Things I've Learned About Golf Since Joining TST

[rkim291968]

Ended up buying Edel stuff, and take an Aimpoint lesson among many other stuff.  

[WUTiger]

Pre-LSW, I pretty well figured out on my own the importance of landing tee shots in the fairway. But, I underestimated the benefit of raw distance.

The biggest LSW thing: GIR / approaches have very high separation value. Pre-LSW, I spent about 50% of my time working on chipping and wedges, thinking this was how you got into the 80s. I had assumed that approach shots was something you started emphasizing once you broke 90 all the time. I was wrong on that - base your game on full swing and approaches!

And, golf is hard.

[boogielicious]

One thing I have learned that hasn't been mentioned above is that you can learn from players of all levels and not just the scratch players or top level instructors we have on the site. Others who have struggled with the same issue your are having can provide insight on how they found out the proper method and how to practice to make the change. Usually their advice is vetted by others or Erik and Mike. That is the cool thing about TST, we all have an interest in helping each other get better. It is a common bond among members.

[Ernest Jones]

Punctuation is not optional. 

[mcanadiens]

Until I can figure out how to keep my fool head steady, everything else can wait. The friggin bobble-head doll of golf.

[saevel25]

33 minutes ago, Ernest Jones said:

Punctuation is not optional.

---

A few things I've learned,

1. Feel isn't real
2. Good instruction trumps going at it alone
3. Be a Stupid Monkey
4. Long game is more important than the short game and putting
5. GIR is King
6. The Sandtrap has a ton of good people here and that is why it's one of the best forums on the internet.

[coachjimsc]

2 hours ago, saevel25 said:

3. Be a Stupid Monkey
6. The Sandtrap has a ton of good people here and that is why it's one of the best forums on the internet.

+1 to these two. Should have had them on my original list.

[Jakester23]

In addition to Matt's list.

Always use video or a mirror when practicing.

 

[ghalfaire]

I guess I have learned a lot of things about golf since I signed on.  Probably most benefit was from the rule section and instruction section. 

Ron Reagan once said about Democrats, "it's not that they don't know anything, it is that much of what they know isn't true".  That, in my opinion, can apply to golfers too.  But on TST someone who does know usually "corrects" the faulty information.  Or at least you get a chance to hear an opposing view.   Good Forum!

[GolfLug]

My top items:

1. It is very easy to think after a couple of months (it could be different time frame for others) of drills for your priority, whatever that SINGLE item is  to think you have made it permanent. For me it is turning out to be at least a year, and I am not sure I can still do it on course without specifically remembering to do it, but I am encouraged with the progress this year.

In short, people (me included) usually vastly underestimate how long it takes to TRULY change the picture.

2. Lot of folks vastly overestimate 'mental game', be it focus, controlling nerves, or something that resembles Tiger Woods' blank stare as a principle contributor to the state of their game. It contributes, but it is not the reason why you are not 5 shots (or 10, or 15..) better.

3. This is covered in one or more posts above - Collective learning with proper qualified oversight is hugely better than going it alone (which I had done spinning my wheels for almost decade). Direct learning from a qualified instructor is even better. For one thing they are better at keeping you focused on THE priority, which we all tend to drift away from, and in cases like myself that jump from experiment to experiment each week.

4. Being part of a good community gives you something to look forward to each day be it even for a few short minutes and helps our outlook in ways we don't always realize.

5. While the long game has many shades of grey depending on who you are, the short game mechanics are a lot more universal. The quickie pitching video on the site for example is entirely gospel. When I start stubbing chips and pitches, I use that as a refresher. If you cover the items in it properly, there's not much else to it.  

 

 

[PhxHacker]

Well, stumbled upon this site by accident, actually, I was reading reviews on a golf club I wanted to purchase and TST had the most in depth review so I started reading some of the posts and really enjoy the content and overall wealth of information accessible on this forum.

 So what I've learned here in just a short time has improved my golf swing and ball physics further and faster than at anytime in the two plus decades I've been playing golf. I actually took a long hiatus away from the game due to total frustration with my results on the golf course. So the main things I've learned in just a couple weeks here at TST is:

Flaring your feet at address; this tip in and of itself has paid huge dividends with my swing at the range. First time in my game that I consistently get my hips to clear and a clean follow through on every swing.

