Playing Golf for the Beginners

As a sport and leisure activity, golf shakes many people thinking of trying it! The commonest reasons are an array of equipment, technique, the lingo, and the costs involved. But, here is the good news. Under a right guidance, you can actually get off to a solid start - both, performance wise as well as financially. Begin with pocket-friendly equipment. Focus more on the game rather than the frills. If you have the potential, you may well end up mastering it. Here are some essential basics for the golf beginners.

• Have the right equipment: Choosing the best golf club for you is your foremost task. For your first club, prioritize learning and the comfort of use... You can always graduate to the latest, most sophisticated club later.
• Do not fret over golf balls: At the start, you will lose many golf balls. That is normal. Therefore, do not go for expensive balls at this stage. Pick up the ones that are good but less costly.
• Learn from the experts: Check out some great online training videos to get that right posture, grip, ball connection, and the way to hit that swing. Better yet, take some lessons from a personal trainer or even a golfer friend. Nothing beats in-person coaching to perfect your posture.

Once you have the fundamentals down, try these tips and terms to improve your golfing skills.

• In a 'Fat Shot,' you hit the ground before the ball. To prevent an injury, avoid crouching too low at the time of your address position.
• If you are hitting the ball just at its top, you may be looking up too soon. Make sure you are gazing down even after you strike the ball.
• Follow the 'G.A.S.P.' - Grip, Aim, Stance, and Posture - method for an effective pre-shot routine.
• Even the perfect swing may result in an off-line golf shot if the clubface is not 'square,' meaning its surface directly faces the ball. Make sure the clubface is square before and after you grip the club.
• 'Putting' is a light and a short distance stroke to get the ball into the green. Before you do any real putting practice, close your eyes and try some free swings with your putter (club). This gives you a good 'putting feel' and makes the task seem less daunting.
• Learn to hit the ball with the middle of the putter head. This instills consistency in your putting. For this, you can try placing a coin on the putting green, directly behind the ball. Now, strike over the coin with the sweet spot of your putter head.
• While the golfing skills and the equipment are great confidence boosters, learn to manage the associated stress to. To be prepared for a more intense experience, try placing as many balls as possible around the hole and work your way around them, putting as many as you can into the hole. Train yourself on improving this number. It will give you great confidence when putting during a real 18-hole round on a golf course.

So, are you still hesitant to play golf? Hope not! Invest in your first golfing gear, check into your closest driving range, and enjoy.