For Friday, do nothing. Sadly, 48 hours is nowhere near enough time to get a consistent swing. Get a lesson, read this book, and work on the swing thoughts form the pro that you work with over time for the next and future golf trips.
Good luck
Pick up the book Ben Hogan's Five Lessons. It will teach you a lot about building a consistent, repeatable golf swing. Grip, stance/posture, backswing, and downswing. Start with a proper grip and keep building off of that.
Edit: you mentioned something about your knee, you are definately in no position to play golf if your knee is constantly hurting. your knee helps you stay stable on the down swing and gives you power behind your swing. My advice is to really get that checked out, before you end up never able to do any sport ever again!
Coupled with you topping the ball, it is probably because your swing is just all over the place. You may have more than just a few things going wrong.
If you are really reluctant to take some lessons. Try filming your swing, with your phone on a tripod or something. Then read some basic golf instructions like the ben hogan one.
http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972
This is one of the good books to start, but there are also people who claim it is slightly misleading or outdated, you have to decide for your own with regards to these things.
Start from your grip, then work your way outwards. Try not going for a full swing for awhile, take a small half swing from your 3o'clock to your 9 o'clock and keep your lower body still, but in position. Get the basics here correct, because it is the most important part of the golf swing, the rest of the swing is to get this part correct. After you are sure you got something here, then work on the rest of your back swing, and your lower body.
the half swing might take a few sessions, as there are many things to note in the half swing. Things like, grip, wrist, pivoting of the shoulders, and many more.
This might not be advice teaching pros give you, i don't know. But thats what i did when trying to come back into golf. Theres a thing you must know about golf, that the people you ask advice from are probably just as bad at golf as you and theres a chance they don't know what they are talking about either =p
In short, we are all not qualified to teach golf, less so over the internet, your best bet is still a qualified golf instructor.
Look into callaway’s pre-owned program. Also, read this book. https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=123834994503&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqoibBhDUARIsAH2OpWigfVcsorguE9Ug6qKXWokYn_UFZ6KrLpf54lhv6xH8qqRG9Qi_pDMaAkACEALw_wcB&hvadid=535686130255&hvdev=...
Ben Hogan’s 5 Lessons is a must have.
Get some lessons.
Spend 70% of practice time chipping, pitching, and putting.
Enjoy the ride 👍
Pick up a copy of Hogan’s Fundamentals and adhere to it. Especially the chapter on Posture.
I would strongly recommend it for your friend! Also, have your friend grab a copy of Ben Hogans book, if they haven't already. There isn't a better way to get better at this game for less than $10.
Cheaper than lessons and a good starting point on building a swing from the ground up - buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2G5NGCRHYZ6YP&dchild=1&keywords=fundamentals+of+golf+by+ben+hogan&qid=1633060958&sprefix=fundamentals+of+golf&sr=8-3
It’s short, easy to read, riddled with pictures, and written by one of the greatest to play the game. The straightforward basics of a swing. And then, at that point, decide if you want to invest in lessons.
Also, get some athletic shoes, if not golf shoes.
Read: Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf
No nonsense book that will help correct your grip, swing and finish, and hopefully keep the range buckets from flying down range. 😂
There’s some major issues with your follow through and finish. You want your hands to finish high rather than on your left shoulder.
Another thing is your swing comes to a abrupt stop at the finish. It should be a relatively fluid motion from back swing to follow through. Also that abrupt stop can lead to some injuries down the line.
Lastly from your body language it looks like your over analyzing. Just try to get a natural fluid swing that feels comfortable.
Also... buy this book. It’s the holy grail of the mechanics of a sound golf swing.
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6E1T3H4XQ44E178KTHJZ
It all begins with your grip and posture. If you’re really interested in improving, pick this book up and read it. It’s a quick read: Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Vk-0AbNGWAKK5
This is just the manufacturer logo and usually used by the installers to know if the grip is on straight or not. There are plenty of books and articles on grip but ultimately it depends on the shot you want to hit or style of swing you lend toward, everyone will be a little different. Check out Ben Hogan's book for some grip basics https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972
I started playing regularly 3 months ago. First thing I was told to do was read this book. In my opinion it gives you a good knowledge base to build on. Congrats on your first round, have fun!
http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972
Well, I would make sure that things like grip and stance are pretty ideal before ever going for a lesson, because otherwise you're literally going to be paying someone to tell you how to setup.
