The Golf Thread - 2015
Discussion
4 weeks in and I feel like I'm getting somewhere with my ball striking. I'm now hitting my driver much straighter and more accurately and I can carry the 230yd green at the range. I've been playing my irons off the mats rather than off tees and seem to be getting reasonable consistency with them too. I also hit about 25 shots off the mats with my PW today and only hit one thin one. All in all feeling pretty chuffed with my progress. Going to have another practice round tomorrow and then I'm going to see if I can play the required rounds to get myself a handicap.
Monkeythree said:
4 weeks in and I feel like I'm getting somewhere with my ball striking. I'm now hitting my driver much straighter and more accurately and I can carry the 230yd green at the range. I've been playing my irons off the mats rather than off tees and seem to be getting reasonable consistency with them too. I also hit about 25 shots off the mats with my PW today and only hit one thin one. All in all feeling pretty chuffed with my progress. Going to have another practice round tomorrow and then I'm going to see if I can play the required rounds to get myself a handicap.
Is there a grassed area you can hit you irons and wedges from? It's obviously possible to top the ball on mats or grass, but on a mat you quite often don't realise when you've hit it fat because the club just bounces. You then play a course and duff your irons.
I always think its more productive to practice on grass.
HaplessBoyLard said:
Is there a grassed area you can hit you irons and wedges from?
It's obviously possible to top the ball on mats or grass, but on a mat you quite often don't realise when you've hit it fat because the club just bounces. You then play a course and duff your irons.
I always think its more productive to practice on grass.
Couldn't agree more on the benefit of practice on grass. My local pros course has a lovely grass practice area at the back of the course and I love when I get to practice up there. It's obviously possible to top the ball on mats or grass, but on a mat you quite often don't realise when you've hit it fat because the club just bounces. You then play a course and duff your irons.
I always think its more productive to practice on grass.
Also Theale golf course has a tiny range which isn't very good. HOWEVER they have a small grass area to practice from which is a god send for lunch breaks.
HaplessBoyLard said:
Monkeythree said:
4 weeks in and I feel like I'm getting somewhere with my ball striking. I'm now hitting my driver much straighter and more accurately and I can carry the 230yd green at the range. I've been playing my irons off the mats rather than off tees and seem to be getting reasonable consistency with them too. I also hit about 25 shots off the mats with my PW today and only hit one thin one. All in all feeling pretty chuffed with my progress. Going to have another practice round tomorrow and then I'm going to see if I can play the required rounds to get myself a handicap.
Is there a grassed area you can hit you irons and wedges from? It's obviously possible to top the ball on mats or grass, but on a mat you quite often don't realise when you've hit it fat because the club just bounces. You then play a course and duff your irons.
I always think its more productive to practice on grass.
Monkeythree said:
Thanks - That's really helpful advice for a beginner like me. I was hoping that my mat shots would replicate on the course but it's obvious now I think about it that they won't and I need to practice on representative surfaces. I will seek out a suitable ppractice ground and have a go there.
I've been doing a drill on the range that might help you, if you can't get to practice off the turf (I can't).Lay your golf towel on the range mat and hit balls from 3ish" (a club head's length) in front of the towel. Even if you do catch the towel on the way to the ball you'll barely know, until you look down but you'd be surprised how shallow you must be coming in on some shots, when you do catch it.
I try and play every few shots from infront of my left foot. It forces you to move your weight forward and try and bring the clubs angle into the strike.
Also if you've power tees try and play shots off the softer turf as its a little more like grass than the hard stuff.
My lessons tend to be half on the trackman/Launch monitor then half on the grass working on the on course side of the game. Also I get a nice video with commentary of each lesson. Its nice to see the massive changes my swing has had.
Also if you've power tees try and play shots off the softer turf as its a little more like grass than the hard stuff.
My lessons tend to be half on the trackman/Launch monitor then half on the grass working on the on course side of the game. Also I get a nice video with commentary of each lesson. Its nice to see the massive changes my swing has had.
I use masking tape on range mats, just a small strip behind the ball will give you a clear indication if you are hitting down correctly.
