Golf Thread 2014 - All Things Golf!

[JamesNotJim]

DuncanM said:

All good fun!


b) Ball back in stance, hit down and through = loads of spin not less

This is the part I'd put a caveat too. You do not need to place the ball back in your stance to generate spin. I can create as much spin having the ball middle of stance or even forward. The main point is you need your hands arrive at the ball before the club head.
The best way to generate spin is not to attack the ball steeply (which putting the ball back in your stance does). You need to come into the ball with a shallow angle of attack with your hands ahead of the ball/club head. Just like the pro's do.

[iantr]

ManFromDelmonte said:

Has anyone played Green Monkey? I'm going out for the test match in April and wondered if it lives up to the hype.

Yes - it's pretty good. I've played it a few times, and will do so again in a couple of weeks. Hard to say whether it lives up to hype, but with so few rounds played an extraordinary degree of condition can be maintained.

[Rosscow]

JamesNotJim said:

DuncanM said:

All good fun!


b) Ball back in stance, hit down and through = loads of spin not less

This is the part I'd put a caveat too. You do not need to place the ball back in your stance to generate spin. I can create as much spin having the ball middle of stance or even forward. The main point is you need your hands arrive at the ball before the club head.
The best way to generate spin is not to attack the ball steeply (which putting the ball back in your stance does). You need to come into the ball with a shallow angle of attack with your hands ahead of the ball/club head. Just like the pro's do.

I completey agree, you have worded it better!

[kentlad]

Cracking bit of debate chaps...shaft lean = can of worms by the look of it. great to see so many schools of thought though!

[DuncanM]

I'm losing this one but will have one last try to be clear

1) I personally do not hit my wedges on the back foot/loads of shaft lean/down etc
2) I politely dispute that hitting the ball as suggested, on the back foot/loads of shaft lean/down etc creates less spin.

Read the Golfwrx thread again for what I'm getting at, or get yourself a copy of Hogan's 5 lessons and read his description of the skulled wedge

Edited by DuncanM on Friday 10th October 10:37

[taaffy]

Simple, efficient and the data backs it up ... no opinion, just hard facts.

http://blog.trackmangolf.com/how-to-spin-your-wedg...

[Rosscow]

DuncanM said:

I'm losing this one but will have one last try to be clear

1) I personally do [b]not] hit my wedges on the back foot/loads of shaft lean/down etc
2) I politely dispute that hitting the ball as suggested, on the back foot/loads of shaft lean/down etc creates less spins

Read the Golfwrx thread again for what I'm getting at, or get yourself a copy of Hogan's 5 lessons and read his description of the skulled wedge

In fairness I think we are talking about different shots. The low checking pitch shot (as in your WRX link) is a pretty tough shot to nail, especially for a beginner.

[Jayyylo]

If you can get past the matching outfits, meandmygolf on Youtube have done a video on backspin which helped explain it pretty clearly.
How to get backspin on chip shots

[kentlad]

I originally thought the chap was talking about chip shots in and around the green....rather than 50 yard shots...that's what i struggled with most when i first started out - hence the ball in the back of the stance, give the club some forward shaft lean which will keep the hands in front of the ball and should help him to stop thinning his shots

When chipping....strangely i find it easier to leave loft ON the club when i lean the shaft forward, use the bounce and keep the club face nice and open...I've never understood why people chip with a closed stance...

[DuncanM]

taaffy said:

Simple, efficient and the data backs it up ... no opinion, just hard facts.

http://blog.trackmangolf.com/how-to-spin-your-wedg...

Thanks for posting that, pretty much backs my opinion up?

[taaffy]

DuncanM said:

taaffy said:

Simple, efficient and the data backs it up ... no opinion, just hard facts.

http://blog.trackmangolf.com/how-to-spin-your-wedg...

Thanks for posting that, pretty much backs my opinion up?

Playing the ball middle to back in the stance allows you to attack the ball from a shallow inside path as per the video. Unfortunately most people pick the club up sharply from a rear position and tend to chop down on the ball in a similar fashion to playing a bunker shot.

[Rosscow]

DuncanM said:

taaffy said:

Simple, efficient and the data backs it up ... no opinion, just hard facts.

http://blog.trackmangolf.com/how-to-spin-your-wedg...

Thanks for posting that, pretty much backs my opinion up?

Ummm... yes and no.

You advocate the ball back in your stance and trapping ball between club and ground.

That video unfortunately doesn't mention ball position in stance, but makes a big effort to try and 'sweep' the ball and take very little, if any, divot.

Obviously they are ensuring hands are in front of the ball at impact which results in the lower loft.

However it sounds like you have the ball back in your stance and trap it from a steep angle of attack.

This is a great discussion - if only we were all stood around a nice green so that we could show each other what we mean!

Perhaps we should arrange a PH golf day next year...?

[DuncanM]

Rosscow said:

DuncanM said:

taaffy said:

Simple, efficient and the data backs it up ... no opinion, just hard facts.

http://blog.trackmangolf.com/how-to-spin-your-wedg...

Thanks for posting that, pretty much backs my opinion up?

Ummm... yes and no.

You advocate the ball back in your stance and trapping ball between club and ground.

That video unfortunately doesn't mention ball position in stance, but makes a big effort to try and 'sweep' the ball and take very little, if any, divot.

Obviously they are ensuring hands are in front of the ball at impact which results in the lower loft.

However it sounds like you have the ball back in your stance and trap it from a steep angle of attack.

