The Golf Thread

[jay santos]

OK, so I've always struggled hitting my driver. But I go through times when I do better. Lately it's been really bad.

I went to the range and was experimenting. I've been trying off and on to do a shorter stroke, but that's just disaster. My most common mistake is a hook. When I'm on it's a draw. I was hitting everything left. Big sweeping hooks.

So I think I'm getting my arms in front of my hips, so I try a really exaggerated fast hips swing to get my hips in front. Now I'm slicing. So I try to find a happy medium and I can't.

So I try really keeping my left arm and wrists ridiculously rigid. Slice again. So I let them got a little loose like my normal swing. Hook. Try to find a happy medium and I can't.

Then I think I'm just going to tee it up like an iron and swing my iron shot. I think maybe teeing the ball on my forward foot is a problem. Maybe in those last 8 inches or so, my wrists are breaking. So I tee it up right in the middle and not very high, barely off the ground. I hit six great shots in a row (ran out of balls at that point). Not as long, but reasonably long and straight.

Could this possibly be the right fix?

Any other suggestions based on these symptoms?

[Donuthole]

OK, so I've always struggled hitting my driver. But I go through times when I do better. Lately it's been really bad.

I went to the range and was experimenting. I've been trying off and on to do a shorter stroke, but that's just disaster. My most common mistake is a hook. When I'm on it's a draw. I was hitting everything left. Big sweeping hooks.

So I think I'm getting my arms in front of my hips, so I try a really exaggerated fast hips swing to get my hips in front. Now I'm slicing. So I try to find a happy medium and I can't.

So I try really keeping my left arm and wrists ridiculously rigid. Slice again. So I let them got a little loose like my normal swing. Hook. Try to find a happy medium and I can't.

Then I think I'm just going to tee it up like an iron and swing my iron shot. I think maybe teeing the ball on my forward foot is a problem. Maybe in those last 8 inches or so, my wrists are breaking. So I tee it up right in the middle and not very high, barely off the ground. I hit six great shots in a row (ran out of balls at that point). Not as long, but reasonably long and straight.

Could this possibly be the right fix?

Any other suggestions based on these symptoms?

Have you weakened your grip? I have battled the slices for years (still do, on occasion, and that's certainly still my miss) but an unsolicited tip in passing from a friend one day about strengthening my grip has really helped.

[clackamascoug]

It's all about the direction the club head is moving through the hitting area, inside out/straight/outside in, and then you have to deal with a open/square/closed position of the face. Those combinations of variables account for the flight of the ball. A hook comes from an inside swing path, with a closed face at impact. A draw comes from an inside swing path with the face square, but closing fast, at impact. The difference is subtle, but that's golf.

1. To fix a bad hook, open your stance by standing with your left foot pointing out just a bit. This is called "opening your stance." What this does is, make you take the club back straighter than inside, and the down swing will be straight through the ball - best have the club head ready to hit squarely though, because if your face is open - hello slice.

2. However - you did find the best solution, by moving the ball back in your stance. Think of it this way. With a draw swing, your wrists are coming through the ball with action. That's why draw swings go so much further than bunting slice swings. If the ball is teed off of the left foot, the face of the club will be past it's prime position for striking, and will be closed by the time it actually meets the ball. Moving the ball back even two inches will give the club a better opportunity to meet the ball squarely, and with the closing face action just beginning, rather than already happened. Doing it right is the difference between a draw and a hook. (This is my bugaboo.)

3. A slice is the result of basically two things happening. A loop at the top of the swing where the torso (shoulders mostly) rotates off target line to the left. The club gets off of plane, and now is on a outside in path and is coming down to the ball on a different path than it took up. With a outside swing path, if the hands are in a strong right hand grip, the face will be open and you hit the ball, you're hitting the ball from the outside in, and if the face is a little open as well, you'll spin that sucker like a Frisbee. The best cure for a slice is to stay on plane so the club will never get to that outside/in hitting position. How to stay on plane? Keep your head still over the ball, and don't move your torso left on your down swing transition.