That said there is no substitute for grass, sadly it is rare to find a range that allows this as the difference between playing off the two surfaces is like a different game.
That said there is no substitute for grass, sadly it is rare to find a range that allows this as the difference between playing off the two surfaces is like a different game.
I played 10 holes this morning and soon realised that for all my new found confidence off the range mats, a wet golf course is an entirely different beast. Judging by the divots I was taking, I'm definitely hitting the ground a couple of inches behind the ball. Duffed loads from the light rough and a couple from the fairway (when I was on them!) I somehow managed two pars after some heroic putting so will take some solace from that!
Those tips for the range mats sound really useful so will give those a try in future.
Those tips for the range mats sound really useful so will give those a try in future.
airweaz said:
Having not played in a week I went to the range yesterday and frankly stunk up the place.
My ever reliable 6i was letting me down too and that's my go to for a number of shots.
Left in a bit of a strop in all fairness. Still on to the next.
It's a strange old game. I played Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Awful Thursday & Friday, didn't actually manage to hit 30 points on either round. Then hit 4 under my handicap on Saturday. 40 points for the first time since November which I'm over the moon about. And considering i'd never played there before, to hit a 79 was a dream! I've promised myself some short-game lessons for the summer so i can finally get down to single digits!My ever reliable 6i was letting me down too and that's my go to for a number of shots.
Left in a bit of a strop in all fairness. Still on to the next.
A rare story'o'glory for me.
Having had 2 months off whilst haggling with my club over whether I'd renew my membership, I was first off the tee on my own yesterday morning. Played two balls all the way round and dropped 16 shots between them, so averaged 8 each.
That's pretty good for me, but not spectacular, considering the 2 months off.
"So where's the glory?" you ask!
I didn't play well at all from tee to green. Fairways missed. Greens missed long and short, left and right. But I putted better than I've ever, ever putted.
No new routine, no practice.
I'd bought and read Bob Rotella's book Putting Out of Your Mind, after seeing it recommended in this thread. Three 3-putts over 36 holes, which is miles better than I usually manage, and I reckon 66-75% hit-rate from 6', which again is miles better than normal.
Get. The. Book!
Having had 2 months off whilst haggling with my club over whether I'd renew my membership, I was first off the tee on my own yesterday morning. Played two balls all the way round and dropped 16 shots between them, so averaged 8 each.
That's pretty good for me, but not spectacular, considering the 2 months off.
"So where's the glory?" you ask!
I didn't play well at all from tee to green. Fairways missed. Greens missed long and short, left and right. But I putted better than I've ever, ever putted.
No new routine, no practice.
I'd bought and read Bob Rotella's book Putting Out of Your Mind, after seeing it recommended in this thread. Three 3-putts over 36 holes, which is miles better than I usually manage, and I reckon 66-75% hit-rate from 6', which again is miles better than normal.
Get. The. Book!
Edited by SpeckledJim on Monday 18th May 16:16
Quick question. As im wedgeless at present (new clubs 4-pw) I nabbed an older wedge off my old man I can re grip and use till I can get some more cash together for some new ones/ebay numbers.
Whats peoples club cleaning routine? I rinse my current clubs and brush them down?
But for an older tarnished wedge im thinking a spot more cleaning and tidying up?
Whats peoples club cleaning routine? I rinse my current clubs and brush them down?
But for an older tarnished wedge im thinking a spot more cleaning and tidying up?
airweaz said:
Having not played in a week I went to the range yesterday and frankly stunk up the place.
My ever reliable 6i was letting me down too and that's my go to for a number of shots.
Left in a bit of a strop in all fairness. Still on to the next.
Sounds normal for golf. Having played nicely through the winter when it's been nearly all team games, I've been rubbish since we've moved to summer rules and medal comps. I've already had enough 0.1s back for my h/c to go up a shot. That usually means I'll be due a good round soon. My ever reliable 6i was letting me down too and that's my go to for a number of shots.
Left in a bit of a strop in all fairness. Still on to the next.
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