Fore! Who's playing golf, yo-

**JaytaeMoney** · 06-11-2012, 08:16 PM

i went to the range yesterday and was hitting the snot out of the ball, go out today for 9 after work and played like complete dog shit. so frustrating.

**4matic** · 06-11-2012, 10:19 PM

78 at Oakland Metro today. Solid iron play; the rest meh. Following Bill Russell around was awesome. I guess he plays there all the time.

Sorry for the bad picture but didn't want to disturb the man.

**DasBlunt** · 06-11-2012, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

I have been trying to get my swing together this spring and golf frustrates me like no other sport. My instructor has me hitting the ball buttery smooth at the end of each lesson. I go back to practice the next day and it takes me 15 balls to get into a groove and I hit it well. Then when I think I am hitting it well then I always tend to speed up my swing which is fast to begin with and end up going back to hacker status. The thing is I know exactly what I am doing wrong but I have to concentrate really hard on each swing to do it right. I wish I had taken lessons from day one. I still love the game but I wish I could find more consistency. I have a question. Do range balls carry the same as standard balls? I hit my 7 iron 165 to 175 at the range. Are those distances going to be the same with standard balls? They say Super Range or something like that.

By the way, great post.

Consistency with anything takes consistent work. At the range focus on hitting shots, rather than swinging like a batting cage. I like to play name the shot, going so far as to doing it even in the downswing, having your mate yell it out, "fade, draw". Mostly, call the shot is more fun, creating imaginary obstacles to defeat.

I dug my game out of the driving range from the start, and once you develop solid fundamentals, moving to bubba style golf is way better, i.e., hitting shots and playing a shitton of golf. Of course you need to practice the shit out your short game, and putting drills/massive routine is not for pussies.

**lionelhutz** · 06-12-2012, 05:36 AM

Got a round of "speed golf" in my future. We can run the course with as many clubs as we want but there is a huge speed bonus. So dragging a whole bag will kill you. I'm thinking 3 clubs. Hybrid, 8 iron or so and putter.
Thoughts?

**PassTheDutchie** · 06-12-2012, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Got a round of "speed golf" in my future. We can run the course with as many clubs as we want but there is a huge speed bonus. So dragging a whole bag will kill you. I'm thinking 3 clubs. Hybrid, 8 iron or so and putter.
Thoughts?

Four clubs, two in each hand. Good balance is the most overlooked aspect in golf.

**guroo270** · 06-12-2012, 08:36 AM

Soooo, putter and two clubs? Putter is heaviest. Some much more than others.
I'd take a 3 wood, 7 iron, 56', and a putter. If I had to leave one of those clubs out, I'd leave the putter at home and blade the seven or wedge for putts. But you don't want to be stuck having to hit over or out of a bunker with a hybrid or 7.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 06-12-2012, 09:55 AM

I would definitely want a wedge with bounce, because taking three out of a bunker will kill your score and your time. If I could only take five clubs it'd be driver or 3 wood, depending on the course, 5, 9, 56*, and putter. Three clubs seems ridiculous; you're not a geriatric and clubs aren't heavy.

I'd think about the bag and carrying strategy as much as I would about the clubs, with the idea that carrying efficiently is as or more important than carrying light. Get a light little Sunday bag and wrap a bungee or something around the clubs to keep them from bouncing around as you haul ass.

**Tye 1on** · 06-12-2012, 10:00 AM

Hybrid, 7, 54*, putter. Or putt with the hybrid if you like to three putt...

**k2skier112** · 06-12-2012, 11:15 AM

Is it customary to tip a golf instructor? 3 privates for $165, maybe $20?

**lionelhutz** · 06-12-2012, 11:27 AM

yea the more I think about it the more I'd def. like a 54 or 56 degree wedge.
I have a little like bungee strap bag...looks like a quiver for arrows that I can throw them in.
I'd rather keep the putter. I make up a lot of ground with my putter. Prob. 3-4 strokes a round.
It's the strength of my game.

