Taking The Confusion Out Of Golf's Fundamentals

When I was first learning to play golf, it was well before the information age. So there wasn't as much help and information freely available as there is these days. Consequently, I learned the hard way, making my mistakes and learning what to do as sort of a long tedious process of elimination. One of my earliest and worst mistakes was that I tried to mimic what the professional golfers were doing on TV.

When you are starting to learn golf, you need have the correct level of expectation. One thing you need to understand right away is that it will take you a few years just to get the basics down. You will have your ups, your downs, and learning new techniques while understanding your individual style will come in growth spurts. You may go through periods when you don't seem to be getting better. This is the norm, not the exception.

Eventually, with practice, you will see improvement. A new technique you have been trying to learn will seem all but impossible at first, but through practice and repetition it will come naturally in the long run..

Sticking to The Basics

Years of trial and error in learning to play golf have taught me one important point: sticking to the basics is the best approach (a universally sound strategy for most things). As you work your way through golf's plateaus, peaks, and valleys, the most important thing to remember is to stick with the fundamentals.

Strive to improve each and every time you play the game. Learn that patience and perseverance are just as important as making contact with the ball. The ultimate reward for your positive attitude and consistency in playing on the course will be an improved game, and the development for a lifelong golf passion.

Become Friends With Your Clubs

When you begin learning the fundamentals of golf, another golden nugget of advice that I learned along the way is to stick to the same pair of golf clubs for at least 1 to 2 years. When you are experiencing the early stages of golf, the equipment you use should not be changed so that you can experience as much stability as possible.

Trusting the same clubs during your initial year or two of golf will also help minimize variables that can affect your game in a negative way. For example, by sticking with the same driver during this time period, you will learn to identify what factors are making a positive contribution to your tee shots. Changing clubs too often, especially during this learning period, will not enable you to know whether your technique has improved.

As your skills grow, you will have a very sound set of skills as your foundation for growth in the game. Don't get ahead of yourself. That will hurt your game in the long run.