Golf Thread 2014 - All Things Golf!
Discussion
Dan_1981 said:
I've held the club the same way since I started playing years ago.
Right hand at the bottom of grip / top of shaft, left hand thumb inside right hand and little finger on right hand linked between index and middle finger of left hand.
Has never been uncomfortable but recently whenever I play more than about 9 holes I'm getting a really really sore little finger on my right hand by the time the round finishes and the day after, with some swelling of right hand little finger.
Any other suggested grips or suggestions as to why this might have started happening?
If its hurting your probably doing something wrong. Its really hard to say from a description tbh. Right hand at the bottom of grip / top of shaft, left hand thumb inside right hand and little finger on right hand linked between index and middle finger of left hand.
Has never been uncomfortable but recently whenever I play more than about 9 holes I'm getting a really really sore little finger on my right hand by the time the round finishes and the day after, with some swelling of right hand little finger.
Any other suggested grips or suggestions as to why this might have started happening?
Get a lesson or watch youtube vids to show you how to do it. Don't grip to hard either.
Grip is probably the most important thing about golf. If you get that right the other bits become easier. Don't be worried if you change it and it feels horrible and you start playing worse ( it probably will feel rubbish ) Stick with it and things will get better.
JamesNotJim said:
Played with an old lad today in an invitation day.
He played with a set of Ping Eye2's that he got fitted for in 1983! I Couldn't believe it, those irons are 4 years older than me! Still played a bloody good game with them too. But I'll stand by what I say. He could be 3-4 shots better handicap wise with more forgiving clubs that'd help him get the ball into the air easier.
Love playing with the old timers, they see the game in a totally different way. No pressure, no hassle, no grumbling about bad shots and always have a few good stories to tell.
They are bloody good clubs. Not sure if it was the Eye or Eye 2 that were probably the first clubs to bring in custom fitting to jo public ( might be wrong on that ) He played with a set of Ping Eye2's that he got fitted for in 1983! I Couldn't believe it, those irons are 4 years older than me! Still played a bloody good game with them too. But I'll stand by what I say. He could be 3-4 shots better handicap wise with more forgiving clubs that'd help him get the ball into the air easier.
Love playing with the old timers, they see the game in a totally different way. No pressure, no hassle, no grumbling about bad shots and always have a few good stories to tell.
rat840771 said:
Best round ever at the weekend in Stableford comp
Shot a gross 75 for a 45pt score ( won by 6)
Don't know what to say really, it was just one of those days and the only time when I kept the 'entire' round together. Started on 11 and was 1 under on 1st tee after 4 birdies .
So ended up with a level back 9 and 3 over on front, didn't hit more than a 4 wood. But what made it special was 26putts as it would normally be 36 as my putting is s
t, but not last Sunday!
Best gross score before was an 80. Cut from 11.4 to 9.8!
So it can be done, and I can score. All I need to do is learn to chip.
Firstly well done. Shot a gross 75 for a 45pt score ( won by 6)
Don't know what to say really, it was just one of those days and the only time when I kept the 'entire' round together. Started on 11 and was 1 under on 1st tee after 4 birdies .
So ended up with a level back 9 and 3 over on front, didn't hit more than a 4 wood. But what made it special was 26putts as it would normally be 36 as my putting is s
t, but not last Sunday!Best gross score before was an 80. Cut from 11.4 to 9.8!
So it can be done, and I can score. All I need to do is learn to chip.
Anyone who wants lower scores should take note of this post.
Short game is the single best way to shoot lower scores, and the biggest part of the game that never gets practiced by most people.
No point sending a 7 iron approach 8ft from the flag if you 3 jab it.
bodhi said:
dxbtiger said:
Will you stick with DG? Stiffer than S400 kinda puts you into X100 range which are pretty comparable to 6.5's I think.
I get a noticeably higher ball flight with PX versus my old S300's (which were too soft for me), worth trying back to back if you can get a demo head with interchangeable shafts.
The original Nike blades are gorgeous, so clean and simple, I had the Pro Combo set of those, my kid brother uses them now.
