Taking up Golf

[DuncanM]

Interesting stuff Taaffy, It goes against the teachings of Hogan, Faldo et al but makes sense in terms of getting back to the ball consistently.

I struggled today so I'll take this on board and try it out at the range.

[taaffy]

DuncanM said:

Interesting stuff Taaffy, It goes against the teachings of Hogan, Faldo et al but makes sense in terms of getting back to the ball consistently.

I struggled today so I'll take this on board and try it out at the range.

There are so many different ways to explain what happens during the golf swing. Not everyone interprets them the same way...what works for one does not work for another. Nearly 100% of good players do the same things well. Timing is one of them. getting everything back to the ball at the same time. If one thing lags behind then misses occur.

The easiest way of feeling the movement That I am trying to explain is by hitting balls with a narrow split stance with a 7 or 8 iron and the ball in middle of the stance... so narrow stance right foot back, this stops lower body firing too early. Gets arms moving to ball on an inside path and promotes a full release of the hands and by having the narrower stance you also have to swing within yourself to stay balanced.

Natural players learn this move easily ...those not so gifted search for it believing it to be something magical....there is no magic, it is all about sequencing the swing, having everything working in sync. Some find it easy where others constantly struggle searching for the grail.

Edited by taaffy on Thursday 11th October 19:58

[Welshbeef]

Taffy would you say that playing a racquet sport like squash is very useful hand eye power focus etc.

When you started playing golf I guess a round of 130 maybe to start? Did you ten get a step change to drop to 100 or was it a gradual decrease over time?

I'm enjoying my golf so much now I'm improving cannot wait to hit the course again but am doing lots of practice at the range and back garden and even dummy swings I the living room.

[roboxm3]

Taffy, what you're saying about 'arms before hips / body' has just struck a chord with me re. something I was told years ago (but it didn't click at the time).

I can't remember the exact wording but the general gist was; that you should aim to generate the 'swish' from the club in the second half of the swing.

With that in mind, you should still be accelerating through the ball (as opposed to 'maxing out' at the ball) but as a result, not going at it with your hips / body too early and getting your arms & hands stuck behind!?

...just a shame I needed to hear it described two different ways, 5 years apart for me to finally get it but I'm looking forward to hitting the range with that in mind at the weekend!!

Edited by roboxm3 on Thursday 11th October 21:26

[taaffy]

Welshbeef said:

Taffy would you say that playing a racquet sport like squash is very useful hand eye power focus etc.

When you started playing golf I guess a round of 130 maybe to start? Did you ten get a step change to drop to 100 or was it a gradual decrease over time?

I'm enjoying my golf so much now I'm improving cannot wait to hit the course again but am doing lots of practice at the range and back garden and even dummy swings I the living room.

I am left handed and played badminton for scotland as a junior so I think that my dominant left hand and good hand eye co-ordination has helped me as a right handed golfer.

As for scores when I was a beginner, I learned to play in Scotland as a 9 yr old on a 9 hole par 3 course which was at my local club http://www.lanarkgolfclub.co.uk/index.php. As juniors we had to start there and attain a junior handicap of 10 or less on that course before we were allowed to play on the 18 hole course for a senior handicap.

I can remember scoring circa 60's on a par of 27 so that would equate to 130 for 18.

By 12 I had my first senior handicap of 14 and by 16 it was down to +1.

I virtually lived at the golf course on weekends and all summer holidays so it tumbled quickly and consistently, coupled with playing junior events all over Scotland I played a lot of golf. So no big incremental drops as I remember, just a consistent decrease.


I think that learning the game later in life is harder as time on the course or practice area is limited compared to the carefree kids years.

Practice getting the swing feeling wherever you can, you don't need a ball to do that and if you have patio doors then you can watch yourself to see if it looks right.

short game is where you will notice a big improvement in your scores and as your general game gets better your scores will drop dramatically.

Pity we have such a short season... our winters are a good advert for moving somewhere warmer for comfortable all year round golf.

roboxm3 said:

Taffy, what you're saying about 'arms before hips / body' has just struck a chord with me re. something I was told years ago (but it didn't click at the time).

I can't remember the exact wording but the general gist was; that you should aim to generate the 'swish' from the club in the second half of the swing.

With that in mind, you should still be accelerating through the ball (as opposed to 'maxing out' at the ball) but as a result, not going at it with your hips / body too early and getting your arms & hands stuck behind!?

...just a shame I needed to hear it described two different ways, 5 years apart for me to finally get it but I'm looking forward to hitting the range with that in mind at the weekend!!

Sometimes hearing things explained in a different way just helps clarify.

I definitely think that the lower body starts the downswing, just not by turning straight away. I feel that It is a combination of arms dropping simultaneously with a slight closed hip weight shift towards target. Then everything is in sync and hips can turn and motor through impact with fast arms working together.

Edited by taaffy on Thursday 11th October 21:43

[spikeyhead]

I went to the range this afternoon and swung a club for the first time in a couple of years. I'm very very rusty but hopefully a few more visits to the range will put that right before I hit the course again.

[Welshbeef]

Taffy. Not being rude here but you say you played at a pro level. Can I ask if that meant you could earn a living and if so what sort of ball park would you be looking at?

I'm assuming its in addition to day job and might pay for a nice skiing holiday and Carribean holiday for the family every year? Close or was it more new M5 every year?

[DuncanM]

Taaffy,

I Hope I speak for than just myself when I say I massively appreciate all your posts on this thread.

It is a rare thing to have such quality advice and wisdom offered freely on a public forum.

