Taking up Golf

[FellowPazzini]

Thanks for all the advice chaps. Floppy & Rob, you're probably right there, most/all of my golfing buddies do it that way but problem being the 1st game after the purchase of my 60 deg wedge I had a stormer & most shots ended up there or there abouts so I'm in the frame of mind why would I need to learn a bump and run system when I can just plonk it next to the flag. All be it that way is what is causing more hassle at the moment but I'm putting that down to not knowing how to use it properly yet. If all else fails then I shall use the bump and run system no doubt. Cheers.

Thanks RLK500. I will certainly try out them simple steps Got a half game tomorrow so I'll give it a whirl sticking to your tips. Another question though sorry. What kind of distances would you start using your legs,hips,rotating etc?

[SpeckledJim]

FellowPazzini said:

Thanks for all the advice chaps. Floppy & Rob, you're probably right there, most/all of my golfing buddies do it that way but problem being the 1st game after the purchase of my 60 deg wedge I had a stormer & most shots ended up there or there abouts so I'm in the frame of mind why would I need to learn a bump and run system when I can just plonk it next to the flag. All be it that way is what is causing more hassle at the moment but I'm putting that down to not knowing how to use it properly yet. If all else fails then I shall use the bump and run system no doubt. Cheers.

Thanks RLK500. I will certainly try out them simple steps Got a half game tomorrow so I'll give it a whirl sticking to your tips. Another question though sorry. What kind of distances would you start using your legs,hips,rotating etc?

Dispersion for a lofted shot is almost always worse than for a bump and run. Even the real wizards on tour, if they have the room, get it on the deck and rolling as a preference.

For us muggles, 20 high pitches will almost always have a worse dispersion (including one or two total disasters) than 20 chips at the same target.

The problem (as always) is ego. We've seen Big Phil flopping like a hero, we've managed to replicate it a few times, and the emotional reward from throwing a ball WAAAAY up in the air and dropping it stiff outweighs the actual goal - which is getting it in the hole as quickly and safely as possible.

From 50', most reasonable golfers can chip to 8' or better pretty reliably, then the putt is 50/50. Faced with a 50' high pitch and quick-stop over a bunker, those same golfers won't get up-and-down with anything like the same frequency.

The floor is your friend. It only has two dimensions in which it can screw you over. Get it on the deck.

[DuncanM]

SpeckledJim said:

Dispersion for a lofted shot is almost always worse than for a bump and run. Even the real wizards on tour, if they have the room, get it on the deck and rolling as a preference.

For us muggles, 20 high pitches will almost always have a worse dispersion (including one or two total disasters) than 20 chips at the same target.

The problem (as always) is ego. We've seen Big Phil flopping like a hero, we've managed to replicate it a few times, and the emotional reward from throwing a ball WAAAAY up in the air and dropping it stiff outweighs the actual goal - which is getting it in the hole as quickly and safely as possible.

From 50', most reasonable golfers can chip to 8' or better pretty reliably, then the putt is 50/50. Faced with a 50' high pitch and quick-stop over a bunker, those same golfers won't get up-and-down with anything like the same frequency.

The floor is your friend. It only has two dimensions in which it can screw you over. Get it on the deck.

Great post, nicely put

[spikeyhead]

I've recently moved to the Stoke area and fancy a few hacks round a course. Is anyone local?

[SpeckledJim]

spikeyhead said:

I've recently moved to the Stoke area and fancy a few hacks round a course. Is anyone local?

I'm local, friendly-ish, and a 'flexible member' with De Vere, so can get you on a few nice local courses at low cost. Are you:

• a lunatic off the internet?
• utterly useless and in denial? (utterly useless is fine - the denial bit is very frustrating after 3 holes in an hour)
• bewitched by a £300 driver you use to fire yourself 30 degrees right on every single tee
• willfully ignorant of the etiquette
• some other terrible thing I can't even imagine?

