Discussion
Had a real crappy few days lately, golf-wise. Range session last night was just poor. Kept hitting my driver out the bottom of the face, irons were all a bit skinny. Similar story the last couple of outings on the course over the weekend. I know golf is an up-and-down game, but I've never had it quite like this. It's not like I'm sometimes good and sometimes bad, it's that I'm sometimes superb and other times s
te, just opposite ends of the scale completely.
A couple of weeks ago I was so confident putting, the hole looked like a bucket. On Saturday morning I couldn't hole a putt from 4 feet. Once a couple miss then the confidence goes.
I'm going to give it a rest until the weekend, probably Sunday, and just leave it - my back is a little tight and my finger a little sore anyway. Maybe they're causing me subconsciously to pull out of shots
te, just opposite ends of the scale completely. A couple of weeks ago I was so confident putting, the hole looked like a bucket. On Saturday morning I couldn't hole a putt from 4 feet. Once a couple miss then the confidence goes.
I'm going to give it a rest until the weekend, probably Sunday, and just leave it - my back is a little tight and my finger a little sore anyway. Maybe they're causing me subconsciously to pull out of shots
milesgiles said:
God he’s irritating didn’t make it 20 seconds
Here is my seemingly preferred strike point for an iron right now.
I think my stance has crept slightly closer to the ball and therefore slightly more upright than before when I was striking my irons well. This, I think, is down to hooking a lot of shots left (which I put down to swinging "around" the ball, so I wanted to get my swing more vertical) and also chasing a "better-looking" swing (which in hindsight is pretty daft).
I'll see how I get on next time I'm at the range and I might try and get a face-on video. I think I have a bit of early extension going on and just need to stay "in" the shot more.
Rosscow said:
I think we have similar swing problems 
I also need to try and stand a little taller, but stay over the ball more (as you say, 'in' the shot longer). I'm prone to getting up and out of the shot too early.
I almost never take a divot. I also almost never hit an iron shot fat. This all points, in my eyes, to just jumping out of it.I also need to try and stand a little taller, but stay over the ball more (as you say, 'in' the shot longer). I'm prone to getting up and out of the shot too early.
Two or three weeks back I was hitting my irons really well, and it was so comfortable, just walk up, pick target, swing smooth, ball goes where I aimed. I think I posted about it on here. My "new" swing does lead to better results than before, just less often (at the moment). I used to overswing and the clubhead would be all over the place at the top. Now my backswing is improved, keeping the angles better and not having so much break in the wrist, but I think I'm just trying to whack it too hard. Need to stay in the shot and let the club do its job.
milesgiles said:
I’ve videod most of the best players at my original club and believe me basically everyone battles early extension to some degree. Absolutely none look even slightly like Rory lol.
Do you hit fairways woods and rescues well? If only driver is performing you will have more of a general swing fault, driver is by far the easiest club for anyone to hit these days and will cover up just about anything
Like I say I think my swing has changed a bit over the past few weeks so I think there probably is a fundamental flaw somewhere. If I play poorly next time out I'll get some videoDo you hit fairways woods and rescues well? If only driver is performing you will have more of a general swing fault, driver is by far the easiest club for anyone to hit these days and will cover up just about anything
On a related note, I've joined the "buy a blade to improve your ball striking" crew. Only difference is I've gone for a 3 iron! 
Going to be so hard to hit but I really bought it because
A) It looks nice
B) If I can get alright with it it'll be a club that I was previously missing (off a tee, particularly)
C) Rory had one in the bag when he won the Open (I'm a big fan)
Think it's in the post today. Should be a laugh at least!
Going to be so hard to hit but I really bought it because A) It looks nice
B) If I can get alright with it it'll be a club that I was previously missing (off a tee, particularly)
C) Rory had one in the bag when he won the Open (I'm a big fan)
Think it's in the post today. Should be a laugh at least!
bodhi said:
Go big or go home I always say
Fair play, we'll need pics and a report of how you get on. I've got an MP20 3 iron hanging around somewhere, might be very tempted to put that back in the bag.....
