Newbie seeking advice

Felexicon

Hi

So I'm just getting into golf a bit and am really enjoying it so far.
I've been using the old mans clubs(Callaway Big Bertha Graphite shaft irons and Drivers) before splashing out on my own.

Can anyone recommend a good starter set(left handed) and anything else I should be getting from the outset.

Just thinking of playing a few rounds of the local Par 3 courses before taking on any of the "real" courses.

As I say any advice that you found helpful when starting out is welcome

Thanks

Domo86

As always mentioned on here a couple of lessons may be a good starting point

realgolfgeek

Felexicon wrote: »

Hi

So I'm just getting into golf a bit and am really enjoying it so far.
I've been using the old mans clubs(Callaway Big Bertha Graphite shaft irons and Drivers) before splashing out on my own.

Can anyone recommend a good starter set(left handed) and anything else I should be getting from the outset.

Just thinking of playing a few rounds of the local Par 3 courses before taking on any of the "real" courses.

As I say any advice that you found helpful when starting out is welcome

Thanks

Hi,

I'm assuming you're not too old (as you're using your fathers clubs), so I would start out with steel shafts as opposed to graphite shafts.
Have a look on done deal and adverts for a set of second hand clubs, there should be plenty around. If you're very tall, I'd have a look at clubs which are 1/2 inch to an inch longer.

As mentioned, lessons are always a good idea. You may find someone that does group lessons also, this is a good way of getting back into it at a more reasonable price.

Driving range and par 3's to start out with is a good idea IMO.
Youtube is also a great source for tips and drills.
I'd recommend Mark Crossfield and Shawn Clement, I find their drills and explanations really good.
My own advice, don't try to think of 10 different things in one go. Concentrate on a max of two things while practicing, i.e backswing on plane, and move hips instead of arms on the downswing for example.

Try and get your grip, alignment and posture in a nice position from the start. If you manage these three things, you're 90% there.

And keep enjoying it :-)

Hope that helps.

Mikeyt086

Hope Flexicon doesn't mind me hopping in on his thread but I thought it unnecessary to start a new one. I'm in the same boat, I decided around The Masters time that I wanted to have a proper go at playing golf having been a spectator of the sport the last few years. I would occasionally play through my teens, I'm talking a round of par 3 once a year maybe, and I was never terrible, just not doing the basics right. I'm 24 this week and have a good few friends who play the sport, so when Adam Scott won me a few bob with his Masters win I thought when better to buy a set of clubs and get at it. I found a nice basic starter set for €90, and since they arrived about 3 weeks ago I've had 1 round on a par 5 (Charlesland) and 3 rounds on par 3's (Glenmill, Stepaside) along with hitting the driving range twice a week.

I'm loving it. I can't really spring for lessons right now, but I have a few friends who are keen golfers who have been giving me tips and advice, and along with YouTube I'm actually not doing that bad. The par 5 was my first round in ages, and was a bit of a disaster, I can't drive the ball at all, but the par 3's have been getting progressively better and now I'm scoring par a few times in a round and I'm hitting pretty consistent tee shots with my 5 and 7 iron, so I'm happy enough. My putting is good, but my approach play is shocking, I mean, my tee shot is sometimes landing within 10-20 feet of the green and I have no idea what to do in terms of power or even technique for a slow loft into putting range. My problem is when I go through a full swing but slower, I tend to over-hit or shank my shot, but if I shorten my swing I just punch the ball and it darts off the other side of the green. Any advice for learning how to chip?

kelbal

Felexicon wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a good starter set(left handed) and anything else I should be getting from the outset.

I'd be wary getting a "starter" set tbh. Obviously I'm not suggesting you go spend €1000 on the latest Pings, but some of the bargain sets are fairly clunky things with no feel. What I'd personally recommend is buying a 2nd hand set of a good brand. Now you would need further advice to know what the bog standard clubs are for the average golfer, so as you're not getting the clubs the pros use. It might be more difficult as you're left handed, but here's a suggestion.....
http://www.adverts.ie/golf/ping-g10-irons/2687641

I've bought off ebay too in the past

Felexicon wrote: »

As I say any advice that you found helpful when starting out is welcome

Unless you're very familiar with the golf swing, alot of the detailed advice you'll be given in this forum is very hard to take on board, and lessons are by far your best bet. My only simple recommendation is to keep a constant check on how fast your swing is. Over the years if I've started to go awry, slowing it down a bit makes a big difference.

PARlance

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Any advice for learning how to chip?

Clemshaw on YouTube should have a few good videos.
It took me ages to realise it, but you can actually use the range to practice chipping too
It'll go against your urge to hit big shots there but it's well worth chipping at least 20-30 balls on each visit.

kelbal

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Any advice for learning how to chip?

AJCurry gave you one suggestion, and there should be loads more youtube videos that'll give you good tips.

