Advice sought! Training for a game =)

Hello all

Hope you guys have been making full use of the long weekend to play some games =)

I'm still an absolute beginner (only 1 game under my belt) and have not really mastered my 3 wood, much less my driver. Even my irons tend to push to the right =(

Am training for another game in a month's time and will appreciate any advice for my training within this month and tips on how to play the game on actual day.

Love this sport, but it can really get frustrating!!

Cheers!

forget about 3w and driver, just train your pw-7 irons for now. Get a 24-20 degree hybrid and tee off with it

Totally agree with bro 2008...

Coincidentally I have a very good Titleist 24degree hybrid on an even better shaft for sale... 

Don't forget to train your wedges - AW,  SW and LW

Don't forget to practice your short game too. Pitching, chipping and putting.

It's a lifelong journey
Keep your expectations low and learn from your playing partners

I agree with the above advices. Sometimes even for many seasoned players like myself, we are unable to replicate shots we hit at the range

Remember on course, you gotta make adjustments for uneven lie and hitting in rough, under trees, bunker etc. don't go for hero shots like you watched on The Golf Channel

If in trouble, chip out to fw and continue from there again. Get the confidence of hitting good shots and accept the outcome. Last thing to worry is driving distance because distance will come over time

Most importantly is to have fun and not lose faith!

My only humble advise is to get your swing consistent first.

Since it is only your second game, just enjoy the game and dont stress too much.

Thanks guys for your valuable advice! I'll be sure to focus my practice on my irons and a more consistent swing; definitely will just enjoy myself during the game!  

bro chien, how much are you selling your hybrid for 

How about getting a coach?

Bro,

I will advised to go driving range to practice ur swing; focus on ur irons instead of woods or driver. Once u have a consistent swing, the woods or driver will come easier.

Occasionally, u may go executive courses ie NSRCC par 3, Mandai ex or JCC to practice hitting off the grass (it's never the same like hitting off the mat), you shld be able to hit better come your next full game.

I m just like u a newbie (gotten my hcp (high) but the swing still inconsistent).


P.s.
I also have a TM burner 3 hybrid for sale if u are interested.

Agree with all.  Just enjoy the journey. Another round on the green, another round of experience. The more relax you are the better the game. Have fun.

When I started golf many moons ago, I didn't have a driver in the bag. Well, I did but I never used it. I played with a Callaway Big Bertha 5W. And even then, I'd typically tee-off with a 4i. I couldn't handle the driver - it was too wild.

I agree with 2008 too... focus on your irons. If you can hone your ball-striking abilities with your irons, especially your shorter irons, you'll be a force to be reckoned with. (I know golfers who can belt the ball a good 250m but struggle to get to the green. And even when they did hit the ball at that distance, their dispersion can be rocky.)

Technospaz wrote:

(I know golfers who can belt the ball a good 250m but struggle to get to the green. And even when they did hit the ball at that distance, their dispersion can be rocky.)

This called can drive cannot arrived....

To added some beginners hit 2-3 on, chip and putt 5 times or more.....such small things add up to strokes.

So, all the more reason to focus on this.

A shameless plug in support of jhan's efforts. Well done, Justin!

My only advise is don't play from Blue Tee 

My advice is go and get a couple of lessons from a pro. He will get you heading in the right direction a lot sooner and will stop you adopting bad habbits.

I agree with those who say get a coach. As a beginner, it is the best time for you to learn from scratch. hard habits are really hard to break. We all have em, even the best in the world have em. 

They creep back in without you knowing. So its good to even go back to your coach every once in awhile for a refresher or video yourself during practice. 

I'm sure the temptation to get on the greens is irresistible. If you do play on course. Try changing your mindset. Take it as a practice round. Forget about scoring or outdriving your frens.  Swing at no more than 70-80% strength/tempo. For all clubs. including your woods. In fact, you should train like that at the range too. FORGET ABOUT DISTANCE!!! Lastly, SHORTGAME SHORTGAME SHORTGAME!!! must not neglect shortgame!!

