'Balls! I'm becoming addicted to golf' blog discussion

PRC

Good variety of replies. Are any of them helpful ?

Although there are gadgets about which purport to find balls, they usually don't work (the one I tried was useless at 2 feet) and, when you get really serious, they're illegal in competitions.

The solid answer is the pedantic one; learn how not to lose them. Until 4 years ago, I'd played golf for about 40 years at about 16 handicap on the basis that I was fairly good at ball-games and should be able to self-improve with the occasional swing-check from a pro. This never really worked but I lived in hope.

As a birthday present for my son (we all have these brilliant sons ?), I bought him a lesson with one of the top-25 National coaches listed in the monthly golf magazines. The nearest one was at a slightly unexciting golf range in Berkshire. I left him with the fairly senior coach (as old as me) for an hour and drove him home afterwards. When we next played I got him to show me the two best tips he'd received; just these two (which I'd never been shown before) promptly started to make a huge difference to the way I hit the ball and I realised that I was onto something.

On the strength of this I shared 3 further lessons with my son (same coach) and now play off 9 from the white tees and 4 off the yellows. I'm over 60. Golf balls usually wear out before I lose them (I told you pedantic).

Buy a course of 5 lessons with a qualified pro at roughly weekly or 10-day intervals. The odd one or two don't work because the pro is frightened of messing you up completely. Make notes after each (it's unbelievably easy to forget what the guy has shown you after a few hours) and practice on a practise-ground between lessons (vital). If you still can't do it get him to show you again next time. The address position and backswing are incredibly vital; I thought for years that they did'nt really matter.

There are good teachers and not so good ones. The guy in Berkshire is nearer to you (if you play in West London) than he is to me. Let me know if you want the contact but I can't make it generally public without asking him.

Hope this helps a bit. Get stuck in ! It's a wonderful game, especially if the bloke with whom you're trying to do an important business deal plays as well !

Regards,

wilf55

totally agree PRC

my son has had lessons since the age of 5 and plays of a 1.8 off the white tees at age just 14 could have been lower this season but out for a month with an injury in the middle of it...he has had through england 2 of the best 25 coaches and they were excellent but sticks with a guy who is just as good an knows his swing and faults to a tee!!! pardon the pun!

a good coach is better than any of the latest equipment or ball finders for that matter

bluenoseam

you used to be able to get balls which flashed on contact for X amount of time - should make it easier if not to track the flight of the ball then to find them in the rough, sh*t out of luck in the drink though but i guess that's not really going to be a problem since if it goes in there, it belongs to Davy Jones!

westy85

Me and my golfing buddies keep an eye on each others ball when we each play a shot.

After all it is easier to keep track of a ball when you're not focusing on your stance, your grip and your swing etc.

pawlala

managed to get round 18 holes without losing a ball this summer. The round also included a birdie, but I'm not sure which of the two achievements was the best...

MSE_Martin

I agree with the getting lessons idea - its time for me.

I shot 90 on a par 67 today - which is getting close to my best ever, but the improvement slowed, my problem is inconsistency and a long drive but a big slice.

Start of the sun next year - lessons here i come (not much point now its getting colder)

wallbash

my problem is inconsistency

Thats the problem with all golfers , we do that one magic drive/chip shot or putt ..... then its the standard rubbish!

wilf55

thats where you are wrong

you need to do the lessons now .. so that you can work on your swing and get it 'in the groove' then when the season begins you are ready

many coaches even have an indoor swing room if you feel the cold that much

you can then go to the range during winter and practice what you have learnt. you can then even swing with a club in your living room if its big enough to just practice the swing or dig out a woolie jumper and get on the course during winter

good luck

black_taxi_2

mon--fri

you can play any course scotland--muirfield exception

play LINKS ---great experience

north berwick--would be a good start

great scenery--if your not hitting golf ball to well

black_taxi_2

http://www.northberwickgolfclub.com/