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Rudy, I KNOW for a fact that I can't hit a ball further in Houston than I can in Dallas, so I checked out what you said and here is what I learned - you are correct! But that's not the whole story. You are correct about the temperature but we all just "know" that from playing. You are also correct about the humidity which suprised me! I also learned that air pressure and altitude have more to do about distance than humidity. In fact, humidity has very little effect on distance. Altitude and Air Pressure - most effect Temperature - to a certain extent. Cold is definately shorter because of denser air AND less efficient transfer of energy from club to ball. I also read that once temps get above 80 the increase starts to taper off. Humidity - least effect The biggest factor that I have noticed after learning this is that it is mostly about altitude because I never notice or pay attention to air pressure.

I tried that. It was ok but it just took FOREVER to get the line on the golfball on the line of the putt. To top it off it "feels" like I'm pulling the putter across my body outside-in. It just doesn't feel right. I might just try that with the short putts this weekend. It is such a mind scramble to line up for that 3' strait putt "aimed" at the right edge of the hole. Thanks for the tip.

I know a former college golfer who took lessons from Mac. Apparently this guy is a real piece of work. He threatened this guy if he revealed any of the teachings - as in death. No B.S. I guess this before he oponed his golf schools.

For my handicap, here is what I know about my game. I am far below average for FIR's and far below average in putting. My short game and iron play are above average for my handicap. FIR's 35.85% - sucktastic GIR's 7.25 per round - pretty skippy considering the missed fairways and penalties Putts 35.75 per round - the shame Putts per GIR 2.26 - the bigger shame Penalties 1.75 per round - yep, that's right Yes, I completely blooooow at driving and putting. When I line up a strait 6' putt, my putter is actually aimed 2 or 3 balls left of the hole. I was told to use an allignment stick in practice and it will eventually straiten out (it doesn't). I really don't have any problem reading greens - I can tell very early in someone else's 15 ft putt is going to go in or not. The problem is when I stand over the ball. Where I think the putter is aimed is not where in fact the putter is aimed. Draw putts are far easier than fade putts. I will miss a 4' left to right putt a good 60% of the time. Driving - I have a Ping K15 10.5 in the bag as to make it as forgiving as possible. My misses are varied - left, right. I hit my 3w very well. I am playing in our club championship tomorrow and I will use my 3w whenever I can get away with it. My biggest concern is putting as I feel I can eventually work out the driver but any help would be appeciated. I don't know whether to just aim right with my putter or find a solution to the allignment issues.

15s and 19 respectively. FWIW, I am getting rid of my 5W for a 3h. The shaft on the 5W is too whippy. I hit my 3w far more consistently.

7i - Dallas, TX 150 yds. (where I live) 7i - Houston, TX 140 yds. 7i - California, NM, Colorado 160 yds. It's funny to see guys from the lower humidity/higher altitude areas of the country that can't come to grips with just how much distance they lose in a place like Houston. I played in Houston once in the summer on a very hot and humid day. I was striking the ball well and it was just amazing how far the ball didn't go. My wife experienced the same thing and she is a single digit handicapper who played in college. I'm a member of a club and there are plenty of guys scratch to low single digit handicaps that only drive the ball 240-250 yards carry - they just happen to be in the fairway. My carry is 240 yards with my driver and my drives are about where theirs are in the rare occurance I'm in the fairway. When I play with high handicappers or newbie's, they swear I hit my driver 300 yards. It's been my experience folks new to the game GREATLY exaggerate driving distance. My Dallas distances Dr 240 carry 3w 225 carry 5w 200 carry 4h 180 5h 170 6i 160 7i 150 8i 140 9i 130 PW 120

This x1000. I've taken a few lessons from a guy that has won on the PGA tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour. It took a few times to "get it" but it simply doesn not matter what the shaft states that it "is". I have a Cleveland 5W and a couple of Cleveland hybrids in my bag. The all have "regular" shafts. Same look, color, etc. This pro asks to see my 5W after I hit it a few times and tells me that I need a new shaft or a new club and tells me "I don't know how you ever get a ball to it's target with the shaft you have on this club". I tell him that can't be right as I hit my hybrids great and they are the same shafts. He shows me me the flex points of the clubs and the 5W was CLEARLY different. FWIW, I have a TM 3W in my bag and it has a stiff shaft. I love that club and I "shouldn't" be hitting a stiff shaft. In summation after this being beat into my head a few times by a guy who really does know - don't pay attention to what a shaft claims it is.

The difference between my 5W and 3W is 25 yards.

I feel your pain brother. Just recently I went to extra holes in my clubs Match Play event. The first payoff hole was a strait, easy par 5. I was on in three and my opponent was on in five. He one putted and I four putted to lose by one.

Beware of the "this one thing" will fix your golf game - because it won't. Fitness and eating right are obviously good for you but the only thing consistent in golf is inconsistency. Your swing WILL come and it WILL go. My handicap index has varied by 5 in the last year alone. Re-read Righty to Lefty's post because it is loaded with great information (especially #3). You have to be able to recognize what is going on with your swing and why the ball is reacting in the way it is so YOU can make the corrections. Other than that - practice your short game religiously. Short game comes and goes too but at a far less extent than your full swing. Don't spend all of your practice time on correcting your full swing because you WILL correct it and hit the ball great only failing to break 80 because you 3 putted 7 times (been there, done that) or shots inside 80 yards weren't even on the green! I play my best when my practice time is 70% or greater short game. Finally, the mental aspect of this game is gigantic. Not just a "positive attitude" but going back to Righty to Lefty's post. You must be able to understand what is going on. This takes time.