The Golf Thread - 2015

[Dan_1981]

Pretty excited at the moment.

Fly to Spain on Wednesday to stay here:

http://www.villaitana.com/

To play at the two courses they have -

http://www.1golf.eu/en/club/villaitana-golf/

http://www.golfbreaks.com/levante-golf-course


Can't wait now!

[StescoG66]

I am getting pretty pissed off now. 42 putts on Saturday, yet stroke is fine and strike feels fine too........ getting a bit worked up by this now!!

[rat840771]

Dan_1981 said:

Pretty excited at the moment.

Fly to Spain on Wednesday to stay here:

http://www.villaitana.com/

To play at the two courses they have -

http://www.1golf.eu/en/club/villaitana-golf/

http://www.golfbreaks.com/levante-golf-course


Can't wait now!

same here, sleepless nights have already started.

Fly to Belek tomorrow and stay in 5 star ultra inclusive followed by rounds at the:
Montgomerie
Faldo
Pasha
Pines
Carya

check this out, we may do this one evening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgWECID0p64

[kentlad]

rat840771 said:

same here, sleepless nights have already started.

Fly to Belek tomorrow and stay in 5 star ultra inclusive followed by rounds at the:
Montgomerie
Faldo
Pasha
Pines
Carya

check this out, we may do this one evening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgWECID0p64

that looks like a lot of fun. The last guy to tee off in the first clip definitely pulled it into the water

Played yesterday, completely at odds. My short game and pitching has gone walk abouts. As has my putting. Just in time for my trip to the Bramshaw next week. So much for single digits this year . I'll be lucky to maintain 13/14.

Anyone got any simple short game advice?

[airweaz]

Had a cracking weekend on the course. Went out with another putter to test and my god it worked.

Played with a guy I've known and played golf with for years and beat him by 4 shots. Sunk two nice long putts from outside 10 foot.

My progress is visible now.

[Rosscow]

Kentlad, I feel the same about my tee shots at the moment!! I wanted to get down to 12/13 this year, but as soon as there is some pressure (competition or match play) I can't hit my driver to save my life.

Lost 4&3 on Saturday in the club knock out, despite being all square at the turn and being unable to use my driver! Just keep firing low hooks with the bloody thing.

And yet Thursday night playing for fun with a mate it was on fire! So frustrating.

As for the comp, I was up against a guy off of 3 and played the front 9 pretty well, but lost 2 balls in 2 holes on the 10th and 11th and that was it, head was gone!

[snowy]

rat840771 said:

same here, sleepless nights have already started.

Fly to Belek tomorrow and stay in 5 star ultra inclusive followed by rounds at the:
Montgomerie
Faldo
Pasha
Pines
Carya

check this out, we may do this one evening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgWECID0p64

All very good courses, I would have played the Sultan rather than the Pasha

[DuncanM]

StescoG66 said:

I am getting pretty pissed off now. 42 putts on Saturday, yet stroke is fine and strike feels fine too........ getting a bit worked up by this now!!

Poor putting is a very frustrating problem, but if you're stroke and contact are good then it will be how you're reading the greens/putt?

My putting transformed after a very basic Aimpoint express walkthrough with my Pro, since then my putting has been immeasurably better.

Horses for courses but this is what I do, and it is very very simple.

When walking onto the green, I go straight to the flag and look at my ball from there. I establish the low point, and then walk back towards my ball, feeling out the slope with my feet.

Once at my ball, I can look at the hole and know which way the ball with be turning over the last 5 feet or so (towards the low point).

I then aim to always miss long and high of the low point, giving the ball a chance (short and or low is a definite miss).

Low point is simply the lowest point around the flag, left to right, uphill, downhill doesn't make as much sense as establishing the low point and working out your putt from there.

I hope this makes sense, it is an extremely basic view of the whole concept - which goes into crazy detail, and imo to much detail for amateurs.

[kentlad]

Rosscow said:

Kentlad, I feel the same about my tee shots at the moment!! I wanted to get down to 12/13 this year, but as soon as there is some pressure (competition or match play) I can't hit my driver to save my life.

Lost 4&3 on Saturday in the club knock out, despite being all square at the turn and being unable to use my driver! Just keep firing low hooks with the bloody thing.

And yet Thursday night playing for fun with a mate it was on fire! So frustrating.

As for the comp, I was up against a guy off of 3 and played the front 9 pretty well, but lost 2 balls in 2 holes on the 10th and 11th and that was it, head was gone!

The hardest thing about golf is the mental side, most definitely. With confidence on tee shots, get yourself set with a proper pre shot routine, if you don't already have one? It's really helped my long game. I've found picking a point on the horizon if there's trees / buildings available to use as reference points works well. Then once i address the ball, same exact swing i always use and depending on strike it can't go too wrong.

