Introduction: The Sport You Can Play Till You Die...
Golf is a game that was created back in the 1400's not in America but across the sea in Scotland. Today golf is played worldwide from the professional level to those who are novice golfers. It is a sport everybody can enjoy.
Items that are needed:
You
Golf Clubs
Golf Balls
Patience
Items that are needed:
You
Golf Clubs
Golf Balls
Patience
Step 1: Become Familiar With the Rules and Terminology
In the game of golf there are many rules needed to be known in order to play the game correctly. A rule book in this case would be a great reading to get you informed about all the rules and they usually contain golf terminology. Some golf terminology you might need to know are listed below:
Par is the number of strokes it would take a first class golfer to complete a hole.
Par 3's - Are the shorter holes on a golf course.
Par 4's - The par 4's are the ones between the distances of a par 3 and a par 5. Some happen to be shorter then others.
Par 5's - These are the longest holes on the golf course.
Handicap - Is the difficulty of the golf course, the lower the number the harder the hole will be to play. The toughest hole will be rated with a 1 and the easiest would be rated as either a 9 or an 18 depending if you are playing a nine or eighteen hole course.
Also while out on the course there needs to be etiquette while others are in their swing. Suppose to be as quiet as possible and not be moving.
Par is the number of strokes it would take a first class golfer to complete a hole.
Par 3's - Are the shorter holes on a golf course.
Par 4's - The par 4's are the ones between the distances of a par 3 and a par 5. Some happen to be shorter then others.
Par 5's - These are the longest holes on the golf course.
Handicap - Is the difficulty of the golf course, the lower the number the harder the hole will be to play. The toughest hole will be rated with a 1 and the easiest would be rated as either a 9 or an 18 depending if you are playing a nine or eighteen hole course.
Also while out on the course there needs to be etiquette while others are in their swing. Suppose to be as quiet as possible and not be moving.
Step 2: Equipment
Purchase a set of golf clubs that are fit you personally. A golf representative would measure from your wrist down to the floor and would say you need a standard set of golf clubs. Even though some people in the world are over six feet two inches the taller people have longer arms, so their clubs wouldn't be that different than the average person who is five feet nine inches.
Know that you should have a driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges, and a putter. In tournaments you can only have fourteen clubs in your bag.
Know that you should have a driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges, and a putter. In tournaments you can only have fourteen clubs in your bag.
Step 3: Develop a Grip
As someone new to the game of golf there are three different grips you can try out and see whats best for your technique. Your non-dominate hand will be the one thats closest to your body and the end of the golf grip. To begin place club in your non-dominate hands and close fingers on grip. This is where the following styles vary:
Ten Finger: Non-dominate hand and dominate hand are right by each other. This technique does not give as much accuracy as the other two.
Interlock: This is fairly similar to the ten finger technique but instead of the hands being by each other they are going to interlock. You will take the pinkie finger of your dominate hand and place it under your index finger of your non dominate hand. Both this technique will have more control on the shots.
Vardon Overlap: Is the opposite of the interlock technique. The vardon overlap has your dominate pinkie overlapping the non dominate index and middle finger.
Use the technique you feel most comfortable with.
Ten Finger: Non-dominate hand and dominate hand are right by each other. This technique does not give as much accuracy as the other two.
Interlock: This is fairly similar to the ten finger technique but instead of the hands being by each other they are going to interlock. You will take the pinkie finger of your dominate hand and place it under your index finger of your non dominate hand. Both this technique will have more control on the shots.
Vardon Overlap: Is the opposite of the interlock technique. The vardon overlap has your dominate pinkie overlapping the non dominate index and middle finger.
Use the technique you feel most comfortable with.
Step 4: Allignment Is KEY
To get aligned right you should be parallel to your target. Feet should be shoulder with appart and have a good base. Shoulders need to be parallel to the target. The line from your ball to the target should be parallel to your feet. A good way to practice your alignment is by placing two clubs parallel on the ground. One between you and the ball and the other on the other side of the ball.