**Ski to Be** · 06-12-2012, 11:46 AM

Question for Mags. I have been taking lessons from the same guy for 3 years and my improvements have been marginal. The last 2 sessions he has been trying to change my swing plane and 3 other things at the same time. As a result I am so focused on getting the proper mechanics that I am hitting the ball terrible now. I took my Ipad and filmed the lesson and know what my swing faults are. I am likely going to go with a different instructor. In the past I always did best with instructors that kept it simple and gave me little drills to do. I have a buddy who did Swing Masters where they do computer swing analysis and they rebuilt his swing from scratch. My issue is swinging too hard with my upper body & casting the club. If I slow down everything and allow my hips to turn first and relax my arms I hit the ball nicely. Yet I have to hit 2 buckets of balls to get to that point. My question is do I try the swing analysis or go with an instructor that keeps it simple. I am both handed. I am seriously considering switching to left handed and starting from scratch with a swing built from the ground up with better form. Frankly I can't get rid of the swing reflex and the harder I try to slow down the harder I swing. It is like I am retarded. I have put way too much work to still suck this bad and that is my main frustration.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 06-12-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

It is like I am retarded.

This probably isn't your problem- Nick Watney's a great golfer and that guy can barely speak.

**guroo270** · 06-12-2012, 01:54 PM

Damn I wish you were in boulder. I'd help you out for free. I've got tips that make it very simple, that I can explain if need be, but I'm so non technical in my approach it's absurd.

My favorite tip, which helped mf a ton was something I picked up from a tv series showing Barry bonds as a hitting coach at ASU. Dropping the hammer. I'd probably have to show you/be there to get the results, but if you do it, there's no way you can help but delay your wrist/not cast. Sure there are setup concerns, swing planes, wrist position, and all sorts of technical shit, but none of that resonates to non engineers, and if anything it gets rid of simple swing thoughts, clouds the mind, and fucks your game.
Get a new coach. One of my four or five lessons ever was from an engineer technician kinda guy, I fixed what he said was wrong, with worse results, and he ended the lesson with, "you must be doing something funky at impact.". I didn't even give him a second chance, and he's the main reason I don't take lessons.

spook · 06-12-2012, 02:13 PM

the guy i took lessons from at redtail was nice enough, but i felt like he basically was only telling me enough to ensure i had to keep coming back. i read a lot and understand some of the basic concepts, so i asked a lot of questions, but his manner was such that i felt that he wasn't really trying to fix anything, just teach me something, which would lead to having to teach me something else.

maybe that's how it works, but i never could get any sort of overarching scheme from him to put what we were doing into context. by the end of our four sessions, i didn't really feel like i'd learned much. for instance, he never said any of the things that the guy here has said to me about slowing down or shortening my backswing to maintain control. he let me pound away and basically told me to quit moving my head so much. i got more from the 45 minutes here than i did in 4 hours from the guy at home.

i was out hitting my 56* wedge again this morning with a nice, slow, shortened swing and it felt great.

**Art Shirk** · 06-12-2012, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

Question for Mags. I have been taking lessons from the same guy for 3 years and my improvements have been marginal. The last 2 sessions he has been trying to change my swing plane and 3 other things at the same time. As a result I am so focused on getting the proper mechanics that I am hitting the ball terrible now. I took my Ipad and filmed the lesson and know what my swing faults are. I am likely going to go with a different instructor. In the past I always did best with instructors that kept it simple and gave me little drills to do. I have a buddy who did Swing Masters where they do computer swing analysis and they rebuilt his swing from scratch. My issue is swinging too hard with my upper body & casting the club. If I slow down everything and allow my hips to turn first and relax my arms I hit the ball nicely. Yet I have to hit 2 buckets of balls to get to that point. My question is do I try the swing analysis or go with an instructor that keeps it simple. I am both handed. I am seriously considering switching to left handed and starting from scratch with a swing built from the ground up with better form. Frankly I can't get rid of the swing reflex and the harder I try to slow down the harder I swing. It is like I am retarded. I have put way too much work to still suck this bad and that is my main frustration.

