The Golf Thread - 2018!

[Blackpuddin]

soupdragon1 said:

Busa mav said:

Thanks for the feedback on the driver guys, much appreciated, you don't offend me, I need true honest feedback, harsh or not.

I have resisted using the driver I have on the course yet, its an old small headed Wilson.
Somebody had suggested to me that I shouldn't bother taking anything longer than the 5 to the course, which is what I have been doing.

Now having played a total of 45 holes in my golfing career

My 6 iron, which I tee off with is often alongside the young ( 40) guys I play with, using their drivers

First time I went to the course, I dropped it next to the pin at 174 yards on a par 3. I haven't managed that again , yet

Presently visiting the range 3 times a week, but just cant seem to carry that "feel " I have when I swing there, to the course. I suspect I am trying to overhit it.

Playing 18 holes tomorrow so hopefully will see some improvement again.

Its a lot easier to hit off a range mat than off the ground at the golf course. If you hit a little bit behind the ball, you can get away with at the range, but not on the course. Part of that 'feel' could be set up. By default, a range mat is square, which aids alignment, and you're always hitting the same direction.

I would sometimes move the mat at an angle so that I don't get that 'free alignment aid' which means that you are 'always' practicing getting yourself lined up properly, rather than having the mat helping you. Getting yourself to a position where you get your posture and alignment the same every time you address the ball is quite difficult and is often overlooked so don't take the freebie that you get from the range mat.
And mix up your targets on the range can help to, rather than just aiming straight up the middle each time. In a nutshell, trying to get the range session as close as you can to a typical day on the golf course can only aid in getting to the point where you bring your range game to the course.

It might seem a bit strange but if you know your golf course like the back of your hand, you can even replicate playing the course when you are on the range. Eg, taking your driver and if you pull it left, imagine where that might have ended up on your own course. And then imagine the shot to the green you are left with. And if its a low punch shot to avoid hitting some overhanging branches, then go ahead and just hit that shot - for me, it keeps the concentration going and makes it a bit more fun, rather than just hitting full shot after full shot. It also means you are practicing the 'non standard' shots too. It might not be for everyone but I would do that on occasions just to mix it up a bit.

More great advice.

[yorky500]

Blackpuddin said:

yorky500 said:

Blackpuddin said:

Ooh re the old boys playing with hosepipe clubs, that's a bit harsh, I'm 65 this year and I whack it as far as most of the other lads in my group apart from the ones in their 20s! Regular shaft driver.

I did not mean to cause any offence and I know, it is a massive "generalisation" of those over 60. Hell I will be 60 in 6 years time, so I will be able to judge myself then! hahahahaha

Whippersnapper!

Hahahahaha, I am not that far away - one day!

[SpeckledJim]

bodhi said:

SpeckledJim said:

bodhi said:

WinkleHoff said:

The thing is though much of golf is about percentages. Always have a chuckle when everyone reaches for the driver whenever they can. They don't even know how far they hit their 3w and 5w by comparison. Their fade is accentuated with the driver, so they are losing distance, but they just don't go for the shorter clubs. Maybe the big head of a driver gives confidence at address, I don't know. Henrik Stenson bagged his driver in favour of 3w. Lots of the fairway woods have a very hot face as well, and it's also easier to shape the ball, and hit low shots that run for miles in the summer....

Must admit the more I hear this argument and the more I play the less I agree with it, mostly as every golfer is different. Some people are wild with the drvier and should put it away, yes - me for most of last season, for instance , but for others the Driver is the straightest club in the bag - if you can hit it, you should imo.

PS Stenson does still carry a Driver, just doesn't use it that often, as he hits his (strong) 3 wood far enough. I've tried to emulate this by building a beast of a 3 wood (put an X Flex shaft in my Vapor Fly), but my Driver is still 20-30 yards longer. That could be the difference between reaching a par 5 in 2 or not, or going for a pin with a 7 iron rather than a 5.

I agree, if any given golfer is very good with their driver, then the distance gained makes the rest of the game easier.

I reckon only 10% of club golfers get a nett benefit (shots gained - shots cost) by carrying their driver, and the majority of them would be low handicappers.

That said I think a lot of very good golfers don't nett benefit from their driver. It's often the club that costs them the most, and they're extremely capable and reliable with their 3 wood. Proper analysis would be needed to demonstrate that to them, and even then you wouldn't convince many of them, because they like smashing their driver more than they like saving half a shot a round.

