reedf

I had a doctor tell me once that the main reason people have had a SECOND back surgery, is beacause they had a FIRST back surgery. IMO, I would try anything before the knife!

I'm getting pretty good at the "recovery" shot. Lord knows I have enough practice opportunities! I once heard an interview with Tiger and they asked him how he got so good at his miracle recovery shots. He said he spent alot of time in the woods too!

Am I missing something on the waving up deal? What do you do? Mark all of the other groups balls and repair their ball marks so that your group can putt out and finish? Doesn't seem logical to me to have 8 balls on the green.

I'm going to borrow FourPutts signature line here: "Your proper place on the course is directly behind the group in front of you, not directly ahead of the group behind you." As long as you are playing as fast as the group infront of you, you are going to complete your round as absolutely soon as you possibly can. And as Sacm3Bill said, you can't finish before them

You are correct in your determination that I have not personally experienced racism towards me. I am very thankful for that!! But that really has nothing to do with how much it costs to play golf! Sorry, but contrary to popular belief, I DO NOT get the white boy discount! The cost that I incur to play this game is the same as anyone of any race! If I wanted to raise my daughter to be a golf pro, it would have cost me the exact same amount as it would cost someone else. If the girls were not allowed to play at a venue or not allowed to enter a competition based on their race, I would be right beside them in the protest line. But that is NOT what this article is about. It is about the cost associated with golf. I don't know, maybe it is a racial issue, why the hell else would he pay $1000 for a golf club?

I play mostly with my fiance, she just started playing this year and I'm very impressed with her progress! But to keep the game fun for her and prevent her from not wanting to play, I encourage her to take any liberty she wants! Trouble topping fairway shots? Tee it up. Behind a tree? Deep rough? Foot wedge time! Other friends I play with are also beginners and if they want to do anything to make the game more enjoyable for them, I encourage it! Once you get serious about the game, that all changes, but when you're learning..... fun is way more important than a "legitimate" score! It doesn't bother me at all when my fiance beats me on a hole after 3 tee shots, a foot wedge and a 4 foot gimme!

I bought a used FT 5 wood earlier this year. I LOVE IT! I'm a little scared at times to pull out my driver, my distances are very similar to yours it looks like. I learned yesterday not to underestimate the power of my 5 wood, after hooking 2 consecutive shots OB I hit my 5 wood pure and it came to rest at 258 yds! (measured with my sky caddie) That's longer than I normally hit my driver! I know it's only a fluke shot, but I do have alot of confidence in that 5 wood!

Yes, but..... 'Myah reveres track and field legend Wilma Rudolph, and Erica particularly admires their fellow Chicagoan, President Barack Obama, whose home is less than a mile from the Jacksons' Doesn't sound to me like they're living in the poverty stricken part of town. As a parent of 2 myself, I was always determined to give my kids anything they need to be succesful, even when I couldn't always afford it. I feel like I was able to do that for the most part, so I am completely compassionate towards any parent trying to do the same thing. Just don't try to play the race card! Raising my kids was hard too!

Easy or hard eagles? Heard a great comment from Nick Faldo during the tournament yesterday! Someone made a great sand shot from a greenside bunker and Faldo said "why is it a great shot when it ends up a foot from the hole but a lucky shot if it goes in?" It seems like what you're saying that a short well placed shot isn't nearly as "good" as a long shot with an extremely luck roll out that you obviously didn't "plan" on happening?

Just taking a SWAG, based on the age of the girls, I'm guessing this guy is younger than me. He didn't grow up in the civil rights era! My fiance and I aren't doing too bad as far as income goes, but we couldn't afford to fund two kids in competitive golf or anything else at the level he is descibing! Has nothing to do with race! Sports can be very expensive! For EVERYONE!

Earlier this season due to very wet conditions the course I play had moved the white tees up next to the reds. That turned a certain par 3 into a 125yd hole. My tee shot ended up within 2 feet of the hole. IF it would've went in, there's no doubt I would have counted it as a hole in one AND an eagle!

I thinks it's nice to have someone throw in the occasional "I think you'd be better off to just chip it back into the fairway" Of course it depends on who you're playing with, but generally the guys I'm with are like me and trying to learn and get better. What better way than to share thoughts on the course.

I shot a 100 that I can be somehwat happy with??? My bad holes are fewer but when I blow it I REALLY blow it! Par 4 5th hole, I hit my approach shot in the greenside bunker and reached the green 4 shots later! This was immediately followed by pull hooking 2 tee shots OB on the 6th tee! So I basically lost 8 shots on those 2 holes. The back nine has 3 par 3s which I proceeded to card 20 shots on! Played the other 6 holes (3 par 5s and 3 par 4s) at +3! Geeezz!

I ain't buying #3!! This is a guy who goes ballistic at the click of a camera while he is supposedly "focused". I will agree with your other 3 points

If I were to ever meet any of the "sandtrappers" on a golf course anywhere or anytime, and I said "good luck today" as you headed out to the tee and you reacted in the same way as the OP describes, you would be a total dickhead in my opinion, for now and always. There's just no excuse for anyone to ever act that way. How many times have I seen posts here saying "golf is a gentlemens game". I DON'T remember the addition of "unless your a professional and it's competition day"

Well, I have nothing nice to say about ANY athlete or celebrity that acts like a total jerk to fans. I despise everyday people who act that way. Which are most likely the type of people who will defend his poor actions. The fans are the driving force behind their livlihoods, without the fans the sponsors wouldn't pony up a dime in sponsorhips.

I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan living in Wisconsin! It's been hell living with these cheeseheads since losing that damn superbowl!

You've really made great progress from your first vids! Some great advice from the other guys looks like it has really helped as well. The only thing I would like to add is to keep in mind that each of us has unique physical abilities as golfers. We must make our swings fit us individually. Having said this, I think you are trying to extend your backswing beyond your flexibility that you have right now. If you shorten your backswing just a little, it will keep you from standing up when you get to the top. When you continue to rotate past your ability is when you stand up. Take a look at JB Holmes. He is a great driver of the ball and he does not have a "full" backswing.

Well, since nobody else has commented I'll throw my 2 cents in. I do believe that once you start fixing your swing, keep in mind things will most likely get worse before you get better. So I wouldn't worry alot about your distance yet. The first pic set is affirming what your instructor said about your posture. Add to that balance. Your shoulders are way out over your toes, you cannot be balanced. Look at Rory Mcilroys posture, perfect. The yellow line is your shoulder, notice how your arms are hanging straight down (properly) with your driver, but you're still out past your toes. In the first pic, with your wedge, you are not only bent over further, you are badly slouching, you have pulled your hands in to your body to compensate for a short club. You should maintain virtually the same posture with every club. What changes as the clubs get shorter is the angle from your wrists to the club shaft. Then you step closer to the ball. Try to get your posture right by setting up infront of a mirror at home. Get comfortable with that new feel before heading to the range. Second, your lost power. I've just taken a few screen shots of you vs Ernie Els. I know it's not a fair comparison! But pay attention to the club lag that Ernie has. Your club releases too early causing you to lose club speed. You are probably getting great club speed about midway through your downswing, but have lost it at impact. You should try to have your hands ahead of the ball at impact. I hope this helps a little. I know there are plenty of real instructors on this site, hopefully they can add to this.

My goal for the year is to lower my hdcp to the point I can try to play in the (Wisconsin) WSGA Governors Cup next year (or the year after). Very similar to what you're describing. Haven't played in anything like this, but experience tells me that if you are "competing" there will be alot of competitors whose main stragedy is to DQ their competition for any reason whatsoever. They believe it will help their chances I guess.

Hello everyone. I've been on the boards a little while now and figured it was past time that I introduce myself. I live in south central Wisconsin and am a control systems engineer for a material handeling company. I started playing 5 years ago, but after a year and a half had to quit. I just started back again this year. My first round this year was a 136! I've brought that down a bit! I took one lesson at golftec and the video opened my eyes to my biggest flaw. I have a bad bad problem with falling back onto my right side while swinging. I've been able to fix this with my irons but not with my woods yet. I can hammer it out on the range and get my driver working right up until I step onto the first tee! So right now, it rarely comes out of my bag! I feel like I am striking the ball very well for the most part. I still average about 2 holes out of nine that I really screw things up and drive my score up. My biggest problem right now is off the tee, second I still have the occasional duffed shot that only goes 50 yds. Anyway, I really love the game and have been teaching my finance to play this year. And by teaching I mean helping her with the basic fundamentals. After 3 months, she is playing great! I really love having her to play with and it allows me to play alot more too!!!

I should take my driver out of the bag, but I want to hit it! Like you, I can get good distance when I do manage to hit it straight. Had a company league outing yesterday. I hit 5W of 3 tees and hit 3 fairways. Hit 3W off 2 tees and landed within 5 yards of both fairways. Then I hit my driver on 2 holes and hit 2 adjacent fairways! Obviously blew a few strokes trying to get back!

I didn't read the entire thread, but I can definately see the side pointing towards education. It is extremely valuable in all aspects of life. But.... If someone is offering a pile of money I say take it! He can make a mint on endorsements NOW! Here's another IF... IF he gets hurt, IF he's not as marketable in a couple years, IF IF IF! He CAN make the money now and probably enough to be set for life. Then if the pro golf career doesn't pan out as expected, he can still go to college. He still has the money.

Well you evidently have some great natural athletic ability! I wish I had that! It's a great start and much better than I can average! Work hard at it and get some lessons! Keep your love for the game and always have fun playing! It's just a game!

Almost every round I want to throw my clubs in the lake and leave! Then I hit that one great shot and think maybe..... Then a couple shots later I'm eyeing that pond again!