Beginner Golf Info

Beginner Golf

Golf Advice - Deciding on the Best Shot

When it comes to golf advice, one area I’d like to discuss is when it comes time to take your shot, how will you decide whether to chip, pitch or putt?

Why is it that some of the most simple shots in golf can cause the most trouble, even among players of all levels? I’m not talking about just putting, which is probably the #1 easiest shot to learn in golf. I’m talking about the mysterious chip shot and the sometimes difficult pitch shot – both very simple, yet very troublesome.

Perhaps the main difficulty with these easy shots stems from a lack of confidence in whether that shot is the most appropriate one to take in a particular situation. You ask yourself: maybe a pitch would be better, or perhaps putting the ball on the next shot is better than chipping it.

Such questions tend to cause the average golfer to over-analyze, which only leads to a bad shot. So let us help you remove the guesswork here so that you can stop the brain freeze.

Questions To Ask Yourself

Whenever the ball is on the green you should always put the chip shot aside and go for the putt. And even off the green the putt is the better choice if possible. It’s very easy to decide this action and depends on the following points to consider:

1) Can a typical putting stroke get the ball from where it is to the hole?

2) Are you able to take a full swing, back and through, without getting the club stuck in the grass?

3) Is the path between your ball and the hole a clear travel path, without being blocked by obstructions (grass tufts or anything that might slow down or stop the ball)?

The Results:

If you answered yes to the above three questions then the putt is the best choice, not the chip shot. If you answered no to any of the questions, regardless of which one, then go for the chip (or the pitch).

Anytime the putt is too long then the chip shot is best (with of course the term “long” being relative, but anything longer than 18-20 yards is a good average length for most golfers to avoid putting until a closer shot is available).

If you are playing from the collar of the green and there is high grass or rough that could throw your putt off balance, then the chip is ideal.

And third, If there are any rough spots at all on the course in between the ball and the hole, then a pitch shot is recommended.

I hope this golf advice has helped you with this important question.

Watching Golf - Finding the Best Spot at a Live Tournament

Interested in watching golf? We’ve been discussing watching A Live Golf Tournament. Today we’re going to look at how to pick the best spot when you’re watching golf.

Where Is The First Place You Should Go?

As soon as you arrive at the course, the first place you should go is right to the practice tee. So long as you have showed up early to the game you will have the fortunate experience of watching your favorite golf players warming up for the day. Take a look very carefully and you can learn an enormous amount of golf tips just from watching them.

Watch how these men and women warm up. Make mental notes because this is the correct way to prepare your own daily game of golf. You can practice the same warm up habits before your own rounds on the course.

Notice carefully how the pros do not ferociously hit every ball as far as possible into the range. Instead, they will spend much more practice time using their wedge and middle iron shots. They only hit long-iron shots long enough to make sure that there is no glaring issues.

Etiquette Tip: Never bother the professionals when they are warming up and practicing. There is no excuse for this behavior no matter how excited you are or how much of a fan you deem yourself to be.

This practice time is crucial and these guys do not like interruptions. Remember, this is their job and winning is their goal. There will be plenty of time for autographs and photo shoots before or after a practice session, or other times during the game.

Pick Your Spot

Now it is time to stake out a location where you can watch the tournament. The only downside here is that a live golf game covers a ton of ground space, literally. Unfortunately, you cannot be everywhere at once so you will need to selectively choose an area in which you can watch the game from.

Some golf fans like to pick an area around the 10th or 11th tee, for example, so that they can catch a glimpse of every player that passes by. Other fans would rather select a spot where they can see multiple holes being played at once. If you do choose to camp out like this then be sure to bring along a chair so you can rest comfortably.

Game Viewing Tip: Many golf fans who go to their first live tournament have a tendency to follow every player they can throughout each hole. There is nothing wrong with this plan but I will tell you that it is extremely tiring and worse yet, you will have to wade through hundreds or thousands of other fans as you move through the course.

With so many bodies and heads moving and trying to see the action, it’s quite possible that you may miss out on the good stuff. Try to set up your viewing strategy so that you can catch as much of the game is possible.

Watching golf is a real treat, and hopefully with the extra tips I’ve passed your way - the experience will be even better!

Live Golf Tournament - Watching Golf for Beginners

Been wanting to watch a Live Golf Tournament - let’s take a look at some preparation that will make the experience even better.

What To Do First

Okay, you’ve decided to go to your very first PGA tour, and boy howdy are you in for a real treat. Perhaps you might want to start off with a smaller-sized tournament, one that is being staged near your house, with 3,000 to 5,000 fans attending.

The first thing you have to do is a secure a place to park. Most tournament organizers do provide remote parking facilities that have shuttle buses to take you to and from the course.

Once you have established your parking set up, the next step is to choose which days you would like to attend. Most tournaments will last a week and will have a couple of practice days thrown in between.

You can purchase tickets to view the entire week or simply pay for the days of competition. If money is no object and you have plenty of time to spare, check out a full week ticket so that you can enjoy watching your favorite professional golfers practice in between games.

Tip: Consider checking out a Pro-Am tournament. These are unofficial competitions that have a very friendly atmosphere and typically takes place on Wednesday (the day before the actual tournament starts). Professional golfers are matched up with amateurs to play the game and this type of match-up is more for fun and enjoying of playing with other golfers than anything else.

Preparation & Arrival

Now that you have established your transportation and parking situation for your live golf tournament, along with knowing which days you are attending and your ticket purchase, you must now make sure that you are prepared with the basic essentials.

Watch the weather report: Remember, although you will not be playing golf, much of your time will still be spent walking up and down the golf course. Check out the weather and prepare yourself for what is to come. Be prepared with rain gear if needed, appropriate clothing for hot or cold weather, etc.

Invest in a comfortable carry bag or backpack: A carry bag is perfect so that you can bring along drinks and snacks. Always carry plenty of water. Most golf games are played in beautiful weather with the son glaring down throughout the entire game. You cannot enjoy a full day of watching professional golfers play when feeling uncomfortable. Simply stay hydrated, bring healthy snacks, dress for the weather, and enjoy the event.

Ready to watch a live golf tournament! Great, be sure to check back shortly, as we continue to discuss this very topic.

Watch Golf Live - Tips for a Beginner

Do you like to watch golf live? If you’re a beginner golfer, here are some tips that may help you out when watching A Live Golf Tournament and answers the question - Is Watching Golf On TV Better?

Have you ever been to a live professional golf tournament? If not, then you your truly missing out on a wonderful experience. I realize that golf comes on TV every day, especially with the new 24/7 golf channels, but there are times when watching the game on TV just isn’t enough.

Watching the professionals play from the comfort of your own home does not allow for the true experience and emotion that resonate from the players, the depth of each hole, and the beauty of the golf course.

And when you are out there seeing the action live, there is nothing like standing just a few yards behind your favorite professional golfer as he or she rips a 275-yard drive with the speed of lightning. Everybody should attend a professional golf game at lease one time in their lives just to watch, up close, the incredible talent of today’s golf professionals.

Actually, Watching Golf Television Isn’t So Bad…

Before I get you too depressed with what you are missing from watching a live professional golf game, it’s only fair to discuss the benefits of watching golf at home. Besides the obvious benefit of having your comfortable sofa to sit on while viewing, you get the entire game fed to you by commentators and easy-to-understand bits of information that helps bring every swing together, complete, and without confusion.

Then there are the dozens camera shots. I bet you probably have never thought about how golf on television makes it easy for you to see what’s going on from one player to the next, even when they are on completely opposite sides of the hole.

You may be watching David Duval’s beautiful long drive on the 5th hole, then seconds later the camera cuts over to Tiger Wood’s putt shot on the 7th. You do not have this luxury when watching a live tournament. Unfortunately, you are stuck with whatever your 2 eyes can see, no cameras to help.

Disadvantages Of Seeing The Game Live

It also wouldn’t be fair if I neglected to mention the disadvantages of watching a professional golf tournament in the flesh. I should know, as I have been to a dozen or more games over the last five years.

The first disadvantage that comes to mind is how long the game takes when you are watching it live. Most courses are fairly large and it takes the players quite a bit of time to walk from hole-to-hole. The constant waiting and patience for the next play was something that I had to get used to after seeing my first live golf game.

Second, while golf fans are at home sitting on the comfort of their own sofa and sipping on their favorite beverage, hundreds, and even thousands of golf fans are walking around trying to get up close to their favorite professional golfer, squeezing everyone tight, blocking your view at times, and basically just making it totally uncomfortable when you are trying to catch a glimpse of what is going on.

Be sure to check back as we continue to discuss the topic of watching golf live.

Golf Putting Instruction

4 Putting Instruction Tips

The best way to improve your putting as quickly as possible is to put time into working your distance control. The reason? Most of your approach shots will likely be from a medium-to-long range of distance.

Here are some simple, yet extremely useful putting tips to get you going:

Always Set Your Eyes & Shoulders Perfectly Parallel To The Putting Line

Once your putter face is in aim with the target, set your eyes and shoulders in perfect alignment with that line. This is the only way to get an accurate perspective of the pathway to the hole. Should you make a habit of viewing the pathway with your eyes inside or outside of the line, and are having trouble putting, this is undoubtedly caused by an inaccurate view.

Forget Style – Just Putt The Ball

Always remember that putting doesn’t have to look good, it just has to get the job done. When it comes to putting, looks are not important as the end result is. In fact, Tony Johnstone, a European Tour Professional, agrees 100% with this advice in is new book titled “Master Your Short Game”.

Take A Quick Look (One Time) At Your Target & Just Swing!

One of the greatest changes that I made, and which produced the best results in my putting success, was to stop standing over the ball for so long trying to analyze every bit of information I could about the shot. In fact, this was the single most important change that helped me to increase my putt shot success by at least 300%.

The key is to focus still, while speeding up the process a bit. Too much thinking about your technique, length of stroke, and ground conditions will cause fear. Instead, get set up, take one quick look at your target, hold that image in your head, and simply swing. You’ll be amazed at how many more putt shots will sink in the hole from now on.

Find The Sweet Spot Of The Putter, And Use It

Another key to consistently successful putts is to strike the ball from the sweet spot on your putter. Don’t know how to find the sweet spot? Simply hold the club vertically in between your thumb and index finger. Make sure you are holding the putter directly in front of your eyes.

Now tap on the clubface with something small and firm, like a pen or a golf tee. Each time you strike the clubface and the putterhead twists, continue hitting it until the putterhead moves straight back. This is the sweet spot. Learn to use it.

With practice and some great golf putting instruction and tips, you’ll be well on your way to improving your putting game.

Bestselling Golf Books

Golf Advice: Stop Over Analyzing Everything!

Want some simple golf advice? Enjoy your game and stop over analyzing every detail! The reasons for choosing golf as your sport is to enjoy a game that is comfortable, confidence-building, and which is able to settle within your subconscious. This means avoiding the dreaded mistake over-analyzing everything. You must allow the game to come to you by just letting it happen.

You have probably taken a few golf lessons in the past, have put in hours on the practice range, and learned additional skills and tips from watching the pros on TV. It’s time to trust these lessons and past experiences that you have had by allowing your subconscious to guide your way. Just take your swing – it’s that simple.

The best thing you can do is develop a solid, consistent swing and grow your confidence with it. From that point on, the game of golf is simply hitting the ball towards the intended target, walking over and picking it up, and hitting it again, until you have reached the hole.

This may seem like an oversimplification, and of course practice and preparation are important, but if you spend time analyzing every second of the game to the point of seriously frustrating yourself, you are on the wrong track. Rather, enjoy golf and use your energy to focus and concentrate when the time is needed instead of mulling over every minor detail.

Golf Help: Are You Using the Wrong Club?

Looking for golf help? One simple thing to address is figure out if you’re using the wrong club…One of the biggest mistakes golfers make on the course is not using the right club. You can have a better short game, have more fun, and lower your score if you would just stick to a club which is the most comfortable for you when facing a specific shot.

For example, if you are confident using a 7 iron club whenever hitting the ball from 35 yards in, then use it. Just because you may have read that an amateur or pro golfer prefers another club when facing the same scenario, or have seen a golf training video which stresses the use of a different iron, it doesn’t mean you have to follow their golf help or advice. Stick to what works, for you!

I’ll give you a perfect example. Whenever Tiger Woods is facing a shot from anywhere around the green he always uses his 60 degree wedge. He doesn’t try to use several wedges. He sticks to what works for him. Why? Because he is most comfortable with that particular club.

Short game success has just as much to do with your confidence and comfort levels as it does with technique and shot specifics. In time you will find what is called your “go to club” when playing through a specific shot. And when practicing your short game, those practice sessions should be focused around this club in order to improve at the fastest rate possible.

Beginner Golf: Top Picks

Check out some of our Top Picks for Beginning Golfers

Beginner Golf Tips

Beginner Golf Tips What Every Beginner Golfer Needs to Know

What makes golf so difficult when compared to other sports? There are a few reasons, however precision and accuracy are a big part of it, in fact probably the number one factor when comparing the game of golf to other activities. You have much less room for error compared to sports like baseball.

With golf, you have to hit the ball with precision each and every time…you need to have a plan, a strategy so that you’ll end up where you want to be. You have one swing and that’s it. Add to that you have people watching, and that makes a lot of people uneasy!

Another Beginner Golf Tip: Take It Slow

What is the most important beginner golf tip? Take the game slow and keep things simple. The obstacles of golf for the beginner player are mostly mental. With the intensity of concentration, focus, and pressure from an audience, one of the best tips that you can appreciate is to simply take it slow.

Learn the game at whatever pace suits you. Many newbie golfers tend to go all out, buy a brand-new set of golf clubs, hit the ball at a driving range for a few days, and then immediately run out and start playing on a prestigious 18-hole golf course.

I understand that you are probably excited and want to jump right in headfirst, but compare the game to swimming. Before you knew how to swim, did you just dive into the deep section of your local swimming pool? Of course not. How could you expect to do the same with golf? Moving too fast will only lead to frustration and eventually you will quit playing.

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