A Great Golf Swing Depends on These Lessons

In last week's Golf for Beginners column, the benefits of golf clinics were examined from the perspective of a group gathering, so that the gathering could discuss common problems and receive quick range fixes from the lesson.

A speedy review of your golf swing issues at the time they occur as well as a quick drill to help you overcome that slice or pull can help you at the moment but then you must consistently practice that drill in order to make sure it becomes second nature...so you don't have to think about it on the golf course. 

Many people come away from a golf clinic with a better understanding of a certain problem they have but rarely remember to practice exactly what they have learned...but most of the folks on-hand were NOT beginners.

For the golf beginner, a single lesson or series can help you get a more in-depth knowledge of your golf swing - it's spring so you want to get better at the game, don't you?

A lesson might last for a half-hour or even an hour, and will consist of a conversation with your golf instructor about where you are and where you want to be in the game,
any problems you are currently having (can't get the ball in the air, for example),
and then he or she will ask you to take a few swings to assess your level of competence.

Golf instructors have the option of using state-of-the-art technology to see everything from your set-up to ball launch speed but usually start a lesson by observing your golf swing.

Golfers can also opt for a package consisting of three or more personalized lessons so an instructor can get to know you, to assess any issues you are having and know your future goals. Golf instruction is a process and, if you stay with it and properly practice what you have learned after each lesson, you should see improvements for the very next session. I spread out each my lessons over a week or two so that my body and mind have time to ingrain what I have learned.

In conclusion, if you are looking to improve your golf game, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned amateur, the future of your golf swing is determined by lessons given by a qualified professional and proper practice ...take a notebook with you if you cannot remember everything you learned and stick with the process!

Share your thoughts on this golf blog in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

A Quick Fix Provided by Golf Clinics

Golf clinics are not only fun but they are also educational and may offer a quick fix (and an a-ha moment) when you need it most!

After attending a local golf clinic last week at Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center, I realized that the problems faced by many golfers also resonate with me - I slice at times, am off balance, sway a little - basic issues amateurs face if not corrected regularly by a qualified teaching professional.

Why should you attend a golf clinic?

A group lesson is a great way to review the basics of the golf swing.

At first, you receive an overview of the fundamentals to a reliable golf swing - grip, alignment, stance, posture (remember to GASP). Next, everyone hits golf balls while the teaching pro goes around to each station and, one-by-one, gives you the single best improvement you should practice for your particular golf swing at the moment he/she sees you.

Sometimes, the fix is a real revelation!

A few golf tips I learned during the clinic given by Dale Ketola, Director of the Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center:

- Learn one step at a time and practice the first step.
- Never try and learn multiple improvements
- Taking your lesson from practice to the golf course: How long does it take to translate the lesson to memory? It takes hundreds of golf balls to ingrain muscle memory and stop thinking about what you are doing!
- Practice with a purpose: don't just go out onto the range and bang balls - think about the lesson and what you have learned and apply it each time you step up to hit a shot.


If you break down the learning process into easier, smaller fixes, and practice regularly, your golf swing will improve and the golf clinic will have proved successful.

Have you found a value to attending golf clinics? Let us know in the comments section of our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Leader in Myrtle Beach Golf Adds New Travel Column

It is with great pleasure to announce that, in addition to authoring this golf blog, I will also be writing a golf and travel column for "the leader in Myrtle Beach golf.".

MBN.com, a long established tee time service for the Grand Strand, wanted to add a new perspective for travelers visiting the Myrtle Beach area and locals who would be interested in stretching their familiarity beyond the beach and golf courses. With a wealth of over fifteen years of publishing golf and travel blogs on Golf for Beginners and beyond, writing about Myrtle Beach was a natural match!

Exploring Myrtle Beach has brought us to this point - when my husband and I moved to the Grand Strand, (from New York) we wanted to feel comfortable in our new hometown. Five years after making the migration to Myrtle Beach, it is my pleasure to be able to share my experiences and unique perspective with my audience.

What better way to kick off the new MBN.com column than with an article about how to balance golf, your dog and a Myrtle Beach vacation! Einstein, our seven-year-old German Shepherd, goes practically everywhere with us (except on the golf course, but he does have his very own golf cart). 

Future articles subjects may include, "Where to Shop While Your Husband Plays Golf", "Places to Play More Golf After Finishing Your Round", and more! I'm hoping that my readers will help with more topics.

For my readers that may be considering a trip to the Myrtle Beach area (or even surrounding areas), feel free to ask me questions and I will be most happy to give you the "skinny" on the best of the beach.

Post your suggestions in the comments section of this golf blog and also on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Is Your Driver To Blame for Lack of Distance or Is It You?

Both driver and golf swing can be to blame for lack of distance off of the tee ...here's why.

During the course of a conversation with my teaching pro, Dale, I mentioned that I need to find ways to increase my driving distance. I am just not getting enough length off of the tee to put me into striking distance for more birdie opportunities. 

We investigated my golf swing and yes, my kinematic sequence is off so I am practicing driving more from my legs but there also seems to be a problem with the length of my driver shaft.

Dale measured me - and my Callaway X2 Hot driver - and found that my driver shaft is too long - Dale is about 6'2" and his driver shaft measures out at approximately 1 1/2 inches shorter than mine!

What impact can a too-long driver have on the average golfer?

According to Dale, and to PGA Tour professional Bubba Watson, the length of your driver can affect your distance off of the tee. Where you might think that the longer the shaft the more distance off of the tee, the opposite is true.

"Trying a longer shaft is a popular suggestion these days, but most players should, if anything, try a shaft half an inch shorter than what's in their driver. (The average, off-the-rack driver shaft today is 45½ inches)", writes Bubba Watson.

 "Tiger Woods at his longest used a relatively short 43½-inch driver, with a steel shaft to boot. You'll find it easier to hit the sweet spot with a shorter shaft, and you can go after tee shots without losing much control."

 What else can you do to a driver in order to get more distance?

Golf instructors believe that a higher lofted driver will increase your launch angle and provide you with more carry and roll.

Where these two factors (shaft length and loft) should help improve distance with your driver, it is also important to have a teaching professional look at your golf swing as the problems may not lie with your driver but with your angle of attack.

According to PGA Pro Mark Crossfield, "the way you deliver the club to the ball also has a massive effect on launch and spin."


Is it your driver or is it you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.