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"Lowest Score Wins" by Barzeski and Wedzik


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Posted

Different strokes for different folks. More, generally, for some.

Stretch.

"In the process of trial and error, our failed attempts are meant to destroy arrogance and provoke humility." -- Master Jin Kwon

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Posted

Different strokes for different folks. More, generally, for some.


Ha! I see what you did there....

Jon

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Posted

OK ... confession time ... when I first read the hype ... I thought yea right ... but wanted to be a contributing member to the community and especially seeing what @iacas@david_wedzik and even @mvmac (and others) do for us with their insightful knowledge ... I went online and bought one as a show of support.

Part of the reason for my lack luster attitude is most books of these types bore the crap out me ... just tried to read Ben Hogan's

Well I got mine in the mail today ... great gobs of batsh1t batman ... this book is good!!!!  And my initial thoughts/perception were deada$$ wrong!!

I think it is so good I am going to buy my instructor one ... and work on some of the items with him!  (he is the one that gave me the Ben Hogan to read)

While I have just quickly read most of it, I will be going back and pulling out, and highlighting pieces to focus on at the range and course.

For anyone on the fence, I highly encourage you to purchase it, especially for those like me with a high handicap!

So to Erick and David, thank you!

Don't look for me tomorrow ... I am out implementing some of the things in this book.

For what it's worth, this review got me to order the book this morning.  I feel like I just ordered a calculus book while still struggling with long division, but what the hey... I've gotten a lot out of the free instructional threads posted by @iacas othing more, I'm paying back a little and the book will be on my shelf waiting for me...

"No man goes round boasting of his vices,” he said, “except golfers." 

-- Det. Elk in The Twister by Edgar Wallace

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Posted

Watching TGC and/or reading golf digest last week, can't remember which, maybe both, heard a lot of "practice 80% of the time on your short game," and I think Rhymer said, "I know one PRO who spends 100% of his time on the short game," and basically implored viewers to do as PROs do.


Those are Pros. They have greater distance and accuracy relative to amateurs.

____

Is it any wonder that people are confused?

When I read the book after it first came out, it made sense. I took it for the long term good of your game, work on distance -- you gotta' be long and relatively straight. Your approach shots must stop closer to the hole for birds and pars.

If I took the advice of Rymer/TGC, I'd be working on my short game all the time, and be relegated to the ladies tees in no time.

I don't want that... so I've increased my SS from 86 to 95-99 over the course of the last year with better technique through lessons. I want to play 6700 yard courses without issues, and without pulling a 5 wood except on par 5's or long par 4s, or in the wind ... you get my drift.

I've heard comments from other golfers and dismissed their criticism. I took the book as if you want to get better long term, get distance and relatively straightness, land further down the fairway, and hit accurate approaches. In the short term, I still work on my short game, but it's more 80-20 long game drills/learning to short game.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Posted
Watching TGC and/or reading golf digest last week, can't remember which, maybe both, heard a lot of "practice 80% of the time on your short game," and I think Rhymer said, "I know one PRO who spends 100% of his time on the short game," and basically implored viewers to do as PROs do.

Those are Pros. They have greater distance and accuracy relative to amateurs.

____

Is it any wonder that people are confused?

When I read the book after it first came out, it made sense. I took it for the long term good of your game, work on distance -- you gotta' be long and relatively straight. Your approach shots must stop closer to the hole for birds and pars.

If I took the advice of Rymer/TGC, I'd be working on my short game all the time, and be relegated to the ladies tees in no time.

I don't want that... so I've increased my SS from 86 to 95-99 over the course of the last year with better technique through lessons. I want to play 6700 yard courses without issues, and without pulling a 5 wood except on par 5's or long par 4s, or in the wind ... you get my drift.

I've heard comments from other golfers and dismissed their criticism. I took the book as if you want to get better long term, get distance and relatively straightness, land further down the fairway, and hit accurate approaches. In the short term, I still work on my short game, but it's more 80-20 long game drills/learning to short game.

I think those that push the short game so hard assume that their audience is over 40 or maybe 50 and then wrongly assume that adding distance on their full swing isn't likely so they emphasize the short game.

As much as I dislike Haney, he's pretty adamant that the full swing is more important than the short game and this weekend he cited Rory as the example of how critical the long game is to lowering scores.

Joe Paradiso

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Posted
Originally Posted by newtogolf

I think those that push the short game so hard assume that their audience is over 40 or maybe 50 and then wrongly assume that adding distance on their full swing isn't likely so they emphasize the short game.

