Lefty disabled player - unique situation

[JohnnyStroke]

Hey all - good evening,

I was hoping to get advice and guidance on some questions I had. Anything would be awesome!

I've got polio - yeah, your grandparent's disease - and yeah, Chris Rock joked about it - and on top, I'm a lefty. The whole situation is FUBAR.

I've never broken a 100. I typically shoot around an embarrasing 120 - best ever was a 107. But that's an honest score. Besides the 1st shot on the 1st hole where we give each other 1 free shot, everything is earned (lack there of).

I wear a brace on my right leg, can't bend it, no movement, bad back, etc. So 95% of my swing is all and just arms. 

I had all my clubs extend to a certain length (6,7,8,9,P) so that I can reach the ground better (since I cant bend my knees). 

Question 1. Is there an iron set you would recommend that are SUPER forgiving - I dont care about distance since I cant generate much swing speed anyway. Additionally, whatever iron set you recommend, I will end up lengthening those irons.

Question 2. I have a Sr. staff 12 degree Ping G25 driver. Being left handed, my swing typically takes the ball left though to be honest, any given shot can go any given direction. 1/4 are really good (about 175-200 yrds). What setting should the driver be at? +/-/or nuetral?

Any advice on how to improve my game? I've paid for 2 instructors, but my situation is so unique, they were no help. I am really awesome at putting and shipping. 50/50 on fairways, and total garbage at driving.

Thanks so much!!!

Edited October 1, 2017 by JohnnyStroke

[Seals]

Wow. Your story is inspiring. Never give up.

as for irons, I have a set of rocketballz HL from my junior time. Ultra forgiving. if you are interested.

for what it's worth, I don't bend my knees basically at all either. I have a very slight bend on left leg, but right barely moves. 

just keep at it with the driver. If it goes left, maybe play for it by aiming more right. 

Good luck. If you ever need advice or possibly need a club, I can help.

Edited October 1, 2017 by Seals

[Vinsk]

Hello @JohnnyStroke...Welcome! May I ask where you’re from? 

[JohnnyStroke]

1 hour ago, Seals said:

Wow. Your story is inspiring. Never give up.

as for irons, I have a set of rocketballz HL from my junior time. Ultra forgiving. if you are interested.

for what it's worth, I don't bend my knees basically at all either. I have a very slight bend on left leg, but right barely moves. 

just keep at it with the driver. If it goes left, maybe play for it by aiming more right. 

Good luck. If you ever need advice or possibly need a club, I can help.

Thanks so much! Inspiring that I've been playing for over 10yrs and closest to my ultimate golf goal of breaking 100 is a 107! lol, And truth be told, I took 2 mulligans on that round - I did feel justified

Oh wow, you don't bend your knees either? May I ask why not? I also have a very small bend in my left leg, but because the polio affects my left leg it cant bend beyond a very small amount before losing all control. Really hard to explain. 

Maybe we cant take this off the thread, but how do you swing your driver then? Frm what I'm reading, we probably share a very similar swing. Though for me, my bad, shoulders, balance are all out of whack.

Thanks for the encouragement for the driver. I'm def trying. After I wrote it, I realized I really should have said my avg "good" drive is about 150-175. My irons go as long as about 125. So I'm going against distance and inconsistant swing. 

1 hour ago, Vinsk said:

Hello @JohnnyStroke...Welcome! May I ask where you’re from? 

Hey Vinsk! No mind in asking! I am from the Atlanta area....subburb.

Edited October 1, 2017 by JohnnyStroke

[caniac6]

This might be a real longshot, but are there any military bases in your area? I've seen quite a bit on TV about Wounded Warriors learning to golf. Mabye a golf pro that teaches those guys could help you, or could give you some advice as to another pro that could help. The pro should be able to help you with equipment, as well. 

[Seals]

8 hours ago, JohnnyStroke said:

Thanks so much! Inspiring that I've been playing for over 10yrs and closest to my ultimate golf goal of breaking 100 is a 107! lol, And truth be told, I took 2 mulligans on that round - I did feel justified

Oh wow, you don't bend your knees either? May I ask why not? I also have a very small bend in my left leg, but because the polio affects my left leg it cant bend beyond a very small amount before losing all control. Really hard to explain. 

Maybe we cant take this off the thread, but how do you swing your driver then? Frm what I'm reading, we probably share a very similar swing. Though for me, my bad, shoulders, balance are all out of whack.

Thanks for the encouragement for the driver. I'm def trying. After I wrote it, I realized I really should have said my avg "good" drive is about 150-175. My irons go as long as about 125. So I'm going against distance and inconsistant swing. 

Hey Vinsk! No mind in asking! I am from the Atlanta area....subburb.

I dont bent my knees much because when I did, I had a tendency to get the ball close to the heel when my timing was off. Straightened up my swing and got rid of those heel shots.

i swing my driver, but dropping my left shoulder and swinging up on the ball. I tee the ball up a quarter of a ball above driver head.

Are you interested in buying the rocketballz?

Edited October 1, 2017 by Seals

[WUTiger]

15 hours ago, JohnnyStroke said:

Any advice on how to improve my game? I've paid for 2 instructors, but my situation is so unique, they were no help. I am really awesome at putting and shipping. 50/50 on fairways, and total garbage at driving.

You might try an analysis from the Titleist Performance Institute. A TPI team consists of a PGA golf pro and someone from the health and fitness area - a chiropractor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, etc.

First the health person measures you on 29 different body movements. This helps the health person generate a series of workout routines to shore up the body; from there the PGA pro helps you make adjustments to your swing to compensate for physical limitations.

if you try TPI, good luck! 

[JohnnyStroke]

12 hours ago, caniac6 said:

This might be a real longshot, but are there any military bases in your area? I've seen quite a bit on TV about Wounded Warriors learning to golf. Mabye a golf pro that teaches those guys could help you, or could give you some advice as to another pro that could help. The pro should be able to help you with equipment, as well. 

Hey Caniac6, good evening! Thanks so much for your feedback. I will def chek into it. I'm in GA, so there are bases everywhere ha. Appreciated!

3 hours ago, WUTiger said:

You might try an analysis from the Titleist Performance Institute. A TPI team consists of a PGA golf pro and someone from the health and fitness area - a chiropractor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, etc.

First the health person measures you on 29 different body movements. This helps the health person generate a series of workout routines to shore up the body; from there the PGA pro helps you make adjustments to your swing to compensate for physical limitations.

if you try TPI, good luck! 

Thanks so much. I've never heard of this. I would love to see what they can do with my swing. 29 body movemets...for like 5  for me lol.

Really really appreciated for your adivve and guidance. 

Take care!