Hovering the club at address; again another huge improvement to my swing, my golfing buddy calls me Sergio "Garcia" because I would stand over the ball for about 35 seconds tensing up before I began my wayward swing. Once again only tested at the range, but hovering the club, I can feel the weight in the club and I begin my swing almost instantaneosly - again a major major improvement to ball striking and staying down on the ball through impact. 

Lastly, this site TST has given renewed interest in the game of golf. Last weekend I attended a golf clinic at my local course which was all theory but we had driver in hand to work on grip. I used to have a very neutral left hand grip on the club and the one thing I took away from this clinic was strengthening my left hand grip "turning the left hand inward to see my knuckles." 

So i immediately took these 3 tips to the range minutes later and proceeded to hit beautiful golf shots time and again. My old ball flight and ball physics ranged from a slight push to an acceptable fade to an all out slice. Alas, all of a sudden, I am pulling every shot and adding max distance and roll to every shot. I believe I can regulate my pull shots in my grip now, and the more I practice I feel I will learn how to work the ball all from my grip alone!

Edited March 31, 2016 by PhxHacker

[pumaAttack]

19 hours ago, mchepp said:

 

3. Most golf professionals are full of bullsh*t. Don't waste your time with them. Find smart people and soak up all you can like a sponge.

 

 

That is a huge one.

When I go to the range I always hear the "Club Pro" and his advice/lessons are so backwards.  I want to tell the people to sign up here!

[jsgolfer]

The Full Swing Motion is what separates the best players from the lesser players

GIR is King and nGir is close

Drive for Show and Putt for Dough is incorrect

 

[nevets88]

Camera angles. 

Boring, but important.

[RandallT]

2 hours ago, PhxHacker said:

Well, stumbled upon this site by accident, actually, I was reading reviews on a golf club I wanted to purchase and TST had the most in depth review so I started reading some of the posts and really enjoy the content and overall wealth of information accessible on this forum.

 So what I've learned here in just a short time has improved my golf swing and ball physics further and faster than at anytime in the two plus decades I've been playing golf. I actually took a long hiatus away from the game due to total frustration with my results on the golf course. So the main things I've learned in just a couple weeks here at TST is:

Flaring your feet at address; this tip in and of itself has paid huge dividends with my swing at the range. First time in my game that I consistently get my hips to clear and a clean follow through on every swing.

Hovering the club at address; again another huge improvement to my swing, my golfing buddy calls me Sergio "Garcia" because I would stand over the ball for about 35 seconds tensing up before I began my wayward swing. Once again only tested at the range, but hovering the club, I can feel the weight in the club and I begin my swing almost instantaneosly - again a major major improvement to ball striking and staying down on the ball through impact. 

Lastly, this site TST has given renewed interest in the game of golf. Last weekend I attended a golf clinic at my local course which was all theory but we had driver in hand to work on grip. I used to have a very neutral left hand grip on the club and the one thing I took away from this clinic was strengthening my left hand grip "turning the left hand inward to see my knuckles." 

So i immediately took these 3 tips to the range minutes later and proceeded to hit beautiful golf shots time and again. My old ball flight and ball physics ranged from a slight push to an acceptable fade to an all out slice. Alas, all of a sudden, I am pulling every shot and adding max distance and roll to every shot. I believe I can regulate my pull shots in my grip now, and the more I practice I feel I will learn how to work the ball all from my grip alone!

Great post. Welcome.

[GolfLug]

Epiphanies and 'secrets', even the genuine/legit ones, are dime a dozen. I have averaged about 3/week for years. 

   

[sirhacksalot]

On 3/31/2016 at 11:38 AM, GolfLug said:

 

 

Just watched the video mentioned , wow so simple!  Wish I watched it a year ago.

On 3/31/2016 at 11:38 AM, GolfLug said:

5. While the long game has many shades of grey depending on who you are, the short game mechanics are a lot more universal. The quickie pitching video on the site for example is entirely gospel. When I start stubbing chips and pitches, I use that as a refresher. If you cover the items in it properly, there's not much else to it.  

 

 

[9wood]

I learned that Volvik DS77 balls feel like rocks