My Swing (Mgardiol)

[Mgardiol]

My old habits creep in if I try to hit the driver too far.  If I gear it back, I can carry the ball 260-270 max, but it rolls a long way too because there is no side spin put on the ball.  Typical 290-300 range.

if I really need some distance I use my conventional swing.  It carries further, but averages the same total distance.

 

i said he "sounded" like one.  I can accept that he is not one.  Fine.

[Mike Boatright]

Not bad for a conventional swing,however I can hit it 345 yards left handed but only like one out of 100 so I decided to stick to my 275 yards or so right handed.

[boogielicious]

@Mgardiol,

Your original post did not specify what your miss is or what you want to improve. I think we can all  take a step back and focus on that. A My Swing thread is your personal thread to ask for help and post videos of your drills and improvement. You can ask anything you want including swing theory questions.

But keep in mind that you will be getting advice from anyone who views this thread. Some are great instructors like Erik (iacas) and Mike (mvmac). Others can be very good golfers or other members who have had a similar issue and will post what they learned from their instructors on how to improve. You do have the risk sometimes of posters commenting off topic or weird advice, so be careful.

Let's get back on track. What do you want to improve and what is your miss?

[Mgardiol]

“I've never met an instructor who could beat me”- Lee Trevino

Excuse me if I seem narcissistic in this moment, but I simply posted this member swing video for you all to observe.  Yes, contribute what you'd like.  Make whatever suggestions you're going to make.  I'm willing to be open to the advice, but I'm not asking for it explicitly. 

I don't really have a miss that is bad enough for me to seek advice.  I actually fully enjoy the game now, hitting the ball dead straight, every time, regardless of the lie. It's just as easy to hit straight and pure from out of a divot and/or on a side-hill lie, in which case I am just trying to advance the ball.  The irony is I rarely find myself in trouble anymore, because the ball goes exactly where i want it to go every time.

 

[iacas]

16 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

“I've never met an instructor who could beat me”- Lee Trevino

Tiger Woods could say the same thing. Jordan Spieth. McIlroy. Etc. They all have instructors. Nicklaus had an instructor.

16 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

I don't really have a miss that is bad enough for me to seek advice.  I actually fully enjoy the game now, hitting the ball dead straight, every time, regardless of the lie. It's just as easy to hit straight and pure from out of a divot and/or on a side-hill lie, in which case I am just trying to advance the ball.  The irony is I rarely find myself in trouble anymore, because the ball goes exactly where i want it to go every time. 

I suggest you add a handicap. If people see "+1" or "0.3" or whatever you are, they'll be less likely to give advice.

I simply contend that your setup is not at all like Moe's.

[SavvySwede]

@Mgardiol I'm guessing this is you. https://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpga9/event/scpga942/contest/1/contestant/840/scorecard.htm

[Mgardiol]

yeah thats me back when i couldnt swing a club the way i do in this video, about 8 years ago probably

thats why i switched from conventional to one plane.  conventional breaks down under competition.  I've actually won lots of money in skins games using my new swing, most recently about  $1600 at Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles.  ive improved ten fold over my old swing.

[iacas]

6 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

yeah thats me back when i couldnt swing a club the way i do in this video, about 8 years ago probably

https://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpga9/event/scpga942/index.htm 2009, it says. FWIW.

7 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

thats why i switched from conventional to one plane.  conventional breaks down under competition.  I've actually won lots of money in skins games using my new swing, most recently about  $1600 at Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles.  ive improved ten fold over my old swing.

I'm glad this works for you. Can you explain the difference in these two back-to-back shots, hit with the same club, and toward the end of the video as you suggested?

I'm not being picky - that's pretty good. But if I was just looking at those two shots I'd suggest a handicap in the single digits but not much lower than 5 or so. There's a reasonable amount of variation there that, in my experience, is a bit tighter among lower handicappers.

But maybe you were trying to hit one high and one low, or something. Certainly possible.

Anyway, Member Swing threads can be good for:

• Documenting your own swing purely for yourself.
• Getting help or ideas from others.
• Documenting what your instructor is telling you to do.
• Showing off goofy practice routines or whatever.

Any number of the above can apply. If you want it to be mostly the first, cool. Happy to have you here.

[Lihu]

10 hours ago, Mgardiol said:

Sorry I was put on the defensive right away so anyway my bad.  I really appreciate your feedback.  I look forward to contributing more in the future.  Sorry.

You kind of put yourself in a defensive position. Your first post, if anything, implies that you hit like Moe Norman.

When you post something like that you should expect some skepticism.

[Mgardiol]

ok 6-7 years big deal fwiw.

Well, I'm no Moe Norman....  There will be variation in ball flight because for one, its still a work in progress-- and two, all I was thinking while hitting these shots was "slot it between the pole and the back of the cart".  If I was concentrating on hitting the same height, it probably would've looked that much more consistent.  The bottom line is, they're all ending up in the same place for the most part and the ball is doing what I want it to do.  On top of that, I like to think as if I'm greatest putter who ever lived so if I'm off by a little, big deal.  Scoring takes place on the putting green.  You cant simply suggest a handicap over the fact that some of my shots come off at different heights. pshhh.

6-7 years ago with a conventional swing, i would try to play a fade and 3 out of 10 times I would end up a hitting a push draw.  The ball would end up at the target just fine, but how can one be confident in his shot selection when you're not sure how the ball is going to come off the club each and every time.  It got to the point where I couldn't take the club back.  This led me to the one plane swing, Moe Norman, etc.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2016 by Mgardiol

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

ok 6-7 years big deal fwiw.

I wasn't being critical. I was backing up your assertion that the results were very old. It just so happened that September 16th was on a Wednesday last year. Maybe @SavvySwede thought it was last year's results. Anyway, just backing you up.

5 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

Scoring takes place on the putting green.  You cant simply suggest a handicap over the fact that some of my shots come off at different heights. pshhh.

Two parts there…

• Scoring absolutely does not take place on the putting green. Putting is the least important skill of the four (Driving, Approach Shots, Short Game, and Putting). I won't get into it here, but there's a LOT of information both here and elsewhere about this. Check out http://lowestscorewins.com/.
• Sure I can. Lower handicappers tend to hit the ball similar distances, heights, etc. That doesn't mean I can't be wrong, but generally speaking, I can make an educated guess. If you're an exception, cool beans, brother! You know what you are as a golfer, not any of us.

5 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

6-7 years ago with a conventional swing, i would try to play a fade and 3 out of 10 times I would end up a hitting a push draw.  The ball would end up at the target just fine, but how can one be confident in his shot selection when you're not sure how the ball is going to come off the club each and every time.  It got to the point where I couldn't take the club back.  This led me to the one plane swing, Moe Norman, etc.

One of the first things we do with our students is build a pattern for that same reason - predictability.

[Mgardiol]

"Scoring absolutely does not take place on the putting green. Putting is the least important...."

Wow.  Words I have never heard in 31 years of playing this game.  LMFAOsmh.  To each his own I guess.  Good  luck to you.

[allenc]

[boogielicious]

29 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

"Scoring absolutely does not take place on the putting green. Putting is the least important...."

Wow.  Words I have never heard in 31 years of playing this game.  LMFAOsmh.  To each his own I guess.  Good  luck to you.

You laugh, but I can teach a 3rd grader to be a good putter. The same third grader is not going to hit 75% GIR on a 6500 yard par 72 course. Putting is easy. It requires very little athletic skill as compared to full swing shots. 

BTW, Erik doesn't need luck. He has skill and knowledge, which beats luck any day of the week.

[iacas]

36 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

"Scoring absolutely does not take place on the putting green. Putting is the least important...."

Wow.  Words I have never heard in 31 years of playing this game.  LMFAOsmh.  To each his own I guess.  Good  luck to you.

It may be time for you to learn something new. As I've said, there's a lot of information out there about this.

SMH all you want. The way we understand the game is changing… for the better.

[Mgardiol]

Yeah.  Teach them to putt first.

when they "master" putting, then teach them to chip.  When they "master" chipping, teach them approach shots.  When they "master" that, teach them to hit off the tee.  You teach from the hole, backwards.  Not the other way around.

 

true putting might be easy, but you can't save par from the bunker if you don't make your putt.  Go ahead--Hit 100% gir, but if you can't two putt from everywhere, you're making bogeys.    You can't write down a score without putting, not ruling out chipping in, or holing out, or making an ace.  Putting might be "easy" but it's definitely not the least important shot.  In fact--There's no such thing.  All shots are important.  Just like ALL LIVES MATTER.  But that's another subject LOL 

 

and me saying "good luck":  I guess I should have expected to be scrutinized for wishing someone well.  Next time I'll just say "good skill" or "good knowledge" to appease you.  Geez

 

 

Edited March 15, 2016 by Mgardiol

[boogielicious]

5 minutes ago, Mgardiol said:

Yeah.  Teach them to putt first.

when they "master" putting, then teach them to chip.  When they "master" chipping, teach them approach shots.  When they "master" that, teach them to hit off the tee.  You teach from the hole, backwards.  Not the other way around.

 

true putting might be easy, but you can't save par from the bunker if you don't make your putt.  Go ahead--Hit 100% gir, but if you can't two putt from everywhere, you're making bogeys.    You can't write down a score without putting, not ruling out chipping in, or holing out, or making an ace.  Putting might be "easy" but it's definitely not the least important shot.  In fact--There's no such thing.  All shots are important.  Just like ALL LIVES MATTER.  But that's another subject LOL 

 

and me saying "good luck":  I guess I should have expected to be scrutinized for wishing someone well.  Next time I'll just say "good skill" or "good knowledge" to appease you.  Geez

 

 

Why the attitude? Putting is easy. No one said it is not important. It is just an easier skill to pick up than driving or approach shots or pitching, chipping and sand. Much easier. Green reading is easy too with systems like AimPoint. 

[Mgardiol]

Your website administrator said it was the least important.  That's all I was referencing.  No attitude really.  You're imaging a certain tone to my writing voice.  Quit it.