Golf Tips for Beginners

Yes you can play golf and you want it now, so if there was a magic golf ball to make you learn by this week end, I would send it to you. I haven't found a dozen of those quite yet, but I can provide you with golf instruction that is easy to understand, golf equipment to make starting the game easier, golf books that will extend your learning curve, a free golf tip now and then from myself, using 35 years of playing the game. There are loads of golf gadgets that do help, providing you spend some time on your own, practicing the different parts of the game. There are always tons of questions, for every part of this wonderful game.

The following questions may strike a tee shot with you and they're not dumb, they're important, its good golf advice that you'll need to consider playing this terrific game. It begins the process of how to play golf.

FAQs About Golf

So let's begin by answering a few of these frequently asked questions, and I would suggest you bookmark this site to your favorites file. We will provide continuous information to help assist you in your journey towards learning the game, recommending golf training aids, offering free golfing tips and will provide you opportunities where to locate really neat products that help you achieve your goals.

How do I know how far to hit the golf ball?

A point of reference is first required, usually the local driving range. You should have a target picked out to hit towards for every shot. Do some minor stretching of your muscle groups before every session first, to eliminate any possible injuries. Choose a 7 iron to begin and hit 10 or 15 balls. The markers on the driving range will tell you what distance the ball came to rest. If you hit the 7 iron say 140 yards, then a 6 iron should travel 150 yards and an 8 iron 130 yards. This 10 yard difference between clubs will be your average for your own swing speed. It doesn't matter what everybody else hits, it only shows what you hit. What can change these distances? Playing conditions. For example, wind at your back, may very well shorten the distance by one club, meaning drop back from a 7 iron to an 8 iron versus wind in your face which will lengthen the distance, telling you to add more club. This means to choose the 6 iron instead of the 7. Remember to determine your distance first, and then determine the playing conditions before you chose your club. I use a Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 With Slope to assist in proper distance control. This model would not meet USGA rules in tournament play, but the 1500 without slope will.

How do I know which golf club to hit?

Remember what we said about playing conditions? This will determine what club you pick by first determining the distance from the markers, then make you're decision about playing conditions. This is vital to picking the right club. You have already determined from practice, that you can hit a 7 iron 140 yards, but it's the playing conditions that will make the difference from an okay shot to a great shot.

Here is another golf tip… watch the flag you're hitting towards for wind strength and direction. If you're too far out, then look to the fairways left or right of you for the flags on those greens. They will tell you what you need to know, just like a wind sock. A flag that flops up and down is a one club difference, if the flag is blowing straight out, it can be a two or even three club difference. I use a Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 With Slope to assist in proper distance control for each target… works fantastic!

How do I make a proper golf grip?

There are three grips to choose from and you should try all three. This is the only way you will know what's most comfortable for you. There is the interlocking, the overlapping and the ten finger or sometimes called the baseball grip. I use the interlocking myself, because it feels best on the golf club for me. You need to try all three, hitting balls, and then make a choice what feels best and what is the most consistent. Then stick with it and don't change. The placement of your hands is about the same on all three, but the real difference in feel, comes in with the interlock or overlap.

This photo on the left, is the first of three most commonly used golf grips, starting with the 10 Finger Grip. This hand placement on the club is sometimes referred to as the baseball grip. By starting here, you'll get the initial feel of the club resting properly in the fingers at or near a neutral position. It will also give you a quick feel for the club and wrist hinging together as one piece, while swinging to the top of your back swing. If you're right handed just reverse these instructions to accommodate a left hander.

This grip is referred to as the Overlap Grip. Very similar to the same 10 finger grip above, however, the right hand (or left for you lefties), has only three fingers wrapped around the actual grip, because as you can see, the pinky of the right hand, rests up on top of and just past the middle knuckle, of the left index fingers. Left thumb will be positioned at 1 o'clock and the right thumb should be laying diagonally across the shaft, barely touching tip to tip of the right index finger.

