Golf Thread

MarkA · 11 Sep 2022 at 15:55

Anyone got a good video for putting lessons please?
I'm struggling loads. Could just be the difficult greens I'm playing at, at 8am, with a mountain of dew saturating all of them and I end up 3-4 putting continually.
My normal put which would have gone 10-15 feet last week, is now going 3 feet.
I need a system!

magicroundabout · 11 Sep 2022 at 22:19

unsure which putter video I best tbh but a quick google search brings up a whole host. Maybe a PutOut matt might help?

But talking of tips has anyone been watching Nick Dougherty's Tee Time Tips on Sky Golf.
Some very interesting tips and good course management techniques.

booyaka · 11 Sep 2022 at 23:02

Find a routine - and stick with it - whatever it is.

Get a puttout mat or something for the house - great value

MarkA · 12 Sep 2022 at 10:07

I have a putting mat in the garage, but it has no lines and just has 3 holes at the end.
Perhaps I'll put some straight chalk marks on it for lines and distances, to see if my strokes are good.
Thank you both

MR_Punk · 12 Sep 2022 at 10:19

I found recently my poor putts have been very good for line but woeful for pace. Maybe its a confidence thing.

MarkA · 12 Sep 2022 at 11:30

Took a look at where my putting mat is in the garage. Looks like it's on a bit of uneven ground. Looked at it with a spirit level on all different areas of it and it's on the wonky side.
I've chalked up a straight line right down the middle using a laser for guidance and then drawn in every foot marker. I can now see my ball going down the line and I see it fall off to once side where it's not flat. I'll double check the matt is completely flat a bit later once it's on even ground and if I need to, I'll get one of my spare pieces of plywood and get it laid out on that to make it even for practicing.

This could be why my putting has been so bad, practicing on an uneven surface might be it. Time will tell!

booyaka · 12 Sep 2022 at 13:46

I remember WAY back and old guy I knew used to play with his mates and the tales was told that if you left a putt short, you lost the hole. Didn't matter how many shots to that point, you lost.

No one in the 4 ball was ever short as we all know that if your short it's never going in.

I always always try and make sure I'm past the hole as much as I can.

MarkA · 12 Sep 2022 at 13:53

booyaka said:
I remember WAY back and old guy I knew used to play with his mates and the tales was told that if you left a putt short, you lost the hole. Didn't matter how many shots to that point, you lost.

No one in the 4 ball was ever short as we all know that if your short it's never going in.

I always always try and make sure I'm past the hole as much as I can.

Even on a downhill slider?

stephenb · 12 Sep 2022 at 16:10

@MarkA If you haven't come across him check Chris Dennis Golf on YouTube. He does some coaching on the pro tours and he's done a few videos on putting recently.

booyaka · 12 Sep 2022 at 16:20

MarkA said:
Even on a downhill slider?

Probably not but that would be the only time - but I do try to eliminate as much break as possible if it's downhill across.

SKILL · 12 Sep 2022 at 19:20

Had my first lesson today... I noticed whilst I was at the range last Friday that they had group lessons focussing on a Monday afternoon, cost was £6 including 60 range balls (which usually cost £6...) and a coffee so seemed pretty good and I decided to go.

He made a few tweaks to my grip, informed me about ball position as I was basically hitting all the clubs from the middle except driver so now I know to move the ball a bit forward for the 6 iron etc and a bit about posture/distance from the ball.

But the biggest was some weight transfer stuff, so I was basically staying static or so I thought but ending up on the back foot. So he told me to move my weight back a bit (he said 65%) on the back swing and then forward onto the front foot lifting the rear heel off the ground by the end of the swing.

Now I can't hit the ball at all :cry:

I'm sure the changes are sound but I definitely need more practice

Gonna try and get to the range on Wednesday or Thursday before the next game on Friday morning to actually learn how to hit the ball again

magicroundabout · 13 Sep 2022 at 11:13

So the release of the new TSR Drivers from Titleist have been released at a cost of £529 and the fairway woods at £289 per club. We already have Taylormade Stealth at £469/£499 per club yet the ever so popular 2022 edition from Cobra at £399 and PXG offering theirs at £250. Even with custom options you will only just hit the prices of these clubs with non standard shafts.

Are certain clubs becoming too expensive considering the saturated and still excellent performing second hand market. Are NEW drivers really worth the premium of paying over £500 for or have Cobra and even PXG got their price point spot on?

What are others thoughts

MR_Punk · 13 Sep 2022 at 11:41

stephenb said:
@MarkA If you haven't come across him check Chris Dennis Golf on YouTube. He does some coaching on the pro tours and he's done a few videos on putting recently.

I actually know Chris, he went to school with the wife. Nice lad and is just as dry in real life.

MikeTimbers · 13 Sep 2022 at 12:08

magicroundabout said:
So the release of the new TSR Drivers from Titleist have been released at a cost of £529 and the fairway woods at £289 per club. We already have Taylormade Stealth at £469/£499 per club yet the ever so popular 2022 edition from Cobra at £399 and PXG offering theirs at £250. Even with custom options you will only just hit the prices of these clubs with non standard shafts.

Are certain clubs becoming too expensive considering the saturated and still excellent performing second hand market. Are NEW drivers really worth the premium of paying over £500 for or have Cobra and even PXG got their price point spot on?

