The holiday season is over and many of you have likely received a new golf club (s) as a gift. You are excited to hit the links and see what your new found treasure holds in store for your golf game. I did not receive anything this year, but in the past I was lucky enough to be blessed with new drivers, wedges and hybrids. The first thing I wanted to do was hit the course and swing away. Of course, this approach to using new equipment was folly and my experience tells me I should have hit the range first. Well, that is my advice to you today: hit the range first and see what your new clubs can do before playing the guessing game on the course.

I could go through a bunch of reasons on why using new equipment on the golf course is never a good idea, but I think you already know them. The fact that you are excited to hit you new golf club on the course outweighs any commonsense thoughts you might have. Personally, I respect this approach because it is fun and exciting until you start to struggle. Then you start to develop buyers remorse and the new saviour of your game gathers dust in your bag. Don’t shake your head no; you know this happens. 😉

The logical approach to using golf clubs for the first time is to hit the range. It is important to figure out where this new gem fits into your game. You might have purchased an new driver and realize that it does go farther off the tee, but is less accurate. Or you bought a 3 hybrid and find out there is no difference between it and your 5 wood. There are multiple challenges each player faces when taking their new equipment out for the first time. The key approach is to figure out how the club performs and where it best fits in your golf game.

I am not trying to damper your excitement, but rather trying to improve the overall joy your experience from your new toy. Learning how to hit your new golf club will definitely improve the positive emotions your first received from your gift. I recommend you take the time at the range to figure out how to best use this prize and then hit the links. Of course, the choice is always yours.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!