BigDave

Tiger says that a full swing is 80%. He seems to know a little bit about the game. Also, I think the comments about course management have a lot of merit. I took some lessons last year to improve my swing and cut my handicap from 25 to 18. This year I plan to take some playing lessons to work on course management.

I use a GPS and love it. Once you get used to playing with one you find it hard to play without it. I think it would be handy to have a laser range finder for figuring out exactly how far away those flags on the range really are when practicing.

Here's the scenario: You and 3 of your best golf buddies are offered the use of a private jet, free green fees, hotel accomodations, and meals anywhere in North America all for 7 days (Monday - Sunday). Where do you go? For me it would be a west coast trip starting at Coeur d'Alene on Monday, Chambers Bay in Tacoma on Tuesday, followed by Sun River OR on Wednesday. Thursday would be Pebble Beach and Spy Glass followed by Torrey Pines on Friday. Then it would be off to Vegas for the weekend. How about you?

I'm an 18 handicapper. I would play the hole driver (300 yds) then 3 iron to the middle of the green.

Two words...SLOW PLAY

The best advice you can get as a young golfer is to find a good golf teacher. Trying to learn golf online is not going to work well. Look for someone who knows how to teach, not just how to play golf.

Be careful of "new" equipment on Ebay. A large majority of it is fake. None of the name brand manufacturers allow their stuff to be sold on Ebay. I would suggest you look for the previous model new stuff (whatever model came before the newest.) For example, when Callaway came out with the x-20 irons, you could get a great deal on a set of x-18s. I have had excellent results dealing with www.3balls.com for stuff like this.

Practice? What's that?

Boise State. Remember the name Kellen Moore. Freshman QB at Boise State. He WILL win the Heisman Trophy sometime in the next 4 years.

I'm a residential Realtor. If you need an agent in Knoxville or Oak Ridge, TN email dlarson@advantagetn.com

Go to a tournament PRACTICE round and take an 8 year old kid with you. I took my son to a US Open practice round and he got autographs from Phil, ANthony Kim, Jerry Kelly, KJ Choi, David Leadbetter, Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker, and others. Oh and the tickets are much cheaper and the crowds smaller for practice rounds.

club repair store

but of course...

I'm a little surprised that you refer to the ix as "somewhat clicky on the putter". I actually sold my Odyssey White Hot putter after a few rounds because the combination of the soft face with the softness of the ball resulted in having to kill the ball on puts.

As much as I'd like to respond the the capitalism bashers, I'm going to answer the original queation instead... Callaway Tour-iX

Try a little vaseline on the club face. You'll lose distance and it's illegal but other than that... ...but other than that Mrs. Lincoln how did you like the play?

Why would you not take the bet? I'll take a game anywhere I can get one and I never bet more than I can afford to lose.

If the distance is in fact reduced by the dimple pattern as opposed to the core composition, then the other flight characteristics would undoubtedly be affected. Dimples create lift as well as hook/slice, fade/draw based on the spin. Harry, if you're able to get through to Callaway HQ in Carlsbad, CA see if you can get through to Steve Ogg, VP of R&D; and inventor of the hex dimple. I went to High School with him (Prosser H.S., Prosser, WA). I haven't spoken to him in years but he is a very nice and down to earth guy. He's an engineering genius that's smart enough to be able to explain things to us duffers.

I love this ball. Straight and long off the tee, soft around the greens, just as advertised.

February 17 Michael Jordan

I tried tips for years and I've tried buying better equipment to improve my game. This year I broke down and found a teacher I could work with. Finally, I'm seeing real improvement in my game. I've never been afraid of practice but without understanding the swing, practice doesn't do a lot of good. I suggest finding a good teacher. Spend 15 minutes talking to them about their teaching styles before you pay for the first lesson. If a teacher asks you to do a drill but can't explain exactly what the drill is trying to accomplish and why, they are not a good teacher. I'm paying $70/hr to learn from an LPGA professional (yes a woman) who really knows how to teach and whose teaching style matches my learning style better than the two male teachers I tried last year. After 3 lessons I've already seen far more results than the $500 Ft-i driver I bought last year.

I'm going to be in southern California duringthe US Open and I'm thinking about taking my 8 year old son to watch a practice round. Have any of you ever been to a PGA Tour event? If so, which would be the best day to go watch a practice round? Are there any other tips you would give to someone going to watch their first event?

Driver, 5 iron, 8 iron, PW, putter.

Absolutely! In fact my current teacher is a woman and I'm having a lot better results than with either of the male pros I taken lessons from.

I think the main difference (and the infuriating thing) is consistency. What I mean is I can hit all of the shot I need...sometimes. I hit a 300 yd drive down the middle. On the next hole I drive it into the woods. Amazingly I think I feel a real difference between high priced balls and the rocks they sell as low priced balls. Last year I spent $500 on a new FT-i driver with no improvement. This year I'm investing the money in lessons.