Discussion
bodhi said:
I'm getting to that point as well where I struggle to follow the ball past 200 yards, especially on grey sky like we have now.
Only thing I can suggest is at the airport on the way out a couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a new pair of Oakleys with the Prizm lenses in them and they've improved things massively - the ball really stands out in the air and lines on greens seem that little bit easier to see. I was never a fan of golf in sunglasses as they tended to mess my distance perception up - especially polarised lenses. These have been a revelation however.
My playing partner had a similar issue and has prescription Oakleys, again with the Prizm lenses and has seen similar benefits.
Interesting, I've wondered about these. Might treat myself to some next yearOnly thing I can suggest is at the airport on the way out a couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a new pair of Oakleys with the Prizm lenses in them and they've improved things massively - the ball really stands out in the air and lines on greens seem that little bit easier to see. I was never a fan of golf in sunglasses as they tended to mess my distance perception up - especially polarised lenses. These have been a revelation however.
My playing partner had a similar issue and has prescription Oakleys, again with the Prizm lenses and has seen similar benefits.
I went today to PXG London South for a driver fitting. Came away with mixed feelings....
To get straight to the point, I haven't come away specced for a new driver.
After a brief discussion about what my miss was etc, I hit a few shots with my current driver. They were either solid shots that I would be happy with on the course, or a bit leaky right. I was having real trouble finding the middle of the club face consistently, which has been my problem recently.
Unfortunately, the same happened with every combination he fit me into. Heavier, lighter, shorter shafts all came and went and the result was the same. What I did find was that, while I was suffering with a heely strike, the consistency of strike points with the stiffer shafts he was fitting me into was much better. But everything was either straight then right, or starting right and going further right. I just could NOT hit anything left, even if I tried my absolute hardest.
What was interesting to see was my numbers, which I'd never seen before with driver. The miss was caused not by super high spin but by super high launch, caused my my lower body firing too quickly and getting stuck under the ball, which meant a high push. I have an attack angle of about 8 degrees up, and a low point about 8 inches before the ball. I tried everything, from standing further to the ball, closer, taller, but every time my swing won out - I was never going to change it in the 90 minutes I was in there.
The fitting became more of a lesson, and what was really annoying was I could understand what he was trying to tell me, and I'd felt good swings on the course before, but today I just couldn't get my body to put it into practice.
In the end, I think I hit ONE ball that out-performed my current driver, but it outperformed it by some distance, so I do think that it is in there somewhere and I just have to harness it.
It's frustrating for a few reasons:
1) I had a 2 hour drive to get there
2) I did feel a little frustrated that I wasn't just fit FOR my swing - i felt like a lower loft/closed head would have helped, but maybe the club couldn't be closed more, I don't know
3) It means that the conscious effort I've put into practicing hitting up on the ball has led to me going too far the other way and now I'm going to have to work on bringing it back down
However, on the flip side:
1) I'm glad I wasn't just fit for the sake of it
2) I now have my number and know what to work on
3) I'm grateful for the patience shown and the non-pushy sales from the fitter
4) They made a good cup of tea
I'm told that it happens reasonably often that people go away and come back another day - but the guy's mouth dropped open at the end as I was about to leave when I said I'd travelled from north of Cambridge
Anyone else had similar experiences that can make me feel a bit better?
To get straight to the point, I haven't come away specced for a new driver.
After a brief discussion about what my miss was etc, I hit a few shots with my current driver. They were either solid shots that I would be happy with on the course, or a bit leaky right. I was having real trouble finding the middle of the club face consistently, which has been my problem recently.
Unfortunately, the same happened with every combination he fit me into. Heavier, lighter, shorter shafts all came and went and the result was the same. What I did find was that, while I was suffering with a heely strike, the consistency of strike points with the stiffer shafts he was fitting me into was much better. But everything was either straight then right, or starting right and going further right. I just could NOT hit anything left, even if I tried my absolute hardest.
What was interesting to see was my numbers, which I'd never seen before with driver. The miss was caused not by super high spin but by super high launch, caused my my lower body firing too quickly and getting stuck under the ball, which meant a high push. I have an attack angle of about 8 degrees up, and a low point about 8 inches before the ball. I tried everything, from standing further to the ball, closer, taller, but every time my swing won out - I was never going to change it in the 90 minutes I was in there.
The fitting became more of a lesson, and what was really annoying was I could understand what he was trying to tell me, and I'd felt good swings on the course before, but today I just couldn't get my body to put it into practice.
In the end, I think I hit ONE ball that out-performed my current driver, but it outperformed it by some distance, so I do think that it is in there somewhere and I just have to harness it.
