Golf Thread

First Stableford competition today. A bit nervous. Been hitting the ball well lately but you never know how's going to go on the day. Managed to hit an eagle just before Christmas on a par 5 (which, to be fair, should have been a par 4) so I know it can be done. Will see how it goes.
 
Had my best round ever this morning despite the heavy wind and rain! Went round in 93, course is par 70 so I'm very pleased!
 
I went to the range yesterday after a bit of a break from golf over Christmas, so it was probably the first time I've hit a ball in about six weeks. I was pleasantly surprised how well I was striking the ball and was hitting it so well I was able to work on draws and fades, something that I haven't done much of before. However, one thing I did notice is that there didn't seem to be a great deal of difference between how far I was hitting a 7 iron and a 5 iron. What would be the reason for this do you think?
 
Contact.

5 Irons are harder to hit well than a 7 iron is so your contact is probably better on the latter. Improve your contact on the 5 iron slow your swing speed down and focus on hitting clean and youl improve your distance
 
Really looking forward to this season. Last year I managed to get through the full season without any major issues (was in a car accident a while back and injured some ligaments in my left wrist and arm, also have had historic problems in my lower back which can occasionally flare up from time to time).

Finished the season on 11.9, personal goals for this year would be hopefully to score <80 off the medal tees, and improve my swing via more practice and lessons.

I've been working hard on my takeaway in recent weeks, feels really alien to me as I'm trying to correct residual faults in my swing that have been present for about 25 years lol.

Gear-wise, I was custom fitted a few years back for a set of Ping irons. Back then I was still recovering from injury / swinging a bit gingerly so I may upgrade this year, but not until I've addressed my technique.

I also randomly bidded for and won a Titleist 915F 18deg with the Diamana S+70 Blue shaft. Man I fell in love with it with the first hit, absolutely bombing it at the range, so impressed. Makes me want to try out the 3 wood as well but must resist :)

You guys looking forward to this year? What's your personal goals?
 
I had my handicap through over the weekend, surprised they gave me 21 when I was expecting a lot worse!
Hoping to get this down to mid teens by the end of the year and improve my putting.
 
Cannot wait for this summer. Starting a round just after 7am and ending it in 20+ Degrees. Hopefully get my handicap down to 10. Currently 15 h'cap. Played once every 2 weeks so far this winter so hopefully when summer comes round I'm not too rusty!
 
I played my first round of 2015 earlier today and it went surprisingly well. I scored 92 and hit pretty much the best shot I've ever hit, a long 5 iron on a par 5 that ended about 4-5 ft from the flag. It's nice to see that the bits I've been practising on the range (driver and irons) have really improved. The main thing that let me down today and stopped me scoring better is my short game. There were a couple of holes where I either duffed a chip or missed an easy putt. However, for the first game in over a month and the first one of this year, I'm pleased.

My main aim for this year is to get a recognised handicap, and then start working towards lowering it. I'm also aiming to purchase a hybrid, a better and bigger driver, and something like a 60 degree wedge to compliment my 50 and 55 degree wedges.
 
Driver yes, hybrid (work of the devil in my opinion) hmm, but def no to the 60 degree wedge. Ive been a single digit handicapper since I was 18 (38 now) and will not carry a 60 degree wedge. They make a hard game almost impossible. I carry a 53 and a 56. Whatever the 56 cannot do, I shouldnt be trying.
You really should be using the 8-PW for everything that doesnt involve shots over bunkers or water. The aim is to get the ball on the green and rolling as quickly as possible and use the run out rather than the low percentage lob shots, remember a flubbed wedge goes further along the ground than a fatted lob.
 
brendy said:
The aim is to get the ball on the green and rolling as quickly as possible and use the run out rather than the low percentage lob shots, remember a flubbed wedge goes further along the ground than a fatted lob.
Click to expand...

Not when the greens are frozen and the ball just doesn't stop, as I found last Friday :mad::mad::mad:
 
Bag this year, couple of changes late on last season.
Taylormade R11S Driver 9 Deg RIP Phenom 60 stiff shaft, head set to 8.5 Deg neutral face.
Taylormade R11S TP 3Wood RIP 15.5 Deg Phenom 80 Stiff shaft, head set to 15 deg and neutral face.
Taylormade R11S 5Wood, RIP Phenom 70 Stiff shaft, Head Set to Standard and Neutral face.
Titleist MB 710's with KBS Tour Stiff shafts, awesome clubs, similar to what Rory used to win the US Open in 2011.
Mizuno MP T series Raw Haze 53 Degree Wedge
Titleist Vokey SM 56 Deg wedge.
Odyssey White ice 2ball putter.
 
brendy said:
Driver yes, hybrid (work of the devil in my opinion) hmm, but def no to the 60 degree wedge. Ive been a single digit handicapper since I was 18 (38 now) and will not carry a 60 degree wedge. They make a hard game almost impossible. I carry a 53 and a 56. Whatever the 56 cannot do, I shouldnt be trying.
You really should be using the 8-PW for everything that doesnt involve shots over bunkers or water. The aim is to get the ball on the green and rolling as quickly as possible and use the run out rather than the low percentage lob shots, remember a flubbed wedge goes further along the ground than a fatted lob.
Click to expand...

