BWChuck

If you have the time to position a camera on a tripod and then upload them to this forum, how do you not have time to throw on your golf shoes (or any shoes for that matter)? I am not a good golfer, but I (and most others, I would think) will have a very hard time taking this with any seriousness.

I'd keep reading as well. Addiction stories are compelling to me, but most of them focus so much on the addiction itself or the negative impacts it poses on the people around them. It seems your story would revolve more around drug abuse and its direct effects on athletic performance, which I find interesting and unique. A great teaser!

I always have some "address thoughts," but try to not have them enter during my swing. I try to wait until the moment my thoughts "conclude their statement," then start the swing. When I am still talking to myself as my back swing starts, something always seem to go wrong.

Thanks for the clarification.

I could be totally wrong about this, but I have been led to believe that Golf Evolution and Five-Simple-Keys are promoting and teaching the Stack and Tilt swing. I guess, to me, I have just read it as "the five simple keys of focus using the Stack and Tilt method". Therefore, I have thought that most of Erik's videos, relate to the Stack and Tilt swing. Please, anyone, correct me if I am way off base here.

I smoke a couple of cigarettes on the golf course, but do my best to not make the others I'm with uncomfortable. I'm okay with slightly separating myself from the non-smokers, as opposed to them having to walk away because of the smoke. As for the butts lying on the ground or course, totally unacceptable. I will always wait to throw the butt in a trash can, weather on the streets or on a golf course. Littering really bugs me.

I have joined the '53' party. Was fun to take, and I learned a few things.

$80 at Cinnabar Hills in San Jose. Outstanding. Truly can't wait to go back.

No real golf wisdom here, as I'm not a good golfer (yet), and have not taken lessons (yet). What I do a know a little about, is sales. It is incredibly easy to sell anything to anybody when the customer is vulnerable while looking at anything they are even remotely interested in. And yes, manipulation is only one of many tactics that can pay big dividends in sales (whether manipulation was the case, I do not know). It sounds as if this guy gave you a one sentence fix (convincing that you need a lesson) for the price of 15 minutes of quality and more detailed instruction ($50/ 1/2 hour). Had you written this same post without the "video my swing for 25 bucks," I still would have posted the first paragraph. You were robbed of 25 dollars. Can this guy give quality lessons you'll be happy with? Maybe, but I doubt it. What I would assume, is that after lesson 5, he will make sure you come back for lesson 6; and after lesson 100, there will be a great reason for 101.

+1 I learned on a "pitch 'n putt," and am honestly not sure if I would have taken to the game without it. So, if this is the case, and they are being shut down faster than born, why is this happening and what can we do about it?

This all say a lot about your character. I live and work in silicon valley, home of Google's headquarters (the F500 #1 company to work for, and #73 F500 total ranking), where jeans are the standard; including executives. Most other companies in the valley operate in similar manners. Standards are constantly changing, and if you think that your work/CC atmosphere is or should be the universal standard for appropriateness, your perceptions are incredibly delusional.

Wow. What a disappointing response. Anyone that feels the same way do, should certainly join a private club and avoid municipals; which is fine. By no means, am I saying people should ignore dress code, and any course can choose any dress code they want, which is also fine by me, but to say that a new golfer (or any) golfer does not belong with the normal public (course(s)) in jeans, is absurd. I honestly think that opinions like yours are hurting the thread topic here, of encouraging new players to pursue the game. The game is meant to be fun, relaxing and competitive (if you choose) and should not thought of in the terms of status or appearance in any way outside of the guidelines put out by the individual establishments.

Fair enough, but I will add that a guy with 1200 dollar clubs and the attire to match that can't get the ball off the ground, will be judged much more than the guy in jeans that can play good golf.

Very few golfers start out with quality equipment/attire, and it is totally unnecessary to have a good time. The majority of good golfers will never judge any new player based on their "mismatched clubs" or clothing. What people will judge new players on, is their lack of etiquette and/or respect for the course and the people playing on it. Basic etiquette can be understood in a 5 minute conversation. Golf can be intimidating at first, but for very different reasons than you state. It can be a little embarrassing to hit bad shots at first, but you'll soon see that most golfers actually enjoy seeing people trying to learn the game that they have learned to love so much, everyone started at some point. As for "men compare themselves based on money and stuff." I could not disagree more. I feel that statement is much more true of women, whereas men, compare themselves on competitiveness and performance.

I like this idea, as I also, have not had much success swinging at "less than 100%." I just seem to naturally swing my wedges with a slower and smoother tempo. It gets stronger and more forced with additional club length. I'll give it a shot - "pace of a wedge." Thanks for the tip.

Proper camera angle and 8 seconds instead of 8 minutes would help draw attention.

It was a bit confusing, but only for a moment or two before I made sense of it. Maybe the hand/fingers (or back of the hand) bending forward might be better understood by noobs like me?

I'm a novice golfer, but I'll take a stab. Left/lead knee flex/angle, right/back elbow even or below lead elbow, and (this might be a stretch): flared back foot?

I don't think ball position is the major problem as the ball almost always starts straight or even to the left a bit. I'm thinking it could be a combination off all the things EverythingGolf mentioned. I'll certainly be experimenting with the weaker grip at the range. Out of curiosity, is the reason a weaker grip works because it prevents you from turning your hands over as much? Also, is "turning the hands over" and flipping the same thing? Thanks for all the replies so far. I will do my best to get some video footage within the week.

I have a severe hook problem that gets worse as the club shafts are longer and less lofted. I feel extremely comfortable with 9 iron through 58* wedge. But as I as move down clubs the hooks begin, and it almost seems directly relative to the length of the club. 7-8 irons are more "extreme draw" and very playable, 4-6 irons is more direct hook and looking for a decent lie without a tree in the way, and all other clubs are often a joke. What is this root cause of this? Thanks in advance.

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation guys.

I'm an AMF 82-70 Pinspotter mechanic (on and off for the last ten years), and a student of Mathematics and Education. Who knows what I'll be five years from now....

Interesting thread. I've heard a lot about "compression" of the golf ball, and I have always thought it to be the moment(s) that the ball, club head, and ground were all connected to each other and played a physical force on one another. But it seems through the videos in this thread that the only influence is club head and ball. So I guess I ask, is "compression" just synonymous with contacting the golf ball? If not, then what is the physical difference between contact and compression? A confused novice golfer....

Hi Sand Trappers, I've been browsing this site a couple hours a week for about two months now, and decided to join the party! What an amazing resource of information, and laughs. I'm Charlie: A Student of Mathematics and Education, a part time bowling mechanic (and avid bowler), currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've been playing occasional par 3 golf for the last 6 years or so, but took it took the next level in the last year, averaging 3 (18 hole) rounds and 3 range sessions a month. I have yet to break 100, but it is so very close, and I truly can't wait! Thanks to everyone for all the tips and wisdom I've already received, and I look forward to being a part of the community. Charlie