Cossackred

Is the neutral grip what most right handers use?

Thanks! One of the guys I talked to was a local pro. But he just popped over for a couple of minutes and I was making really good contact after. The other said a few of the local pro's call him to play and he consistently takes their money. Not sure if the two play together, but the second guy had amazing ball control, high, low, draw, fade, lob etc...just amazing. When I used his tips I had a really tough time hitting the ball well, but when I did, it went about 20 yards further than the swing and grip shown by the local pro. Now I'm just frustrated with 3 different swings and grips in my head and not knowing what to stick with.

I've gotten instruction from two different people and they've said totally different things. One said to the left and one said to the right. So, where do you have your thumb positioned on your right hand? -Right side -top right -dead center -top left ?? thanks

Guy said my main problem was I was hitting with my left hand, not releasing or firing through, or kind of stiff arming it for power. Now I'm releasing, firing through, rolling the wrist, keeping my hands down, and all of that, but the release timing is off. I think I release to soon, or sometimes release and don't roll over so it shanks way right. But yeah, the most frustrating part is the "non-smoothness" of the swing. Feels clunky and jerky because everything is making sure my knees and arms are in the right spot and right position. A few times I just used my old back swing and released and fired through while rolling the wrists and launched the ball out there nice and straight. My worry is I'm going to practice the wrong way and have to relearn the mechanics. I'm hoping it will just take longer, but all come together at the same time for a smooth mechanically sound swing. At least that's what I'm hoping, but for now, it feels like riding a bike with square tires. Seeing where you want to go and slowly getting there, but the ride there isn't a very fun.

First off, thanks to everyone who replied! Taking everything in with a deep breath. funny you mention easiest way to learn is pitching. Went and got my second lesson from this guy today and I was saying "lets head to the range and fix up this swing." He took me to the pitching area and we worked on that for a good hour first. Went to the range from there and my tempo is off. Way to hesitant on my back swing. Always thinking about if every detail is right. Once I got past that I was hitting the ball straighter and further than I've ever hit it. Not consistently, and not always straight forwards, but straight. Most of the missed hits when straight but off left. I feel like I'm learning to hit the ball all over again, but this time, I've got a chance to get a good swing down. Wish it wasn't raining all weekend.

I am in no way an expert, but I'll second the public park. I got a ripped up putting mat used to practice putting at home and cut off a couple of feet. Then I head out to a local soccer field with a two buckets and about 20 balls. Lay down the mat to hit off of since soccer field grass is a bit high sometimes and set one bucket at whatever distance I want to work at. Good free practice if you have a nearby park..

Pretty new to golf and have been improving. Had a rough start, using the wrong clubs for years and playing baseball my entire life has giving me a lot of habits and things I need to break. Still not good by real standards at all. I was a self taught golfer up until Friday, but had found a swing that was working. In my last 9, the first 5 holes I'm on the greens and at +1. Next 4 holes I'm in shooting 7's and 8's. I got my first lesson from someone really good. His last round was a 64 on a 71. So, since I am a 20 or so handicap on average, I gave it a go. I get a 2 hour lesson for free (I use to teach his son) where my whole swing seems to be wrong, and I knew it was the whole time. Then he gave me about 20 things to think about from my grip to firing through. I've been working on this swing everyday since Friday and am getting it a bit better. Hitting the range after going from standard to oversized grips and changing my whole swing was very humbling. I have been doing the wiffle ball thing in my back yard just trying to get the motions down but 20 new things is like a huge mess in my head. So much thinking going on during the swing. Any advice on this? What to work on first? The grip is easy Back swing is kinda tough with trying not to turn my hips. (Baseball stuff) As well as not trying to buckle my front knee while going back. (baseball as well) Follow through is so easy, but tough as I often forget to do it right because I'm so worried about having the correct release and arms in the right position on the back swing Releasing at the right time and using that to get power has been completely new for me. Keeping my hands in. inside of my arms facing up.. etc etc.. where to start? I'm going from hitting the ball pretty straight, just topping it a few times per 9 and having a slice on my driver and lower irons, to having a lot more shanks directly off to the right. Bad shanks. What's the main cause of this? Not releasing at the right time? Not rolling my hands through correctly? I just got oversized grips and the guy said it would be harder to roll through, but I am 99% sure it's my swing and not the grips although he said I was border line midsized. Wrist to finger is 8 1/2 and middle finger is 4. any help would be appreciated. thanks!

