dataris17

This thread is like four years old and the Bushnell Medalist Pinseeker everyone is referring to is still like $250, probably a sign that it truly is a good product, but I was hoping maybe I could get it on the cheap now. Anyone had any success with anything a little less expensive? I haven't liked any cell phone apps I've used because they drain the battery and seem to be too much of a hassle/work while I'm trying to play.

Charl Schwartzel -7 John Senden -6

For me, this topic is a little ironic. I had the same question about 2 months ago switching from big bertha 2005 and decided to buy the ping I20s. I love the irons, but they did not add distance if thats what youre looking for. more spin and fit my game better now that ive improved, but not more distance.

Thank you for pointing me in the direction. I really think that could continue to help. As I said there, in the short term it did. I'm definitely someone who's been a bad practicer (? probably not a word) in the past and it really simplified the practice for me to have the 5 basics to keep in mind and some good drills to work on them.

Testimonial for you: I played golf Thursday, shot 88. Haven't been playing well lately, frustrated, came back to this thread that I was referred to by mvmac. Watched the videos on the first two pages taking notes on things to focus on, drills to work on, etc. Friday, went to the driving range with my notepad. Large bucket of balls (~100) really took my time. Hit them over about 2 hours at the range. Did the drills, focused on the pointers and specifically #4 and #5 which I realized I had maybe let slip into some bad habits over time. Felt good about my practice. Saturday, went out played 27 holes, still keeping those items in mind. Hit the ball much better, scores of 39, 40, 37. I really think the 5 simple keys were a big part of it. Even in that short a turnaround, I'm a believer and will work on those drills moving forward. Hopefully the long term results continue to be as good as the short term!

Anyone have any advice to this on some practice drills or things to focus on? This thread is absolutely right, but part of the difficulty is knowing what to focus on or what kind of drills I should be trying. Can someone really know without getting advice from a pro? I'm not as good as the guy mentioned in the first post of this thread, but I'm definitely like him at times. I'm the exception (maybe? I'm not sure if a lot of people are this way) that I tend to hit the ball way better on the course than at the range. Probably need some tips on how to get more out of my practice.

I'm going to Sunday of the US Open with a friend of mine and just for extra rooting interest, we'll be putting some money down on some guys hoping one of them will be in contention come Sunday, here's the list and odds of the guys we're considering, curious if anyone has thoughts on them, has some favorites from the list, etc. Tiger is obviously the favorite, but since his odds are pretty high at 9/2, we might not bother with him. Graeme McDowell 20/1 Matt Kuchar 20/1 Justin Rose 22/1 Lee Westwood 28/1 Charl Schwartzel 28/1 Luke Donald 33/1 Steve Stricker 40/1 Keegan Bradley 40/1 Matteo Manassero 50/1 Ian Poulter 66/1 Billy Horschel 80/1 Nick Watney 80/1 Ryan Palmer 100/1 Kyle Stanley 125/1 Scott Piercy 150/1 Brenden Grace 150/1 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 150/1 Aaron Baddeley 250/1

Yeah I wanted to delete that post, because I realized I misread your response but it wouldn't let me so I edited.

I feel like it helps have that mental visual of what you're trying to achieve and i see Strickers swing and think that it seems attainable compared to trying to swing like Dustin Johnson or something for an opposite example.

Does anyone here spend much time working/reviewing a specific tour player's swing? I ask because I'm curious if its helped and who you think is a good model. Lately I've been spending some time watching videos of Steve Strickers swing because it seems like a very fundamental, basic swing that could help me remember to stay within myself. Doesnt look like he trys to swing hard, good tempo, etc. Any thoughts?

I'll be there Sunday! Hoping it's not too wet that the whole place turns to mud, but it really poured here today..

I always had a hard time mentally avoiding those kind of blowups when I've been close to shooting in the 70s, and still do at times, but it gets easier to keep it together as you do it more.

Too lazy to read all the posts to see if these have been taken already, but oh well if they have: Luke Donald -4 Lee Westwood -5 Graeme McDowell -3

I'm not the best example for this thread as the times I've shot in the 70s is still under 10, handicap showing at a 9.4 right now, but I have a good example like this. +7 through 6 holes including the double bogey coming on hole 6 and admittedly was reaching the point of frustration there. Got my composure back though and played the final 12 holes in -1 for a 76 (+6). I've been playing golf since I was about 10 and I'm 24 now. Played in high school, but none of that is as important as just good practice in my opinion. I don't play as much now as I did in high school, but I do play better. Getting a little stronger, committing to good practice (not just aimlessly hitting at the range), contributed to the rounds in the 70s coming more frequently including my low round 76 (+4) towards the end of last year. Course management has been big too, avoiding the blowup holes and playing smart. It's no coincidence that my scores went down when the double bogeys became further between. On a par 4 if I have a short sided chip or a tough 30 yard lob, something tricky and I already lie two, I've found it important to tell myself as I plan the shot that I just need to get the ball on the green somewhere. I was always guilty of trying to do too much in those spots hit the short sided chip too delicate and not reach the green at all hoping to get up and down, etc. I've done a lot better by looking at those situations as, lets give myself some kind of par putt (maybe I'll still make it anyway) and probably have a safe two-putt for bogey. There are times to be aggressive and try to get up and down, but you can't be a hero on every shot.

Never had a hole in one, and just another close call here. About a 120 yard par 3, but downhill and wind at my back, so I hit a gap wedge. Landed about four feet past the hole and checks back to about a foot. Must've rolled right past the hole. As it was spinning back I was begging it to go in, lol.

Do you play by yourself a lot? I usually play like twice a week by myself and once or twice with friends. I've been there that my enjoyment got sapped on the times i was out alone because I wasnt playing well, lost focus, ended up hitting like 3 balls per hole to try to figure it out and then just digging myself deeper. At those times i try to skip the solo rounds because I'm not doing myself any favors anymore. The rounds with buddies theres a couple beers, jokes, etc. That might be more the kind of golf you need right now.

I havent but why not? Go ahead. Maybe don't put it in the dryer if youre afraid of it shrinking, but I'm sure washer will be fine (and dryer probably would be fine too).

Driver: Callaway Diablo Edge 10.5* 5 Wood: Taylor Made V Steel 3 Hybrid: Callaway Diablo Edge 4 Iron to UW: Ping i20 GW: 53* Cleveland Tour Action SW: 56* Cleveland CG15 Putter: Odyssey White Steel #5

I've never read this book, but browsed the thread a few days ago and today and I have two thoughts: 1. I read what everyone was saying about the 8 seconds rule and I certainly didn't conform to that rule prior to the thread. I went out on Monday with this in mind and a slight alteration to my routine and on my first 9 I had 14 putts and shot +3 (39). The second 9 I didn't putt quite as well (it was either 16 or 17 putts), but the point remains. I think there's something to be said that I had better muscle memory on the speed of the putts. I had quite a few 20+ foot putts that I put to tap in range, and usually I struggle from that distance. Number of putts aside, I can say with confidence that I know I putted better than I usually do, and that's the important thing here. 2. Perhaps the 17" rule is more of a mental trick? Given that people seem to have a tendency to hit putts short rather than long, maybe it's not that we're actually hoping to hit the ball at the speed that it will be 17" long, but rather than using that as a mindset will help you hit the ball at the right (or more right?) speed. Just a thought. Like I said, I didn't read the book. Even if that isn't the point, I think there could be something to it, some people really need to be tricked into at least getting the ball there.

I'll throw mine in I guess. There are quite a few long hitters here. I'd say these are about my average distances assuming I hit the ball fine. I got a new set of irons like two weeks ago though, so I'm still figuring it out a little bit. Driver - 250 5 Wood - 215 3 Hybrid - 205 4 Iron - 190 5 Iron - 180 6 Iron - 170 7 Iron - 160 8 Iron - 150 9 Iron - 140 PW - 125 UW - 110 53* - 100 56* - 85

I think I can offer some decent feedback. I hit all three of these irons when I decided to buy a new set a few weeks ago. For me, of the three, the Callaway X-Hot Pros were my favorites, but I was super torn. Went to about 5 different golf stores to keep hitting clubs because I didn't want to bother the staff at any one individual store. For what its worth, at one store, when deciding between the group, I told the pro at one store that I felt like they were all the same, and then to that he promptly responded by putting the Rocketblade Tours away, saying they were more money (compared to the X-Hot Pros at the time) and not of the same quality shafts, design, etc. Of course, I wasn't going to purchase anything but the standard shafts, sounds like you might be getting more into that part. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the lofts, you'll adjust. My old set was Callaway's and I got used to the lofts you just have to keep it in mind when evaluating between the sets and then when making the transition before you have the distances down. With all of that said, I ultimately landed on a 4th option and purchased the Ping i20s. The price difference isn't huge, but a little less and ultimately I was hitting them just as well as the X-Hot Pros. I don't regret my decision one bit, so I would recommend giving them a shot too. If you already have and ruled them out then even better, because my goal isn't to complicate your decision even more. If you can find a store that will really let you play with their simulator while you're hitting that helps a lot. I took some time to look at the spin rates, launch angles, etc. that I was getting with each of the clubs.

Might be relatively easy, but you just splurged for new irons anyway right? I mean if you're just doing a standard 8 clubs * $5? I'd shell out the $40 and make sure it's done right, especially if the grips you choose have any kind of alignment tool on them, wouldn't want that on twisted slightly or something. Maybe I'm just paranoid about messing with my clubs myself though..

This thread is really old so I won't waste my time telling the OP that you absolutely should have a gap wedge in your bag, but I will throw in my wedge set also. I carry four wedges, used to be five, but a different four than most people who have been posting that they carry four: PW: 46* - Ping i20 from my set UW: 50* - Ping i20 from my set GW: 53* - Cleveland Tour Action SW: 56* - Cleveland CG15 The 5th was a Cleveland CG10 60*, but ultimately I decided to keep my 4 iron in the bag and take out the 60*. I think a lot of the time the 60+* wedges are asking a lot of yourself to execute with. It's difficult to consistently find the sweet spot with that much loft, so I opted for two inbetween wedges instead. I can hit the flop shots with the 56* anyway. Carrying the two gap type wedges gives me a club for a full swing from like 110 and also from right at 100. Since I like chipping with the Clevelands, it also gives me a lower lofted wedge for those shots that I can run a little bit since the 56* checks up pretty quick and the tour action doesn't have quite that much spin.

I took a ride to Architects yesterday because i got a golfnow deal. I'll have to look out for black bear too. Architechts was really nice, first time playing the course.