mwheelerk

Thank you. Hoping it is this weekend. I'm still waiting on the Callaway set to come in. I've been hitting balls and putting and chipping with what I have in hand.

The last ten years have been very up and down for me and my game of golf. Through various injuries, illnesses and divorce I have quit playing the game over the past ten years three time. Each time I believed that was it that was the end of my experience with golf. Yet here I am just a few days away from placing my feet on that first tee and taking a journey out into that green to take on the joy and sorrow that may await me. Two years one time, One and a half years another time, One year this time I quit in the last ten years but never really walked away. Each time friends and co-workers would ask when and I would say I don't think so. Yet after all those kind inquiries and invitations that I have politilety turned down there would always come one that created in my a mad dash to retool and once again journey out into the links. I don't know how long I'll play but if I am to play the days are running by faster than ever. The chances of being out there among friends sharing stories and laughter will run their course all too soon. The belief that walking on the first tee that I might break 80 this day is probably more of a dream that reality. Still with golf we can hit that one one two shots that matches the best of them and there is no else where that can occur for me at this time of life. So here I go. I journey again to find my way and myself somewhere between the 12th and 13th hole where I once again began that grand illusion, a golfer.

I agree. All I am saying is those thought of as SBST are simply putting is a much smaller arc. The Ping TR putter I was fitted for and the ones in that series are available in three versions, Straight, Slight Arc and Strong Arc. Maybe using the terms Slight Arc, Standard Arc and Strong Arc would have been more accurate.

Isn't it a matter of degrees? I agree there is no actual SBST stroke but there are strokes, mine for instance, that open/closes to a lesser degree than true arc paths. I have been fit twice at Ping and had nominal movement (2-4 degrees) where I was told the average arc is more like 7-9 degrees and extreme arcs 11+ degrees. I am not saying one is better than another just that differences exist. It is also my understanding that if you are attempting to putt SBST you should use at least a face balanced putter and even a center shafted putter.

I started playing again about 7 months ago after about a 2 year layoff. I obviously got older and also heavier and I have lost a club length across the board. [LIST] Driver - 225 to 245 4 Wood - 205 to 215 3 Hybrid - 185 4 Hybrid - 175 5 Hybrid - 165 6 iron - 150 7 iron - 140 8 iron - 130 9 iron - 120 PW - 110 GW - 100 54 degree - 85 58 degree - 70 [/LIST]

I have read more than once that 2 3/4 tees were for drivers under 360 cc and the 31/4 for drivers over 360 cc. The same recommendation as say that the center point of the ball should be even with the top of the driver which would then seem to make sense out of using. The 3 1/4 for most of today's drivers. But in the end I suppose it is really a matter of personal preference.

After the opinions posted here and elsewhere and communicating with the Arizona Golf Association it is pretty clear that the sweeping method by any means is indeed an infraction of the rules. From now on it will strictly be picking up those little intrusive suckers and I hope I don't have many chances soon as I play a course with some of the worst waste areas in about three hours.

Playing in the desert in Arizona many courses have areas off the closely mowed grass (fairway and rough) that are commonly referred to as waste areas. These areas can be natural or landscaped desert. They are not hazard areas but part of the course. Many times in these areas are lots of small pebbles/stones that are loose upon the ground and not embedded in the soil. Typically I have seen other players and I have myself brushed aside these pebbles/stones directly behind the ball. Essentially considering these loose impediments. However I have given some thought as to whether or not this might be considered improving your lie and actually be a violation of the rules. I think we have all brushed away leaves or small twigs from behind the ball but without indivually picking up each individual pebble/stone (almost impossible) you are actually moving very fine desert sand also. What do you think? Are we desert players removing loose impediments or improving our lie? P.S. I can only speak for myself and say that the intent of doing so is more out of concern for protecting my clubs as hitting off this surface can mark the heck out of the club soles.