Taking up Golf

[marksx]

Well, first time playing on a frozen course today. An interesting experience to say the least. Extremely fast greens and erratic bounces. But I shot my best score yet - 121. Not brilliant by anyones standard but 10 better than my previous. Far reduced number of topped shots, generally a good day

[simoid]

Turns out I can only hit massive fades with my driver in the depths of winter, anything else is a snap-hook!

[Skii]

Well I treated myself to my birthday pressie from the wife on saturday - 1 hours tuition with the head Pro at Stoke Park golf club, really top class experience and a very good teacher indeed, he identified my main problem was a reverse pivot in the backswing which was getting my swing all out of shape - plus a couple of other things as well.

All recorded and uploaded here if any of you want a laugh !

http://www.v1sports.com/Academy/include/player.asp...

Edited by Skii on Monday 14th January 09:43

[exocet ape]

simoid said:

Turns out I can only hit massive fades with my driver in the depths of winter, anything else is a snap-hook!

Massively open to the line = massive fades....

1) pick a spot in front of the ball and line clubface up with that with your feet together and ball in the middle.
2) Get your body a comfortable distance from the ball while doing the above.
3) toe out your front foot to about 30*.
4) Move your back foot to shoulder width from front foot. toe it out about 15*
5) check 1 again
6) hit

[SpeckledJim]

exocet ape said:

simoid said:

Turns out I can only hit massive fades with my driver in the depths of winter, anything else is a snap-hook!

Massively open to the line = massive fades....

1) pick a spot in front of the ball and line clubface up with that with your feet together and ball in the middle.
2) Get your body a comfortable distance from the ball while doing the above.
3) toe out your front foot to about 30*.
4) Move your back foot to shoulder width from front foot. toe it out about 15*
5) check 1 again
6) hit

Second all the above.

And it looks like you've an under-developed shoulder turn. Your left arm is under your chin but it looks like your shoulders have barely moved. At that point in the swing I'd expect your left shoulder to be at your chin and your right shoulder to be behind your head. Tuck your right elbow into your side, and keep your left arm straight.

[simoid]

Wasn't complaining about the fade - I was setting up for it

And I'm on the downswing there, not sure if that's confused you re. the shoulder turn. Not much chance of a full shoulder turn with the amount of layers I had on there anyway - it was Baltic!

[Sukh13]

Maybe watch the last part of this video about shoulder turn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPSFUUWGCc0

[simoid]

Think I'm pretty good on the ol' shoulder turn TBH - still a fair bit of torsion in my spine in the pic.

Might look a bit lazier as my hips and feet are aiming left of the fairway in the pic, and it was towards the end of the cold, wet round so enthusiasm was waning

[Church of Noise]

Quick question: I'm a newbie (having just spent a weekend at Sedlescombe golf school) in need of a set of clubs and have the possibility to buy a set of Callaway X-12 irons or a set of Taylormade R7 irons (I will add a putter, some drivers and a bag to that).
Is there a big difference between these two?

Cheers!

[SpeckledJim]

Church of Noise said:

Quick question: I'm a newbie (having just spent a weekend at Sedlescombe golf school) in need of a set of clubs and have the possibility to buy a set of Callaway X-12 irons or a set of Taylormade R7 irons (I will add a putter, some drivers and a bag to that).
Is there a big difference between these two?

Cheers!

They'll both do fine, go for the cheaper. I personally would rate Callaway for quality over taylormade, but the Callaways arguably look a bit odd when you stand over them at address. That may or may not bother you.

Shafts are much more important than the minutiae of clubheads - ask your pro what you need.

[Sukh13]

I would recommend a set of Mizuno MX-23 or MX-25s. Quality workmanship and forged for extra niceness!

[SpeckledJim]

Sukh13 said:

I would recommend a set of Mizuno MX-23 or MX-25s. Quality workmanship and forged for extra niceness!

I'd agree with that. I've just had my first set of Mizunos (mp-62) after 20 years with ping and they're lovely.

For a rookie though, either set he mentioned will do fine, and shafts and grips are more important than which cavity back head.

[Sukh13]

I believe both of them came with Dynamic Gold Superlite R300s. Good light shaft with plenty of launch

[marksx]

I just got a set of mizuno jpx800 beginner irons. They are looooveeelyyy compared to my old clubs.

Also some John letters woods but even though I have had them three weeks I haven't had chance to swing them.

[SpeckledJim]

Sukh13 said:

I believe both of them came with Dynamic Gold Superlite R300s. Good light shaft with plenty of launch

Thats a good regular shaft, but may not suit you. Have you asked your pro what you need? This is honestly the biggest favour you can do for yourself.

[JamesNotJim]

Thought I'd give this thread a little bump as we are getting closer to the new season.

Been hitting the range alot over winter and I've really trying to grove a few swing changes, I'm happy enough but I still need to work on the follow through a bit more

http://youtu.be/dm3q75PWAEk

Currently playing off 7.1 but hoping to reach Cat1 this year.

[Skii]

Well I'm making progress at last with my swing, still a little too long in my backswing but my reverse pivot seems to be under control, the casting is beginning to disappear and my impact position is much improved - a big difference from the scooping and chicken wing result from a few months ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXcAID4yafc

[theshrew]

Hopefully i will be taking up Golf again soon ( fingers crossed )

However ive not played for what must be 15 ish years now. My clubs are blades so obv not ideal for me to start again even though i used to be a pretty good player + tbh some of the club faces are worn out.

So whats the score with irons these days there seems to be a lot more choice than there used to be.

What sort of thing would i be looking at to be on par with a Ping Eye 2 at the moment ? Either Ping, Taylor Made, Callaway or Titleist - I presume they are still the big boys along with Mizuno.

What sort of price am i looking at for something along those lines now ?

[SpeckledJim]

I'd say you've got two realistic options,

£400 to £600 in American Golf will buy a lovely new set of quality brand game improvement irons, with your choice of shaft, fitted to your game.

£100 to £200 on eBay will get anything from a smart set of Ping Zings (which will never lose another penny in value) to a nice 3-4 year old set of Callaway or Titleists.

The relative benefits depend on how sure you are that you'll get good use out of the clubs, and how much you believe golf club technology has improved in the last decade. And there's nothing to stop you getting fitted for a new set, and taking what you learn about your swing into buying the right second-hand set.

Personally, I think any improvements in iron head performance since the Ping Zing would be in the single digit percents, and the main reason to buy new clubs is to have them fitted. Especially shafts - getting the right shaft is miles more important than getting the right cavity-back game improvement head.

[theshrew]

I love Ping Zings ( or the ones that were out when i played ) always wanted a set. Ive seen some on ebay but thought irons might of moved on since then.

It all depends on me getting a new job tbh hopefully will be working shifts, i just dont get chance to play at the moment with having a young family etc.
Just really want to get back playing.