The reason for the hybrid is that I don't feel confident hitting my woods, plus they are old and dreadful (at least ten years old) and I don't carry anything less than a 5 iron. I used to have a 3 and a 4 iron in my old set and I could only use them off the tee, I just couldn't manage to get the loft or distance I wanted off the ground. I've been told that if I don't like the idea of 2-4 irons and don't feel confident in my woods I should take a look at a hybrid.

The driver is a no-brainer for me really. My current one is a Callaway Big Bertha but it's really old and only has a 250cc head, not ideal for someone who has only been playing golf for a year and a half.

The only reason I was considering something more lofted than my SW was that I sometimes leave myself with a 30-40 yard approach to the green and as it's not a shot I really ever practice I'm not particularly good at judging it with my SW, so I find myself underhitting for fear of going long or just going long. I was thinking that I could get a 60 degree wedge and learn to hit the lob shot which would stop close at that distance. Maybe the answer is that I should just work on my SW short shots more or stop leaving myself such an awkward approach.
 
nicktay2605 said:
The reason for the hybrid is that I don't feel confident hitting my woods, plus they are old and dreadful (at least ten years old) and I don't carry anything less than a 5 iron. I used to have a 3 and a 4 iron in my old set and I could only use them off the tee, I just couldn't manage to get the loft or distance I wanted off the ground. I've been told that if I don't like the idea of 2-4 irons and don't feel confident in my woods I should take a look at a hybrid.

The driver is a no-brainer for me really. My current one is a Callaway Big Bertha but it's really old and only has a 250cc head, not ideal for someone who has only been playing golf for a year and a half.

The only reason I was considering something more lofted than my SW was that I sometimes leave myself with a 30-40 yard approach to the green and as it's not a shot I really ever practice I'm not particularly good at judging it with my SW, so I find myself underhitting for fear of going long or just going long. I was thinking that I could get a 60 degree wedge and learn to hit the lob shot which would stop close at that distance. Maybe the answer is that I should just work on my SW short shots more or stop leaving myself such an awkward approach.
Click to expand...
Thats the answer there all right!
I was always taught to only use loft when it was the last resort. Get it on the green asap and let it run out, one of my sources for tips/lessons was Michael Bannon (Rorys coach), and hes doing ok!
 
This years ideal goal is to drop from a 28+ Handicap (current at the club is 28) thankfully though been playing quite well in my practice rounds so when it comes to the stableford comps I should be posting good scores, been scoring 44 and 46 recently so always good!

Had a little winter splurge this year on equipment currently I am bagging:

Taylormade SLDR 460 - set to 11 and draw weighted
Taylormade RBZ Stage 1 3 wood
Taylormade RBZ Stage 2 3 hybrid
Taylormade RBZ 4-AW irons
Taylormade RAC 56 Wedge
Titleist Vokey SM5 60 Wedge
Ping Anser 2 putter with 1.18 fat grip on it.

Might treat myself to a new trolley this year as I was gifted a Hill Billy electric cart off a client about 5 years ago if not more and its starting to look a bit tatty. Although saying that my father owns a custom spraying shop so I could get it all done there.. Carbon fibre maybe.... Mmm..
 
I don't really get the appeal of electric trolleys. A good one costs anywhere from £350, which seems a lot to me. I suppose if you can afford it and don't mind spending the money then why not, it just seems a bit of a strange use of money when pushing a trolley isn't really that much effort.
 
nicktay2605 said:
The only reason I was considering something more lofted than my SW was that I sometimes leave myself with a 30-40 yard approach to the green and as it's not a shot I really ever practice I'm not particularly good at judging it with my SW, so I find myself underhitting for fear of going long or just going long. I was thinking that I could get a 60 degree wedge and learn to hit the lob shot which would stop close at that distance. Maybe the answer is that I should just work on my SW short shots more or stop leaving myself such an awkward approach.
Click to expand...

Not sure if you've said whether you have one or not but I'd consider a 52*. My 58* gets used for nothing other than a full 80yd shot or in a situation where I've short sided myself.

My SW gets used only in bunkers. I tended to duff too many SW shots outside bunkers because the club dug into the ground more. I was told that this was to do with the bounce rating of the club. If I was you I'd look at using a 52* around the green or a PW when a bit further away.

My 52* is probably the most used club in my bag. It really is a go to club from 50 yards in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom