Category: Uncategorized

Beginner Golf Clubs?

Abby Welch GolfLeave a comment

What clubs does a beginner golf club need to start with? Well this is a hard question for many reasons.

First Question: Should the student buy a set of golf clubs? I always compare this to a gym membership. If I purchase a gym membership will this entice me to go more. Probably yes, but there is always the gym membership that we use for the first month and then it just sits there. Golf clubs could be the same way. But, the good thing about golf clubs is you can use them for at least a couple years if not more. In the end if you are able to buy a set, I believe you should. I feel like it is a bit of a waste to keep renting clubs over and over again. Plus, it is a great feeling to learn to hit with your own clubs.

Second Question: What clubs should the student buy? As always, I believe a budget is where most people should begin. There are some fabulous golf clubs out there but you will definitely pay for them. If you are willing to pay for them, that is great and you can. But as a beginner is that the correct way to go? I believe beginners should start with a good set to get them started. I suggest walking into a golf store (leaving your wallet in the car) and looking around. Try some clubs. What do you feel? What do you like? What is being offered? Do you have an opinion?

My Opinion: Usually there are sets of clubs which include 12 clubs that are prepackaged. These are great for beginners. It gives you everything you need all in one box! Now, stick with golf brands such as Callaway, Ping, Taylor Made etc. This is the best choice in my opinion. It is the happy medium. You get plenty of clubs to use, descent technology, and a fairly affordable price. As a beginner, the students doesn’t know what a great club is compared to a good club. Which is fine. It will take a year or two to determine this. Therefore this is why the prepackaged sets are a great beginning to your golf game!

Up Hill Lies

Abby Welch Golf4 Comments

I am going to start a series of blogs call Trouble Shots. A trouble shot is a shot on the course that your average swing is compromised. These shots include, Up Hill and Down Hill Lies, Ball Above and Ball Below Lies, and Punch Shots.

This blog we are going to concentrate on Up Hill Lies. This means that the hill you are standing on the ball will be traveling up a hill. These are things I look at:

Ball Flight: The ball will go higher because you are swinging up the hill therefore the loft of the club may increase

Club Selection: Possibly a club stronger because the ball might go higher therefore less yardage. Also, depending on the amount of swing I can take, I might choose a longer club so I can travel farther in a smaller swing.

Swing Decisions: How big is the hill and how is it going to effect my swing. The bigger the hill the harder it will be to transfer my weight. This goes back to club selection and ball flight. The smaller the hill the less my swing will be effected therefore the ball flight will not be effected as much. A big hill will effect my transfer of weight a lot. Therefore I will need to take a smaller swing and a longer club to get more distance.

In Swing Thoughts: Remember to always swing with the hill. How you do this is when you set up to your hill your shoulders will match the hill (front shoulder is higher than back shoulder) and it will feel like you are following through up the hill. My last thought before I swing is transfer my weight as much as possible so my shot will be the best it can be!

Check out my video for the play by play!! Look for more trouble shot blogs coming soon!

Proper Warm Up Before Play

Abby Welch GolfLeave a comment

First I want to apologize for the long break, between a busy summer and Hurricane Florence, life just got busy. A little shout out to everyone in North Carolina, wishing you all sunny skies and fast recovery.

But I am back in business and ready to get back to my blog!

When we first walk up to the practice tee we are so excited to play the golf course. We think warming up is taking our driver and take big swings to get our body loose.  Unfortunately, this is basically like walking into a gym and picking up a 50lb barbel and just beginning to lift. You wouldn’t do that to warm up in the gym, so you shouldn’t warm up first with a driver on the practice tee.

First, you should stretch your body out. Arm circles, toe touches, side lunges, etc. Once you have adequately stretched, place a stick/ club on the ground to get your proper alignment. Please make sure you are aiming at a target before you begin to warm up. I can not stress this enough. Then we are ready to grab a club – the PW! It is one of the shortest clubs and we can start with small swings. These small swings are going to be a chip shot! Take about 10 swings just using your shoulders, watching the club face move back and forth without it twisting and turning. When we feel good, then go to a pitch shot (basically a half swing). This adds your hips into the swing. Nice half swing shots making sure you are finishing at your target with your hips finishing all the way. About 10-15 of these swings. Then work yourself into a full swing. Now that you have stretched your body properly, you are ready to swing the club all the way back and through freely without pain or tightness.  After these go to an iron, a couple full swings, then a hybrid or a fairway wood. And lastly the driver! Maybe even visualize an imaginary fairway while you hit these driver shots, preferably visualize the first hole if you have played the course before.

What this will do is prime your brain to play, and help with first tee jitters as well.  This is not a time to try and fix your swing and worry about technique or mechanics.  This time on the practice tee is only for warming up your body and swing.  The time to worry about mechanics has passed, the time for action has come.  Once you feel sufficiently warmed up, head to the practice putting green and roll a few putts to get a feel for the greens.  After that, you are ready to head out to the first tee and smash that first drive down the fairway!