The golf thread - 2019
Discussion
Played in the Wem Bowl at Hawkstone Park on Saturday. My friend who entered us didn't tell me it was a scratch competition, so winning wasn't really on the agenda, so just decided to enjoy two very different and interesting courses.
In the morning played the Hawkstone which was quite an old school, narrow tree lined course. Quirky in places (like the Par 5 8th where it's not worth taking any more than a 5 iron off the tee, as there is a 90 degree dog leg 200 yards up), a few driveable Par 4's. Was about 6400 yards off the whites so not too long, very narrow though. Apparently this is where Sandy Lyle learned his trade, and after playing it you can see why he was so good with a 1 iron. Played well for most of it, but had a couple of silly double bogeys after blocking a drive OOB and fluffing a chip on the 18th out of the mud, so signed for an 84.
Played the Windmill course in the afternoon, which was a massive contrast to what we played in the morning. More open, more water, felt a bit more like Wychwood or Carden than the layout in the morning. Conditions were tough though, a swirling 20 mph wind and soggy fairways made it tough going - best gross all afternoon was a 76, I limped home to an 89 after running out of energy on 14, eventually finished double / double / bogey for an 89 - my friend who invited me plays off 6 and struggled round to a 97, so looks like breaking 90 was an achievement.
Worth a trip to Hawkstone if you get a chance, especially if like me you grew up watching Sandy plying his trade.
In the morning played the Hawkstone which was quite an old school, narrow tree lined course. Quirky in places (like the Par 5 8th where it's not worth taking any more than a 5 iron off the tee, as there is a 90 degree dog leg 200 yards up), a few driveable Par 4's. Was about 6400 yards off the whites so not too long, very narrow though. Apparently this is where Sandy Lyle learned his trade, and after playing it you can see why he was so good with a 1 iron. Played well for most of it, but had a couple of silly double bogeys after blocking a drive OOB and fluffing a chip on the 18th out of the mud, so signed for an 84.
Played the Windmill course in the afternoon, which was a massive contrast to what we played in the morning. More open, more water, felt a bit more like Wychwood or Carden than the layout in the morning. Conditions were tough though, a swirling 20 mph wind and soggy fairways made it tough going - best gross all afternoon was a 76, I limped home to an 89 after running out of energy on 14, eventually finished double / double / bogey for an 89 - my friend who invited me plays off 6 and struggled round to a 97, so looks like breaking 90 was an achievement.
Worth a trip to Hawkstone if you get a chance, especially if like me you grew up watching Sandy plying his trade.
Whats with so many pro's having a strong left hand grip these days?
I spent about 2 decades trying to get rid of my strong grip, and being slightly closed at the top of the backswing and nowadays, this is what people are recommending as a good grip. Wish I had known that 20 years ago!
I spent about 2 decades trying to get rid of my strong grip, and being slightly closed at the top of the backswing and nowadays, this is what people are recommending as a good grip. Wish I had known that 20 years ago!
Simon-k41v9 said:
bodhi said:
However, do you want the one piece of rain gear that will totally transform playing in the rain? Footjoy Rain Gloves. I was slightly dubious, but got a set a couple of years ago and they are superb - they grip more the wetter they get, so no more risking clubs flying everywhere. Best £12 I've spent in a long time.
never heard of these, just looked them up, sound excellent and have ordered!What’s the general opinion on Truvis golf balls?
I assume that if it was more than a gimmick, we’d see other manufacturers bringing out something similar and also professionals playing similar balls (unless there’s some Tour rule against it)?
I’ve been playing TaylorMade balls for a while but am running low on TP5’s and am wondering about whether to change.
Any advice? Thanks
I assume that if it was more than a gimmick, we’d see other manufacturers bringing out something similar and also professionals playing similar balls (unless there’s some Tour rule against it)?
I’ve been playing TaylorMade balls for a while but am running low on TP5’s and am wondering about whether to change.
Any advice? Thanks
golf_addict said:
What’s the general opinion on Truvis golf balls?
I assume that if it was more than a gimmick, we’d see other manufacturers bringing out something similar and also professionals playing similar balls (unless there’s some Tour rule against it)?
I’ve been playing TaylorMade balls for a while but am running low on TP5’s and am wondering about whether to change.
Any advice? Thanks
I've tried them a couple of times when I've found them out on the course. They're OK but don't really live up to their name, most people seem to find them a lot harder to find in the rough than just a normal white or yellow ball. They normally last about 3 holes for me until I hit them into the rough, never to be seen again. I assume that if it was more than a gimmick, we’d see other manufacturers bringing out something similar and also professionals playing similar balls (unless there’s some Tour rule against it)?
I’ve been playing TaylorMade balls for a while but am running low on TP5’s and am wondering about whether to change.
Any advice? Thanks
I've been using the Titleist AVX a lot recently, it's kind of a low spin Pro V1. Don't spin as much on the green, but in current conditions that's not entirely a bad thing - but travel well off the club and have a nice low trajectory and seem excellent in cross winds.
