Golf Tutorials

How to Golf at Topgolf

By Spencer Lanoue
July 24, 2025

Thinking about your first trip to Topgolf can be both exciting and a little intimidating, especially if you’ve never swung a golf club before. This guide cuts through the noise to give you everything you need to know, from the moment you walk in to the final swing of the night. We'll cover how Topgolf works, a super-simple way to swing the club, and some practical tips so you can relax and have a great time.

Topgolf Explained: More Than Just a Driving Range

First things first, let's get one thing straight: Topgolf is not your granddad’s quiet driving range. It’s a vibrant,- high-energy entertainment venue that brilliantly blends golf with games and a lively social setting. It's more like a bowling alley for golf, complete with climate-controlled hitting bays, comfy couches, big-screen TVs, and a full menu of food and drinks delivered right to you.

The real centerpiece of the experience is the technology. Every golf ball has a microchip inside it. When you hit a shot, sensors in the balls track its flight path and where it lands in the massive, colorfully lit targets scattered across the outfield. The further your shot goes and the closer it is to the center of a target, the more points you score. This instant feedback transforms the passive act of hitting range balls into an interactive and competitive game, making it fun for everyone, from seasoned golfers to absolute beginners.

Your First Trip to Topgolf: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Walking into a new place can be confusing, but the Topgolf process is straightforward. Here’s what you can expect.

Step 1: Check In and Get Your Bay

You have two main options: making a reservation online or walking in. On busy nights and weekends, reservations are a great idea to avoid a long wait. If you do walk in, you’ll head to the front desk to get on the waitlist. You'll give them your phone number and they’ll text you when your bay is ready.

Once it's your turn, you’ll head to the bay number you're assigned. A bay is your personal space for your group, typically fitting up to six people. You pay by the hour, per bay - not per person - so bringing more friends makes it more economical.

Step 2: Settle Into Your Bay

Each bay is a self-contained little hub. You’ll find:

  • A ball dispenser: Wave a club in front of the sensor, and a ball will roll out onto the tee mat for you.
  • A club holder: Topgolf provides complimentary clubs for men, women, and even kids. You don’t need your own gear. The clubs are designed to be easy to hit. You’ll find a wood (for hitting it far), a few irons (for mid-range shots), and a wedge (for shorter, higher shots).
  • A gameplay screen: This TV is your command center. You’ll enter each player's name, choose a game, and track everyone's scores.
  • Seating and tables: Comfy couches and tables are there for you to relax, eat, and watch between turns. A bay host will come by to take your food and drink orders.

The Simple Golf Swing for Topgolf

If you're new to golf, the idea of the swing can seem like an impossible challenge. Let's make it easy. We are not trying to become pro golfers tonight, we are just trying to get the ball airborne and flying towards one of those giant, glowing targets. All it takes is a simple, relaxed motion.

The Hold: Don't Squeeze the Life Out of It

First, how to hold the club. You want a grip that’s firm but not tense. Think about holding a tube of toothpaste - you want to hold it securely enough that it won't slip, but not so tight that you squeeze everything out. A relaxed grip allows the club to move freely.

For a simple grip, place your top hand (left hand for right-handed players) on the grip, with your thumb pointing down the shaft. Then, place your bottom hand just below it, covering the thumb of your top hand with the palm of your bottom hand. A "ten-finger" or "baseball" grip, where all ten fingers are on the club, is perfectly fine for beginners. It’s simple and feels natural.

The Setup: An Athletic Stance

Next, get into a good "ready" position. This will set you up for success more than you think.

  1. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. This gives you a balanced and stable base.
  2. Bend forward slightly at your hips, not your waist. Imagine pushing your hips back slightly as if you were about to sit in a chair. Your back should be relatively straight.
  3. Let your arms hang naturally down from your shoulders. There should be a comfortable amount of space between your hands and your legs.
  4. Slightly flex your knees. You want to feel athletic and balanced, ready for movement.

The ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance for most iron shots. You're now in a great position to make a swing.

The Motion: A Simple "Turn Back, Turn Through"

Forget all the complex swing thoughts you might have heard. For today, the golf swing has just two parts.

  • Turn Back: The main engine of your swing is your body. Simply rotate your chest and shoulders away from the target. As your body turns, your arms and the club will naturally swing back and upwards. Your goal is to turn your shoulders so that your back is almost facing the target. Avoid lifting the club with just your arms, the power comes from your body coil.
  • Turn Through: Now, just unwind. Start the downswing by turning your hips and chest back towards the target. Let your arms and the club follow your body's rotation. Swing through the ball, not at it. As you finish, your chest and belt buckle should be pointing at your target, and nearly all your weight should be on your front foot.

That’s it. Rotate your body back, then rotate your body through. By keeping it this simple, you allow your body to create a natural, fluid motion that sends the ball flying.

Choosing Your Game: From Fun to Competitive

The screen in your bay lets you choose from a wide variety of games. Some are perfect for messing around, while others are geared towards more serious practice. Here are a few popular ones:

  • Topgolf (The Signature Game): This is the classic and a great place to start. You score points by hitting any target. The further the target and the closer you get to its center pin, the more points you get. Each player gets 20 balls per game. Simple, fair, and fun for all skill levels.
  • Angry Birds: Perfect for kids or the young at heart. Just like the mobile game, you're trying to destroy structures and knock down pigs. It’s less about traditional golf skill and more about having a blast.
  • TopScramble: This is a team game. Your group splits into teams, and each player on a team hits a ball. The game only takes the best score from each team on each shot. It’s a great way to take the pressure off individual performance and work together.
  • Virtual Courses: For those who want more of a real golf simulation, you can play famous courses like Pebble Beach. You play each hole as you would on a real course, with the game tracking your shots and calculating your score. It’s a fantastic way to experience world-class golf in a relaxed setting.

Tips for a First-Timer's Success

  • Use the House Clubs. They are free and perfectly designed for the Topgolf experience. Don't worry about bringing your own. For most people, the 7-iron is a great club to start with.
  • Aim for the Closest, Biggest Targets. When you’re just starting, don't try to be a hero and hit the farthest fence. Aim for the large red or yellow targets - they’re closer and give you the best chance to get on the board and build confidence.
  • It's About Fun, Not Perfection. You are going to miss the ball. You are going to hit some terrible shots. Everyone does! Laugh it off. No one at Topgolf is judging you. The atmosphere is about having a good time.
  • Take Your Time. The bay is yours for the hour. There's no rush. Relax on the couches, watch your friends, and enjoy the food and chats between your turns.
  • Safety First. Only one person should be on the hitting mat at a time. Be aware of the yellow line and stay behind it when you are not the one swinging.

Final Thoughts

Topgolf is designed to be a fun, social, and unintimidating introduction to the sport. By understanding how the bays work, embracing a simple "turn and turn" swing, and choosing a game that fits your group's vibe, you're all set to have an absolute blast. Just relax, focus on making contact, and enjoy the experience.

If the fun of hitting targets and choosing shots at Topgolf sparks your interest in playing on a real course, we can help bridge that gap. Caddie AI is designed to give you that same sense of clarity and confidence. When you're standing on an actual fairway, wondering which club to hit or how to play a tricky shot, I can analyze the situation and give you the same kind of straightforward strategic advice, right in your pocket. My goal is to take the guesswork out of golf, so you can spend less time feeling uncertain and more time enjoying the game.

Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. His mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.

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