Not particularly set on either DG's or PX's if I'm honest when it comes to change. Plan is to find a Nike fitting centre and go down and try a few. Will probably be next season now, and will have to be something pretty special to move on from the blades, as they are, as you say, gorgeous. Not just in looks but the feel of the things as well. I get a noticeably higher ball flight with PX versus my old S300's (which were too soft for me), worth trying back to back if you can get a demo head with interchangeable shafts.
The original Nike blades are gorgeous, so clean and simple, I had the Pro Combo set of those, my kid brother uses them now.
In fact I think I'm talking myself into keeping them and spending the £700 elsewhere now.....
Had my driver fitting 2 months ago and ended up with a Callaway X2 hot with a Fuji Speeder 661. Well worth the additional £20 to see numbers on flightscope.
What does anyone think to these Callaway Srata for a beginner set http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strata-Mens-Piece-Steel-Pa...
jinkster said:
What does anyone think to these Callaway Srata for a beginner set http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strata-Mens-Piece-Steel-Pa...
TBH ive no idea whats hot or not these days. However Callaway are one of the top makes of stuff so I presume that will be good kit. Back in the day when I used to work in the trade ( many many moons ago ) you would find it hard to buy all that for that price so seems a good deal. See if you can try them out somewhere first is the best thing you can do.
Managed to go for my 2nd round of the year today. I think I've played about 5 times since I packed in around about 1999 
No practice just turned up and got on the tee.
Id like to say it was back to the glory days of thinking about turning pro but the reality was
I looked like a 90's throwback
I lost a few balls
I had absolutely zero idea of distance to the flag and what club to use
Its wrong but I do still quite enjoy shouting FOORRREEEEEEEE
I now have blisters
I shot 93 a fecking 93
Really enjoyed it and had a bit of a laugh, although its a dam hard pill to swallow playing so bad to what I used to be like. I did play some ok shots towards the end of the round and putted ok ish later in the round once I had a bit of a feel for it again.
Id like to start playing a bit more.
No practice just turned up and got on the tee. Id like to say it was back to the glory days of thinking about turning pro but the reality was
I looked like a 90's throwback
I lost a few balls
I had absolutely zero idea of distance to the flag and what club to use
Its wrong but I do still quite enjoy shouting FOORRREEEEEEEE
I now have blisters
I shot 93 a fecking 93
Really enjoyed it and had a bit of a laugh, although its a dam hard pill to swallow playing so bad to what I used to be like. I did play some ok shots towards the end of the round and putted ok ish later in the round once I had a bit of a feel for it again.
Id like to start playing a bit more.
help me out here guys I spend all this time practing to hit the ball straight which now I pretty good at, I've even sorted my drive out so play from the fairway more often now but eveyone with a low handicap is talking about a draw shot or a fade hitting out to the right or left where I've practised not to hit it???? What's so great about a draw and fade what's wrong with a straight ball flight?
milner993 said:
help me out here guys I spend all this time practicing to hit the ball straight which now I pretty good at, I've even sorted my drive out so play from the fairway more often now but everyone with a low handicap is talking about a draw shot or a fade hitting out to the right or left where I've practised not to hit it???? What's so great about a draw and fade what's wrong with a straight ball flight?
What your calling straight probably isn't. Generally people will hit it one way or the other, its just how much the ball moves determines if its a fade or draw or becomes a slice or a hook. Anyway it sounds like your doing ok if your going straight ish 
The next step if you like is to add different shots to your game, learning to fade, draw or maybe a punch shot etc with control. Learning to play these shots just gives you better options on course. Getting around trees is the most obvious one. Or if a green has bunkers on the right you might want to play a fade to give less risk of going into them.
Its hard to explain because every hole and situation is different but shot selection is a good way of getting your scores down.
theshrew said:
milner993 said:
help me out here guys I spend all this time practicing to hit the ball straight which now I pretty good at, I've even sorted my drive out so play from the fairway more often now but everyone with a low handicap is talking about a draw shot or a fade hitting out to the right or left where I've practised not to hit it???? What's so great about a draw and fade what's wrong with a straight ball flight?
What your calling straight probably isn't. Generally people will hit it one way or the other, its just how much the ball moves determines if its a fade or draw or becomes a slice or a hook. Anyway it sounds like your doing ok if your going straight ish The next step if you like is to add different shots to your game, learning to fade, draw or maybe a punch shot etc with control. Learning to play these shots just gives you better options on course. Getting around trees is the most obvious one. Or if a green has bunkers on the right you might want to play a fade to give less risk of going into them.
