Taking up Golf

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Discussion

taaffy

1,120 posts

238 months

Monday 19th November 2012
quotequote all
These two video's are the best I have seen for describing the sequence of the downswing.

This guy's description of the downswing sequence is spot on ...
Practicing it and grooving it into a subconscious swing is the hard part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HmT4LN--3g&fea...

Herman williams is saying the same thing in this video but explaining it in a slightly different way. watch from 4:40 onwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohZEOoP2AQI


Both of these video's show the correct sequencing for the downswing.

Simplifying it, at the top of backswing feel as if you keep the shoulders and hips turned then just drop the hands down to hit the ball. As you drop the hands if you have kept the correct spine tilt as set at address then the head will stay back and the bump towards the hole will happen naturally, do not try to force the bump as you will generally push forwards too much. The hips only move about 3-4 inches forwards. As the hands drop to waist height the hips will have begun to turn so you do not need to help them. Just let the swing take it's course through impact to finish.
A good way to get the feel is to hit balls with a narrow stance and the right foot pulled back so you have a 45 degree closed stance. This drill stops the right hip firing too early, it also stops the over the top movement which plagues 90 percent of amateurs.



Edited by taaffy on Monday 19th November 13:52

Skii

1,625 posts

190 months

Monday 19th November 2012
quotequote all
taaffy said:
These two video's are the best I have seen for describing the sequence of the downswing.

This guy's description of the downswing sequence is spot on ...
Practicing it and grooving it into a subconscious swing is the hard part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HmT4LN--3g&fea...

Herman williams is saying the same thing in this video but explaining it in a slightly different way. watch from 4:40 onwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohZEOoP2AQI


Both of these video's show the correct sequencing for the downswing.

Simplifying it, at the top of backswing feel as if you keep the shoulders and hips turned then just drop the hands down to hit the ball. As you drop the hands if you have kept the correct spine tilt as set at address then the head will stay back and the bump towards the hole will happen naturally, do not try to force the bump as you will generally push forwards too much. The hips only move about 3-4 inches forwards. As the hands drop to waist height the hips will have begun to turn so you do not need to help them. Just let the swing take it's course through impact to finish.
A good way to get the feel is to hit balls with a narrow stance and the right foot pulled back so you have a 45 degree closed stance. This drill stops the right hip firing too early, it also stops the over the top movement which plagues 90 percent of amateurs.



Edited by taaffy on Monday 19th November 13:52
Thanks Taafy, some good pointers there for me to work on, I'm a big fan of Herman's stuff too, he's a great teacher.

Skii

1,625 posts

190 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Hi chaps

I need a quick favour - I have procured an old 58 degree Titlest Vokey lob wedge but it looks like the shaft has been extended and also might not be the original shaft.

Before I replace the grip I need to know how long the shaft *should* be on a regular lob wedge.

Could a kind PH'er with a regular length 58/60 degree wedge measure their shaft (ooer) for me? - ideally from the end of the plastic hozel to the end of the grip ?

Would be a great help !



Edited by Skii on Thursday 22 November 12:56

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Skii said:
Hi chaps

I need a quick favour - I have procured an old 58 degree Titlest Vokey lob wedge but it looks like the shaft has been extended and also might not be the original shaft.

Before I replace the grip I need to know how long the shaft *should* be on a regular lob wedge.

Could a kind PH'er with a regular length 58/60 degree wedge measure their shaft (ooer) for me? - ideally from the end of the plastic hozel to the end of the grip ?

Would be a great help !



Edited by Skii on Thursday 22 November 12:56
Better that you make it sit with your existing set. Probably c.1/4 inch shorter than your next loftiest wedge.


Skii

1,625 posts

190 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
SpeckledJim said:
Better that you make it sit with your existing set. Probably c.1/4 inch shorter than your next loftiest wedge.
That would be my ping sand wedge - I shall compare. Cheers smile

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Is a loft wedge loftier than a SW?

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Is a loft wedge loftier than a SW?
A lob wedge, yes. A gap wedge, no.

PW about 48
Gap about 52
SW about 56
Then usually another around 60-64

You don't necessarily need them all.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Thursday 22 November 13:54

Merp

2,220 posts

251 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
SpeckledJim said:
Welshbeef said:
Is a loft wedge loftier than a SW?
A lob wedge, yes. A gap wedge, no.

PW about 48
Gap about 52
SW about 56
Then usually another around 60-64

You don't necessarily need them all.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Thursday 22 November 13:54
Of course you do wink 48,52,56,60

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Merp said:
SpeckledJim said:
Welshbeef said:
Is a loft wedge loftier than a SW?
A lob wedge, yes. A gap wedge, no.