It's easy. (he says - as he takes the ball out of the cup for a 9 on a par 4.)

Post Posting Thoughts: A slice is like bunting a ball in baseball. There's not as much power through the ball. One of the reasons a golf ball slices so much is the wrists will "give way" at impact. Much like a batter. One of my "go to" shots is a bunt drive with a fade. It's a 3/4 swing with stiff wrists. It's a great shot for a head wind, or a very tight fairway because the ball basically will fade just a touch and is ultra reliable. The problem is that it only goes about 240/250 yards, but on the right hole that's not a penalty. It's a benefit.

[clackamascoug]

Sorry If I'm posting too much this morning, I've got nothing to do, mostly.

So, last Saturday on my second 18, I end up playing with this guy who's dressed to the nines, with black knee socks no less, and we end up sharing a cart. He tells me up front that his goal is to break 90. Just to be nice, in my socially awkward way (thanks for the heads up Husky) I say, well if you need any advice about breaking 90, I'm your guy. By the third hole, I could tell the guy was going to be pushing 100, so I asked for permission to help him out. His problem was that he was swinging for the fences on every shot. As if he was going to subdue the course through his shear strength. Time after time he made the wrong choice on his best "course of action" and he compounded mistakes with another mistake. So we're on the 10th hole, and he's put his drive under a tree with a limited back swing, and I say to him, "what's your goal here?" He looks at me and says "to knock it on the green." I said, If you want to break 90, is that your best shot, or do you want to minimize the damage by hitting to the 100 yard marker and hitting a wedge in with a chance for par, and probably just a bogie. He says he knows I'm right, but is going to hit hit for the green anyway. He ended up with a 6 on the hole. And, he shot 90 on the nose... He could have shot an 85 if he would have backed off the superman swing and used his head.

[Y84it]

Sorry If I'm posting too much this morning, I've got nothing to do, mostly.

So, last Saturday on my second 18, I end up playing with this guy who's dressed to the nines, with black knee socks no less, and we end up sharing a cart. He tells me up front that his goal is to break 90. Just to be nice, in my socially awkward way (thanks for the heads up Husky) I say, well if you need any advice about breaking 90, I'm your guy. By the third hole, I could tell the guy was going to be pushing 100, so I asked for permission to help him out. His problem was that he was swinging for the fences on every shot. As if he was going to subdue the course through his shear strength. Time after time he made the wrong choice on his best "course of action" and he compounded mistakes with another mistake. So we're on the 10th hole, and he's put his drive under a tree with a limited back swing, and I say to him, "what's your goal here?" He looks at me and says "to knock it on the green." I said, If you want to break 90, is that your best shot, or do you want to minimize the damage by hitting to the 100 yard marker and hitting a wedge in with a chance for par, and probably just a bogie. He says he knows I'm right, but is going to hit hit for the green anyway. He ended up with a 6 on the hole. And, he shot 90 on the nose... He could have shot an 85 if he would have backed off the superman swing and used his head.

This is advice that is hard to follow. I am always looking for that chance to make that amazing shot. When reality is I should play within myself. I know that I will most likley not hit the green with anything above an 8 iron with my abilities.
So everytime I am on a PAR 5 and hit a great drive I pull out that 3 wood or 4 iron and think I will get on in 2. Reality I Shank it, hit it fat, Whatever! End up doubling the hole! Play to hit in the 80's for me would be great... yet I play the course like I am a scratch golfer.

[clackamascoug]

This is advice that is hard to follow. I am always looking for that chance to make that amazing shot. When reality is I should play within myself. I know that I will most likley not hit the green with anything above an 8 iron with my abilities. So everytime I am on a PAR 5 and hit a great drive I pull out that 3 wood or 4 iron and think I will get on in 2. Reality I Shank it, hit it fat, Whatever! End up doubling the hole! Play to hit in the 80's for me would be great... yet I play the course like I am a scratch golfer.