I think it comes down to what you want out of a game of golf personally - if you think every shot counts and want to go as low as possible, then yes the Driver should stay in the bag. But if you want to go out and have some fun, then get the Driver out and have a lash

I always used to be massively conservative on the golf course - having a two way miss and playing a tight tree lined course left me with fewer options - but when I played Anfi Tauro in Gran Canaria over Xmas I decided that, because I was on holiday, I was going to abandon my conservative ways and go back to how I used to play - balls out and bugger the consequences. So Driver on every hole it was practical, and go for it in 2 on the Par 5's. Ended up shooting 82 and my best holiday round ever

One example was the 9th, a 510 yard Par 5 with the green protected by a massive lake. Thumped a Driver down the middle, leaving me about 230 yards left. Considered laying up to the right of the lake, then got my 3 wood out and went for it. Caught it a little thin but otherwise out the middle and watched it land pin high about 40 feet away, then 2 putted for a birdie. Did the same on 18 (a Par 5 over the same lake) and narrowly missed a putt for eagle.

Much more fun

But you're good enough to eagle a par 5 sometimes, so, whilst not necessarily the 'right' plan, it's not outlandish for you to try.

What's mad, IMO, is a going to a track day and attempting Hamilton's entry speed on every corner, and ending up in the litter every time. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) someone puts a hand on a shoulder and says

"listen sunshine, what you're TRYING to do doesn't overlap with what you CAN do. Wind it in a bit, and you'll learn a lot more, and everyone will have a better day."

I'm on about the golf version of that.

[WinkleHoff]

SpeckledJim said:

bodhi said:

SpeckledJim said:

bodhi said:

WinkleHoff said:

The thing is though much of golf is about percentages. Always have a chuckle when everyone reaches for the driver whenever they can. They don't even know how far they hit their 3w and 5w by comparison. Their fade is accentuated with the driver, so they are losing distance, but they just don't go for the shorter clubs. Maybe the big head of a driver gives confidence at address, I don't know. Henrik Stenson bagged his driver in favour of 3w. Lots of the fairway woods have a very hot face as well, and it's also easier to shape the ball, and hit low shots that run for miles in the summer....

Must admit the more I hear this argument and the more I play the less I agree with it, mostly as every golfer is different. Some people are wild with the drvier and should put it away, yes - me for most of last season, for instance , but for others the Driver is the straightest club in the bag - if you can hit it, you should imo.

PS Stenson does still carry a Driver, just doesn't use it that often, as he hits his (strong) 3 wood far enough. I've tried to emulate this by building a beast of a 3 wood (put an X Flex shaft in my Vapor Fly), but my Driver is still 20-30 yards longer. That could be the difference between reaching a par 5 in 2 or not, or going for a pin with a 7 iron rather than a 5.

I agree, if any given golfer is very good with their driver, then the distance gained makes the rest of the game easier.

I reckon only 10% of club golfers get a nett benefit (shots gained - shots cost) by carrying their driver, and the majority of them would be low handicappers.

That said I think a lot of very good golfers don't nett benefit from their driver. It's often the club that costs them the most, and they're extremely capable and reliable with their 3 wood. Proper analysis would be needed to demonstrate that to them, and even then you wouldn't convince many of them, because they like smashing their driver more than they like saving half a shot a round.

I think it comes down to what you want out of a game of golf personally - if you think every shot counts and want to go as low as possible, then yes the Driver should stay in the bag. But if you want to go out and have some fun, then get the Driver out and have a lash

I always used to be massively conservative on the golf course - having a two way miss and playing a tight tree lined course left me with fewer options - but when I played Anfi Tauro in Gran Canaria over Xmas I decided that, because I was on holiday, I was going to abandon my conservative ways and go back to how I used to play - balls out and bugger the consequences. So Driver on every hole it was practical, and go for it in 2 on the Par 5's. Ended up shooting 82 and my best holiday round ever

One example was the 9th, a 510 yard Par 5 with the green protected by a massive lake. Thumped a Driver down the middle, leaving me about 230 yards left. Considered laying up to the right of the lake, then got my 3 wood out and went for it. Caught it a little thin but otherwise out the middle and watched it land pin high about 40 feet away, then 2 putted for a birdie. Did the same on 18 (a Par 5 over the same lake) and narrowly missed a putt for eagle.

Much more fun

But you're good enough to eagle a par 5 sometimes, so, whilst not necessarily the 'right' plan, it's not outlandish for you to try.

