sixonezero

Also, don't forget the value of a laser rangefinder at the practice range.

Your distances might be off because of bad info at the range. At my local driving range the yardage plaques haven't changed in years, but the tees move almost every day, sometimes a good deal. This is where a laser rangefinder is best...when I get there I laze the targets and get accurate yardages before I start swinging.

You can never underestimate the importance of a good par-3 course, and I'll bet that was a huge part of your breaking 90. Where I used to live there was a beautifully maintained little 9-hole par-3. It was rarely crowded; I would go out on a Saturday and play 3 or 4 balls per hole. The experience and practice I'd get with mid/short iron shots and all the short game work was invaluable. I really miss that little course, nothing like that where I live now.

Ebay....tons of new rangefinders on there, I scored mine for a good deal less than what it's sold for on Amazon, TGW, etc. You might be able to snag a good one in the price range you are looking for.

I just got the new Callaway (Nikon) Razr rangefinder and it is great. Outside your stated price range but I think it's worth it. Super fast. I've used GPS apps on my phone, and I like this better. Faster, simple, no nonsense. It has their own version of "pinseeker" that works well. http://www.callawaygolf.com/global/en-us/golf-equipment/golf-accessories/golf-rangefinders/razr-rangefinder.html

This is my biggest issue right now. I'm shooting scores in the 91-95 range but that includes about two 7's or 8's on the card. My problem is that once I start feeling like it's becoming a disaster hole, I tense up and even though I try to be smart and put it back in play, it winds up a worse shot that the first.

Man that's awful. Thanks for the heads-up, now I know never to play there. Also, good work on getting a review up on Golflink so quickly. You'd think courses would want to try to attract and hold on to customers. Unbelievable.

I've found a key that has fixed my driving woes, at least for now. I've slowed my takeaway to what feel to me like glacial pace, which slows my backswing down and seems like it gets everything in sync. In general it feels like I have a much better chance for making a good weight shift, my contact is way improved and I'm hitting it straight. What's interesting is that on video my new backswing doesn't look all that slow, it actually looks more in rhythm. Funny how different some things FEEL vs. how they really LOOK.

Hey ElTangerine Sounds like you might benefit from having a pro look at your swing, especially if you're feeling completely lost. As far as what to expect with lessons, it can vary. Look around for some instructors in your area that are recommended. Typically they will have various lesson options that range from a basic 30 minutes, to up to several sessions. Some may include video analysis which can be really helpful. The extent of the "intervention" needed will depend on what is going on with your swing. It may be a simple matter of changing your setup, or giving you a new swing thought that makes sense. There may be issues with your posture, movement, or casting in your downswing. At any rate, it sounds like what you need is to have an instructor take a look and give you some things to work on. Good luck and keep us posted on how things go.

I agree 100%. I've found that if I try to create lag by focusing attention on my hands, bad things happen. But like you said, if I focus more on my lower body and weight shift, things fall into place. It seems like lag will be a natural consequence of a swing in which your whole body is involved in the correct sequence (just like baseball, hockey, using a sledge hammer, throwing a ball, etc.).

Yes that's right he's talking about neutral grip, but he interjects a couple comments about problems caused by interlock and never expands on it (I can't find where in the video it was). As a side note, after watching this I tried out a neutral grip yesterday on the range (still interlocked) and it worked great. I've always used a strong grip from the beginning because that's what I was always told about helping to correct a slice. But like he says at the end of the video, a strong grip seems intended for beginners, and yesterday I was hitting it straighter than ever gripping neutral and it felt great.

A big thing for you right now is probably speed control, which you can work on at home. Practice rolling putts to a target (a cup, the wall, a club shaft laid on the ground, etc.) at different distances. Working on gently hitting your target from various distances, without banging into it or stopping short. Focus on the amount of backswing and downswing needed for various distances and speeds. Getting a better feel for speed control will help you get better at getting it close, turning your three-putts into two-putts (and sometimes one).

For me, I kept the 5W and tossed the 3W. 5W was always much easier for me to hit and control, and is long enough. I only play a fairway wood a couple times a round anyway, so it didn't really matter much in the end.

I know there are a lot of threads on grip preference (interlock, overlap, 10 finger, etc.), but I was watching this video last night and the instructor suggests that an interlock grip leads to "problems". He doesn't really expand on what those problems might be, and advocates for overlap or 10 finger. Just curious what you guys more expertise than me think about this, and whether interlock is problematic. For me, I've always used an interlock grip because it feels more secure, and I feel like I can use less grip pressure if I do. But I'm having problems with driver contact, pulls, and slices right now, so I'm open to trying something new if my grip might be part of the problem. What kinds of problems could an interlock grip cause?

I have a three-wheel cart with non-swivel front tire, and I've never had a problems with this.

Do you have any video of his swing? If so, post it in the "member swings" section. There are a lot of people here that should have some good insight.

It will be close with a slight edge to Tiger. Nothing motivates him like competition and desire to be the best. Now that the pieces of his game are coming back together he will have several wins next year, including a major.

That is the key. Remember when the big rival to Tiger was David Duvall? They even did a 1 on 1 match on primetime TV. After that Vijay, Phil.... Yeah Rory is amazing but to begin to consider him in the same category as Tiger he will have to win at least 10 majors, which is better than Hogan, Player, Snead, Watson, Trevino, Palmer, and countless others.

Well done, I agree with everything you said here.

I've been playing Callaway HX Diablo and Bridgestone E6, trying to decide which I prefer. I like both but so far the E6 has a slight edge. Just seems to feel/sound a little better.

I made a spreadsheet to calculate mine and to keep track of my rounds. Plus it allows me to get all nerdy with graphs, etc. If you are interested, message me and I can email you a copy.

The guys are making mincemeat out of yet another course. Hopefully East Lake will be a sterner test, it gets a little boring watching birdie - par - birdie - par - par - birdie - birdie......

He's on fire. I'm betting on a monster season next year. The pieces just seem to be coming together.

You're probably trying to kill it and outdistance the other guys, even without realizing it, probably over swinging and it's wreaking havoc on your game. Funny things happen when guys get together, the naturally tendency is to to think that the longest ball is better even if no one even says it. Work on slowing down, shortening your backswing, swinging easy, and most importantly convincing yourself that the best shot is NOT the longest, but the one that leaves you in the best position for your next shot. Like mdl said above, club up. If someone makes fun of your club selection, ignore it. Basically try to ignore every shred of machismo that threatens to derail your swing and play the smart game you are used to when you are by yourself.

Do you have any relatives that live in the south, ideally Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Southern CA, etc.? If so, any chance you can visit them over the holidays and get a few rounds in? Otherwise you can look into setting up an indoor practice area with a net to hit into. If you can swing it, consider a ball flight monitor system such as Optishot. At the very least the net will give you a chance to hit balls throughout the year. Also, stay in shape during the winter. Look up some golf-specific training exercises to maintain your balance, flexibility, and strength. Practice putting. You can do that anytime in your living room.