why am i such a wretched golfer?
480229
You should go to www.playgolfamerica.com and take a class called Link Up 2 Golf or at least take the free golf lesson in May with one of you local PGA Pros's\n\nYou can also go to www.pga.com improve your game section and find some great tips.
369227
'We should complain' - that is all I ever hear from lady golfers.  Complaining about being held up by male golfers - even though the ladies play only half the course!!!!!!
321759
I used to be a very long hitter (with drivers) and not very good at iron shots. I spent a good amount of time in the driving range practicing on iron shots, that I can hit quality shorts from every iron (including 1 and 2 irons), but then I can't hit any of the woods anymore. There were five years long that I can't hit a solid driver shots until recently, my ex boss pointed out that I teed up too low (driver these day are 460 cc), and another friend pointed out that I position my tee too far back in the stand.\n\nI suddendly realise the important of ball positioning, and words like drivers are hit on the way up whilst irons are hit on the way down. I reposition my ball, tee up much higher, and now I have a very quality driver shots without sacrificing my iron shots.\n\nThe important is the swing is the same. If you could hit good iron shots (assuming your swing are OK), I suggest you try moving the ball forward in your stand as much as possible and try hit many short for a test in the range, and don't forget to tee up high for drivers.
34628
If your ball starts on target (i.e., where you are aiming) and then curves, the curve is likely due to the club-head not traveling in a straight line when it is striking the ball.  The simplest drill that I know to fix this is to get a long foam tube (like you use to bash your sister with at the beach) and place it about 2" outside of your ball and pointed at your target.  Then try to hit the golf ball without hitting the tube (tip: it will be really, really hard to do!)\n\nIf, however, your ball starts to the right of your target and then curves farther right, then you are hitting the ball with an open face.  This type of error is somewhat more easy to fix . . . usually by using a "stronger" grip (i.e., rolling the hands a little bit to the right on the grip).\n\nDisclaimer: I'm no golf teacher . . . just a guy who's been playing for about 38 years . . . $100 spent on 3 or 4 lessons would probably pay a much bigger benefit than any tip you will get here.\n\nGood luck!
826455
I think you have an excellent set of clubs. It seems you made the right choices putting them togeather.\n\nHowever it doesnt matter what any one else things , it only matters what you think and I believe you feel very good about the set.\n\nYour freshman golf team is going to get a great new addition, just relax and play your own game when trying out.\n\nGood luck and see you on the PGA tour in about 10 years.\n\nLeon
265457
Golf Proverbs\n1. If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age. \n\n2. The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% mental. \n\n3. Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three. \n\n4. When you look up and cause an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again. \n\n5. Any change works for a maximum of three holes and a minimum of not at all. \n\n6. No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse. \n\n7. Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing. \n\n8. When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls. \n\n9. If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up, or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there. \n\n10. The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing. \n\n11. The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all your errors. \n\n12. If it ain't broke, try changing your grip. \n\n13. Golfers who claim they don't cheat, also lie. \n\n14. Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot. \n\n15. A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponent's luck. \n\n16. It's surprisingly easy to hole a 50-foot putt when you lie 10. \n\n17. Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut. \n\n18. Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts. \n\n19. It's not a gimme if you're still away. \n\n20. The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree. \n\n21. There are two kinds of bounces: unfair bounces, and bounces just the way you meant to play it. \n\n22. You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time, and a 2-inch branch 90% of the time. \n\n23. Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe. \n\n24. If you want to hit a 7-iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard. \n\n25. To calculate the speed of a player's downswing, multiply the speed of his backswing by his handicap. Example: backswing 20 mph, handicap 15, downswing 600mph. \n\n26. There are two things you can learn by stopping your backswing at the top and checking the position of your hands: how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove. \n\n27. Hazards attract; fairways repel. \n\n28. You can put "draw" on the ball, you can put "fade" on the ball, but no golfer can put "straight" on the ball. \n\n29. A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours. \n\n30. If there is a ball in the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is in the bunker. \n\n31. If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint. \n\n32. Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.
501527
You need to find equilibrium between the practice range and the golf course.  Too much of one without the other has consequences.  When you practice at the range you can relax and work on improving the mechanics of your swing without feeling the added pressure of having to "score well". Besides, practicing your swing (especially the short game!) and improving your skills will make playing for REAL on the golf course a MUCH more pleasurable experience.  Golf is a lot more fun when you don't have to be looking for your ball all the time!
1008955
Practice putting like a mad man... I'm talking several times a week for a couple of hours at a time.  If you can one put or two put everything then becoming a single golfer should be easy.\n\nShort game is important too, but that takes more practice time.  I think you'll see fastest results from developing solid putting skills.
489712
You may want to go to www.playgolfamerica.com and sign up for a free golf lesson from a local PGA pro \n\n\nhitting down on the ball is good with all clubs in your bag except your driver.\nhttp://www.pga.com/improve/tips/swing/improve_rihm040704.cfm
1086219
Many people have told you to work on your ability to walk.  (Actually 7,000 yards is close to 4 miles).\n\nI agree that you need to be in cardovacular shape to do that part.\n\nWhat is often not realized by beginning players is the amount of strength you need to play golf.  Particullarly abs, glutes, shoulders and lower back.  Do weigth training to do build these muscles, without losing you flexability.  To do this, high reps with low weights.  You are going to have 72 explosive motions over 4-5 hours.  (Okay I usuually have closer to 90 explosive motions.)\n\nTalk to your coach amount specifics.
563505
Here are some links that may help you.  You can find more of the in the improve your game section www.pga.com \n\nFree up your mind to play better and enjoy it more.\nhttp://www.pga.com/improve/tips/general/improve_livingston062204.cfm\nif you use good judgement.\nhttp://www.pga.com/improve/tips/general/improve_keith061504.cfm\nexplains how you can get into the 'zone' with the greatest of ease ... or how to get out of your own way.\n\nhttp://www.pga.com/improve/features/mentalgame/improve_heartmath120505.cfm\n\nonce described the feeling that would at times come over him \nhttp://www.pga.com/improve/features/mentalgame/improve_bondaruk042506.cfm
992323
I think both of those statements are false.  We can be thankful for anyone who helps support the golf courses.  They golf coures need as many players as they can get, a lot of golf course are fixing to go under.  Why would you care?  Just worry about your own game and what clubs you play
250951
Yea, by pure luck! I'm not a golfer and couldn't tell you what club. I do use the Happy Gilmore swing. People laugh at me but that's how I got my hole in one! Good luck!
481964
Do you know how stupid that sounds?\n\nGoing to play golf with a bunch of people just because they are single? Go somewhere like a night club.\n\nGo play golf with peole who are keen on the sport. No wonder you are single, you getting involved in stuff for the wrong reasons.
760727
More then likely you are simply hitting the ball with an open clubface.\n\nNow there are several other reasons for this but you indicate that you are hitting straight right and not slicing. One of the reasons are a poor weight shift, meaning your body is getting to far ahead of your arms causing a push to the right.\n\nA quick fix would be to assure not to lean or sway back in the backswing, make a turn as if you were standing in a barrell.\n\nLeon
37059
That depends entirely on the specifics of the shot. How much rough do you have to carry? Is it only green that you need to run on? Are there obstacles in between you and the hole?  What you need to do is go to a driving range that has a chipping green and figure it out for yourself.  There is no set answer.  If you'd like to try a different approach to chipping, rather than smacking at the ball, try this:  Put the ball in the middle of your stance with feet at shoulder width.  Take a PUTTING grip on the club, and putt it.  Just like a putt, don't swing faster on your follow through than on your backswing. Make a smooth, steady stroke.  Try that out at the range, and write down, or just remember, the distances that they carry.  Remember, if you want the ball to get up quicker, and roll less, use a higher lofted club, like a PW or SW, or even a Lob Wedge.  And if you want the ball to roll further, use a smaller iron. (5i, 6i, 4i, whatever works)  Standing 10 feet off the green, with 50 feet of green to run, I would suggest something like a 5 iron, with the stroke I mentioned before.
677006
Try to use stiff shaft, I used to use Regular shaft but after I have changed the shaft to stiff, I can hit it \nmuch further than before and also straighter, so go can change your shaft immediately.\nHAPPY GOLFING!