As much as I dislike Haney, he's pretty adamant that the full swing is more important than the short game and this weekend he cited Rory as the example of how critical the long game is to lowering scores.

You may be right in that its why they emphasize it, but even if gaining distance weren't possible, just keeping or getting the full swing sharp is reason enough to work on it more, IMO.

I played a round of 9 yesterday with a pretty decent player. It wasn't that he hit a mile longer than me, it was just that his full swing with every club was just so consistently on. Even if he missed the fairway, it wasn't by much. Same with greens (and he didn't miss many of those). Neither of us were keeping score, but he easily beat me by 10 strokes strictly due to his full swing. Admittedly, my full swing was awful yesterday. Once we got around the greens, the differences between our games wasn't as great.

Jon

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator
Posted

Yes, Fox Sports, golf is hard. NSFW version should be "Golf is ****ing hard." :-P

http://www.foxsports.com/golf/story/rory-mcilroy-dubai-duty-free-irish-open-missed-cut-060115

I still like Rory’s chances at Chambers Bay. And St. Andrews. And for that matter, Whistling Straits. I’m sure in a couple of weeks, you’ll forget about County Down and join me.

Golf is hard. Don’t forget that.

Steve

Kill slow play. Allow walking. Reduce ineffective golf instruction. Use environmentally friendly course maintenance.

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  • Moderator
Posted

Question on getting fit for a putter:
You mention in the book that weight of the putter and being able to aim the putter correctly are important factors in choosing a good putter.  What about angle of launch off the face?  If the ball on long putts is launched too high, it can create backspin and skid more making less consistent distance control for long putts, right?  The ideal launch is where it launches up a little but with no backspin, it just hits the ground and starts rolling forward. When I went to my instructor and after looking through my clubs and their angles, that was his first thing to do.  He lowered the angle so that on long putts it got rolling forward quickly.  And the results were clear, I could see that the ball started rolling forward so much quicker and my lag on putts is much more consistent.  Is this something you have researched into? Is it an important factor at all?

(edit) also, I heard that having a higher launch is better for slow greens and a lower launch better for faster greens... Not sure how much difference that is either

Philip Kohnken, PGA
Director of Instruction, Lake Padden GC, Bellingham, WA

Srixon/Cleveland Club Fitter; PGA Modern Coach; Certified in Dr Kwon’s Golf Biomechanics Levels 1 & 2; Certified in SAM Putting; Certified in TPI
 
Team :srixon:!

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  • Administrator
Posted
You mention in the book that weight of the putter and being able to aim the putter correctly are important factors in choosing a good putter.  What about angle of launch off the face?

We fit the loft to pair with the green speeds players play and their launch conditions. Generally that means 2-3° of loft.

If the ball on long putts is launched too high, it can create backspin and skid more making less consistent distance control for long putts, right?

Yes, but often that's a result of poor impact conditions.

Is this something you have researched into? Is it an important factor at all?

Yeah. What more kinds of questions did you have? There are probably some other threads specifically devoted to this.

(edit) also, I heard that having a higher launch is better for slow greens and a lower launch better for faster greens... Not sure how much difference that is either

Only by about a degree or so. Most greens are between 8-12 these days.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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  • 1 month later...
Posted

Ok, I broke my promise of never buying another golf book unless I finish reading the ones I have already.   This book better be good - I don't like breaking  my promises :8)

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Posted

I feel bad because you won't end up finishing the other books you havn't finished. You'll just keep refering back to this one!


Posted
Page 211: 'once you've chosen your shot your course of action nothing matters except hitting the shot solidly'. Yesterday I played a par 5, a hole with a right dogleg. To the corner, it is about 200 - 220 yards, then around 220 - 235 to the green. I know I can hit my driving iron solidly of the tee and reach the corner. You have to go far enough, otherwise a small section of trees come into play. Sadly I hit my iron not so great. A low 'stinger' in reality a bad shot which turned out not so bad because the ball kept rolling. I didn't reach the corner for a clear view of the fairway ahead. At first the trees 'snookered (snooker is a biljart game, very popular in the UK), but after taking a good look, I noticed a path through the trees. Think of a W. Two big trees with a smaller one in the middle. Thinking that with my 7 iron, I could clear the lower tree, reach the fairway, leaving me probably an 8 or even a 9 iron to the green. Only thing: I just need to clear that lower tree in the middle. Fully confident that I had taken the right option, I ripped my 7, followed by a super 8 for a fine foot birdie, which I missed by an inch, easy par. Just read that section again, and it proved so right to me.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

My book arrived today and I am up to page 40.  (Erik, you need to send out the book faster - while we are young ;-) .   It took more than a week from order to getting the book in mail box.)

So far, the book reminded me to focus on key 1 - 3.  I have been focusing on drills to improve #3 and it's getting there.  I am inconsistent with #1 & #2.   I need to incorporate those drills to my practice routine, too.

I only flare my left out during address. My instructor didn't advise flaring out right foot.  I forget what his reasons were.  Today, I tried flaring my right foot.  I can't really tell if it helped my swing or not.

I modified my driver swing stance to a bit more closed position.  I was saving that for hitting draws but my driver misses tend to be pushes.  This book gave me the final push (sorry) to use a bit more closed stance.

I have a slow back swing.  I will keep it slow for now.  I don't want to introduce too many new stuff before my tournament on this weekend.

That's all for now.  More to follow as I get deeper into the book.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Posted

I am up to page 48.   The section on chipping and pitching was a good refresher for me.  In 6 years of golf, I've done what LSW book preached in the chipping & pitching sections.   Over time, I forgot or neglected a few finer point of ch ipping and pitching.  It's just too hard to retain what I've learned over time.

At my range session today, I kept my both feet flared out at address.  I also used close stance for my drive.  These are easy adjustments.  Speeding up back swing, air time vs ground time ratio - not so much.   I will work on them at later time (or never if I don't make progress on other areas).

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Posted

Just ordered this; wish I did it earlier in the year so I could've gotten a head start on it when the weather was still too crappy to play...

-Rich

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Posted
Chapter 1 was very good. Won't give out the details yet. For the price of a lesson or a muni round I think a good resource next to my Phil's tapes, and other resources. As a long time trainer / developer, this is actually set up as a training plan for success if followed I'll at least say now.
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Posted
My book arrived today and I am up to page 40.  (Erik, you need to send out the book faster - while we are young ;-) .   It took more than a week from order to getting the book in mail box.) So far, the book reminded me to focus on key 1 - 3.  I have been focusing on drills to improve #3 and it's getting there.  I am inconsistent with #1 & #2.   I need to incorporate those drills to my practice routine, too. I only flare my left out during address. My instructor didn't advise flaring out right foot.  I forget what his reasons were.  Today, I tried flaring my right foot.  I can't really tell if it helped my swing or not. I modified my driver swing stance to a bit more closed position.  I was saving that for hitting draws but my driver misses tend to be pushes.  This book gave me the final push (sorry) to use a bit more closed stance.  I have a slow back swing.  I will keep it slow for now.  I don't want to introduce too many new stuff before my tournament on this weekend. That's all for now.  More to follow as I get deeper into the book.

I've heard instructors say keeping the back foot perpendicular to target line rather than flared prevents over rotation of the hips. Really at this point though...I just go with Mike and Erik.

:ping: G25 Driver Stiff :ping: G20 3W, 5W :ping: S55 4-W (aerotech steel fiber 110g shafts) :ping: Tour Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* :nike: Method Putter Floating clubs: :edel: 54* trapper wedge

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Posted

I've heard instructors say keeping the back foot perpendicular to target line rather than flared prevents over rotation of the hips. Really at this point though...I just go with Mike and Erik.

Seeing as a lot of amateurs needs to turn their hips more in the backswing I think going with Mike and Erik is a good thing ;)

I think a lot of instructions were developed for PGA Tour players and their faults. One might be they turn too much in the backswing.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
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  • Posts

