Jump to content
IGNORED

What One Thing Changed Your Game the Most?


Note: This thread is 1340 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

In the last couple of weeks my biggest improvement in years came after learning to swing down "on plane". My back swing was "on plane" but then my downswing was terrible. Now I'm hitting the ball better than ever (distance and consistency).

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Going to the driving range every day.  After a year, or so, I found myself in a place I had never been...or imagined being.

In der bag:
Cleveland Hi-Bore driver, Maltby 5 wood, Maltby hybrid, Maltby irons and wedges (23 to 50) Vokey 59/07, Cleveland Niblick (LH-42), and a Maltby mallet putter.                                                                                                                                                 "When the going gets tough...it's tough to get going."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

4 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Probably the biggest single thing was when I lost the ability to balance on my left foot.

That happened over the winter last year.

 

Did you get injured?

 

14 minutes ago, Piz said:

Going to the driving range every day.  After a year, or so, I found myself in a place I had never been...or imagined being.

Where did you wind up?

 :tmade: Stealth2 driver, 3 hybrid. :ping: G410 Fairway  :titleist: 5-AW  :vokey: 52/56/60 SM9

:tmade: Spider Tour X putter

:snell: MTB Prime X, :adidas: Tour360 22

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Realizing that Erik @iacas, is right 😜

In seriousness, it’s getting out of my own way and not trying to do 100 things at once. 

  • Like 2
  • Upvote 1

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • iacas changed the title to What One Thing Changed Your Game the Most?
23 hours ago, snapfade said:

Did you get injured?

Not any one single memorable way. Bottom line is when I drop weight on my left foot (front foot) I'm losing my balance front or backwards. Never just sorted itself over last year, so it's been harder than it used to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

50 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Not any one single memorable way. Bottom line is when I drop weight on my left foot (front foot) I'm losing my balance front or backwards. Never just sorted itself over last year, so it's been harder than it used to.

That doesnt sound good, did you get it looked at? Or is it a golf specific thing? Hope you get it worked out.

  • Thumbs Up 1

 :tmade: Stealth2 driver, 3 hybrid. :ping: G410 Fairway  :titleist: 5-AW  :vokey: 52/56/60 SM9

:tmade: Spider Tour X putter

:snell: MTB Prime X, :adidas: Tour360 22

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Single biggest impact was a lesson I got when I was about 20.  

Like many kids that age that are decent players, my in-to-out move was over-exaggerated.  I had a full, flexible turn, then dropped by hands so far inside that I would occasionally struggle with big, high blocks out to the right.  My instructor, and rightly so, helped me with staying on plane.  Part of that lesson involved a more level turn of the shoulders, versus dropping the right shoulder.  Well, I took that and it helped but then I moved, started a job, and for whatever reason just focused on that well beyond when I had "fixed" the issue and it has since turned into tendency to use too much upper body rotation and an OTT move that I struggle with to this day, hitting the occasional vile pullish fade and repugnant toe-ish short iron.  The fix for it now feels like an arms swing, but it's not.  I took way to much of a good thing way too far. 

And now I live with the shame.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


To date, the two best sports I play are golf and tennis.  For both, I got lessons and then started playing.  And more so, when I was young.  Nothing beats good lessons when you are young to groove a game

  • Like 2

What's in the bag

  • Taylor Made r5 dual Draw 9.5* (stiff)
  • Cobra Baffler 4H (stiff)
  • Taylor Made RAC OS 6-9,P,S (regular)
  • Golden Bear LD5.0 60* (regular)
  • Aidia Z-009 Putter
  • Inesis Soft 500 golf ball
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Most recent was for chipping motion. I need to have an "a-ha" moment for hitting fairways and hybrids - soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

On 2/7/2020 at 12:58 PM, snapfade said:

I watched a handful of videos on that, and once I understood what was going on I see some merit to it. Hows it working out for you?

Sorry I missed this earlier. I've been doing it for six years now and I don't think I will ever stop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


For me, so far it has to be a strong mind that can put any bad shot behind me. I haven't been playing seriously for a long time, and I have always had a fairly happy-go-lucky attitude with most of my endeavors, but bad golf shots used to drive me mad. Now, when I chunk a pitch or strike a ball "hosel adjacent" it doesn't faze me one bit. I enjoy the game so much more with this trait, and I think it might be the most important point of the game, not just for me but for everybody.

If you are struggling with something, being able to let it go and just attempt your best golf shot with the best mindset/attitude in the moment will make you more happy and you will most likely (not always) play better. I suppose it has something to do with confidence, and the rest of it is blissful ignorance. No matter how bad I am at golf, I can always "know" that my next shot will be great.

A fun example from my Wednesday round playing a par 56 executive. 200 yard par 3 playing with vintage (60s) clubs. First shot, potentially in what would be water but is drained at the moment (still hazard). Decided to play a second off the tee as 3 and did it again. Dropped by the hazard hitting 5 and put it over the green. Chunked a short pitch to leave myself off the green by 10 feet yet again. 50ish foot chip in for 7. Every shot I had my mind on the task at hand, but I executed 4 of them poorly and one of them perfectly. I didn't give up on the hole, pick up the ball, or do anything of the sort. I know that a 7 on a par 3 doesn't sound like a strong point or a-ha moment, but when you are chipping in it always feels amazing and inspires you.

