shortgame85

I played my home course for a recorded round for the first time this year. I scored a miserable 98. I played every shot down, took every penalty, no gimmies, mulligans, etc. I had four triple bogies, two double bogies, two pars, ten bogies. It was not a pretty round, although it was a magnificent day. I actually lowered my handicap a bit last year to GHIN 14.9. Other some decent driving, you would never have guessed I was a mid handicapper by my play yesterday. But, hope springs eternal as the shoots pushing through the dirt.

I am 51. I got my first pair of glasses in the second grade. I wore contacts for many years until my eyes could no longer tolerate them. I would be hesitant to recommend contacts while playing because of the possible interference of dust particles in windy conditions. On the other hand, I needed bifocals for several years before I actually bought a pair. I was afraid of the adjustment period and I was certain I would not be able to play golf with them on. I was wrong on both counts. I wear them every time I play and even from the first, I had no trouble on the course; indeed, I could see the scorecard quite a bit better than before (albeit, that turned out not to be a benefit due to poor scoring). My problem is this: I have a bad astigmatism. I cannot get wrap around sunglasses in my prescription because of this fact. I cannot stand regular sunglasses because I am so conscious of the difference in light in my peripheral vision. Yet, I know I really should wear some protection for my eyes. Does anyone know of wraparounds that are available with a correction for astigmatism?

Yes, yes, yes. In 1988, I was single and chairman of the Mississippi Arts Commission and involved in a couple of other arts organizations. There were some folks in these parts who couldn't imagine how I could be single, interested and literate in the arts and NOT gay. It must have been quite a surprise to those narrow thinking, simian brained morons when I married in 1993 and later, sired three children. It seems there are always some ignorant, lazy minded fools who think it necessary to label a person's sexuality by virtue of how they perceive an individual's behaviour or interests, even if those characteristics or interests bear little relationship to his/her genetic sexuallity. But then, there is no monopoly on foolishness.

Perhaps Callaway should hire Flip Wilson to be its spokesman for the Diablo series of products. After all, if you remember, "The devil made him do it!" Of course, I always preferred "Geraldine."

Yesterday, I played my home course. Number 12, par 3, 175 yards: tee shot hit high just to the left of the green into a greenside bunker. When I got there I was horrified to see the dreaded buried lie, looked like a fried egg. I recalled Dave Pelz writing about what he called the "Pop and Cock" shot: set up, then on the backswing, cock the wrists immediately and swing down a bit more steeply. I know I set my feet down in the sand and I know that I cocked my wrists, the rest is a blur, except for the part when the ball gently flew out of the bunker, onto the green and released. The ball tracked right into the hole. Birdie. My comment to my partner was, "Well, even pigs can fly, sometimes."

I wonder sadly what fools we mere mortals be who would even give credence to commercials like that one, or any hype that promises unreasonable results and creates within the consumer unreasonable expectations. Of course, for those who might believe that bloviated bit of gas, that with any new driver one will be able to leap tall buildings with a single swing, I am reminded of P.T. Barnum's line, "There's a sucker born every minute." However, this is not to suggest that the crap put out by the advertising agency Callaway employs in any way diminishes Callaway's own efforts at producing a fine driver. I stand by my previous comment that the Hyper X is the finest driver, for my swing, I've ever tried. I base my sentiments on the fact that I have, indeed, been able to hit the ball a bit farther with this driver, albeit no par 4 greens in one; and, by the fact that this driver is so forgiving, I've been able to hit my second shot, more often than not, off the short grass.

I will add to my previous post only a short thought and an observation: after 7 months owning the Hyper X, I would conclude that it is the best driver/shaft combination I've ever used. I have found the face not only hot but forgiving. My observation is this: in the promotional information about Callaway's new FT-Iq driver, I notice that the face is based on the Hyper X. It is no small nod to the effectiveness of the design of the Hyper X face that Callaway would choose to put it in their new top of the line franchise driver.

At the home course, today, I shot an 86. 44 on the front, 42 on the back. Nothing great, nothing horrendous. However, it was a magnificent morning! The weather was perfect; hence, spirits lifted. My only regret is that I don't have time to play another round this afternoon.

I purchased a Hyper X this past February at the Golfsmith in Memphis. I went there to test the Cobra L4V on their launch monitor. I tried several drivers, including two Cobras, a TaylorMade and a Cleveland. The last driver I tried was the Hyper X. The fitter put it in my hands. I had no intention of trying it, much less buying it. The results were the best of all the drivers I tried: I hit it longer and with tighter dispersion than any of the other drivers. Since purchasing the Hyper X, my accuracy has improved and I've gained distance. Shots off the toe and heel do not lose much distance or accuracy. I can say easily that this is the best driver I've owned. I wish I could collect my endorsement fee from Callaway, however my contract is still under negotiation. One caveat: one man's pearl is another man's poison. Try it before you buy it. Any price is too high if it is not the right driver for you.

Played yesterday more consistently than the previous two rounds. I scrambled for par several times. My best shot(s) of the week had to be the shots I made with my putter. I saved par with my putter on 6 holes. The most exciting putt (and official best shot of the week), however, was on the par 4 14th hole. I hit a great drive, my second shot was unusually accurate, so I was on the green in regulation, about 8 or 9 feet from the cup: drained the putt for a rare birdie! 13 putts on the back nine, 16 on the front. Best shots of the week: putting . Putting = Scoring.