I know for sure that I have learnt and benefited from this thread.

[taaffy]

Welshbeef said:

Taffy. Not being rude here but you say you played at a pro level. Can I ask if that meant you could earn a living and if so what sort of ball park would you be looking at?

I'm assuming its in addition to day job and might pay for a nice skiing holiday and Carribean holiday for the family every year? Close or was it more new M5 every year?

I tried playing for 3 seasons but realised that as good as I was +3 when I turned pro there was no way I was going to be good enough to be where I wanted to be or to earn the money I wanted to earn so I then went down the PGA teaching route for stability. My wife has a thriving dental practice so 12 years ago I stopped work and now look after the kids and enjoy my golf back as an amateur.

DuncanM said:

Taaffy,

I Hope I speak for than just myself when I say I massively appreciate all your posts on this thread.

It is a rare thing to have such quality advice and wisdom offered freely on a public forum.

I know for sure that I have learnt and benefited from this thread.

Duncan if any of it helps then you are more than welcome.

I do think that one of the main problems is the interpretation of lag in the golf swing ....

Most people associate lag as the lower body moving first and the upper body and the arms lagging behind then whipping through to create club head speed.

This is where they are clouded in their thinking.

The lower body and arms and hands start virtually together so that they can stay in sync during the down swing (the feeling though is of the hands dropping 1st or the lower body moves ahead and breaks the sync).... the lag comes from keeping the angle set between the back of the right hand and the right forearm for as long as possible during the downswing, this coupled with a fast arm swing creates speed through impact. The faster you can swing your arms through impact whilst keeping the lag, the farther you will hit the golf ball.

Edited by taaffy on Thursday 11th October 22:23

[Welshbeef]

Given I have inconsistency with the Driver I'm considering buying a driving iron or a 1 iron as I seem to be able to consistently play these vs 20% at best from the driver.

Any views on if this is a mistake or a useful extra club to have ?

If it is advisable or why not point of view what would people recommend brand wise? I play with Wilson deep red cavity backs but only have 3-SW full set pity I don't have a 2 & 1 iron.

[taaffy]

If you struggle with the driver then use a 15.5 degree 3 wood or an 18 degree rescue club.

1 iron =nono

[Welshbeef]

taaffy said:

If you struggle with the driver then use a 15.5 degree 3 wood or an 18 degree rescue club.

1 iron =nono

I can strike a persimmon 5 wood pretty well off the deck but the equivalent driver is tricky a tiny sweet spot.

[taaffy]

Welshbeef said:

taaffy said:

If you struggle with the driver then use a 15.5 degree 3 wood or an 18 degree rescue club.

1 iron =nono

I can strike a persimmon 5 wood pretty well off the deck but the equivalent driver is tricky a tiny sweet spot.

Resign the persimmon to the garage ....they are just not forgiving enough.

Get on ebay and get something like these..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ping+g5+wood...

I have persimmons in the garage and comparing them to todays metal woods is like comparing radio to digital tv

[SpeckledJim]

Welshbeef said:

taaffy said:

If you struggle with the driver then use a 15.5 degree 3 wood or an 18 degree rescue club.

1 iron =nono

I can strike a persimmon 5 wood pretty well off the deck but the equivalent driver is tricky a tiny sweet spot.

Everyone told you they were hard to hit before you got them, but you thought they were nice and shiny!

Ebay, modern quality three wood with the right shaft. Sorted.

[Welshbeef]

taaffy said:

Resign the persimmon to the garage ....they are just not forgiving enough.

Get on ebay and get something like these..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ping+g5+wood...

I have persimmons in the garage and comparing them to todays metal woods is like comparing radio to digital tv

I know what your saying buy they look great and feel superb when you strike well. Plus the feel heavy so lots of inertia.

Guess I need to try a few metal clubs at the range

[taaffy]

Persimmons are like a high maintainance pretty girl ...great to look at but a nightmare to get the best from..

[taaffy]

Welshbeef said:

taaffy said:

Resign the persimmon to the garage ....they are just not forgiving enough.

Get on ebay and get something like these..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ping+g5+wood...

I have persimmons in the garage and comparing them to todays metal woods is like comparing radio to digital tv

I know what your saying buy they look great and feel superb when you strike well. Plus the feel heavy so lots of inertia.

Guess I need to try a few metal clubs at the range

Try some, find what you like but don't pay top dollar for them ....ebay is your friend.

[simoid]

Being careful to identify and purchase genuine clubs on eBay

But I can only concur - the game is hard enough without using clubs that are handicapping you!

[SpeckledJim]

Welshbeef said:

taaffy said:

Resign the persimmon to the garage ....they are just not forgiving enough.

Get on ebay and get something like these..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ping+g5+wood...

I have persimmons in the garage and comparing them to todays metal woods is like comparing radio to digital tv

I know what your saying buy they look great and feel superb when you strike well. Plus the feel heavy so lots of inertia.

Guess I need to try a few metal clubs at the range

What do the following have in common:

Crap golfers
Good golfers
Excellent golfers

A. None of them use persimmon woods. Neither do they use wooden shafts or gutty percha balls.

If you really like them, mount them on the wall of your study?

Edited by SpeckledJim on Thursday 11th October 23:00

[Laplace]

I'm looking for a used set at the moment to get me back into the game after giving it up for fishing as a teenager.

I'm looking to spend about £200-£300. I have no idea what to be looking for but after some research over the past couple of days I've came up with Ping G15 irons, G10, Callaway x20 or 22s.

Am I looking in the right place and are there any other clubs I should be considering?

Cheers.