It ’s said that golf is a game of a lifespan … because it involve your whole life to become any good at it . But no worries . As a novice , you just ask some basics . Josh Zander , aGolf MagazineTop 100 instructor and two - clock time California PGA teacher of the year , has some simple hint to get you start . Who knows ? You might even make some birdies along the way …
1. Don’t fall behind
First sentence on the class ? Your first ordination of business is to keep up with your playing partners . There ’s no mode around it . You ’re going to puff some , shank some , slice some , top some . “ Do n’t care about the bad shots , ” Zander tell . “ But if you regain yourself lagging behind the group , just pick up your ball and move on . you may play terribly and you ’ll still get invited back – as long as you do n’t retard everybody down . ”
2. Watch your form
People call golf a game , but you should care for it like a mutation . Start by sweep up an gymnastic stance . “ A slight bend in the stifle , a little flex in the hip , weight balanced on the ball of your understructure , ” Zander says . “ When you countersink up to the ball , you want to feel as if you could resist a fragile push from the front or behind . ”
3. Use the right club
When you ’re just learn the plot , do n’t practise with a driver or a pitching wedge shape . One ’s too long . The other ’s too short . But a seven iron ? Now , that ’s just right . recitation , recitation . “ Once you con to hit the seven - iron , ” Zander say , “ you ’ll have a mess easy time come to everything else . ”
4. Grip the club like you mean it
How you take the baseball club has a Brobdingnagian influence on how you hit the musket ball . And while there ’s no single “ right ” way to grip it and pull it , Zander suggests these fundamentals : “ If you ’re a righty , hold the clubhouse in your unexpended hand so that you may see two brass knuckles , with the fin between your pollex and index human body pointing toward your correct shoulder joint . When you put your ripe paw on the club , your thenar should be confront the quarry . Think of it this way : whichever fashion your palm is pointing at wallop is where the golf-club face will be pointing , too . ”
5. Take it slow
You see it all the metre , linksman rushing through grasp session , banging ball after testis in speedy succession . Haste create waste . “ If you want to learn to play golf the way it ’s really played , approach the practice session as if you ’re playing a beat on the course of instruction , ” Zander enunciate . “ With every shot , choose a different nightspot and a different butt . ” result the balls in the bucketful , Zander say , rather than ditch them out on the tray . have to convey them one by one will help remind you to take your prison term .
6. Do no harm
Every round of golf game causes golf course wear thin - and - tear , so basic maintenance is a must . Sand your divots , entail fix the clump you take out of the course because you … still are n’t very good at this . restore your pitch marks ( those would be the bantam volcanic crater left behind where the ball lands ) . “ Your finish should be to leave the course in better condition than you find it , ” Zander says .
7. Don’t listen to just anyone
“ Golf is the one sport where everyone is a teacher , ” Zander says . Lots of people will stress to give you swing tips . Very few of them know what they ’re talking about . detect your own golf game Yoda – rather a certify professional instructor – and stick with their advice .
8. Beware of flying golf balls
Self - preservation is suppose to be an instinct , but it ’s stunning how many people seem to lack it . The room they move about the golf game form , wandering aimlessly in front of other actor , you ’d swear that they were vying for a Darwin accolade . “ It seems somewhat obvious to say but you do n’t need to be out before of another golf player , ” Zander says . “ When someone else is run into , stay to the side of them , out of the blood line of fervidness , on the non - target side of the nut . ”
9. Stop tallying your strokes
Yes , the pro shop has free pencils and scorecards . But keep cartroad of your shots is a form of self - abuse . “ blank out about your score , ” Zander say . “ That ’s for tournament golf . This is unpaid golf . It ’s a chance to re - create yourself . Go out and savor yourself . Relax . Have fun .
Michael Tarazi/Thrillist
Michael Tarazi/Thrillist
Michael Tarazi/Thrillist
Michael Tarazi/Thrillist
