There are countless golf magazines, blog articles (whoops!), YouTube videos and more that offer up a never-ending stream of "tips" to fix this, cure that, add this or increase that. The absolute best are total gems you'll get from other golfers who can't help themselves but to try to help you. You're supposed to be learning, having fun and getting better, but how do you know what will work for you vs. what is just "head-filler"?
Like a lot of people who pick up the game as adults, I got caught up in all this when I first picked up the game, thinking that understanding every aspect of the game would help me learn and get better faster. Man was I wrong. And I want to help you avoid as much of that as I can.
Having gone too far down that path, I can confidently say that the best thing you can do for your enjoyment and learning curve, is to keep it simple. Focus initially on just a few key aspects of the game and your swing.
Here's what I recommend:
1. Learn how to chip like a champ
"Huh? That flag is like a million miles away from the tee! You want me to focus on chipping?"
Yes. I know it seems like the moon is closer than that green, but don't get seduced by the long ball. At most, you'll hit a driver 14 times a round. When you first start out and are likely shooting well over 100 for 18 holes, that's only around 15% of your shots! Also, even if you can manage to master the long ball (which is really hard, by the way) that doesn't necessarily translate well to other parts of your game. You're actually more likely to create bad habits that are hard to un-learn.
Chipping, on the other hand, is easy to learn (though hard to master). More importantly, it's the simplest version of the golf swing... so learning to chip well will translate to the other clubs in your bag.
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| Phil Mickelson, THE ultimate short game wizard |
There's a very simple method for chipping that you can learn from one of the best short-game players of all time, Phil Mickelson. Check out his "Secrets of the Short Game" videos. They're short, simple and actually pretty entertaining. His technique is easy to learn, and is the same basic approach whether you're chipping, putting, or pitching. That makes it easier to be consistent. He even throws in a few trick shots to impress your friends.
With a little practice, you'll be chipping it close in no time, which takes pressure of other parts of your game. Didn't quite get it on the green? No problem. Having a hard time putting? No worries. It'll be closer to the hole thanks to your chipping prowess.
2. Focus on staying relaxed and balanced
Golf is one of those damnable things in life that are completely counter-intuitive. Whatever it is common sense would dictate you do in any given situation, you almost certainly should do the opposite.
For example... Common sense would dictate that to hit the ball further, you need to swing harder, amiright? Guess what? The exact opposite is true.
"WTF?", you say! Sorry, friend. It just is. Don't fight it. Just accept it as truth and go with it. Trust me on this one. You'll be a happier person.
A muscular swing creates tension, which actually reduces "club head speed" and leads to greater inconsistency in where you strike the ball on the surface of the club. A more fluid, relaxed swing creates more speed at the head of the club (where it matters).
Here's a world-class example, Freddy Couples:
It looks like he's barely swinging! Guess what, he's always been one of the longest hitters on the PGA tour.
Forget being like Mike... be like Fred.
3. Get Lessons!
Seriously! A good teacher makes a massive difference, especially early on.
So many new players think they need to achieve some basic level of play before they invest in lessons. That's a mistake I made and regret. Some folks don't want to spend the money until they know they'll keep playing. How are you ever going to get there without some help & knowledge from an expert?
Honestly, though, I think most are actually afraid to end up with a crusty old pro who'll make fun of them. Who wants to be embarrassed flailing away in front of some golf pro that you just know can shoot under par while blindfolded, hung over and in a bad mood (ahem... every day)?
Here's the thing... you don't know the POWER of the dark side... of golf. It's so easy to fall into bad habits without realizing it. What feels natural for you to do with your swing is probably far from what you should be doing. As Yoda told Luke on Dagobah, "You must unlearn what you have learned."
On the flip side, if you learn good habits early on, you'll get better much, much faster. And that means you'll hit more good shots, score better, and that all adds up to enjoying your time on the course more often than not.
Fortunately, there are a lot of Yodas out there (and very few Qui Gonn Jinns). The VAST majority of golf pros teaching today do it because they love to help people get better at the game (they sure don't do it for the money - at the public courses, anyway!). So, odds are pretty low you'll get a dud pro. Most pros offer free one-time lessons to drum up new clients, and these are great ways to see if you're compatible.
Give it a go! You won't regret it.
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