Its hard to explain because every hole and situation is different but shot selection is a good way of getting your scores down.
I finished two weeks ago my last lesson which has been invaluable, I'm booking my next set of lessons in the next few weeks which will be on course management and use of the driving range again, so I imagine draw and fade shots might pop up once in a while as my local course has something like eight doglegs and lots of water, I should break 80 at least once by the end of the year (I hope!) now my drive has come good I hit a 91 the other day in appalling conditions so fingers crossed as I'm playing this Sunday for good weather and a low score to go with it.
milner993 said:
theshrew said:
milner993 said:
help me out here guys I spend all this time practicing to hit the ball straight which now I pretty good at, I've even sorted my drive out so play from the fairway more often now but everyone with a low handicap is talking about a draw shot or a fade hitting out to the right or left where I've practised not to hit it???? What's so great about a draw and fade what's wrong with a straight ball flight?
What your calling straight probably isn't. Generally people will hit it one way or the other, its just how much the ball moves determines if its a fade or draw or becomes a slice or a hook. Anyway it sounds like your doing ok if your going straight ish The next step if you like is to add different shots to your game, learning to fade, draw or maybe a punch shot etc with control. Learning to play these shots just gives you better options on course. Getting around trees is the most obvious one. Or if a green has bunkers on the right you might want to play a fade to give less risk of going into them.
Its hard to explain because every hole and situation is different but shot selection is a good way of getting your scores down.
I finished two weeks ago my last lesson which has been invaluable, I'm booking my next set of lessons in the next few weeks which will be on course management and use of the driving range again, so I imagine draw and fade shots might pop up once in a while as my local course has something like eight doglegs and lots of water, I should break 80 at least once by the end of the year (I hope!) now my drive has come good I hit a 91 the other day in appalling conditions so fingers crossed as I'm playing this Sunday for good weather and a low score to go with it.
milner993 said:
theshrew said:
milner993 said:
help me out here guys I spend all this time practicing to hit the ball straight which now I pretty good at, I've even sorted my drive out so play from the fairway more often now but everyone with a low handicap is talking about a draw shot or a fade hitting out to the right or left where I've practised not to hit it???? What's so great about a draw and fade what's wrong with a straight ball flight?
What your calling straight probably isn't. Generally people will hit it one way or the other, its just how much the ball moves determines if its a fade or draw or becomes a slice or a hook. Anyway it sounds like your doing ok if your going straight ish The next step if you like is to add different shots to your game, learning to fade, draw or maybe a punch shot etc with control. Learning to play these shots just gives you better options on course. Getting around trees is the most obvious one. Or if a green has bunkers on the right you might want to play a fade to give less risk of going into them.
Its hard to explain because every hole and situation is different but shot selection is a good way of getting your scores down.
I finished two weeks ago my last lesson which has been invaluable, I'm booking my next set of lessons in the next few weeks which will be on course management and use of the driving range again, so I imagine draw and fade shots might pop up once in a while as my local course has something like eight doglegs and lots of water, I should break 80 at least once by the end of the year (I hope!) now my drive has come good I hit a 91 the other day in appalling conditions so fingers crossed as I'm playing this Sunday for good weather and a low score to go with it.
Aside from shaping the shot around obstacles, the major benefit of being able to shape a ball is holding a shot into a side-wind.
Going for 'dead straight' usually means you could end up with a bit of either draw or fade on any given shot.
That's normally not too bad at all. Nobody hits it EXACTLY straight all the time.
But when standing on a tee with a big left to right wind, accidentally giving it a smidge of fade could be disastrous. The ball goes very high, where the wind is even stronger, and you watch in dismay (for ages) as the ball balloons wider and wider and wider. Sad day.
So being able to reliably play a bit of draw to hold the ball into that wind will reduce the chance of a proper card-wrecker into the mega-cabbage.
Overall though, I'd say being able to play it high and low is perhaps more useful than being able to shape left and right.
If you have a natural, reliable shape then you can plan for it, make allowances for it, and half the time use it to your advantage. But dead-straight is never a bad thing.
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