Saks

Hey. Bit of a rant! After 6 weeks of getting rained off, we finally had qualifying for the matchplay with handicap tournament our club holds each year, just before the real club champs. I qualified second (top 16 qualify only)and was looking forward to my match this Sunday. Alas, on Thursday night I dropped a 260lb plus outboard motor onto my foot. I now have two broken twos, one in two places and the other has broken clean into two pieces! Needless to say, my foot is deep blue, swollen up and cant walk! I have been able to put the match off by one week. The opponent was happen to delay as had been sick all week. But realistically I don't think I will be able to walk 18 by next week anyway. I can probably get over pulling out of this tournament, but the club champs proper starts in four weeks. I would want a couple of rounds under the belt before my first match of that. I have a title to defend here! Any tips on how to recover? Anyone got over something like this fast? I am of course wary of coming back too soon damaging it further and missing out on everything. All I can say is D'oh. I have been hitting it so well too...

Mine would be -16. Have birdied all but 2 holes, no eagles. Makes for a 56. Not bad for my first full year of golf...

MY favorite: Both my caddy and I simultaneously in the final of the club champs 3 weeks ago: "Oh beee the club" as my 8 iron approach zeroed in on the pin. It was! A funny one is: A hacker turns to his caddy and says "Do you think I can reach the green with my 5 iron from here? Caddy says "Yep, how many times are you going to hit it?"

Am tossing up between a 5 wood and a 3 hybrid. Both 2007 TM Burners. I already have the Burner 3 wood and it is the nicest club I have ever hit! I have a free club from the golf shop and they got these 2 options in for me to hit tomorrow. I was thinking 3 hybrid but have just started hitting my 3 iron semi-reliably! I have tried the 4 hybrid against my 4 iron and they go about the same distance, except the hybrid has a higher trajectory (I hit it real high) and I guess is more forgiving. So no real advantage there. So I guess I am looking for something to fill the gap between 3 iron and 3 wood. Distances (carry): 3 Wood is 200 metres(220 yards) reliably, 4 iron is 170ish metres (185 yards) and 3 iron 180ish metres (195 odd yards). I am happy with the height I get from my 3 iron, so do I go for the forgiveness of the 3 hybrid or go to the 5 wood? I will hit them back to back tomorrow and hopefully one of them falls right in the 190metre yardage. Anything else I should think about? I will have to lose my 52 degree wedge if I carry the 3 iron plus whatever I pick up tomorrow! So maybe one will fall in between the 4 iron and 3 wood! Decisions, decisions!

My 3 wood of the deck. Especially when you land it on the green after a poor tee shot, or for your second on a par 5. A pretty close second would be a one hop and stop sand wedge, right next to the hole...

Thanks for the replies...They are not the right sort of blue, they look "cheap" as well. I wasn't looking at buying them, I do a bit of digging on golf clubs for sale over here and report dodgy dealings. That website will remove any auctions for clones or knock offs. We don't want them to be sold to unsuspecting people! Even when people admit they are fakes they still say they will play like the authentics! At least in NZ we don't see too many instances of fakes...the tend to stand out like these ones! Another auction removed... Cheers for the input

Callaway x18's. They just dont look right... Can anyone confirm? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Golf...p-76223067.htm

Our greens had not been done for two years and were getting so slow and starting to hold water too. I played 3 days after they got cored and sanded and they were pretty bad, the next week they were slow but after two weeks they were better than before they were done. 4-6 weeks and they were pretty much perfect. Now they are they fastest I have ever seen them (still slow compared to most though I would say!) and it is just coming into spring! It sucks when they are just done but worth it to have better greens in a few weeks.

I have stumbled across quite a few clubs in my 18 months or so of playing. Usually 9 irons or wedges besides greens. I have lost two myself. I left my putter by the 18th green. Realised on the way back home, rang the clubhouse and they had it. Must have been handed in by the group behind. Today, I went to chip onto the 13th green with my 7 iron, and it wasn't there... After I stopped panicking and wondering how I could play in the club champs final next week without my 7, I remembered that I was inbetween 6 and 7 iron for my approach into the 11th. I had gone with 6 and left the 7 leaning on the bag. I must have walked off without putting it back... I started to run over to the spot and asked the green fee players coming down the 12th if they had seen it. No. Uh oh. then as I was running down the 11th, someone was waving at me and pointing to their bag. Got there and he had it. Great feeling. Luckily it was a guy who plays the course a bit and has his own Taylormades so didn't feel the need to swipe one of mine! Don't know how I would have got a LT 7 iron in a week! Or ever. So yeah, I think its karma. I always hand everything in that I find and have been lucky so far when I have been stupid enough to leave something on the course. Also lucky that we only have about 130 members so everyone knows everyone. Would hate to lose a club on a busy course. Man that was a great feeling seeing that guy with my club! FWIW, it was a strange day on the course. Had 38 with 3 birdies on the front for a P.B! 42 coming home.

This unbelievable! When playing ultra casual rounds with close mates, we will pick up someones ball if they have just lag putted or chipped to a couple of inches or so and throw it back... In your situation, I will "concede" the putt for your par. Nice 89!!

With my irons I have finally got rid of my slice and now it is a reasonably reliable draw. I get a club or so extra carry from the draw but no extra roll, although it is winter here and you can stick a 4 iron on the greens at the moment! My driver and 3 wood are draws if I hit them properly, but I have a reliable 80 percent swing with my driver which is a fade. This is my safety off the tee shot. I think the preferable ball flight is whatever you feel comfortable with and whatever you can repeat. If I try to play a fade, it turns into a slice very quickly but I hardly ever hook it from trying to draw it. For someone who hooks it, they may feel more comfortable playing a fade.

Well, after a couple of emails and some sending of pictures, my replacement 3 wood has arrived, less than a week after it broke. Well done to RockBottom Golf and Taylormade. You both have a customer for life... I couldn't be happier with the service and with buying clubs online (not sure about ebay though, unless you buy from a known retailer...)

Saw my first trashie lask week. Was on the 18th in a club champs match, the other match in my group. First guy on in two. Second guy hits, pushes it right and short. Lands square on top of the rubbish bin lid (by the 10th tee) and bounces onto the green. They both hole out in two for a half......and proceed to go on to extra holes!

Only problem is I got it from Rockbottom golf and they are not an authorised retailer...

Have used my Burner 3 wood for about 10 rounds. It has been an amazingly nice club. Untill today. Pulled it out on the 9th tee, and had it resting on the ground while I was waiting for others to tee off, had the tiniest amouont of pressure on it and it snapped into two! Must have been cracked and hanging on by a thread! I had used it twice during the round, off the first tee with no problems and then on the 4th hole, off the fairway. The ball was sitting down a little and I caught it very thin and close to the heel as well. I guess this is what did the damage... I can't believe that this was enough to break it though... I have seen clubs take way more punishment than this. Must have been unlucky and got a club with a dodgy shaft. Anyone else had issues with these burner shafts? Time to test out Rockbottom golf's after sales customer service! Is now a good time to look at upgrading the shaft? I hit this club quite high but really straight so don't really want to upset things much. Any suggestions here?

I always avoid others line and expect the same in return. As said earlier, the other groups in front, their foot marks have 15 or so minutes to settle. Particulary true here at the moment with winter golf and soft greens. I played with someone in the weekend who was an absolute stickler for the rules. Had me up for being one blade of grass out of place (mark clean and replace winter rules...its been unusually wet here) and said I shouldn't have taken a drop when my ball was suckered in the mud in the rough off the side of the green, even though relief can be taken from a suckered ball anywhere except in a hazard (says so on the scorecard) someone yelled out the rule from an adjacent hole to enforce my point. This same person walked all over my line on several occasions leaving deep foot marks! (did I mention its been wet here!) Just stay off peoples lines. Then there are no problems. End of story.

Thanks. The pain isn't bad now, its only bad cause its so tight that when I try to swing it aggravates it! It has two weeks to settle...

Have been playing and practicing a lot lately, with the club champs on and having had a big swing change around a month ago... Today was supposed to be my champs match but it has been postponed a fortnight(Luckily now due to this weekend). So anyway, swing has been coming along nicely and putting has been warming up as well, all in good time for the champs. Now the bad part... Played yesterday (Saturday). 1st tee, par 4, beautiful drawn 3 wood around the dog leg. Wedge to 10 feet, made the putt. Went to put my putter back in my bag and bang, put my back out. What a lame way to injure yourself! After that start I wasn't going to stop though. Kept playing and it got worse and worse untill I had to limp off...Even got the leg pain for those that know about dodgy backs! So after a massage, some heat and an early night, it felt better today so thought I would try again (luckily my match has been pushed out a fortnight). I lasted 2 holes. Limped around and tried to stretch it out but no good. Oh well, I got to watch a bit of my mates match which was on today and he won so not all bad I suppose. So there goes my practice this week at least. Hoping my back can settle down in time for my match in a fortnight. I have spent way too much of my life lately getting ready for this match. Would hate to be let down by my body! The mind is willing but the body has had enough... Maybe I have been practicing too much lately!

Thats a bit rough. It seems a couple of others have beaten me to it as well. Settle down Rick, what you will probably find is that the $60 is the op's "sanity" money. This is money that you have left over in your budget each month to spend on yourself. His wife probably spends her $60 per month on something for herself as well. As for me, my membership costs $46 per month. This gives full playing rights any day, anytime. Don't need to book a tee time (except Sunday Morning inbetween 7 and 9:30) as the course is never that busy. No starters, no rangers, no attitudes and no carts... You gotta like New Zealand! I'm not sure I could handle the hoards of people on the courses in the USA. I plan to come and see sometime though! Oops bit off topic there, but I would just play as much as gas allows to get there and back!

Well... There is good news and bad. The best thing is that I have drawn a bye in the first round of the club champs so I get an extra fortnight to get sorted... Played 12 holes on Saturday afternoon. Hit plenty of thin and fat shots, and lots of other rubbish... Also hit a lot of good ones, we were the only ones on the course (the beauty of being in NZ) so often teed up 2 or 3 and dropped and hit again if it was a bad shot. Hit a career winter drive, 245 metres (265ish yards, I think) all carry. was stoked with that, even though it was a second tee ball tee off, shows that my length is back to where it should be and more. Just need to get a reliable connection on my irons and I will be away. Its so funny playing with a new swing, feels like I have just started playing again! So happy about the extra fortnight to get used to it!

I hope this is the way! I have been constantly holding a grip at home, while watching tv etc and the new grio is starting to feel nicer. I have good a perfect fence by my deck which is good for practicing my backswing against. As Mikelz said, it feels like an almost vertical swing, but it doesn't slice as long as I make a good turn on the backswing and start the path slightly in side. Key points seem to be: Good turn, make sure the backswing doesn't get too fast and short (tempo) and then get the body going before the club on the downswing. Then fully commit to the shot and follow through(been a problem for me for ages, especially with driver) This swing is already showing signs of promise. I can't believe how high the ball flight is... I think I need to hit balls though. I believe in sound theory but also need to be comfortable with what it feels like when you hit it! I will hit 50 today and then play tomorrow. Hopefully it will pay dividends straight away....Have to rethink all my distances again as well! Ahhh... the joys of trying to better yourself!

I had a lesson on Tuesday with a new pro(my regular one has left. He was doing half price lessons as well, Do'h). I have been hitting it a bit fat and have lost heaps of distance lately My draw becomes a hook easily. I wanted more consistency, one week I will have 80, the next 90 or worse. Well, This new guy said that it is amazing that I play as well as I do with such a bad swing! (I am a natural ball hitter with great hand eye co-ordination) He apologised for not sugar coating it...he said it looked awful! I was too hunched and crouched in my stance, poor grip and my backswing was so far inside that the clubhead wasn't even reaching shoulder height and my hands halfway up my torso! So...my grip: both hands rotated inwards further so that the v's between my thumb and first finger point towards right shoulder(you could see almost all my fingernails at address previously). Stance: Closer to the ball with my stance more upright, straighter in the back and less knee bend. Backswing: start by turning the shoulders/upper body and club as one, then continue to turn as the club comes almost straight up (He said to practice the backswing slowly with my butt against a wall, the club shouldn't hit the wall at all) then start the downswing with my legs/hips so belt buckle pointing almost at the target at impact. This has been a lot to take in at once, and a bit scary that the old pro had let it slip. It feels so uncomfortable standing over the ball now! Results so far. After the lesson, could barely hit a ball. Now after two days of walking around the house with my new grip on a club, and practicing my swing against the fence: did my usual chipping practice today, it could be a coincidence but I felt my chips were going straighter with the new grip. Hit two buckets at the range tonight and am starting to get my head around it all. When I hit it well, I am getting a towering ball flight, straight or slight draw and a club or two in extra distance. So it is looking promising. Really struggling with the driver though. Hopefully this will help me get some consistency when the swing gets settled, only problem is the Club Champs are in 2 1/2 weeks. I am planning to hit another bucket tomorrow, play on Saturday, two or three range sessions next week, play that weekend, one more range session before the match that Sunday, along with my usual shortgame practice. Any other tips for helping a swing settle down and become natural again? Last time my swing changed it was a disaster area for at least a month!

My Burner 3 Wood arrived today. All I can say is wow. I was hitting it side by side with my mates Callaway fusion 3 wood. He didn't want to give the Burner back. Very high ballflight with an easy draw. Forgiving as well. If the Burner Driver hits like that, Maybe the R7 460 will become my back up driver...

I too, have been known to give a club some air-time. When I first started, I hit four bad shots in a row with my hybrid. 1 fat then 3 tops. I smoked the 5th one....but it hit a tree and bounced back toward the tee box. I was still at the end of my follow through so just uncoiled and let her rip back towards the tee after my ball. Unfortunately my bag and trundler where directly in the flight path! Lucky it has a graphite shaft...it wrapped itself around the bag in a U shape before flying off and nearly hitting my mate! I still have a love/hate relationship with that club! The best one I have seen was two weeks ago. Mate was playing his third into a par 5. He has been having problems with his short game (still trying to play like the scratch golfer he was two years ago when he practiced!) he hit a worm burner with his pitching wedge, straight into the front bunker. The wedge was instantly in the air, out of bounds and stuck in some bushes up a big hill. I was already on the green so went to fetch it for him. Took me 10 minutes! I kept in my bag and then tried to sell it back to him when he needed it on the next hole! I try not to show much emotion, I certainly wouldn't throw a club in a match, that is basically admitting defeat! Now I have nice clubs, I would never throw my driver, putter or woods. The most I do is drop an iron from the end of my follow through. Even that is less and less as usually all that happens is I end up with a wet grip (Winter Golf here!) CPHoya, I am still chuckling from hearing you "light sabre" through the leg of your bag. Sounds like you could play with us!

Why are draws the devil? I used to play a fade, but it very easily turned into a slice. My draw does vary from a push to almost a hook, but has proved way more reliable than the old flight...