Curious thoughts lol..... practicing with a less forgiving iron set

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by iacas

Questions for those who are against practice clubs:

1. Do you practice full swings with the same golf balls you normally use?

2. Do you honestly believe that for relatively similar flex/length/weight clubs, you swing differently?

3. Do you practice properly to begin with?

Most of you if you were being honest will say no to all three.

FWIW, I grab whatever club is handy to practice. Often lately I will use a cavity back to practice just because the range can be sandy and I don't want to scratch up my "gamer" blades.

1. No

2. No

3. No (I try ... and I probably practice closer to "properly" than most ... but yeah ... no) ;)

OK, I get that you are saying that it won't necessarily HURT you to practice with clubs that you won't be playing with, but since OP is talking about buying a whole new set, would you say that it actually HELPS to practice with clubs you won't be playing with?  Or are you more just saying that it really doesn't matter?

I have a 6 iron from a set my dad started playing with in the 60's that I take to the range sometimes just for kicks.  I don't think that I'm doing any harm to my swing when I break that out, but I don't think I'm helping it (anymore than I would be practicing with my actual 6 iron) either.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Hacker James

Here is one for starters.....(thought I would save the administrator a little time)...I found this by typing "Best Practice" in the search forum dialogue box at the very top of the screen:

http://thesandtrap.com/t/58816/65-25-10-practice-ratios-where-to-devote-your-practice-time

And here's another good one ... http://thesandtrap.com/t/54840/simple-specific-slow-short-and-success-the-five-s-s-of-great-practice/0_30

[iacas]

The two threads I was going to link to were already posted. :-)

[newtogolf]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

1. No

2. No

3. No (I try ... and I probably practice closer to "properly" than most ... but yeah ... no) ;)

OK, I get that you are saying that it won't necessarily HURT you to practice with clubs that you won't be playing with, but since OP is talking about buying a whole new set, would you say that it actually HELPS to practice with clubs you won't be playing with?  Or are you more just saying that it really doesn't matter?

I have a 6 iron from a set my dad started playing with in the 60's that I take to the range sometimes just for kicks.  I don't think that I'm doing any harm to my swing when I break that out, but I don't think I'm helping it (anymore than I would be practicing with my actual 6 iron) either.

For some, like me, range time, especially with irons, has very little resemblance to real golf.  My local range uses mats, my local range uses beat up restricted flight range balls, every shot off a mat is a perfect lie, you can't determine your divot on a mat.

These days when I'm at the range I'm working on swing mechanics (5SK) and trying to identify the feel of my swing and impact at different backswing percentages.  I use the SkyPro and digital video to review my swings to ensure my mechanics are okay and review them with my instructor.

I think the potential problem for new golfers (or was at least for me) is that my approach to practice at the range was completely wrong.  When I practiced with players irons at the range, I taught myself how to make a swing so I could hit a players iron off a mat.  I didn't worry about mechanics or proper feel, my only goal was to figure out a way to hit the ball so I didn't look like a hack at the range.  When I went out on the course with my SGI's I was hitting shots fat and off target because I hadn't developed a good golf swing.

I've found that better golfers have sound swing mechanics and can probably play any set of standard irons reasonably well.  I'm sure Erik can swing Diablo Edges or Hogan Directors on the course and hit a great shot with both.

[Jeremie Boop]

Practicing with something with a smaller head compared to what you use on the course could help. It's the same principle as baseball players using the super thin "bat" in practice. If you can get consistent hitting the object with equipment smaller surface then hitting with the larger, more forgiving equipment will be easier.

[edindallas]

I did this with basketball too in college. Used a huge basketball on a regular hoop. No room for error. 9nce you go to a regular ball everything seems to go in course in golf, just like in basketball, most of the practice would be with what you use at gametime.

[dbuck]

Not necessarily for a rank beginner, but for a golfer who has had some correct instruction and is generally hitting the ball in the air and the general direction of the target, I believe there can be some benefit from limited to moderate practice with a decent forged blade with a loft around 28-32* degrees and a length around 38". We used to call this a 5 iron, but that is not a given anymore. It is the same principle as putting to a tee, or as someone else said, shooting basketball with a large ball or small hoop. It focuses the practice. For a pure beginner or untrained high handicapper, this would be probably too frustrating. For an average or slightly better ballstriker, what the ball does after being hit by this club can provide a lot of information, especially if done while being observed by a teacher. I am not saying hit buckets like this, maybe 5-10 balls after you have loosened up. Once I stretch and hit a few short shots, I will hit a few full shots with a cavity back 5 iron to get in rythm. Then I might hit 5-10 shots with the blade, just trying to make a good pass and finish my swing. As far as exclusive practice with blades and exclusive play with another completey different setup, I think that would ultimately be awkward in that you would lose feel for your play set.