    • They weren't necessarily short - I don't remember the exact specifics of all of it, but some of them were missing a little left or right or both. Day 1 they were landing on the edge and kicking on, where day 2 they were just missing and kicking down into the bunkers and did it a lot. I think all told I actually went into bunkers on 8 holes. Some of them were not good shots. Like a few examples, on 8, the pin was in the back. I hit it solidly, but pulled it and it went long, over the bunker into long grass. I had the ball in sandy earth with long grass around it and about a foot below my feet. That next shot I tried to do what I could but it went into the bunker in front of me. Into a footprint. That one I dug out of the footprint, but still in the bunker. Got that one out of the bunker, but into the fringe grass in front of me. Chipped that one on a bit hard and two putts later made a 7. Another was on 14. The flag was on the little finger of green front left. I tried to play a little past it and a little right. Shoved it maybe 10 yards right of where I wanted to and the carry over the bunker gets longer the further right you go and that one hit the grass between the green and the bunker and came back down into the sand, left it in there and didn't get up and down on the next one. I think carrywise it carried about as far as I was planning on it doing so. Another was on 6, leaked my drive a little right into the fairway bunker. Hit a nearly good shot from there that went a little left and a little short and kicked into the bunker front left. That was a strike thing and just a hard shot. Did similar on 18. Drive in the right bunker, slightly heavy second that hit the bank between green and bunker again and kicked back into the sand. I think the tiredness manifested more as not squaring the face up so well and less as slowing down.
    • Depends on how short you were coming up on these shots. A bit more wind? Also, maybe you were swinging at 2-3 mph slower the next day.  I think the biggest thing is not adjusting. Like making assuming your stock shot is not enough and taking 1 club up. Not sure what type of adjustments you were making in your decision making. 
    • No one should measure a joint mobility away from that joint. If you go to physical therapy, they are not measuring your knee mobility based on your midline. It is based at the joint. Shoulder mobility should be measured in reference to the shoulder joint. 
    • He's using a driver swing, while I used the iron swing. Bryson goes from about 65° B to 15° B, hence the 50°. If you bend your right elbow, you're going to pull your hands across your chest some. Conversely, if you abduct your right arm and hold onto a grip with your left arm, you can see how extending the right elbow as we do in the golf swing during the downswing will "pull" the right shoulder/humerus forward (adducting it, as going from 65° to 15° of abduction is). Even people who pull their right shoulder WAY too far around them eventually get it "back in front" when their right arm/elbow extends. So, such a motion shows up as shoulder adduction even though the movement that causes it is just widening the trail elbow. The left hand on the grip almost "pulls" the hands forward as the left arm can't stretch much (there's some shoulder protraction, but that's almost maxed out at P4). Oh, I downloaded it and watched it (and commented there) before he blocked me. It's what led to him posting the comment in the "update" above. 😄  Single shoulder range of 75°, and that's going out well into the follow-through. 50° Max range up to impact. Manavian's video is bad. He keeps saying "midline" which is just a horrible way to look at it. He also kept saying that the club was moving that amount — also wrong. Adding left and right together is really freaking dumb. Another golf instructor said "That's like saying the player has 100 degrees of knee bend (adding left knee bend to right knee bend) 🤦‍♂️" (similar to what the biomechanist said about squatting). Also, see my post above about elbow bend. That's why Plummer’s alignment stick demo is so intellectually dishonest. A golfer can't get anywhere near that position on the left with his left hand on the alignment stick (quoted below).  
    • That makes no sense at all.  so, I watched that Instagram. Here is a summary...  Bryson.... Address: Trail Shoulder 0 degrees adduction. P4: Trail Shoulder 65-deg abduction. Impact: Right shoulder 15-deg abduction. P9: 10 degrees adduction. Rory... Address: Trail Shoulder 16 degrees adduction. P4: Trail Shoulder 26 degrees abduction. Impact: Right shoulder 0 degrees abduction.  P9: 18 degrees of adduction.  DJ... Address: Trail Shoulder 4 degrees adduction. P4: Trail Shoulder 42 degrees abduction. Impact: Right shoulder 2 degrees abduction.  P9: 15 degrees of adduction.  Their point is that arm doesn't stay on the trail side. That the arms have to get across the chest from P4 to P9. I mean they do. What matters is the rate of which it happens relative to the position of the swing. The trail shoulder at P9 is not abducted a lot. The range of that total abduction movement is like 40 to 70 degrees. Bryson might be an outlier. Rory might be an outlier as well.  A couple of points.  1. None of them had any adduction at impact. So, this tells me the trail arms stays on the trail side of the body at impact. Is it moving towards lead shoulder, yes. It doesn't happen till post impact. The right side of the body is moving towards the target, so the arms don't have to as much as people think.  2. Trail shoulder adduction from Impact to P9 is 18 to 25 degrees.  3. P9 adduction of the trail shoulder is only about 2 to 12 degrees more adducted than at address. The arms/hands stay in front of the chest a long-time post impact. If Rory, from his address position just rotated his body towards the target and raised up his arms so he is at P9. He basically didn't have to move his trail arm further across his chest than where he started at address. Visualize that for a bit. I bet for people who tend to stall and drag their arms across their body to hit the ball, that would emphasize how much the arms stay in front of the body and how much you have to turn.             
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