It is a beginner’s guide to golf. How to play, where to go, the basics of the golf swing, what equipment you need, and, most importantly, how to have fun and get better.
Before we get into swinging and equipment, we’ll begin with the best ways to learn the game.
Each section contains links to additional articles. I hope you find this guide useful and helpful. To jump to a deeper team, use the menu.
Playing and practicing golf.
You can learn how to play golf in three places:
- Driving ranges
- 9-hole pitch & putt course
- 18-hole courses
The best way to learn golf
The top two places are the best to learn the game.
You can often hire equipment at driving ranges, so you can go to the content, grab 50 or 100 balls, and hit it. It is a good idea to practice on the range before you head out to the course. It helps if the ball hits the ground consistently.
If you’re interested in learning more, here is a quick guide to help you master the range.
After you have mastered the course, look at a 9-hole pitch and putt or short circuit. These are a great way to continue your learning of golf. The shorter holes relieve the pressure from being able to hit the ball 300 yards and let you learn how to chip and putt.
After you have completed the above steps, consider going on to an 18-hole course. You don’t have to keep scorecards. The best way to approach your first 18-hole round on a system is to take it as a learning experience. Have a shot, get your ball back, and then move on to the next hole.
It can take the pressure off of hitting great shots and keep you and your friends playing at an acceptable pace. Be encouraged if other golfers are following you. Ask them if they want to play through on that hole or the next. It allows you to relax and enjoy your time at the course.
Learn how to play and score golf
Golf is about getting the ball into the hole as quickly and efficiently as possible. When starting golf, beginners usually fall into one of two categories:
- Let me take a swing at the course.
- I will stay at the range until my swing is perfect, then move on to the fairway.
Blending these methods is the best way to improve your game. Spending time on the range can help you feel more confident with your swing and allow you to make consistent contact with the ball.
Don’t let anyone fool you into believing that hitting the ball on the range ideally will make your game great. While range time is helpful, there are better ways to play a 9-hole short course.
You’ll find your ball suddenly in 6-inch deep grass on the course. A tree will block your backswing. It will be when you realize that golf is more than just swinging well.
You can also learn how to plan where you want to hit your shots and control the distance. These course management skills are crucial to your success.
Learn the basics of swing
The mechanics of golf swing can be very complex when you get into the theory. But the game is simple. The goal is to:
- Keep the ball in the air.
- Move the ball in the right direction.
- You can control how far you want it to go.
For beginners, golf lessons.
Find a local pro to help you improve your game of golf.
Although there is a lot of great information on the internet, having personal coaching will allow a pro to help you see what you are doing. It will accelerate your progress. Group lessons for beginners are a great way of meeting fellow golfers and making new friends.
We’ll be covering the basics of golf swinging. This link will provide a detailed guide on how you swing golf clubs.
Basics of the golf swing
The golf swing is a series of events. How you set up to hit the golf ball is one of the most critical aspects. It is where 90% of beginners make mistakes. It is much easier to hit a golf ball with the proper setup.
Three simple steps can be followed to master the G-A-P principle.
- Grip
- Aim
- Posture
These three basics will help you to make incredible golf shots if you master them.
Golf grip
Your golf grip is the only thing that connects you with the golf club. This link will take you to a detailed article about the proper grip. For a quick overview, see the images below.
Place your left hand on this club, as shown below.
Aiming
Beginner golfers are often concerned about the aim but are quite good at it. Golf is no exception. We are naturally good at aiming for targets.
It is an excellent visual guide to visualize yourself standing on a train track. Your clubhead and golf ball should be on the righthand way. They should point towards your target. Your feet and shoulders should be parallel to the target line.
Why did your shot go 40 yards left / right when you were trying straight? Either:
- The club face was hit in the middle. It doesn’t matter where you aim if you hit the edge.
- At impact, your club face pointed in the direction of effects. If you meet point 1, your club face is pointing in the same direction as impact. It will dictate 80% of your golf shot’s path.
You can still need help with the first point. Proper posture is essential. Double-check your grip if you think the problem is with the second.
Posture
Posture is the last thing you need to master golf swing basics. Great posture is essential for a great golf swing. It allows you to stay balanced and will enable you to hit the ball with minimal effort.
This video will show you how to put yourself in an excellent position for your golf swing.
Additional beginner golf tips to help you hit the golf ball.
These are some more tips to help you build a great swing.
#1: Golf tips for beginners
Focus on your great strike and smooth swinging. My experience shows that only 1/20 of shots of beginners are genuinely off the center line. They are often stunned by the distance the ball travels when they do. Keep your tempo positive and smooth, and aim to get in the middle of the field. Length is acceptable if you find the sweet spot (the club’s center).
#2: Golf tips for beginners
Your iron shots should be. Many beginner golfers need to correct this mistake. They try to lift all their shots higher, which is a huge mistake. Wedges and irons are designed to strike the golf ball down, so the loft can lift them into the air.
#3: Golf tips for beginners
Balance your finish. You can hold your end until the ball hits the ground. You are more likely to hit the ball from the center of your club if you are balanced by impact.
A balanced finish is the best way to learn how to play golf.
Learning to pitch and chip in a short game
To control how far your shots travel, you will need to swing less as you get closer to green. You can chip the ball within 15 yards of the green.
Chipping is a short back-and-forth swing aiming to get the grass under the ball. This action, like longer iron shots, allows the loft to do all the work and propel the ball into the air.
Pitching
Pitching can be any activity that requires a more enormous swing than a chip, but not a full-golf swing. Although there isn’t a clear starting point for pitching, generally speaking, a shot would be considered a pitch rather than a chip if the ball travels more than 20 yards through the air.
