| Golf is a great sport to play. However, learning to | | | | a complete stop. This was very painful. I would |
| play golf is not as easy as it looks. So, if you | | | | get this pain underneath my ribs from hitting the |
| want to learn to play this sport, there is one thing | | | | ground so hard. I also noticed that I wasn't the |
| you must do. That is, you must take golf lessons. | | | | only one trying to find that perfect swing. I would |
| I'm talking about taking lessons from a qualified | | | | see other people hitting bad shot after bad shot in |
| instructor. What I mean by a qualified instructor is | | | | the practice range. There would be some guys |
| someone who will show you the basics and teach | | | | with big muscles and trying to kill the ball, |
| you the correct swing. Also, that person will | | | | especially since they had their girlfriend watching |
| analyze your swing and provide instruction on how | | | | them. But the result was the same as mine. |
| to improve your swing. | | | | When I would go golfing, I went as far as aiming |
| What I don't suggest is taking lessons from your | | | | 90 degrees from my target just so the ball would |
| buddy who's probably an ok golfer but cannot | | | | go in the right direction. I practiced several times |
| dedicate the time needed to help you learn to | | | | a week and hit hundreds of balls and I still couldn't |
| play the game. Now, if your buddy is a very good | | | | find the correct swing. The problem was that I |
| golfer and can spend the time to show you the | | | | learned the wrong swing. I programmed my mind |
| basics and analyze your swing and point out | | | | to keep swinging this certain way and could never |
| exactly what's wrong, then by all means go take | | | | improve my game. |
| lessons from this person. Obviously, you'll be off | | | | With lessons, you will learn all the basics of the |
| to a good start with this person. | | | | golf swing and most important of all, you will learn |
| But if that's not the case, you'll be hurting your | | | | how to swing the club correctly. This will give you |
| chance of learning the correct swing fro the | | | | something to practice and program this swing and |
| beginning. When I started to play golf I did this | | | | improve over time using this same swing. Now as |
| very thing. I went with my friend to the golf | | | | far as hitting the ball straight and long is not |
| course. He showed me the proper grip, stance | | | | guaranteed, but you'll have a good starting point |
| and the basic swing. After that, I practiced for | | | | to improve on. |
| about half an hour hitting practice shots. Then, I | | | | After being frustrated with hitting bad shots, I |
| was ready to hit the course, at least that's what | | | | finally went out and took a lesson or two and |
| was going through my mind. I was wrong. Every | | | | learned exactly what I was doing wrong. The |
| shot I hit would go sideways. There were even a | | | | problem was that I had to reprogram myself to |
| couple of times where I almost hit some other | | | | swing differently than what I was used to. This |
| golfers. It was so embarrassing. Let me tell you, | | | | took a lot of time and to this day, I still have |
| this was the longest day of my life. | | | | problems hitting good shots consistently. If I |
| And after all that I never took golf lessons. Like | | | | would have taken golf lessons from the beginning |
| other beginners, I thought there was nothing to | | | | from a qualified instructor, I would be in better |
| hitting a golf ball. I figured I just needed more | | | | shape than I am now and I would enjoy playing |
| practice. I tried to swing as hard as I could on | | | | the game more than I do now. |
| every shot. Sometimes I actually hit the ball, but it | | | | The bottom line is, if you want to learn to play |
| would go up in the air and go to the right, or | | | | golf, do it the right way and take lessons instead |
| what is referred to as a slice. The harder I hit the | | | | of trying to find the correct golf swing on your |
| ball the more the ball would slice. Sometimes I | | | | own. You will enjoy the game a whole lot more. |
| would hit the ground and the club would come to | | | | |