Just starting...should I wait on swing speed training?

Question:

I'm 52, just picked up the game in Jan 08. Presently shot a 90 on a par 67 and loving the game. My question is, "should I get my fundamentals down before looking into your training?"

Jaacob's Answer:

Shooting a 90 already is fantastic considering you started only 2 months ago!

I'd wait a little bit on the swing speed training, but I think the website could still benefit you even at this stage because of the additional sections like the "Shortcuts to Lower Scores".  My only reservation against it is overloading you with too much information.

Whether or not you decide to do it, I'd advise you to have fun, don't over analyze your swing too much (many golfers get caught up in this), and spend 2/3 of any practice time you do working on short pitches, chipping, and putting (as long as you can get the ball near the green in regulation, having a good short game can still get you shooting close to par - most amateurs only work on the full swing...which is why they don't shoot as low of scores).

I started out in the 90s.  I got down to the 80s making better contact and with slightly better chipping.  I got down in to the 70s with keeping the ball in play off the tee more (less penalty strokes), placing the ball in safer spots (playing smarter), and working a lot on my chipping and pitching.  I got down in the 60s from working on my mental and emotional states, aiming at less pins and going more for the center of the green, and improving even more on chipping and pitching.

The days I had my two lowest scores of 64 and 65, I was driving the ball long and in to safe spots, was putting my longer approaches on the green or where I had an easy chip, was getting my 30-100 yard pitches in very close, and then making almost all the putts inside 10 feet.  Short game makes a big difference.