What are some golf tips that are absolutely essential to know when learning to golf?

1. caddyshack says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   Everyone’s swing is different, and therefore the same advice is not always the best. Here’s a few tips though…

   1. Get lessons from a certified PGA instructor. If you don’t know where one is you can find one here: http://www.pga.com/profinder/

   2. Read some classic books. These books are simple, easy to understand, and classic. These include Harvey Penick’s "Little Red Book", Jack Nicklaus’ "Golf My Way", and most famously Ben Hogans’ "Five Fundamentals"

   3. This is probably the most important. Don’t take advice from everyone you play with! Most people get in trouble because they listen to everyone that looks at their swing. In general golfers advice is flawed because of two reasons. 1. They tend to draw from their own experiences. This means that if a certain drill or thought helped them cure a slice for example, they assume that same thought works for you too, even though the reason you are slicing might be a completely different reason. and 2. They don’t have a full grasp of the cause and effect of the golf swing. This is what PGA instructors are trained to understand. The golf swing has many parts, all connected and any one part can effect any other part. Each bad shot has 10+ different causes and only a trained eye or video can identify which cause and what solution will best fit.

   4. Avoid many of the cliche pieces of advice. This includes "keep your head down", "keep your eye on the ball", "left arm straight", "turn your shoulders", "start with the hips", etc. While in the right context these pieces can be helpful, more often than not they are detrimental and complicate a beginners swing.

   Hope this helps, and good luck!
2. dvz says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   This is a loaded question. It all depends on what you are having problems with. In my opinion, for most beginners are back swing (Take away), swaying off the ball. However, my best tip would be, to go get some lessons. Your will be amazed at what couple of lessons can do. Good Luck.
3. reporter says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   go to the range for a few hours a week.

   get a golf book by Slammin’ Sammy Sneed.

   this is all you need.
4. Jeff M says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   Agreed with others that a few lessons, especially as you’re just getting started, will get you on the right track and safe you lots of time/frustration in correcting mistakes later on.

   That said, there are a few fundamental rules you should keep in mind as you get started:

   * Don’t swing too hard – a lot of new golfers try to kill the ball and end up over-swinging. If you work on the proper swing and let the club do the work, you’ll be surprised how much power you can get.

   * Lead with your hips – if you’ve played other sports, especially baseball or hockey, before picking up golf, you may find the dynamics of the swing pretty strange. You need to start your downswing with your lower body instead of starting with your hands or shoulders.

   * Drive for show, putt for dough – everyone likes hitting long off the tee: looks impressive, feels even better. But you should spend more time practicing putting and your short game than anything else. Think about it – you’ll use your driver maybe 12 or 14 times a round, but you’ll be chipping & putting on every hole.

   * Golf is a gentleman’s game – etiquette is very important on the course. Make sure you know the rules and follow them to ensure a smooth round.
5. harley03 says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   grip
   balance
   posture
   back swing
   follow thru, these are the basics of the swing,if you work on these thru practice you will get better, but knowing the proper form for these is key, what good is it to practice something you are doing thats wrong?
   you just ingrain bad habits into youre swing. i suggest taking lesson
   from a pga pro on the fundemantels of the swing,then practice and i promise you will get better.
6. Nogood says:

   April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am

   You’re not learning golf because you’re not a beginner. You have bad habits and move from tip to tip like a frog leaping from pad to pad in a pond. The problem with golf is the word "Theory". That being said: You have to draw a line in the sand. You must make a decision as to which way you want to go. The best amateurs and the professionals have found a way to get into the slot but for 98% of the golfing public the slot is lost because they don’t know where it is and no tip will put you in its direction.

   There are choices. There are two basic swing styles. Inside out and outside in. There are only two but both are complicated by body movement and wrist break. All one needs to do is watch the golf ball hitting machine called Iron Byron. There is no wrist break or body dancing. Iron Byron is the perfection of holding the wrists in a locked position and swing the arms around an anchored body then down and through the impact area. Swing inside out is the best swing method but most swing inside out even though they think they’re doing the opposite. You can tell inside out by looking at the right elbow on the backswing. When it’s tucked into the body at the top of the backswing then that’s Inside out. Once the right arm raises into the air it becomes outside in. Inside out is a circle where outside in is a lift.

   There are no tips for you because you’re not a beginner. You have to make a decision to study your body, how it moves and works. There is only one man who devised a golf swing that everyone can play assuming one is in average condition. He was around before Byron Nelson. His name is Joe Norwood. He’s been gone for 20 years but he taught golf for 80 years. Imagine teaching for 80 years. Who has taught for more than 80 years. The information to find out about his swing is below. Joe Norwood did not tell you what to do he taught you how to do it. Come on over and give it a try. His swing is alive and well. It truly is One Swing For All.