First Time at a Golf Driving Range - Beginner Golfer's Guide

[@minuteofyourtime]

This is just beautiful. I too (46 and semi-retired) decided to take on the crazy world of GOLF. I started August 1, 2024, and so far, I like it. Yes, it is confusing, so many schools of thought, and so many "tips" that it can be daunting. It will be a series of learning and unlearning. I think the key is to remember the reason why I took this on. To have fun, to learn and be active. It is not my goal to be a pro by any means----having the right fundamentals (grip, proper set-up, stance etc.) for this journey should be enough. :) all the best to us on this journey.

[@RookieSwing]

Thank you! I’m with you 100%-it’s all about having fun and sticking to the basics, not aiming to be a pro. The journey is what matters, and it’s great to hear you’re enjoying it too! Here’s to us learning, unlearning, and having a blast along the way! Best of luck!

[@NMonte1000]

I took up golf a couple of months ago at the age of 74. I did it because my brother, who loves golf, had a stroke and | wanted to be able to encourage him to get back on the range and the course. Just like you I was feeling very exposed when I first went on the range but quickly noticed that everyone else is completely absorbed in what they are doing so my bad shots went unnoticed :) I live in France and have a number of courses around me with lovely ranges and practice areas. I very luckily bumped into a PGA tour coach who was on holiday and he took it on himself to give me some lessons - free!!! What a great guy. What I learned from that was that it is imperative to get lessons because you can't see what you are doing wrong, or right, then put those lessons into practice on the range and the course. One thing he said to me was that watching KZbin videos on golf swings does not help because it is almost impossible to copy somebody else's swing because they are always different from you. Taller, younger, older, male, female. Everybody is different but a good coach can tailor the best swing for you. Good luck - we'll need it :)

[@RookieSwing]

Thank you so much for sharing your story-it's truly inspiring! Your dedication to encouraging your brother back onto the course is incredible, and it’s great to hear you’ve found such a supportive community around you. Bumping into a PGA tour coach who offered free lessons is such an amazing stroke of luck (pun intended)! I totally agree about the importance of lessons-there’s nothing like having someone who can see what we can’t. I actually have a lesson booked myself and will try to make a video about the experience, so stay tuned!

[@NMonte1000]

When I go to the range I do stretching and warm up exercises first. At my age I have to :) I then start with the wedges and work up through the bag. The thing is, I don't just hit ball after ball. I pick a target, set up to hit that target and then hit the ball. Then see where it went and think about what I did to send it where it actually laned. We have practice greens so I also spend time practicing putting, chipping and pitching and getting out of bunkers. All things you will need when you play a course.

[@RookieSwing]

Double thanks for this! Your approach is really smart-especially the stretching and warm-ups. I’ve been a bit nervous about just hitting balls, so I’m sure I’ll feel the same about stretching, but I know I need to just do it! I’ve never been in a bunker yet, but I’m planning to play my first 9 holes next week, so we’ll see if I land in any. If not, practicing before the next round seems like a smart move. I love how you focus on each shot rather than just hitting ball after ball. Picking a target and reflecting on where the ball actually lands is such a great mindset for improvement. Thanks again for sharing your routine-I’ll definitely try to incorporate some of that on my next range session!

[@smewty9269]

I know exactly how you feel about that being watched by people thing because I used to have that when I started golf for the first time. As I got better and more comfortable at the driving range, the feeling got away and i didnt even noticed it. So i think it’s completely normal. Great video, subscribed.

[@RookieSwing]

Thank you so much for subscribing and for the kind words! I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in feeling watched-it's definitely something I’m still getting used to! Hearing that it goes away with time as you get more comfortable is super reassuring. I’m excited to keep improving and hopefully reach that same level of confidence. Thanks again for the support, and I hope to keep sharing this journey with you!

[@DanielLame]

Hello, I'm no pro but I hope this helps. I played when I was a kid for about 15 years and stopped but recently picked it up again. I think some of these helped me with my swing as a beginner: - Keep your left arm straight throughout your backswing and through impact, this creates a pivot and helps with consistency. - Keep your head still all the way through impact, don't try and look at where the ball is going until you've finished impact - Accelerate through the ball, not on the downswing - For irons, the club contacts the ball then creates the divot after impact. So the lowest point of your swing is past the ball. This means you have to shift your weight to your left through impact. - Ball placement is more toward the left of center the longer your club is. You may have to adjust your stance a little. This is probably not easy to grasp. - For driver, you probably want the ball more aligned toward your left heel. - For driver, as the ball is teed up you want the club to be moving upwards as you make impact so it lifts the ball up. I think those are some of the basic things I think about when I'm hitting the ball. Hope it helps you! :)

[@RookieSwing]

Thanks so much for the tips! It’s awesome to hear from someone who's returned to the game after so many years-that must bring a unique perspective. I’ll definitely keep your pointers in mind, especially about the left arm and weight shift through impact. Some of these tips, like ball placement and keeping the head still, are things I'm still trying to master, so I appreciate the guidance! I’m planning on filming my next lesson, so I’ll be sure to share how I incorporate some of these into my practice. Thanks again for sharing, and best of luck as you get back into the swing of things!

[@austin5645]

Great video I really liked the relaxed music and very relatable as a new golfer

[@RookieSwing]

Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the video and the music. I’m all about keeping things relaxed and relatable-just like learning golf should be! How’s your own golf journey going so far? Any challenges you're facing as a new golfer?

[@austin5645]

@@RookieSwing it’s been going good! My biggest challenge is definitely just consistency. Chipping was the best part of my game for a while and lately it has been horrible. My driving was really inconsistent but I have been really dialing it in lately. I’ve finally gotten better at lifting my irons too but now I need to work on keeping them straight and lining them up well. Lots of little things to work on to consistently feel good with every club! It’s a ton of fun to learn though and all part of the process

[@RookieSwing]

@@austin5645 The main thing is you're enjoying it and making progress, which is what matters most! I’m no expert on game advice, but I’d guess it’s not a linear progression-just like anything else. You’re definitely on the right path. Maybe try putting some skin in the game to keep consistent, like buying a pre-paid voucher for range balls or a lesson to tackle your challenges in a months time so its something to work towards.

[@djjakstarr5370]

My advice: Stretch, practice swings, half swings. Start with shorter irons first. Dont spend too much time addressing the ball and when you're at the tee, no more swing thoughts. Also, don’t worry about hitting fast and far, instead worry about hitting it straight with correct form. Dont watch too many golf videos. It will mess you up 😂😂

[@RookieSwing]

Thanks so much for the advice-I really appreciate it! Starting with shorter irons and focusing on hitting it straight with the right form makes a lot of sense. I’ll definitely keep that in mind, especially at the tee where it’s easy to overthink things. And you’re right about the golf videos-it seems to be a common theme in the comments, and I’m definitely guilty of going down the 'how to swing' rabbit hole on KZbin lately! But I’ll be starting lessons shortly, so hopefully that will shift my focus from trying to learn from someone else’s swing to what works best for me. Thanks again for sharing your tips!