If You Had To Start Again - What Would You Do Differently?

[ScratchyDawg]

Wish I spent more time working on my game instead of chasing tail.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

I’d likely have started off learning to swing as fast as I could first. Learn all the mechanics of swinging faster.

 

Learn to hit the ball well with a fast swing.

 

Then learn to play golf.

[DavePelz4]

Great topic and somewhat like Hawkeye but on a different track, there isn't much I could have changed. Growing up in the middle of nowhere, the "pros" were the owners of the courses and believe me, they weren't anyone to be doing any teaching. We didn't have fitters yet alone a driving range and our high school coach was the football coach who had the same approach to both sports. Great guy but no mechanics advice, short game advice, course management strategy, etc. His simple theory, hit it as far as you can, try and find it and then it it again. Our warm up before matches/tournaments was to get off the bus and put our shoes on and then head to the first tee.

 

It wasn't until 15 years later living in a more suburban environment when all of the above came into play.

[Mych]

1) Walk only

2) Play white tees until I could break 80, then move back.

3) Not play baseball/softball for 25 years before starting golf.

4) Lessons early and often

[MountainGoat]

Be wealthier.

[Cicero]

1)Start young, hitting it as hard as I could.

 

2) Read golf magazines as entertainment, not sources of info to improve my swing.

 

3) Focus on ball flight, not trying to create a swing that will create the ball flight for me.

 

4) Play every chance I get, when I’m able. The opportunity to do so won’t always be there :)

[RichieHunt]

A couple more things I forgot.

 

A) Use a push cart. Lots of neck and clavicle issues over the years from carrying my bag. In the summertime, I would walk roughly 45 holes a day. It was a great experience, but carrying the bag did nothing for me.

 

B) Learn how to swing the club both left and right handed. Michael Lavery's book Whole Brain Planeid was a great read on the subject of ambidexterity. But the real eye opener was not only would it increase your hand eye coordination, but it was also a great way to naturally strengthen your body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[jbw749]

I wish I had played less golf when my kids were ages 6-16. Left the family many a Saturday for the day with the boys. It was fun. But, I should have spent more time with the kids. Now, they're out of the house, there's plenty of time to play.

Yep, more time with family. The game can distract you in so many ways. It definitely cost me one relationship. Remember fellas no matter how much she says she's ok with golfing every weekend, she's probably just saying that because she loves you. Don't take her for granted. No one actually cares how good you are at golf except yourself.

[i*windows]

gone to a pro on the day I decided to start playing.

[baudi]

Play lighter clubs

[Ayersjj]

I have just been reflecting on my last year's golf performance and I had a question pop into my head... "What would I do differently if I had to start again?"

 

I thought it was an interesting question so I'd like to hear what others would do if they had to start again but keeping your current knowledge.

 

If I were to start again I would be way less technical. I would focus on a few fundamentals of the swing and just go and play without filling my head with technical do's and don't's. I would also pick one shape of shot and focus on hitting that over and over again. That for me would be a fade because I've suffered with hook problems over the course of my playing career.

 

What would you do differently if you had to start again?

 

Nothing

The journey is yours and yours alone and cannot get better by going backwards. The beauty of this game is we die with it.

[GolfChannel]

I would also add play more actual golf and be less of a range rat when I am able to find time to dedicate to golf. I have learned that to truly get beyond your current skill level you just have to play more.

[SomedayScratch]

Worked with a coach starting at age 14 or so. Nipped my bad habit of getting club under the plane.

[Obee]

I would appreciate the game more at a younger age. I enjoyed golf, but I never saw it as "cool" when I was a kid, even as Tiger's aura grew, so I stuck to traditional sports.

 

Given how much I love the game now, it's one of those things I would like to have back in terms of poor life choices. My grandfather was a PGA Professional. I was an elite 4 sports athlete (I went to college for 3 of them. Flirted with the US National Team for 2 of them). I have no doubts given proper interest, drive, and instruction I would have played golf at an elite level as well.

 

They call it the "folly of youth" for a reason.

 

So what do you play to now?

[GolfChannel]

I would appreciate the game more at a younger age. I enjoyed golf, but I never saw it as "cool" when I was a kid, even as Tiger's aura grew, so I stuck to traditional sports.

 

Given how much I love the game now, it's one of those things I would like to have back in terms of poor life choices. My grandfather was a PGA Professional. I was an elite 4 sports athlete (I went to college for 3 of them. Flirted with the US National Team for 2 of them). I have no doubts given proper interest, drive, and instruction I would have played golf at an elite level as well.

 

They call it the "folly of youth" for a reason.

 

So what do you play to now?

 

Prior to taking 5 years off I was a plus 2.2, but currently a 3.2 (definitely not plus, thanks driver) since starting back up last January.

[The General]

would have started out with blades

[bober74]

would have started out with blades

 

Interesting, why do you say that?

[farmer]

Like Dave, I needed to be born somewhere else. Also, my father was going to have to do something else for a living so I didn't become a farm hand at an early age. Where I live, golf was not a thing. 30 miles to the nearest goat track, other things to do. Different world out in the country.

[theothertwo]

As mentioned earlier, I would get lessons from a pro.

[baloo]

Probably nothing. It's been a fun journey, no regrets!

[legitimategolf]

Squats

[MelloYello]

would have started out with blades

 

Interesting, why do you say that?

 

Probably the chicks.

[MelloYello]

Here's another thought...

 

...if I were starting over I'd commit more than I did.

 

It takes years to realize that you have to at some point choose whether or not to commit. And even then when you know you have to decide, many people (like me) still waver. Golf is a really tough skill-based hobby. Actually becoming good requires a lot of effort and that requires you actually push yourself.

 

For the first few years I just played and practiced because it was fun. It remained fun for the first 5 or so years. But since then, I've been stuck in that valley where I'm too good to quit but I'm not really invested enough to make any progress. All the low-hanging fruit is gone.

 

This year, I feel refreshed. The last couple years have been kind of depressing but I definitely want to commit myself again. Knowing that it's going to take some work, I just wish I'd buckled down a few years ago and been more regimented about it.

 

At some point you'll have to accept that it's not super fun and that you're going to have to grind through some real practice. Better to accept that early and get better than be iffy about it.

[Precis1on]

That the fix for an OTT swing is not to swing from the inside.

[basic]

I have just been reflecting on my last year's golf performance and I had a question pop into my head... "What would I do differently if I had to start again?"

 

I thought it was an interesting question so I'd like to hear what others would do if they had to start again but keeping your current knowledge.

 

If I were to start again I would be way less technical. I would focus on a few fundamentals of the swing and just go and play without filling my head with technical do's and don't's. I would also pick one shape of shot and focus on hitting that over and over again. That for me would be a fade because I've suffered with hook problems over the course of my playing career.

 

What would you do differently if you had to start again?

 

Putt cross handed

[BB28403]

Hey Guys I’m back! This dang game has better gravity than the sun.

 

I would be more humble and keep to fundamentals.