Is it possible to be a natural at golf?

Question

to notorious DPT, tiger woods and michelle wie have been playing since they where 4 years old and practice more than anyone else in the sport!! that does not make them naturals!!

Answer 1

Yes it's possible. I've never taken a lesson in my life. I don't play as much as I used to (only 3 to 5 times a year) and I can still go shoot 75 right now. I'm not trying to brag, it's the truth.

I taught myself to play when I was 16. I got a summer job at a course down the street, I rode my bike to work, and they let me play for free. I'm not gonna say I could break 80 my first round, because you still have to practice and learn a lot of the "feel" shots, and how to read greens, etc., but my learning curve was a LOT quicker than a LOT of people. I eventually made my High School team too.

I laugh almost every time I pass a driving range where there's the big sign that says "beginner's group lessons forming now" - b/c it's a load of c**p. They just con a bunch of people to buy buckets of balls. Then one guy stands there and tells you to "keep your head down" and "your left arm straight." - Hah!

Good luck man.

Answer 2

Yeah, you need some skills. I love golf !

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

Yes, but not for the average person.

I have a buddy who played NCAA division I basketball.  He's a natural athlete and is better than average at almost any sport he plays.  We played in a golf tourney and he carried our team even though he hadn't touched a club in years.  Not fair......not fair at all.  =)

Answer 5

No doubt about it. Like your first response, look at Tiger Woods. I recently saw a clip of him when he was doing a little putt putting on the Michael Douglas show at 4 years old!

Answer 6

Joe R is right. Scratch golfers are born, not taught. My son is 26. He never practices, can go a year without playing and shoot even par. And does it straight out of the truck. He doesn't even hit a warm-up ball. It's weird. They say it takes 5 years to get your swing together. From there, what you have is what you have. How else can you explain people who spend thousands of dollars on lesson only to carry a 28 handicap? It is further complicated by the fact that all shapes and sizes of people take all kinds of swings to achieve even par status. Some people can draw, some, race cars, some play scratch golf, go figure.

Answer 7

Yes i am

Answer 8

yes. look at me

Answer 9

I think a lot of people would view Tiger as a "natural" at golf, but the truth is that Tiger is the best golfer in the world because he practiced and developed his game relentlessly since he was very young.  Hitting balls on the Mike Douglas show at age 4 is a result of copying his father, nothing more.  He wasn't born with an innate ability to play golf any more than you or I was.

The thing about golf, particularly, is that a person doesn't need to have tremendous physical strength, speed, size or agility to succeed.  For example, being 6'4" and 300 pounds doesn't necessarily mean I have all the abilities to be an NFL lineman, but I would have a definite advantage over 99% of the population due to my genetics.

Answer 10

I would say it is possible to be a natural at striking the ball.  I think that many people naturally have good swings, but they may not be able to putt or have any short game.  So to be a total natural at the game, I would say no.

Answer 11

Like most sports, golf takes phenominal hand-eye coordination.  Obviously some are more gifted than others.  Also, your golf game can be cyclical.  I knocked the dust off my clubs last week for the first time in a year and a half.  I went to the driving range 2 days in a row and was hitting the ball consistently like I've never been able to before.  I hit about 30 drives and every one of them was straight and about 275 on the fly.  With the roll they were all in excess of 300.  I really can't explain it.

Answer 12

to  be a natural what at golf? I take it you mean a natural player? Then yes, it is possible, but you still need to work at it to gain consistancy.

Answer 13

yep its aneasy game after all very simple but it will mess with your mind lol

Answer 14

Anything is possible

Answer 15

o yeah its very possible.everybody has something there natually good at.

Answer 16

Yes....the trick to being good at golf is repetition.  If you can reproduce your swing over and over again no matter what the results, then you can be a natural at golf.  Ben Hogan always told people when approached on a range about lessons...."they didn't need lessons.....they just needed to be consistant".  In otherwords if you have  a 15 yard fade then learn how to play it.  Don't change your swing to hit a draw when it's not natural.  

I'm a self taught golfer......In over 20 years of playing I've only had about 3-5 lessons...Most of those lessons were trying to change my fade (natural) into a draw.  Screwed my entire game up for about 4 years....I was a scratch golfer at the time of the change and found myself not able to break 90 afterwards.  I have now got my game back to where my handicap is a +1.  If you have good hand eye coordination then with some practice you can be a natural at golf.

Answer 17

Yeah sure it is, maybe you just have the knack of a laid back sport. I mean i will take a while to be the best at it but some people are good off the bat. Like in other sports some people just start of good or ok an get better.

Or let me put it like this in basketball a tall guy average skill might get picked over a short guy above average skill just because of height issues, so being good also depends.

Answer 18

yeah im 12 and i hit it 156 yr playing from 2 to 3 so i think you should give a good old wack at the ball

Answer 19

Yes.  But even if you're born with the gift, you still have to work you a** of to be great at it.  It takes talent and hard work to be an accomplished player.

Answer 20

yup...look at tiger and michele wie

Answer 21

yes i believe that one can be natural at golf but one needs to practice and maintain one's swing. Golf is a tough sport if you really get to learn it properly and i do believe that you can be a natural it is just necessary to continue to maintain what you already have...

Answer 22

to be a natural in golf is a rare feat without alot of practice and dedication it is almost impossible golf is not a game of perfection but a game of how you can outlast your imperfections

Answer 23

I don't think so.  The golf swing is very unnatural to begin with and I don't know if you could be a natural at all aspects.  But certainly people with excellent hand/eye coordination are going to pick it up more easily.  I doubt anyone every just picked up a golf club and struck the ball perfectly the first time.