Learn to putt
Although putting is an easy skill, many beginners need help with it. You need to do three things to be a great putter:
- Learn how the slope affects the route your ball takes to the hole
- Place the ball at your preferred line
- You can start the putt at your preferred pace
This article explains how to read greens. This article also covers putting stroke mechanics. But if you want to be a great putter, I urge you to read this article to master the putting grip.
For beginners, golf equipment
This section will address the most frequently asked questions about beginner golf equipment. Golf has a limit of 14 clubs. The clubs become longer and loftier as the ball travels further.
You can make the same swing with each club, but the ball will travel farther or shorter depending on your chosen club. It happens when the ball hits the center of the club. However, it takes practice, so start with beginner golfers.
What are the benefits of joining a club for beginners?
Driver
You hit longer holes with your driver because he is a large, low-lofted club. It’s best to hit a driver from a tee only if you are Tiger Woods. The ball should be teed high off the ground so you can make an upward swing and send the ball high into the air.
Drivers are known for hitting the long ball distances and being patient with you if they miss.
Men’s drivers usually have a 9o-13o loft, and women 12o-15o. For beginners, I recommend men with 10.5o to 12o loft and women with 12-14o loft. Drivers with lofts below 10.5o are less likely to hit the target and may be more challenging to beat.
Which is the best driver to use for beginners?
This article will provide more information about the best driver for beginners.
Fairway woods and hybrids
These clubs can be beneficial for beginners. These clubs help hit the ball far off the ground, usually on the 2nd and 3rd shots of par 4’s or par 5’s. You can also use them off the tee to hit your driver.
What’s the difference between hybrids and fairway woods?
Although fairway woods are slightly longer than hybrids and have larger club heads, they do the same job.
The loft of each club is the most crucial detail. You will only need one or two fairway woods and hybrids for beginners. I recommend two clubs for a perfect beginner set: one at 15-16 degrees and the other between 19-24 degrees.
Irons and wedges
To hit shots toward the green, your irons will be used. Your driver can’t beat them as far, but they have greater control. They can be numbered from 3-iron to 9-iron. The wedges are made up of a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and sometimes an additional one.
When is it appropriate to use a putter
A putter is a flat-faced tool that rolls the ball into the hole when you are close or on the green.
Putters are often mistaken for having no loft. However, they have between 2 and 6o of loft to lift the ball above the grass and get it rolling. A putter with little engineering or design can be cheaper for beginners. It results in a putter with a limited feel and ability to move the golf ball onto the greens.
Consider purchasing a cheaper set if you want a new putter.
What’s the difference between senior, women’s, and men’s golf clubs?
The shafts of women’s clubs are 1/2 inch shorter. These clubs are great for both junior golfers and seniors, but they also suit most women.
Why are beginners required to join clubs?
You don’t need to, as you can pick up any club you like. There are two benefits to buying a complete beginner set.
First, beginner sets of golf clubs include all the necessary clubs and often come with a bag. It can be expensive to buy the putter, irons, and wood separately.
Second, beginners should be bold in buying sets. You can find many forgiveness irons and forgiving drivers. However, there are also more challenging clubs.
It would be best if you stuck to the beginner sets to ensure that you have the right gear and make the game more enjoyable.
What kind of golf clubs do you need?
A 7-iron and a putter are sufficient for your first 9-hole game of pitch and putt. You will need a driver and 5 to 6 irons, and a putter when you start playing on a longer course.
These are the most common beginner sets. Some sets offer other fairway woods or wedges, such as the Callaway Strata.
My top tip? Buy fewer high-quality clubs. Avoid the $199 sets that include 14 clubs, a bag, and everything you need. These are often of poor quality. You can find beginner sets for less than $199, but only 9 or 4 irons.
For beginners, golf balls
All golf balls must be straight. A golf ball that travels longer when hitting with a driver but spins faster when struck with a shorter iron or wedge is the most expensive. It is possible because golf ball manufacturers create golf balls with multiple layers. It is this design that makes some golf balls more costly than others.
Some golf balls may be slightly farther off the tee, while others feel softer and will spin better with chip shots. Instead of worrying about how much you can put on the ball, choose a ball that suits your game. You can find our best beginner’s golf ball guide right here.
Golf bags
There are three types of golf bags you can choose from:
- A cart/trolley bag
- A bag for carrying
- A Sunday / mini bag
A cart bag is best for those who use a golf buggy or trolley to play. A carry bag, which has a popout stand and can be carried around, will work well. What is the main difference between cart bags and stand bags? The softness of the bag casing.
The solid structure of cart bags prevents them from sliding onto a cart or trolley, making them difficult to carry. Although lightweight and easy to carry, stand bags can slip off a coach or turn and fall off.
You can find hybrid bags, such as the Sun Mountain bag, below. But it would be best to choose a bag that is 70% of what you intend to do.
Golf shoes
You’ll feel fine wearing trainers when you first go to the pitch and putt course or golf range. But if you plan to play full-length golf courses, you will likely need to wear golf shoes.
The soles of golf shoes have tiny spikes that give you excellent grip and prevent you from slipping. The soles can bend and twist to allow your feet to contact the ground while you swing back and forth.
There are two options: spiked or unspiked golf shoes. However, spiked shoes perform better on wet and soft surfaces. Please refer to this article for more information on the best golf shoes.
How to play golf – What’s next?
I hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any questions, please leave them below. I will get back to you and update the article. I would love to make this guide as helpful as possible.
Next, contact a local 9-hole golf course or range and let them know. You can hire some clubs so you can have a go.
Local pros offering beginner group lessons are a great way to learn the game, have fun, and meet other beginner golfers. You can also take individual lessons with a pro to improve your game. These will be more expensive but will help you get better faster.
