Pick Up Golf

Question: How long did it take you to learn to play golf?

(Posted by: Brad S on 2007-04-11 20:24:04)

I'm a beginner and, although being quite athletic and having good hand- eye coordination, I'm struggling to consistently make good contact with my swings. Sometimes I dig the club into the ground, or skim over the top of the ball.

Posted by: ascendent2 on 2007-04-11, 20:31:06

With any ball you must keep your eye on it even if it isn't moving at the time. It takes a life time. It's like most sports, practice and you'll get better at it. Just hit the driving range and get a couple of buckets of balls. Take some one with you to see what your doing wrong. Sounds like your stance may be the first problem. Digging in, your to close to the ball. Take a small step back. Keep your head down and eye on ball. Good Luck it's a great sport.

Posted by: SeAwAvEs on 2007-04-11, 20:27:36

People die trying to learn how to play golf.... meaning you will continually improve and never be as good as you could be.... your rate of improvement is determined by a combination of effort and good genes

Posted by: chosen_one_of_atlantis on 2007-04-11, 20:29:29

I've been playing golf for 11 years, (I'm 16 now) and my dad is Head Pro at the local golf club. Having access to lessons has helped me a lot and I'm a 4 handicap right now. But, even with all that I can't really say that I have learned to play golf because, you can't really learn how to golf. It's one of those things that takes a lifetime to achieve. Everytime I play something happens to me that's never happened to me before, and I have to adjust to the new situation and hope for the best.

Posted by: padraig♥ on 2007-04-11, 20:37:16

Golf is probably one of the hardest sports and it takes a while to become good...it just takes lots of practise on the range and by the green..most importantly practise your putting because that is the most important thing...your short game is what determines a 80 and a 70. Ive been playing for 8ish years and im still learning every day...its just the challenge of golf i guess.

Posted by: ticktag on 2007-04-11, 20:48:24

I took my first lesson 18 years ago and I am still learning... I keep improving then get into slumps cos of bad habits... i went back to basic and learnt something new and i improved again... and i got new bad habits again... Infact there's no end to learning how to play golf or everything else. Every week as I play I discover new problems and scramble for solutions.

Posted by: roethlisberger3192 on 2007-04-11, 21:37:47

It took me from first grade, through playing during the summer with my grandpa for the next few years, to playing on the equivelant of the D team in seventh grade, and then taking lessons. I'm a freshman in high school now, and haven't played competitively since the beginning of seventh grade. Last summer, I played with both my grandpas and my dad once, and i got probably the best score of my life because I knew the game didn't mean anything and just relaxed and had fun. back in seventh grade, I almost got kicked off the team for losing my temper a couple of times. Even if that's not your problem, it helps to relax. If you can, get lessons. It helps to get the kind where they video tape your swing and do a frame by frame analysis of it against a pro's swing.

Posted by: sobe-ryguy on 2007-04-11, 22:29:04

Still learning... everyone learns forever... or as long as they keep trying to learn...

Posted by: Doug on 2007-04-12, 04:12:52

I'm still learning go to playgolfamerica.com for great info and free lesson and more in your area pga.com improve your game secton for great tips

Posted by: johncondo2001 on 2007-04-12, 04:43:47

I taught my son and wife to play (their playing very well too)In 3month all thy did was to hit golf balls and after day

Posted by: Spartan Golfer on 2007-04-12, 08:49:24

I'm not wealthy, first off. I started golf, I went to the driving range for 6-7 hourse every day in the summer, after 6 months, I was a 14 handicap. Now I've been playing for a year, still no lessons, and I'm a 12 handicap. By the way, I'm 14 years old.

Posted by: nadalalex on 2007-04-12, 08:54:49

I'm 15 and i took me about a good 6 weeks to learn a very decent swing in which i can drive the ball 200 yards and get good distance with my irons. I'm still taking lessons and learning ways to improve my swing, but i have lots of trouble keeping my whole body together during the downsing which results in a slice. I just started playing in February and luckily made JV on my school golf team.

Posted by: Erik on 2007-04-12, 08:59:31

First, I have been playing for 35 years, I am in the golf business, I am a teaching pro, and you never learn the game, because there will always be room for improvement. Watch the pros on tv, they hit the ball in the water, they mishit shots, they even flub shots. So keep playing take lessons, and always have fun.