[FellowPazzini]

Consider myself told Just thought it would be harder to be honest. Thought judging the roll through the grass before the green and during would have been harder than chipping it straight on there. Suppose there's nothing to lose at this stage of learning anyways, shall hive it a whirl

[SpeckledJim]

FellowPazzini said:

Consider myself told Just thought it would be harder to be honest. Thought judging the roll through the grass before the green and during would have been harder than chipping it straight on there. Suppose there's nothing to lose at this stage of learning anyways, shall hive it a whirl

Rarely should you be rolling on non-green surfaces (but on a well-tended course in good conditions, you might)

A good point to start is to use a trajectory that puts the ball's first bounce onto the green/short stuff as close to you as possible, with as little loft as possible. Remember, loft brings spin, and the more spin on the ball, the less predictable the first and second bounces will be.

Imagine getting from where you are to the hole by throwing the ball - and your life depends on getting it within 4 feet. Would you whirl your arm and fire the ball way into the air, or would you gently usher it with a little forward spin underarm, fingers downwards and roll it along the ground? That's what you want replicate with a club.

If you've got a situation of bumps and hollows that merits more carry, then fine, but always work to the principle that carry is dangerous and as such is to be minimised where possible.

Using lots of carry might pay off in any given situation, but it WILL backfire horribly on occasion. How often depends on your shot choices and shot-making skill.

A steady chipping stroke is about as easy as golf ever gets, and getting good at it will pardon a lot of sins elsewhere in your game.

Getting good at lob/flop shots is bloody difficult, and if you're playing with your brain in gear, not a shot you'll often need.

Playing matchplay against a guy who is often getting up-and-down from off the green thanks to a good chipping stroke is also bloody frustrating! It's good fun being that guy...

[spikeyhead]

SpeckledJim said:

spikeyhead said:

I've recently moved to the Stoke area and fancy a few hacks round a course. Is anyone local?

I'm local, friendly-ish, and a 'flexible member' with De Vere, so can get you on a few nice local courses at low cost. Are you:

• a lunatic off the internet?
• utterly useless and in denial? (utterly useless is fine - the denial bit is very frustrating after 3 holes in an hour)
• bewitched by a £300 driver you use to fire yourself 30 degrees right on every single tee
• willfully ignorant of the etiquette
• some other terrible thing I can't even imagine?

There's no doubt I have a certain level of lunatic built in, it's necessary to drive an Atom
It's been a while since i played, never been much better than playing off 28, always more enthusiastic than talented but it would be good to get back to playing regularly.
I do own an expensive driver and learnt a long time ago to leave it at home and play off the tee with a five wood.
I've been round with enough good players to understand the finer points of etiquette.
your final point depends on how vivid your imagination is

[SpeckledJim]

spikeyhead said:

SpeckledJim said:

spikeyhead said:

I've recently moved to the Stoke area and fancy a few hacks round a course. Is anyone local?

I'm local, friendly-ish, and a 'flexible member' with De Vere, so can get you on a few nice local courses at low cost. Are you:

• a lunatic off the internet?
• utterly useless and in denial? (utterly useless is fine - the denial bit is very frustrating after 3 holes in an hour)
• bewitched by a £300 driver you use to fire yourself 30 degrees right on every single tee
• willfully ignorant of the etiquette
• some other terrible thing I can't even imagine?

There's no doubt I have a certain level of lunatic built in, it's necessary to drive an Atom
It's been a while since i played, never been much better than playing off 28, always more enthusiastic than talented but it would be good to get back to playing regularly.
I do own an expensive driver and learnt a long time ago to leave it at home and play off the tee with a five wood.
I've been round with enough good players to understand the finer points of etiquette.
your final point depends on how vivid your imagination is

You have email!

[Welshbeef]

Well not been on here for a while but a little update got myself some good tuition. It's made a step change so basically is estimate previously 20% of swings resulted in a hit the rest topped etc then it quickly changed to 80% after just one lesson! A few more lessons under the belt and frankly now I can (driving range from the mat not tee) take 20 balls and strike all 20 very consistently.

My posture has totally changed (not hard change but made a big improvement) next it was he glove under the arm exercise made a good improvement then rotating of the wrists and striking down on the ball then hands ahead of the ball.