Then when you get out on course.... just tell urself.. keep your head still... dun "chicken wing" and... DUN LOOK UP!!!  

Dun stand over the ball for too long... less negative swing thoughts... Keep it simple.. take a couple of practice swings.. and go! All the best!

Have a good one!!

abadan wrote:

Then when you get out on course.... just tell urself.. keep your head still... dun "chicken wing" and... DUN LOOK UP!!!  

No chicken wings??? before I putt for birdie...i heard chicken wings screaming at the back.....

If you only have one month and you are a total beginner, and you do not intend to get a coach, I would suggest that you practice the following:

1.  Half Backswing with full followthrough - short irons and wedges maybe even hybrids

2.  3/4 Backswing with full followthrough - all clubs (including driver) but still focus on short iron and wedges

3.  Find some way to learn a basic bunker shot

Remember, you are supposed to hit it shorter than with a "full" swing, so don't force the swing to try and get as much distance.  Just try to focus on getting decent to acceptable contact.

Hopefully what will happen:

a) You will have a better sense of what to do inside 60m
b) If you are duffing everything with a full swing, the 3/4 swing will probably have a better chance of advancing the ball and probably give you better distance and direction control, if 3/4 still does not work, go to a half swing ... 
c) not make so many swings inside a bunker it completely kills your mood for the day


Other things you can do on the course:

4.  Use your putter more and your lob wedge less (if at all) - learn to putt from off the green, maybe even 15-20 meters away.   Stay away from chipping with lofted wedges until you have learnt the proper technique

5.  Choose the club that you can hit, not the club you are "supposed" to hit - that will generally mean something like a 9iron or 8iron.  If you are repeatedly duffing your mid irons and long irons/hybrids/woods, then just stop using them for the day.

6.  Do NOT get angry - If you are already hitting bad shots, getting angry and using more force is not going to help the situation.  Duffing can easily turn into excavating and (depending how strong you are) can easily lead to broken shafts or worse, injuries.

7.  BALANCE with the slope - something basic that all of us forget from time to time (largely because driving ranges are all flat) and even more crucial when chipping or pitching.  Balancing your shoulders with the slope gives you a much better chance of hitting the ball properly. You want the club to swing along the slope of the ground and strike the ball, not dig directly into the soil.

8. For a complete beginner - Double Bogey is good, Bogey is Great and Par is Fantastic.  On a Par 4, you have 3 to 4 shots to get on the green, use them wisely and don't waste them on penalty shots going into the water or OB etc etc.

9. DO NOT make 327 practice swings before hitting each shot.  You are going to tire yourself out, your flightmates will hate playing with you, and honestly, does a good practice swing really translate to a good actual shot at this stage?  Chances are (as a total beginner) you will play better with less pressure and the best way to do that is loosen yourself up, look at where you want to hit the ball, then try to hit it there.  If it works, laugh and congratulate yourself! If you duff, laugh at yourself and try again, after all, you are a beginner right? 

10. DO NOT spend 5 minutes looking for every lost ball.  There is no quicker way to destroy internal tempo than searching for balls struck into the trees, then realising the flight behind and your flightmates are waiting, then rushing the shot, hitting it into the trees again ... etc etc.  Bring lots of extra balls, and if you think you can't find a ball, drop one on the fairway and hit it FIRST (assuming the front is clear), then go searching for your ball.  Of course, this goes against the rules, so if you are betting you will lose the hole.  But honestly, as a complete beginner, should you be betting in the first place?

Wow...327 practice swings, I'll definitely walk off without he/she....

Thanks all for your advice! I'm glad there are many seniors here who are so willing to share their knowledge!

I did the PC course many months back but only recently got more time to practise - its also extra motivation when I realise my flight mates are mid handicappers!!

Keeping your emotions in check and loosening up is really important - during my first game, my shots got more consistent after I downed a can of beer and stop fussing about how the body should turn etc lol

Definitely will work on my irons, and hopefully can work up to teeing off with a hybrid

On that note, is there any hybrid u guys would recommend? Something around a hundred (2nd hand or brand new) will be perfect...