Which Holes Do I Get Strokes On?

How do I figure out which holes I get strokes on? I am a 24 handicap (still trying to figure it all out) and play with friends who always keep the score. I want to know how to do it as well. thanks.

Good Question. Stay with it it takes some time to learn. The most important thing is you are playing and enjoying the game.

To answer your question, it really depends on who you are playing with so let's take an example and then you will understand how to do it. This can get confusing depending on what type of game you are playing. We will use individual stroke play for the example. If you are playing as a 24 handicap and lets say you are playing with a 4 and a 14 handicap. Let's take you against the 14 first. 24-14=10 shots that you will be getting from that person. If you look on the scorecard on an eighteen hole course you will see a line that says handicap. The holes on the front nine are odd numbers and the holes on the back nine are even numbers. You will get strokes on the first ten holes going by the handicap line. So the first hole that you get a stroke on will be on the front nine and the second you will get on the back nine...etc. until you reach ten strokes. It will be different at every golf course. The same thing happens when you play a four handicap. 24-4=20 strokes. You will get a stroke on every hole and when you hit 18 you still have two more strokes right? You will start over and receive them on the #1 and #2 handicap holes to receive all 20 strokes. So on these two holes you will receive two strokes on these two holes. If you have any other questions please feel free to submit them at coach@wirelessgolfcoach.com. In addition, you you find many questions about golf that have been answered by PGA Professionals.Good Luck and let us know how it goes or if you have any other questions.

How Do I Create Lag In My Golf Swing?

I am a decent player but I do not hit the ball very far. I have been told that I need more lag in my golf swing. What is lag and how can I do that in my golf swing?

First let me try and explain lag to you and then we will talk about how to create lag in your golf swing.

First you must understand than you have two choices, whether you know it or not, when you swing a golf club. You can choose to pull the golf club or you can choose to push the golf club. With that being said, you need to choose to pull the golf club to create lag in your golf swing. It is much more efficient and powerful to pull the golf club. The easiest way that I can explain it to you here is that it is pulling the golf club with your body as opposed to pushing the golf club with your hands and arms.

An image that has worked with many of my students is to imagine that you are holding a bucket of water. As you try to swing the bucket of water, how will you go about making this happen? You will start turning your bigger muscles to make it happen. This will allow you to keep the water in the bucket. If you try to use your hands and arms to make this happen the water will start to come out of the bucket and get you wet!

Is there a easy golf drill that can help you create lag in the golf swing? Yes there is. Pick a target and address the golf ball as you normally would. Now for a right handed golfer, take your thumb and index finger of your right hand off of the golf club. Making your thumb and index finger to look like a gun will return the best results. Do not get lazy and let these two fingers start to curl back around the grip of the golf club. This will defeat the purpose.

Think about what you are doing with your grip and what the results are going to be. Your thumb and index finger help you do most everything that you do during the day. You employ these two fingers to help you hold a fork, writing with a pencil or pen and many other things. Simply put, these two fingers are used to taking over whatever task you are trying to do. Taking your thumb and index fingers off of the golf club they cannot join the action. This makes the club heavier to you and allows the golf club to drop from the top of your back swing. This will force you to turn towards your target or use a larger range of motion, unless you enjoy hitting behind the golf ball!

When this is done correctly you will feel the golf club placing more pressure on the straight index finger since you are now pulling the golf club. That is the feeling of lag in your golf swing that you have created. Once you have done this drill and are comfortable that you now understand the correct feeling of lag in a golf swing, you can curl your fingers back around the grip. However, this time I want you to make your thumb and index finger touch. This allows you to get the same feeling without answering the questions on the golf course from your golfing buddies about what you are doing.

Understand the “gun grip” as I have come to call it, is legal and you can use it on the golf course. I have had students play very good eighteen-hole rounds utilizing the gun grip to create more lag in their golf swing.

How Do I Check My Golf Alignment?

I have been having trouble being aimed properly at my target. I feel like I am making a good swing but my shots are starting out to the right. How do I check my golf alignment?

Since golf alignment is a main golf fundamental to each and every golf shot, here are some simple exercises that you can quickly and easily do to check your golf swing alignment.