[airweaz]

kentlad said:

The hardest thing about golf is the mental side, most definitely. With confidence on tee shots, get yourself set with a proper pre shot routine, if you don't already have one? It's really helped my long game. I've found picking a point on the horizon if there's trees / buildings available to use as reference points works well. Then once i address the ball, same exact swing i always use and depending on strike it can't go too wrong.

This is something my pro has drilled into me. Spot where you want the ball to go from the moment your in the tee box. Get your self settled and ready position and then one practise and then try and find the confidence to make the shot.

I know my routine for both shots and putting now and im settled into it and if I duff it I try and not let that shot affect the next one. You can have all the coaching in the world for your swing but if your head isn't having it your done from the moment you pick a club.
I know full well im my own worst enemy when I play golf. Also I let my playing partners get in my head way to easily. Its starting to affect me less now though.

[SpeckledJim]

This gets relentless mockery from my mates, but I have a think-box, 8 feet behind the ball, and a play-box, at address.

You don't do any playing in the think-box, and you don't do any thinking in the play-box.

In your think-box you do ALL your pondering. Try to envisage the flight you want, with due consideration of what is likely to be the direction of failure, and whatever you definitely don't want to happen. Then the last thing to think about is what you definitely DO want to happen.

Then step up and hit it.

A conservative strategy with a confident swing. Never the other way round.

[DuncanM]

SpeckledJim said:

This gets relentless mockery from my mates, but I have a think-box, 8 feet behind the ball, and a play-box, at address.

You don't do any playing in the think-box, and you don't do any thinking in the play-box.

In your think-box you do ALL your pondering. Try to envisage the flight you want, with due consideration of what is likely to be the direction of failure, and whatever you definitely don't want to happen. Then the last thing to think about is what you definitely DO want to happen.

Then step up and hit it.

A conservative strategy with a confident swing. Never the other way round.

I think that's brilliant!

Anyone read 'Golf Tough'? Really good, best Golf book I have read regarding the mental approach.

[boxsey]

StescoG66 said:

I am getting pretty pissed off now. 42 putts on Saturday, yet stroke is fine and strike feels fine too........ getting a bit worked up by this now!!

My guess is that by taking so many putts you must be missing quite a few short ones. Inside 4 feet. My tip for those is to be very accurate on your read and aim i.e. centre, right of centre, left of centre, inside the right or inside the left. This way you'll take those putts much more seriously, make a more positive stroke and make them more often.

[kentlad]

Can anyone recommend me a high spinning ball that won't scuff too easily? Not really wanting to pay Pro V1 money. I did use Srixon AD333's last summer but fancy a change. Have been using Titleist DT solos recently and don't really get on with them that well. Budget of around £15-£20 for a dozen.

[DuncanM]

kentlad said:

Can anyone recommend me a high spinning ball that won't scuff too easily? Not really wanting to pay Pro V1 money. I did use Srixon AD333's last summer but fancy a change. Have been using Titleist DT solos recently and don't really get on with them that well. Budget of around £15-£20 for a dozen.

http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/accessories/balls/callaway-golf-hex-black-tour-12-golf-balls-232608.html?gclid=CNrg3LOjrcUCFWoJwwodPYMAyQ

Top premium ball at £20 a dozen

Slightly firmer than Pro V1, think V1x.

[Rosscow]

Try the Titleist NXT Tour S.

[Rosscow]

http://www.golfwrx.com/206527/review-nxt-tour-and-...

[boxsey]

A couple of years ago I bought some cheap Dunlop golf balls from Sports Direct to take on holiday, on the basis that I would lose a lot in water hazards. I was surprised at how soft they felt off the club face and at how they would spin and grip on the greens over in the Algarve. I was even more surprised at how they performed on our much firmer greens back home.

http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-tour-golf-ball-...

Despite the strange looks that I get from playing partners when I announce on the first tee that I'm using a Dunlop.....I've been using them ever since!

[kentlad]

DuncanM said:

http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/accessories/balls/call...

Top premium ball at £20 a dozen

Slightly firmer than Pro V1, think V1x.

i shall certainly have a little look. Thanks mate! Is there any difference between the black and chrome in the Callaway Hex balls? I know ones 'tour' and ones 3 piece, but i have no idea if that makes a difference?

[StescoG66]

On the ball front, the Srixon AD333, AD333 Tour and the Soft Feel are exellent without bursting the bank. Also - unbelievably - the Pinnacle Exception is a great ball too, as is the Bridgestone.