Other than that I'd point anyone looking for a new ball to the Bridgestone models, both Tour B's are excellent, probably my favourite current ball. The Tour B XS is great for typical summer conditions, the Tour B X is probably better for this summer.
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
soupdragon1 said:
Whats with so many pro's having a strong left hand grip these days?
I spent about 2 decades trying to get rid of my strong grip, and being slightly closed at the top of the backswing and nowadays, this is what people are recommending as a good grip. Wish I had known that 20 years ago!
After trying a few different coaches over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion there’s no such thing as “right”. Any coach that insists things HAVE to be done in a certain way isn’t really worth their salt IMO. a good one can take what you’ve got and make it work better. I spent about 2 decades trying to get rid of my strong grip, and being slightly closed at the top of the backswing and nowadays, this is what people are recommending as a good grip. Wish I had known that 20 years ago!
Obviously there’s limitations, but there’s no such thing as perfect.
HaplessBoyLard said:
After trying a few different coaches over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion there’s no such thing as “right”. Any coach that insists things HAVE to be done in a certain way isn’t really worth their salt IMO. a good one can take what you’ve got and make it work better.
Obviously there’s limitations, but there’s no such thing as perfect.
Yes, agree with that. Keopka putting stroke looks rubbish, DJ has a weird back swing and J Thomas nearly removes his feet from his shoes on the down swing.....yet look how damn good they are!Obviously there’s limitations, but there’s no such thing as perfect.
Blackpuddin said:
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
They're no panacea. They don't do anything you can't do with a regular sand wedge.I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
If balls are hitting the lip, then you're probably thinning them, which would suggest you're using too much bounce and trying to take too much sand, and on a packed deck, the club is on the way back up by the time you're reaching the ball.
Roll your sand wedge open on a hard surface - how far above the surface is the leading edge? Probably 5-7mm? That's a lot, if the surface isn't one that allows you to dig into it.
I'd practice nicking it off the top with a pitching wedge (less bounce) and taking minimal/no sand. Short swing, lots in the wrists.
SpeckledJim said:
Blackpuddin said:
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
They're no panacea. They don't do anything you can't do with a regular sand wedge.I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
If balls are hitting the lip, then you're probably thinning them, which would suggest you're using too much bounce and trying to take too much sand, and on a packed deck, the club is on the way back up by the time you're reaching the ball.
Roll your sand wedge open on a hard surface - how far above the surface is the leading edge? Probably 5-7mm? That's a lot, if the surface isn't one that allows you to dig into it.
I'd practice nicking it off the top with a pitching wedge (less bounce) and taking minimal/no sand. Short swing, lots in the wrists.
I'm using Cleveland RTX wedges, a 56 with three blobs of bounce (14 deg) and a 60 with 2 blobs (10 deg). Opening the face on either club results in a scull unless I really pound/slap it down hard into the sand but even that rarely works.
I have been doing the nicking it off the top routine with a neutral clubface but I am totally scared of the potential results of hitting it anything other than perfectly, so tend not to hit it very hard. So although this technique does succeed more often than the open-face method in getting the ball airborne, I almost always find it doesn't have enough ooomph to get out of the bunker. I guess I just have to commit to a hard shot and hope for the best.
I do notice other club players having similar trouble to me so there does seem to be an endemic issue with the bunkers here. We're on a hill, and the club's experience is they can't put 'light' sand in as it gets blown away.
By 'lots in the wrist' d'ye mean lots of wrist action? A pretty much immediate wrist-cock on the takeback?
Blackpuddin said:
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
Have you went to a practice area and invested a solid 1 or 2 hours into your bunker play? You only ever need to do that a couple of times and you're set for life once you crack it. I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
Not getting out of a normal bunker shot should be like missing your mouth with a fork. I'm not great these days in terms of getting my bunker shots in tight to the pin. Thats a tricky part of the game to master. However, just getting it out shouldn't really be that hard once you 'know'
Forget about bounce for a while. 60 degree wedge, neutral square face, 2cm behind the ball and then accelerate through. Accelerate being the most important part. Go in a bunker for a full hour and repeat, repeat, repeat. If the ball isn't coming out - hit it harder. Or, hit just 1cm behind the ball. If its still not coming out, your angle of attack is either too steep or too shallow.
If you watch a video or two and then wait until you get into a bunker on the course before trying it out, thats not going to help to much. You just need to bore yourself to tears and put the reps in in a practice bunker. Thats where you'll figure it out.
soupdragon1 said:
Blackpuddin said:
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
Have you went to a practice area and invested a solid 1 or 2 hours into your bunker play? You only ever need to do that a couple of times and you're set for life once you crack it. I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
Not getting out of a normal bunker shot should be like missing your mouth with a fork. I'm not great these days in terms of getting my bunker shots in tight to the pin. Thats a tricky part of the game to master. However, just getting it out shouldn't really be that hard once you 'know'
Forget about bounce for a while. 60 degree wedge, neutral square face, 2cm behind the ball and then accelerate through. Accelerate being the most important part. Go in a bunker for a full hour and repeat, repeat, repeat. If the ball isn't coming out - hit it harder. Or, hit just 1cm behind the ball. If its still not coming out, your angle of attack is either too steep or too shallow.
If you watch a video or two and then wait until you get into a bunker on the course before trying it out, thats not going to help to much. You just need to bore yourself to tears and put the reps in in a practice bunker. Thats where you'll figure it out.
When I draw a line in the sand an inch or two behind the ball in the approved manner I find that on the actual shot I'm entering the sand a good bit further behind that line than is ideal. If I try to move the sand entry point nearer to the ball I scull it. It's incredibly frustrating. Especially when the pro shows me how easy it is. He gets it out every time with the neutral 56 shot and no apparent effort. I try and copy him and get my usual result.
I've tried everything. I try to put as much weight as possible on the left foot. Ball back in the stance. Ball forward in the stance. Ball further away from me, ball nearer to me. Club open, club neutral, even that crazy one where the club is actually turned so far left you're hitting it off the hosel. Left foot normal, left foot with an angle, you name it I've tried it.
The funny thing is that I have no problem with the flop shot off grass. I know that this open-face club technique works. But I can't make it work in our bunkers. I will admit to getting the shanks, which I can only control by putting more weight on my heels rather than my toes.
I have yet to see 'bounce' explained in a comprehensible way. The very word puts me off. I am expecting the club to bounce off the sand and edge-hit the ball – and that expectation comes true for me every time.
Edited by Blackpuddin on Monday 19th August 14:52
Blackpuddin said:
SpeckledJim said:
Blackpuddin said:
Does anybody have any experience of the c3i/alien type flat-bottomed wedges? The fact that there are no impartial reviews of the c3i on YT makes me suspicious but I am getting desperate for a solution to my bunker woes (3 shots minimum to get out, had four lessons to try and fix it, looked at every YT video and tried every possible method, still no joy) and am now looking for anything that might help as I cannot attack any greens for fear of getting into a bunker.
I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
They're no panacea. They don't do anything you can't do with a regular sand wedge.I never used to have a problem before joining my current club which has packed/heavy/thin layers of sand in all its bunkers. Every shot with the clubface open ends up hitting the lip and rolling back in no matter how hard I try to make use of the bounce. Recommended method for this course is to play a normal neutral-face shot but I am so lacking in confidence now that this rarely works for me.
If balls are hitting the lip, then you're probably thinning them, which would suggest you're using too much bounce and trying to take too much sand, and on a packed deck, the club is on the way back up by the time you're reaching the ball.
Roll your sand wedge open on a hard surface - how far above the surface is the leading edge? Probably 5-7mm? That's a lot, if the surface isn't one that allows you to dig into it.
I'd practice nicking it off the top with a pitching wedge (less bounce) and taking minimal/no sand. Short swing, lots in the wrists.
I'm using Cleveland RTX wedges, a 56 with three blobs of bounce (14 deg) and a 60 with 2 blobs (10 deg). Opening the face on either club results in a scull unless I really pound/slap it down hard into the sand but even that rarely works.
I have been doing the nicking it off the top routine with a neutral clubface but I am totally scared of the potential results of hitting it anything other than perfectly, so tend not to hit it very hard. So although this technique does succeed more often than the open-face method in getting the ball airborne, I almost always find it doesn't have enough ooomph to get out of the bunker. I guess I just have to commit to a hard shot and hope for the best.
I do notice other club players having similar trouble to me so there does seem to be an endemic issue with the bunkers here. We're on a hill, and the club's experience is they can't put 'light' sand in as it gets blown away.
By 'lots in the wrist' d'ye mean lots of wrist action? A pretty much immediate wrist-cock on the takeback?
To nick it nicely off the top, you need very good control of the height of the clubhead. So I'd want to reduce the complexity of the movements, stand as still as possible, 'hang' my arms from my shoulders like a pendulum, and use an exaggerated wrist action to get clubhead speed.
It's not an elegant stroke, but when needs must...
Re bounce, it's there to help a club that's carving through the sand (or turf) make its way back out again, instead of continuing to dig downwards and give you a chunk.
But if the surface doesn't want to let you dig into it, then bounce isn't too helpful, so go for a pitching wedge or 9i instead. And/or de-bounce the club by angling the shaft forwards and playing from closer to the back foot.
(these are ideas for simply getting out. Going far, or getting real height and check, etc, might need something a bit more exotic.)
Right well here I am fresh from the practice ground and Jim I owe you a massive beer. That technique you suggested not only worked for the bunker but it has become my new technique of choice for short chips around the green too! Amazing! Thank you so much. Just in time for a big away day on Thurs which I haven't been looking forward to because of this problem. Realised something else today which is that I have been reverting back to my old baseball swing. Kept the swing much more upright today and again that seemed to be working really well on the pitching wedges at least. Hope it all sticks for Thursday! Thanks again.
thebraketester said:
I found the same with the Truvis, especially the white and red ones. In autumn they are impossible to see if you stick it in the leaves. They are nice balls though, and I like that you can see them spin when chipping around the greens which is helpful when practicing IMO.
In conclusion then, it seems more gimmick than useful?!Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff