Posted: 3/20/2026 10:16:40 PM EDT
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Total newbie to golf, took my first lesson today. Driving range tomorrow and lesson Tuesday to see how I picked up the info today. Have a scramble in 30 days. As I told the instructor I need to learn how to swing but also how to golf on a course. He looked over my set and mentioned I needed a sand wedge and pitching wedge. Recommend me some wedges for a beginner and a left handed golfer and any other advice or things I could need. |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
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I am left handed. If you are just starting out, I would check out a Play It Again sports type store in your area. Go there with someone who has played golf for 15 or 20 years. They will help you pick out some wedges. You should be able to get some you can use for $20 a club. Maybe he could help you re-grip them while your at it. |
I'm not lazy, I just really enjoy doing nothing.
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A friend with a 2 handicap once told me 'people spend $500 on clubs and $50 on lessons and it needs to be the other way around. His bag and clubs were a hodgepodge of stuff that looked like something you'd see at a thrift shop. When I asked him why he didn't have any clubs that matched he told me he used what he hit the best. You're on the right track by starting with lessons. |
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
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Lessons. Practice. Start from 3 feet away and when you can make those putts expand until you reach the tee box. In other words instead of desperately trying to learn how to hit a driver chippikng, putting and irons will get it in the hole faster. Also I am anti-left handed. Look golf is not a game of natural ability. There is nothing natural about it. Its one of learning skills and IMO the limitations on equipment LH makes it silly to learn that way. But whatever. I feel the same about learning guitar. Music stores with 100 guitars might have one LH. Either case the lessons are the obvious place to focus. Advice worth what you paid for it. 
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Originally Posted By Pforty: I am left handed. If you are just starting out, I would check out a Play It Again sports type store in your area. Go there with someone who has played golf for 15 or 20 years. They will help you pick out some wedges. You should be able to get some you can use for $20 a club. Maybe he could help you re-grip them while your at it. good advice here or check out PGA store or wherever you have used stuff in your AO. definitely a good idea to get you started then as you progress and decide to play more, you get a set and get fitted. |
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Yes I have 2 lessons a week for the next 3 weeks, and plan to hit a driving range or simulator in between each lesson to get some reps of what I'm learning. Have the cheap top flight set from Dicks I got a couple years ago but definitely trying to piece together anything I'm missing and upgrade as I learn what I hit good. |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
|
Originally Posted By HgMike: Yes I have 2 lessons a week for the next 3 weeks, and plan to hit a driving range or simulator in between each lesson to get some reps of what I'm learning. Have the cheap top flight set from Dicks I got a couple years ago but definitely trying to piece together anything I'm missing and upgrade as I learn what I hit good. |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
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Try 2ndswing.com for used clubs. I've made a few purchases from them. Customer service is top notch. If they rate a club as used-mint condition, it'll look like it's brand new. On one occasion, they shipped me the wrong club. I called them, and they overnighted the correct club despite my telling them that it wasn't necessary to rush it. |
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Originally Posted By MotorMouth: Try 2ndswing.com for used clubs. I've made a few purchases from them. Customer service is top notch. If they rate a club as used-mint condition, it'll look like it's brand new. On one occasion, they shipped me the wrong club. I called them, and they overnighted the correct club despite my telling them that it wasn't necessary to rush it. Another thumbs up for 2nd swing. Good place for clubs. |
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I would tell you if left hand/arm dominant to use right handler clubs. The biggest hurdle to get over for right handers is, their dominate arm over powers the left and creates an outside to inside swing, slicing the ball. You wouldn't have that problem because you're left handed to begin with, if using right handed clubs of course. With your left handed clubs, you should allow the right to be the controlling arm, untill you can swing both together without the left over powering to right. If you're serious about the game, you need to understand the basics of the back swing plane and the down swing plane. Ben Hogan's book, Five Lessons. The Modern Fundamentals of Golf is a very good start. There are 2 things I didn't agree with for a beginner to learn. He mentioned having your elbows in close to each other, don't do that as it creates too much tension in your swing. Let the elbows naturally point towards your hips without tension. The other point is he mentions he wishes he had 3 right arms because of the power that can be generated from that side. For a beginner it buts something into your head that you don't need, as the right arm will always over power the swing the harder you try, and invariably ruins the swing. That goes away once you're more proficient with your swing mechanics. Hit the driving range, and don't expect to do well while thinking about your back swing and down swing mechanics, as your teaching your body to groove the swing. You'll slowly get better each time you go back, because your body will have more and more memory of the swing the more you practice. Once you get good, you only think about a few things to keep your body in position to accomplish a sound swing. Have fun out there...Oh and, synthetic golf gloves outlast the leather gloves by quite a bit, especially so in hot weather. |
