New member, new golfer...puhh!

Hi every one!

My name is Patrick, 32 years old and lives in Sweden. Just started playing golf, bought my first golfclubs last friday. I got my hands on a ironset from a coworker, Callaway Big Bertha Fusion. Then i went off and bought a glove, balls, putter. Then i relized that i would be needing even more stuff, like a bag, driver maybe shoes and so on....All i wanted was to play a little golf..Puhh!

Anyway, now im into it. No return now, played my first 18 holes last saturday. I did not do very well, but i guess thats the way it works in the start. You cant hit like Mr Woods, just by playing one time.

My problem is that winter is on its way. How can i keep learning more during the wintermonths if i dont have anywhere to do some practiceshots? We dont have any place here where you can play golf indoors.

Any tip is welcome.

__________________
With best regards

Patrik Sebek

Find a low-pile carpet, and practice putting all winter.
Putt to different distances and try to find uneven lies if possible.
Cut a square hole on a box 3 3/4" wide.
A good putt is if you can get the ball into the hole and not hear the ball hit the back. Move the box around, or make several (and put little numbers over each...)
Read books about putting and chipping instruction, websites, this forum, and any other information you can get your hands on.
Find indoor drills (like my walking drill, and impact drill and putting drill).

__________________
I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

Just to add to Greg's post (as here in Canada I get to sit all winter, waiting for spring) you can work on your chip shots as well. Putting and chipping will work well.

Buy some whiffle balls (those plastic balls with the holes in them) and you may even be able to practice pitches (but do it in the basement, or a room without too many breakables).

I spend time putting and chipping a lot in the winter, and get the odd opportunity to work on my full swing (my wife owns a pharmacy, so I take a laptop and my Qmotions board to the stock room (nice high ceilings) and play a few rounds).

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Thanks guys!

I really appriciate the tips.

At the moment im mostly just practicing at the range, getting the ball as close to the flag as possible with (Iron) no. 7, 8 and 9. The balls goes straight and get a fairly good hight, but when it starts to sink it slices to the right.

So im wondering if those clubs i bought are good for a newbeginner like myself. Since i havent played golf before, i dont know what they mean with clubs that are easy or hard to play with? Kind of hoping it´s me that´s doing something wrong and not the clubs.

__________________
With best regards

Patrik Sebek

Well, there's a couple of schools of thought regarding equipment.

Some say "it's not the arrows, it's the indian".

I say, if I give you a piece of rebar and a bow - it's the arrow.

Obviously there is some gear out there that will give you better results than others.

Cavity back irons are much more forgiving. If the back of your irons are hollow/depressed, they're cavity backs. If they're level heel to toe, they're blades (and much less forgiving).

Forgiving means that when you miss the sweet spot, you don't lose (as much) distance.

Also, more offset helps a beginner. Offset simply moves the shaft ahead of the clubhead a little bit. Zero offset means the shaft and thee leading edge of the clubhead will be at the same level. (In other words, if you put a piece of wood against the shaft where it meets the club head, the leading edge of the club would also touch the wood.)

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Thank you very much!

They are depressed/cavity in the back, but they are not offset. So i guess it´s the "indian" that have to practice more.

Wish all you golfers great fun, next time you´r out hitting that ball.

You may wish to try or demo some offset irons - your slice may become a fade.

Offset gives you a split second more to close that club face - something that many rookie golfers can use.