PW about 48
Gap about 52
SW about 56
Then usually another around 60-64

You don't necessarily need them all.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Thursday 22 November 13:54
Of course you do wink 48,52,56,60
Yes, of course I do...

DuncanM

6,109 posts

278 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
I own a lob wedge but never carry it anymore. The SW can do all I need for lofted shots and I seldom hit full SW shot let alone require something with more loft.

A gap wedge is much more useful as it fills the gap in the classic 3-sw set.

Merp, do you use the LW a lot for full shots?

RockDoctor

1,916 posts

165 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
quotequote all
I don't think I ever use the lob wedge for a full shot, but I do use it when I have to get the ball up in the air as fast as possible, or stop it as fast as possible. This tends to be right at the face of a bunker, or hitting over a bunker. Damn bunkers...

Merp

2,220 posts

251 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
quotequote all
Very very rarely, only if im in some MAJOR trouble around the green. Usually just pitch shot, dropping it in right next to the pin. Suprisingly I dont tend to use it out of the bunker where I play, tend to use the lower bounce on my 52 gap wedge as the bunkers are quite deeply filled.

...but general use not a full shot.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
quotequote all
Me too - very rarely a full swing.

Much more often a short to very-short rescue type shot after a shot to the green has gone awry and I'm knee-deep in Seve territory.

Useful shots to have, but not at the expense of better regular iron shot-making.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Saturday 1st December 2012
quotequote all
Bought another driver... Used of course.

Wilson deep red 9 degrees. The previous one was a 11.5 degree which I thought fine but when I was with my tutor he watched and advised on the stroke which I delivered four shots back to back but they went so high so he looked at the club "ah that's the issue your using a club designed for old men who cannot get loft you need a 9 degree else your 3 wood will beat the driver no matter how well you strike it. "

Found one on the bay for a mere £9 in as new condition shame it not arrived yet as fancied using it down the range. Still got 90 mins to smash loads of balls now with the rest of the kit.


Need a good weekend to get on the course really want a game now.

Tuscanless Ali

2,187 posts

208 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
At the moment I'm brilliant on the range but can't carry it to the course! Yet to break 100, got close at Hindhead with 101 but really want to break the 100 barrier.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
Tuscanless Ali said:
At the moment I'm brilliant on the range but can't carry it to the course! Yet to break 100, got close at Hindhead with 101 but really want to break the 100 barrier.
Have you tried to play the course rather than playing to your game? Can make quite a difference.

Look at each hole and think about where you can land the ball to play the hole to its best

Or break the game down how many green in regulation and how many holes are more than two putts. You might also not be settling for each shot ie rushing too much / out of breath or as soon as you arrive at the ball club out and swing then get the odd st shot.


Have you tried playing match play and not noted any cumulative score so that only at the end in clubhouse/ pub do you add it up. Might all be a mental barrier adding more pressure?

DuncanM

6,109 posts

278 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Have you tried to play the course rather than playing to your game? Can make quite a difference.

Look at each hole and think about where you can land the ball to play the hole to its best

Or break the game down how many green in regulation and how many holes are more than two putts. You might also not be settling for each shot ie rushing too much / out of breath or as soon as you arrive at the ball club out and swing then get the odd st shot.


Have you tried playing match play and not noted any cumulative score so that only at the end in clubhouse/ pub do you add it up. Might all be a mental barrier adding more pressure?
what are you shooting now Welshbeef? is it improving?

100 is a big mental barrier for beginners, easy to score more than a ton with a few awful holes.

Getting consistently under the ton is a good achievement for new players IMO.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
DuncanM said:
what are you shooting now Welshbeef? is it improving?

100 is a big mental barrier for beginners, easy to score more than a ton with a few awful holes.

Getting consistently under the ton is a good achievement for new players IMO.
Not had a chance really to get on the course with the weather being so poor of late. But been on the driving range.
Yesterday I played 100 balls 7 iron I hit every shot one went 100 yards just poor strike 2 full distance but hook and slice the other 7 dead straight perfect loft.

5 iron I'd say the hit ratio is about 15% less than the 7

3 wood about 50:50 today

condor

8,837 posts

247 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
How are your courses re the winter wheel rule?
I was going to get some hedgehogs fitted at the pro shop but I was told that they're not invoking that rule this year - so I didn't need them.

nw28840

985 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
Winter wheel rule invoked last week at our club, doesn't worry me too much as I like to carry the bag anyway.
Played today and shot 13 over but on temporary greens - so the course was playing about 600 yards shorter.
Was striking the ball very nicely and the fact we were on temporary greens made a real difference to my mindset.
I just ignored 'going for the pin' which I usually don't and this leads to getting me into trouble.
Instead just tried to hit the distance and accepted the putting would be a bit of a lottery on the temporary greens.

Now to take the same attitude out onto the course in normal conditions !!