How to Hit a Golf Ball For Beginners | 5 Tips to Start off Strong
5 Golf Tips for Beginners
Are you a beginner golfer just getting started? Learning how to hit a golf ball takes time, practice, and patience, but with these tips, you’ll see yourself improving quickly.
When it Comes to Driving, Keep it Low & Slow
Many beginners think that you need to swing your driver as fast as possible for long distances, but actually the opposite is true! When you are first learning how to hit a drive, you want to keep your swing low and slow. This will help you develop good rhythm and form, and the weight of the driver alone will create the speed required to hit your ball a long distance.
Learn the Right Grip
Use an overlapping grip, which means that you place the pinkie finger of your dominant hand in between the index and middle finger of your non-dominant, connecting your two hands together that way. This allows for a solid grip and maximal wrist hinge.
Be sure that you are not gripping your club too tightly. Most beginners put too much pressure on their grip. Instead, you want to create a loose but firm grip. You can do this by applying pressure with both of your thumbs and allowing the rest of your hands to be quite loose.
Take a Wide Stance
Most beginner golfers do not take time at the start to learn the correct stance, and usually start out standing with their feet too close together. You want to have a wide stance so that you feel grounded, strong, and balanced. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and ground yourself with your weight equally distributed in both legs when about to hit a golf ball.
Practice Your Posture
Posture is very important when you’re learning how to hit a golf ball. To get the perfect golf posture, stand in the mirror and practice bending at the hips (not the waist). Your arms should be right below your shoulders and your chest should be over your toes.
Go to the Driving Range
Practice makes perfect. It’s a good idea to make a habit of going to the driving range regularly, and create a consistent practice routine. A good general rule is to hit at least 50 balls at each driving range session, and make a point of taking two practice swings for each ball. Make sure that you always have a specific target you’re aiming for so that you can practice accuracy as well as distance.
Best Golf Ball for Beginners
Generally speaking, the best golf balls for beginners are those that enhance hitting distance and have a reasonably soft feel. The Titleist Trufeel is often popular with beginners because of its soft feel and good control. Another beginner favorite is the Callaway ERC Soft, a ball designed with their patented High Energy Core to give you more distance with a soft feel. These are both great balls for beginners to start out with, but it’s also a good idea to play around with various different balls in order to learn what’s best for you in terms of feel and swing speed.
To learn how to choose the right golf ball for you, check out our article on the best golf balls of 2022