  • Upvote 1
  • :titleist: 917 D2 9.5o EvenFlow blue shaft    :titleist: 917 F2 15o EvenFlow blue shaft    
  • :titleist: 818 H2 19o EvenFlow blue shaft 
  • :titleist: 712 AP2 4-PW
  • :vokey: 52/8o SM6 RAW    56/14o SM6 Chrome      60/4o SM6 Chrome
  • :ping: Anser Sigma G putter
  • :snell: MTB-Black Balls
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

6 hours ago, Bonvivant said:

A fun example from my Wednesday round playing a par 56 executive. 200 yard par 3 playing with vintage (60s) clubs

Falcon #16?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Just now, mcanadiens said:

Falcon #16?

 

Yup. Hit 1W perssimon twice into the pond. Thought the first one landed on the little island on the right but it didn't

  • :titleist: 917 D2 9.5o EvenFlow blue shaft    :titleist: 917 F2 15o EvenFlow blue shaft    
  • :titleist: 818 H2 19o EvenFlow blue shaft 
  • :titleist: 712 AP2 4-PW
  • :vokey: 52/8o SM6 RAW    56/14o SM6 Chrome      60/4o SM6 Chrome
  • :ping: Anser Sigma G putter
  • :snell: MTB-Black Balls
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 1 month later...

A game changer for me was to swing at 80% not 100 or 100+.  I found that I can actually hit the ball further and certainly a lot more accurately.  The center of the club face is a very powerful thing!  I have access to a Foresight GC2 launch monitor with the HMT (head measurement) add on.  I am more aware of my swing dynamics than most people.  The consistency of a nice smooth swing is a game changer.  I also have learned that a hard swing is not necessarily a fast swing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I am really too old to have an a-ha moment, but I did.  I have struggled my whole life trying to keep my downswing from going outside.  A few months ago I began in earnest on getting to my left side.  That helped putting me in a better position, but my real a-ha moment was when I started to slow down my upper body and let my hips clear.

At first it felt like I was waiting an eternity to initiate my downswing, even though in reality it was probably just a split second.  But all of a sudden I thought, where did all that space for my downswing come from.  And why am I able to have a balanced finish.  It was a, "Wow, look at this."

I have to keep on myself to maintain that tempo, especially on the course, when it is easy to speed things up.  But for the first time, I think I actually understand.

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

On 3/7/2020 at 1:31 AM, Bonvivant said:

A fun example from my Wednesday round playing a par 56 executive. 200 yard par 3 playing with vintage (60s) clubs. First shot, potentially in what would be water but is drained at the moment (still hazard). Decided to play a second off the tee as 3 and did it again. Dropped by the hazard hitting 5 and put it over the green. Chunked a short pitch to leave myself off the green by 10 feet yet again. 50ish foot chip in for 7. Every shot I had my mind on the task at hand, but I executed 4 of them poorly and one of them perfectly. I didn't give up on the hole, pick up the ball, or do anything of the sort. I know that a 7 on a par 3 doesn't sound like a strong point or a-ha moment, but when you are chipping in it always feels amazing and inspires you.

Mind over matter... Well done. You can't will yourself into shooting a lower score, but keeping things in perspective is a greater victory. 

Vishal S.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 1340 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • If it's not broken don't fix it. If you want to add grooves to it just because of looks that's your choice of course. Grooves are cut into putter faces to reduce skid, the roll faced putter is designed to do the same thing. I'm no expert but it seems counter productive to add grooves to the roll face. Maybe you can have it sand-blasted or something to clean up the face. Take a look at Tigers putter, its beat to hell but he still uses it.     
    • I get trying to limit relief to the fairway, but how many roots do you typically find in the fairway? Our local rule allows for relief from roots & rocks anywhere on the course (that is in play). My home course has quite a few 100 year old oaks that separate the fairways. Lift and move the ball no closer to the hole. None of us want to damage clubs.
    • Hello, I've been playing a Teardrop td17 F.C. putter for many years and love it. It still putts and feels as good or  better than any of the new putters I've tried and it's in excellent condition except the face has dings in it ever since I bought it used that kind of bother me. I was just wondering if it's possible to have some really shallow horizontal grooves milled into the face on a "roll face" putter. I think I would rather spend some money on it instead of trying to get used to a new putter.  Thanks
    • I agree with @klineka & @DaveP043 above.  When a new member first joins the club they cold be told that they are not eligible for tournaments until they have an established HCP.  As you said, it only takes a few rounds.  If they do not to post HCP that was their choice and choices have consequences.  If playing in the tournament is important to them then they should step up and establish an HCP.  Maybe they miss the 1st tournament, is that a real big deal?  And if it is a "Big Deal" to them then they had the opportunity to establish the HCP. As for not knowing how to report for HCP I assume your club has a pro and they should be able to assist in getting the scores reported and I suspect out of state courses may also have staff that can assist if asked.
    • Wordle 1,013 2/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Thought I was gonna be a big shot today...  🙂    Nice Job!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...