First, prepare to hit a golf shot as you normally would and make sure you are comfortable. Now that you are ready to make your golf swing, place a tee directly behind each of your heels and push both tees all the way into the ground. Now move away from your setup and place a club's shaft over both of the tees to create a straight line. Now, go behind your ball and look down the target line. Does it match what you thought?

This golf alignment exercise shows you exactly where you are aligning your feet. If your pictures do not match, then you can simply change or move the tees so they align correctly and then setup with the tees touching the back of your heels. If you were not aligned properly, do not be surprised that when you setup to your next shot with your heels properly placed that you will feel that you are aimed somewhere else. If your feet have been aligned incorrectly for a while, then it will feel quite strange when you do align them correctly. Keeping track of your alignment, your new feet position will become second nature in no time at all.

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How Do I Get The Ball Closer On My First Putt?

I am learning the game and have just started to take golf lessons. I have not taken a putting lesson yet and I am having trouble getting my first putt close to the hole. Is there an easy way to get better at this?

First, we are very glad that you have Linked Up 2 Golf and have begun to play this great game. Second, do not hesitate to take a putting lesson. It will be money well spent, as more than half of your strokes will come from putting and the short game. Third, use the free golf instruction here as well as at Wireless Golf Coach.

Finally to fully answer your question, go to the practice putting green with three to five golf balls and your putter for an putting drill. At first, you will not need your putter but keep it close. Position yourself about twenty feet away from a hole and try to make the would be putt as flat as possible. What do i mean would be putt? We are first going to roll (not pitch) on the ground one ball towards the hole. Notice how far your arm moves. Your arm should not "wind up" behind you. To roll the ball the proper distance, your arm will move much shorter back than it will move on the way through. Note it is also important to hold your arm in its "finish position" until the golf ball stops rolling. Once comfortable with this simply pick up your putter and turn sideways to address you putt and "underhand the putter" just as you did to roll the ball to the hole.

You can also do this to the edge of the green if a hole is not available. You will see one of the tour players on a putting green looking like they are trying to underhand a ball to a hole. They are attempting to get the feel for the speed of the putt just as this putting drill allows you to do.

Junior Golf Guide For Parents

I have two kids that enjoy playing golf. My oldest is going to be a freshman in high school this year. Do you have any suggestions of junior golf guides that would help us if they keep getting more serious about the game?

I would highly recommend to contact your local PGA section office. They will likely have the schedule of junior golf events for the summer. You can find a contact number for the section you are located in at PGA.com. In addition, Jacqui Nicoletti has authored The Golf Guide For Parents And Players. This golf book for junior golfers will take you through Junior Golf all the way to the highest levels of professional golf.

How Should I Hold The Club?

I have just started playing golf and am 12 years old. I am pretty small for my age. How should I hold the club? Should I use the ten finger grip until I get bigger?

Yes you can!!! There is nothing wrong with the ten finger grip which is also known as the base ball grip. There still are some "grip laws" that you need to follow with any grip that you use. Read the article Clap For Your Golf Grip to make sure that you are properly using the ten finger grip. It is GREAT that you are playing golf now. Make sure you are spending time on your short game and your putting and you will enjoy the game for a long time. Keep asking questions here and Wireless Golf Coach will help you however we can!!!

How Do I Start My Kids In Golf?

I have two children a boy 10 years old and a girl 12 years old. Being a long-time golfer myself, I am happy that my daughter has expressed interest in starting to play golf. I am happy about this because we could spend some more time together. How do I get her and her brother started?

That is great that your daughter wants to learn how to play golf this great game! The main thing for both of your kids is to keep the game fun for them. At first they may tire quickly and be ready to go before you are ready. Do not get frustrated be happy you got to spend that time with them. Below are some articles that should help guide you as well.

Lessons For Junior Golfers
Secrets To Keep Golf Fun For Juniors

Good Luck!

At VGS Golf find golf instruction articles written on topis such as Full Swing, Golf Club Fitting, Golf Fitness, Mental Game, Putting, Short Game, Golf Equipment, Ladies Golf, Junior Golf as well as various topics that you would hear in a 19th Hole.

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