Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

[Phobia]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

Phobia that's awesome man, what a feeling it is to find your "swing" again. When i first took the game up 4 years ago, I was shooting great - even got down to a 5 handicap in 2 years. After that though, with a full time job, skyrocket to a 13.5.

Last week shot an 82 as well, my best score is still a 68 (-4) in cold wet rain.

Btw, that course looks incredible - good luck!

Nice on the 68 Matt. On my 70, I nailed a Eagle on a long 6I shot to a green sloping away. I could not see the hole and the guys ahead of us, were walking back to their cart when I seen them jump up and down. I knew I sank it.

The main reason I am stoked about getting my swing back is. When I started shooting back when I was around 10. I grew up swinging nothing but steel shafted clubs on everything from drivers to irons. Now a days everything is using carbon fiber/graphite, so making the transition with these new Adams clubs had a learning curve. My driving club head speed was pretty much causing to much flex (I use a Regular (R) shaft). So I had to learn to slow my swing speed down to not get that left to right Fade. Basically the club face was lagging behind my hands causing the club face to open up. It must of been very minimal though. Because the ball would start out for 200+ yards straight down the pipe and then in the remaining 60+ yards it would start its left to right and end up just edge or slightly off fairway.

Now I slowed my hand speed down and positioned the ball just ahead in my stance so the face is slightly closing at contact. Giving me a very slight draw but much more accurate on my drives. But I lost a good 25+ yards on my drive. Next step is to changing my shaft and go with a (S) Stiff or a (X) Extra stiff. That way I can get back my swing speed and remain near the 290+ mark on my drive.

[fistofrage]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

Nice on the 68 Matt. On my 70, I nailed a Eagle on a long 6I shot to a green sloping away. I could not see the hole and the guys ahead of us, were walking back to their cart when I seen them jump up and down. I knew I sank it.

The main reason I am stoked about getting my swing back is. When I started shooting back when I was around 10. I grew up swinging nothing but steel shafted clubs on everything from drivers to irons. Now a days everything is using carbon fiber/graphite, so making the transition with these new Adams clubs had a learning curve. My driving club head speed was pretty much causing to much flex (I use a Regular (R) shaft). So I had to learn to slow my swing speed down to not get that left to right Fade. Basically the club face was lagging behind my hands causing the club face to open up. It must of been very minimal though. Because the ball would start out for 200+ yards straight down the pipe and then in the remaining 60+ yards it would start its left to right and end up just edge or slightly off fairway.

Now I slowed my hand speed down and positioned the ball just ahead in my stance so the face is slightly closing at contact. Giving me a very slight draw but much more accurate on my drives. But I lost a good 25+ yards on my drive. Next step is to changing my shaft and go with a (S) Stiff or a (X) Extra stiff. That way I can get back my swing speed and remain near the 290+ mark on my drive.

The draw on your drive should be adding distance instead of decreasing it. You want draw. I bet you are hitting your drive on the Up Swing and generating a little less power that way.

[Phobia]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

The draw on your drive should be adding distance instead of decreasing it. You want draw. I bet you are hitting your drive on the Up Swing and generating a little less power that way.

You could be right fist. By moving the ball ahead in my stance I bet I am making contact on the up. I think lost of distance is coming from me slowing down my club head speed a pretty darn good bit. Moving the ball back to my regular position (inside heel or front left chest logo on shirt) and just roll my hands a tad sooner to get the face closing sooner should do the trick.

[fistofrage]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

You could be right fist. By moving the ball ahead in my stance I bet I am making contact on the up. I think lost of distance is coming from me slowing down my club head speed a pretty darn good bit. Moving the ball back to my regular position (inside heel or front left chest logo on shirt) and just roll my hands a tad sooner to get the face closing sooner should do the trick.

Or you could slightly close your stance. XXXs being foot position. I always get rusty during the winter because I'm covered in snow for 6 months. I come out with a slice because I use too much arm instead of shoulder turn. Anyway I close my stance up and put a draw on the ball. By about mid June my stance has returned to normal and I'm still getting the nice draw.

Normal:

XXXX
---------0
XXXX

Closed:

---XXXXX

XXXXX

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

This reminds me, I haven't been to the range in ages. I'll have to go tomorrow.

[Matt10]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

Agreed Fist - that closed position looks ideal. I hit a slight fade (dubbed: knuckle fade), and am able to do so with a slightly open face and slightly closed stance. Results in a ball that starts straight and veers slowly down and right.

If I hit a draw, it won't be on purpose - and might actually be a hook.

[Phobia]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

Or you could slightly close your stance. XXXs being foot position. I always get rusty during the winter because I'm covered in snow for 6 months. I come out with a slice because I use too much arm instead of shoulder turn. Anyway I close my stance up and put a draw on the ball. By about mid June my stance has returned to normal and I'm still getting the nice draw.

Normal:

XXXX
---------0
XXXX

Closed:

---XXXXX

XXXXX

You like messing with open and closed stances fist? I have used a closed stance in the past (years ago). You can get a draw much better that route of course. I just am not a big fan of adjusting my stance. Certain shots(Out the bunker, certain chips, low draws, etc), I will make the adjustment. I just don't want to mess with my swing plane on my driver. I know my swing plane is correct, but the flex of the carbon shafts I have not adjusted to all the way yet. I know the head is lagging behind and is causing the open face. Now it might be a good idea in this tournament coming up to run a closed stance just to make sure I hit more fairways. But opening and closing stances should not be used to correct a slice. Some beginners it is a good way to help them shoot lower and give confidence, but what a closed stance does is it "masks" the underlining issue of what is causing that slice.

I am not hitting a slice, it is just a very slight fade. Which granted is still not something you want, unless you are hitting a dogleg going from left to right or around a tree or what not. But on a whole it is not affecting my game a extreme amount but knowing how I hit and seeing this. It has been given me fits trying to figure out the root of the issue. My hybrid 4i I can hit all day long straight as a arrow and same with my Irons. It is just my driver I am having the fade with. I would put money on it, that the shaft is the issue. To much flex.

I am going to the range tomorrow (It is only like 1 min away lol). I am going to test how my driver hits with a very shallow closed stance. Slowly close it more and more and see what results I get. Might be a good work around till I can get around to getting a more stiff shaft. I will let you know what I find out bro.

[Phobia]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

Now that I think about it. Fist you might be on to something. Something I was doing and not really paying attention to. I grew aware of the fact the face was lagging behind my hands. So I in turn started getting my hips around sooner trying to get the head to catch up with the club. But I bet my left foot or front foot(I am right handed) is opening to soon causing my club plane to change near the bottom of my swing. So that means my Left toe is rolling out to release the hips and my club face is coming down on to much of a inside angle given that slight left to right fade. Slightly pushing that left foot forward will prevent the hips from releasing to soon and should give me that nice inside to out side swing plane. Not a cure but a good way to fix it in the mean time. Thanks

[fistofrage]

Re: Golf tips for an absolute beginner?

You like messing with open and closed stances fist? I have used a closed stance in the past (years ago). You can get a draw much better that route of course. I just am not a big fan of adjusting my stance. Certain shots(Out the bunker, certain chips, low draws, etc), I will make the adjustment. I just don't want to mess with my swing plane on my driver. I know my swing plane is correct, but the flex of the carbon shafts I have not adjusted to all the way yet. I know the head is lagging behind and is causing the open face. Now it might be a good idea in this tournament coming up to run a closed stance just to make sure I hit more fairways. But opening and closing stances should not be used to correct a slice. Some beginners it is a good way to help them shoot lower and give confidence, but what a closed stance does is it "masks" the underlining issue of what is causing that slice.

I am not hitting a slice, it is just a very slight fade. Which granted is still not something you want, unless you are hitting a dogleg going from left to right or around a tree or what not. But on a whole it is not affecting my game a extreme amount but knowing how I hit and seeing this. It has been given me fits trying to figure out the root of the issue. My hybrid 4i I can hit all day long straight as a arrow and same with my Irons. It is just my driver I am having the fade with. I would put money on it, that the shaft is the issue. To much flex.

I am going to the range tomorrow (It is only like 1 min away lol). I am going to test how my driver hits with a very shallow closed stance. Slowly close it more and more and see what results I get. Might be a good work around till I can get around to getting a more stiff shaft. I will let you know what I find out bro.

I change my stance all the time. I belong course that is lined with mature trees. The course used to host senior PGA events. You are basically in the fairway or have some tree trouble. I can usually ge out of it by drawing or fading the ball. I can even go as far as hooking the ball 90 degrees if I have too. It all starts with the stance.

My driver, If I need to hit it down the left side, I'll cange my stance.

Sometimes I change my grip too.

I used to be around a 7 handi-cap. Now I'm around 12. I'm getting hip surgery this fall though and if things go well, I'll be back.

Of course, if I hit my ball straight as an arrow every time, I wouldn't need to adjust my stances as much. But if I ever need to make absolute sure to avoid trouble on the right. Closed stance works like a charm.