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

My problem is when I go through a full swing but slower, I tend to over-hit or shank my shot, but if I shorten my swing I just punch the ball and it darts off the other side of the green

Only Mickelson does full swings around the green!! Unless you're blading it (know what that means?) it simply sounds like you're swinging too fast, you're going to have to try to slow the club down, and still make a nice connection.
Take some balls out to the garden if you have one. What I've also done in the past is chipped balls off the carpet in the living room, into the sofa. But I take no responsibility for breakages!
Just keep practicing and you'll get the feel for it eventually

Popular Hardback

Felexicon wrote: »

As I say any advice that you found helpful when starting out is welcome

Not sure if it's helpful or not, but I was told starting out "If you like a bit of Sado Masochism or Self Flagellation, you'll like Golf"

I wasn't sure at the time what they meant, but now I know.

PhlegmyMoses

In the same boat as Mikeyt with regards to chipping. Just starting out (along with Felexicon, funnily enough :P ) and I'm just blading everything around the green causing it to scurry across the green or go miles past it.

Not too many issues with teeing off, for a beginner of course, but would like to get more input from the hips as I'm kind of all arms and shoulders at the moment. I get decent distance from this but there is loads of improvement to be had with a more hip focused swing.

Was looking at these as an idea for a starter set. Slightly outside what I'd like to pay for a hobby I've only recently taken up but I'm a little wary of picking up second hand clubs as I haven't a clue what I'm buying and I'm not seeing a lot of cheaper full sets around:

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/macgregor-tourney-steel-package-set/macc0303pd.html

Thoughts?

GreeBo

for chipping the safest method is the simplest.

Stand over the ball with your weight favouring your front foot. Have a weak grip (see more knuckles on your right hand for a right handed golfer)
start your backswing and literally let the club fall back, letting gravity do all the work.
The club should be grounding pretty much directly underneath your sternum, this is where the ball should go.

If you dont do anything else you can chip very successfully with this method. A good drill to check that you are doing it correctly is to chip with your eyes closed. Because there is no manipulation and gravity is doing the work, you can chip just as well with your eyes closed. If you are hiting the ground first, move the ball back, ball first move the ball forward (both assuming that you are not moving during the stroke!)

After that its a matter of picking the correct club. You want the ball to start rolling as quickly as possible, so pick the club that gets over any obstacle and gets rolling as soon as it can, depending on the situation this could be a 4 iron or a LW.

If there is no obstacle, ask yourself why you are chipping as you should probably be putting...

As with all shortgame aspects, practice is key to confidence and better results.

kelbal

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Was looking at these as an idea for a starter set. Slightly outside what I'd like to pay for a hobby I've only recently taken up but I'm a little wary of picking up second hand clubs as I haven't a clue what I'm buying and I'm not seeing a lot of cheaper full sets around:

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/macgregor-tourney-steel-package-set/macc0303pd.html

Thoughts?

Well they're a known brand, sold by McGuirks, so they're bound to be decent quality. Without seeing them in person its impossible to comment, just go into the shop and have a look, have a few hits into a net if possible to see how they feel. Compare them against expensive ones to see if you notice a big difference in how they compare. Still wouldn't rule out a 2nd hand set - some good sets out there. I'm a ping man, so thats what I know about....
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/golf/4234340
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/golf/4951245

But admittedly it is alot less hassle to just buy a complete set at once.

kelbal

Regarding chipping for all of you newbie's - I know spending more money is not what you necessarily want to do - but getting one good wedge for general use around the greens might be a good idea. I have found that the default wedges that come with alot of sets are dreadful things that have no feel about them, big heavy clunky heads on them, might as well be using a shovel
I'm not normally an advocate of trying to solve problems with purchases - but I bought a really good ping wedge and honestly, it has knocked a couple of shots off my score. I got this,........
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Ping-Tour-W-Black-Nickel-Wedge-Gap-GW-52-Steel-Wedge-Flex-Right-Green-Dot-/400483224559?pt=Golf_Clubs&hash=item5d3ea90bef

But there are cheaper alternatives in the golf stores. Getting whats called a "gap" wedge, at 52 degrees is a good all rounder, I use mine for I'd say 80% of the shots around the green.
Of course, practice and technique are whats really going to get you chipping properly, but having a decent wedge in your hands, I think, will make a difference. Get the basic technique down first and stop the blading, but in the long run I'd recommend a good wedge

Felexicon

So it's 2 weeks since my first ever round of golf.

I've been out a few times on a local Par 3 and down to the driving range once. I'm going to take the step up to big boy golf next week at some stage.

Bought myself a set of clubs in Halpenny Golf in Airside (it was a nightmare trying to find what I wanted second hand as I'm a leftie)

Have to say I'm really enjoying it so far.

A big thanks to AJCurry123 for pointing me in the direction of Clemshaw on Youtube. The man is a hero.

Danny dyers double

If I could give you any bit of advice it would be get a lesson , I know your money might be tight but like me you could be wasting your time and money going the driving range to do what you think is practicing .

I'm only playing a year myself but only Wednesday did I go for a lesson . So for a year I wasting my time and money going the driving because I was only repeating bad habits . What I was shown feels strange to me at the minute but I know now I'm doing things right and practice from now on has direction .

With you only starting it should not take too long to get rid of your bad habits and put into place what a pro will tell you .