Thanks my friend. I did get your PM today but they were making me do work at work for once (what is that about )
Anyways, I just used the format that Bucket did and put my thoughts in.
Long Game
·My driver is usually a strong part of my game but once it goes all hell breaks loose!
·My bad shot is weak quail high slice.
·My other bad shot is one that starts straight and then turns right at the apex of its flight.
·Long Iron misses are either high right pushes or thins
·Short Irons are the pretty solid
·Short Iron misses are pretty straight/slight cut or the occasional hosel rocket!
·Finding the clubface/sweetspot is not usually a problem but feel that I am not hitting the ball pure enough.
·Ball flight is generally good. A nice penetrating trajectory. Can hit it high if needed. Low shots are sometimes bothersome but ok.
·Cutting the ball is what I am usually good at. Going the other way is a bit of a problem and I can lose some distance in windy condtions.
·Improving on the down aspect but the out is not there….
·I am a Range Rat. Can hit Pro standard shots on the range but on the course sometimes I look like a complete beginner.
·I tend to swing around my knees and then get across the line at the top.
·Sometimes I overswing too.
·The club goes inside after impact too quickly. A side swipe at times. Costs me distance and accuracy.
·Impact alignments are getting better but not brilliant. Could do better here. More down and definitely more out is needed.
SHORT GAME
·Short/Medium length chip shots are my strength. I'm pretty decent at hitting sand wedge/pitching wedge chips.
·Distance and sometimes direction control on longer chip (almost pitch shots) are pretty bad.
·Low wedges are good. I tend to go for the low runner the majority of the time.
·Flop shots are no good. Low and medium height shots I am more comfortable with.
·Sometimes I flick on my chip/pitch shots. Improving on this.
·Anything from 30-100 yard shots are where I am weak. Tough shot for me as its neither a low one or a full shot. Tendency to chunk, thin or hosel rocket.
·Usually use an 8, 9, PW, SW, LW depending on the shot. Usually carry a 52, 56, 60 wedges.
·Hard, Medium hardness sand are the best bunker conditions for me.
·Putting. Not great but not bad. Ave about 33-36 putts a round. Put left hand low.
I will do more later but its a start. Feel free to ask me more questions.
Alex
Alex,
Sounds like you have a pretty solid game. We all want to hit it better, but your dispersion seems very manageable.
If I remember, you are from Glasgow? Are you playing more links style golf? Are your conditions normally firm? Your short game seems tailored to that type of condition. Just guessing, let me know.
You did not mention handicap or target scores. What are you hoping to gain, or where do you want to take your game?
Shots from 30--100 yards will be critical to lowering your score. Pros practice these shots daily. While some may want to lay up to special numbers, all face these in-between shots throughout a round as a result of misplayed shots.
We will want the total putts number to come down, but it may be a result of hitting more shots pin high and chipping closer.
Let me know what type of courses you play, average score, and ambition for your game.
Sounds like you have a pretty solid game. We all want to hit it better, but your dispersion seems very manageable.
If I remember, you are from Glasgow? Are you playing more links style golf? Are your conditions normally firm? Your short game seems tailored to that type of condition. Just guessing, let me know.
You did not mention handicap or target scores. What are you hoping to gain, or where do you want to take your game?
Shots from 30--100 yards will be critical to lowering your score. Pros practice these shots daily. While some may want to lay up to special numbers, all face these in-between shots throughout a round as a result of misplayed shots.
We will want the total putts number to come down, but it may be a result of hitting more shots pin high and chipping closer.
Let me know what type of courses you play, average score, and ambition for your game.
Thank's
HB
Hi there,
Thanks for this.
If I remember, you are from Glasgow? Are you playing more links style golf? Are your conditions normally firm? Your short game seems tailored to that type of condition. Just guessing, let me know.
Yes, I am from Glasgow. My home course is a parkland course and I tend to play there more than anywhere else but I do play some links courses when I have the chance. My home course has a lot of undulations and is more an older style course where you can run shots up to the green and all the trouble is to the sides of the green. Conditions during the summer can get very firm and fast. So the low/medium height running shots are best suited to it. Also controlling a high shot into blustery conditions is quite hard.
You did not mention handicap or target scores. What are you hoping to gain, or where do you want to take your game?
I play off a 13 at the moment (not much time of late to practice or play) My scores tend to average in the mid 80s (Par 70 with a standard scratch of 71)
My goal is to get into Cat 1 (HCP from Scratch to 5) I feel that I have the game to do it at times. I can go for stretches during a round where I am par or better but then it falls apart.
Shots from 30--100 yards will be critical to lowering your score. Pros practice these shots daily. While some may want to lay up to special numbers, all face these in-between shots throughout a round as a result of misplayed shots.
This is a weak part of my game. Its something that I have to work on and I think its more technique that I need to look at as the execution is not there.
If I remember, you are from Glasgow? Are you playing more links style golf? Are your conditions normally firm? Your short game seems tailored to that type of condition. Just guessing, let me know.
Yes, I am from Glasgow. My home course is a parkland course and I tend to play there more than anywhere else but I do play some links courses when I have the chance. My home course has a lot of undulations and is more an older style course where you can run shots up to the green and all the trouble is to the sides of the green. Conditions during the summer can get very firm and fast. So the low/medium height running shots are best suited to it. Also controlling a high shot into blustery conditions is quite hard.
You did not mention handicap or target scores. What are you hoping to gain, or where do you want to take your game?
I play off a 13 at the moment (not much time of late to practice or play) My scores tend to average in the mid 80s (Par 70 with a standard scratch of 71)
My goal is to get into Cat 1 (HCP from Scratch to 5) I feel that I have the game to do it at times. I can go for stretches during a round where I am par or better but then it falls apart.
Shots from 30--100 yards will be critical to lowering your score. Pros practice these shots daily. While some may want to lay up to special numbers, all face these in-between shots throughout a round as a result of misplayed shots.
This is a weak part of my game. Its something that I have to work on and I think its more technique that I need to look at as the execution is not there.
Alex
Alex,
I think that spending extra effort on the partial wedges will pay huge dividends. I often see pros with unsual moves in their full swings have clean, efficient looking medium to short wedge swings. The swings are short, so there is not much room to accomodate compensations. Just a thought to leave you with. Really try to relax over these shots, the pros are always talking about soft hands when pitching. Practice the technique enough that you don't have to run through a checklist before the shot.
I think that spending extra effort on the partial wedges will pay huge dividends. I often see pros with unsual moves in their full swings have clean, efficient looking medium to short wedge swings. The swings are short, so there is not much room to accomodate compensations. Just a thought to leave you with. Really try to relax over these shots, the pros are always talking about soft hands when pitching. Practice the technique enough that you don't have to run through a checklist before the shot.
HB
I think you are right there HB. I just am afraid at times to practise it as my minds picture is of the worst possible shot that I could hit from that distance which is one that comes out low and off the hosel
How would recommend going about practising this?
Alex
I think you are right there HB. I just am afraid at times to practise it as my minds picture is of the worst possible shot that I could hit from that distance which is one that comes out low and off the hosel
How would recommend going about practising this?
Alex
Alex,
I used to play with a guy who never warmed up. He said he did not want to see any bad shots before he played. He was a very good player, but it is not what the best players do.
The first place I would look is set-up. Make sure that you are giving yourself a chance. Get clear about the type of motion you need to produce. Practice it in the mirror. You have to focus on your motion to improve. You want to turn off the part of your brain that is judging or concerned about what other people might think. My suggestion is to get away from anyone else. Practice where no one else can see you, then give yourself a break. Be patient. Golf is about the journey.
Clearly picturing a bad shot will often result in a bad shot. When this happens, you should acknowledge that you did a good job of translating your picture to your execution. So you need to get better at making good pictures. Often, technical improvement will help. You will find it easier to hit good shots. You may also have to spend some effort training your brain to see better pictures. One trick I use is to picture what a particular great player would do in the situation and try to act that out.
This is all great stuff my friend. Thanks for everything, with regards to the short game I have the perfect place to go to at my club where no one would see me practise. Think I will go there again and hit many basic and aquired motions until it works.
Alex
This is all great stuff my friend. Thanks for everything, with regards to the short game I have the perfect place to go to at my club where no one would see me practise. Think I will go there again and hit many basic and aquired motions until it works.
Alex
Clearly picturing a bad shot will often result in a bad shot.
HB
I've gotten to the point where I have convinced myself that a bad picture will not lead to a bad shot--I just refocus on my mechanics, relax, and pull off the shot. Usually I have good pictures, but when I don't I have a back-up plan I guess.
__________________
"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)
I've gotten to the point where I have convinced myself that a bad picture will not lead to a bad shot--I just refocus on my mechanics, relax, and pull off the shot. Usually I have good pictures, but when I don't I have a back-up plan I guess.
mrodock,
We would call that a "reset." Often, you may find yourself interrupted with negative thoughts, pictures, moving partners, beer cart, etc. You are correct that there is always a way out. You just wash it away and start the process over. Excellent point. Refocus. Once you reset, you are in control of your game again.
Interestingly, you will often hear a commentator say a player is struggling when he backs off. I would say he is thinking clearly. If you hear a "no" from somewhere inside -- you should listen and run the numbers again.
)
Hybrid Mode