It's frustrating for a few reasons:
1) I had a 2 hour drive to get there
2) I did feel a little frustrated that I wasn't just fit FOR my swing - i felt like a lower loft/closed head would have helped, but maybe the club couldn't be closed more, I don't know
3) It means that the conscious effort I've put into practicing hitting up on the ball has led to me going too far the other way and now I'm going to have to work on bringing it back down
However, on the flip side:
1) I'm glad I wasn't just fit for the sake of it
2) I now have my number and know what to work on
3) I'm grateful for the patience shown and the non-pushy sales from the fitter
4) They made a good cup of tea
I'm told that it happens reasonably often that people go away and come back another day - but the guy's mouth dropped open at the end as I was about to leave when I said I'd travelled from north of Cambridge
Anyone else had similar experiences that can make me feel a bit better?
Leithen said:
Sounds like your cash would be better spent on trying to hit consistently from the centre of your existing driver before looking at new kit.
I know exactly how you feel - I was hitting very consistently earlier this year and then for several months I was all over the place. The key for me was slowing everything down and getting the feel back, before then looking for more club speed.
[dangerous advice]One of Harrington’s videos was also a help. He suggested trying to hit slices and hooks to understand what they feel like. He demonstrated this with an iron, but the theory is the same. Spend some time on the range, hitting at say 80%. Change your swing, stance, ball position etc and try to find that hook. Then you can reign it back into a draw…. [/dangerous advice]
The driver is already paid for - charity auction. I know exactly how you feel - I was hitting very consistently earlier this year and then for several months I was all over the place. The key for me was slowing everything down and getting the feel back, before then looking for more club speed.
[dangerous advice]One of Harrington’s videos was also a help. He suggested trying to hit slices and hooks to understand what they feel like. He demonstrated this with an iron, but the theory is the same. Spend some time on the range, hitting at say 80%. Change your swing, stance, ball position etc and try to find that hook. Then you can reign it back into a draw…. [/dangerous advice]
While I tend to agree, this was an exceptionally bad day, which makes it more frustrating. I definitely need to try and get a right-to-left shot going again, which I no doubt will be able to do at the range in about half an hour when the pressure isn't on! D'oh
DuncanM said:
Sounds quite the experience, I think fitting can be hard for a lot of us Ams, unless you're a very low hc, or have a very consistent swing. The fitting turned lesson is not something I like seeing, Trotty is shocking for it, even if he is likeable.
What CHS/BS did you end up seeing?
I averaged about 102 CHS and 147 BS. With either my driver or the new one.What CHS/BS did you end up seeing?
Unfortunately, a high push slice out of the heel is going to be a high push slice out of the heel with any driver.
It's quite interesting looking over the data. I have a very slight in-to-out swing path, which I suspected, but the face is open to that. If I can control that club face a bit more, I think that'll fix a lot of my issues.
I don't mind a few tips from the fitter, but what I don't like is when you know what they're trying to accomplish but don't like how they're getting there. For example, he wanted to put me in such a strong grip which just wasn't comfortable at all. I used to have a strong grip and I've tried to get away from it, but this felt so far the other way, like I couldn't turn my lead hand over any more without the club being practically upside-down. I think he knew what he wanted me to do, but I don't think he was great at explaining it. Thinking about it now, I'm not sure whether he was trying to fix my swing, or get better results with what I'm doing at the moment. I'm not going to fix anything if that distinction isn't clear... especially in 90 minutes.
I think a lot of inconsistencies come from my setup, where I just don't (always) have confidence stood over my current driver. If I've hit a few bad ones, suddenly the face looks really open at address, and I'm not sure if I should close it, or trust it, etc. He suggested I should just let it sit and trust it, but that felt weird to me.
DuncanM said:
Grip is incredibly personal, no way I'd try and change someone's grip in a fitting, there are other ways.
You should have got fitted into a draw biased, low loft beast
That is effectively what I've been chasing with my current driver, and it worked for a bit but I haven't fiddled with it for a while and I'm reluctant to now with a new driver on the horizon. You should have got fitted into a draw biased, low loft beast
I've just spent a little bit of time putting off work in favour of trawling YT - not for tips, necessarily, but to see if I can find any videos which describe my swing fault, and there are a lot. Basically, my trail foot comes off the ground, which moves my whole right side towards the ball. This means, with driver, that I get stuck underneath the ball, hitting up way too much, and it creates a heel strike, no matter how far toward the toe I set up.
With irons, it can lead to a sh*nk... which coincidentally, I had three or four of on the weekend.
The fitter was trying to describe "turning without firing", but without him getting hands on I'm just not sure what motion he exactly meant. But yes, it's me trying to clear the hips and push off for power, when all I'm really doing is throwing my hips at the ball with the trail heel coming up, then the club is getting left behind and almost pushed under the ball. If I can keep that trail heel down it'll be a massive start and I might actually find some more speed.
Now I just have the rest of the day at the office to see out before I can even think about going to the range again this evening (which I might not, as I hit a lot of balls yesterday and feel a bit tight)
DuncanM said:
I think they call it goat humping in the US
This drill is simple and brilliant
https://youtu.be/U6noJPKRb88?si=8kxtuH4pupHx56JT
That is something I have found as well! Haha, strange termThis drill is simple and brilliant
https://youtu.be/U6noJPKRb88?si=8kxtuH4pupHx56JT
EDIT: I have chased this feeling with my irons before, and when I have remembered to do it, it does produce a much better strike. I've not tried it with driver yet, but it's just a case of trusting it. When I've attempted similar before, it feels like I'm stood too tall and all arms in the swing, like I can't trust (there's that word again) it to get any power so I just throw myself at the ball again.
Edited by s94wht on Monday 30th September 12:26
ukwill said:
Now we're fast approaching the time of the year where the focus is more on swing maintenance/practice, in your opinion, how much practice per week would you say was required to maintain consistency?
Does anyone regularly practice over the winter months? Do you see the benefit come the spring?
I tend to play through the winter and strangely, I've actually played some of my best golf during this period - I've then often seen it all fall apart when it started to get warmer, and I should theoretically be playing better. I have no idea why. What I do know is I am not able to maintain consistency.
I try and play through the winter as much as I can, because otherwise I'll get really rusty, and besides, it's really the only thing I do! Does anyone regularly practice over the winter months? Do you see the benefit come the spring?
I tend to play through the winter and strangely, I've actually played some of my best golf during this period - I've then often seen it all fall apart when it started to get warmer, and I should theoretically be playing better. I have no idea why. What I do know is I am not able to maintain consistency.
Also, if you only play 6 months of the year your membership is basically 100% more expensiveI do go to the range a lot more though, after work, just to get out of the house and keep swinging
kentlad said:
Definitely going to put the effort in this winter. Doubt I’ll play much so instead I’ll try and cement the swing changes I’ve been working on, hit the gym & maybe finally get a putting mat. Currently play to 11ish and still hit 36-40 putts a round. I know that’s my biggest issue & some nice cold weather should finally focus the mind to actually work on it! On the swing change / range note, anyone have a tripod they use to film themselves? Recommendations?
I have this and my expectations were low but it's bloody good Edited by kentlad on Monday 30th September 18:46
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Blackpuddin said:
I'm more or less playing to my 17 h'cap at the moment but wonder where I'd be if I could chip at all. Literally, at all. I'm either duffing it or blading it, every time. Never get a clean hit and now have a huge mental problem with it, to the extent that I'm using the putter from way off the green almost irrespective of whatever cabbage is between me and the hole.
Get yourself Dan Grieve's book mateSeeing as we're now going into winter, I thought I'd check out my goals I set at the start of the year
Mission accomplished!
Got my 20 scores in, obviously, so check.
Ball striking - a bit better, but still needs work.
Driver - well, I've commented on that recently, so that's still to work on.
Short game - is improved, which is nice. Still lots of work to be done.
More games with you guys - well, I've played with Ashfordian a few times which has always been a pleasure. Sure there's more to come.
More courses played - a couple, but not as many as I'd like.
Looking forward now to really get out and make the most of this winter practising. Hopefully we get a few more playable weeks next year with a bit more pleasant weather.
s94wht said:
I would absolutely love to get to single figures this year, but sitting at 18.4 currently, that may be unlikely. So instead I'll aim to get below 14. 12 would be lovely. First objective, though, will be to get all my 20 scores in. That will give me a much better idea of where I currently sit. I think I have about 8 in at the mo.
My ball striking is going from strength to strength on the range lately, and I'm getting more consistent with driver. Got Dan Grieve's book for my birthday at the end of November, so I want to start working on that proper.
Also, I'd love to play more rounds with you guys! 2024 should be the year of the first PH meetup.
My ball striking is going from strength to strength on the range lately, and I'm getting more consistent with driver. Got Dan Grieve's book for my birthday at the end of November, so I want to start working on that proper.
Also, I'd love to play more rounds with you guys! 2024 should be the year of the first PH meetup.
Mission accomplished!
Got my 20 scores in, obviously, so check.
Ball striking - a bit better, but still needs work.
Driver - well, I've commented on that recently, so that's still to work on.
Short game - is improved, which is nice. Still lots of work to be done.
More games with you guys - well, I've played with Ashfordian a few times which has always been a pleasure. Sure there's more to come.
More courses played - a couple, but not as many as I'd like.
Looking forward now to really get out and make the most of this winter practising. Hopefully we get a few more playable weeks next year with a bit more pleasant weather.
Edited by s94wht on Tuesday 1st October 17:20
fat80b said:
Great job !
