball too hard. Towards the end I really slowed my swing down and saw an improvement. But it was really slow.

161 over 18 means you'll benefit more from range work imo.

Get a good tuition book as per my earlier posts to Welshbeef, or even better some lessons and you'll soon knock 50+ off that score

161 is a lot of shots

I topped it often when I first started. I think I was trying to get the ball up in the air with my swing, but this isn't needed as the loft on the club does it for you.

Perhaps think about hitting the ball "out the way" rather than "up" which may feel a bit strange at first.

And I'd recommend spending 15 or 20 quid on a lesson with a pro, this is far better use of funds and time than a few hundred driving range balls

In my guess, you're trying to play like the guys on TV. You're using a driver, you're aiming at pins, you're trying to carry bunkers and ponds instead of going round them, etc etc.

Wind back the ambition, play within yourself, and 110 is a realistic target for a beginner.

On each tee, forget all about par and birdy, and build a plan for a safe way to a double bogey. Then, if you play to your plan and hit your target, give yourself a pat on the back because now you're playing proper golf.

Just hitting it towards the pin and dealing with the unpleasant consequences 161 times isn't playing proper golf.

In time you'll be realistically planning for the bogey. And within, say, 30 years, the par!



(The above is just my guess - slowing your swing may be a good idea. Or it may not. Post a vid and ask Taaffy for advice).

[Fas1975]

To the people giving advice about having lessons. LISTEN TO THAT ADVICE! I started in June, played a couple of rounds, go practicing at the range at least 2 times a week, but I've continuously invested in lessons. I see people at the range, just turning up and hitting, and they're mediocre at best, and as someone just said, £15 on a lesson will pay much more dividends than 100's of balls fired at will downrange.

I'm now at a stage where my swing is consistent, and we're now dialling in some aspects of my swing. I'm now seeing consisten 120-140 yards, using range balls, with an 8 iron, and 200 yards + with a 6. This is all down to lessons. It's getting expensive, but I've invested in top end equipment, I want to get the best out of it.

Take lessons!

[FellowPazzini]

A mixture of both would be good though. As a beginner you are simply trying to used to the feel of swinging and judging distances along with everything else. £15-20 at some ranges could get 4 hours worth of practice swinging compared to less than one hour of listening to a Pro. Lessons are essential without a doubt, I've been playing for a few months now and had plenty of sessions at the range too but I do feel in desperate need for lessons as I'm at a point where I'm simply not getting any better along with almost no consistency in most types of shots I'm hitting. Every hole I seem to hit 1 really good shot (usually the drive) but the other 2 or 3 is shocking.

marksx have a look at this video, hope it helps you out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExQPugPvLWc

Duncan, I've managed to pick up some Wilson dx3's which will be put to the test tonight Although the rate of balls I seem to losing at moment is pretty bad, it's costing just as much for the balls than to actually play.

[SpeckledJim]

While lessons with a PGA pro is by far the preferred situation, there is a lot to be gleaned from the hundreds of free videos on Youtube and books in the library. A few hours with a video of yourself swinging (no, not that swinging) and Youtube should give you some ideas of where you're going wrong.

[Skii]

Fas1975 said:

and 200 yards + with a 6.

Thats some yardage there fella !

[taaffy]

Fas1975 said:

To the people giving advice about having lessons. LISTEN TO THAT ADVICE! I started in June, played a couple of rounds, go practicing at the range at least 2 times a week, but I've continuously invested in lessons. I see people at the range, just turning up and hitting, and they're mediocre at best, and as someone just said, £15 on a lesson will pay much more dividends than 100's of balls fired at will downrange.

I'm now at a stage where my swing is consistent, and we're now dialling in some aspects of my swing. I'm now seeing consisten 120-140 yards, using range balls, with an 8 iron, and 200 yards + with a 6. This is all down to lessons. It's getting expensive, but I've invested in top end equipment, I want to get the best out of it.

Take lessons!

120-140 yards is not consistent.
Consistency is 130 or 132 yards.
As for 200+ with a 6 iron and range balls ....find that difficult to believe.

Edited by taaffy on Monday 1st October 15:06

[mattnunn]

taaffy said:

Fas1975 said:

To the people giving advice about having lessons. LISTEN TO THAT ADVICE! I started in June, played a couple of rounds, go practicing at the range at least 2 times a week, but I've continuously invested in lessons. I see people at the range, just turning up and hitting, and they're mediocre at best, and as someone just said, £15 on a lesson will pay much more dividends than 100's of balls fired at will downrange.

I'm now at a stage where my swing is consistent, and we're now dialling in some aspects of my swing. I'm now seeing consisten 120-140 yards, using range balls, with an 8 iron, and 200 yards + with a 6. This is all down to lessons. It's getting expensive, but I've invested in top end equipment, I want to get the best out of it.

Take lessons!

120-140 yards is not consistent. Consistency is 130 or 132 yards.
As for 200+ with a 6 iron and range balls ....find that difficult to believe.

Yep, that 20yds of accuracy in those second shots is the difference between a scratch golfer and a 12 handicap.

Interesting to hear Monty in commentary over the weekend, he was admitting hi average driver length now is down to under 250yds! I was shocked as I'm pretty sure on a good day I'd average that over 18 holes, but obviously I wouldn't challenge him to match play!

To the guy who's hitting 160+ and wanting advice, my advice would be to seriously think about how much time he wants to commit to this, because unless you 13 years old with a serious desire to be a good golfer you might want to think about a different hobby.