What's mad, IMO, is a going to a track day and attempting Hamilton's entry speed on every corner, and ending up in the litter every time. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) someone puts a hand on a shoulder and says

"listen sunshine, what you're TRYING to do doesn't overlap with what you CAN do. Wind it in a bit, and you'll learn a lot more, and everyone will have a better day."

I'm on about the golf version of that.

All interesting stuff - and one of the reasons why I love golf! Every golfer is different, that's true, and what you want out of the game is a factor. For me I want to get down to scratch and win comps, and part of that strategy is using a strong 3w and getting my ball in the correct position off the tee (which isn't always down the middle), whilst reducing miss percentages. I like to play each hole in reverse, leaving myself with the optimal distance to attach the green, which is often leaving myself a solid 60yd wedge in, which is better for me than 20yds. So, knowing the strength of your wedges, and working backwards, can dictate what you take off the tee. I also much prefer the feel of the ball, and the sound of it, off of the face of my 3w. Nice solid crack rather than sounding like a dinner gong. In matchplay its also demoralising for my opponent when I hit 3w or hybrid past their driver, I'm pretty mean like that! It can really eat away at them and force them to swing harder and then make mistakes.

Golf really is the greatest of all games.

[Northbloke]

On a golf tour in Scotland last year we played some tough courses and I was being far too wayward off the tee with my driver. At home I might have got away with it but the result here was a load of lost balls and after 4 days I was in 19th place out of the 20 of us.

Totally hacked off, on the last day I left all my woods behind and literally played a 6-iron off the tee on all par 4s and 5s and a 8-iron on all long fairway shots. So I could no longer reach par 5s in 2 (hardly ever do in practice anyway these days) but I can in 3 even with a 6-iron and 2 8-irons. Longer par 4s I would still be in chipping range and would have a shot (12 hcap).

Result was no balls lost and a win by 4 shots from the other 19!

Make of that what you will!

[Blackpuddin]

You could play bogey golf on most courses with nothing longer than a 5 in your bag. From there it only takes a bit of luck/skill to turn a bogey into a par.

[thebraketester]

Played some of my best golf so far yesterday. Started off a bit average with 11 over on the front 9.

Made 2 over on the back 9, meaning a score of 2 under net par for the round, presuming a handicap of 15.

[mikal83]

Blackpuddin said:

You could play bogey golf on most courses with nothing longer than a 5 in your bag. From there it only takes a bit of luck/skill to turn a bogey into a par.

Hence the 3 club challenge. Look at your score and of your a middle/high h'capper, its not much higher but you'll be more accurate and able t play your ball from the short stuff more often.

I dont agree about moving mats. Body alignment is the key. Also playing off a mat you might get more bounce of the harder mat, whilst a driver. 3 wood etc will dig it a little and turn over closing the face.

[SpeckledJim]

Blackpuddin said:

You could play bogey golf on most courses with nothing longer than a 5 in your bag. From there it only takes a bit of luck/skill to turn a bogey into a par.

I’d agree. For me, insisting on using a driver ‘because that’s what proper golfers do’ is the biggest reason most golfers can’t play to 18, because it costs them at 6 shots a round in three-off-the-tees.

After throwing 6 in the bin you’ve got to play the rest of the round to 12, in order to get to 18!

A driver helps you get to scratch, but hinders you getting to 18.

[Northbloke]

For me it was a simple change in mentality. On these difficult courses 36pts was proving a winning score. Ergo you only need to score 2 pts a hole with no blobs.

Now normally I try and get as many pars as I can and the odd birdie or two to talk about in the bar afterwards. However, hand in hand with those efforts, when things aren't going well, comes a load of blobs ruining the overall score.

So instead of playing to gross par, which I usually do, I changed to play the hole to net par. I get 12 shots so on a 440yd par 4 with cabbage either side there is no need to go driver, 3-iron with a very low success rate of GIR. A score of 6 or more is much more likely than a par. I hit my irons a decent distance so with a 6 iron and 8-iron I'm within pitching wedge territory for my 3rd turning the hole into a very short par 3 in effect for 2 pts. I can handle that.

Ditto for par 5s where I'm ruling out getting the odd eagle but can still easily get a par for 3pts.

Plus confidence breeds confidence and I found I hardly hit any really duff shots with my irons at all.

The lads off 24 get 2 shots on some par 5s and could easily hit 4 7 irons to get on for a 3 pointer. But it is very difficult to make yourself do that.

But it ain't as much fun so I guess I'll revert to batting it as far as I can back on my home course.

