How do i get started playing?

Question

I'm gonna purchase some clubs this year and play with daughter,but I need some tips on getting started. i'm not totally in the dark,but what clubs should I buy including shoes,balls,and what type of exercises will help me out? Should I play alone first or with a group of people?

Answer 1

I had the same question 4 months ago.  Just go to the nearest driving range, wear your ordninary sport shoes and watch them swinging the clubs.  I used driving range's clubs for my first swing.  And decided to buy one after the third visit.  Any exersice will help.  Pay more attention to warming up and stretching before taking your first swing. Don't worry about those accesories.  Just go and watch them swing.

Answer 2

This is how I started out.  I went to Wal-Mart and bought a complete set of clubs.  I bought Tiger Wood's book, "How I Play Golf."  I worked on the things he said in his book.  I also got a subscription to Golf Magazine and did drills at the range I saw in their.  I started playing at Par 3 golf courses to get the iron play down and the short game.  Graduated(if you will) to regulation courses once I felt comfortable playing.  I always recommend taking lessons to people on here even though I've never done it personally.  I figure professionals have teachers so I should recommend it to everyone.  It's up to you whether or not you want to go that route.  I wear golf sandals for the most part.  You can wear regular shoes if you want.  No metal spikes.  I'm partial to Nike as far as equipment goes, so everything I have is Nike from bags to clubs and balls to apparel.  You figure a 6 billion dollar company makes quality stuff.  I would work on increasing flexibiltiy.  Do yoga if you are into that sort of thing.  Playing with someone is much funner than playing by yourself.  I've done it all.  Played by myself.  Played with one other person to playing in a foursome.  Don't pay attention to too many people that try to give you pointers unless they play better than you.  Focus on chipping and putting.

Answer 3

GET LESSONS!!!!        

No seriously, get lessons...

Do: Spend money on Lessons.

Begining golfers have no clue about what a good golf swing is supposed to be.  If they did, they could walk up to any course and shoot PAR every time, and we all know most golfers cannot shoot under 100 much less anything in the 70s.  Even if they did have a clue about a good golf swing, a person cannot hit a golfball and look at themselves in the mirror at the same time.  If you start off trying to figure it out no your own, you will develope extremly bad habits that take MUCH longer to unlearn than if you start off right.  Find a good instructor and spend the money.  

Don't: Spend money on glubs

As for clubs, you can get what ever ever you can afford.  Most equipment nowadays are so good you can't go wrong.  Even if you get bad equipment, it will not affect your play in the least as a beginner.  Also, as you learn the game, your swing will change.  If you spend money on certain type of equipment, then it may not fit your game a year or two from now.  

Do: Get cheap clubs you like.

Golf is very mental.  If you don't like your clubs, then you will tend not to play well with them.  Once again, find something cheap that you will enjoy playing with.

I can't say enough how important lessons are.  You need to get them from a proffesional and not your buddy who is an 18 handicap.  Think of this... The Greastest golfers on the planet regularly get golf lessons.  They know more about the game and how to play it than most of us could even hope to dream about.  So, if they need someone to help them, then you definitly do.  

In golf there is a difference between "The Feel and The Real".  What this means is that what you fell like you are doing and what you are actually doing are usually very differnt.  Especially for beginners.  You need a trained eye to spot your mistakes and a trained person who knows how to teach you to change.

Tips on a good instructor:

I like an instructor who has the golf video analyzer.  They can video tape you and then let you see what your are doing wrong.  They can pull up good golfers like Steve Elkington or Tiger Woods and show you your swing compared to theirs.  A good instructor will find golfers who are similiar to your body style and swing. Not eveyone is 6' 2" and 190 lbs like Tiger.   A trainer close to home is good too.  You are more likely to go to them.  Find someone you like too.

Once again.  As a beginner, and even as an 18 or so handicap, golf equipment will have about a 1% chance of improving your game.  Getting lessons will have a 90% chance of improving your game.  Golf is fun when you play well.  

GET LESSONS!!!!  

gordo

Answer 4

Here is my suggestions on learning about the game (rules, theory, etc.), practicing & equipment.

