Golf Tips for Beginners: 5 Things Every Beginning Golfer Needs to Know

Are you looking for a sport that doesn’t demand too much exertion and is relaxing to play? If so, golf is the perfect sport for you. If you’re new to golf or are still planning on trying the sport, we’ve got the guide for you.

Below, we’ve got five useful golf tips for beginners. Keep reading to learn what skills and things you need to master first to get far in the game. Even for a casual player, these tips can help you enjoy the game more.

1. Do the Correct Swing Setup

Compared to other sports, golf takes on a more relaxed and slow-paced style of playing. It’s the perfect sport for older players who want to stay active in the best way they can. Other than improving physical health, golf can also put you in a better mental state. All these things give golf players a potential increase in life expectancy.

However, you can’t expect you’ll get a good golfing experience when you don’t have the right swing setup. On your first day of learning how to play golf, you likely got taught the correct way to set up your swing. Always go back to it, especially if you know you haven’t gotten it pinned down yet.

Here’s a quick refresher on how you set up your swing.

Stand with your feet hip-width apart with your knees and hips at a slight bend. When you lift the club, bring it to parallel to the ground first.

Keep bringing the club up at a 90-degree angle while you shift your weight to your dominant side. When you move your weight, fold your elbows and hinge the club straight up at a 90-degree angle. Here, your arms are the ones parallel to the ground and your shoulders are in an upward rotation.

Bring the club up some more until your non-dominant shoulder is under your chin and you feel a stretch. Your arms need to be at the 1 o’clock position at this point. Keep practicing this form until you get it right.

2. Practice Hitting the Ball Right

The next thing you need to master when you’re playing golf is the actual swing. Good form doesn’t only extend to how you set up your swing but also to the swing itself. Earlier we discussed the proper way of setting up your swing.

Now, let’s talk about how your swing must look like.

From your swing setup position, shift your weight to the other side as you bring the club down. The side that faces the target must straighten when you make contact with the ball. Often, this is the non-dominant side.

Follow through the swing, even after the club makes contact with the ball. Keep your arms swinging and extended until they’re almost parallel to the ground. Your arms will move inside and back to your body also since you twist your hips in the swing.

Keep practicing your setup and swing techniques well, and you’ll find it easier to improve in the game. Use the link to find a course where you can practice these techniques. Use the filter to find a golf course that suits your needs.

3. Use the Correct Golfing Equipment

Another useful tip for playing golf for beginners is to get the equipment you need. This means finding golf essentials, like clubs, tees, and balls. On the topic of clubs, you don’t need to fill your bag with 14 clubs.

When you’re beginning, you’ll only need the following in your bag:

  • Driver
  • Putter
  • Sand wedge
  • 6-iron
  • 8-iron
  • Pitching wedge
  • Hybrid

With that said, try to invest in a good bag and golf gloves. A sturdy and weatherproof bag can help keep your equipment safe and in order. Golf gloves will help you avoid blisters when you’re starting.

4. When in Doubt, Remember Your Basics

As a popular recreational sport, golf has millions of players all around the country. In 2018, 33.5 million people in the US participated or played in golf games. Also, even as an individual participation sport, golf can expand your social circle.

This is good news because new players like you are always entering and progressing in the sport. This also means you can find other players out there who can teach new golf tips and techniques. You may even find someone willing to mentor you.

However, learning a new sport can become too overwhelming or confusing. Whenever you feel this way, always fall back to the basics. Go back to the first and simplest thing you learned in golf.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small and Make Your Way Up From There

For the final entry in these golf tips for beginners, try to start small. You don’t need to play a game with an 18-hole course right away. Like in other sports, you start playing in bite-sized courses first.

Starting on a par three or “executive” course is a good idea. A par three course has holes that are less than 200 yards. In an executive course, you get several par three holes with shorter par fours and fives.

Go on a beginner’s course first. Remember that a good beginner course is flat, short, and doesn’t have many hazards. They’re great for improving your game as a beginner, which is good for building positive momentum.

Another way to build up your endurance for playing 18 holes is to play three holes here and there. Play three holes of a nine-hole course during late afternoons. For most courses, the rates are lower, and it’ll be less crowded.

Play golf until you start feeling frustrated. Stop playing once you feel it and go home for the day. If you find it hard to play the usual distance, move up to courses with shorter distances.

It’ll save you time and frustration. Plus, you’ll be saving up on golf balls. As a tip, try to keep your pace up to seven strokes per hole to keep up your pace.

Master These Five Beginner Tips

That ends our guide on the top five golf tips for beginners to master.

We hope this article helped you realize what you’re lacking in your beginner golf game. Don’t hesitate to read more if you want to learn how to golf like a professional. Now, you can go back to the field and prepare yourself for advanced golf lessons.

Did you enjoy reading this guide on how to golf for beginners? Do you want to see more content from which you’ll learn about golf? If you do, check out our other guides now.

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