Learning to golf

[johnjohn320]

Hey all,

A couple months ago I started playing golf with a friend. I picked up a bunch of mediocre clubs from Goodwill (where else?) and have been having a lot of fun with it. My friend's quite good, and I've learned a lot from him just giving me tips. Of course, I still suck. And I'm about to move (to Denver). So, I'd like to keep playing and get better, but I'm not sure how to go about it (other than just practicing a lot, which, as with most things, will only take you so far and allow you to develop bad habits in the process).

I'm going to grad school out there, but as far as I can find, the university doesn't offer a golf class. Instructors in the area, not surprisingly, are $150+ for a single 45 minute lesson, which is more than a little out of my price range.

Any tips on where to go for a better swing? Or is just one of those "it's gonna be expensive, too bad for you" deals?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Cheap way: record your own swing on video and watch it compared to pros swings. See which pro has the swing most similar to your own and study it. Watch it over and over and try to emulate it. Video your own swing as you progress and keep comparing it to your target swing. Use your good friend as another set of eyes. Just keep at it. The funny thing about the golf swing is that it doesn't have to be all that good or all that pretty to be effective. There are only a few fatal mistakes that have to be avoided it. As long as you get rid of those and build a swing that repeats you can be quite good.

Practice your short game at least 3 times more than you work on the swing.

 

[Row1and]

don't pay for lessons unless you want to go pro is what I say. too expensive when you can get better by watching golf on the weekends and practicing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.... you get my drift!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

All I can do is urge you to go to the bar and drink heavily till the urge to golf passes. You do realize that golfing is a sign of mental illness? Seek intervention now before it's too late.

 

[Baked]

Just play Hotshots Golf on PS2 or PS3.

 

[Sinsear]

Lessons; best way. And they can be expensive. Maybe try and get em at a time when they have a 5 lesson special or something.

And lots of practice. Once you get bad habits in golf it becomes very hard to correct them.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Row1and
don't pay for lessons unless you want to go pro is what I say. too expensive when you can get better by watching golf on the weekends and practicing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.... you get my drift!

Wrong-o. That's the reason that most players can't play worth a damn and never get better over the course of their entire lives. Remember that practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Practicing a mistake over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over DOES NOT eliminate the mistake, it ingrains it and makes it even harder to improve. You have to have a trained and knowledgeable set of eyes involved in the process to identify and correct the mistakes. Then and only then can doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over help you.

 

[Row1and]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Row1and
don't pay for lessons unless you want to go pro is what I say. too expensive when you can get better by watching golf on the weekends and practicing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.... you get my drift!

Wrong-o. That's the reason that most players can't play worth a damn and never get better over the course of their entire lives. Remember that practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Practicing a mistake over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over DOES NOT eliminate the mistake, it ingrains it and makes it even harder to improve. You have to have a trained and knowledgeable set of eyes involved in the process to identify and correct the mistakes. Then and only then can doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over help you.

Practice does not make perfect because it is not perfect practice. no one is perfect, and I didn't say practicing all the time would make him perfect, I said better. For me, I go out with different people and play with them, and pick up different pointers from their style of playing the game. I personally get better by playing with people who are better than me, and honestly, by playing and practicing. For me, paying for lessons is too expensive, and golf is already very expensive as is.

 

[hiromizu]

Originally posted by: Row1and

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Row1and
don't pay for lessons unless you want to go pro is what I say. too expensive when you can get better by watching golf on the weekends and practicing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.... you get my drift!

Wrong-o. That's the reason that most players can't play worth a damn and never get better over the course of their entire lives. Remember that practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Practicing a mistake over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over DOES NOT eliminate the mistake, it ingrains it and makes it even harder to improve. You have to have a trained and knowledgeable set of eyes involved in the process to identify and correct the mistakes. Then and only then can doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over help you.

Practice does not make perfect because it is not perfect practice. no one is perfect, and I didn't say practicing all the time would make him perfect, I said better. For me, I go out with different people and play with them, and pick up different pointers from their style of playing the game. I personally get better by playing with people who are better than me, and honestly, by playing and practicing. For me, paying for lessons is too expensive, and golf is already very expensive as is.

You sir, are retarded beyond belief.

 

[spidey07]

Lessons - my girl took an adult class from a local college. 130 bucks and she got 6x1.5 hour sessions. Then did the next level, 6x1.5 hour sessions.

She's getting pretty good in only a few years and the main thing is she understands what she did wrong on a bad shot.

Rowland - if you don't get somebody to look at your swing you are just going to ingrain bad habits that you may never be able to get rid of.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Row1and

Practice does not make perfect because it is not perfect practice. no one is perfect, and I didn't say practicing all the time would make him perfect, I said better.

And you're still completely, utterly wrong and you have been wrong over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Practicing a mistake does not fix the mistake, it ingrains it. In the future try a little less mindless repetition of a foolish idea and a little more thinking.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Row1and

Practice does not make perfect because it is not perfect practice. no one is perfect, and I didn't say practicing all the time would make him perfect, I said better.

And you're still completely, utterly wrong and you have been wrong over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Practicing a mistake does not fix the mistake, it ingrains it. In the future try a little less mindless repetition of a foolish idea and a little more thinking.

Might as well give up, he's not going to listen. He's picking up tips from the people he's playing with who wouldn't know a good swing if they saw it. Listening to their advice and ingraining his bad habits which will likely never be fixed.

There's a reason why instructors have to go through a crapload of training. They have the tools and knowledge that the people you play with don't.

Even a PGA player would be a horrible teacher, that's why they have other people watch and help their swings. The whole idea that you can coach yourself is ridiculous in any sport. ANY sport if you want to get better.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Get a copy of "The Plane Truth for Golfers" by Jim Hardy w/ John Andrisani. this book helped me tremendously with my swing.

 

[Kyle]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Row1and

Practice does not make perfect because it is not perfect practice. no one is perfect, and I didn't say practicing all the time would make him perfect, I said better.

And you're still completely, utterly wrong and you have been wrong over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Practicing a mistake does not fix the mistake, it ingrains it. In the future try a little less mindless repetition of a foolish idea and a little more thinking.

I think there's *some* truth in what he's saying- if you do practice over and over (even if its the wrong swing)- you will get better- lower your scores etc for the most part- However, I'm with you that that is not a good way to do it- That's pretty much how I started- and was able to improve enough to be in the lower 90's- however that's as far as I could get, and it was pretty inconsistant. During my first lesson it was pretty amazing how many bad habits I had picked up and ingrained, and I do wish I had started off w/ at least a couple lessons.

Also, re: videotaping your own swing- I'll admit it's very eye-opening to watch your own swing, however w/ out really trained eyes, it would be very difficult for you to be able to see the minute differences (which can be critical) compared to pros swings. I recently had my swing looked at by a pro- to my eyes it actually looked very good- however once he started pausing/slow motion/drawing plane lines, it was obvious I was all over the place. I'm sure it will help in the beggining, but eventually I think you'll need a pro to take a look at it, or someone who is very familiar w/ swing types.
I'd suggest trying to at least take one lesson now and walk away with a few concreate things to work on, things you can concentrate on improving.