The OS Golfer's Thread!

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I need professional help....the tough thing is finding the right instructor. I don't think it's useful to just go to any old club pro for lessons, and in some cases it may be worse for your game. But I think I've finally realized I need someone other than me working on my game...

Swing out to 1o'clock if you are right handed. That is the best advice I can give you. Couple that with starting the swing from the ground up. The golf swing is very similar to skipping a stone. If you are right handed, take an hour or so just swinging with your right arm and pretend you are skipping a stone, you'll keep your wrist cocked until impact, your hips will have rotated and you'll be square to the target at impact.

[pietasterp]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Swing out to 1o'clock if you are right handed. That is the best advice I can give you. Couple that with starting the swing from the ground up. The golf swing is very similar to skipping a stone. If you are right handed, take an hour or so just swinging with your right arm and pretend you are skipping a stone, you'll keep your wrist cocked until impact, your hips will have rotated and you'll be square to the target at impact.

Thanks fist. Have been trying; will try that right-hand-only drill next time I'm at the range.

BTW, I see you're on the banks of the ol' Red Cedar...really wish I had access to a Forrest Akers type course these days (for the student rates, that is...).

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Thanks fist. Have been trying; will try that right-hand-only drill next time I'm at the range.

BTW, I see you're on the banks of the ol' Red Cedar...really wish I had access to a Forrest Akers type course these days (for the student rates, that is...).

Yeah, I'm not officially on the banks of the Red Cedar anymore. Time marches on. But I'm over on the west side of the state where the golf is pretty good.

Yep, you don't have to hit balls with the right hand only at the range, but get some foam or wiffle balls and hit those in the back yard with the right hand only. You'll see that in order to hit the ball, you'll have to have the proper lag. Its automatic.

Then when you get to the range, just get your left arm in there to stabilize everything, but swing out to 1 o'clock. Remember its just like skipping a stone, get back into position, turn you hips, drop your right arm and rip through with the shoulder and then release the wrist at impact. Good luck, its easier said than done, but that's how I finally got my groove going.

[pietasterp]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Yeah, I'm not officially on the banks of the Red Cedar anymore. Time marches on. But I'm over on the west side of the state where the golf is pretty good.

I hear ya'. Being in EL is a state of mind, though, right? It was a lifetime ago for me.

Over on the west side of the state I like Thornapple Pointe, and the GVSU course is actually really nice as well. Of course, the west side of the state also has Arcadia, which I've been to but didn't play (rained out...huge bummer). Tons of good stuff out there.

Yep, you don't have to hit balls with the right hand only at the range, but get some foam or wiffle balls and hit those in the back yard with the right hand only. You'll see that in order to hit the ball, you'll have to have the proper lag. Its automatic.

Then when you get to the range, just get your left arm in there to stabilize everything, but swing out to 1 o'clock. Remember its just like skipping a stone, get back into position, turn you hips, drop your right arm and rip through with the shoulder and then release the wrist at impact. Good luck, its easier said than done, but that's how I finally got my groove going.

Will definitely give this a try; let you know how it goes!

[kehlis]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I got a tip that really helped me this weekend.

It's target is golfers in the 10-15 handicap range but worth a shot for anyone struggling with hitting greens and it was to not address the ball with the club on the ground but instead address it with the club halfway up the ball.

NOt sure what it does or why it helped and it may just have been a placebo but really helped this weekend, I played Saturday and Sunday and was striking the ball really well.

Had a bad day Saturday at a course with a slope of 113 and shot an 80 but had a really good day Sunday on a 137 and shot an 87 but was really hitting the ball well both days from the fairway.

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I got a tip that really helped me this weekend.

It's target is golfers in the 10-15 handicap range but worth a shot for anyone struggling with hitting greens and it was to not address the ball with the club on the ground but instead address it with the club halfway up the ball.

NOt sure what it does or why it helped and it may just have been a placebo but really helped this weekend, I played Saturday and Sunday and was striking the ball really well.

Had a bad day Saturday at a course with a slope of 113 and shot an 80 but had a really good day Sunday on a 137 and shot an 87 but was really hitting the ball well both days from the fairway.

That's sound advice because Jack Nicklaus will tell you to never ground your club behind the ball. It never worked for me, however. I just am not comfortable doing it, unless I'm in a bunker obviously. But what I do instead is start with my club on the ground and focus on a spot a half inch infront of the ball, this makes sure I am swinging down on the ball at impact. Additionally in a greenside bunker, I focus on a spot about an inch behind the ball to make sure I blast down and through the sand.

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I hear ya'. Being in EL is a state of mind, though, right? It was a lifetime ago for me.

Over on the west side of the state I like Thornapple Pointe, and the GVSU course is actually really nice as well. Of course, the west side of the state also has Arcadia, which I've been to but didn't play (rained out...huge bummer). Tons of good stuff out there.



Will definitely give this a try; let you know how it goes!

Thornapple pointe is my home course, that's where I shot the 75.

[kehlis]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

That's sound advice because Jack Nicklaus will tell you to never ground your club behind the ball. It never worked for me, however. I just am not comfortable doing it, unless I'm in a bunker obviously. But what I do instead is start with my club on the ground and focus on a spot a half inch infront of the ball, this makes sure I am swinging down on the ball at impact. Additionally in a greenside bunker, I focus on a spot about an inch behind the ball to make sure I blast down and through the sand.

Do you know what keeping the club up does? Is it just more mental than anything?

I think I read it in golf magazine but not sure. I mean I was never bad on my approach but I was prone to a fatty or two a round and didn't have any all weekend. I'm assuming it's more of a mental thing but whatever works!