Interlocking Grip - How to Grip the Club

Photo on the left here represents the Interlocking Grip. Here's where it gets a little more connected. This grip pretty much reflects the overlapping grip with the only difference being, you need to remove the left index finger off the club grip and place its finger print area over the knuckle of the right pinky, where it connects to the right hand. You actually are in control of this grip now with three fingers of the left and three fingers on the right hands. The two interlocking fingers attach the two hands together as one.

This photo represents the A B C of proper placement of the club across the fingers. You'll finally remember where to consistently place the club, in order to have maximum control and balance. The dotted line represents where the left thumb is placed, when the hands become closed and firm as one unit. That line is called the life line of the right palm. An example of where the club is to be touching your fingers would be A = A position and A B means, between A & B, simple okay? Once you get the club set a few times and hit some balls, you won't forget and I can wash this stupid ink off my fingers.

This photo, indicates from the back of the left hand, a quick reference guide as to how and where the golf grip should lay across the fingers. Once the next photo is viewed with the club in position, you might not see the proper alignment quite yet, so I took this extra photo to get you started. Don't worry about getting this hand placement the first few times. If you haven't a lot of practice placing them correctly, it will feel UN-natural at first. By week two and hitting balls, you'll not only know, but feel the best grip for you.

Now we begin, with laying you're left hand flat and open, so as to expose the wrinkles between the knuckles. Place the grip in the left hand starting at the base of the left pinky (C) across the next finger at (B-C), across the middle fingers base at (B) onto the index finger on (A-B). Make sure the butt end of the grip sticks out past your pinky ½ inch to ¾ inch, to relieve any stress to the pinky fingers joint at impact, from hitting balls. Squeeze gently with the first three fingers, starting with the pinky, as you wrap them around the club. Those three fingers and the heel of the left hand will be in control.

This is the proper placement of the left hand, prior to placement of the right hand. You can see that the left thumb is at a 1:00 o'clock position, with the intent of a forged union with the right hand, once it takes its proper grip on the grip. If the thumb sits at a 12:00 o'clock position, it might prevent you from reaching full parallel and promote casting from the top of the swing. Casting forces you to throw the club into an outside in swing path, putting side spin on the ball, which creates the dreaded slice or banana ball. Yuk!

Before we place the right hand into its proper position, I want you to see a clear view of the left hand gripping the club correctly, with the left three fingers holding the club and the heel of the left hand ending up on top of the golf grip. This promotes a better release at impact from this position. You should feel pressure on your left heel from the grip and in your wrist, as the weight of the club takes over, creating the pressure from hanging down. You can really tell the swing weight from the club head at this point.

As you can tell, it's the same process, putting your right hand on the club as you did with the left. Place your palm opened, flat under the club, facing upward towards your face. Start at the base of the right pinky, laying the club at an angle across the next finger at (B-C) position, across the middle finger at (B) position and onto the right index finger at (A-B) position. This is something easy to repeat several times at home while watching a little TV. Once you do it for a day or so, it will just start happening by feel.

Now grip the bottom of the club's grip and roll your hand over the club, finishing with the life line of the right hand resting up against the thumb of the left hand, which should still be in the 1:00 o'clock position. Squeeze lightly to control the club. If one, on a scale to ten was the lightest, I personally use a four. That's just my example. Don't go much over that, because you'll start swinging slower from holding on too tight. This would be a good time to try moving your pinky and index around, feeling those different grips.

Now that you have properly placed the right hand on the club, you should have a feeling of unity and comfort. The back of the left hand is considered the steering wheel while the right hand is the gas. If this is a seven iron, address a ball, positioned across from your sternum or chest bone. Center club face behind the back of the ball and back of left hand tilted forward and square to the flag. Your right wrist arched upwards with no wrinkles. If it does, let the club head hang above ground about half an inch, then arch your wrist upward so the club touches the ground again. This helps with solid contact.

