Golf forum

Hi all.

Left an introduction in the first post section and my second port of call is here

Just looking for overall tips on helping me move forward

I understand the fundmentals of the game and I am taking tips from friends who play. I have played 8 rounds and 2 I have scored at 125 and 124.

The short game is where I struggle the most as I assume is the case with most beginners. What tips can you give me bearing in mind I don't know alot.

Pitching wedges - What situation should this be used.

Sand wedges - Are these for bunkers only.

Chip and run - Which club should be used? 6/7 iron?

After 8 rounds I am starting to reach the edge of the greens around 1 under par on a good day but end up with 7's and 8's. I know practice will be the key here but A few situations on club choice would be gratefull.

Cheers

YB

hi

i try to use a chip and run alot i find that it is more accurate than a pitcher or sand wedge depending on the distence i normaly use a 7 iron that seen to work for me hope this helps bearing iin mind i have only been playing for 6 months and do play about 4 times aweek.

Hi 

I change the club i use for a chip and run, depending on how far the pin is from yourself, how much fairway or rough there is beteween you and the green and how much room there is between the edge of the green and the pin.  I try to get the ball to bounce just off of the green when i am playing a chip and run shot so that the ball does not roll to far on the green. This is just what i do, and what i think about when i play my shot.

 If it is a small green and there is not much room for it to run.  Genrally i would playa more lofted chip, so that there is less roll on it.

I hope this helps.

Graham

Its good to keep a record of your scores like you are doing,  and the early stages are the best when you can see dramatic changes.

I like you started off 120's (was just using an iron off the tee at first with big jumps coming down 116, 110 then hovered around 102, 103 for 2 months.

Feeling of breaking 100 was great and now scoring high 80's low 90's and the progress has slowed.  I'm still a high handicap player but for me my problem is keeping a good score going.

Last week was 5 under my par in coming to the 15th and then blew up - think I got excited and then went 8, 7, 8 and messed up my card.

Around green I just try to concentrate on no worse than 2 putting and also worth a try if you are just a few inches off the green using a 5 wood or a rescue club as then you are just concentrating mainly on the distance control, thats really helped me but may not be for everyone  - and if you think about scoring one over par then gradually that par's will start to come as your game improves.

Sand wedge - i find ive got to really concentrate on accelerating down into the back of the ball and keep my hands in front of the ball at impact and this has really helped me.

Good luck.

John

Thanks for the advice folks.

Im really enjoying the game and want to get out and play everyday. Mainly because I hate being rubbish at something :D

I work offshore so at the moment I like reading little tips to try and help me for when I get back home.

There are so many 'wonder clubs' out there it's easy to spend money but was wondering if anybody would recommend a good wedge?

I'm a newbie, started this year after playing maybe one round a year before that and this thread got me thinking about all the advice I've been given in the last 6-8 months.  After thinking about it I wondered which bits I'd impart.

Firstly, the chip and run shot is one I hated the idea of using, but started to with an 8 iron, and started to get good results from it.  However I now try to be a little smarter with it, depending on the situation and how much distance there is between me and the pin.  Like John says, I try not to land off green if I can, though there are times where I bottle it with a lofted shot and just try to skip it on from a distance away.

You asked if the sand iron should only be used from the bunker and I'd say no way, not even close.  It's the club I almost always end up using as a rescue shot as I've got to a stage where if I'm not hitting the green I'm only a short distance away and a little chip over a bunker, or over some rough tends to be required.  It's also the shot that I find most satisfying.

Other than that, listen to advice, all of it, even if it's conflicting, then try it all and see what works for you.  I've been given all kinds of tips, but what works for someone else doesn't for me.

Oh, and one final thing, keep your head down.  The number of times I forget this and smeg up my round isn't funny.  I drop a second ball to play as a practice, after chiding myself for lifting my head, and it's almost 100% that I get it right.

Thanks again

Basically it's getting out there and praticing which is the best part!

Welome Graham, just one piece of advice and I don't say it cockily, see a Pro.

Get at least 3 lessons under your belt and coupled with the games your playing you will see a massive improvement, friends are good for company but they can't see or advise where your going wrong a Pro can.

Good luck and hope to see that handicap dropping

H Graham.

i'd say practice a lot on short game.

at the range use your pw and sw for a lot of time as it will help much more than smashing your driver .

a lesson is also good