hespeler

Sorry if this has already been discussed as I didn't get through the whole thread. I've finally been flighting my wedges into greens the last few rounds and it's made my game from 150 and in sooo much better. Can't believe I've been hitting my wedges full-out all these years. I've now been trying to extend this into my short irons; ball back in stance, choke down, 3/4 swing. I'm having some trouble though; can't seem to hit it straight, it's either a bit of a hook or has too much fade causing me a nGIR instead of a GIR. Full 9-iron is about 160 for me so I'm now trying to flight it from 150. I can stand on the range all day and hit these shots but a little bit different on the course. Is it the same technique as the wedges? Any tips? Thanks.

I can also add to the list of those who say swing speed can increase with proper technique. I was fitted for clubs 2 years ago at age 43 and was swinging my driver about 100-101 mph. Now two years later at age 45 with a better, more reliable swing I'm swinging about 105 mph. Gained 5-10 yds on average with my driver and 3-wood as well.

I'm by no means highfalutin but the spitting in all sports does bother me too. I watch a lot of hockey and the constant spitting is a turn off. I saw Koepka spitting a ton this past wknd. If he was under the weather or had allergies that's one thing but when it gets habitual as a way to stay in a competitive posture through the round/game that I'll just never understand. And I do agree that a pro who gets a lot of TV coverage does have influence over young kids and I just don't see the point of propagating that kind of behavior. I think it's generally accepted that spitting unless for necessity every once in a while is seen as low-class behavior. Why does that change during a round/game? In the end, it's something I don't really care that much about and I'll still watch but I'd prefer to not see it. Also, having to spit a ton to play golf? C'mon. You know reading this maybe that's what the players are trying to do. Maybe they are trying to do it out of sight but the cameras seem to be catching them doing it. Still in all, I think plenty of athletes spit unnecessarily out of habit.

Except NY'ers. We like to explain how difficult everything is around here. Completely agree with others; golf really early (or really late) or spend the day committed to it. I live a little under 40 miles (waaayyy out in Suffolk County) from the City line and when I have to drive in for work (have to drive for various reasons) I have to give myself 4 hours. 4 hours to go roughly 40 miles. Been doing it for so long but I still get a knot in my stomach every time I have to do it. Though there are sometimes pleasant surprises. We got a tee time this past Sunday on Memorial Day wknd for 9 holes at about 845 am so we could play before my kid's afternoon soccer game. We flew through it and signed up for another 9 and got that in and still made it on time to the game.

Nice job on the 88. I shot 89 for the second time this past weekend. Did it once last year too. Doesn't feel monumental though. Feels like it could easily be a 90. I had to have some miracle shots to get there like a chip in from the rough for birdie and a couple of miracle putts. Things like that don't repeat too often. Just one more stroke like you had would have made me feel more comfortable "breaking 90."

Agreed with some of the other posters; mileage-wise, there are plenty of options. Practically speaking, because of congestion, the radius gets a lot smaller. Not sure I'm going to head into the boroughs from LI to play when I can play nicer courses closer to me. Except for the history, Dyker Heights in Bklyn and I believe a course in the Bronx (first public golf course if I'm not mistaken) there's not much reason to golf in NYC. Except for a couple of courses here and there, I don't have much experience playing outside LI. Now if you start to add in private courses, I would think LI would begin to stack up well. Shinnecock, LI National, Sagaponack, Garden City CC...

I'm generally satisfied with the public golf course options in the NYC area. Plenty of places to play without having to step off Long Island. I have a home course 10 minutes away and tons of other options within 15 to 60 minutes to change it up or to experience something new. Not all are in the greatest shape but you usually get what you pay for. Biggest problem is what was already alluded to - crowds. Really tough to play a quick round in NY. We booked a few days at the end of June at Crystal Springs in NJ and I was hoping to have a relaxing few days with leisurely tee times but there are outings all week and we have to play really early each day. I shouldn't have been surprised... I'll trade the number of courses for some great mountains to ski...and lower taxes.

Really? I guess you're talking Nassau County which is essentially Bethpage and Eisenhower but if you're willing to drive just a bit to Suffolk, then Long Island on the whole has plenty of places to play.

