jay-jay

"Does anyone actually think this analytically when setting up to swing?" When playing golf, of course not. When on the range, working on swing mechanics, all the time. The point is, if you are trying to fix a swing problem, you need to know what causes the particular ball flight you are seeing. If your cause/effect is incorrect, you can spend a lot of time chasing after fixes that will never work. In the case of clubhead path/clubface angle/ball flight interactions, the conventional view that "clubhead path determines initial direction" is simply wrong. Go here to see why, and what's really going on: http://www.tutelman.com/golf/clubs/ballflight.php?ref=

This topic has been beaten to death in several threads, but here is some new input. Here is a link discussing clubhead path/clubface angle and their impact on ball flight. Contradicts conventional (golf industry) wisdom and the PGA manual, but I think the physics makes sense: http://www.tutelman.com/golf/clubs/b...lubmakeronline To convince yourself, try a simple experiment: Take your 9-iron, open the club face relative to the TARGET LINE. Put the ball in a position, forward/back in your stance that will allow you to hit the ball when the clubhead PATH is square to the TARGET LINE. Swing your club along the TARGET LINE, ie as straight as you can. Your ball should start to the right immediately, ie a PUSH. It may or may not curve further to the right, ie a PUSH SLICE, depending on how hard you hit it. As another example, all the advice I have every heard on how to pitch the ball says to open your stance, aim the club FACE at the target, and swing along your shoulder line. The ball will go in the direction of the CLUB FACE, and not in the direction of the CLUBHEAD PATH. Same applies for bunker shots.

Geezer, The point of Jim Hardy's One-Plane/Two-Plane book is that it is fatal to try and mix the elements of one swing with another. If you truly have a OPS, and try to stand more upright, you are mixing in a TPS element, and in all probability will screw up your swing. My advice - buy the book (or read it at Barnes and Noble), find out which swing type you prefer, and then eliminate elements of the other swing from your style. I'm a two planer, so I know that any tip that begins with "bend over more", or "rotate your hips quickly" or "swing on a flatter plane" will be certain death to my swing, and I can ignore them.

My drives tend to drop between the 200 and 250 yd markers at the range, when hitting from the mats, so I guess 225yd carry. With thick grass and some upslope, the roll is limited. I always wonder how accurate the markers are, and how much the range balls influence the distance. I figure 10% as a reasonable guess. On the course, I have hit solid straight drives that went 290-300 with roll, but those are 1 in 10 at best. Sure feels good to hit one though, and I always remember them as feeling almost effortless. And it's really fun to have a 120yd 9-iron or 100yd PW straight into the green. Working on letting my hands/arms "drop" from the top, rather than hitting hard from the top, has increased my distance, because the club reaches maximum speed closer to impact, rather than early on. Also seems to reduce the % of bad shots, due to less tension and "hit-it" instinct. As for bad shots, hooks and slices that go 150-200yds, 20-40 yards left or right. OB on any kind of challenging course, particularly the links style we have in Colorado with either wetlands or high-dry grasses scattered everywhere.

Definitely every green in regulation. I mostly 2-putt, so the odd 1-putt here and there and I'm under par or I balance out the 3-putts. Either way, much better than hitting 3 after slicing or hooking OB, hitting it fat for 4, laying up short for 5, blading it over the green for 6, perfect pitch for 7 and 1-putting for a solid 8.