Golf Swing and Confidence

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
  I just started playing golf and I really renjoy it. I have two questions for you. I don't know what it is, but it seems like I have a lot of trouble teeing off. I can't seem to get the ball in the air most of the time. it seems to just roll on the ground. this also happens when I am on the fairway. My freind tells me it is because of my swing. He says I swing too fast and I don't understand what he means becaus eit looks like I swing at the same speed as. Is it my golf swing?

My other question is hiw do you keep your focus when you are having a bad game? I went with a freind to play 9 and I was doing okay until hole 5 when on a par 4 I triple bogeied. After that it was all down hill and I couldn't get out of that rut. Any pointers for me?

ANSWER: Hi Brandon:

You bet.  Congratulations on gettting started playing this great game.  You will love it and be able to play forever.  As far as your questions, in regards to teeing off, do you tee your ball up high enough?  And do you have enough loft on your driver?  You need a driver that has at least 10.5 degrees of loft, and if you are new I would recommend a 14 degree driver, something that has some loft on it.  Next is to make sure you have the proper shaft in your driver.  To check that, you need to go to a good club repair facility or your local PGA Professional and ask to be fit correctly so the shaft can help you get the ball up in the air.  They will know what that question means.  Then, get some lessons from a PGA Professional and start understanding why certain things happen in your golf swing.  As far as keeping your focus, you let a bad hole affect the rest of your day.  In golf, you play one shot at a time.  If you mess up a shot, forget it, and focus on the next shot so you can do your best to recover and save some shots.  It's real easy to say, I know it's hard to do.  The mental part of golf is amazing.  Each shot presents it's own challenge.  By allowing a poor shot to upset you to the point that the rest of the day is destroyed is nothing more than a learning process.  But if you don't let it go, it WILL bring your game down for the rest of the round.  Look forward to each shot and the challenge it presents, play one shot at a time and focus on the shot at hand.  Try not to get too far forward and do not let yourself dwell on the past.  Stay in the moment.  With some practice, you'll start to improve your results.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes sir I do, Sometimes I think I have it too high. I really don't know how to measure but I can assure you it is high. My wife just bought me some new clubs and they are graphite. To be honest I am scared to use my driver because of what happens but when I use my 3 wood I seem to have a better game on the tee but when I want to use a 3 wood or any wood on the fairway I can't seem to get lift. Thanks for the confidence boost I am sure it will really help me.

Answer
Brandon:  Next step:  Lessons.  Get some quality, PGA help.   Get some answers to your questions and get some help so you can work to get that ball airborne.  No fun playing golf along the ground.  You also need to get your clubs fit properly to you.  If you have never had that done, go onto the PING or Titleist or Callaway or Taylor Made websites, look up Club Fitting and see if there is someone in your area who does this.  At the very least, it will be a great education for you.  Once your golf clubs personally fit you, get some lessons and start working on your game.  Golf clubs are made to be hit in the air.  If you cannot do that, then either the equipment does not fit you or you have some fundamental swing problems a PGA Golf Professional can help you with.  Good luck.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member