I quit after a good 15 years. I just said, " I don't want to do that anymore " and made myself stop. Hasn't been easy, but it's mostly based on the fear of death. That's an easy motivator. at least it should be.

moved the thread and changed the topic

It's not like it would go in my bag. I just wanted to know if anyone ever swung one for fun. I may offer $3 for it just to see what it hits like. Maybe a fun gag gift too.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/cossackred/clubhead.jpg[/IMG] saw it at the flea market and looked it up when I got home. It's called a "Power Pod" by Orizaba. Anyone hit with one? Just curious. I also just saw one for $199 as a "Vintage Club" on ebay and another one for $14.99 with no bids :-D

The clubs I'm using are new 2011 clubs but are the regular graphite shafts that come with the clubs. Would these be of better design to give me better accuracy than older graphite shafts? Or would that only be top quality custom shafts that are better? I'm thinking accuracy should be my number one concern at the moment and not length...even though it's nice seeing that ball fly past my ball hit with the steel shafts. It could be my swing, but I've been to the range 4-5 times swinging both and it's been the same every time. The steel shafts are also 2011, so would those be lighter that normal older steel shafts? They do feel a bit heavy, but I've been using graphite for a while now. I guess in the end, I'd rather be aiming for pins than hitting 15 yards longer.

Everyone says graphite on your irons is for old people. I can get a good 15-20 yards more with graphite. What are the cons of graphite shafts on your irons? thanks

that happened to me with an arcade board a long time ago. I will never lift a claim again. EVER! Sorry this happened to you.

thanks everyone! I made the rolling thing with the rope. I put a hook at the end so I could change weights as it gets easier. Also been taking it easy on the range. (1-2 times per week depending on the weather) and I feel a lot better. thanks again! -Eric

I bought some clubs on ebay. The guy had like 30 sets of the same exact clubs. Guessing he got some bulk buy from a shop that got over stocked or something. $600's at the local shop and I paid $342 shipped. BUT, I was scared they were knock offs until I ran over to the shop and compared them to theirs. The guys at the store, hoping to find fakes, lol, went over the whole set for like 20 minutes and concluded they were real. He looks at me and says "well, good job....I guess". Mad that I found them elsewhere. Another time I bought a used driver for $90 and it came with the head falling off. No response or returns allowed from the seller. So, I lost out there. Also, anything coming from "china" is a red flag. Check reviews of the site online. Make sure they have a phone number you can call and talk to someone. My local shop said they would match online prices if they can call and talk to someone, which may be a better option if you have a local shop that does the same.

I'm not really in the best shape and my carpel tunel (sp?) is acting up now that I've been really hitting the driving range. I know I over did it a bit, hitting 180 balls per day for 3 straight days, but my hands are killing me. I heard the steel shafts put more of a vibration up towards your hands, but not 100% that swapping from graphite to steel (which I just did) will bother my hands like this. So, I'm looking for a few golfer type things I can do to strengthen my wrists and hands so this isn't an issue anymore. thanks!

what quality do you get? 1st, 2nd, 3rd?

I got a used Callaway FT9 Driver (draw) and 9.5 loft. I've never hit a driver so well.

My price range is between $100-$175. I don't want a "super nice bag". But I'd take something between 2.5 and 4 pounds.So far the Sun Mountain Swift X is looking nice. I like the shoulder straps, the kick stand, the colors available, the weight, and the color. I'm stuck right now between buying the new bag, or getting a 4 hybrid, I can only get one at this time. It's just my bag now has the cingle shoulder strap and is really big and bulky. Switching from graphite irons to steel irons added some weight too.

that's cool! I'll use a light lake pole with 4-6 pound line and snag 12 inch striped bass out in Napa Ca. all day. I leave it loose and let them run for fun while my wife's pole is out there looking for dinner. Keeps us entertained. Sounds like I need to get out there and pick up a fly rod for the not rainy, but still wet days when I can't golf. Seems like golf and fly fishing are a popular choice. * To the guy who goes Salmon fishing. I'm very jealous.

Never mess with cranky old people that are out trying to relax. Bad idea all around. reminds me of this...sort of.

From the Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa, Ca.

what I have: what I want:

Nice. I want to try fly fishing. Everyone I've talked to that's tried it, loves it.