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Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,940
21,459
Blimey that’s pretty decent considering you’ve only been playing about 6 months!!! - actually that’s bloody fantastic, if you count every shot and hole out everything. You must be a very good sportsman and/or you’re still pretty young…

Ive been messing about with this stupid game for almost 50 years now. I’ll definitely get the hang of it one day!

Hope you’re getting a few lessons. Only way to try and do it properly
Tbf I played off of 11 when I was a kid, just haven't played for almost 30 years, so was always taking it back up when I stopped playing football.

Issue I have is that I can't swing like I used to!
47 now, but yes count every shot and hole put everything, although I go out at about 5.30am a couple of times a week just to practise so don't really count up scores on those ones.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,839
15,696
Tbf I played off of 11 when I was a kid, just haven't played for almost 30 years, so was always taking it back up when I stopped playing football.

Issue I have is that I can't swing like I used to!
47 now, but yes count every shot and hole put everything, although I go out at about 5.30am a couple of times a week just to practise so don't really count up scores on those ones.
Is your goal to get down to single figures?
Sounds like you’re giving it a good crack practicing a few times a week early doors

My mate is desperate to get down to single figures but can’t quite get there yet - has had lessons but over thinks it, watches too many YouTube clips and tinkers even when he’s starting to see good results. Currently he’s 11.5

Amazes me that so many at the golf club just play all the time but rarely practice. You’re just reinforcing the bad stuff and will never get better

Impossible to improve, no matter whether it’s a sport or another aspect of your life, without ‘practice’
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,940
21,459
My only target was to be able to go round worh my friends that are low single figures and not slow them down, my target was to get down to 20 this year, which I've done already (19 but went up after last week's tournament), but as long as I get round okay, I'm happy.

I did have 1 lesson, but that was purely about getting some consistency with my irons, but I have struggled with distances, got my stock distances with irons now its summer though, but I just enjoy playing it, such a challenging game to play, one day play well, next day full of confidence hit awful shots!

Driving and putting are a bit off, once I get those a little better thr handicap will come down quickly now.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,839
15,696
Just started getting into golf. Only on the range atm but going to do a 9 hole on Friday.
Target is just trying to hit the ball
Normally the range will have some group lessons for beginners. Best thing to do is get yourself involved with some of those

If you start off correctly - grip, stance, set up etc you’re on the right path

Unless you’re a genius you’ll only get so far trying to work it out yourself or even worse taking some advice from mates or, god forbid, watching YouTube
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2003
9,754
12,190
Just started getting into golf. Only on the range atm but going to do a 9 hole on Friday.
Target is just trying to hit the ball
Word of advice, great to go to the range but have objectives, don’t just rock up and smash 90 balls off the tee with the driver as that won’t do you any favours!
Warm up with a wedge then work your way down the bag (pw, 8, 6, 4, hybrid, just to get the swing going, you only need to hit five balls per club). I then play ‘holes’ whereby I’ll start off with a driver then look at markers at the range to go for which will involved a low/mid iron/hybrid then a 9/wedge.
Just brakes it up as range work can get a bit repetitive, also when you break an average score down think about how many shots you’d take with an individual club per round. I play off 15 now (much lower back in my teens when no wife and kids!) so on average I’d use my driver 13 times in a round and my putter 30 times meaning I use irons/hybrid for about 40 shots.
Get yourself a putting mat though because that’s the one thing you can’t practice at the range which is probably the most important part of the game, good luck on Friday!👍
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,839
15,696
Had my best round of the summer yesterday which coincided with meeting my idol Glenn Hoddle.

Being touched by genius must have helped - shot a 4 over par 75 which has cut my handicap index to 4.8

Also went to Sunningdale last week to watch the girls win the Curtis Cup - some fantastic golf on offer

By chance watched a lot of Sara Byrne who was brilliant all competition and has just turned pro. One to keep an eye on hopefully

Also saw Asterisk Tulley, who I thought looked quite young. She was brilliant. Googled her later and found out she was 15 ffs, unbelievable future she has!
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,940
21,459
Had my best round of the summer yesterday which coincided with meeting my idol Glenn Hoddle.

Being touched by genius must have helped - shot a 4 over par 75 which has cut my handicap index to 4.8

Also went to Sunningdale last week to watch the girls win the Curtis Cup - some fantastic golf on offer

By chance watched a lot of Sara Byrne who was brilliant all competition and has just turned pro. One to keep an eye on hopefully

Also saw Asterisk Tulley, who I thought looked quite young. She was brilliant. Googled her later and found out she was 15 ffs, unbelievable future she has!
Having played a few games recently woth low level handicappers, I have a new found respect for those maintaining those handicaps, the consistency is amazing to see, where as I'm just trying hard not to slow them down!!
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,940
21,459
Word of advice, great to go to the range but have objectives, don’t just rock up and smash 90 balls off the tee with the driver as that won’t do you any favours!
Warm up with a wedge then work your way down the bag (pw, 8, 6, 4, hybrid, just to get the swing going, you only need to hit five balls per club). I then play ‘holes’ whereby I’ll start off with a driver then look at markers at the range to go for which will involved a low/mid iron/hybrid then a 9/wedge.
Just brakes it up as range work can get a bit repetitive, also when you break an average score down think about how many shots you’d take with an individual club per round. I play off 15 now (much lower back in my teens when no wife and kids!) so on average I’d use my driver 13 times in a round and my putter 30 times meaning I use irons/hybrid for about 40 shots.
Get yourself a putting mat though because that’s the one thing you can’t practice at the range which is probably the most important part of the game, good luck on Friday!👍
We have the range finder software at our local range so can actually play courses, which is a nice break uo from just whacking balls for 30 mins.

My driving seems to have gotten worse recently, and feel if I can nail that better I'll start to get into thr mid 80's.

I'm reluctant to use uo my lessons at the moment as going to upgrade my clubs (just had a proper fitting), so early next year will start with clubs that are fitted to me, so seems logical to take my lessosn then.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,839
15,696
We have the range finder software at our local range so can actually play courses, which is a nice break uo from just whacking balls for 30 mins.

My driving seems to have gotten worse recently, and feel if I can nail that better I'll start to get into thr mid 80's.

I'm reluctant to use uo my lessons at the moment as going to upgrade my clubs (just had a proper fitting), so early next year will start with clubs that are fitted to me, so seems logical to take my lessosn then.
Always lessons first. Why get fitted with a worse swing then get lessons to improve swing with clubs fitted for the bad swing?
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,940
21,459
Always lessons first. Why get fitted with a worse swing then get lessons to improve swing with clubs fitted for the bad swing?
Ah because my swing currently is with clubs that are too short (I'm 6'7 tall), so fitted clubs actually fit me, then work on improving a few bits after.

I've been down to 12 handicap in my youth without ever having a lesson, but actually trying to work on a few bits.

I bought a beginner off rhe shelf set just to see if it would be something I stick with before investing in a set, so now the full on investment that golfers go through!
 
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