By now your asking what the heck are the two X's for? Just to show that at address position, you should see those two knuckles easy. If not, your left thumb is probably sitting on top, where we don't want it and you need to slightly rotate your left hand to the right so you do. Two is okay, three is a very strong grip and you should definitely not go past that. I recommend you stay at the two for a while, until you can get comfortable hitting the ball consistently where you're aiming. Remember, all things begin with a blue print and this is a fantastic start. For more information on this subject I recommend a perfect collection of ideas to advance the learning curve, How to Hit Every Shot – Golf Book will add the extra support out on the course and you can keep it in your bag.

How do I make a proper golf swing?

A proper swing begins with a proper positioning of your body, not just the grip. We need you to understand, your positions and purpose, from the ground up. Imagine you have teed your ball and found your target down the fairway. Alignment is critical for that to happen. At address, think of a pair of railroad tracks heading right at your target. Visualize your target resting in the middle of those tracks down the fairway, as if the tracks came together and were now touching your target. Your ball sits on one side of the tracks and your toes touching the rail on your side. This is a terrific alignment tool for every shot, including putting.

Feet need to be shoulder-width apart and weight of your body evenly distributed between both feet. Your legs and knees should be extended but not locked. You must bend from the waist only about 35 to 40 degrees when you address the ball. This positions the pelvis in a position for proper rotation of the shoulders and helps from standing up in your back swing. Try our Dynamics Swing Golf Glove— you will feel the correct swing. Another fantastic world favorite is the Medicus Dual Hinge Swing Trainer.

Ball position can be determined by help from the length of your club. Long clubs set-up off your left heel, medium length set-up off your left side shirt pocket (for right hander), short clubs set-up off the zipper of your pants, unless you're attempting a short knock down shot, which requires you to play that back towards the right shoe and hands forward at impact. Imagine a triangle welded to your shoulders, arms and hands. The triangle must move back then around your body, for your larger muscle group to wind up, necessary for power.

Think of an "X" laying at you feet. Your ball sits in the center of the "X". Think of the "X" flattened out a bit, but still looks like an "X". The top two lines are 1 & 2, the bottom two lines are 3 & 4. Now using a one plane swing, I want your triangle (and all that's connected to it) swinging back then around your body towards "X" #4 as if you were standing in a barrel, arms still extended as they were at address. Allow your right wrist to hinge backwards as you rotate and continue to turn your shoulders. When your left shoulder points just pass the ball, you've made a 90-degree turn. Your left wrist should be positioned about level, to your right shoulder, left arm extended not bent, your right elbow bent and pointing at the ground.

Remember, your left shoulder must point just pass or at the ball. You begin the down swing by shifting your natural weight shift from the swinging of your arms and shoulders; left foot to right foot and back to left, while rotating your left hip pocket around so it's pointing behind you. This is a proper pivot turn. The club path returns passing #4 position of the "X" through the ball, towards position #1 of the "X". Your swing continues around to a finished position, with 75% of your weight on your left foot. Chest should be facing your target, club at rest behind your shoulders.

So let's simplify the movement until you can better visualize the whole pivot, weight transfer and impact event. You're standing inside on a ladder, so that you can see the top of a door as it opens. To your immediate left, are the hinges of that door and the other side is the door knob. When that door swings open, that represents the turning of your shoulders. Your arms and hands are attached to the club; therefore they swing up by your shoulder and around your back to come to the top position. This movement will naturally promote you to shift most of your weight to the inside arch of your right foot. From this position, you are going to close the door, starting with your hip rotating back to the left, or as we say pivot back, by thinking of pointing your left rear pocket behind you. You do not allow the shoulders to start the down swing; they follow the movement of your left hip.

To understand what's happening to the shoulders and arms, let's simplify this as a drill. You're standing facing a post, pole, or a tree, with a mallet or hammer in your right hand. Place your feet shoulder width apart and bend over from the waist only, about 35 degrees and place your left hand on the vertical post. Place the flat surface of the mallet about waist high as if you were going to drive a nail into the post. Take a good balance of your feet and move your left hand, so the back of it is now touching the post about one foot above where the mallet or hammer is touching.