Yea, in a greenside bunker I take a 60 and just open it up and take a full swing, I'm to the point where if I'm not going to hit the green I would much rather be in a bunker than in a greenside rough.

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Do you know what keeping the club up does? Is it just more mental than anything?

I think I read it in golf magazine but not sure. I mean I was never bad on my approach but I was prone to a fatty or two a round and didn't have any all weekend. I'm assuming it's more of a mental thing but whatever works!



Yea, in a greenside bunker I take a 60 and just open it up and take a full swing, I'm to the point where if I'm not going to hit the green I would much rather be in a bunker than in a greenside rough.

Jack would say that if you hover the club, you don't have to worry about the grass behind the ball altering your back swing and he maintains that it allows his to keep the same grip pressure throughout the swing. He claims it made his grip the club too tight as he started the backswing. He was also concerned with the possibility of accidentally touching the ball or having the ball move by pressing the grass behind it.

Honestly its whatever you are comfortable with. I feel more secure in my backswing consistency with the club grounded behind the ball.

I will say I do something with my putting that is a bit odd, I line up my putter an inch or 2 behind the ball and putt from there. I started doing this in tournaments to make sure my nerves didn't get to me and accidentally touch the ball. It works out great on 3 footers and in though, I basically don't have much of a back swing at all, just lift the putter and follow through straight to the cup.

[pietasterp]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Thornapple pointe is my home course, that's where I shot the 75.

Nice work. I got killed at that track, the few times I played it. I like the nickname "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" - very apt. Although I really like the course. Except for that hole that goes by the highway and has water running down the whole left side...I must have put an entire sleeve of balls into that river, and I'm a L-to-R ball flight!!!

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Nice work. I got killed at that track, the few times I played it. I like the nickname "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" - very apt. Although I really like the course. Except for that hole that goes by the highway and has water running down the whole left side...I must have put an entire sleeve of balls into that river, and I'm a L-to-R ball flight!!!

Yeah there are 2 holes that run by the river back to back. The par 5 538 and par 4 417. I birdied them back to back in that round for the first time ever. You have to have a good drive on those holes or its trouble.

Yes, it is planes, trains, and automobiles. I don't know how many shots or putts I've had to back off as the Fed Ex Jet buzzes right over the top.

[jmaj315]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I will say I do something with my putting that is a bit odd, I line up my putter an inch or 2 behind the ball and putt from there. I started doing this in tournaments to make sure my nerves didn't get to me and accidentally touch the ball. It works out great on 3 footers and in though, I basically don't have much of a back swing at all, just lift the putter and follow through straight to the cup.

My dad did that for a while, his putting stroke wobbled a lot. He's since gone back to a conventional putting stroke.
I do that from time to time when practicing...It helps me get back on line when my putting starts sucking

[st0rmb11]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Just got home from an outstanding range session....with my irons.

My drivers (yes, plural) were awful.

I say multiple drivers because the other day, a golfer just up and gave me a Cleveland Classic XL driver that he didn't want anymore since he had just bought a new driver. So, I figured I'd take it out on the range and give it a shot. 9.0 degree (which is what I've been considering trying because I have a really high ball trajectory). I hit it really hard and far, but just kept pushing it about 25 or 30 yards off line. With my other driver (Adams Speedline 10.5 degree), I kept pulling it about 20 to 30 yards off line. I just chalk it up to trying to hit two completely different drivers in the same session.

Here's a question/suggestion I have for you guys.

The pro at the course I work at gave me a glove about a month ago that he got in the mail because...he likes me, I guess. It's a FootJoy Pure Touch (Limited). I don't know how many of you guys have ever used one of those gloves or have even tried one on, but I would strongly recommend getting one if you can ($30 online). It feels like silk or something. It is the nicest glove I've ever had.

I don't even use it on the range because I want to prolong its durability. haha
http://www.footjoy.com/catalog/product/64013

[jmaj315]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Just got home from an outstanding range session....with my irons.

My drivers (yes, plural) were awful.

I say multiple drivers because the other day, a golfer just up and gave me a Cleveland Classic XL driver that he didn't want anymore since he had just bought a new driver. So, I figured I'd take it out on the range and give it a shot. 9.0 degree (which is what I've been considering trying because I have a really high ball trajectory). I hit it really hard and far, but just kept pushing it about 25 or 30 yards off line. With my other driver (Adams Speedline 10.5 degree), I kept pulling it about 20 to 30 yards off line. I just chalk it up to trying to hit two completely different drivers in the same session.

I'm sure that is due to there being 2 different shafts in the 2 drivers. I'd bet yours is stiff and the other is regular. Or yours is regular and the other is old man flex lol

A lot of people have no idea how much important a shaft is for their driver

[st0rmb11]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I'm sure that is due to there being 2 different shafts in the 2 drivers. I'd bet yours is stiff and the other is regular. Or yours is regular and the other is old man flex lol

A lot of people have no idea how much important a shaft is for their driver

Same flex. Just different weight. The Cleveland driver is noticeably lighter.


I played in this 9 hole thing at a local course yesterday afternoon, with a handicap point system. Shot a 41, but my actual score was irrelevant. Being an 11 handicap, I had to accrue a certain number of points (Par is worth 3 points, bogey is worth 2, birdie is worth 5, double bogey is 1, eagle is like 8 or something like that), and the goal is to beat the number of points you had to get. I finished +1 in my points, but that wasn't even good enough to place.

The winner shot like 8 points over the number of points he needed. It was a fun little thing, though.