The KyleAnthony Golf Opera Thread

[mdl]

I also wouldn't get too caught up in curving the ball different directions, stick with a reliable pattern, you'll be better off in the long run.  Tour players do the same thing, 90% of the shots they hit is with their "stock" ball flight.  Zach Johnson hits push draws and Fred Couples hits fades.  Having a reliable ball flight pattern is going to be more beneficial than varying the curve for every shot.

I agree with this in general and 100% on the course.  But let me throw in a bit of support for spending at least some time practicing alternate shot shapes.  For the longest time I just accepted that my shots were gonna be straight to fade, often with a push exacerbating how far right the shot ended up.  I could literally only draw the ball on purpose with a punch shot.  I felt like I plateaued and decided I need to learn how to draw the ball, sort of a semi-starting over to try to learn to feel more in control.

That's forced me to finally get over some of my mechanical issues, and I feel like I'm on a much better path.  I guess my point is that while yes you can have a natural shot shape and it's good to mostly shoot what you're comfortable with and best at (especially on the course!), the different shapes can hide different swing weaknesses, and forcing yourself to practice both can help expose some of those in my opinion.

This might not be true for high handicappers, but as someone who at one point could play in the high 70s, low 80s, and who wants to go very low, it seems the OP has the experience and ability for this to maybe be of use.

[rehmwa]

I agree with this in general and 100% on the course.  But let me throw in a bit of support for spending at least some time practicing alternate shot shapes.  For the longest time I just accepted that my shots were gonna be straight to fade, often with a push exacerbating how far right the shot ended up.

If one can't shape it on purpose, how can one really have a 'stock' shot.  Seems more like a 'luck' shot.

Knowing how to hit those other shots, and understanding why it works is one thing.  It doesn't at all mean that one should try to pull it off every round.   (or even at all)

IMO - It does mean that one should have just that much more confidence in their stock shot.

(I like your post - example, a push-draw for me is pretty decent and consistent - for me.  When i hit the pull-fade, I am nowhere near as consistent in getting a more solid contact - half the time it still flies the path nice, but it feels "thin" or weak.  I think this indicates something specific that I'm lacking in my fundamentals and it might be an area to explore - somewhere in that shot has exposed a relative weakness to work on ( at my level, I'm pretty comfy finding "blatant weaknesses" as well).  And, I'd hope that figuring that out would make my stock shot (that push-draw) even better controlled).

Today's drill was fun (face control, and a little work on path control) - Maintained feet alignment to my target.  Hit 5 shot pattern - straight, light push, light pull, push-draw, pull-fade, repeat until glove gets sweaty.  It was a lot of fun.  I think I'm overcooking it on the pull-fade.  heck, I even was able to hit a few cycles in a row correctly.  (However, if I went and played a non-practice round today, I'd only try to hit the one shot each time).

[mvmac]

thank you. ya i was looking into it, but i still have 3 lessons left at the local course. i was going to wait to finish them and then start the evolvr so i don't have 2 voices going into my head ya know.

Yeah the Evolvr guys are awesome.  You're in Orange County?  If you ever want to do an in person lesson we can meet up in Long Beach.

I agree with this in general and 100% on the course.  But let me throw in a bit of support for spending at least some time practicing alternate shot shapes.  For the longest time I just accepted that my shots were gonna be straight to fade, often with a push exacerbating how far right the shot ended up.  I could literally only draw the ball on purpose with a punch shot.  I felt like I plateaued and decided I need to learn how to draw the ball, sort of a semi-starting over to try to learn to feel more in control.

That's forced me to finally get over some of my mechanical issues, and I feel like I'm on a much better path.  I guess my point is that while yes you can have a natural shot shape and it's good to mostly shoot what you're comfortable with and best at (especially on the course!), the different shapes can hide different swing weaknesses, and forcing yourself to practice both can help expose some of those in my opinion.

This might not be true for high handicappers, but as someone who at one point could play in the high 70s, low 80s, and who wants to go very low, it seems the OP has the experience and ability for this to maybe be of use.