Your left hand should be well below shoulder height and at an angle from the shoulder. Now start rotating your shoulders like the door opening and pretend your driving nails into the post, allowing the right hand to swing back around behind you, right wrist cocking, elbow bent, pointing at the ground, then returning to hit that nail, starting by pivoting or turning your left hip towards the post to start the swing. Your hips should pass and continue turning left until that left rear pocket points directly behind you. Don't allow your shoulders and hands to pass the post on this drill, only the hips. This golf tip demonstrates a clear picture for you to use on the range to practice or as a part of your pre-shot routine.

Any blue print for visualization is an excellent tool, for reinforcing that positive learned habit, to play this game more consistently. It's designed to eliminate the negative thoughts by replacing them with positive building blocks, as a foundation for a better swing. Try our golf swing training aids for incredible results. They promote muscle memory and produce fantastic results. I can't say enough about the Medicus Dual Hinge Swing Trainer that will give you years of positive feedback, as a game improvement device. Well worth the investment.

How do I stop slicing my golf drive?

This is a learned habit for all of us at one point or another. But to simplify the process, I again need to get you to focus on the physical problems that result in the breakdown of the basic swing mechanics. This will instill a photographic photo in your mind of why you are slicing when you do. The main reason you slice is due to the side spin you put on the ball. This happens when you actually cut across the ball from an outside in swing plane. Let me draw you a picture. Let's use the X factor. The top two parts of the X are #1 & #2 the bottom two are #3 & #4. If you're right handed and swing at the ball from X positions #2 to #3, then you're swinging from outside the swing plane.

This occurs a few different ways. One, you take the club back to the outside (X #2) and return from the outside. Secondly, you're getting to the top of your swing, then turning back at the ball with your left shoulder first, which throws your club to an outside in path (X#3). Three, you swing okay from inside out, but don't allow the right hand to turn over at impact, because of a stiff elbow, which also can send it, straight to the right or slicing.

Let's correct that from a different position. Imagine your ball teed up on a railroad track on one side, and your toes touching the rail on the other side. Now back your right foot backwards about 3 inches, towards the heel. As you turn away from the ball, think of your right shoulder touching the center of your back.

Another vision would be to think of a door opening and then closing. This forces you to set-up and swing, to and from the inside out path, which creates power and straight drives down the middle. Remember, it's critical to begin your down swing turning the left rear pocket, so it points behind you. If you swing from the top first, you'll always be hitting the next shot from the rough. Try our golf swing training aids for incredible results. The Medicus Dual Hinge Jumbo Driver is the #1 swing trainer in the world. It's also offered in an iron, the Medicus Dual Hinge Swing Trainer. It lets you feel how to cure that slice. I would highly consider this as a vital tool for improving and strengthening your swing, on or off the course.

How can I learn the rules of golf?

The rules of golf are pretty straightforward. They can have many interpretations, depending on who you're speaking with and on which day. The USGA or the PGA is the masters and keepers of how the game is to be played. They have the last word in all aspects of the game and set the rules of play, especially in tournament play. To be proficient at the game, educate your self correctly from the beginning, as this is one of the last games around that instill honesty and integrity while at play. You can get a pocket size copy of the 2008-2009 The Rules of Golf Bookto carry in your bag and it provides you with everything you need to be ahead of the game.

Where can I find golf swing teaching aids?

We try and provide as many golf tips as possible to assist in most aspects of the game. Our content is revised weekly with additional information as requested, in addition to the products we feel will help to solidify the free golf tips we offer. The Medicus Dual Hinge Combo would be my most sincere recommendation and the quickest feedback to any swing issue. You can get a good understanding from reading tips from here and in our products, but really no substitute for feel and instant feedback from a club that forces you to swing correctly.

What golf tees should I use?

This is a question that could be answered in two different ways, so I guess I will. You can get many assorted golf tees starting from the traditional wood golf tee, up to and including Hooters Team Golf Tee , or an assortment of collegiate-style team tees.

There are generally 4 tee boxes at most every course you'll play. If you're a 6 handicapper, you've already been playing for some time and you'll use the Black or Blue tees. If you are an 8 handicapper and up to a 36, you'll only play from the white tees. Most women will play from the red tees. This has been the case for quite some time, in part due to their strength and endurance in relation to their male counterparts and the speed of play requirements of the course. Don't misconstrue the fact, that men automatically beat woman from the two distances of play area, because woman bring much talent to the game and are quite capable of sending the guys cleaning their bags.