Learning the game:

I love the book "Golf for Dummies" by Gary McCord.  Great begining book on the rules, grip, swing, etc.  Deeper study on the rules is easy, buy a rules book or hit the usga website.

Practicing:

General rule - Practice putting & chipping at least 2x full swings (irons or woods.)  Even when you go to the range to hit the woods and irons, spend time putting.  If you REALLY want to get consistant, then you will need to practice at least three times a week.  So, if you spend an hour at the range, 40 minutes on and around the green for each 20 minutes hitting bombs.  

If you are a natural athlete and can immitate others, then watch as much golf on TV and (good) players in person to get an idea of what is going on.  

Equipment:

#1.  Ditch any ideas of a driver for at least six months.  It is the toughest club to hit and at this point is not worth the frustration.

So, your bag can be:

3 Wood

5 Wood

Hybrid (21 - 23 degree)

5 Iron

7 Iron

9 Iron

Pitching Wedge

Sand Wedge

Putter

Notice, there are no "even numbered" clubs.  At this point you don't need them as you won't have a clue yet as to how much of a difference there will be between your five an six or your six and seven.    IF you are not aware, the higher the number - the shorter you will hit it using the same swing.  So, a 9 iron will pop the ball up steeply and it will go a much shorter distance than a 5 iron.

Another good reason to use only the odd clubs it that the weight saved allows you to carry more ammo (balls.)

As for when should you get on the course - I would say not for at least three months of heavy practice.  When you can pretty much hit the ball forward each time, can three-put from anywere on the practice green, and can RELAX and just play, you are ready to hit the links.

A word to the wise is to talk with the local course and find out their least busy days.  Those are the best for you at this point.  Play faster than the group behind you, mind your golf manners, and always have fun.

IF you do have the $$$, then by all means get some lessons.  Start with a begining group, then then move up over time.

Answer 5

if this is your first time out, I would suggest either getting a set fitted to you or a beginners set whichever you can afford.  I would suggest starting out with Top Flight's D-2 series of balls good balls for way cheap, so if you loose a few and you more than likely will, you won't be broke.  I would suggest heading on the range for a bit, maybe finding a pro to get a lesson or two before heading out onto the course...welcome to the wild world of golf )

Answer 6

Don't 'play' untill you've had enough lessons and are good enough at the game to avoid holding-up that foresome behind you.

If you spend more than two minutes 'hunting' your ball in that rough you should be an off-duty caddie rather than a player.  Put another way - have enough extra balls in the bag to say 'sayonara' to lost  ones...Nothing is more off-pissing on the course than the perpetual 'hunter'.

Answer 7

id get the essential cluns, in other words a driver 9" should be fine or a wood if you prefer the feel. Get your set of Irons any name brand is fine. And a set of wedges and a putter and your fine on clubs. Again, any name brand is reliable same with shoes, those are your preference, dont matter much. Balls I'd suggest Titlest or Nike or something along those lines. Then make sure you have a hat and gloves and a nice shirt and khakis and belt and your off. I'd practice alone first to wrk some stuff out unless you like getting embarrassed. You should look like you know what your doing in front of your daughter haha. Just have fun tho, thats the important thing.

Answer 8

You start by teeing off (I'd do it on the first tee).

Answer 9

The more time you can spend just swingging  the club and making good contact with the ball the better. Go the  driving range, get a bucket of balls , chip and putt around the practice green, Or your yard.Also watch other people practice.You can go to the course and have fun practicing a lot befor you ever go onto the course. I also recommend a lesson or two if you have never played befor. If you are going to try and play on a course, I recommend playing in the afternoon or during the week. The less people on the course the better.There is nothing more frustrating than trying to hit a shot with some person yelling at you to hurry up on a week end morning. I also recommend playing 9 holes to start. I dont know how old your daughter is but after 9 holes most kids are ready to be done. Learn the edicate of the game, read the rules and subscribe to a magazine, Golf Digest or Golf Magazine. Digest is my fav. There is a lot to learn for a parent and child on a golf course. My son is 5, and has been playing for 1.5 years and has played the local course 5 times this season, He is totally happy just chipping and putting or hitting a bucket of balls.  It is a special treat to get to play.When your at the range watch other golfers, you can learn alot!!!. Practice and have fun!!