I’ve been hitting 8 or 9 GIR’s. Maybe 50% fairways. Have really good distance on all clubs. I simply can’t close out holes. I have a lot of par putts that turn in to bogey or double. When I miss a green, it’s often because I didn’t do a good job picking the right club and overshot the green leading to a lost ball or awkward pitch. Another 6 or maybe 7. Do I hit really bad shots? Definitely. I can spray the driver into the next fairway maybe once a round and similar shots that lead to blow up holes. But I can string together 4 or 5 holes with every shot being a good one...and maybe walk away with one par. I’ll miss a 4 footer to save par or bogey once or twice a round. I’m not there yet but I’ve come a long way and the full swing is not what’s really keeping me from going lower. It puts me in position to score a lot, I just can’t...score. I can stand on the practice green and drain putts and lag ‘em close, hit chips to a few feet but I can’t do it in a round. Much like you can stripe ‘em on the range but shank ‘em on the course. Between the net at my house, the range and lessons, I hit a ton of balls. Almost every day. Pro I take lessons with says high 80’s should be a bad day for me. Golf hasn’t been much fun and even though my swing is in good shape right now I’m glad the off season is coming up. Personally, I can’t think about the lower body too much. From years of experimenting and taking lessons. Yes I get quick from the top from time to time, flip the face and hook it. I’m just a hack, not a pro. But when my swing goes bad, from experience, trying too much with the lower body never really gets it back on track.

What kind of shot does that produce for you, when you’re hips aren’t open at impact? Different for everyone I guess but hips not being open could be a slide which could be the result of trying too much to start with the lower body. I keep coming back to getting the club in a good position at the top and not overthinking the transition. i mean yes, practice not yanking the club down from the top but I don’t like swing thoughts that focus too much on starting with the lower body. I find those thoughts especially difficult to maintain under pressure. Disclaimer. I’m not a pro or low handicapper. Just a guy who has worked hard and made the full swing the strongest part of my game. Most of my strokes are lost around the green.

I've seen a good impact position with my arms and club shaft in-line. Have taken a few lessons recently where the pro put me on video and never mentioned an issue with my hips. Guess I never thought about it but I certainly am finishing in the classic golfer pose and feel very balanced with my chest pointing towards the target. At least as of late... I do have a habit of taking the club too inside from time to time and even if I try like heck to start with the lower body I'm re-routing that club over the top to get to the hitting area. Hence why I try and focus on keeping the club on plane in the backswing which leaves me room to shallow out the club in the downswing. Easier for me than bump the hip...

This is where I'm at too. Much better ball striking and consistency this season. I'm actually not sure it will get any better as 75% or greater of my shots go as planned. I lose a lot of shots around the green but despite practicing chipping, pitching, and putting and even playing a lot of rounds at a local par 3 to really hone in my wedges I can't bring the score down. I've found avoiding 3-putts and getting closer on chips and pitches to be the hardest aspects to transfer to the golf course. I can do it all day on the practice green but can't seem to actually score when I have to. I thought that when I got to the level that I'm at now with my full swing, scores would automatically come down. Not so. For most of us recreational golfers, even ones with a solid full swing, short game and putting is vital to bringing scores down.

It is but in my own experience, not something that can be focused on too much. I think it's enough to know that the swing starts from the ground up, find whatever cue helps you (bump hips, press down on front foot, etc.) but you can start from the ground up all day and still hit a variety of bad shots if you don't get the club into a good position at the top and have proper a turn away from the ball. Practicing consistency in setting up to the ball the same way (grip, stance, alignment), good visualization of the target and target line, practicing a good takeaway, and a good shoulder turn have all led me to more success than trying to perfect the hip bump. I find that if I do all the things I just mentioned correctly, proper sequencing kind of takes care of itself. Swing a weighted club to practice starting from the bottom up. I just find that if I think about starting with the lower body too much it actually does the opposite and makes me rush down.

Would you mind expounding a bit on that? 30-40 years is not a long time. I agree that golf will continue to suffer in the modern world but 30-40 years to non-existence as an outdoor sport?

Was playing 9 the other day (I've been trying to break 90 forever). At around the 7th hole, one of the guys in the foursome says to me, "you probably shoot in the mid to low-80's." Told him I can't break 90 but thanks. He couldn't believe it, said I hit the ball way too well for those scores. This is a refrain I hear a lot, even from my pro. I told the guy I count every stroke, no mulligans, etc. He said he does too. On the last hole, I push my tee shot into the next fairway. Wound up hitting another (knew what I did wrong) and bomb it 265 in the rough but a good lie leaving me about 60 yds to the pin (short downhill par 4). Pitch on about 10 feet to the pin. Getting ready to putt, I tell the guy it's my 5th stroke cause I re-teed. He looks at me and says, "c'mon you're not gonna count that first tee shot..." I manage to 3-putt for 7 leaving me with a 47. Very typical round for me. On the practice green I can drain 10 footers or at least leave myself an easy clean-up putt but on the course I seem to leave myself with a difficult 4 1/2 footer all the time. I'm not getting on this guy as he was pretty cool and told me I'm a much better player than my score which motivated me.