I'm embarking on a quest to become a superior ball-striker...

[$2 Nassau]

...would anyone care to join me?

I've got a long way to go though. This is paticulary pertaining to iron play, currently a glaring problem in my game.

I'm starting with the mental game. First, I'm checking my ego at the first tee. That means throwing out all my expected distances with my irons and starting over. Those distances that I think I should be able to hit my clubs rarely come true, especially lately. So If I need to grab a 6 iron instead of a 7iron, then so be it, I really don't care....and I shouldn't care.

Second, I swing the club a paticular way....I'm not Ernie Els, nor am I Fred Couples. I not going to try every tip in Golf Digest thinking that it will help me build the perfect swing. I feel I have a fairly decent swing and I'm starting to "smooth it out" a little and develop some rhythm. I'm going to stick with it for once and see if I can actually build a solid swing based on what I have....instead of changing it every 2 weeks.

So, what are you doing in 2007 to become a superior ball-striker?

[Puttin4Bird]

Good plan $2. You cannot recreate the swing of some of the game's best without the help and direction of a PGA teaching professional. I think you've got a good plan and now you just need to carry it out.

As for me, I just went and got a lesson last week, now I'm working on some of those things but once I get to the point where I've got it down I need to trust that and just swing the club! I too often will get too mechanical, trying to mimick every little movement and end up worrying way too much on where my hands are vs. just putting a good swing on the ball. I'm getting close and think that if I can do that I'll be much better off.

Good topic.

[mike_pinto]

Here Here. Tempo for me. I started off the year pretty shaky. Now I got my tempo back (a little slower each year) Like you though, I have to put out of my mind that when I was younger I hit a 6 iron 210. Now it may be the 5 or a light 4.. I am trying to get to a 2 before the end of the year. I am going to compete next year and would like to be as close to scratch as possible.

[Jockstrap]

wow, 210 yds using a 6 iron. I'm lucky if I can reach 180yds. And I mean lucky. I'm impressed mike.

Going back on-topic, I would love to join you on this quest for consistent ball-striking which I'm trying to achieve by truly embracing the mental side of golf. Instead of focusing on any bad shots, I will remember my good. I f I hit a bad shot, I will forget it and move on. I think this will relieve me of tension which kills me at times.

[lamebums]

So, what are you doing in 2007 to become a superior ball-striker?

For me, it's slow down, and stop trying to crush the ball as far as possible. I've learned the hard way that delivering the ball to the clubface in the middle of the sweet spot even at three quarters power is better than swinging flat out and hitting a topper.

At the beginning of the year, I'd created a rather odd swing which I grooved into a dysfunctional pattern. With my irons, I would take a vicious hack at the ball, gathering as much speed as possible. Imagine Arnold Palmer hitting driver. With that, I got really good distance (160-165 yards with a 7 iron), and it worked pretty good for about a month, but eventually it began to fall apart, and I don't know why. (Driver: I would take it back like John Daly, and spray my shots all over the place...300 yards long, but 150 in either direction.) So, I reworked the whole thing, slowed down, made a longer swing but took it easy. I tamed my duck-hook, making it a nice long draw, but I lost about 10 yards in the process. I think I'd rather be ten yards short and in the middle of the fairway, rather than 10 yards longer, and 60 off to the side, in the cabbage. Still haven't tested it on the course yet--going to hit 18 tomorrow and see what happens.

[mike_pinto]

wow, 210 yds using a 6 iron. I'm lucky if I can reach 180yds. And I mean lucky. I'm impressed mike.

But where it fell, no one knew!!

[Thrdroc]

I just signed up for a 5 lesson package. My game has fallen apart all of sudden. The draw I had with my irons is now of a hook and my fade with my driver is now a huge slice.

I still can't figure out why I love this game.

[DM4UGA]

I still can't figure out why I love this game.

You know, I'm not sure I love it.... I just need to be good. I went out and played with my dad for Memorial day last week, and I sucked. And it pissed me off so bad that I decided I had to get good at it before I would be happy. So here I am.

[Masa]

Pretty much same as some of the other guys here. I'm going to be spending time at the range and starting over with what distances I'm hitting my clubs. I've been a club short or a club long too often so far. I've been working a bit with an instructor and he's been working on a few things. I'm going to be working on those things also mostly for the sake of consistency.

As much fun as it looks to be able to hit a 9 iron 165, I'm not that guy, if it means I'm hitting a 6 or 7 while the other guys are hitting a 9, then so be it. I have a lot more success taking a relaxed, tempo swing and making good contact than swinging out of my shoes and mishitting. Just a matter of staying relaxed and playing each shot for what it is and not thinking about the last shot. This game is surprisingly difficult since picking it up a few months ago. The more I learn, the more I realize just how much I don't know.

Actually, I have the same issue as DM4UGA too. I can't stand being bad at something. Something in me just won't let me be fine with sucking at things that I try. I do enjoy it though, and that's the important thing is always to enjoy it. Played with a bunch of guys from work (single digit handicaps mostly) last weekend, and sure, I embarrassed the hell out of myself, but I had fun and made a couple pars once I relaxed a bit and stopped worrying.

[lamebums]

Actually, I have the same issue as DM4UGA too. I can't stand being bad at something. Something in me just won't let me be fine with sucking at things that I try. I do enjoy it though, and that's the important thing is always to enjoy it. Played with a bunch of guys from work (single digit handicaps mostly) last weekend, and sure, I embarrassed the hell out of myself, but I had fun and made a couple pars once I relaxed a bit and stopped worrying.

Golf and sex - two things you don't have to be good at to enjoy.

(I can actually think of reasons why golf is better than sex...)

[golfchief]

Slowing down is a good start, being consistant is the only way to lower your scores. you should be playing against par and most courses are set up to allow that. playing from the rough and sand greatly lowers your chances to achieve that goal. Being in control of your swing is better than screwing your self into the ground swinging out of control.

[$2 Nassau]

This quest has not been going so hot. I'm losing my mind!

[DM4UGA]

Golf and sex - two things you don't have to be good at to enjoy.

Yeah but I can get in one hole alot easier than another.

[lamebums]

Yeah but I can get in one hole alot easier than another.

I think they're both difficult enough to get into.

[LarryK]

I think they're both difficult enough to get into.

I dunno....if it takes you 4 or 5 separate strokes to get "home" when having sex, you may need to sign up for some lessons.

[lamebums]

I dunno....if it takes you 4 or 5 separate strokes to get "home" when having sex, you may need to sign up for some lessons.

Nah, I need to clarify...it takes many tries to get into said pants to begin with... since I am the victim of rejection after rejection.

Back on topic... I really need to stop hitting the ball thin.

[DM4UGA]

Nah, I need to clarify...it takes many tries to get into said pants to begin with... since I am the victim of rejection after rejection.

Hey now, this isn't confession.

[JKilgore44]

I've decided to take a similar approach. I want to slow my swing down a bit and make it smoother. I'm only 21 years old so I find myself swinging entirely too hard some times. I can generate club head speeds close to 115 mph if I want to, but 75% of the time, it's not a straight shot. When I make a smoother swing, I hit the ball on my target line and only lose a couple of yards. I can't justify trying to push a 9-iron 160yds when I can hit a smooth 8 and carry the same distance on a straighter line.

Also, my #1 goal of the summer is to increase the number of greens and fairways I hit. I was looking at my past scorecards (I keep track of Greens, fairways, and putts along with score) and there's a direct coorelation between greens hit and pars made. If I miss a green, I generally make bogey or worse. So, I've decided that I want to start hitting more greens, even if I have a 40-foot putt.