This is a great discussion - if only we were all stood around a nice green so that we could show each other what we mean!

Perhaps we should arrange a PH golf day next year...?

Yes, great discussion!

The huge amount of de-lofting 56deg down to 40deg = more spin

That was my main point.

The post I linked describes exactly the same as the Trackman vid, I should have been cleaer with the sweeping aspect (barely any divot), but the point is still the same - ish

[theshrew]

I dont really get that vid tbh, It goes against what id expect.

In general hitting a draw adds distance a fade gives more control. Im supprised that he recomends to hit a draw to get it to spin more.

I defo agree with the type of shot to play more people should.

Interesting though.

[mattdaniels]

kentlad said:

I originally thought the chap was talking about chip shots in and around the green....rather than 50 yard shots...that's what i struggled with most when i first started out - hence the ball in the back of the stance, give the club some forward shaft lean which will keep the hands in front of the ball and should help him to stop thinning his shots

When chipping....strangely i find it easier to leave loft ON the club when i lean the shaft forward, use the bounce and keep the club face nice and open...I've never understood why people chip with a closed stance...

If I am "the chap" then yes, I was talking about whacking the ball through the green when positioned a few feet off the green. But the discussion about chipping in general has been interesting to read.

To throw something else in to the mix, I've watched a video of someone using a hybrid to get the ball on to the green instead of a wedge.

[Rosscow]

theshrew said:

I dont really get that vid tbh, It goes against what id expect.

In general hitting a draw adds distance a fade gives more control. Im supprised that he recomends to hit a draw to get it to spin more.

I defo agree with the type of shot to play more people should.

Interesting though.

When you play a draw you are working the club from in to out, and it tends to be a shallower angle of attack.

When you come across the ball to play a fade you tend to come down on the ball from a steeper angle.

I think this is why they are saying that

[DuncanM]

mattdaniels said:

kentlad said:

I originally thought the chap was talking about chip shots in and around the green....rather than 50 yard shots...that's what i struggled with most when i first started out - hence the ball in the back of the stance, give the club some forward shaft lean which will keep the hands in front of the ball and should help him to stop thinning his shots

When chipping....strangely i find it easier to leave loft ON the club when i lean the shaft forward, use the bounce and keep the club face nice and open...I've never understood why people chip with a closed stance...

If I am "the chap" then yes, I was talking about whacking the ball through the green when positioned a few feet off the green. But the discussion about chipping in general has been interesting to read.

To throw something else in to the mix, I've watched a video of someone using a hybrid to get the ball on to the green instead of a wedge.

Few feet off the green!

7 iron - Putting stroke ftw

[Rosscow]

DuncanM said:

mattdaniels said:

kentlad said:

I originally thought the chap was talking about chip shots in and around the green....rather than 50 yard shots...that's what i struggled with most when i first started out - hence the ball in the back of the stance, give the club some forward shaft lean which will keep the hands in front of the ball and should help him to stop thinning his shots

When chipping....strangely i find it easier to leave loft ON the club when i lean the shaft forward, use the bounce and keep the club face nice and open...I've never understood why people chip with a closed stance...

If I am "the chap" then yes, I was talking about whacking the ball through the green when positioned a few feet off the green. But the discussion about chipping in general has been interesting to read.

To throw something else in to the mix, I've watched a video of someone using a hybrid to get the ball on to the green instead of a wedge.

Few feet off the green!

7 iron - Putting stroke ftw

If you're a few feet off the green but on a decent lie (fringe, fairway) then putt!
9/10 your worst putt will be as good or better than your best chip!

[kentlad]

mattdaniels said:

If I am "the chap" then yes, I was talking about whacking the ball through the green when positioned a few feet off the green. But the discussion about chipping in general has been interesting to read.

To throw something else in to the mix, I've watched a video of someone using a hybrid to get the ball on to the green instead of a wedge.

Ha! Sorry, that's me being too lazy to flick back and check your name!

I've played a couple 3 woods form the fringe, with varying results. One finished with a foot of the hole, another went 6ft past before it even thought about slowing down. I'd much rather use a wedge having tried it a couple of times myself. Again though, it's personal preference....find something you're comfortable with & if you can replicate it consistently, you'll gain shots...there really are so many different ways to play most shots!

Definitely try and get a few short game lessons if you can. That's where 90% of golfers lose 80% of their shots. I know that's where i lose the majority of mine!

Definitely like the idea of a PH Golf day!

[mattdaniels]

Rosscow said:

DuncanM said:

mattdaniels said:

kentlad said:

I originally thought the chap was talking about chip shots in and around the green....rather than 50 yard shots...that's what i struggled with most when i first started out - hence the ball in the back of the stance, give the club some forward shaft lean which will keep the hands in front of the ball and should help him to stop thinning his shots

When chipping....strangely i find it easier to leave loft ON the club when i lean the shaft forward, use the bounce and keep the club face nice and open...I've never understood why people chip with a closed stance...

If I am "the chap" then yes, I was talking about whacking the ball through the green when positioned a few feet off the green. But the discussion about chipping in general has been interesting to read.

To throw something else in to the mix, I've watched a video of someone using a hybrid to get the ball on to the green instead of a wedge.

Few feet off the green!

7 iron - Putting stroke ftw

If you're a few feet off the green but on a decent lie (fringe, fairway) then putt!
9/10 your worst putt will be as good or better than your best chip!

I know I'm a beginner but I'm not completely stupid. Obviously if it's close enough and playable with a putter then that's what I do. That's not the situation I was describing in my OP.