Trying to Break 100
Hamfist
I promise not to murder Canadan.
....wait for it....waaaaiiiitttt fooooorrr iiiiit.....booze
mytime
My tounge betrays me.
It’s cold. So cold.
I feel I should shelve the driver for a while and just play my 5W off the tee. My arccos average for my driver is not much longer then my 5W. But so so slicey.
I actually hit a couple of hybrid shots further than a couple of my driver tee shots today :/
Have you shifted the weights on your driver?
I got in 12 holes after work today at my local exec. Started the back 9 on 11 to get ahead of a group that looked pretty slow. Finished up on 10 and decided to go 11-13 again before it got too dark.
I am feeling good about my game on my usual short courses, but I really want to get on more par 70-72 courses to see if I can get under 100.
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I am feeling good about my game on my usual short courses, but I really want to get on more par 70-72 courses to see if I can get under 100.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Not sure I've ever been more discouraged with my game. Went out to play today and it was so horrific I stopped keeping score after 6 holes. With the pressure of scoring off, I figured I'd loosen up a bit and just hit some decent shots here and there. Nope. Not even close. I've lost my swing. Every single bit of it and I have no idea what to do. Pushes, pulls, slices (and I never slice), hooks, shanks. The whole f***ing gammut. To top it off, I've suddenly forgotten how to putt. I can ALWAYS count on the putter. Today, it just felt foreign in my hands. So discouraging. I'm not sure I've wanted to quit the game so much in my life as I do right now.
It's definitely tough not to get discouraged (or cry)...or laugh and swear - my go-to moves... when this happens.
If you can record your swing & maybe ask Freddie (Tadashi70) for some help. Another thing that helps to get back on track is making half-swings & focus on good contact. Lots of teaching pros have posted vids showing drills like this (Martin Chuck, Clay Ballard, etc.). Or even practice little 50-60 yard pitch shots with good form:
Another thing to try is making intentionally bad contact by overcorrecting on both ends & then going for the middle: Like, try to hit 5 balls off the toe, then 5 off the heel, then 5 in the center of the face. I know I've seen some research posted that indicates that our brains learn quicker using this Goldilocks-style method. Adam Young is an instructor that espouses this & I've noticed others (Martin Hall, etc.) taking up this idea more & more.
Good luck!
Hamfist
I promise not to murder Canadan.
Edited for clarity.
Hamfist
I promise not to murder Canadan.
Took the F8 OLs out again today to try to figure them out. Still nothing. I want to love these clubs, but, I just can’t get comfortable with them. And the results show it.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2017
- Messages
- 9,140
- Reaction score
- 17,157
- Location
- White Mountains of AZ
- Handicap
- 18.4
Went to the range today determined to figure out what has been plaguing my swing. Went with a good attitude and an open mindset. I know I can swing a club, I just needed to figure out what fundamental it was that I've let slip (f*** slip, it was GONE).
So I go to the pro shop and the pro tells his outside attendant to "grab this guy a cart". I stopped him and said, "No, I donated enough balls to your grounds crew the other day. Just get me two large buckets".
He says "It can't be that bad can it"?
"Brother, you have no idea"
Off I go with my six tokens and the resolve of white on rice. IT. WAS. NOT. GOOD. The same problems: pushes, slices, hooks, pulls, fat, thin. The whole gammut. I could not for the life of me figure out how I completely lost how to hit a golf ball. I swung an entire bucket's worth of 50* and 54* wedges (thinking, O.K. start small and work your way up the bag. Easy right? WRONG!). I couldn't even hit a wedge. I was so discouraged (and I'm not going to lie: scared sh*tless).
Well the other day, when I finished my round, I went back to the pro shop and bought a medium bucket to see if I could just figure SOMETHING out. When I showed up, there was an older gentleman there that seemed to be, literally, sleeping as he leaned against the club rack on the range. I paid him no attention and went about my business. Once every 10 minutes or so he would grab a club and hit ten or twelve balls and go back to his slumped position against the club rack. There was nothing remarkable about his swing. He hit some decent ones duffed a bunch and he'd continue this routine until his bucket was empty, then he loaded up his clubs and went on is merry way. I thought nothing of it until he showed up an the range again today.
Similar routine. He's a bigger guy and, as I mentioned, a little older. You could tell that he'd been robbed of much flexibility and certainly strength. He takes his place a couple of spots down from me and begins his routine. Only this time he doesn't slump against the club rack. He seems to be watching me pretty intently during his "breaks". At this point, I'm on medium bucket #2 and I am about at the end of my rope, mentally.
I put my club down, mentally exasperated, he slowly saunters over and asks "Do you mind if I stick my nose in your business"? Now, 9 times out of 10 I'll tell someone that I'm working on something and that I don't want to mix up swing thoughts but thank you, anyway. But today I was completely defeated and I said "Sure, at this point, it couldn't possibly get any worse". He says "It actually can, and you've got a lot more to work with than you think". "First" he says "you've got really quick hands. I've watched you save shots with your hands that most people just can't do. You're recognizing things in the middle of your swing and your hands are quick enough to try and save it. That's a sign of pretty good awareness, too" he says. "But, you'll never time up that sway in your swing on a consistent basis" DING, DING, DING. That was it! When he said it, I immediately realized that that was exactly what I was doing!!!! I was so focused on staying "behind the ball" that I was literally swaying back behind the ball, trying to stay there as much as possible and then trying to save the shot with my hands as I kept my head back but lunged everything else forward. "The center of your swing is changing a minimum of three times in your swing" he says. "Once at set up, again in your backswing, and disasterously in your downswing. Here, try this" as he explains rotating AROUND that forward hip as opposed to moving it laterally (something I already knew but, for whatever reason, had let slip completely out of my swing). The first couple of balls were "meh" but after about five of them I was just striping the ball with my usual 3-5 yard draw. Not only that, but my 155 yard 8 iron was now going about 165!
The 6 iron was pushed quite a bit and he says "Trust your alignment. You've spent quite a few balls pulling everything and now you don't trust your set up so your pushing it out there to avoid it. Trust it and fire at your target". Sure enough, nice baby draws right toward the green. I'm ecstatic, at this point. I'm blown away by the fact that I let that ONE fundamental creep it's way out of my swing but even moreso by the fact that a guy that can barely push his 7 iron out there 125 yards with one of the most restricted swings you've ever seen, has me straightened out! I get to talking to him and he tells me that he hasn't been able to play for over a year. He had a heart attack that robbed him of all of his strength and stamina. He proceeds to tell me that he's 75 years old and been playing golf since he was 9 years old (66 years, he reminds me several times during our conversation). He goes to the driving range every single day. Hits balls anywhere from one to three hours. He says he thinks he'll be able to play again next year.
Interesting guy. He built his own clubs (Maltby heads) one length 13 years ago! I got to talking to him about gear and he really likes the Cleveland Launchers. Someone let him hit a set a couple of weeks ago. He's also fully aware of the OL Cobras (which he's also interested in), Turbos, and T-rails. The dude seems pretty dialed in on what's out there and what's coming up. I know I'll see him out there again and I'm going to make it a point to have him check this place out. I think it will be like a kid in a candy store to him. He's going to try some sets out over the winter and dial in what he's going to buy before he resumes play next season.
Overall, I'm elated. I can't wait to get back to the golf course. I'm even considering skipping the Cowboys game (something I haven't done since I don't know when) and going out to play. Ah, such a relief to finally nail down what's been plaguing me.
TLDR version: I hated golf, had an old guy fix my swing and I love golf again. The end.
So I go to the pro shop and the pro tells his outside attendant to "grab this guy a cart". I stopped him and said, "No, I donated enough balls to your grounds crew the other day. Just get me two large buckets".
He says "It can't be that bad can it"?
"Brother, you have no idea"
Off I go with my six tokens and the resolve of white on rice. IT. WAS. NOT. GOOD. The same problems: pushes, slices, hooks, pulls, fat, thin. The whole gammut. I could not for the life of me figure out how I completely lost how to hit a golf ball. I swung an entire bucket's worth of 50* and 54* wedges (thinking, O.K. start small and work your way up the bag. Easy right? WRONG!). I couldn't even hit a wedge. I was so discouraged (and I'm not going to lie: scared sh*tless).
Well the other day, when I finished my round, I went back to the pro shop and bought a medium bucket to see if I could just figure SOMETHING out. When I showed up, there was an older gentleman there that seemed to be, literally, sleeping as he leaned against the club rack on the range. I paid him no attention and went about my business. Once every 10 minutes or so he would grab a club and hit ten or twelve balls and go back to his slumped position against the club rack. There was nothing remarkable about his swing. He hit some decent ones duffed a bunch and he'd continue this routine until his bucket was empty, then he loaded up his clubs and went on is merry way. I thought nothing of it until he showed up an the range again today.
Similar routine. He's a bigger guy and, as I mentioned, a little older. You could tell that he'd been robbed of much flexibility and certainly strength. He takes his place a couple of spots down from me and begins his routine. Only this time he doesn't slump against the club rack. He seems to be watching me pretty intently during his "breaks". At this point, I'm on medium bucket #2 and I am about at the end of my rope, mentally.
I put my club down, mentally exasperated, he slowly saunters over and asks "Do you mind if I stick my nose in your business"? Now, 9 times out of 10 I'll tell someone that I'm working on something and that I don't want to mix up swing thoughts but thank you, anyway. But today I was completely defeated and I said "Sure, at this point, it couldn't possibly get any worse". He says "It actually can, and you've got a lot more to work with than you think". "First" he says "you've got really quick hands. I've watched you save shots with your hands that most people just can't do. You're recognizing things in the middle of your swing and your hands are quick enough to try and save it. That's a sign of pretty good awareness, too" he says. "But, you'll never time up that sway in your swing on a consistent basis" DING, DING, DING. That was it! When he said it, I immediately realized that that was exactly what I was doing!!!! I was so focused on staying "behind the ball" that I was literally swaying back behind the ball, trying to stay there as much as possible and then trying to save the shot with my hands as I kept my head back but lunged everything else forward. "The center of your swing is changing a minimum of three times in your swing" he says. "Once at set up, again in your backswing, and disasterously in your downswing. Here, try this" as he explains rotating AROUND that forward hip as opposed to moving it laterally (something I already knew but, for whatever reason, had let slip completely out of my swing). The first couple of balls were "meh" but after about five of them I was just striping the ball with my usual 3-5 yard draw. Not only that, but my 155 yard 8 iron was now going about 165!
The 6 iron was pushed quite a bit and he says "Trust your alignment. You've spent quite a few balls pulling everything and now you don't trust your set up so your pushing it out there to avoid it. Trust it and fire at your target". Sure enough, nice baby draws right toward the green. I'm ecstatic, at this point. I'm blown away by the fact that I let that ONE fundamental creep it's way out of my swing but even moreso by the fact that a guy that can barely push his 7 iron out there 125 yards with one of the most restricted swings you've ever seen, has me straightened out! I get to talking to him and he tells me that he hasn't been able to play for over a year. He had a heart attack that robbed him of all of his strength and stamina. He proceeds to tell me that he's 75 years old and been playing golf since he was 9 years old (66 years, he reminds me several times during our conversation). He goes to the driving range every single day. Hits balls anywhere from one to three hours. He says he thinks he'll be able to play again next year.
Interesting guy. He built his own clubs (Maltby heads) one length 13 years ago! I got to talking to him about gear and he really likes the Cleveland Launchers. Someone let him hit a set a couple of weeks ago. He's also fully aware of the OL Cobras (which he's also interested in), Turbos, and T-rails. The dude seems pretty dialed in on what's out there and what's coming up. I know I'll see him out there again and I'm going to make it a point to have him check this place out. I think it will be like a kid in a candy store to him. He's going to try some sets out over the winter and dial in what he's going to buy before he resumes play next season.
Overall, I'm elated. I can't wait to get back to the golf course. I'm even considering skipping the Cowboys game (something I haven't done since I don't know when) and going out to play. Ah, such a relief to finally nail down what's been plaguing me.
TLDR version: I hated golf, had an old guy fix my swing and I love golf again. The end.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2017
- Messages
- 1,566
- Reaction score
- 914
- Location
- NW Burbs of Chicago
- Handicap
- 28.3 Grint
Back to the Buffalo Grove Dome today.
We went back to basics for my short game starting today. I worked on contact swings using just my right hand and arm, to get the feeling of hinging the right wrist - so the grip side of the club goes through ahead of the ball...
I have a definite problem with range of motion with my left arm, accentuated by a arthritic left shoulder that was separated in my late teens.
My instructor asked me to consider working with a physical trainer who specializes in the mechanics of the golf swing. I will see him next Saturday for an evaluation, and he will join us on 12/7 to see me at a golf lesson.
From all that he’ll get a better idea of what exercises would help strengthen/free up my shoulder and other weakened areas.
The end result is to improve my mechanics and ball contact, primarily from 110 yds in. It will also help my full swing mechanics as well.
It’ll will be a busy winter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We went back to basics for my short game starting today. I worked on contact swings using just my right hand and arm, to get the feeling of hinging the right wrist - so the grip side of the club goes through ahead of the ball...
I have a definite problem with range of motion with my left arm, accentuated by a arthritic left shoulder that was separated in my late teens.
My instructor asked me to consider working with a physical trainer who specializes in the mechanics of the golf swing. I will see him next Saturday for an evaluation, and he will join us on 12/7 to see me at a golf lesson.
From all that he’ll get a better idea of what exercises would help strengthen/free up my shoulder and other weakened areas.
The end result is to improve my mechanics and ball contact, primarily from 110 yds in. It will also help my full swing mechanics as well.
It’ll will be a busy winter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TLDR version: I hated golf, had an old guy fix my swing and I love golf again. The end.
Great to hear you have your swing issues figured out. I certainly know exactly where you were a few days ago. Been There before.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. Then give up. No sense being a damn fool about things.
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2018
- Messages
- 4,011
- Reaction score
- 4,756
- Location
- Southern Ohio/Eastern Kentucky
- Handicap
- 18
I’m hoping to get out this afternoon for a quick 9. It feels like I haven’t played forever. It’s only been a couple weeks but I went from playing 2-3 rounds per week to basically once every few weeks.
Because of that I have zero expectations for this afternoon’s round. I’d like to break 40 finally but if I’m in the 40’s I’ll be happy.
Because of that I have zero expectations for this afternoon’s round. I’d like to break 40 finally but if I’m in the 40’s I’ll be happy.
Not going to say I told you so. I'm not that sort of fella...TLDR version: I hated golf, had an old guy fix my swing and I love golf again. The end.
Who am I trying to kid? I am EXACTLY that sort of fella. Told you.
So...this just happened. 41+41=82...2 birdies, 5 pars, so that's nearly half the course at or under par. 8 bogeys and 3 doubles, annoyingly 2 of which were 17 & 18...serves me right for checking the scorecard and realising a par and a bogey would mean I'd break 80. Either way, a very good days work (play).
edit: just realised...I also used the same ball all the way round - shot 1 to shot 82 - not that common for me
Beautiful day today, cold (5°C) but still, clear and sunny.
edit: just realised...I also used the same ball all the way round - shot 1 to shot 82 - not that common for me
Beautiful day today, cold (5°C) but still, clear and sunny.
Last edited:
Great round dude!!
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2017
- Messages
- 1,566
- Reaction score
- 914
- Location
- NW Burbs of Chicago
- Handicap
- 28.3 Grint
#liveoverpar
dthrog00
Well-known member
dthrog00
Well-known member
I focused on having less tension in my arms and was able to push the club head speed up a bit (3 MPH). I still have a long ways to go and am swinging slowly compared to many, but I will take the progress.
Driver
Dave
Driver
| Shot | View | Ball Speed (mph) | Club Speed (mph) | Smash | Carry (yds) | Launch Angle V (°) | Spin (rpm) | Height | Time (s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 120.5 | 85.3 | 1.41 | 183.8 | 16.1 | 2928 | 72′8″ | 5.5 | delete | |
| 2 | 120.2 | 84.1 | 1.43 | 177 | 13.8 | 2265 | 53′6″ | 4.8 | delete | |
| 3 | 119.2 | 85.5 | 1.4 | 180.4 | 15.8 | 2499 | 65′4″ | 5.2 | delete | |
| 4 | 122.1 | 85.4 | 1.43 | 177.3 | 12.3 | 2416 | 48′11″ | 4.7 | delete | |
| 5 | 121 | 85.8 | 1.41 | 181.5 | 14.7 | 2163 | 58′7″ | 5 | delete | |
| 6 | 119.1 | 85.1 | 1.4 | 182.7 | 17.1 | 2406 | 71′6″ | 5.4 | delete | |
| 7 | 120.4 | 84.9 | 1.42 | 179 | 14.7 | 1863 | 55′7″ | 4.8 | delete | |
| 8 | 113.9 | 84.1 | 1.35 | 160.2 | 13.5 | 2196 | 44′9″ | 4.4 | delete | |
| 9 | 118.3 | 84.4 | 1.4 | 180.1 | 18.5 | 3410 | 85′10″ | 5.9 | delete | |
| 10 | 122 | 86.3 | 1.41 | 187.6 | 16.2 | 1959 | 66′10″ | 5.2 | delete | |
| 11 | 119.4 | 84.1 | 1.42 | 174.3 | 12.9 | 3509 | 57′6″ | 5.1 | delete | |
| 12 | 117.3 | 84.9 | 1.38 | 174 | 14.9 | 3151 | 63′1″ | 5.2 | delete | |
| 13 | 121.7 | - | - | 185 | 15.2 | 2686 | 66′9″ | 5.3 | delete | |
| 14 | 121.9 | 84.8 | 1.44 | 186.2 | 18 | 3697 | 91′1″ | 6.1 | delete | |
| Avg | 119.8 | 85 | 1.41 | 179.2 | 15.3 | 2653 | 64′5″ | 5.2 | ||
| Dev | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.02 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 571 | 12′7″ | 0.4 |
Dave
[Cartman voice]Godammit![/Cartman voice]