I'm going to save my review until the end of the year as even though the weather appears to have jumped to winter mode round here, I'm still holding out hope for a few more good rounds.
I was going to save it for the end of the year, and will post another update then, but I have 10 non-counting scores in a row to come off, and with the weather turning, I'm not sure I'll even get them all in before the end of the year. I'm going to save my review until the end of the year as even though the weather appears to have jumped to winter mode round here, I'm still holding out hope for a few more good rounds.
Blackpuddin said:
DuncanM said:
Blackpuddin said:
Thanks for the advice guys, I've tried everything but of course there are so many elements I've lost track of the basics. From that excellent video with Marlon (thanks again!) it looks like I need to weaken the right hand grip and keep the club much lower through the shot.
Faldo book teaches the putt-chip, you can use this for most shots, right up to a pitch! Taking wrists completely out of the equation, is usually the path back to consistency 
Blackpuddin said:
This is interesting as I believe I may be exerting more of a death grip on the club the nearer it gets to the ball out of pure anxiety.
As an example, Dan Grieve, for his "release 2" which is a soft landing chip with a bit more spin, advises practising with your thumbs not even on the grip! It feels absolutely mental at first, but it really does make you just let the club swing (and release) itself. Because you're using the bounce, you can actually brush the ground a good 2 or 3 inches before the ball and let the club release and slide under the ball.fat80b said:
Played Bar Hill today - Winter rules (although hardly needed after a couple of dry days) and all bunkers are GUR after the torrential rain last week (although I didn't go in a single one anyway). Greens were in decent nick.
Wasn't exactly looking forward to it after the worst range session ever yesterday - My normal reliable ball flight had deserted me and despite feeling like my swing was good, everything was going left left left.
That pattern continued off the tee on the front 9 - which made things a) tricky, and b) mildly infuriating. Even my trusty Hybrid was turning over when I thought I'd made a good swing / strike......
Somewhere near the turn, I realised what I have been doing wrong with my setup. - Over the last month or so, I've let my back / posture creep to the point where I was almost arched over the ball with a curve to my spine angle. I think this meant I wasn't turning, and was getting stuck behind / with a closed face.
Once I straightened my back at address, everything felt easier, and my shot pattern returned to normal (almost instantly).
It took a few holes to confirm that I had cracked it and I even said the immortal words "I know what I've been doing wrong" !!
Now can't wait to get out again....
Good to hear the greens are still good. Got a comp tomorrow morning. You got in just in time before the substantial greens maintenance is done next weekWasn't exactly looking forward to it after the worst range session ever yesterday - My normal reliable ball flight had deserted me and despite feeling like my swing was good, everything was going left left left.
That pattern continued off the tee on the front 9 - which made things a) tricky, and b) mildly infuriating. Even my trusty Hybrid was turning over when I thought I'd made a good swing / strike......
Somewhere near the turn, I realised what I have been doing wrong with my setup. - Over the last month or so, I've let my back / posture creep to the point where I was almost arched over the ball with a curve to my spine angle. I think this meant I wasn't turning, and was getting stuck behind / with a closed face.
Once I straightened my back at address, everything felt easier, and my shot pattern returned to normal (almost instantly).
It took a few holes to confirm that I had cracked it and I even said the immortal words "I know what I've been doing wrong" !!
Now can't wait to get out again....
Took my 2nd hand blades for a refit today. At the moment they're all a mish-mish of lie angles and lofts, so they're going back to standard lofts and 1deg upright. That should obviously help make things more consistent, but also hopefully give me more confidence when setting up over the ball
What was nice to hear (and see, on the trackman) was that my club path, face angle, landing angle and carry distance (for my swing speed) were all pretty much exactly what they would look for in a 7iron, so that's cool
What was nice to hear (and see, on the trackman) was that my club path, face angle, landing angle and carry distance (for my swing speed) were all pretty much exactly what they would look for in a 7iron, so that's cool
Edited by s94wht on Sunday 6th October 21:30
I got my adjusted clubs back yesterday and they feel so much better. Just setting up over the ball comfortably, the head of the club is where I expect it to be and I don't have to feel like I'm reaching, or too upright.
The one club I was struggling with after getting them back, strangely, was the pitching wedge, which I kept pulling massively left. I think I'm not "sitting back" enough to get my hips out the way, instead turning them too much and opening everything way up left of target, because I'm striking the ball purely... just in completely the wrong direction I think anyone watching me would say, "well you lined up ok... but why did you hit it over there?" 
The one club I was struggling with after getting them back, strangely, was the pitching wedge, which I kept pulling massively left. I think I'm not "sitting back" enough to get my hips out the way, instead turning them too much and opening everything way up left of target, because I'm striking the ball purely... just in completely the wrong direction
I think anyone watching me would say, "well you lined up ok... but why did you hit it over there?" Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff