The Golf Thread - 2018!

[thebraketester]

Had a lesson with coach Lockey last week. Really good, certainly got me thinking about things in a slightly different way and starting to see some consistency in ball flight and direction.

[Blackpuddin]

Noodle1982 said:

The plan was to work on course management and play 'safe' golf as well as get around as quickly as possible.

Every time I've tried that approach – irons off every tee, split the remaining distance in two etc – it's worked in terms of a score. Unfortunately the possibility of 'winning the lottery' by playing like Tiger Woods just once in my life is just so hypnotic and strong that I forget the safety-first plan on the next round, and out come the big dogs.

[bodhi]

I've spent the last couple of seasons playing safe in competitions, and discovered that I am just as capable of putting a 4 iron OOB as I am a Driver So next season, unless I'm going to run out of golf course, the dog is coming out. In for a penny and all that.

I'm looking forward to next season already however, I managed to get rid of my "over the top" move and am hitting everything with a nice draw, now just need to "hanging on" to the club too much on the way through and overcooking it. Have played every weekend however and have been hitting some awesome shots, and been right around or under my handicap each time.

Have been tinkering with equipment too, as I'm starting to think 4 wedges is excessive and just confuses me around the green, so moving from 50/54/58 to 51 (getting the 50 knocked a degree weak) and 56. That way I can add a 5 wood to fill in a gap at the top for around 210-220 yards.Only problem was, I have just cannibalised my 5 wood for the shaft adapter so I could put a new shaft in my 3 wood (Nike adapters are like rocking horse poo now), So I took the old shaft from my 3 wood, put it in the 5 wood head to make a sort of 4 wood and...I've created a monster Long high and straight, and fills the gap superbly

[Blackpuddin]

Know what you mean about the wedges, I've got 52/56/60 plus a 48 Vokey and often think I could leave at least one of those at home. Thing is though I wouldn't know which one! Not good enough to be able to guarantee yardages on half or three-quarter shots so it's useful having all those clubs and sort of knowing how far each one goes on a full swing. I guess I need to put in more work on those fractional shots. Trying to sort out my basic swing with the pro at the moment though and that's enough brain melt to be going on with!

[bodhi]

I just found I never really used the 58 that often, and can get similar results on lob/bunker shots with my 56, but am far more comfortable with it on full shots than I ever was with the 58. I hit the ball very high anyway, so full shots with it tended to go into orbit but only travel about 60 yards - I'd rather hit a 3/4 56 for those.

[SpeckledJim]

I'm not good enough to get true value out of the very lofted wedges.

For every foot closer to the hole a great shot might finish, the risk of a thin or a chunk just rockets, for me.

I still carry a 60, but it's more for 'weird' situations. I wouldn't want to attempt a full swing 90 yard pitch with it - just too wide a spread of possible outcomes.

[theplayingmantis]

yorky500 said:

I agree, I like the old fashioned approach. When I first took up golf in the dim and distant past, if you wore shorts you had to have long socks! Where I play now, golf shirts must be tucked in and you have to wear a belt - I like it. Even the caddies bring it to your attention when your shirt is not tucked in.

i think its a good thing having certain strict membership criteria as long as fees are not excessive and don't exclude people on that basis.

the course i used to be a cadet in the late 90s at had similar criteria, proposals by long standing members and referees.

it did help filter out a fair few of the bell ends, as mr angry for example wouldn't get proposed on the most part.

the same club a few years ago dropped that criteria so as long as you could afford the subs anyway could get in. club house experience dropped as did etiquette and respect of the course, indeed a local builder (im not being snobbish as my old mans a tradesman/son of the soil) who took his dogs with him round allowed them to st and never picked it up.

i haven't been a member for years as i don't have the time to play, but i think rules and regs have a place and make golf a bit nicer.

all that said there needs to be less stuffy courses too for those who don't want that. i found with new playing mates they initially didn't want the 'stuffiness' but once they got into the game and got better they appreciated the more traditional club.

i imagine moving into a new area and new course with such criteria can be awkward, but its usually pretty easy to find out members within the local community and get to know them, or worst case write to them.

[thebraketester]

I only carry 2 wedges a 52 and 58 and I never use the 58 unless I am in a bunker.

25mph winds today. Made for an interesting round of 89.