It's very pretty! I've given the grip a scrub. I'll take it to the range tonightFair play, we'll need pics and a report of how you get on. I've got an MP20 3 iron hanging around somewhere, might be very tempted to put that back in the bag.....
fat80b said:
Aphrabehn said:
Anyone else get irritated by the daft question from a playing partner when you're looking for a ball?
You know the one.... "what are we looking for?" (ie make and model)
Just look for a ball please and I will tell you if it's mine, stop wasting time.....
(Happened to me last week and I rather curtly said "a golf ball" in reply).
I think I’m on the side of the playing partner I’m afraid. It’s hardly wasting time for you to reply that you hit a Callaway with a black line on it. (Or whatever it was). You know the one.... "what are we looking for?" (ie make and model)
Just look for a ball please and I will tell you if it's mine, stop wasting time.....
(Happened to me last week and I rather curtly said "a golf ball" in reply).
Sure it’s ultimately for you to be able to identify your ball, but it’s common if you are deep in the cabbage for a pp to find several balls, none of which are yours. Knowing what you are looking for actually speeds things up not slows them down.
And if you can’t say what it was that you hit, then how can you be sure that you can identify it if they do find it?
Well, it is now! Funny that
kentlad said:
s94wht said:
PhoarrrrHow much was that? I might have to jump on the bandwagon!
Think I got on pretty well considering I've never hit a 3 iron before. Here are the last 10 I hit. Spot the thin and the fat! Bonus points if you can tell which is which
(Ignore the offline numbers, I'm not sure what Toptracer was set up to aim at)
It does feel super, super nice when you flush it. I was pleasantly surprised with the thin strikes. I'm sure they would have felt worse in the cold but they were generally ok. I only had one that I would describe as "painful".
It doesn't really go any further than my 5 iron, but definitely lower. It'll definitely suit links golf better which ticks off one of my purchase goals. In terms of my home course, though, I don't think it'll fill the gap between 5i and 3w like I was hoping (unless it's very windy)
bodhi said:
I'm going - 3rd from top was fat and 2nd from bottom was thin?
Either way those are pretty impressive numbers - my 4 iron will go 210 tops and barely breaks 125 mph ball speed if I flush it, so if say not too bad at all for the first go with a 3 iron!
Not sure what irons you play, but with how lofts have changed it wouldn't shock me to find out your 5 iron and the VR Pro 3 iron were similar in loft. Only way I can think of to balance out the bag is....
Is....
Buy more VR Pros
Correct, they were the fat and the thin. The fat was SO fat that on a course in these damp conditions I'm not sure the ball would've moved Either way those are pretty impressive numbers - my 4 iron will go 210 tops and barely breaks 125 mph ball speed if I flush it, so if say not too bad at all for the first go with a 3 iron!
Not sure what irons you play, but with how lofts have changed it wouldn't shock me to find out your 5 iron and the VR Pro 3 iron were similar in loft. Only way I can think of to balance out the bag is....
Is....
Buy more VR Pros
A couple more outings with it and I'm going to be very very tempted, I think. Just have a few more pressing things to buy than a spare set of golf clubs
mine are only a year and a bit old (Taylor made Stealths). I think you're probably right with the lofts. I hadn't thought about that, more the fact that my Stealth irons pack a punch lol
Edited by s94wht on Thursday 30th May 22:10
Played Saturday and Sunday morning and couldn't hit an iron for st, a recurring theme lately. Shot 103 and 104, which mean an increase to hcap.
Pissed off, decided to go out again for a few holes yesterday evening, determined to put things right. Thought I might get 6 holes in before it got too dark. Ended up playing 12 holes (1-9, 10, 17, 18).
Stupid game. Hope I can continue in a good direction now!
t, a recurring theme lately. Shot 103 and 104, which mean an increase to hcap.Pissed off, decided to go out again for a few holes yesterday evening, determined to put things right. Thought I might get 6 holes in before it got too dark. Ended up playing 12 holes (1-9, 10, 17, 18).
- Shot +5, my best pro rata score ever
- Didn't make a double or worse
- Birdied the last
Stupid game. Hope I can continue in a good direction now!
s94wht said:
Played Saturday and Sunday morning and couldn't hit an iron for st, a recurring theme lately. Shot 103 and 104, which mean an increase to hcap.
Pissed off, decided to go out again for a few holes yesterday evening, determined to put things right. Thought I might get 6 holes in before it got too dark. Ended up playing 12 holes (1-9, 10, 17, 18).
Stupid game. Hope I can continue in a good direction now!
Well, I don't know what's happened but I appear to have found something. Went out for another 9 this evening. t, a recurring theme lately. Shot 103 and 104, which mean an increase to hcap.Pissed off, decided to go out again for a few holes yesterday evening, determined to put things right. Thought I might get 6 holes in before it got too dark. Ended up playing 12 holes (1-9, 10, 17, 18).
- Shot +5, my best pro rata score ever
- Didn't make a double or worse
- Birdied the last
Stupid game. Hope I can continue in a good direction now!
Really weird feeling to be coming off disappointed with 5 over (8 and 9 were poor holes) after shooting a 104 last week. Swing just feels much better. I'm much happier and more relaxed playing. I'm stepping up to putts with confidence and just rolling them close. On 6 I hit a 307 yard drive. The difference is just staggering and I'm just praying it sticks around now.
Just a few posts back I was lamenting my inability to strike a ball. I'm sat here in shock
bodhi said:
Unless you changed technique much from last weekend I'd say what you've found is you play better when happy and relaxed
If you find the secret to being happy and relaxed every time you go out so you can step up to every shot with confidence please do let me know
Definitely the case! Last couple of times I've been out have been lovely warm evenings on a pretty much empty course and I've basically said to myself, I'm there to enjoy being out, not the golf. If you find the secret to being happy and relaxed every time you go out so you can step up to every shot with confidence please do let me know
However I have felt little changes in my swing as well, particularly with the driver. Just feeling a bit more relaxed and athletic, not so rigid trying to hit certain positions in my swing
bodhi said:
Played in our first major comp yesterday which was a Bogey competition, so basically matchplay against the course. A lot of people really aren't fans - I don't mind it but I'm glad we only play it once a year.
Conditions were tough with a 20 mph wind and lots of deep rough around, but managed to get round in 80 (level against the course) and finished 6th. Was out in 37 (2 over) so could have been better, but had some bad breaks on the back 9 from good shots, including a mud ball on 15 which resulted in an evil hook into some bushes.
Still really proud of the round I put together in the conditions - kept good control of the ball (mud balls excluded) and kept going when things didn't entirely go my way.
Also have to give credit to a couple of comments on here which really helped. First the chat with s94 on Friday about just going out and enjoying the day, and Rays comment about getting handsy with putts. I focused on taking my hands out of things and just rocking my shoulders, and as a result couldn't really miss from 10 feet and in.
So cheers guys
Sadly the 80 knocked a 76 out of my last 20 scores so handicap has gone up to 9.4, however I feel fairly confident I can get that down after yesterday's performance.
Nice to read, didn't expect to have helped anyone else Conditions were tough with a 20 mph wind and lots of deep rough around, but managed to get round in 80 (level against the course) and finished 6th. Was out in 37 (2 over) so could have been better, but had some bad breaks on the back 9 from good shots, including a mud ball on 15 which resulted in an evil hook into some bushes.
Still really proud of the round I put together in the conditions - kept good control of the ball (mud balls excluded) and kept going when things didn't entirely go my way.
Also have to give credit to a couple of comments on here which really helped. First the chat with s94 on Friday about just going out and enjoying the day, and Rays comment about getting handsy with putts. I focused on taking my hands out of things and just rocking my shoulders, and as a result couldn't really miss from 10 feet and in.
So cheers guys
Sadly the 80 knocked a 76 out of my last 20 scores so handicap has gone up to 9.4, however I feel fairly confident I can get that down after yesterday's performance.
I'm surprised bogey comps are qualifiers tbh, surely your attitude towards each hole is different to if you're playing stroke play?
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff