The Golf Thread

[il Padrino Ute]

If I were that consistent off the tee then it wouldn't be a big deal. But when I can bomb a drive 320 one hole, duff it 75 yards the next, and then spray it into the neighboring fairway on the following hole, a rangefinder helps quite a bit.

Perhaps for me it's also about only playing 4 or 5 courses on a consistent basis. I know each of the courses really well, so I rarely think about yardage.

[bluegoose]

I hit my second round of the year this weekend. We were up in the mountains south of Lake Tahoe for a family reunion near one of my favorite courses. Its a short course, par 60, but is still challenging enough and has enough variety to require you to use all of your clubs. The scenery is incredible, being surrounded in tall pines and oaks for most of the course, with a couple of holes up on top of the mountain overlooking some high mountain valleys.

Front 9 was a little rough, as I was still trying to get my swing back. I made the turn at +9, and really wasn't terribly disappointed considering how little I've played the last 6 or 7 years.

On the back nine, I had my short irons working well and put together a nice little string of holes. A 3 putt double bogey on 16 didn't help, but I finished with a couple of pars to go 4 over on the back 9.

Our condo was right on the seventh green so i was able to walk out after hours and hit 4 or 5 holes each evening. I had all but forgotten how much I enjoy golfing.

[falafel]

Help me out, friends.

I need help moving the low point of my swing forward so that its bottoming out in front of the ball. Any drills, set up advice, etc. to make sure I'm still descending when I hit through the ball?

Clackamas, if you're reading in here, please respond. I don't want to have to double post this in two threads.

TIA.

[Donuthole]

Help me out, friends.

I need help moving the low point of my swing forward so that its bottoming out in front of the ball. Any drills, set up advice, etc. to make sure I'm still descending when I hit through the ball?

Clackamas, if you're reading in here, please respond. I don't want to have to double post this in two threads.

TIA.

Where are you placing the ball in your stance? That's probably the first thing I'd address. In other words, before I was in a practice of hitting down through the ball, I was lifting up through it. In order to help me hit down through the ball, I moved the ball further back in my stance. Now i'm to the point where if I'm hitting a wedge (gap, sand, lob) the ball is just a couple inches off my inside right toe, whereas before, it was almost off my left heel.

[falafel]

Where are you placing the ball in your stance? That's probably the first thing I'd address. In other words, before I was in a practice of hitting down through the ball, I was lifting up through it. In order to help me hit down through the ball, I moved the ball further back in my stance. Now i'm to the point where if I'm hitting a wedge (gap, sand, lob) the ball is just a couple inches off my inside right toe, whereas before, it was almost off my left heel.

Depending on the iron, it varies from about 1/2 a ball in front of middle (for a 7 iron) to about 1/2 a ball to a ball in back for wedges.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Help me out, friends.

I need help moving the low point of my swing forward so that its bottoming out in front of the ball. Any drills, set up advice, etc. to make sure I'm still descending when I hit through the ball?

Clackamas, if you're reading in here, please respond. I don't want to have to double post this in two threads.

TIA.

Have you tried a wireless connection?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I was really frustrated at myself today, shot a 103 that should have been probably a 95. Nothing shanked or sliced into water, I have started using a more aggressive grip and it has really straightened the ball out for me. However now I am realizing how far left I have been aiming. Probably my last round before Bandon, I'm getting nervous.

[jay santos]

I played Talon's Cove last week. I hadn't played out there for a few years. It's a nice course. I liked it but too much wind. It's my third time out this year. I've got a myriad of physical issues from getting into weight lifting--back, wrist, hip, etc. Also, I'm getting used to my new clubs which are harder to hit than my old ones. So anyway, I didn't keep score, but I did have a birdie on #1 the second time we played it. My best hole was the long par 3 (260 yards?). I hit a hybrid that rolled right through the middle of the green, then hit a pretty good chip to about 10 feet and dropped the putt for par.

[cougjunkie]

I played Talon's Cove last week. I hadn't played out there for a few years. It's a nice course. I liked it but too much wind. It's my third time out this year. I've got a myriad off physical issues from getting into weight lifting--back, wrist, hip, etc. Also, I'm getting used to my new clubs which are harder to hit than my old ones. So anyway, I didn't keep score, but I did have a birdie on #1 the second time we played it. My best hole was the long par 3 (260 yards?). I hit a hybrid that rolled right through the middle of the green, then hit a pretty good chip to about 10 feet and dropped the putt for par.

I like Talons a lot. Usually the wind is not too bad out there. That long par 3 is a beast but an awesome backdrop with Utah Lake and the Mountains right behind the green.

[Surfah]

I was really frustrated at myself today, shot a 103 that should have been probably a 95. Nothing shanked or sliced into water, I have started using a more aggressive grip and it has really straightened the ball out for me. However now I am realizing how far left I have been aiming. Probably my last round before Bandon, I'm getting nervous.

Seriously pick up some alignment sticks. They sell them online, or just do what I did and go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy some "driveway markers." They sell them by the mailboxes. They're the same exact thing as these specialty golf alignment aids at about 1/5 the cost. What I did to see how poor my aim was first set up to my intended target and swing. I was always going right of my target. I used the orange sticks in parallel, one pointing directly to the target inside my ball and the other inside my stance. And I noticed that without the sticks I was setting up right of my intended target and actually hitting the ball right where I was aiming. Whenever I am the driving range I pull them out to work on my alignment.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I see guys with those all the time at the range. I might have to try it. Do I really need to buy two sticks? Can't I just use two clubs from my bag, as I only have the ability to hit one club at a time I find myself with 11 or so clubs just sitting lazily in my bad doing nothing.

[falafel]

I see guys with those all the time at the range. I might have to try it. Do I really need to buy two sticks? Can't I just use two clubs from my bag, as I only have the ability to hit one club at a time I find myself with 11 or so clubs just sitting lazily in my bad doing nothing.

You are seriously an idiot. Sorry. Just being honest!

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

You are seriously an idiot. Sorry. Just being honest!

No wonder Clackamas doesn't feel welcome in this thread.

[Surfah]

I see guys with those all the time at the range. I might have to try it. Do I really need to buy two sticks? Can't I just use two clubs from my bag, as I only have the ability to hit one club at a time I find myself with 11 or so clubs just sitting lazily in my bad doing nothing.

Well Phil puts the orange sticks in his bag.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Well Phil puts the orange sticks in his bag.

1. Phil is left-handed, I am not.
2. Phil gets paid to have those in his bag, I would pay to have them in mine.
3. I would never buy anything orange/purple/red to put in my golf bag.