well just been reading some post, theres guys on here that are 14-15 and have a 2 handicap.  how do you guys get so good? natural? lessons?

well i've been playing for 3 years, and i usualy shoot mid 80's on 18 holes, but this is my 4th year, and i seem to be going down the drain. i have a hard time stayin in the 90's..i can't seem to hit my irons how i use to. i hit some shanks, and a bunch of slices, i use to hit draws, i dunno, maybe i need to take some lessons. 

are these the same 14 year olds claiming to drive the ball 300+ yards?  i try not to believe things people tell me on the internet unless i personally know them.  especially when it comes to their golf game.

Yes some of these 14 year olds really do drive the ball 300+ and the way they get so good is practice practice and then practice some more I know some kids that are at the golf course 8-10 hours a day over the summer

 Golf Specific work outs help a lot of these kids hit the ball that far

i practice practice practice too, but i don't get any better. maybe because i don't know what i need to practice on. i think i need to get some lessons.  I read the prep golf scores in the paper, and they've got kids shooting even par.  makes me jealous, but i guess thats golf. if it were that easy everybody would play it...well its hard as heck and everybody still plays it.

14 and 15 year olds who are really good are really good because they usually have fathers who play so they began playing golf early in life. Either that or they grew up with money so they are getting taught by the best, most expensive teachers around. All I have to say to the kids who's parents really urge them to play is to not let your parents get you burnt out on the game because they want you to be good. Just play when you want, it's supposed to be a fun game. Keep it fun. 

1mdgolf:

Yes some of these 14 year olds really do drive the ball 300+ and the way they get so good is practice practice and then practice some more I know some kids that are at the golf course 8-10 hours a day over the summer

 Golf Specific work outs help a lot of these kids hit the ball that far

Unless these 14 year olds are like 6 foot plus and 13 plus stone are they going to hit it 300 yards. I wouldn't believe everything you read on this forum.

And 14 is quite young for a golf specific exercise!

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www.tenbygolf.co.uk < My golf club, one of the best in Wales

I've seen some claims on this forum about 2-3 handicapped 12 year olds also.......and I don't believe a word of it!

if you dont get good even if you practice all the time then you must not be trying to improve, like you must just be hitting all your bad shots over and over instead of asking the club pro for advice

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Drive for show, Putt for dough

I will give you several things that might help you.  Practice is important but you must have some kind of teacher whether a really good amateur teacher, club professional, or at the very least read books and magazines about golf swing techniques.  You must first develope excellent fundamentals and routines so you can get your swing into some kind of groove that you can rely on.  Routines for set-up, take-away, follow through are crucial, as well as posture, grip and so on.  When you do practice it must be methodical and not willy-nilly otherwise you will develope bad habits.  So, in order to take your game to the next level you need a mentor and bottom-line dedication.  In order to perfect your game you must develope all aspects from tee to green.  Alot of players hit great drives and have an excellent iron game but fail miserably with pitching, chiping, sand play, and putting. 

You really have to love this game in order to excell.  It just depends on how much time and effort you are willing to expend....

Hang in there,

Patrick Lee 

 

 

 

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Patrick Brian Lee

Well im 12 a I shoot in the 70s and kids get good because of practice. You dont need many personal lessons you can watch the golf channel and look for tips and watch Players swing or read a book or go on the internet. I hit balls in a net about 3 hours every day and go on the range or play 9 or 18 holes about 3-4 times a week.I have only took lessons from one person Birk Nelson (he played on the Nationwide and Canadian Tour) and those are once a summer. So if you practice more you will get better.

I'm 20 years old.  I've shot even par off and on and played high school golf.  I stop playing golf during the school year and then play again in the summer.  By the end of the summer I shoot in the mid 70s consistently.

However, that is not the case in the Spring, when I start warming up. 

What I know starts to help me get back in form is practicing how I would play.  Read Tiger's tips (things like picturing a place to land the ball on the green when chipping) and then understand that the more golf you play the more you get a feel for how the ball checks or runs out on the green.  Try and feel the distances, etc.

Practicing, like everyone else has said, is key.  But practice with a purpose.  Understand what you're doing on each swing (DON'T JUST KEEP HITTING BALLS INTO THE RANGE).  Take your time.

When you do actually play rounds on the course, play each shot for what it is. Take your time.  When I play poorly I find that I'm thinking about what I SHOULD be shooting, not what I actually NEED to be doing.  My focus is not where it should be.  Play in the moment. 

I'm not a golf expert and I won't pretend to be.  Lessons are good for technique, but when it comes down to it, much of golf is feel, and that cannot be taught, it has to be learned on your own.

Best of luck to you,

 Jim

Jim, that is some good advice, i agree. "Practice with a purpose." Know what you are trying to fix. I wish i had the money to stop working and spend all day on the coarse, but i can't. I go out in the yard everyday though and atleast practice my swing, or on the range. I am a 13 handicap, and getting better all the time.

Sammwise:

1mdgolf:

Yes some of these 14 year olds really do drive the ball 300+ and the way they get so good is practice practice and then practice some more I know some kids that are at the golf course 8-10 hours a day over the summer

 Golf Specific work outs help a lot of these kids hit the ball that far

Unless these 14 year olds are like 6 foot plus and 13 plus stone are they going to hit it 300 yards. I wouldn't believe everything you read on this forum.

And 14 is quite young for a golf specific exercise!

 

Ok if you think 14 is too young you are crazy because if you are not doing some kind of physical fitness workouts you will passed by (I run over 2 miles at least 3 times a week) and i am a junior golfer        

I play at least 27 holes a day over the summer along with an hour on the driving range (and there are days i feel i am not doing enough)

As far as junior golfers being 2-3 handicaps That is very believable because i have seen rounds of 73 72 and 69 in tournaments this summer from kids that are 14 and 15

As someone said earlier, starting from a young age such as 5 or 6, kids have no fear of failing, (unless their parents teach them o/wise), they learn very quickly especially if they have a parent or friend that helps them. I've met a few guys that didn't pick up a club until their early twenties and are in pennant teams at their respective clubs. Some people are natural hand eye co-ordinated sportspeople. With the massive improvements in golf balls and clubs over the last 10 years I don't discount stories of teenagers with low h/caps, but hitting the ball 300 metres is a bit of a stretch.

1mdgolf:

Sammwise:

1mdgolf:

Yes some of these 14 year olds really do drive the ball 300+ and the way they get so good is practice practice and then practice some more I know some kids that are at the golf course 8-10 hours a day over the summer

 Golf Specific work outs help a lot of these kids hit the ball that far

Unless these 14 year olds are like 6 foot plus and 13 plus stone are they going to hit it 300 yards. I wouldn't believe everything you read on this forum.

And 14 is quite young for a golf specific exercise!

 

Ok if you think 14 is too young you are crazy because if you are not doing some kind of physical fitness workouts you will passed by (I run over 2 miles at least 3 times a week) and i am a junior golfer        

I play at least 27 holes a day over the summer along with an hour on the driving range (and there are days i feel i am not doing enough)

As far as junior golfers being 2-3 handicaps That is very believable because i have seen rounds of 73 72 and 69 in tournaments this summer from kids that are 14 and 15

Yeah, but running is hardly a golf specific exercise is it? I mean like working a certain a muscle group in the gym with weights...I would personally say 14 is quite young for that.

Also, I said nothing about 14 year olds not being able to shoot 69s etc...cos i have done it...but I just find it funny when they say like 'yeah I'm 14 and I average about 300 off the tee, with my longest 347!!!!!!!!'

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www.tenbygolf.co.uk < My golf club, one of the best in Wales