3 years of lessons with the same guy and no marked improvement is a problem. Did he have you on plane in the first year or two and your reverted, or are you just now tweaking? You need somebody with a fresh look I bet. Let me know if you want a recommendation.

**Ski to Be** · 06-12-2012, 02:48 PM

In all fairness with the weather here in Seattle I only play about six months a year and do maybe 12 lessons a year. He just now started to change my swing plane which is frustrating because he could get me hitting the ball well at the end of each lesson but I could never get it to stick. I just don't know if I want to do the simulator computer lessons thing because my mind is already bogged down as it is and I just want to have fun.

**Ski to Be** · 06-12-2012, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by commonlaw

3 years of lessons with the same guy and no marked improvement is a problem. Did he have you on plane in the first year or two and your reverted, or are you just now tweaking? You need somebody with a fresh look I bet. Let me know if you want a recommendation.

Someone in the Seattle area? If so yes ? At this stage I am open to any suggestions.

**Art Shirk** · 06-12-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

Someone in the Seattle area? If so yes ? At this stage I am open to any suggestions.

Yes, I can very much vouch for a good friend of mine who is a pro in the area and he would likely travel to where you like to hit. I'll PM you.

**wooley12** · 06-12-2012, 03:15 PM

I've seen your swing. It ain't that bad. The problem is 80% between your ears. In August we'll knock the ball around at Cascade and I'll help you get your head straight. More fun playing golf than playing "Golf Swing".

**Like a Boss** · 06-12-2012, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

Question for Mags. I have been taking lessons from the same guy for 3 years and my improvements have been marginal. The last 2 sessions he has been trying to change my swing plane and 3 other things at the same time. As a result I am so focused on getting the proper mechanics that I am hitting the ball terrible now. I took my Ipad and filmed the lesson and know what my swing faults are. I am likely going to go with a different instructor. In the past I always did best with instructors that kept it simple and gave me little drills to do. I have a buddy who did Swing Masters where they do computer swing analysis and they rebuilt his swing from scratch. My issue is swinging too hard with my upper body & casting the club. If I slow down everything and allow my hips to turn first and relax my arms I hit the ball nicely. Yet I have to hit 2 buckets of balls to get to that point. My question is do I try the swing analysis or go with an instructor that keeps it simple. I am both handed. I am seriously considering switching to left handed and starting from scratch with a swing built from the ground up with better form. Frankly I can't get rid of the swing reflex and the harder I try to slow down the harder I swing. It is like I am retarded. I have put way too much work to still suck this bad and that is my main frustration.

I fail to see how working on your swing plane will help you with getting rid of a casting movement. You can cast the club from any kind of position at the top. Your first worry should be getting the club through the impact area with the handle leading. Whether you use a timing mechanism or a hold-off move, I would dial your release first and then try to work on your swing plane. Take this advice with a grain of salt as it's just my 5-handicap former flip release to hold-offer's opinion.

spook · 06-12-2012, 03:46 PM

we'll see what happens tomorrow when i go to the range, but i've hit 60 balls twice today with the 56* wedge and the majority of them were nice, high shots preceded by slow, easy swings. i'm eliminating my slouch, standing a little further from the ball, adjusted my grip and loosened it a bit and it feels great. i was supposed to be practicing all this with my 6 iron, but there's no room here for that, so we'll see if any of what i've been doing translates.

**Ski to Be** · 06-12-2012, 04:00 PM

Wooley your advice about swinging a broom handle to help with my tempo seems to be sage advise. That is the kind of drill that my instructor never gave me. I also think I need to change ranges. Every other time I hit at this particular range or take a lesson. My worst OCD pain in the ass retired client is at the range wants to complain or talk about doing extra work (not included in the contract) to his yard ( I own a lawn maintenance company). It doesn't exactly well up positive relaxed feelings for me.

**wooley12** · 06-12-2012, 06:01 PM

To be clear. It is a whole broom you are to be swinging to feel that the swing is starting with the feet.

And yes, I got trounced in a very important match over the weekend because my opponent took me away from a relaxed, natural state. The inside of the head is the most important part of the golf swing.