Fairway Metal-Woods?

photo credit: teamstickergiant     The hardest clubs to hit for a beginner are the fairway metal-woods.   In order to hit a good shot, contact has to be crisp and clean.   Hitting shots cleanly off the fairway is not something done easily by beginners.   Getting the ball airborne with a fairway-metal is extremely difficult  when you are just learning the game.   Why make the game harder for yourself?

Rather than carrying a metal fairway wood/s, why not just stick with hitting a  long-iron?”   You will have a much easier time getting the ball airborne to achieve maximum distance.   It's no shame not to carry a fairway metal wood.   Wait until your swing becomes more dependable before you think about using a fairway wood.   This also applies to some varieties of hybrid clubs.

A Dinner Plate

photo credit: Sam Cockman     The golf swing is like a dinner plate.   Hold a dinner plate vertically while imagining your swing.   If you hold the plate at the correct angle the bottom of the plate will barely touch the ground.   The perimeter of the plate represents your clubhead rotation.

Angle the plate towards the left and you slice.   Angle it to the right and you hook.   Hold it firmly against the ground and you will “chunk” the shot.   If you hold it  too far above  the ground you will top the ball.

Examples:   With a side-hill lie and the ball below your feet, the plate must be lowered so bend your knees at address to lower your clubhead.   If the ball is above your feet, the plate should be higher, so stand more upright.

Finding Playing Partners

photo credit: Playadura*     Finding the right playing companion/s can be a difficult task, more-so if you are a beginner.   If you are lucky enough to have friends that play golf your in business, otherwise, you've got your work cut-out for you.

The best way to find playing partners is to book a tee-time at your favorite course.   Almost always, especially if it's a popular course, you will be paired up with other players.   Courses like foursomes, therefore, you have an opportunity to “hook-up” with three potential golfing partners.

An important consideration is your level of play.   Tell the course starter that you are just a beginner and would like to play with players that are at the same playing  level as you, if possible.

Information Overload

photo credit: allaboutgeorge     If you are new to the game, it's safe to assume that a large portion of information you consume, about the game, is meant for more advanced players.   When you read articles in various magazines, such as Golf Digest, the instructional information cannot be easily  understood.   Don't fault yourself, even advanced players cannot fully comprehend what is meant by “laying the club open at the top,” or “pro-nation” or “reverse pivot.”   It's really time that instructional articles explain things in a more basic understandable way.

On our two sites, www.golfinstructionblog.com and www.golfswingbook.com that's what we try to do.   No gobbledygook, just basic stuff.  

Being a new player isn't easy, in fact it's downright difficult and that's why we make every effort to communicate in an uncomplicated manner.

Sand Shots

photo credit: bradleypjohnson     Many golfers fear sand traps, especially new players.   Once in, how do you get out?   Sand traps (bunkers) can present a problem to even the most seasoned players but a trap shot need not intimidate you.   Remember, a successful trap shot depends largely on the type of lie you have.

Tips:   1)   pick a target (landing area) on the green.   2)   open your stance, aiming  left of target.   3)    nestle feet into the sand an inch or so.   4)   use a sand-wedge and open the clubface.   5)   turn your right hand over (counter-clockwise) slightly.   6)   hit 1-2 inches behind the ball.   7)   break your  wrists early and bring the club back in a moe upright fashion.   8)   be sure to follow-through.

“What Train?”

photo credit: Harry Limey     Famed golfer, Joyce Withered, in winning the 1920 English Championship, sank an eight-foot putt on the 17th hole to beat Cecil Leitch.   As Wethered stroked the pressure packed putt, a train roared by in a track-rattling fury that shook the gallery but left her unfazed.   When asked how she avoided the distraction of the locomotive, Whethered said, “what train?”

Cy Julsebus, an avid golfer, played the game for 60 years without experiencing the thrill of a hole-in-one.   Then in 1996, the 75-year-old from Carroll, Iowa, nailed not one but three aces at the Carroll Country Club.   Cy tallied his triple play of holes in one with his 7-iron.  

Tell us about your hole-in-one experiences?   and learn more at: www.golfswingbook.com.

The Hybrid

photo credit: rioncm     Hybrid clubs were developed to take the place of the long irons (primarily the 1,2 and 3 irons).   The shaft length is the same as the long irons, however, the clubhead is designed differently than the normal 2 or 3 iron.   Generally, the hybrid has larger mass behind the clubhead, some resemble a metal-wood such as the Callaway brand.

Play the ball a few inches left of center in your stance.   On the backswing, the club is taken farther back, therefore, it is harder to hit the ball on the sweet spot (as it is with all longer shafted clubs).  

Hybrids produce more backspin.   They hit the ball higher so it lands softer on the green.   Hybrids are excellent for use in the rough or from all sorts of difficult lies.   Learn more at  www.golfswingbook.com.

The Mid-Irons

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf     Clubs 5-7 are the real “money-makers.”   Hitting these 3 clubs well can mean consistent birdie attempts.   Accuracy with these clubs will surely lower your scores.  

The ball is played from the center of the stance.   With the 6 and 7 irons, your stance is opened slightly with the  forward foot pointing more towards the target.   Since these clubs have shorter shafts, the backswing isn't as lengthy.

The ball should be hit first before the divot is taken.   This may be quite difficult to do for the beginner.   Your divots should be consistent and point directly at your target.   The clubface should maintain a square position at address and at impact.

These three clubs can also be used for short chip-and-run shots around the green.   Learn more at www.golfswingbook.com.

Reading a Putt

photo credit: Hussain Khorsheed     Every green has contours, the trick is to know how to read those  curves  and how much break to play.   There are many factors that determine how your putt will roll on it's way to the cup.   a)   type of grass, Bermuda or Bent > the ball will roll differently on each.   b)   direction of the grain > can dramatically influence speed and direction.   c)   ball speed > determines how much the ball will break.   d)   wind speed and direction.   e)   surface wetness > a wet green means slower putts.   f)   time of day > greens are always faster in the afternoon because they are dried from the sun.   g)   amount of play > condition of green > ball marks create an uneven surface.

Using the Correct Tee Box

photo credit: danperry.com     Each golf course gives the player several tee  options from which to choose.   Usually there are 4 tee positions:   Black Tees > championship tees with the longest yardage rating and used by  semi professional and professional players.   Blue Tees > semi-pro tees are for better than average players and are located 10 to 15 yards closer to the hole.   White Tees > for senior players and beginners and are located approximately 20 to 25 yards ahead of the Championship Tees.   Red Tees > for women and children and are substantially closer to the hole (as much as 50 or 60 yards).  

If you are new to the game, I suggest using the red tees.   Once you are  more familiar with the game, move to the white tees.

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