Basic Fundamentals of Golf

By Marc Tangier


Golf is one game that you can both love and hate at the same time. Once you've managed to master the game it will become a lot more fun but the day-to-day grind of learning the game can seem slow going. Don't give up though; make these changes in the way you play your game instead.

At an earlier time in your life, one of your associates took you out for a game of golf and once you hit a few swings you figured that you wanted to learn how to play the game much better. However, before you rush out and purchase everything that you see, to become an actual golfer, you must learn a little about the game first.

Whether you are a complete beginner, or have been playing a while but can't seem to improve, you should consider getting lessons. This is because a pro will know exactly which parts of your game need to be improved. This is because he or she will analyze your game objectively. Also, a pro can bring to your attention any bad habits that you are doing. He can help you to fix them. However, be certain that you are upfront with him about any problems, your ultimate goals and any shots that you are struggling with. Also, you must make sure that your instructor is clear about how you like to be taught things. Do you like to see it first and then copy it? Or, do you just want it explained to you? It does not matter which one you prefer. Just be certain that you instructor knows your preference so that you will not waste any time.

The first step to developing a better golf game is to ensure that you have the proper equipment. This is not suggesting that you should get the highest priced equipment on the market. In fact, if you are a beginner you should get the cheapest clubs you can find. These should be preferably from a garage sale, until you can figure out which clubs are best suited to your style of play. For example, if you need lighter clubs that are easier to swing, you should buy clubs that have graphite shafts. But you should be aware of the fact that the least expensive are steel shaft clubs. The only way to select the right set of clubs is to test them, even if this means trying out your friends golf clubs while you are out golfing. Once you have located the right set of clubs, you can purchase a set of customized golf clubs.

The least difficult way to improve your golf game is to contract a professional instructor. Since you are dishing out good money for his time, you should really use your instructor to your advantage. This means that you have to get rid of your shyness and speak your mind. If something does not make sense to you, then advise the instructor. You should not be afraid to discuss your goals and talk about your problems. Also, try to be composed. This is because if you are jumpy, you will swing to quickly and you will not be able to pay attention. You have to focus on the game and on the instructor, or you are wasting valuable time without learning anything.

As you can now see, if you don't know what each golf club does, you will never have a good game of golf. If you don't know that an 8 iron won't send your ball further than 130 yards and use it for a 200-yard shot, then you are going to be frustrated when you can't get the ball to go as far as you want.

The saying that practice makes perfect is appropriate for golf as well as many other things in life. The more time you invest in practicing golf the better you can expect your game to be. However, if you've never taken lessons, you might want to book at least one session with a professional, who can analyze your game and tell you whether you have any bad habits that you need to correct. In the end, without the assistance of a golf pro you could spend hours practicing and perfecting bad habits. Don't focus too much on a better score but on finding ways to enjoy the game even more instead. It's important not to put so much pressure on yourself that you end up hating the game because you're not living up to your expectations. The professional golfers you see on television are only as good as they are because they've spent so many years practicing golf for several hours every day.

Plenty of golfers place their feet to the right of the target and ultimately swing too far to the left. The best way to align yourself is to have your toes parallel to the mark, with the club head pointing in the direction you want the ball to go. Also, if you want to get a great distance swing, then you need to get power. Although force is very vital for getting enough power, your swing also has an important role in getting this. The plan for getting the most advantageous amount of power is to turn so that your left shoulder is over your right foot on the backswing.

Whether you make the decision to learn these on your own or get the help of a pro, these tips can help you in the long run. Don't forget that your game will perk up when you are better relaxed. So, do not get all worked up about little things. After all, you are playing the game for fun!

As you can tell, there are some important aspects that can help you improve your golf game, but they don't have anything to do with playing the game itself. However, without a strong foundation to build upon your skills, you will not have a good chance to improve your game. So, learn how to do the basics of the game and you will be on the right path to making the completion very envious.




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