ckelly06

Hey guys, About 6 months ago I started playing golf again after almost 10 years where I played maybe once a year (shot in the 80s back around 2002). About 3 months ago I traded in my old game improvement Callaway irons (Big Bertha X-12s that I had for 10+ years) for a player's club (Mizuno MP-58). My thinking was "if I start playing with a harder to hit player's club, it will force me to swing better and improve." I think the jury's still out on that one, but that was my rationale. Anyway... When I came back to the game hitting my Callaways, it was like I had taken no time off at all with my full swing (short game was another story). I was hitting the same high straight shot I used to hit with an occasional fade and was very happy. Then I switched to the MP-58s and have never really hit them that well. I started hitting this low, weak draw (sometimes a pull-draw) and lost about 10 yards of distance and a ton of accuracy. I also started shanking from time to time, which really undermined my confidence. After a horrible 9 holes this afternoon, I stopped by my local clubfitter to ask him if I thought I should ditch the irons, but he was closed so I went to the driving range to work on my swing... First few shots were bad. Low draw and a few shanks, nothing long or straight. Then on an impulse I decided to stand closer to the ball, straighten my spine, and take a steeper and more upright swing. At first I thought this might make the shanks worst (after all, I'm now standing closer to the ball), but instead I started hitting shot after shot long and straight with an occasional fade, just like I used to do back when I was decent at this game. And no more shanks either. So sorry for the long post and build up, but here's a question for all the instructors / great golfers out there: is this a valid fix that I stumbled upon? It doesn't seem to me that this should fix a shank or a low draw problem, so I'm wondering if this was somehow a fluke? Can standing too far away from the ball and swinging too flat cause a shank and/or a low and weak ball flight (I know a draw can definitely result from a flat swing, but curious about the other stuff)? Thanks for any input, sorry this post got so long :)

I used to play golf every week but now I play very infrequently (about 4 rounds a year). I want to start playing more and I'm thinking about getting a new set of irons. I'm an 11 or 12 handicap right now but I think I have the ability to get down to 7 or 8 if I start playing more regularly. That being the case, what do you all think about the Titleist 775CB irons? I have no intention of playing blades, and I think I'm a little beyond playing big-time game improvement irons, so I like the idea of playing something that's sort of between Player's clubs and Game Improvement clubs. Does anyone out there have experience with these clubs or with Titleist in general? What other clubs would you recommend for a low double digit handicapper trying to move to single digits? Thanks!

I'm thinking of getting a new driver too and it's a total nightmare. Too many choices, and I can't figure out if the subtle differences in how I hit each driver is due to the quality of the driver or simply psychology and differences in how I swing. Oy.

This guy wasn't weird, but since I can't start my own thread about rude playing partners I guess I'll post here. I used to play DeLaveage Golf Course in Santa Cruz, CA at least once a week and there was this one guy who by some strange coincidence always ended up in my groups. We both came to the course all the time as singles, and we'd often get paired up together with doubles. I must have played with him half a dozen times. Anyway, worst golfer you've ever seen - god awful swing, new set of clubs every time you saw him but never spent a penny on lessons, triple bogey status. You know the kind of guy I'm talking about. Total jerk...

My advice for a friendless high-handicapper is to strictly play Pitch & Puts and Muni courses. People there tend to be more laid back, more friendly and less concerned with poor play. Go to your local P&P; with a 6 pack on a Sunday afternoon, and watch the friends come to you.

Quitter's never prosper.

I think the 775 is intended for low double digit handicappers. I'm about an 11 and I'm thinking of giving them a try.