I have had no time to practice in the past few weeks, less time to actually play and even less time to contribute a few posts to the forum. However, I stole a couple of hours late this afternoon to play a round. I shot 40 on the back nine (including a snowman and a birdie), 42 on the front. The 82 ties my low round for the year. After my last two rounds of 99 and 90, I was ecstatic that I had returned to the play I enjoyed in July and August. Most of all, I enjoyed smelling the grass.

I agree with everything said here, except the statement that the Cobra cannot be worked. It can. I'm no great golfer by a large margin, but I can draw or even hook the DWS at will. I can fade or slice a ball with the standard DWS. It is the easist hybrid for me to hit. I would bet that the Baffler Pro version would be even easier to work. And, now, I will be happy to accept my endorsement check from Cobra. LOL.

I have always played with glasses. But I don't like to play with prescription sunglasses; I don't like the peripheral change of dark and light. My biggest challenge in regard to glasses came a year and a half ago, when I finaly gave in to my need for bifocals. I was so sure that I wouldn't be able to play with bifocals that I bought another pair of glasses just for golf. It turned out that once I got used to the bifocals, I perferred to play with them. I would like to have the laser surgery on my eyes, but I know too many people who have had it with too many varying degrees of success for my taste. So, I will continue with my glasses. Most people I know adopt to glasses in a relatively short time.

While my game has been a little shakey for the past two weeks, I had two pars on hole that have been my nemesises on my home course. On the first hole, my drive bled to the right, leaving me with a long second shot over trees. I nailed that shot, which left a short pitch for an up and down: par. Yeah! My second shot of the day was my drive on number three, a par 3 220 yard brute, the green is long and narrow. In my entire career, I have hit this green only once or twice, landing the ball short of the green and rolling it up. Yesterday, I had the ball flying just left of the pin, it hit near the pin and rolled almost twenty feet past. I carefully lined up my putt. It rolled to within one inch of the cup. Genuine tap in par. Yeah!

I had been scoring in the low to mid eighties. Then last weekend, I shot a 99; the result, I believe, of a lot on my mind. Yesterday, I improved to a 90. Too many mistakes for a good score but, better than last week with the promise of progress in the future.

After a rather rough start to the season, I began scoring in the mid to low eighties. My handicap came down, from 16.7 to 15.8. Haven't played in two weeks. Yesterday morning, I played 18 and, I swear, I lacked all confidence. I shot a miserable 99, carding a quintuple bogie, a quadruple, and a triple: 11 shots over par on just three holes! There were some good moments. I hit 11/14 fairways. My putting was OK. My second shots were bad. I hit the water and sand a lot. I believe that if I just play a few days in a row, I'll regain my touch for this elusive endeavor; finding the time right now is another matter all together. Sigh.

Amen to that. My state was devestated by Katrina. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have had to evacuate their homes and businesses. I am at least grateful that the governments of Louisianna and Mississippi are preparing better for Gustav than they did for Katrina. Perhaps even our federal government will do better this time around. Our hopes are, though, that the evacuations and preparations will be for naught; that Gustav will disapate and people will grumble as they make their way safely back home.

I don't know that much about the value of the Bettinardi's, but I do know that my BB1 Short Slant, which is not my gamer, is as beautiful, well made and well balanced as any putter I've ever tried from any manufacturer. It is just a fine piece of work that illustrates well the old Bauhaus dictum: form follows function. I also agree that a lot of aesthetic noise (re: copper plugs,etc. ) on a putter is distracting. Bettinardi got it just right with the BB1 in my opinion.

You may not be too harsh, though harsh you are, however, your frustration is simply misplaced. I don't think it is the use of a rangefinder that was so maddening to you but, rather the manner in which it was used. In your circumstance, it was the indian fumbling with all his arrows that caused delay. Properly used, as stated above, a rangefinder is an extremely useful tool and used correctly, can speed up play. I own a Pinseeker 1500 Tournament Edition. I find it easy to use, fast and helpful. As for distance gauging, it has actually helped me to recall exactly what some distances do look like because I measure them so often with the pinseeker.

Go Aussies!

Amen to that.

Don't you think the trade off of a little distance is worth the accuracy you get in return?

I think you're on to a good idea. Many people, including some posters above as well as me, have substituted a 16 degree hybrid for a 15 degree 3 wood, rather than the 18 degree ( I replaced my 5 wood with the 18 degree hybrid). By doing this you may not lose as much distance as you think: a ball well struck with a 16 degree hybrid will probably go farther than one from a poorly struck 3 wood. Also, you may wish to try the Cobra DWS or Cobra Pro hybrids because they are just so easy to hit. Good luck with your choices.

I change a driver in order to get a combination of more distance and greater accuracy off the tee. This early spring I went to the Golfsmith store in Memphis and tried several drivers on their launch monitor. After trying drivers made by TaylorMade (the #1 driver in golf), Cobra, Callaway and Titleist, I bought a Callaway Hyper X 10 degree, regular flex, stock Fujikura shaft, because I hit that driver more consistently and farther (as recorded on the launch monitor) than any other driver I tried. That choice of driver has proven out on the course: I've hit this driver longer and more accurately than any other I've owned. Now if I try another driver with which I am able to better my effort, I will buy that one. Why else would anyone want to change one's driver?

This morning I played 18 holes on my home course. I shot my best round of the year: 83. I had four putts which I missed by less than 1/2 half an inch (coulda, woulda, shoulda been a 79). Sigh. 9/14 fairways; 4 GIR; 1 sand save; 31 putts. 8 pars, 8 bogies, 2 dbl. bogies.