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Yes I have 2 lessons a week for the next 3 weeks, and plan to hit a driving range or simulator in between each lesson to get some reps of what I'm learning. Have the cheap top flight set from Dicks I got a couple years ago but definitely trying to piece together anything I'm missing and upgrade as I learn what I hit good. I agree with some of what others have posted. If you're looking for what I would suggest for things to focus on in your lessons, work on chipping and putting... especially putting. You're new and they'll get it. Tee to green, if you catch a dive on the screws, thumbs up. You bang in a couple putts and you're a hero. ETA: Have fun, be sociable, and watch 5 minutes on golf etiquette. That will make you more comfortable out there. |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
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Originally Posted By ITSARIDDLE: I would tell you if left hand/arm dominant to use right handler clubs. The biggest hurdle to get over for right handers is, their dominate arm over powers the left and creates an outside to inside swing, slicing the ball. You wouldn't have that problem because you're left handed to begin with, if using right handed clubs of course. With your left handed clubs, you should allow the right to be the controlling arm, untill you can swing both together without the left over powering to right. If you're serious about the game, you need to understand the basics of the back swing plane and the down swing plane. Ben Hogan's book, Five Lessons. The Modern Fundamentals of Golf is a very good start. There are 2 things I didn't agree with for a beginner to learn. He mentioned having your elbows in close to each other, don't do that as it creates too much tension in your swing. Let the elbows naturally point towards your hips without tension. The other point is he mentions he wishes he had 3 right arms because of the power that can be generated from that side. For a beginner it buts something into your head that you don't need, as the right arm will always over power the swing the harder you try, and invariably ruins the swing. That goes away once you're more proficient with your swing mechanics. Hit the driving range, and don't expect to do well while thinking about your back swing and down swing mechanics, as your teaching your body to groove the swing. You'll slowly get better each time you go back, because your body will have more and more memory of the swing the more you practice. Once you get good, you only think about a few things to keep your body in position to accomplish a sound swing. Have fun out there...Oh and, synthetic golf gloves outlast the leather gloves by quite a bit, especially so in hot weather. I will be the first to say that I greatly admire the swing motion that Ben Hogan had, and you certainly can't argue with the results. But he was also a short man with long arms. He also fought a hook and had no issues hitting 8 buckets of balls per day. He found what worked for him. But that won't work for everyone. I don't think you have to worry about swing plane at all to be a good player. There are numerous examples of people who were over , on or under the plane and all made it work. Some people want to know all that stuff, some don't. Both kinds have been good players. Golf is funny because it is a sport that you can watch the best 150 players in the WORLD each week, go pick up a club and imagine yourself doing it. Most people would never try to imitate Michael Jordan or Payton Manning, because they instantly recognize that they aren't that type of athlete. |
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Originally Posted By Pforty: I will be the first to say that I greatly admire the swing motion that Ben Hogan had, and you certainly can't argue with the results. But he was also a short man with long arms. He also fought a hook and had no issues hitting 8 buckets of balls per day. He found what worked for him. But that won't work for everyone. I don't think you have to worry about swing plane at all to be a good player. There are numerous examples of people who were over , on or under the plane and all made it work. Some people want to know all that stuff, some don't. Both kinds have been good players. Golf is funny because it is a sport that you can watch the best 150 players in the WORLD each week, go pick up a club and imagine yourself doing it. Most people would never try to imitate Michael Jordan or Payton Manning, because they instantly recognize that they aren't that type of athlete. I think the appeal to golf is what you mention. I mean, there is zero chance I could square up a 98 MPH fastball, or make a contested catch in football, etc. But I CAN (and do) make shots on the golf course that any pro would be happy to make. OK I am not as long as tour pros. And certainly not as consistent. But I can hit a 7 iron 160 yards to a foot (or in) on any given shot. That is the thing that makes the game addictive. |
