Golf Tips - Good Gear and Sportsmanship

If you are just getting into the sport of golf, you have probably heard thousands of golf tips from well-meaning golfers. However, what many golfers fail to realize is that many of the golf tips that work well for one golfer, simply do not work well for another. Here are some golf tips that work well for everyone.

As a beginner, do not rush out and buy a set of high priced clubs. Buy a set of used clubs, or better yet rent your clubs. Take a little time to see if you really enjoy the game of golf, and if you will stick to it first. The used or rented clubs won’t be the top of the line, but they will get you through several games of golf to see if you are going to stick with it. This is also a good opportunity to start researching exactly what clubs you need when you are ready to buy a new set.

Golf is fun, but the sport should not be taken lightly. It is a sport – it isn’t just a bunch of retired men knocking a ball around. It takes a great deal of skill and technique to master the game. The pros you see on television make it look quite simple – but it isn’t. The concepts you will learn from more experienced golfers will sound easy – and look easy – in theory, but in practice, they are quite difficult. The sooner you realize this, the faster you will start to improve your game.

While golf does require skill and technique, it is still meant to be enjoyed and the experience should be relaxing. If you get angry over bad shots or you find that you are not enjoying the game, you should back up and re-evaluate your reasons for playing the game. Try to look at things from a new perspective. It is a game that tests your skill – but it should not test your patience!

Choose your golf aids carefully. A great deal of money can be wasted on aids, courses, and videos that turn out to not be any help at all. When possible, buy used aids, courses, and videos. Save your golfing money for more important things – like clubs, balls, and tees! Used clubs aren’t very good – used training equipment usually works quite well.

Golf is great exercise. Riding in a golf cart defeats that purpose though. Walk, don’t ride! Save the cart for the days when you really are too old to walk a short distance – take advantage of the exercise that you will get by walking from one tee to the next, and take the time to actually enjoy the walk!

Alcohol is often served at the clubhouse – but you should wait until you finish your round of golf before consuming any. First, the alcohol will greatly alter your game. Second, alcohol is a dehydrating substance, and this isn’t safe in the hot sun. Carry water with you during your game, and make sure you drink plenty of it!

Becoming good at the game takes a lot of practice. Use your practice sessions to learn what mistakes you are making, and work to correct them. Don’t just keep making the same mistakes over and over, thinking that it doesn’t matter, or that it is too hard to learn! If you’re going to play, play to win!

Use training aids, and if possible, video tape yourself playing a round of golf, making sure that you get close up shots of you teeing off, close up shots of the club hitting the ball on the tee-off, and even shots of you putting. Have a friend run the camera for you for best results, and review the tape in slow motion to see what needs the most work.

The most important golf tips you will ever receive are the ones that focus on good sportsmanship. Never make fun of other players. Some people do look funny playing golf – but those funny looking people can probably beat every aspect of your game, and they will have the last laugh. Be respectful of your fellow golfers, and listen closely to the advice of the seasoned players.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Trevor Mulholland

Golf Swing Instruction - Ask a Pro

Sometimes, no matter how much you practice, perfecting your swing or even correcting small problems in your swing seems impossible. In this case, you might require golf swing instruction from a pro…even if you have been playing for some time. Golf swing instruction will probably help you even more than you realize.
Golf pros are different from ordinary golfers. They have perfected their own game, and then they learned to study other people’s games to help them perfect their games. A golf pro knows that all golfers are different, and each one will have different needs to correct small problems. Pros are trained to help you correct those problems – in ways designed just for you.
Finding golf pros is easy – finding golf pros that are good is a little harder. Finding a golf pro that suits your particular needs can seem absolutely overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be. There are certain steps to take to find a good golf pro. Don’t just settle for the guy that works in your local pro shop.
First, ask your friends for recommendations. Find out where the pros are located, and if possible, watch them with their other students from a distance. How do they interact? Are they patient? Do they seem to know what they are doing, and what they are talking about? Visit your local pro shop, and ask about the pros that are available in the area. Don’t worry about insulting the pro running the shop – he probably no longer offers instruction anyway.
Most clubs have golf pros on staff. Follow the same protocol, and watch them from a distance, after the practice session that you watch, try to catch up with the golf student, and ask questions about the golf pros instructional skills, and ask specifically if they would recommend him. Ask them if there has been any improvement in their game since they started the lessons.
Ask for references – and check them. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch the pro in action on the course, ask to join a training session for observation purposes. Don’t be alarmed if the pro says no to this – it may simply be to protect the privacy of his or her clients. You might even offer to pay half of the hourly rate for the opportunity to watch them in action with another student.
Once you’ve started instruction with a golf pro, give it a few sessions to determine whether or not this is the right golf pro for you. Sometimes, people simply don’t get along well. It may be that this particular golf pro cannot convey the concept to you in a way that you understand. If it isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to stop working with that particular pro, and start your search for another one. The current pro may be able to make a recommendation if you just explain the situation to them in a nice way.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can perfect your golf swing in just one or two sessions with a golf pro – or even three or four, and maybe not even in ten sessions! Everyone learns at their own pace, and golf techniques take time to learn, and even more time to perfect. Also, really listen to what your golf pro is telling you. If you aren’t willing to listen, you are wasting your time, your money, and the pros time as well. Stay completely focused during your training sessions, and make sure that you put in the additional practice time that is recommended by your pro.
If you feel that you have been given quality golf swing instruction by your pro, don’t be afraid to tip them, or offer them a bonus. This is a common practice, and many pros depend on tips a great deal. Treat your pro with respect – they are not underlings. Failure to give proper respect to your pro may result in him or her walking off the job! Golf pros have a true love for the game – and if you demonstrate that same feeling for the game, you may find that you receive superior instruction!
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Trevor Mulholland