I'm still st with the driver but irons well let's say leaving the driving range happy instead of throwing them in the boot. Fairway woods currently seem about 60-70% strike ratio so more work.

I need to get a game though and I honestly think I've taken min two shots off per hole maybe three....
Am not touching the putting yet and clarified that with the coach I want to get to the green cleanly and consistently putting generally should be an easy thing to accomplish just practice and its easy ish to practice. I may be wrong here but for me get to the green in one two or max three shots depending on the par then and only then focus on the putting.

[FellowPazzini]

Sounds brilliant. Wish I'd had some lessons. How often have you been having the lessons? Irons is where I struggle the most on the course but at the range I'm not too bad really, quite odd.

Was your initial setup so different (stance, posture, grip etc)?

Putting wise, I use the method of picking a dot or blade of grass that lines up to the hole from just in front of the ball. Seem to be do OK with it.

[Nardies]

DuncanM said:

A shank is typically caused by standing to close to the ball so that your natural dynamic swing path is with the shaft further out/online with the ball = Shank.

You could try standing with your arms out from you more, make it almost uncomfortable.

Also, on your backswing make sure you keep your hands stay close to your body, don't let them swing out rather work around.

Another great idea is to post up some swing vids and get some great advice from Steve and Taafy

Thanks Duncan, will give that a try next time I'm at the range.

[Welshbeef]

FellowPazzini said:

Sounds brilliant. Wish I'd had some lessons. How often have you been having the lessons? Irons is where I struggle the most on the course but at the range I'm not too bad really, quite odd.

Was your initial setup so different (stance, posture, grip etc)?

Putting wise, I use the method of picking a dot or blade of grass that lines up to the hole from just in front of the ball. Seem to be do OK with it.

Not drasticly different but makes for a huge difference. Am surprised at how little I had to change but seeing it on video makes it utterly clear basically he had two videos synced me and McDowel so I changed mine as instructed and then had exactly the same posture.

Grip no different

Hand position relative to the ball yes.

[SpeckledJim]

Welshbeef said:

Not drasticly different but makes for a huge difference. Am surprised at how little I had to change but seeing it on video makes it utterly clear basically he had two videos synced me and McDowel so I changed mine as instructed and then had exactly the same posture.

Grip no different

Hand position relative to the ball yes.

If he's remodelling you, couldn't he have picked a nicer swing than GMac's? Go back and tell him you want an Oosthuizen or a Faldo.

Like taking a photo of George Clooney to the barber shop.

[Welshbeef]

SpeckledJim said:

If he's remodelling you, couldn't he have picked a nicer swing than GMac's? Go back and tell him you want an Oosthuizen or a Faldo.

Like taking a photo of George Clooney to the barber shop.

Lol. It's working for me.

[f13ldy]

After another pulled drive I lost my rag with my R9 and in a flash of madness the head became detached from the shaft.

Slightly embarrassing, my playing partners found it funny as I never lose my rag!

Anyhow I had to borrow another driver for the remaining 5 holes or so. A budget Ram FX-i, blimey never hit anything like it. 270 straight as an arrow. Needless to say I've kept it.

[einsign]

Ever wondered how they cut the hole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WvH2WkBCI&fea...

[Welshbeef]

f13ldy said:

After another pulled drive I lost my rag with my R9 and in a flash of madness the head became detached from the shaft.

Slightly embarrassing, my playing partners found it funny as I never lose my rag!

Anyhow I had to borrow another driver for the remaining 5 holes or so. A budget Ram FX-i, blimey never hit anything like it. 270 straight as an arrow. Needless to say I've kept it.

That's an expensive toys out of pram. I used to do it to squash racquets but they are only £40max a gold driver £300+ ouch.
I'd have enjoyed watching though.

[marksx]

The head just fell off my driver.

Used it. Put it in the bag. Took it out and the shaft stayed there.

It did cost me £1 though!

[Skii]

I just re-gripped my irons, really easy to do and my new midsize grips feel superb.