Playing and learning the game of golf can lead to many years of playing the sport. To train for the game of golf, a golfer needs to learn the basics of the game. Some of those keys including how to address the ball, learning to hit the driver, hitting irons from the fairway and understanding the short game. Training to play the game of golf means learning all of these areas and continuing to work on them consistently.
Addressing the Ball
Learning how to stand over the ball is one of the most important aspects of training for golf. Make sure your left shoulder--for a right-handed golfer--is facing the target. Your left foot needs to be directly under your left shoulder. Your feet should be just a couple of inches wider than shoulder-width apart. Play the ball about one ball length closer to your front foot than your back foot. Bend your knees so they are in an athletic position and you can transfer your weight easily from your back leg to your front leg. Addressing the ball properly won't guarantee you will hit the ball well, but addressing the ball incorrectly will almost assure that you will hit the ball poorly.
Tee Shot
Go to the driving range to work on your tee shots. Hitting the ball off the tee is one of the most important shots to learn in golf. Every hole starts off with a tee shot. On par-4 and par-5 holes, you will almost always tee off with your driver. Hitting with the driver requires a solid backswing, keyed by a hip turn toward the rear. You must rotate fully in order to get your body behind the swing. Bring your arms and shoulders back until your forearms and your club form a 90-degree angle. Drive your hips back through the ball and let your arms and shoulders follow. Accelerate through the hitting zone and don't finish your swing until your arms are at shoulder height.
Iron Play
Hitting the ball well with your irons requires consistency and accuracy. You are not looking for distance with your irons. While you hit your driver with a slight upswing, the physics of golf requires you hit down on the ball with your irons in order to get the ball in the air. Practice your irons by setting up a net in your backyard so you learn how to hit down on the ball.
Short Game
The key to scoring in golf is the short game. This includes your pitch shots, chip shots, bunker play and your putting. Training properly for the short game can include going to the practice range and working with your pitching wedge, gap wedge, lob wedge and sand wedge. You also have to learn to chip with your 9-iron. Putting can be practiced on the practice green found at most courses. However, even if you learn the form for all of these shots, you have to prove it on the course and this can only be done by playing consistently.
Expert Insight
Going to the driving range and practicing all aspects of your game can lead to consistent and rapid improvement. "The only way to get better is to keep playing as often as you can," said pro golfer Jim Furyk. "You may feel like you are struggling but the more your practice the sooner you will understand what it takes and that training and hard work will pay off."
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