To clarify I did say predictable pattern.  It's not really about "accepting" a certain ball flight, it's about owning one.  That's mean you have control over the start line and the curve.  You can hit 10 shots in a row, all start lines are the very similar and the amount of curve is predictable and effective for playing golf.  All the shots are staying within the "cone".

Zach Johnson is a great example, I bet 90-95% of his shots at Kapalua were push draws.  Dude owns his start lines and rarely over curves shots.

[rehmwa]

To clarify I did say predictable pattern.  It's not really about "accepting" a certain ball flight, it's about owning one.  That's mean you have control over the start line and the curve.

I'm filing this quote - thanks

[Golfingdad]

Yeah the Evolvr guys are awesome.

LOL!  If you don't say so yourself!!!

PS: @KyleAnthony he's right, they are.

[Abu3baid]

I apologize if I'm coming across as being unable to understand the shot cones thread but the solid black line on the right - is that the path the ball normally beings on and then the dotted line that follows it just a continuation of that line after it hits the ground (obviously it doesn't necessarily have to roll out along that line after it hits the ground)?

The solid lines are the boundaries of what you can call the cone.. The dotted line is where the ball is hit and the path it follows.. The more consistent you hit the ball on a general line and not have the ball curve outside of your cone the more consistent you will likely be in your scoring. Nothing to do with the roll at the end as that will be minimal in general.

[Abu3baid]

LOL!  If you don't say so yourself!!! :beer: PS: @KyleAnthony he's right, they are.

+1... This is what I call tough love ;-)

[RFKFREAK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFKFREAK

I apologize if I'm coming across as being unable to understand the shot cones thread but the solid black line on the right - is that the path the ball normally beings on and then the dotted line that follows it just a continuation of that line after it hits the ground (obviously it doesn't necessarily have to roll out along that line after it hits the ground)?

The solid lines are the boundaries of what you can call the cone.. The dotted line is where the ball is hit and the path it follows.. The more consistent you hit the ball on a general line and not have the ball curve outside of your cone the more consistent you will likely be in your scoring. Nothing to do with the roll at the end as that will be minimal in general.

Ahh.

Yeah, I was just confused how that line came about.

So, it's pretty arbitrary then?

[Golfingdad]

Ahh.

Yeah, I was just confused how that line came about.

So, it's pretty arbitrary then?

It's completely determined by you.  If you hit it pretty straight with a 3 yard draw, then it's a really narrow cone.  If you can consistently hit a 30 yard slice and play for it, then it's a really wide cone.

The narrower you can make it, the better, IMO, but, yes, it is arbitrary.

[KyleAnthony]

Yeah the Evolvr guys are awesome.  You're in Orange County?  If you ever want to do an in person lesson we can meet up in Long Beach.

im in the inland empire. in Highland

also today was a freaking epic practice session. i tried the toe up thing and the only 2 shanks i hit (out of two large buckets of balls) and i now know why i shanked it. I'm falling over on my toes. i felt it when i lifted my toe and on the down swing i came down on my toe and sure enough shank. any who i filmed almost all my practice so i'll make a summary video. i did 5 iron full shots, 40 yard pitches, 40 yard flop, sand shots. i felt good today.

[KyleAnthony]

ok so my memory card filled up right has i hit my first pitch so i didn't get anything today except full swings. so here they are. let me know what you think. sounds a little off

[KyleAnthony]

Yeah the Evolvr guys are awesome.  You're in Orange County?  If you ever want to do an in person lesson we can meet up in Long Beach.

how much is an in person lesson??

[iacas]

ok so my memory card filled up right has i hit my first pitch so i didn't get anything today except full swings. so here they are. let me know what you think. sounds a little off

Just make sure you cross-post these to your My Swing thread.

[KyleAnthony]

Just make sure you cross-post these to your My Swing thread.

ok cool will do

[KyleAnthony]

i think if i don't get paired up with anyone tomorrow at oak quarry i'll record every shot in my round

[iacas]

i think if i don't get paired up with anyone tomorrow at oak quarry i'll record every shot in my round

Do a mix of DL and FO.

[KyleAnthony]

Ok cool ill do dtl for my tee shots and vary for my approach shots. It'll be fun

[mvmac]

how much is an in person lesson??

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