What kind of golf tips will help me tee up my driver?

When the ball makes contact with your driver, it first compresses the ball as it rolls up the face creating lots of backspin. To help reduce the ball speed, try this next time out. Take a look at the style of driver you use and find the center of the face. Take a thin marker and place a black dot right in the center, halfway up the face. Now place a second dot just under one quarter inch above the first dot. Place a straight line all the way across the face, through the second black dot. Look on your ball for a name or something that shows you the center of that ball. This is the equator of your ball. Tee up your ball so the equator of your ball matches the line across the club face and play the ball inside of your left heel. The top of the ball will be above the top of your club, when you're teed up for maximum velocity. Try these 60 3-1/4 Way Huge Rip Stix Tees on your big driver.

How much costs are involved in equipment and golf course fees?

There are several operational cost factors associated with golf. Several of these factors include, but not limited to, course management, any Country Club dues, food and beverage, golf services, golf instruction, equipment and rental services, green fees, utilities and assorted clothing, all add up to some of the costs you may encounter. Golf courses can be public, private, and semi-private or part of a Country Club membership. Several golf courses charge a residential fee and adjusted non-residential fees. The difference between the two can be 10 to 20%, where a semi-private or private club might require up to 100% more for green fees, plus membership dues, social and dining fees and annual fees.

Golf fees will vary from course-to-course, city-to-city and club-to-club. Phone your local course to ask about rates in your area, or the local Chamber of Commerce office, which will assist you in finding a course near you. Public courses will be your best value in beginning the learning process and they offer excellent golf instruction. They will also quote you lesson packages and possible special rates for driving range privileges.

Green fees can start at $22 and require as much as $45 on the weekends at your public course, for 18 holes of play. Weekend rates usually get the higher rates, due to available tee times. Golf carts can average between $11 and $22 at the public courses and more at private clubs, again with varying rates from course-to-course. Equipment can be rented at various courses. You can find excellent prices for starter sets as low as $159 and upwards of $2,500 depending on what your budget dictates. A golf professional is an excellent source, to determine what you need as far as equipment and from there, is multiple choices available on where you can buy that equipment. Online can save you money with delivery right to your doorstep. We have all the golf equipment choices and name brands, in addition to free golfing tips available, to complete a one stop shopping and learning experience. Your satisfaction is always guaranteed and your word of mouth advertising is always appreciated.

How long does it take to play a golf game of 18 holes?

Every round of golf consists of either a 9 hole course, with two successive nine-hole rounds, using the same tee boxes from different distances, or 18 holes in a given order, both planned around a very pre-determined layout, by a professional. The groups generally tee off every 8 to 10 minutes, with a maximum of 15 minutes of play per hole. This would be an ideal schedule from a management point, but the real deal is, they have course marshal's patrol the course all day, to help keep play moving, so the times will vary. If you play ready golf as part of your course management of play, you should be at the 19th hole in 4½ hours. To assist in speed of play, it's important you be familiar with the 2008-2009 The Rules of Golf Book , to allow all the players in your group, equal enjoyment in their round as well.

Where can I find the best golf stores?

That's a terrific question. It's not so much to do with the best store, but what are you looking for in a golf store. Let's look at the store that offers every single gadget on the market, in addition to every possible club selection on the market with seasonal discounts. You go browse the location and find some things you like and some things you don't. Well that's how most people shop until they see something that might be a fit and two days on the course and buyer's remorse sets in. So another point of view would be where can I find a place or golf site or someone that can help me play better, make recommendations on a golf training aidto help my bad slice? Where could I find some golf instruction? Where can I get golf advice on putting tips? Where can I find answers to these questions at my convenience and get them for FREE? Then be giving the source of the product I'm looking for? You're here! You found it! Congratulations! www.VanillaGorillaGolfTips.com

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