pweenie

Zeph that's a good chart. What I would like to see included for all of those graphics is the "target line" - that would give a clearer picture IMO. Shot 5 is a straight shot which would be the target line for all the others. I'm from the old school so get confused with things like "push draw" but that is splitting hairs.

Quote: Most people seem to think that internet adds 10 to 15 yards but I don't think that is true. What I think is true is that people actually think that they hit their clubs that far. One thing I have noticed (using google earth) is that tee box to yardage markers are not very accurate for measuring. But yardage markers to middle of green are pretty accurate for measuring. It doesn't matter how far you hit if you are accurate. I got paired with a gentleman that would hit a hybrid from about 150 out, land the ball 20 yards short of the green and it would roll on. What ever works. True that people want to be seen to hit the ball far! The score card only reflects the score and not the distance you hit a club! The most common amateur mistake just happens to be coming up short - is that maybe because they think they can reach with a specific iron only to find out they can't? Anyway I'm still not posting my distances up here!

Man there are some seriously long hitters on this forum! Definitely not posting my distances.

I wear contacts only for golf and on the odd occasion I do play in glasses I can't say I have noticed any marked difference.

I saw a really good video the other day about practicing these shots with the left hand only. Can't think where it was but it showed how left hand only (if you are right handed) helps with keeping your weight forward, the left wrist firm through impact and the club face open on the follow through. It looked like a great drill. Try searching in you tube.

iacas I just had a look at your ball flight chart and note that the we refer to certain shots by different names. What your chart calls a push draw is in my terms a draw. And no where on your Ball flight laws does it show the "pull slice" that you refer to above.

Man I just lost a whole long answer/question for you iacas. I am struggling to understand your description. I never knew there were such things as a push-draw or a push-fade. I thought there were only the following: Push, Draw and Hook - in to out swing path with open, square and closed club face respectively Slice, Fade and Pull - out to in swing path with open, square and closed club face respectively Push slice, Straight and Pull Hook - in to in swing path with open square and closed club face respectively. I refer to the club face relative to the ball to target line when I say open square or closed. What I call the "ball to target line" is an imaginary straight line that runs through the ball to the target (the flag usually, but not always) Quote: If it's "square" to the target, that's a "straight draw." The ball will start pretty much at the target and then curve left of it. It's not a good shot. If it's square to the path, then that's just a straight push. A good draw has the clubface pointing right (for a righty) at impact, and the path farther right of that, so the clubface is "right of target, closed to path." I don't understand the concept of a "straight draw". My simple mind says it is either a straight shot or not. It cannot be both. If the ball starts off going straight at the target and then bends left that is a hook and not a draw. By definition a true draw start of slightly right of target (right handed golfer) and on reaching its apex drops to the left back on target. I tried addressing a ball "right of target, closed to path" and think (make that know) I have it wrong as the only way I can do that is by almost turning my back on to the target. In other words setting up for a pull. Maybe we have a different definition of ball to target line. I'd like to hear yours. And I still strongly disagree with what you call a pull slice - its a physical impossibilty the way you describe it. Maybe a slow mo video would switch my light on. As for the degrees. I don't consider myself to be stupid but I really cannot imagine getting something close to 2 or 4 degrees left or right of the target using a club-head and a golfswing which is why I said that some instructions are just too complicated.

I never knew there was such a thing as a "push draw"!! I thought there were only 9 possible ball flights and all are determined by the swing path and the clubface angle at impact. An in to out swing path with an open clubface at impact will result in a push . For a draw you need an in to out swing path with a square club face at impact. I sometimes think as golfers we call what is really a hook or a pull pull shot a draw - makes us feel good. Likewise I have seen many players slice a ball and call it a fade. I think most of the instructions given on this thread are far too confusing for the average golfer. In one of the earliest replies someone said they can hit a fade with a closing club face at impact - you serious? An out to in swing path (needed for a fade or slice) with a closed face will result in a pull shot. I just cannot see how you can get a closed clubface on that swing path to slice or fade. Just my $0.02

Not a title I want. if I have more than 30 putts in a round it is a bad day. Practice as often as possible to develop feel. The greater the variety of greens you practice and play on the better.

