Beating my driveway to smithereens, Good or Bad?

[wannabe]

Howdy,

I read somewhere (Penick's Little Red Book, perhaps?) that when taking practice swings one should always aim at something.

So lately if I feel like taking a few practice swings, I just grab an old, beatup iron and swing on my old weathered concrete driveway, aiming at a spot on the concrete.

Of course the club sole is scarred irreperably, and I typically scrape a white spot on the grayed, dirty driveway. It's actually a great way to see exactly where my divot would've started.

My question is, though, will taking practice swings from this 'hardpan' lie promote bad habits? I'm thinking it might promote thin shots overall, since any 'divot' will be necessarily shallow to keep me from destroying my driveway and my wrists!

[iacas]

My question is, though, will taking practice swings from this 'hardpan' lie promote bad habits? I'm thinking it might promote thin shots overall, since any 'divot' will be necessarily shallow to keep me from destroying my driveway and my wrists!

Yes, and that's also not what Harvey meant when he said to aim at something. He meant a target in the distance, not something on the ground.

[Marmitetoo]

OMG! I can't imagine beating my clubs into the concrete!

But it sounds like your enjoying yourself so what the heck.

I bought a Daisy Mat from Walmart. It's a kind of Astroturf Door Mat but i use it all over the place for practicing, suggest you get one before you get through a whole set of clubs.

Steve

[StrmStlkr]

I would suggest an old piece of carpet. You can stain a spot on it to simulate where the ball is and when you swing you will be able to see not only the starting point of your divot, but also the shape etc.

I also second Eric when he said that Harvey was talking about a target in the distance, not something on the ground.

[HSip]

I would suggest an old piece of carpet. You can stain a spot on it to simulate where the ball is and when you swing you will be able to see not only the starting point of your divot, but also the shape etc.

Yup - wrong target. About the only thing you're practicing is the old cart path shot where relief would only get you in more trouble. Must make your neighbors wonder though!!!

[Scottydoint]

Yup - wrong target. About the only thing you're practicing is the old cart path shot where relief would only get you in more trouble. Must make your neighbors wonder though!!!

I am pretty sure he talked about hitting a spot on the ground. I recently re-read the little green book and he told one of his lady pupil to not even try hitting balls until she could consistently hit the a spot on the ground, like a leaf. She was hitting all her shots fat.

[wannabe]

I am pretty sure he talked about hitting a spot on the ground. I recently re-read the little green book and he told one of his lady pupil to not even try hitting balls until she could consistently hit the a spot on the ground, like a leaf. She was hitting all her shots fat.

To clarify, Harvey talked about both.

"Take Dead Aim" is his familiar slogan about aiming at a specific target in the distance. The quote I referred to is what you've mentioned here - aiming at a specific spot on the ground for a practice swing to ensure your divot/ball contact would've been accurate had one actually hit a ball.

[flopdarock]

why the concrete?
i understand its a crappy old club... but you cant hit off the dirt anywhere?

[$2 Nassau]

Yikes man, might want to stop that ASAP, can't be good for your swing. Heck, I don't even like swinging on turf mats, nevermind concrete.

[wrx_junki]

Cannot be good for your joints if you repeatedly hit the concrete with your club.

[McGolf-Doggie]

You're kidding right?
I'd guess it's no good for your body in the long run, and you're going to punish yourself for taking divots which may be counterproductive. Heck I don;t even like using the mat at the driving range because any slightly fat contact yields nasty shocks through the arms.

IfI find I need to do it at home, I have a few spots in the backyard where I don't mind killing the grass/dirt/weeds. Plantain weeds make decent targets. Now if only I remembered to re-seed.

[ApocG10]

Damn man, get a turf mat and a net. 80$-150$ depending on make and quality. But worth every penny. I must have hit well over 3-4000 balls on my net this winter.

[Fat Slice]

It's a simple question with a simpler answer: Bad!

[microcrayfish]

Penick does say you should aim at a spot on the ground with your practice swings.

From 'Havey Penick's Little Red Book':

"Now let me ask another question: How many times have you seen a player make two or three beautiful practice swings that don't touch anything but air?"

And a paragraph later:

"From now on when you take a practice swing, make it a point to aim at something. Cut off a dandelion or a blade of grass, or if you are in your living room aim at a spot on the rug... Aiming at something with your practice swing will help you learn to square the clubface."


It's pretty obvious he's not talking about aiming at something in the distance. So you're on the right track aiming at a spot on the ground with your practice swings but doing it on concrete is probably not the best idea.

[Jay-Bird]

Heck, I don't even like swinging on turf mats, nevermind concrete.

Amen.

Cease and desist.

[beachbreak]

Good!

If you are swinging a sledge hammer and are going to repave it.

[albatross]

Yes, and that's also not what Harvey meant when he said to aim at something. He meant a target in the distance, not something on the ground.

Penick did mean something on the ground. He said that you should never take a practice swing without picking out a blade of grass or flower that you are going to clip with the club. He said that if you aren't actually hitting something with your practice swing, it isn't your real swing.

[ChvyKc]

Sounds like a great way to hurt yourself.