Comments on: Golf Rant: Assorted Mythology and Nonsense

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:22:43 +0000

I am just a 16 handicap player and I've only been playing for four years now. But if some of the lower handicapper golfers in my group and simply told me about grip pressure or course management, I could have been 16 two years ago instead of 20.

So while there are players that may not want to get advice, I am never opposed to it. After all I just don't have to accept it, on the other hand it could help.

But I can relate to those that don't want to hear about it either.

Paul

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:28:13 +0000

brilliant blog. all true. on the blades v/s cavity backs I went to cavity backs for a while after having learned to play golf with blades and realised how much u can ruin your swing by using cavity backs. u could slash at a golf ball with a cavity back and it will still mostly go straight which lulls you into beleiving u have a good swing. I have since gone back to playing blades again and fyi i did not notice any change in my scoring when i switched to cavity backs. blades are the sweetest things to hit and if u want to really learn how to make good contact then stick with blades.

on the advice front, we all have been guilty of doling out and receiving advice at some point or the other, so its just a matter of being polite and ignoring what might be irrelevant. there is a guy in my fourball who always keeps telling me to bend more at the hips and my coach tells me to stand tall.. the only thing i got as a result of all this was a lower back ache so i just went to what felt comfortable and voila that works the best. like the old "head down" advice..

and finally i need to remind myself to get rid of the fridge magnet which my wife picked up which says "how can a hole-in-one be better than a hole in your head"

By: harry schumann

harry schumann — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:33:11 +0000

its so bad with the golf on tv that i watch golf with the voice off. some jerk talking about spine angle to people who work for a liveing. the classic remark think about your spine angle when you just got out of work after working on your feet for 10 hours and your playing in your shop leage. all your trying to do is just get it off the tee somewhere so you can hit it again.i could go on and on about what is wrong out there but why bother, clubs are stupid balls are stupid scores on the pro level are stupid. 350 yd drives 180 yd 8 irons, the games out of control.
h.s.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:12:52 +0000

Thought provoking rant, and I really enjoyed Erik's comment that helps me understand the "need" for stronger lofts in cavity back irons.

By: JP Bouffard

JP Bouffard — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:50:43 +0000

Curt: Those are sensible comments. The only one for which I'd disagree slightly is the one on putters. Although I too have a problem spending big money on putters, having a putter you're confident in can have a huge effect on your game. If you have to spend $200 or more for the putter that's best for you, is that any different than spending twice that for a good driver? You are definitely correct that many of the best putters use simple, classic styles that can be had quite cheaply. But there are many newfangled putters in use on tour, and the greatest of them all, the Golden Bear, was known to switch putters and try new things, often with great success. Thanks again for reading and participating!

By: Curt Cornell

Curt Cornell — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:12:36 +0000

My thoughts on equipment:

Upgrade your driver every 2 to 3 years and buy the model that is being discontinued. You're still getting a brand new club with great technology and a quality shaft for around $200 versus $400.

Find a set of irons you like and stick with them. I had a set of forged Hogan Edge for 12 years only changing the grips and having the grooves freshened up. The new set my family got me hasn't lowered my scores (but they shore are purty!). I'm sure I'll keep this set for at least 10 years.

Spending more than $120 for a putter is money wasted. Scott Verplank, one of the best putters on tour still uses an old Ping Anser that can be had for around $50 on ebay in good condition. Milled faces, inserts, MOI putters that look like potato mashers....give me a heel shafted, heel-toe weighted cavity back putter any day. Look at the style of flat-stick the best putters use on the professional tours. You don't see too many space ship shaped blades do you.

And finally, instructor du jour as featured in Golf and Golf Digest....filter out what doesn't apply to you. How do you do that? Example: Are you consistent off the tee? Don't read articles about hitting it straight. The best thing to do is to find a local instructor and build a relationship.

Great rant/article!

By: Bill Monroe

Bill Monroe — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:39:50 +0000

Your article reminds me of an instance long ago when my old art teacher took a brown paper bag and a stubby old pencil and proceeded to create a masterpice. The point being that you don't always need that new brush or the perfect painting surface to improve your work or do your best.
It does help to have the best tools you can afford, but nothing takes the place of practice and experience, in most anything you undertake, and I believe that applies to golf as well.
Great article!

By: mark

mark — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:21:54 +0000

I like your style. If ever there was an article that supported the theory that "its the archer not the arrow" yours is it. I still play my old ping eye 2's and I scare up a par round with them every now and then. I never think about the fact that I am hitting a five iron while my competitors are hitting 7's. I beat them more often than they like, even though they are winning the arms race hands down.

By: Alan Olson

Alan Olson — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:18:07 +0000

Great article, JP. I agree with your rant concerning the equipment companies and the amount of clubs (especially drivers) they release in a year. Hopefully my family reads your little Christmas reminder.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:46:42 +0000

J.P. - Great Article! Very much with you, especially on how so-and-so missed this shot on the TV.

andre112 said on November 16, 2007:

strong lofts in clubs makes the sale just like horse power with cars...
it's a crazy yet stupid race.
who needs a 400hp car in a traffic jam?

i'm a 100 shooter
i like clubs with even distance/loft gaps.
i can't hit 3 or 4 irons why am i forced to buy them instead of GW SW?
selling game improvement iron with 3-pw is stupid
at least make the option of 5-pw
that's more sensible.

Yeah, really. I bought my Super Game Improvement Irons 4-PW, SW. They were - and are - my first set of irons. I hit the 4I OK, but if I had to go back 18 months and do it over, I might go 5-PW,GW,SW. I bought a GW separately, though.

I did run into a few people who told me that 4I-PW,SW was a woman's set, not a man's. I've yet to find anyone better than me who says it to me. It's usually the guy at the par-3 course that tops everything that says it.