Golf tips for women beginners

The situation

You are starting out and most of the advice you find assumes a player who is taller, swings faster, or both. Some of it fits and some of it does not.

Every note on this site works for you as written. The parts worth thinking about first are club fit, which tees to play, and a plan for your first round.

The fix

1. 01
   Fit the clubs to you, not to a label Women's sets are usually shorter, lighter and have more flexible shafts. That suits many players, but not all. Choose by your height and swing speed. A taller player may need standard length, and a faster swing may need a firmer shaft. See choosing a starter set.
2. 02
   Choose loft over distance Higher-lofted woods and hybrids get the ball in the air more easily than long irons and low-lofted drivers. The starter bag list covers which ones to carry.
3. 03
   Check the grip size Smaller hands often suit a smaller grip. A grip that is too thick can make it hard to square the face. The grip size note shows how to check.
4. 04
   Play the tees that fit your distance Courses have several sets of tees. Pick the set where you can reach most greens in a sensible number of shots, whatever colour or name they carry. The game is more fun, and the group moves faster.
5. 05
   Build the same basics Grip, aim and ball position matter the same for every player. Start with the grip, then setup, then a few simple drills.
6. 06
   Plan the first round Read the first-round note and the etiquette card before you go. A short or par-3 course, or nine holes at a quiet time, is a relaxed place to start.

Club fitting basics for women beginners

• Length: women's clubs are usually about an inch shorter than men's standard. Taller women may need men's or women's-plus-length clubs.
• Shaft flex: a flexible "ladies" or "senior" flex suits many beginner swing speeds and helps the ball get airborne.
• Loft: more loft on the driver (often 12° or more) and hybrids instead of long irons make the long game easier.
• Grip size: check it on golf grip size.

Which tees to play

Play the tees that suit your distance, not the ones labelled for you. If you can reach most par 4s in three shots, you are on the right tees. Moving forward makes the game faster and more fun.