Think of the sand as the beach and all the fond memories you have of it. Imagine your ball is an egg in the center of a pizza. The size of the pizza determines how far you want to fly the ball. A saucer size is a good size to practice with When playing your shot try to slide your club under the pizza starting at one end of the "saucer" and coming out at the other side of the saucer keeping the egg intact but lifting the whole pizza out. The bigger the pizza the less the ball will fly. Works well with kids - adults get too complicated!

Set feet firmly in the sand. That means you need to choke down on the shaft the same amount that your feet are in the sand to compensate. Otherwise your club will dig into the sand. Less lower body movement than a normal shot - I in fact concentrate on using only my arms - and make sure you hit the ball first. Always take more club than you normally would for the distance. With a bit of practice it becomes a real easy shot and a lot of fun as well as being pretty impressive.

"When it was below i kept hitting grounders and when the ball was above i kept hitting it a few inches behind the ball, ripping out a huge divot and hitting the ball very fat and not far at all. I also had 4 or 5 shots that i needed to keep low because of trees and i couldn't keep it low to the ground." There is part of your answer. Adjust the ball position so that your club meets it at the right point. When below move the ball forward slightly so that you don't top it and when above move the ball backwards slightly. Concentrate on a normal swing and a smooth tempo and don't lift your head. Go out and practice the shots that trouble you.

As everyone has basically said use two parallel lines. If it was me I would go to the range and with string/tape/sticks or whatever to draw 2 lines as long as I can running parallel to each other. Place the ball on the tee. Take a look from behind to make sure the parallel lines are correct. Then step up to and address your ball. Now look over your left shoulder (if you are right handed) and "feel" what the correct alignment should be. Do not hit the ball. Do not hit the ball. Do not hit the ball. Do not hit the ball. Step out and away and repeat the whole exercise starting from behind the ball again. Do not hit the ball. Do this 100 times. Go back and repeat the drill again and again until such time as you automatically step into the right address position. When you think you are ready to start swinging the club do so with a 50% to 75% backswing. Do this over and over again and as you gain confidence with the knowledge that the ball is going where intended you can increase your swing. Continually check your alignment to avoid creeping back into your old habit. I bet you don't do it!

Yes you have to concentrate on the moment and not the past. I find it best to look forward to the next shot and think of it as fun and a challenge - no matter what went before.

A great putting aid is The Rail by Harold Swash. This should keep you entertained and your putting stroke honed during winter. Padraig Harrington (amongst others) uses it. They are not easy to find but they are out there. Here is a YouTube link to what they look like. Try and break the world record!

Its all about tempo and the club through impact. Trevino didn't have a classic swing, nor has Furyck, but through impact was always consistent. I fully agree about staying in the moment. History is gone and can't be undone. The future is yet to come. You only have now and that is all you have control over. Sounds a bit silly but I hope you know what I mean.

Practice does NOT make perfect! Proper practice makes perfect. Get that lesson.

I prefer to walk because it helps me to "think" golf. I also like the exercise and to "smell the grass".

Send me a PM (if you want) and I will send you "Putt for Dough" which is an e-book with putting drills. It will definitely help you.

Hey Radicardia. First off don't let anyone try and kill your dream. Sure you have an elephant to eat but just take it slow and steady, one bite at a time. As a golf coach I would advise that the cheapest way to improve is to practice your short game. Get yourself a good putter and 4 wedges and spent every spare minute you have practising from 100 yards and less. If you PM me I will send you my Putt for Dough e-book for free. It contais 4 or 5 easy putting drills that will get you started. Good luck, work hard and don't become despondent.

My home course is Peninsula golf club up in Orewa. Where do you play? Oops we are hijacking this thread!

More info needed for this one!!

Valid rant. Was it a muni course?

Well done! Stay focused on each shot and not the end score. There is nothing you can do about the future, you can only do something about the here and now. Easier said than done but then you just proved it can be done. Do tell us when you break 40.

All the above are absolutely correct. Carry 4 wedges and you can have 12 precise distances (subject to daily conditions) with the same swing As Pelz says the only thing that alters is the length of the swing. I mark my wedges with the distances that I hit each one using a 7.30, a 9.00 and a 10.30 (as in clock) length back swing. The follow through is the same on all of them.