I'm a beginner, how can I get better?

This is the first in what might be a series of observations, based both on my own experience and that of others.

When I started, I used the power bar to regulate distance.  I had heard golf commentators saying things like "He'll be using about a 3/4 wedge" and thought, sure, that's what I need to do.  If the elevation was above me, I added a smidge.  If below, I took off a smidge.  If it was 80 ft. below, I would drop a club or two, and add or subtract a smidge based on how I did the last time I made that shot.

Results, as they say, were unpredictable.  I could not consistently make a good approach.  What worked last time was way off the next. 


The first thing a beginner should try to do is adopt some sort of system to make adjustments based on current conditions.  There is only one I know of that has been written down, and that is by Adzias.  His page is How to Target Approach Shots, and it explains the method he developed for beginner/intermediate players. 

When I first saw it, it looked like too much to digest, so I put off studying it.  Finally, the frustration level got high enough that I broke down, printed it out, and started applying it.  Results became much more predictable!  :-)

The more I used it, the more I liked it, so I created a quick reference guide version of it and put it on the blog.  When printed, the meat of the measurements can fit on two pages, which makes it easy to keep next to you for reference.

If you are getting frustrated with your scores, try this out.