If you have a full-body mirror, that can go a long ways towards helping that, and if you look up some guides on the Vardon grip, that will heavily minimize mistakes that come from your hand. It's laid out pretty explicitly in Hogan's 5 Lessons. While that book isn't the swing gospel that some swear it to be, it's got some fantastic advice, especially to help get down into the sub-bogey golf range.
If i were to suggest you getting new clubs they are going to have to be beginner ones like Taylor Made Burners. Those clubs are forgiving and are for people who are fairly new to the game. The ones your teammates sounds like they are talking about are blade type clubs or just other clubs in general for people who shoot decent scores. Having said that if you already have clubs i would stick with them until you can shoot a lower score. I would suggest going to the range a few times a week and playing at least one round per week. A lot of people will set a goal on this sub reddit of shooting a certain score and then they will buy themselves irons. Shooting 110-120 isnt obviously the best but honestly the average golfer shoots around 110. I woul say maybe if you can get down to breaking 100 or around there i would see why you couldnt look for some new clubs, HEck you can buy used ones for pretty cheap as well. MY current training schedule has me on the range 2-3 days a week and playing a round on sat and sometimes second on Sunday(depending how my sat night goes). As far as a book... ive heard this one is pretty good from a few people. THE MODERN FUNDAMENTALS OF GOLF
If you have a 10 year old swing its going to be nearly impossible to just start new. That's 10 years of muscle memory built up, so its definitely going to be a challenge. A good instructor will take the swing you have and slowly make small changes each lesson until your striking the ball better. I still think about grip and set up everytime something is out of whack. One personal opinion is if you are going to start taking lesson's first read Five Lessons by Ben Hogan. I read that book before I started getting serious about golf and I still have "ah ha" moments where I realize what hogan was saying and it totally makes sense now that I understand the golf swing. I have been working very hard on my swing for just over a year now and I still wonder how I even played golf swinging the club the way I used to.
I am in the process of getting my wife to learn how to play golf so we can start going out together. We are starting with this book
its amazing on how simple and easy it is to read and follow and how solid the information is in the book. And then follow that up with a bunch of easy par 3 courses. So you can then go over the etiquette and the subtle unwritten rules of the course. And also it shows her that a lot of other people suck at golf also and its just fun to go out and smash some balls
I received the advice of my life on my drive last weekend. Flex your right leg the entire time and use it to push your weight forward as you come down.
Other tips:
Keep your head down staring at the ball.
Don't be afraid to take a step forward on your drive swing. Literally swing and step forward with your right foot.
Squeeze your elbows as close together as possible throughout the entire swing.
This will be the best $10 you will ever spend in your life. Buy Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf." The only real training aide I've ever used. Has a lot of good illustrations regarding swing plane, grip, and the chain of events which must take place for a proper swing. Just about every instructor out there lives by it.
http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972
I can't stress enough on how awesome this book is. Even today's PGA players take this book to the golf courses when competing in their tournaments. <em>Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf</em> by <strong>Ben Hogan</strong>
Avoid trying to copy someone else's swing and get the lessons.
For now, pick up Ben Hogan's Five Lessons book then read it cover to cover twice. Once through and then a second time trying to do it step by step. It's not long, but it boils down the basic moves really, really well.
Next read Golf is Not a Game of Perfect for the mental side of the game. It helped a lot to learn at least a bit about the mental side of things.
Probably a lot cheaper to get this and find a good practice facility
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons helped me out quite a bit. Short read. https://www.amazon.ca/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972
My only golf instructor has been my dad (not that I'm great - usually shoot about 90 and I'm 21, but my 50 year old dad shot 80 at Augusta). I think this is because he learned his lesson by sending my oldest brother to golf lessons when he was about 10 years old.
You know the gif of the little boy in a diaper taking 1000 stutter steps while he attempts to punt a football, then he finally kicks and misses? That was my brother after golf lessons.
He'd approach the ball like a baseball player in the batting box, stepping in with one foot, looking at his alignment, then step in with the other foot. Then he'd figure out his grip, wiggle a little and get the ball to the right spot in his stance. Okay, long setup but here we go... Nope. He starts to bring the club back - stops - resets. Brings the club a little higher, watching his hands and arms on the way up - stops - resets. He does that maybe 4 or 5 times. Finally, he takes a swing, but he's so concerned about every little piece of his mechanics that there's no momentum going into the swing and the ball only goes about 15 yards.
