7 iron

I tied my all-time best 42 on the front 9. More importantly I broke several mental barriers and discovered afew things that will change my game til the day I die. Let me explain... Last week I played in a club tournament and had the good fortune (and honor) of playing with the club teaching pro. We tied for 3rd (field of 19 teams). I won $110. I was able to make some key shots/putts for the team. That made me feel respected and a better player than I am (mental game). Last night, after a week of being sick, I went out and played 9 after dinner. I was only going to practice some chipping/putting but the course wad light so I thought "why not?" Because I didn't have much energy I couldn't swing hard, I just accelerated modestly through the downswing, letting gravity do the work. BINGO! Longest drives ever. Driving greens in regulation again, nice draw in second shots (finishing my swing). Putting: no 3 putts!!! After all these years I feel like since the tournament that I'm performing at a new level. I discovered lately that I have a good short game, that golf played well is almost effortless (without tension), and that barriers can be broken. It's not in a new driver, irons or putter (over 12 years old).,.it's in being and playing relaxed, letting gravity work in my swing, finishing with a quality (if slower than others) swing, working in harmony with what the course brings and treasuring each shot oppotunity. Hi, I'm 7 Iron and I'm a golfer!

I appreciate your "no hybrid" request, because I tend to be more accurate with my 5 iron than my 5 hybrid (more square looking so easier to aim?), but may I add that some of the best golfers in my club (6 to +2 handicappers) use hybrids up to a 3 or 4 and ditch their fairway woods, because with practice they are dead accurate and they just go farther than their similar irons. Can I talk you into just one hybrid? Maybe a 16*, 17* or 18*? ;) I've hit the Rocket Bladz and the M59's. I love Mizuno stuff because they just fell so good when well-hit, but the Rocket Bladz were good too. Like the others have said, you need to try both off grass to tell which is best for you. When my stroke is on, I can hit a Tommy Armour with a smile on my face. But hitting some nice blades just feels soooo good when well-struck! I'm gonna recommend seeing if the M59's work for you off grass, because with their wedges, you will be a scoring machine with tenacious perfect practice and positive thinking.

Like pitching a ball, some have natural talent; some don't. But fundamentals can help go a long way if you don't putt well. To me how you get it there just doesn't matter. Would anyone recommend teaching Mr Palmers style? It was very awkward looking and he slapped the ball (rougher greens understood). He's my hero, but I'd get back spasm putting his way. Some of my best golf friends don't have 6 handicaps because they putt partularly well, they just hit the ball a long way, gaining stroke after stroke on the parr 4/5's. The point is...get it to the hole and another 16". You'd be surprised how many strokes are added by leaving putts short; and how many go in hitting it just a bit past the hole...every time.

44 off the back tees. Hit all fairways (unike last time). Parred 3 of 4 of the last holes. Almost birdied a parr 3 hitting the flag stick low with a chip shot. 2 putting mistakes (dumb ones) added 3 to my score. Getting ready for a big tourney in 12 days with big money on the line.

Costco!!! Gorgeous Pebble Beach golf shirts at Costco...$20 bucks! Very nice shorts for $20 bucks! Khaki color trousers that fit perfectly for $20 bucks! See a theme here? Buying at Costco, I look like a million bucks! Well, maybe 20 bucks.... BTW, balls too!

I prefer to play with other people because I have met some amazing golfers and interesting people that way (like the one who has played almost 1500 courses over his 60 year golfing career). I also like to play with other golfers, especially better ones, because I like to compete, even if just a friendly game, as it makes me stay focused and play better. However, there have been many times when my golf buddy couldn't play and I've gone it alone. It is during these times that I'll practice an extra shot every now and then and decide that perhaps another club or shot technique would be better in that situation, something that may not be obvious if playing by the regulations. Yesterday I got to see some amazing sights, golfing alone: a beautiful sunset, hundreds of Canada geese by the pond and got too up and 3 20 yard chip shots to a foot from the whole! Up and downs that made the whole day worth it!

Broke 90 for the first time in quite a while. Shot an 89 with pine needles and pine nuts all over the greens! I posted last week that I want to: Play smarter Stay out of trouble Get good at the short game What dropped my score by 5 (in spite of the crap all over the greens from the winds) was that I did better at playing smarter and the short game. I didn't not stay out of trouble well though (lots of shots just off the fairway) and a couple of lies around the trees. I hope to go out tomorrow and do even better! I'm most excited that I have brought the 3 wood back into the bag and am hitting it well now.

Stay focused

Ooops! You're right! I should read the post date before replying. Thanks for the reminder. Do I get a little forgiveness for growing up without computers? Haha! I like your list btw.

I was trying out some irons at a demo day and frankly was struggling. Perhaps I was inadvertently speeding up my swing to gain a little more distance from the dead range balls, or that I felt uncomfortable hitting balls under the watchful eye of a manufacturer salesman/fitter. Finally, he said, "your swing is all about tempo." I relaxed and went to my "loose and long" easy swing and began hitting the ball well with my familiar slight draw. I wonder how much better the quality of one' swing/ball flight would be if we stop trying to swing like our buddy or the guy that just bombed it on the Tee before us and just "swing my swing"! I'm convinced that everyone has their own distinct tempo and that when we groove (of course with proper technique) to that tempo, we will see our very best results? I think tempo involves more than speed. It is all about the pace, pause (if any) and follow through of a swing to maximize the coordination and power of our core engine for better ball flight and distance. How about you? What importance do you put on tempo in your own game?

Brother, if you can swing a club well at 6am, my hat's off to you! ;) I can't even straighten my back 'til 10am!

1.) Hope...hope that the next shot, putt, game will be my best. 2.) The joy of playing a well-played round with a good friend. 3.) The beautiful, peaceful scenery at my course...the birds whistling, the squirrels begging for another morsel of snack, the hundreds of geese which call our course ponds their home, the deer crossing the fairway at sundown. 4.) The privilege of playing the most honorable competitive game that I'm aware of. 5.) The challenge of trying to play better, play smarter and play...just play this great game! 6.) Having my wife and my buddy's wife walk the course with us and then enjoy a meal together at the club restaurant after the round. 7.) The enjoyment of trying to get good at the short game. 8.) Trying to grow as the game reveals my true character and vocabulary! 9.) The opportunity to introduce a young person to the sport and encourage them as they learn to play golf. 10.) Enjoying watching my favorite pro(s) play and realizing just how good they are week after week. Though I have a dream job, if I had the skill and backing I would love to have been a pro golfer.

To play smarter. To stay out of trouble. To get consistently good at 60 yards in. I firmly believe this would bring my scores down 10 strokes and I'd have a smile on my face when I complete a round.

Airline Pilot

I play the G15 driver and irons (for now), but the i15 hybrids, but I think the principle would transfer to the G25's. I am a 61 year old senior with a slower swing speed. I use a regular stock graphite shaft in the driver, but senior (A) graphite shafts in the irons. My thinking is that because the driver is travelling at a greater arc speed (higher cg) I need the regular shaft to keep the same shaft flex as the irons. I hit a fairly consistently medium-high tee shot with the 12* G15 driver, and usually very straight. Because of the consistency of ball flight I don't want a senior shaft because if will most likely give me more loft (which I don't want) and less accuracy. I do want the senior shaft in the irons because I want a high ball flight (and less stress on these arthritic hands). I can say that when I occasionally hit fat or thin or off center, the graphite is easier on my hands/wrists than the R300 metal shafts I used to game. I hope this helps you with your decision.