What are others thoughts

comparison reviews I have seen of TSR to TSi show next to no change. However, the real benefits are more likely to be for the kinds of golfers who don't do YouTube reviews. i.e. the movable weights on the TSR models help those who miss the sweet spot because it allows the spot to be moved. Of course if you miss all over the face there is a limit to what can be achieved.

As a Titleist fan I upgraded from a 915D3 to a TS3 buying a used TS3 with two shafts via eBay for £180. By playing with the two shafts and the included weight kit I got to a setup that was better than the 915. Would I ever consider shelling out £529 for a new driver? unless it magically meant I got perfectly straight 300 yard drives, no, I would not.

SKILL · 13 Sep 2022 at 12:19

magicroundabout said:
So the release of the new TSR Drivers from Titleist have been released at a cost of £529 and the fairway woods at £289 per club. We already have Taylormade Stealth at £469/£499 per club yet the ever so popular 2022 edition from Cobra at £399 and PXG offering theirs at £250. Even with custom options you will only just hit the prices of these clubs with non standard shafts.

Are certain clubs becoming too expensive considering the saturated and still excellent performing second hand market. Are NEW drivers really worth the premium of paying over £500 for or have Cobra and even PXG got their price point spot on?

What are others thoughts

For me it's crazy money, and I could afford it fairly easily but don't see me ever bothering.

But I also play with a set of clubs I bought for £200 (new), so the thought of paying well over twice that for a single club is just crazy

I have been considering filling in the gap between my Driver and 6 Iron (considering I barely use my Hybrid which is a 4) with a 3 Wood or 5 Wood but I don't really see the benefit of going brand new over second hand, only real benefit as very much a beginner seems to be it's shinier but that'll quickly change after a few rounds/range sessions...

Quinnaay · 13 Sep 2022 at 15:50

From what I saw of the previous TSi and new TSR there’s about a yard difference in performance make of that what you will. Lovely looking tool mind.

MikeTimbers · 13 Sep 2022 at 21:56

SKILL said:
For me it's crazy money, and I could afford it fairly easily but don't see me ever bothering.

But I also play with a set of clubs I bought for £200 (new), so the thought of paying well over twice that for a single club is just crazy

I have been considering filling in the gap between my Driver and 6 Iron (considering I barely use my Hybrid which is a 4) with a 3 Wood or 5 Wood but I don't really see the benefit of going brand new over second hand, only real benefit as very much a beginner seems to be it's shinier but that'll quickly change after a few rounds/range sessions...

buy used. there are reliable sellers like golfclubsforcash, golfbidder et al that will sell you guaranteed genuine clubs. so many people swap clubs so often that the used market is full of barely-used bargains.

SKILL · 14 Sep 2022 at 07:21

MikeTimbers said:
buy used. there are reliable sellers like golfclubsforcash, golfbidder et al that will sell you guaranteed genuine clubs. so many people swap clubs so often that the used market is full of barely-used bargains.

Yeah that's the plan, I go looking through the golfbidder stock way too frequently already

There's also a local shop that does used clubs I'd probably look at...

booyaka · 14 Sep 2022 at 16:04

magicroundabout said:
So the release of the new TSR Drivers from Titleist have been released at a cost of £529 and the fairway woods at £289 per club. We already have Taylormade Stealth at £469/£499 per club yet the ever so popular 2022 edition from Cobra at £399 and PXG offering theirs at £250. Even with custom options you will only just hit the prices of these clubs with non standard shafts.

Are certain clubs becoming too expensive considering the saturated and still excellent performing second hand market. Are NEW drivers really worth the premium of paying over £500 for or have Cobra and even PXG got their price point spot on?

What are others thoughts

Expensive - yes - worth it - probably no in most cases. But obviously there is a huge market out there that just gobble up the "new best thing"

Lets be honest - nothing better than some new shiny clubs in the bag to make you feel great. :cry:

Prices have been going up and up for a while now and my mate was looking for a G425 max but couldn't stomach the £450 price tag, started looking 2nd hand but was still around £300. I suggested the PXG august deal to him and he went and got fitted and got his driver within 14 days. Looks solid value for money indeed at £250 for the driver.

I'm fairly happy buying 2nd hand if needed, loads of good facebook groups locally and further afield. Do your research, be sensible when purchasing and you'll be fine.

Got an itch, a very expensive one, to try the proper Ventus Blue velecore shaft - but not sure I can ***** £250 on a shaft....

Aside from that - no new clubs for me - bag setup is good at the moment - will spend the winter getting another few "tune" up lessons and some good practice in. Down from 12.2 at the start of the year to 9.2 currently. Doubles final in a couple of weeks. Overall a huge improvement in my ball striking this year, much more consistent and hoping to carry that into next year.

magicroundabout · 14 Sep 2022 at 18:03

Yeah always love shiny new clubs. Like yourself I'm happy with my bag. Only thing I am looking at is a new grip for my putter. Currently using a Golf Pride Tour SNSR Contour but liking the look of the Superstore Traction Pistol GT 2.0. Will be trying it out to see how it feels.

I too will be having a couple of lessons over the winter to work on getting into single figures. Last year I was a steady 14 - 16 but now playing a solid 12. Still haven't broke 80 yet though

As for the PXG Driver. Interested to know how that's performing. It was such a good deal.

I went up the range with my driver today to work on a few things. Have adjusted the MyFly setting from STD to STD-D so it's more in a draw setting so aid in my fade. Seems to have worked nicely so far. Will see on the course Friday.