Golf Swing Teaching Aids: They Work, But Are Not a Panacea

You can read all kinds of reviews on the Internet about golf swing teaching aids, and the comments--from professionals and weekend golfers alike--are all over the map. Some golfers swear by this or that golf swing teaching aid, and many others just swear at them. Many teaching pros use training aids that cost little or nothing--reflector strips, plum lines, show boxes, hula hoops--to help golfers who are looking to learn how to golf swing, and to give them a mental image that can help them keep the swing grooved when they're playing a round.

High-Tech, Low-Tech, No Tech

As you can already tell, golf swing teaching aids come in every price range and form. There are wrist and arm braces that help you key in on proper positioning during the swing; there are computerized gadgets that can tell you about clubhead speed, club face position, and other things; there are special hinged clubs or other clublike instruments that help you get the feel of a proper--and improper--swing. You'll even find simple gadgets like specialized grips. 

But Nothing Compares to . . .

The big thing is to recognize that there is no panacea--there is no single golf swing teaching aid that will immediately fix your game. Realistically, there is no teaching aid that will even improve every part of your swing. Instead, each teaching aid will assist you with a specific piece of your golf swing. But that's okay, as specialization and focus are key to really absorbing these motions into muscle memory.

The other important thing to realize is that you must use common sense in selecting and purchasing golf swing teaching aids. Any lasting improvement in your game ultimately comes through practice, consistency, and paying close attention. A golf swing teaching aid can help, but it's up to you to apply it properly to your game.

For that matter, some of the best improvements you will encounter will come from two decidedly no-tech sources: exercise and a video camera. Exercise that specifically works your core will do wonders for your swing and distance, especially over the course of a round. I'm not talking about crunches and the like, but a full core workout, e.g. using Pilates or a physioball. As for the video camera, it's obvious how that can help your swing, but it dawns on very few golfers to actually use theirs. Put together all of these puzzle pieces, and you're beginning to look like a contender!

Where To Find Golf Tips For Beginners

If you are thinking about learning the game of golf, there are many details you need to know about at the beginning. But where do you start if you are a complete novice? Fortunately, there are several resources on-line to help you with your golf education.

Golf Tips For Beginners

The newbie golfer can start by reading some free golf tips on-line. Basic Golf Tips is a website with many resources that you can visit to learn about every facet of the game of golf. There are articles and links to different golf sections for more precise information. Two useful links that you will find are a free golf tips videos site and a golf review blog.

The Basic Golf Tips

The articles in the Basic Golf Tips series go over the stuff that you need to know to get a good start. The eight articles that cover the basics, start with the scoring system, choosing the correct golf equipment, the different types of golf shots, and golf etiquette.

Golf Resources

The golf tips for beginners' page highlights some carefully selected golf resources. You will find PDF e-books specifically written for the beginner golfer, women golfer, and the senior golfer. You will find links to the best golf balls and golf clubs for beginners.

Golf Equipment

You will definately need some golf equipment to start playing the game of golf. The basic items are a golf club set, a golf bag, tees, and balls. However, you don't essentially need to purchase these at first; you can rent them out from most golf courses. But, if you are serious about taking up the game, then investing in a good set of clubs, balls and a golf bag is elemental.

When you take the decision to buy golf equipment you will see that there are hundreds of choices. The big name manufacturers of golf equipment spend millions of dollars each year trying to get you to buy their golf gear. Don't spend thousands on golf clubs that might hinder your game.

Preferably, start off with a good golf clubs set that are designed with the golf beginner in mind. Sometimes, they are called game improving clubs and they are designed to be more forgiving to miss-hits. You can have them tailor made for your physical size and swing speed by customizing the clubs with the correct shaft type and flex.

For your basic golf education, check out what the golf tips for beginners website can teach you. There will be more golf reviews added to the blog to help you figure out what products are right for you and more articles coming.

Golf newbies - check out the Basic Golf Tips For Beginners articles. For a weekly golf education, sign up for the Golf Tips Newsletter today and receive golf tips once a week.

 

The First Lessons You Need In Golf

Golf has been played since around the 15th century and it has been frustrating and delighting players alike round the world since then.

In essence golf is a very simple game, hit the ball from one part of the course to another finishing up by knocking it into a hole. But that is where the simplicity ends, which of course is where the challenge and achievement take over to make it such a rewarding sport to pursue.

It is possible to spend an enormous amount of money on learning the basics of golf and some of the equipment is very expensive and, for the newcomer, usually a waste of money. It takes experience and not a little amount of skill to effectively play with the latest drivers. Why you even see the professionals getting it wrong and see how much they practice.

Getting started in golf requires some basic equipment but what is really essential in order to get going?

Well I recommend that you start by perhaps borrowing a club or two from a friend and getting some initial practice down at your local driving range. The good thing about using a pro is that you will pick up good habits instead of well meaning friends bad ones. Many people will get bitten by the golf bug at this stage and get hooked on playing right away.

I can tell you that you will know pretty quickly whether this is so, the golf bug bites pretty quickly! If this happens to you then the best thing to do next is to get some professional lessons. Try to book your lessons in blocks so that the cost is more manageable. A good thing to explore early on are some golf lessons these will give you a chance to get consistent from the start.

Of course whilst you are receiving lessons you can borrow some clubs from the pro, this will enable you to see which types are the most tailored ones to suit your particular build and stance.

Yes this does matter, a great deal in fact, you will see lots of shiny new clubs in the golf stores but most of these will be useless to you if they are not set up correctly for you, this requires adjustments to the lie and loft of the club to suit you personally. You can have all the expensive gear but if it does not suit your golf swing technique what is the point?

Another item of basic equipment you will need of course are some balls. Buying expensive balls is not a good thing to do at first as youy will lose too many. You could try buying one of those packs of 'lake balls', a very inexpensive way to get started with balls that have literally been recovered from lakes.

Finally, clothing. Shirts are readily available at any golf shop, use golf shirts particularly because they are longer in the body to cope with the movement of your swing, you don't want to be tucking your shirt in after every shot it gets quite annoying.

Trousers need to be comfortable and preferably loose fitting.

Shoes especially need to be comfortable remember you will be on your feet for four hours or so walking round, this is not the item to save money on.

Hopefully this article on the golf swing basics has given you a good start from which to progress.

Lastly if you live in one of the wetter regions of the world make sure you get a quality golfing wet suit designed to breathe.