Complete beginner - How to learn

talla10 wrote: »

I respectfully disagree with the other poster.

I think lessons are important especially at the start. Learn the basics right, start on the range and progress to the course when you are more comfortable and hitting the ball regularly. I went out to the course too early, lost plenty of balls , probably annoyed my mate but he was good enough not to give out.

Don't buy new clubs- plenty of good second hand sets to start with and as you improve you can invest more in clubs and equipment.

Just my two cents. Good luck

I 2nd this poster. A few lessons for the basics are key. It's different then when ur a kid and you have the time to rectify your mistakes cause your able to go out 3/4 a week. It cud be a slow process if ur going out to 18holes with not a clue how to swing, never mind losing friends and the cost of a round of golf, to dig holes and look for balls. As anyone that has played golf has heard. " Golf ruins a nice walk" Do not buy a new set. Buy a cheap set off DD to get you going.

Try some pitch & putt as well as a driving range. An easy and cheaper way to get to practice some of the basics. Work out where you're not too strong and get some coaching on this.

CBear1993 wrote: »

I was in the same boat OP.

Had never played, felt a bit of pressure in last year or so as my firm had a lot of golf days. I stopped playing GAA/other sports a few years ago.

So I took a few lesson around Ashbourne area, Co.Meath. I was getting charged €30/35 a lesson which I thought very reasonable, and it's with an ex PGA Pro (I've no clue if that means anything)

Needless to say, I got 3 in before lockdown, and I haven't rang my golf tutor since courses opened again 18th May really ought to get back

It was really just a hobby to take up ,something to do at the weekends or on holidays.

Lessons are good, even after the first 2 I noticed I was able to generate more power, not through my arms, but just the motion of my hips/legs.

On the arms....i have been trying to communicate this to a friend who started last year.
His swing is really just his arms moving, without the rest of his body working.
He needs to get lessons but he hasn't. As a result he is not making any progress on adding any distance which he really needs.

Golf is my Game wrote: »

I wouldnt bother with lessons, the best way is to play with the best standard of people you can and to do loads of practice. You'll copy the good lads and imitate them as you go. Most don't care if your a beginner either even if your worried how you might look to them because most golfers are so would up in their own game to care about yours. Go to a range too and read about about the short game to understand chips and putts and them find a place with a practice green.

Do NOT take this advice. If you go out in a 4 ball with 3 of your friends at the weekend you will end up with 3 different opinions on how to play the game(and there will be flaws in all 3)!!!

My advice for whats its worth, buy yourself a reasonable set of 2nd hand clubs on donedeal, I paid about €275 for a full set of callaways about 7/8 years ago when I took up the game and I got down to a HC 10 with them!! My games has gone to pot since I upgraded a few years ago but that is for another day, haha ... book some lessons and get plenty of practice on the range following the advice from your instructor. Don't stress about scores or handicaps or anything like that yet. Just have a target of getting on the course and trying to hit some decent shots (believe me you will have some shockers) and go from there. It will gradually come together if your willing to put in the time to practice...

Lessons are only useful if what you're being told/taught resonates with the student and actually produces results. You could spend hundreds on lessons and never get anywhere.

Hitting a golf ball is not rocket science. Perfecting it might be but getting bogged down in perfection is a road to ruin imo.

I don't disagree with getting lessons but for an adult who's never swing a club before a bit of intuition and practice should more than suffice.

Coybig_ wrote: »

What about this set, would that do the job for me?

Thanks.

https://***.donedeal.ie/golf-for-sale/callaway-golf-set/25320204

Replace *** with www

Personally I think there's better out there. But they mightn't come with the woods or bag. Try a pro shop and see do they have a set. At least then u will be able to feel the club's and see do u like them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-lOXaNkxFk

I'll get my coat :pac:

Lessons and practice. Padraig Harrington insists (as do others) that the first thing you should learn is swing speed. Don't worry about accuracy at first, but work on getting your speed up. It's always harder to get the speed up when you've learned accuracy first.

Get a second hand set of decent clubs(plenty out there for €100 to €150).Get a lesson or two from a Pro in a golf course.Get your grip and stance correct.And then practice anywhere.In a field(if you can find one) and practice your chipping in your back garden.Go to a driving range and see how you are hitting it.You probably have to go back to a pro for some more advice.But it takes a while to gain confidence.Play on any short Par three courses if any are near you.Full lenght courses can be dispiriting if you try them too early.

I would not buy clubs that were not properly measured for you. This does NOT mean a fitting, this just means taking your body measurements and understanding how clubs would best suit your personal measurements for lie angle and length. The ping dot system explains this concept but all club fitters are doing the same thing when it comes to lie angle and length. This is just to get you learning with clubs suited for your body. ping dot system link

So for a totally new person:

1. Measure yourself and buy a reasonably similar set of clubs.
2. Get a few lessons, group lessons are fine. Work on a reasonable grip, stance, and takeaway if possible.
3. Practice.
4. Dont give up, try to enjoy the good shots and forget the bad.

At the start the only person you should be taking any golf advice from is a pro.

Friends, youtube, golf digest, sky sports is all meaningless to a complete beginner.

Also, trying to copy what someone else is doing doesnt work, what it looks like they are doing and what they are actually doing and what they think they are doing are 3 different things.
It looks like most golfers throw the club from the top and spin their hips, but you need a professional to explain to you what you actively do and what automatically happens as a result of this.

You will save yourself years of dridgery if you just start with lessons. All you have to do is look at any 12 year old who has taken lessons, they all swing like pros compared to years ago where people learnt from their dads.


For an absolute beginner I would go and buy a complete starter set with bag and all the clubs for €150.
Dont worry about anything else for at least a year until you figure out if you are going to keep playing or not. The quality of the set and bag will be far better than anything you need as a novice.

Coybig_ wrote: »

I'd rather not get an ultra cheap set that I might want to replace quickly, rather spend a little bit more money on something that can last a little while - but only after a few lessons so I know what I might want. I'm sure the instructor might have some recommendations too.

Just on this bit, even a cheap set is going to last you years and considering you will be getting all the clubs including a putter and a bag for the price, I think its the best place to start.

If you have the cash, by all means buy better things, but imo they wont make any difference to your game for 2-3 years.