That's what I'm trying to teach my son. Smart golf is good golf, and good decisions improves skills.

I'm in mid-summer form, and playing to about 90% of my ability. There are a couple of things I think I've improved upon this year. I'm trying to play smarter, and my new belly putter has revitalized my game.

Putting is like a canary in a mine. It's the first thing to go in your game. The past 5 years have been miserable, as I would sometimes stand over the ball and wonder where it would go. It was like I lost control of my arms. I was reading in the most recent issue of GOLF magazine about belly putters, and how they have helped older players get the feel back. For me, I could tell a difference in the store, and it's translated out onto the course. It took me a while to figure out how I best wanted to approach the long putter. About two weeks ago, before the round on the practice green, I messed around with the "claw" grip with the shaft going between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. The left hand is gripping the top of the shaft, braced into my chest. The left hand acts like a fulcrum (I used the word on purpose, as I'm not going to pretend its not the purpose) and the right hand in the claw grip pushes the head through the putting line. To say that I've started making more putts is like asking if a hobby horse has wooden teeth. My accuracy from 18 feet in is great, and if I'm 15 feet away, I'm thinking I'm making it. It's a complete 180* from where I was earlier this year and past. Once I got over the dorky look of it all, and it became natural, I've been putting lights out. On Wednesday the 11th, when I had 6 birdies, it felt like I could make everything, and I basically did. I think I've mad a major breakthrough in my game, and am thinking my handicap will actually go down rather than up from where it is today.


Sidebar: Everybody who plays golf avidly is seeking to get better. If it looks like I'm doing a humblebrag about shooting a 78 and still complaining about the quintbogie, believe me, I'm not. I'm just like every other golfer who will complain about every missed shot, and wants to do better every time I play. I think the very essence of being a golfer is never to be satisfied with your last round. I hope what I'm trying to convey comes through.

[KillerDog]

OK, so I've always struggled hitting my driver. But I go through times when I do better. Lately it's been really bad.

I went to the range and was experimenting. I've been trying off and on to do a shorter stroke, but that's just disaster. My most common mistake is a hook. When I'm on it's a draw. I was hitting everything left. Big sweeping hooks.

So I think I'm getting my arms in front of my hips, so I try a really exaggerated fast hips swing to get my hips in front. Now I'm slicing. So I try to find a happy medium and I can't.

So I try really keeping my left arm and wrists ridiculously rigid. Slice again. So I let them got a little loose like my normal swing. Hook. Try to find a happy medium and I can't.

Then I think I'm just going to tee it up like an iron and swing my iron shot. I think maybe teeing the ball on my forward foot is a problem. Maybe in those last 8 inches or so, my wrists are breaking. So I tee it up right in the middle and not very high, barely off the ground. I hit six great shots in a row (ran out of balls at that point). Not as long, but reasonably long and straight.

Could this possibly be the right fix?

Any other suggestions based on these symptoms?

I haven't been golfing long but the pro who is teaching me has a nice thing I do when I'm struggling with my driver. He taught me right at the beginning that my 6 iron is my base club. Ball is in the middle of my stance and the perfect 6 iron swing is very similar to every other swing from driver to pitching wedge. Everytime I start to have driver trouble he has me hit with my 6 iron until it is smooth, then I start working my way to my driver (5 iron, 4 iron, 5 wood, 3 wood, driver) moving the ball slightly forward in my stance each time and swinging that club until it feels like my 6 iron swing felt. If I do this, I'll own the driver the next day and usually for a few days after. Pro has taught me that every swing motion is the same but the placement of the ball and your proximity to the ball changes. Starting at the "base" club helps you to keep that consistency. Hope it helps.

[Y84it]

I haven't been golfing long but the pro who is teaching me has a nice thing I do when I'm struggling with my driver. He taught me right at the beginning that my 6 iron is my base club. Ball is in the middle of my stance and the perfect 6 iron swing is very similar to every other swing from driver to pitching wedge. Everytime I start to have driver trouble he has me hit with my 6 iron until it is smooth, then I start working my way to my driver (5 iron, 4 iron, 5 wood, 3 wood, driver) moving the ball slightly forward in my stance each time and swinging that club until it feels like my 6 iron swing felt. If I do this, I'll own the driver the next day and usually for a few days after. Pro has taught me that every swing motion is the same but the placement of the ball and your proximity to the ball changes. Starting at the "base" club helps you to keep that consistency. Hope it helps.

Sweeeeet Thanks! That is awesome info!

[clackamascoug]

Golf Report Wednesday July 18, 2012

43+41=84

Zero Birdies, 9 pars, 6 bogies, 3 dbogies.

What a forgettable round. I couldn't really get anything going, and just kind of cruised through the round without making a splash. Maybe it was a group thing. The grouping all played bad, and we contributed money to the pot rather than taking it. Never really hit a note worthy shot, but my 7 wood with the driver shaft continues to be a great club. Every time I'm in a jam and need a good shot, I turn to the 7 wood, and it always comes through. My 3 wood is getting almost impossible to hit off the deck. I'm thinking of making a change in the 3 and 5 wood department. Both are Callaway FT series, and both are failing me.

Yawn...

Evening Edit: On the par 5 15th hole, I topped my drive! It went about 70 yards. I thought "what the hell?" On my second shot I topped a 3 wood, and it went about 70 yards. I pulled out my trusty 7 wood just to get some distance down the fairway, great 3rd shot. So I'm 190 out hitting 4. I hit the 7 wood again, and the ball mark is within 4 feet of the hole, but rolls through the green. I pitch to 1 foot, and tap in for a bogie. Guy's I'm telling you, if you don't have a 7 wood in your bag, (bigger head than a hybrid, and a 4" longer shaft than a hybrid) your missing the boat. For a mid to high handicapper, it's a great tool just to get the ball in the air and down the fairway. the ball just pops up and zooms down the fairway. Special Offer: If some of you guys want one of these "must have" clack specials, I'm willing to make them for you for three easy payments of $20. Shipping not included. If three or four of you want the most awesome club you'll ever have in your bag, I'll order a bunch of heads and shafts and build them and then send them out. For $60 it's a no-brainer. Ask Husky about this wonder club - he's seen it in action. Seriously, its 10 times easier to hit than a 3 or 4 iron, and a lot more accurate. I'm going to put an order in for a 5 wood head, with the same shaft, and sell the stinking 3 and 5 wood Callaway pieces of crap that I've got now.

[clackamascoug]

OK... I woke up from my nap, and it's

Major Pick 'em Time - British Open (I'm old school - its the British Open to me.)

Pick 5 - Top Three Count. - How good do you know the European Tour Players, or Americans who can play links style golf?

Clack's Picks

Karl Petterson
Luke Donald
Rory Mac-o-Choke
Louis Oosthisname
Phil over Tiger.

[jay santos]

Thanks for the feedback on my driving DH, Clack, and KD. I need to get back to the driving range and experiment with that. I tried a lot of what you guys recommend, but the thing I haven't really tried is experimenting with my grip. I think I'll try that.

[jay santos]

Tiger
Phil
Dufner
Westwood
Padraig

[byu71]

Westwood, Harrington, McElroy, Mahan, the other guy from Northern Ireland who has a major, not Clark. His name I will find out and add.

Edit: That's it. DT name him. Grahm McDowell

[byu71]

Well, I threw down a 111 today. That is right a smooth 111. Would have been higher, but we pick up after a triple. Thought I had the shanks cured as I was 1 over after 5. Then all of sudden it happened on 6. From then on I hit 1 straight shot.

Like I said before, the last time I got them it took a good month or so to get rid of them. They left just like they came, all of a sudden.

Luckily I am a happy go lucky guy or I would fine a tall building to leap of off.

[Drunk Tank]

Lee Westwood
Luke Donald
Graeme McDowell
Martin Kaymer
Tiger Woods