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The Secret Tip Every Beginner Golfer Should Know

What makes golf so difficult when compared to other sports?
There are a few reasons, however “accuracy” is probably the
number one factor when comparing the game of golf to other activities.

You have much less room for error compared to sports
like baseball, for example.

Baseball uses a much bigger ball and you have a comparatively
larger bat to swing with. You have several chances of hitting
the ball to make a play. And of course you then have the
assistance of other players to help you accomplish your goal of
either getting to the home plate, or making field plays to cause
the other team to reach 3 “outs” so that your team can move up to bat.

With golf, you must hit the ball perfect each and every time you
are up for your shot. You have one swing and that’s it. The room for
error is so minuscule due to the tiny size of the ball and the clubface.

And with people watching, the pressure can really cause those
nerves to get a bit uneasy. This is why golf is a lot harder
than most people think.

Beginner Tip: Take It Slow

For those of you that are new to golf and have not quite
grasped what we are trying to explain here about the difficulty
levels of the sport, you should take time to follow a few basic
tips that every season golfer adhered to when they first started playing.

What is the most important beginner tip?

Take the game slow and keep things simple.

The obstacles of golf for the beginner player are mostly mental.
With the intensity of concentration, focus, and pressure from an
audience, one of the best tips that you can appreciate is to
simply take it slow.

Learn the game at whatever pace suits you.
Many newbie golfers tend to go all out, buy a brand-new set of
golf clubs, hit the ball at a driving range for a few days,
and then immediately run out and start playing on a prestigious
18-hole golf course.

I understand that you are probably excited and want to jump right
in headfirst, but compare the game to swimming. Before you knew
how to swim, did you just dive into the deep section of your local
swimming pool? Of course not.

How could you expect to do the same with golf?

Moving too fast will only lead to frustration and eventually
you will quit playing.

How To Perfect Your Backswing The Quick & Easy Way

In order to learn how to get more extension and turn
when initiating your backswing, there are a few simple
tips that can help you accomplish your goal.

The mistake that most players make is loosening up their
grip too much, especially with the left hand
(on right-handed players).

By all means, loosening your grip will definitely help your
clubhead extend further behind your body, but then you must
re-tighten the left hand which causes a change in the alignment
of your clubhead. The result is far less accuracy when hitting the ball.

It is best to always maintain a firm, yet light grip on the club.
Varying your grip pressure during a swing is not recommended. By far,
the best way to increase the arc on your backswing is to turn your left
shoulder further until it has reached a point over the right foot.

This way you will always have a full turn, thus creating the fastest
speed of swing that you can possibly generate, while still maintaining
balance and grace.

The Top Of Your Swing

At the top of your backswing, always check the position of the club
shaft in order to guarantee that you are on the proper plane and
accomplishing a full backswing. The club should be perfectly parallel
to your target line, and the clubhead should literally be pointing at the target.

An easy way to accomplish the changes needed in your swing is to have
a partner look at your moves. Better yet, have him or her videotape
your swing so that you can determine the changes needed so that your
club will point directly towards the target and your swing will be on
the correct plane.

If you are a right-handed golfer then check to see if the club is pointing
left of your target. If so, then the club is considered to be “laid off”
which typically results in a slice. When the club is pointing right of
your target then you have “crossed over” which may result in a hook.
With a little work and practice you can fine tune your backswing so that
the clubhead will always be pointing directly towards the target.

A Beginner’s Guide To The Golf Course

If you have never played golf before or are
brand new to the game, the following article
will provide you with a brief, yet thorough
explanation of the golf course from start to
finish.

Do not worry if the information seems a bit
confusing, you will remember more and more
each time you play the game.

The golf course has several parts that make
up the entire system. Every course is broken
down into specific holes.

Most courses have either 9 or 18 holes and each
of these holes are made up of the tee, the fairway,
and the green. The green is the area located at
the end of the hole in which your last shot will
be made, or “the end” so to speak.

Every hole starts with an area called the “tee”.
It is sometimes referred to as a tee-box, and in
the shape of a rectangle or square. This is where
you will start the play of each hole.

Your initial shot will be made by placing the golf
ball on top of a small wooden peg (the tee) and
hitting it as long and accurate as possible.

As the ball is swung at and travels out, it will
hit the area called the fairway.

If your ball lands on the sides of the fairway,
this is considered to be the “rough” and is never
an easy shot to make when striving to get back on
course. The rough is specifically designed to be
harder to shoot from and will result in a penalty.

There is primary rough, with grass somewhat unkempt,
and then there is secondary rough, where the area is
filled with long grass and is extremely tough to get
the ball out of.

Your ultimate goal is to get the ball through the
fairway and onto the green, which is the area that
the flagstick is located at and is kept up in top shape,
with a smooth surface. The hole itself is will have a
color-coded flag to help you aim better. When your ball
makes it to the green, the flag is typically removed so
that you can sink the ball in and start the next hole.

Other Areas To Avoid When Playing Golf

The game of golf would not be fun if it did not have
challenges on the course such as the rough area and
other hard-to-shoot spots, like the out-of-bounds area,
bunkers, and other hazards. These locations are typically
near areas in which you are aiming the ball for, and
with one tiny slice, the game becomes more interesting
when you have to work your way out of a difficult situation.

Hazards should be totally avoided because some shots
are just impossible to make.

For example, some courses have streams, swamps, or
small ponds that the ball can easily shoot into. These
scenarios would call for a penalized shot.

8 Basic Rules Of Golf As Outlined By The USGA

If you wish to play the game of golf exactly as the rules state,
created by the United States Golf Association (USGA), then the
following list will help you become familiar with some of the
basic regulations:

1. You are not allowed to give advice to your playing partners.
Nor are you allowed to accept advice.

2. Every player has a maximum limit of 14 clubs to bring in his
or her golf bag when playing the course. Occasionally, a golf club
may break and replacing this club is allowed, so long as it is
quick and does not interfere or delay the game. In addition,
regulations also state that if you purposely break a club out of
frustration, you cannot replace it.

3. All players must tee up their ball in the prescribed tee area.

4. You are not allowed to fix any of the spike marks that may be
between your ball and the playing hole on the green.
Spikes from golf shoes occasionally leave a mark, but this is just
considered a challenging hazard. Once the ball is in the hole,
you may then fix the marks.

And being considerate to fix these marks is good etiquette for the
next round of players passing through.

5. If there is frost or morning dew on the putting green, you cannot
wipe it away. It must be left alone.

6. On the first hole, the order of people who play will be determined
by drawing lots. The following holes are played in the order of players
with the best score. Then the player who has the second-best score goes
next, then the third, etc.

If there happens to be a tie, the player who had the better score on the
previous hole is the one that tees off first. At all other times on the
course, the order of players is determined by the furthest ball away from
the whole, with the farthest going first, then the second farthest, etc.

7. You can never putt your ball while another player’s ball is
still moving.

8. If you make a shot and the ball is literally lying on the edge of
the cup, you have 10 seconds to wait until the ball drops in. Once the
10 seconds is over, you must give it another stroke. And if the ball
happens to drop in after the 10 seconds is up, but before you actually
make your putt, it is then considered an additional stroke.

A Simple Step-By-Step Plan To Making The Perfect Chip Shot

Today’s article will help you to decide which club is best
for hitting a chip shot, goals and expectations, and finally,
how to hit the best chip you can.

Choosing The Right Club

There is no hard and fast rule on choosing the right club
when a chip shot is needed to clear the ball.

However, you must decide by assessing the circumstances of
the terrain and how you need the ball to travel.
For example, If you are very close to the hole, then you
won’t need much loft.

The 7-iron and 8-iron are the most popular clubs used when
golfers need to make a chip shot. Their clubfaces are less
lofted, which gives them more accuracy as chipping tools.
Personally, if I had to choose between the two, the 7-iron
is my favorite for these type of shots. Unless you have another
preference, you should also work with a 7-iron to improve your
chipping shots. And by practicing with the same club, you
can master your technique.

Have Confidence In Your Chip Shot With Positive Expectations

Before we get into how to make a chip shot step-by-step, I just
wanted to briefly mention the importance of having positive goals
and expectations before setting up for your swing.

This not only goes for chip shots, but for every shot made on
the golf course. Visualizing in your mind what you want to
accomplish with your chip is vital to success.

What is an acceptable result? What are your expectations?

Your goal should be to chip your ball onto the green every time,
without fail.

You may not make it when you want to, but having self-confidence
and the mental picture of success will not only increase your
chances of hitting the ball correctly, it also calms you down
physically and lowers your blood pressure (which can have a very
positive effect on your swing).

How To Chip The Ball

Learning how to chip the ball properly is not rocket science,
yet it does take practice and technique to get it right every time.
The following steps help break down a chip shot for better understanding:

1. Grab your club, preferably a 7-iron, and stand up close to the target line.

2. Keeping your weight in the center of your stance, open up your front
foot and the shoulders toward the target. You should literally be facing the hole.

3. Take a light, yet solid grip on the club.

4. Look at the green and select the ideal spot in which you want
the ball to land.

5. Take a brief moment and visualize your swing making perfect
impact with the ball, and having it land in that exact same spot.

6. Keeping your wrists firm, draw the club back and keep it low
to the ground. Your turn should be rotated by the shoulders, keeping
your legs and lower body out of the swing and as still as possible.

7. Now swing your club back along the target line, then downswing
through the ball.

8. Once you make contact with the ball, keep your form solid and
watch the ball hit the exact spot you aimed for, and rolling ever
so slowly toward the hole.

9. Now practice your chip shot over and over, and in various terrain
settings on the course.