[DuncanM]

thebraketester said:

Had a lesson with coach Lockey last week. Really good, certainly got me thinking about things in a slightly different way and starting to see some consistency in ball flight and direction.

I used to really enjoy their videos - Until I realised that Mark is pretty awful (the vid when he loses it at Rory).

Coach seems really cool, and certainly brilliant around the greens.

[Juanco20]

DuncanM said:

I used to really enjoy their videos - Until I realised that Mark is pretty awful (the vid when he loses it at Rory).

Coach seems really cool, and certainly brilliant around the greens.

Pretty bad off the tee though. He sends them in all directions which is surprising for someone who was very good when he was younger

[DuncanM]

Juanco20 said:

Pretty bad off the tee though. He sends them in all directions which is surprising for someone who was very good when he was younger

Yes, it's a shocking thing to watch him miss 50 yards left and right.

[thebraketester]

Even pros have bad spells. The changed his swing earlier this year. Either way he seems like a good coach from the 2hours I spent with him.

I should have taken a photo of my before and after strike pattern with my 7 iron it was hilarious. The change I was able to make with a few swing thoughts without even thinking about ball strike. Trying to deliver the club with 0 lie angle ( I was about 2.5* toe down) made a huge difference to how I am hitting the ball.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 22 December 13:39

[yorky500]

Played this morning - very hit and miss. First time back on the course after a few weeks, so it was expected.

Back out tmr AM, hopefully my golf improves.

[yorky500]

Yet again sodding hit and miss. Superb off the tee, but on the greens I was all at sea. I had no clue what I was doing with the short flat stick in my hands.

[Noodle1982]

Went online earlier looking for a new pair of golf shoes and ended up buying a set of Cobra F7 one length!

I had no intention of changing my irons but the one length has always intrigued me. Ordered them 1/4inch longer and +2 upright which will make them the same spec as my current 7 iron.

5i - GW £280 brand new.

I'm hoping I get on with them as im itching to put the single length 19deg F8 hybrid in the bag along side them.

[Blackpuddin]

seems like a very good price

[kiethton]

Played on Sunday, not played in a while and somehow played well!!! (8 handicap), fir the first part anyway!

Thinned a 30yd bunker shot on 4 so doubled but birdied 6 to get back to level until I bogeyed 9 onward, including a double (and full on shank!) on 14! Ball was going nowhere though - having to hit a 7 for a 150yd shot was an eye opener!

Finished net level with an 80....and the same ball...I’ll take that!

[Busa mav]

Having never played golf before, tomorrow sees me taking to the course with a bunch of mates who love playing, I think the best of them plays off 16 so not exceptional but they have such fun.

I have secretly had a few lessons and have been hitting range balls 3 times a week in the hope of not embarrassing myself, too much !

Picked up some old Wilson clubs off of facebay and ordered a 100 lake balls in case it goes seriously wrong 😀

Had many chances to play many years ago when wifey was involved with the Euro pga tour, but other sports took my interest.
Will update tomorrow night as to whether or not I will continue with golf 😀

[bodhi]

Busa mav said:

Having never played golf before, tomorrow sees me taking to the course with a bunch of mates who love playing, I think the best of them plays off 16 so not exceptional but they have such fun.

I have secretly had a few lessons and have been hitting range balls 3 times a week in the hope of not embarrassing myself, too much !

Picked up some old Wilson clubs off of facebay and ordered a 100 lake balls in case it goes seriously wrong ??

Had many chances to play many years ago when wifey was involved with the Euro pga tour, but other sports took my interest.
Will update tomorrow night as to whether or not I will continue with golf ??

My advice woukd be to not worry about the score too much and just have fun, then just wait for the awesome shots you hit to bring you back for more. But don't think about your lessons too much, just stand up and hit the bloody thing

Am in Gran Canaria on a family holiday at the mo, and have been told I am more than welcome to go for a game at some point. Any ideas which course I should be looking at? We're near Anfi but that looks well expensive, so other options are welcome

[Blackpuddin]

thebraketester said:

Trying to deliver the club with 0 lie angle ( I was about 2.5* toe down) made a huge difference to how I am hitting the ball.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 22 December 13:39

Standing a bit further away from the ball was probably the most productive tip I got from my lesson a couple of weeks ago.