Tips for Golf Swing - Pitch & Putt

[FieryP125]

Can you give me any advice as I suck. Badly.

I know there are YouTube clipsm but all seem aimed at the seasoned golfer and for full swings.

I'm just looking at pitch and putt par 3 courses.

I have a PW clubs which should be enough to hit it (my friend can do it with this) but my teeing off is awful - approach play so so.

It's just my teeing off I need help with

Many thanks

[DTCwordfan]

(i) stance - legs slightly splayed like a duck....helps anchor the hips....

(ii) you are sitting on a pogo stick - standing upright doesnt let you swing properly.

(iii) think of the swing as more of a U not a V.

(iv) pull the clb back parallel to your feet for the first eighteen inches and then let your hips turn as the club goes behind you

(v) head down.....

(vi) let your club pause at the top before starting the downswing (look at the women pros)

(vii) let the hands come through and let your swing go right through - anysport with a racket or cue you need to let the clubs swing through - stopping it will put weird spins on the ball - the shank in golf.

Lastly look at a drawing as to hand position on the club........

Good luck and enjoy - golf is the only ball sport outside where you, and you alone, control your own destination - hence why the handicap system works.

[TonyV]

You might want to carry a 7 iron with you as well PW - so you are not trying to hit the ball so hard.
Your playing partner may be more experienced?
Youtube will not help - invest in a couple of lessons from local golf pro - or his apprentice - prices vary!!!
But they will set you up with stance, grip etc

[twix123]

As TonyV says, have a couple of lessons with your local golf professional, to explain, grip, stance, posture, ball position & swing.

If any of the holes are longer than 100 yards, as a learner you'll need more than just a Pitching Wedge. Allow 10 yards extra for each club, i.e 110 yards for a 9 iron, 120 yards for an 8 iron, and so on.

Swing the club within your ability, so you have some control, instead of trying to hit the cover off the ball.

Good luck.

[Khandro]

Start, and practice, the 'Half swing' with a 6 iron, i.e. take back the club only as far as it is parallel with the ground. Don't think about distance, keep practicing to get the ball straight towards the target.

[TonyV]

Twix - as you have probably seen - elderly people, that have a good swing, that arn't trying too take casing off ball, outdrive and play the course rather than their playing partner?

[wolf63]

Slightly off subject - I volunteer in an Oxfam book and music shop. At one time we had an L.P. for sale on how to play golf. It is probably still in the shop - learning about golf via an L.P. doesn't sound easy.

[twix123]

Tony, not being exactly young, I've learnt from experience to swing slowly and keep the ball straight, especially as my course, although not long, is tightly tree lined. Having custom fitted clubs also helps, with shafts with the correct flex for my swing speed and the proper size grip, although of course they do cost more than a set taken from the shelf.

[TonyV]

twix - was'nt there (not implying your age) , with expensive clubs as you do, that can suit your swing etc. Hope your/our advice to Fiery will enroll them in for a couple of lessons

[twix123]

Tony, I wasn't advocating that Fiery, as a beginner, buys a made to measure set, just pointing out the difference it can make. Should Fiery decide that he wishes to take up golf properly, instead of using a Pitch and Putt course, that would be the time to speak to a professional about recommending the correct set-up (custom fitting isn't very expensive over the cost of a basic set of clubs).

[TonyV]

Ok Twix - lets get Fiery a swing and putting stroke first. It is so enjoyable to hear / see a good hit ball fly away - and if it lands and rolls to where you want it all the better
?

[twix123]

I fully agree with you Tony, let Fiery get the basics together and see where he wants to go from there.

[FieryP125]

Going on Tue morning - will let you guys know how I do!

[Khandro]

Commiserations clarion, it's a strange game, I don't have anything like your handicap and yet last Wednesday I got my 4th 'hole in one' (in 5 years).

[Vimto]

You should be very pleased that you can suck at all - even badly. An extra strong mint lasts about twenty seconds with me as I am an inveterate cruncher. It doesn't seem to matter whether I am eating boilings , chocolate or toffee I just can't resist crunching and biting.

I'm afraid I can't help with your subsequent golf questions but you could satisfy my curiosity and explain what golf has to do with sucking?

[DTCwordfan]

congrats Khandro - I am a 5 and have never done the h-i-one....done the albatross, had balls go down flag poles to an inch, ping the flag, and destroyed the lips of two holes but never had the ball in the bucket for a one. Only once played with somebody who holed out - in Malaysia during a competition. Though I did once play with someone who holed out at Highgate, N London - on the wrong hole. Cost him the beers....

[Khandro]

I think hole in ones are 20% skill and 80% luck, but why I should be so lucky 4 times beats me, Maybe it's time to but a lottery ticket.

[cazzz1975]

chipping is easy when you master the technique, most of it is confidence, here is a phil mickelson youtube lesson on chipping, its very simple and very effective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgkcnZygGnY

[cazzz1975]

my advice would be to visit a driving range prior and practice hitting your pitching wedge

dont tee it up too high because the club is well lofted enough and your club will just go right under the ball.