How to Master Golf Basics

By Sharon Penn
Learn golf basics from a certified PGA teaching professional.
Learn golf basics from a certified PGA teaching professional.

Golf is not an easy game to learn, but if you put in the time necessary to master the basics, you can have years of enjoyment on the golf course.

There is a lot to learn, and the best way to start out is to learn the fundamentals from a PGA teaching professional. Group lessons for beginners can be informative at first. With a little practice, you will soon be ready for individual lessons, and then on to the golf course.

Step 1

Grip the club properly with an overlapping, interlocking or 10-finger baseball grip. The club will sit diagonally between the first and second joint of the index finger, all the way to the base of the pinkie. Place your feet as wide as your shoulders for a tee shot with a driver.

To use a full swing with other clubs, your feet should be about as wide as your hips. Bend your knees, lean forward and allow your arms to hang from the shoulder sockets.

Step 2

Position the ball left of center toward the inside of your front foot, which should be directly below the front shoulder socket, for a tee shot. Move the ball toward the center of your stance for shots with a more lofted club.

Step 3

Check to make sure your clubface is square to the target.

Many golfers set the clubface to the target line before they set their feet and the rest of the body. Choose an intermediate target, an object like a twig or discolored grass, that is located about 2 feet in front of the ball between the ball and the pin. This will keep you aligned as you hit your shot with your head lowered.

Step 4

Move the club back by making a shoulder turn around your spine. Your weight will shift to the back foot, and your wrists will be cocked at 90 degrees when your arms and the club are parallel to the ground.

Step 5

Start the downswing by moving your front knee toward the target. Your hands, arms and body will work together smoothly to shift your weight to the front foot as you make impact with the ball and follow through.

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