What is wrong with me?

[TtotheJ]

Hey Guys,

I went to the range today to brush up before I play my first round in three weeks tomorrow. The last few weeks I have spent working on my short game in the front yard and it showed on the range and putting green.

However, I can't seem to hit the 5,6 or 7 irons in the air at the range. I can do it well when I play but today was discouraging and really aggravating. I am not sure if it's because I wasn't taking a practice swing before every shot or if I have just neglected my longer game the last few weeks.

I am blading, slicing, and topping nearly everything. If my round goes like this tomorrow I am going to be real upset. I am not sure if it's because the range grass is balding or what but nothing felt right.

Just a quick rundown. How do you stand use your weight and execute a full 6 iron shot. Maybe I just forgot something?

[out_in_30]

i really wouldnt even worry about it. just one of those things.. trying to over analyze it and tinker with every little thing just causes more problems. you are probably flinching and getting tense because with each subsequent miss hit you are getting more and more worried and bogging down your mind. this happens to me on the range too every now and then, you need to just re group and focus on what you KNOW you can do with those clubs. not what is happening in the present.

[TtotheJ]

I think you're right. I got home and put down three balls in the yard and whacked them about 150 yards with the 5 iron. It made me feel better but still concerns me.

Here's hoping that my round goes well tomorrow.

Also, you're one of the best posters on here giving advice. I really appreciate your non-judgemental advice.

[out_in_30]

right on thank you. i can relate to a lot of issues on here that people have with their swings and whatnot.

[TtotheJ]

Let me throw another one at you.

I bought XPC clubs. They're essentially a Taylor Made knockoff. They ran me about 250 with the bag and 5-9 irons PW, SW, putter and a driver with a 5w,3w and a hybrid.

How long should I play with these before I make an investment in a brand name driver and iron set. I have hit brand name drivers and I am impressed with the feel of them. Is it really you get what you pay for in golf? If I buy a nicer iron set will I improve?

[out_in_30]

hmm, well it depends i guess on how long you have been playing golf and how long you intend to keep playing. players at your handicap level i would recommend to focus on engraving sound fundamentals into the swing so as far as the clubs go those sound fine for now. you can probably play with them for as long as you feel fit. Buying high end equipment is essentially making a commitment to stick to the game since they cost a couple pretty pennies and would be a waste if you just stop playing in a year. You could purchase high end stuff now if you wanted to and they would be with you for decades if you wanted them to be. however many people discard and go with the new hotness every year or so which i believe does provide somewhat of a mental blank slate because they have no nightmare shots yet with those new clubs haha. But on the other hand, thats just a quick fix and doesnt address the core issues of swing faults. I am a firm believer of "the indian not the arrow" philosophy. So just because you buy new clubs does not mean you will improve. Since you have purchased those clubs you should use them and work on building a sound swing platform. Once you start to shed some strokes off your game and feel like taking it to the next level, then purchase high end stuff and get them custom fitted to you; then they will be your loyal babies for a long time to come. hope this helps i tend to get very wordy at times.

[pittpanther]

I bought XPC clubs. They're essentially a Taylor Made knockoff. They ran me about 250 with the bag and 5-9 irons PW, SW, putter and a driver with a 5w,3w and a hybrid.

How long should I play with these before I make an investment in a brand name driver and iron set.

Buying new irons is hardly an investment, it's a purchase. Get new irons when your desire for them, and your budget for them, will allow you.

I have hit brand name drivers and I am impressed with the feel of them. Is it really you get what you pay for in golf?

Like any thing else, to a certain extent. You buy name-brand clubs, they will have higher quality than the K-Mart irons. But of course it's diminishing returns - the $1000 irons are not "twice as good" as the $500 irons...

If I buy a nicer iron set will I improve?

Nope. If you practice and play a lot, you will improve.

[Joeyvee]

I got home and put down three balls in the yard and whacked them about 150 yards with the 5 iron..

You can hit 150 yards in your yard? F U. JK. why go to the range? Buy 40 of those phyxius birdie balls and end it.

[Rexx]

Let me throw another one at you.

Those clubs are probably as good or better than what the name brands were putting out 10 years ago (and probably not far off from what they are offering now). If you want to get better, it's about researching (reading forums, articles, etc), getting lessons (if you want), and practicing.

[tshapiro]

One downside to practicing the short game in the grass near your house is that you can get 'handsy' and not realize it. This is because 1) short clubs allow you to get away with it and 2) setting the ball up on some tall or thick grass also allows you too scoop. So remember to swing your long clubs in the yard as well.

As for purchasing clubs, clubs with better shafts and better weighting make the game easier so if you've got the money I'd go for it. You can probably get a great set used. Just be sure to have a good idea of what you need before you go shopping.