My oldest brother was the worst of the 3 of us (my 2 older brothers and I) for a long time and then starting in high school he took more than 5 years off from golf. Now we're all about as good as each other, and he has one of the most unorthodox styles I've ever seen. I think he just needed a break to come back and realize that he's not going to have a cookie cutter swing, and he just needs to learn to play with what he has. He slices every drive, but he just aims 30 degrees left of center and plays for it. He even went out and bought a nice set of clubs.
I don't have any advice for what to expect from lessons except that anecdote. My advice to everyone is to pick up a copy of the Ben Hogan swing book and find a golfing friend who will correct you without being overbearing (or is at least willing to record you). That was a very stress-free way for me to learn the game. I can't imagine taking lessons like you would with a musical instrument - I ended up hating saxophone, but I've always loved golf.
Ben Hogans five lessons even if you focus just on the first chapter of grip.you willbuid a foundation and be able to hit the ball.
Four words:
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons.
Read it.
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KEZ9XGGXWFPV9Y2ZP42F
Fuck Amazon, but buy this book it's loaded with info.
https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972
Being a beginner, Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons
Golf bag: get something at a thrift shop for under $10. Cheaper than shipping! Grab some golf shirts while you are there.
For gloves, don't waste your money on anything that isn't 100% leather; they will not last anywhere near as long.
One approach I'd seriously consider is just using the irons the first few times you go out to the range while you are building your swing. Hopefully, you have a friend or relative who is a decent golfer who can teach you the basics. This will also help you get an idea of what you might need in clubs (for example, shaft flex will depend on how far you hit the ball, or maybe you have a hard time getting the ball high and want more loft in your driver).
I think the absolute best investment any human being can make in golf is this book: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=asc_df_0671612972. The illustrations are the best resource I have ever found that is able to convey the way a golf swing is supposed to *feel.* The writing is very straightforward and encouraging too.
Read this book. It’s quick, to the point, and better advice than any of us can provide.
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MYORCbT80DQQG
This. Your coach and future you will thank you. https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527087128&sr=8-1&keywords=ben+hogans+5+lessons+the+modern+fundamentals+of+golf
Re-visit your grip. This book has been really helpful for me: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488558029&sr=8-1&keywords=ben+hogan+5+fundamentals+of+golf
https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972
CUCK AMAZON but this is a great book
im a teacher. not a golf teacher, but a public school teacher. I've gone from shooting high 90s to low 80s in just over a year from reading several golf books and then putting into practice what i read. I'll share just a few.
it sounds like you need to work on your fundamentals and for that i recommend Ben Hogans 5 Lessons. Breaks down the mechanics of the swing in a very clear, simple, vivid way with drawings and elaborations.
to have more fun, manage expectations, manage situations, and generally see the game in a different way, i recommend Golf is Not a Game of Perfect By Dr. Bob Rotella. He's a sports psychologist so it's a very easy to read and enlightening book. Most chapters are 1-4 pages and end with a little moral.
for your winter reading, because it may burn you out honestly, it's that data driven and in depth that it's a lot of info. but it's so incredibly useful. Dave Pelz Short Game Bible
if you're only going to read one, it should be Lowest Score Wins. The title is what the book does, helps you shoot lower scores right now. It's kind of all three books above in one and just really clear and simple and data driven. if you execute as the book suggests YOU WILL SHOOT LOWER SCORES!
let me know if you have any questions. other than reading those books and practicing, i suggest lessons with a pro. I'm no pro.
I was always a baseball grip guy as well. This book explained everything about the interlock/overlapping grip perfectly: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972
This is definitely a result of casting. I had the same problem when I first started playing. Unfortunately, there are probably multiple things going wrong in your swing to cause it. IMHO the best course of action would be to hire a teaching professional and improve your swing as a whole, rather than trying to address this problem first. I have linked a video below which I think does a pretty good job of explaining what casting is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LQgicUbSv0
I have also linked "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf". I think it is a great read and it could really help with the basics of the golf swing. If you master these fundamentals, your casting problem will improve significantly as well. http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972
Agreed. Ben Hogan's 5 fundamentals if I have to pick just one.
Ben Hogan -- Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. Get it used--just as good as new.
I used to swing clubs with my grandpa as a kid, but never had any technique. I went to the range once and an older guy recommended Ben Hogans 5 lessons of Golf and practiced in front of a mirror and at the range a bit and I played an 86 on my first 18 hole course. I dont have anything to prove to you guys. Just trying to help with a book recommendation. Believe what you want I suppose.