New Blood

Hello,

I've seen numerous posts in this forum while looking for reviews, curiosity questions, opinons e.t.c. and thought this is as good as place as any to join a group of like minded golfers.  I am 71 years old, recreational golfer for past 30 years or so, not nearly the player I was years ago, but starting to come down in strokes the more often I play. (I did not play much for past 10 -15 years). Now I try to get out twice a week.  I don't know what the protocol is for newbies such as myself so I will only list whats in my bag for now:

Driver   Taylormade R7 Limited

3w  Taylormade RBZ

4H Callaway Diablo Edge (when I am not carrying 3 and 4 irons)

3-E Hogan Edge

Oddysee Metal-X 7 belly putter (not anchored)

Olimar Tri Metal 21 degree (7 wood)

FWIW, I feel I have a pretty sound repeatable swing, but seem to need help finding GIR. Short game is not bad, putting pretty good.

Anyway, that's about it.  Hope I have not rambled too much and looking forward to gleening your posts.

James

Escondido, California

Welcome James!

Thanks,  and no worries, I have "thick skin" (almost as thick as my head is hard I am told).

If your going to be playing from tees were your having long irons into the green, i really do suggest a lot of hybrid clubs. Maybe down to as much as a 5 or 6 iron replacement hybrid. The larger sweet spot, lower Center of Gravity, and the ability to get the ball higher will help a ton.

But from my experience playing golf with those who are much older. The game that usually wins for them is, a smooth balanced swing that will keep the ball in play. Take advantage of short par 4's, par 3's, and short par 5's. Try to have a very solid short game when you have to get up and down from long par 4's.

I've seen many golfers play very very good golf this way, i mean down near single digit if the game is on.

good advice, thanks.  I have been using my Olimar 21 degree in lieu of mid irons and gaining confidence. The low profile Olimar is very much like the hybrid once you get used to it. My distance is fairly good for someone my age i.e. driver 220-240. I think that I tend to rush my second shot producing errant "going for the green" attempts while I could probably do better by hitting a nice smooth mid iron and then chip in close for a one putt.

in trying to get familiar with this forum, I cant seem to be able to create a signature line as a place to list whats in the bag. I went to the FAQ and it said there was a box beneath "gallery" but there is none showing when I go to "My profile".  I do not see any "gallery".

Okay, that explains it, Thanks

Welcome

No problem mate! Welcome as well!

i know I should "know" this, but who is the photo of that the moderators in the avatar they provided for me?  I like it however. It does look familiar and seems to suit me, but then again, I don't really pay much attention to the personas of today and can only recognize a handful of todays pros and commentators.

James Hacker

Okay, found him.  Fictional character and although not complimentary, I will retain the avatar as the character's habits, vices, and views tend to describe me pretty well at times. The actor that portrayed him in the sitcom "Yes, Minister"  (Eddington) is deceased.  but "I" still remain "Narcissism  and all.

Welcome.  I agree with what saevel said, though I think that pretty much that's good advice for every player.  There has been an almost exact inverse relationship through my 6 years as a serious golfer between how hard I feel I'm swinging and my average scores.  I've recently taken yet another big step towards barely feeling like I'm swinging, and my ball striking has improved yet again.  Not only that, but my max distances with each club have stayed the same or even slightly improved, and my average distances have continually gone up the more balanced and smooth, and less hard, I swing.

On a different note, I don't think you need to be playing stereotypical old man golf in your course management yet.  If you're averaging 230 yards with a driver swing that keeps you in play and in the fairway at high percentages, that's PLENTY of distance to be going for every green (or at least all but one or two) in regulation without hero or low percentage shots.

For instance, I played one of my regular munis last weekend.  At that course there are white tees (not even the shortest) at 6100 yards.  From the whites, there's only one par 4 over 370 (at 412), the longest par 5 is 482, and there's one par 3 at 198 but the other two are 134 and 172.  So that makes just one par 3 where you have to take 3W and one par 4 where smart course management might indicate playing old man style, laying up and relying on good short game to get up and down for par.  All the par 5s would be reachable with your distance with just a solid drive and then two iron shots, no hybrids or fairway woods necessary.

Play the right tees and get your groove back to find a lot of fairways with the driver and you've got plenty of distance!