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I think as a beginner, you should at minimum learn the basics, and why I mentioned Hogan's book as a START. Otherwise, you'll have people who haven't a clue about the mechanics of the golf swing, telling you all sorts of incorrect information. Also, once on the course during play, there isn't going to be a swing coach out there to tell you what you're doing wrong. You have to diagnose your own swing problems, and you're not going to be too successful at that if you haven't a clue about the basic mechanics of the swing. All sorts of body types out there, and for those reasons the basic swing will need modifications to suit your individual body. If you think someone should just swing away until they develop one they can repeat without trying to develop a basic swing first, well, I have to disagree with that concept as that swing no doubt has extra movement needed to accomplish the same outcome. Take Furyk's swing with the loop at the top, notice he then brings his arms down to a plane, each and every time he swings. That's an extra move that now has to be conditioned into your golf swing to make it repeatable. Sorry, but my brain works better than that, and I'll just bring it to that plane to begin with. Jack Nicklaus thought Ben Hogan was the best ball striker he ever saw...Good enough for me. |
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Total newbie to golf, took my first lesson today. Driving range tomorrow and lesson Tuesday to see how I picked up the info today. Have a scramble in 30 days. As I told the instructor I need to learn how to swing but also how to golf on a course. He looked over my set and mentioned I needed a sand wedge and pitching wedge. Recommend me some wedges for a beginner and a left handed golfer and any other advice or things I could need. What irons do you have now? Lefty limits things a bit, but there's still options. https://www.callawaygolfpreowned.com/wedges?prefn1=c_genderHand&prefv1=Mens%2FLeft&prefn2=c_isClearance&prefv2=false |
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Have a basic set of top flight clubs. Little update on my golf journey. Have taken about 4 lessons and been to the range twice weekly. When I do what I'm supposed to I'm getting good ball strikes and pretty straight shots. Definitely starting to do that more often. Ordered a Calloway Big Bertha 7 Iron and Cobra king X sand wedge used to try out. The guy I'm getting lessons from says I have a slow club speed but it should increase with more reps. Figured I'd try the Callaway out and see how i do with it. This is starting to get fun. |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Have a basic set of top flight clubs. Little update on my golf journey. Have taken about 4 lessons and been to the range twice weekly. When I do what I'm supposed to I'm getting good ball strikes and pretty straight shots. Definitely starting to do that more often. Ordered a Calloway Big Bertha 7 Iron and Cobra king X sand wedge used to try out. The guy I'm getting lessons from says I have a slow club speed but it should increase with more reps. Figured I'd try the Callaway out and see how i do with it. This is starting to get fun. Iron sets are made up to create even distance gaps between clubs, typically 10-15yds +/-. Manufacturers do this by changing loft or the design of the club; materials, weight distribution, etc. The number on a club doesn't mean anything other than the progression in that particular set. Even the "7 iron" from the same manufacturer will be vastly different from model to model; in distance, trajectory, etc. Look up Big Bertha. The 2023 model lists the 7i as 27*. Now look at your Top Flight set. The '24 XL set 7i is 33*. That's a 6* difference and makes the Bertha now stronger lofted than your set 6 iron. You'll probably hit the Bertha 12-18 yards further than your Top Flight 7 iron and maybe even a yard or two further than the 6. What loft sand wedge did you get, the Cobra X is 54, 56 or 58*? |
| The sand wedge is a 54. Was reading that it would be more forgiving for a beginner. Would like to add a little club speed and distance before next week, but we shall see how that goes. |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
|
Originally Posted By HgMike: Would like to add a little club speed and distance So sayth we all. Distance is great, as Berhard Langer says, I could care less how far anyone hits a 7 iron, I just want to know one yard either way how far I hit my 7 iron. |
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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I've been playing for just about a year - the range is fun and all, but I'd suggest getting out there to a par 3 and play it as much as you can. To me that was MUCH better practice than endless buckets at the driving range. My local par three I can walk on, and if it isn't busy and I'm just practicing I'll play three balls at a time. I generally play from the Blue tees (farthest back) so I can use more clubs. Enjoy and welcome to the hobby! Eta - I use the grint app (similar to 18 birdies) its been a great addition as well. GPS maps on my phone and distances to the front, middle, and center of the green right on my watch. It really speeds up a round if I'm walking. |
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I find the driving range to be the best practice bang for the buck. However, to get the most out of it you need to have a plan in mind. That is to say, in what area do I need improvement, and how do I improve it. Track your on course play with an app, device or a pencil. Fairways hit (miss left/right/short/over), greens in reg (miss left/right/short/over), and putts. This way you have a better idea of where you need to improve. Driving accuracy, approach shots, chipping, putting, etc. Something like Arccos will give you really granular data, and an app like 18Birdies or the Grint works well, but you can get the basics using a pencil and your scorecard. If you can, buy a portable launch monitor to take to the range so you'll have a better idea of carry and total distances, offline distances (R/L), club speed, ball speed, spin, etc. Something like the VoiceCaddie Pro SC4, MLM Rapsodo, or Garmin R10. (Blue Tees is coming out with something soon at this same price point that may be a hit or a miss.) None of them are 100% accurate, but they'll give you a far better idea of what you're actually doing instead of guessing how far the ball you just hit is from the yardage markers on the range. Yeah, they're $600 or more, but that's a once every 5 or more years expense. Then it's only $10 for a bucket of balls every time you practice instead of $40-$60 an hour for a golf simulator. |
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Originally Posted By ITSARIDDLE: I would tell you if left hand/arm dominant to use right handler clubs. The biggest hurdle to get over for right handers is, their dominate arm over powers the left and creates an outside to inside swing, slicing the ball. You wouldn't have that problem because you're left handed to begin with, if using right handed clubs of course. With your left handed clubs, you should allow the right to be the controlling arm, untill you can swing both together without the left over powering to right. If you're serious about the game, you need to understand the basics of the back swing plane and the down swing plane. Ben Hogan's book, Five Lessons. The Modern Fundamentals of Golf is a very good start. There are 2 things I didn't agree with for a beginner to learn. He mentioned having your elbows in close to each other, don't do that as it creates too much tension in your swing. Let the elbows naturally point towards your hips without tension. The other point is he mentions he wishes he had 3 right arms because of the power that can be generated from that side. For a beginner it buts something into your head that you don't need, as the right arm will always over power the swing the harder you try, and invariably ruins the swing. That goes away once you're more proficient with your swing mechanics. Hit the driving range, and don't expect to do well while thinking about your back swing and down swing mechanics, as your teaching your body to groove the swing. You'll slowly get better each time you go back, because your body will have more and more memory of the swing the more you practice. Once you get good, you only think about a few things to keep your body in position to accomplish a sound swing. Have fun out there...Oh and, synthetic golf gloves outlast the leather gloves by quite a bit, especially so in hot weather. Played 9 today after reading the grip chapter. I'll buy you a beer if you're ever in town. 
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Official Arfcom Nickname: Mothball
"What's biting Glatigny?"
"I think he's beginning to realize that we've got to play with fifty-two cards and he doesn't like it at all . . . Those twenty extra cards aren't at all to his liking."
"What's biting Glatigny?"
"I think he's beginning to realize that we've got to play with fifty-two cards and he doesn't like it at all . . . Those twenty extra cards aren't at all to his liking."
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Total newbie to golf, took my first lesson today. Driving range tomorrow and lesson Tuesday to see how I picked up the info today. Have a scramble in 30 days. As I told the instructor I need to learn how to swing but also how to golf on a course. He looked over my set and mentioned I needed a sand wedge and pitching wedge. Recommend me some wedges for a beginner and a left handed golfer and any other advice or things I could need. How'd it go @HGMike? |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
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Made it through the scramble. Started off decent made a couple putts and had several best balls onto the green from short distances. Then did terrible on the back 9. As to my golf progression I've been hitting the range at least weekly since and getting a lesson a week in addition. It's starting to come together. Issues I'm having are below. 1. Wrist and hand position at top of backswing. My instructor says I need to get my lead hand/arm on top more. 2. Turning towards the target too early with longer clubs (driver, 3w). |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Made it through the scramble. Started off decent made a couple putts and had several best balls onto the green from short distances. Then did terrible on the back 9. As to my golf progression I've been hitting the range at least weekly since and getting a lesson a week in addition. It's starting to come together. Issues I'm having are below. 1. Wrist and hand position at top of backswing. My instructor says I need to get my lead hand/arm on top more. 2. Turning towards the target too early with longer clubs (driver, 3w). Glad you got out and have continued! As many have lamented, there's a wide range of skill in the golf coach game. IMO, one 'tell' for a good coach is someone who has you work on one thing at a time. Get too many things bouncing around in your head and it's hard to do the fundamental thing... hit the back of the ball. Enjoy the game! |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
Little update for everyone that has helped along the way. Still at it, getting lots of time on the range and indoor simulators. Any advice based off the below image with the big bertha 7 iron? I seem to hit a lot like this. 
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"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
James Mattis
James Mattis
|
It’s low, it’s left and it doesn’t have any spin. That’s about driver spin. It appears to me that you’re closing the club face. Without seeing your swing it’s hard to say why but the number should be closer to 80’ peak height and 120-130 carry and 5-6,000 spin with 69 club he’d speed |
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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Originally Posted By HgMike: Little update for everyone that has helped along the way. Still at it, getting lots of time on the range and indoor simulators. Any advice based off the below image with the big bertha 7 iron? I seem to hit a lot like this. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/475691/1000004425-3789939.jpg When you are on the range, line up 10 or more balls perpendicular to the aim trajectory line 6" apart. You will do this twice. Set it up so you make minimal movements addressing the next ball after each previous hit. On the first run of balls, when addressing each next ball, make adjustments only on the ball being more forward or more rearward in your stance. On the second run, keep the ball placement the same, but this time only shift your weight more over your front leg, then more over your back leg. Try to get everywhere inbetween. Stay relaxed, be easy on the power, you should have a natural feeling and do not want to get into any position that feels awkward as you move ball positions and shift weight. -DO NOT TAKE ANY PRACTICE SWINGS.- Each swing you want to hit a ball with the same rhythm, speed, power, club face angle, everything the same as the last, with the exception of ball placement, or weight shift. Don't worry about grip strength, having one elbow straighter than the other, where your shoulders or ears line up. Just be consistent in whatever motion feels natural. Forget all the noise from every little quick tip you have been given and just do you, then, you will "get it". Hit a few more runs, and if you like it, incorporate this into a warmup routine. The purpose: Learning how to KISS. After all, Golf is just you hitting a ball with a stick. For both runs you are taking mental note of how the swing feels and how the ball flies, when you put it more forward or rearward, and as you shift weight. You will understand what works and feels good for YOUR natural swing faster than any other drill, gimmick, or magic charm you could ever use because you are not setting up individual balls after every hit, nor are you trying to hit imaginary balls in between hitting real ones. That just wastes energy. Two practice swings for every real swing makes playing 18 holes feel like 54, in the same amount of time. You are not trying to imitate or force copy someone else's swing. No matter who it is, your bodies are not the same, so your swings will never be either. You are simply bringing your natural swing out!  |
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Originally Posted By GeneralV: When you are on the range, line up 10 or more balls perpendicular to the aim trajectory line 6" apart. You will do this twice. Set it up so you make minimal movements addressing the next ball after each previous hit. On the first run of balls, when addressing each next ball, make adjustments only on the ball being more forward or more rearward in your stance. On the second run, keep the ball placement the same, but this time only shift your weight more over your front leg, then more over your back leg. Try to get everywhere inbetween. Stay relaxed, be easy on the power, you should have a natural feeling and do not want to get into any position that feels awkward as you move ball positions and shift weight. -DO NOT TAKE ANY PRACTICE SWINGS.- Each swing you want to hit a ball with the same rhythm, speed, power, club face angle, everything the same as the last, with the exception of ball placement, or weight shift. Don't worry about grip strength, having one elbow straighter than the other, where your shoulders or ears line up. Just be consistent in whatever motion feels natural. Forget all the noise from every little quick tip you have been given and just do you, then, you will "get it". Hit a few more runs, and if you like it, incorporate this into a warmup routine. The purpose: Learning how to KISS. After all, Golf is just you hitting a ball with a stick. For both runs you are taking mental note of how the swing feels and how the ball flies, when you put it more forward or rearward, and as you shift weight. You will understand what works and feels good for YOUR natural swing faster than any other drill, gimmick, or magic charm you could ever use because you are not setting up individual balls after every hit, nor are you trying to hit imaginary balls in between hitting real ones. That just wastes energy. Two practice swings for every real swing makes playing 18 holes feel like 54, in the same amount of time. You are not trying to imitate or force copy someone else's swing. No matter who it is, your bodies are not the same, so your swings will never be either. You are simply bringing your natural swing out! This is nonsense. There is nothing natural about a good golf swing. OP, post face-on and down-the-line videos of your swing if you actually want to get better. |
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