9 Ball game

http://www.golf.com/video/johnny-miller-lower-your-score-9-swings

I am not a big fan of Miller, but I do like this practice game he mentions. At least I would recommend this as a drill for those who have the first 3 keys down. Its really hard to manipulate the swing path and face angle if your foundation is not consistent. If your head is moving around, then the whole swing arc can change from swing to swing.

I am an advocate of having a stock shot, but it is beneficial to know how to hit certain escape shots, or other flights. Maybe not for scoring purposes, as going for pins, but just to shy away from hazards.

Like on Saturday, I was golfing with Iacas, Slice of Life, and Jeremie up in Erie, PA. Erik drove his ball into the trees on a par 5, he could either advance the ball maybe to 200 out with a punch out, or he could hit a big sweeping hook over this creek. He takes his hybrid out and hits this huge sweeping hook that gives him a wedge shot into the green.

I wouldn't be able to do that unless I hit it a few times on the range. Its always fun to devote time to shots you would normally not see.

Overall, I think it's good and something that time would be well spent on. However, I do think that some people get too caught up in shaping the ball. For the majority of shots, players need to remember that their stock shot is just fine. There are situations that you might have to hit a cut or a draw or something but there is a reason that pros play their stock shot the vast majority of the time.

Oh, good!  Another part of the game Johnny "came up with".

The Al Gore of golf...