hunterp12

Hey guys, I was watching the Open and saw that before Ernie starts his backswing, he sets the shaft forward a bit then pulls away for the backswing. I was at the range the next day and was joking with my brother about using the Ernie hitch on the next shot and ended up getting really good contact and having it fly farther than usual. So then I started actually playing around with it more andreally like the feel of setting the shaft forward, much like how it should be at impact. It seems I make a lot more solid contact and the ball is flying straighter and farther. Even hit my 3 iron with some consistency. We played golf later that week and I shot my best round ever. I was just wondering if this is ok to keep using, because I sort of hold the impact point throughout the swing (or feel like I do, not sure if I actually am), but then wouldn't my wrists be cupped at the top of the swing which is technically bad? Also I play my ball position a little different.. My shorter irons are back in my stance and then they move all the way forward to just insidemy left foot formy driver. Should I work on keeping all of the positions from the center forward or is there any difference. I notice I still don't get my shots to stick really. They mostly land and roll just off the green. Thanks for answering any of these questions. Love the site. Starting to get very addicted to golf... coming up on 2 years and best round is an 85. -Hunter

So I've only been playing for about 8 months now. Went out last Saturday to the range and had a major step back on progress. My contact was all over the place.. I kept topping like every other shot. Has never happened that many times consistently. Was so bad, thought about cancelling my tee time for the next day. Ended up deciding to go out any way and on the range before teeing off I was still topping a lot of shots but it wasn't as bad but wasn't back to normal. Decided that maybe I was too far/on my heels from the ball that my club would swing over it a bit so I decided to change my stance and lean forward more on more toes. Almost to where any further and I would lose balance forward. Then I changed my right hand and moved it around the club more clockwise where my where I could see my fingertips/knuckles. Suddenly I was having the best contact and ball striking I have ever had. Was even taking little divots and when I went and played I never topped the ball once (except for on a par 5 590 yd trying to go all out on a 2nd shot with a 3 wood). The worst iron shot I had was decent little push and a not so good snap hook with a hybrid. My driving was superb as well. Shot a 94 from the longest tees (my putting is horrible, lots of 3 putts). Just want to know if the new stance and grip is bad, or if it is legitimate. I don't want to keep doing it if it will backfire horribly one day. But like I said, it was the best iron play and driving I have ever had. Was even able to hit my 5 iron off the tee and land a green which never would have happened before. Thanks for any input.. and sorry this is so long.

Thanks guys! I'm really excited to get back out and work some more on my game. Can't wait for the weekend. Hope the weather holds up here in Washington. Eventually I'm going to have to go play Chambers Bay where they will be holding the U.S. Open in 2014, then when its on TV maybe I'll be able to say I parred one of the holes or who knows.. maybe even birdie

Hey all.. First post, but glad to be apart of the family. I have been playing for about 7months now and the best I've shot is an 89, but I seem to be getting better and better and things are coming along nicely due to being pretty athletic. I just have some questions about approaching the green and shot selections. I've been watching a lot of golf on tv and they always say things like "He'll be going for a small cut/fade/draw onto the right side of the green." This brings up my first question. When do you want to exactly shape your shot? What are you trying to accomplish with this and why don't you always just try to go straight at the flag? I can sometimes manage a nice draw and fade on command if I'm striking the ball well, but only really do it to get around obstacles and never when I have a straight shot. Another question is where exactly are you trying to position yourself on the green? I hear a lot about high side and other terms, but I don't really understand the meaning. I'd just like to know for what I should be strategically placing my shots to better improve my scores/make other shots easier. At my level, I am just happy to land on the green and looking at some kind of putt. Next I have been trying to get my distances per club to better understand which club to use when I am whatever distance away, but should I be measuring all out swing distance, or just nice easy strokes that are more reliable? I have measured with pretty much full strength hits, but as I go higher up in clubs, it becomes less consistent distance whereas my 3 will go as far as say a 6 most of the time. I just attribute this to my lack of practice/skill yet in hitting the harder to hit/higher up clubs. Last thing is there is a links course near me here and I was wondering if strategy changed any for links style courses than regular courses. Thanks for any help anyone can give me. Sorry about the length and all the questions. Just trying to get a better feel for what I should be working on at the course and driving ranges. - Hunter