[Blackpuddin]

Monthly Stableford was downgraded to a rollup this morning because of heavy rain overnight and 4 temp greens, managed 36pts playing in a permanent raincloud. Went in only one bunker after trying to lay up (typical) but wasted three shots getting out of it aaargh. Really am going to have to sort out this bunker hoodoo somehow.
Got a cheap pencil bag the other day and am quite enjoying carrying (though a bit less so this morning while also trying to handle a brolly in the swirly rain). Not sure that brollies are worth the aggro in golf as it seems to be windy whenever it's rainy. Bought an expensive one a couple of months back and snapped it on the second round when the trolley took off and tipped over.

[WinkleHoff]

Blackpuddin said:

Monthly Stableford was downgraded to a rollup this morning because of heavy rain overnight and 4 temp greens, managed 36pts playing in a permanent raincloud. Went in only one bunker after trying to lay up (typical) but wasted three shots getting out of it aaargh. Really am going to have to sort out this bunker hoodoo somehow.
Got a cheap pencil bag the other day and am quite enjoying carrying (though a bit less so this morning while also trying to handle a brolly in the swirly rain). Not sure that brollies are worth the aggro in golf as it seems to be windy whenever it's rainy. Bought an expensive one a couple of months back and snapped it on the second round when the trolley took off and tipped over.

I found my bunker play improved when I learnt to feel the bounce/sole of the club in the sand, and loosened up my wrists. Also, Dave Pelz's short game bible is a must, and has a great section on bunker play. I now have no major concerns, and in fact would prefer to be in a greenside bunker than many other locations around the green. Good luck with this, because worrying about bunkers can affect the rest of your game!

[Blackpuddin]

It certainly has in my case as I'm having to lay up for most greens rather than go for it. I was actually trying to lay up yesterday to avoid the bunker and of course the ball did that thing of magically finding enough energy to stagger into it.
Am coming to the conclusion that trying to sort this out in our practice bunker is not a good idea as the sand coverage is both thin and heavy. In the lesson I had with the pro he wasn't telling me to open the face at all. He was basically doing a stiff-wristed chip shot and relying on good technique to get out. That's used by a lot of the old boys round my track but it's not something I am good enough to do as I can't hit the sand at the precise point behind the ball like the pro can.

[DuncanM]

Blackpuddin said:

Monthly Stableford was downgraded to a rollup this morning because of heavy rain overnight and 4 temp greens, managed 36pts playing in a permanent raincloud. Went in only one bunker after trying to lay up (typical) but wasted three shots getting out of it aaargh. Really am going to have to sort out this bunker hoodoo somehow.
Got a cheap pencil bag the other day and am quite enjoying carrying (though a bit less so this morning while also trying to handle a brolly in the swirly rain). Not sure that brollies are worth the aggro in golf as it seems to be windy whenever it's rainy. Bought an expensive one a couple of months back and snapped it on the second round when the trolley took off and tipped over.

No sympathy until you try my tip!

loose wrists, from the top just turn your hips and give no thought to your hands

[thebraketester]

Practice harder to keeping it out of the bunker. :-)

[Blackpuddin]

That's what the pro says, or words to that effect!
I will try what you say Duncan and I'll be delighted if it works. I think most of my problem centres on the impact point in the sand, which I can't repeat for some reason, and the fear that the bounce of the club will simply result in hitting the ball with the edge of the club, which is what seems to happen in 90% of cases. Either that or a massive duff from hitting the sand too far back which gets the ball airborne but only for about two feet.

[Busa mav]

Had a great day yesterday started badly by trying to go shoulder to shoulder with my mates, then woke up.

Just took onboard the advice given here and proceeded down the middle of the fairway with my 6 and 7, worked a treat ,my game came to order .

Last hole is a long par 4 , with the green right outside the club house bar window, I managed a 70 yard pitching wedge to within 6 inches of the pin!
Then had the pleasure of walking onto the green and tapping in MY ball for a 5.

Now played a total of 63 holes.


Used only 5 clubs for the 18 holes, 6, 7, 9, PW and putter

Edited by Busa mav on Sunday 20th January 16:50

[Blackpuddin]

Brilliant, well done!

[Busa mav]

Thank you.

Even joined the club , so I can slip in a cheeky 9 holes here and there .

Hennerton Golf Club bear Henley o T

[yorky500]

The bug has bitten. Well done.

I went out for a swing yesterday. First time in 2 weeks and whilst I had some good shots, I also had a lot of poor shots. I was not expecting anything else to be honest.

I know I need to get out and practice/play more - just need to actually do it.