The ball should be even with your front foot heel while using a driver, while it should be back in your stance when using your irons, and wedges.
The ball should be even with your front foot heel while using a driver, while it should be back in your stance when using your irons, and wedges.
Step 5: Posture Is Needed
This photo shows the different postures and which is the best.
First you will need to bend from your hips until the club is resting on the ground. In your knees there should be some flexion at the addressing of the ball. Should bend from the waist not your upper body like the middle image shows. You do not want your back to be in a curved shape. You want it more perpendicular to the ground like the first image.
First you will need to bend from your hips until the club is resting on the ground. In your knees there should be some flexion at the addressing of the ball. Should bend from the waist not your upper body like the middle image shows. You do not want your back to be in a curved shape. You want it more perpendicular to the ground like the first image.
Step 6: Addressing Position
With a driver you want the ball to be positioned approximately off your front foot. The ball should be forward in your stance.
With woods long iron like 3-7 you want to be positioned slightly behind that of where you would hit from with a driver. It should be still forward in your stance. Weight should be approximately 40% forward and 60% back.
With a short iron that would go higher and a shorter distance you want it back more in your stance. Weight should be distributed 50% on both feet.
With woods long iron like 3-7 you want to be positioned slightly behind that of where you would hit from with a driver. It should be still forward in your stance. Weight should be approximately 40% forward and 60% back.
With a short iron that would go higher and a shorter distance you want it back more in your stance. Weight should be distributed 50% on both feet.
Step 7: Backswing
The backswing consist of the takeaway from your starting position and the actual backswing. This phase of the swing is where the club goes to the point just before it starts going in the downward direction. When you do the backswing motion a good rotation of your hands and the forearm are key so the your clubface stays to its path. Want to start your backswing slowly.
Step 8: Transition
The transition phase is when you are at the top of your swing. It is when your club is above your head and before your downswing. This portion of the swing can make or break the shot. At this point the club won't move that much.
Step 9: Downswing to Follow Through
The takeaway was the key to the backswing that's comparable to the transition of the downswing. The downswing is the segment up until the club almost makes contact. The downswing should be powerful unlike the backswing where it is a slower motion. This portion of the swing is a faster motion.
At the moment the club makes contact with the golf ball is called the hitting zone. If your swing is off it could affect the direction the ball goes, the following are the ways a swing could affect the direction of the ball:
Inside-to-out, outside-to-inside, and inside-to-square-to-inside
The one that would maximize your distance would be the inside-to-square-to-inside swing path.
Follow through is not something you can take light in the golf swing. Address the follow through as it is affecting the shot even though the ball doesn't come in contact with the ball during this phase.
At the moment the club makes contact with the golf ball is called the hitting zone. If your swing is off it could affect the direction the ball goes, the following are the ways a swing could affect the direction of the ball:
Inside-to-out, outside-to-inside, and inside-to-square-to-inside
The one that would maximize your distance would be the inside-to-square-to-inside swing path.
Follow through is not something you can take light in the golf swing. Address the follow through as it is affecting the shot even though the ball doesn't come in contact with the ball during this phase.
Step 10: Putting
Putting is slightly different than the other shots you will encounter during your rounds of golf. First grip the putter by putting both hands on the grip of the putter. Your non-dominate hand will be the top hand and dominate will be the lower hand.
Place thumbs of non-dominate have pointing down on the grip. Wrap dominate hand around thumb and let other fingers be covered by the forefingers of your non-dominate hand. Point your forefinger of your dominate hand down the grip of the club.
Place thumbs of non-dominate have pointing down on the grip. Wrap dominate hand around thumb and let other fingers be covered by the forefingers of your non-dominate hand. Point your forefinger of your dominate hand down the grip of the club.
Step 11: Hit the Course
Now it's time for you to take this information to the golf course... It will be peaceful out there on the golf course.