mellojoe

Its a tip I saw in one of those random magazines... It really just makes you think more about a full swing, and not just stabbing down onto the ball.

Went out to the LPGA event yesterday (the 4th). Creamer and Gulbis are definately NOT the hottest on the tour. There were some beautiful women there. However, Guilbis was in no way fat or chunky or even thick. She was quite thin. I think she looks fat because she is so busty and wears some not-so-form-fitting polo shirts which get baggy around her mid-section since it is pushed out so much on the top. PS: Yeah, I work in Bella Vista.

I get the impression that she really wants her marriage to work, and that taking some time off to focus on her personal life is important to her. I don't think she's gone forever. I think she'll come back after a few years. But, she'll probably stay away from tourneys for at least a bit. Then again, after a shot like that 18th will make you want to get back out there, no?

I'm heading down for Sunday's final round here in Arkansas. Work gave me a pass, which was super sweet. I'm looking forward to it, big time.

Here's an exercise: You can have 10 cars. ONLY 10! What would they be? No limits on price, availibility, rarity, or environment. However, if I could choose only one car? Nissan Skyline GTR or Ferrari F430 And it would probably go to the Nissan as an all-around, every day car. One that I wouldn't mind too terribly if it got bumped in the Wal-Mart parking lot, well not as much as I would mind the Ferrari.

Great post! One thing I took away from this was the benefit of having a teacher and taking that first lesson. I know, he was just a friend of yours. But, he was an experienced and knowledgeable guy, from the sounds of it, and he gave you what amounts to a lesson, regardless of what you call it. That lesson helped you tremendously, no? I'd say it probably helped more than the $750 in gear (although, getting properly fitted clubs is definately a good thing). Having someone evaluate your swing is excellent help. I look forward to the day that I get to buy a new set of clubs and work them out. New toys are always fun! Have fun out there and good luck.

Congrats! I'm hoping to have a day like that soon. I'm part of a 9-hole group that meets in the evenings. My goal is to get under 50 consistently (without picking up and walking off if I get a 9 on a Par 3 ). I'm hoping to be able to come in here and say "I SHOT A 44!" like yours. Keep on truckin'. You're making all of us high handicappers hopeful.

Those became very popular around here for a while after the (now ex-) football coach started wearing them. I still see a few out on the golf courses from time to time. His was a white/off-white with the school logo on it. Kind of decent:

Another thing (something I suffer from) is possibly being more "nervous" on the first few holes. You know, standing on those first tee boxes with the other guys just staring at your swing. For me, this usually gets my nerves a little up, being a beginner playing with guys much better than myself. Then, after a few holes, I figure out I'm much better off relaxing and having a good time instead of worrying about the score. If that's the case, then give yourself a routine for the first couple of holes to ensure that you relax. Take a couple practice swings and then close your eyes for a second. Force yourself to smile. Visualize the shot. Then open your eyes, approach the ball, and calmly whack away. Good luck.

When I started in college for Engineering, everyone said "Learn golf. The best business deals are made on the golf course." I never got around to it. Then when I started in finance, everyone said "Learn golf. The best business deals are made on the golf course." I never got around to it. Then when I started working with the bank out here in a retirmement community with 9 golf courses in town, everyone said "Learn golf. You get the best customers from the golf course. Besides, its a great waste of time, and out here its really cheap." So, I picked up a cheap set of golf clubs and headed over to the driving range. Nobody else in my family plays right now. But, I'm hooked, so hopefully I can convince them to play with me.

Hopefully there is a consolation prize waiting at home later on? My wife and I are very good about sparking competition between the two of us. Its some of the most friendly rivalry I've ever been a part of. I guess that is what helps to make a great marriage. remember: Substitute the word "patience" anytime you use the word "marriage" and you are setting yourself up for a good one. (ie: my wife and I have been "patient" for a little over 5 years now, and I we are working hard to ensure that we can match the "patience" of our grandparents who were "patient" for over 60 years).

Looks like more than anything, she had a great back 9. If I'm reading that right she shot a 51 on the front and a 40 on the back. That's a great 9-holes for a 23 handicapper. Good for her! (too bad for you that she did that when you were playing against each other, though. Hopefully there was no money on it. )

That's a tip I just read in some random magazine this past weekend. Ball on an upslope, you choke down and aim right. Ball on a downslope, you stand closer to the ball and aim left.

I was laying on the couch watching the tourney (a local was in the run for the win: Stacy Lewis). 200-yards out. It plopped in the hole. I jumped off the couch, arms raised, fists clenched. I couldn't believe it. I just stood there like Rocky at the top of the steps, arms up, staring at the TV. Its shots like that that make you want to come back out. I hope she does.

Her pair for the day, Stacy Lewis, is from my hometown. We went to the same college (Go, Razorbacks!). So, I was definately following that pair all day. Of course, my wife kept saying, "You're just watching them to see that girl in the pink, right?" Well, of course, having Paula right there in hot pink was very easy on the eyes. "No, dear. I'm just hoping that Stacy wins. She's from here, you know?" And, then Creamer would walk on screen again. And guess what? LPGA comes to town starting today. I'll get a chance to see her and Gulbis up-close. If the camera adds a few pounds, than Creamer must be tiny.

For me, yes. Absolutely. I had some guys from here critique my golf swing. They gave some solid feedback. And, I went out the next week and tried to apply it. It helped.

This is a tip I saw somewhere... Start at the hole, and put away from the hole. Short: putter goes to inside of back foot, for backswing Medium: putter goes to outside of back foot, for backswing Long: putter goes to outside of back knee, for backswing If you start at the hole and putt away from the hole, you can get an idea of distance of your putts are using your "checkpoints". Then, you can go to those distances and start putting back into the hole. Since you've figured out the distances, now you can work on getting consistent. I'm just a beginner and my advice is probably worthless, but that was a tip that I read that seems quite solid.

Well, my game still hasn't "clicked" overall, but I have had a few moments when everything felt great, and then the ball went exactly where I was hoping and better. Last Tuesday, we were out playing 9. I am the worst golfer in our little evening league, but I've only been playing for a few months. After the first 5 holes, I was playing miserably. Finally one of the guys says to me, "Joe, I noticed that your practice swings look pretty good and relaxed. But, when you go to hit your real shot, you tense up and get stiff. Try relaxing." I said, "Wow. Sounds good. Ok, I'll pay attention to that." I hit the best shots of my life after that. I was feeling good, I was staying relaxed with my practice swings, and then staying relaxed with my real swing. The ball was going longer and straighter than ever before. It totally "clicked" for those 3 holes.

John Daly.... just cause he's a redneck from my side of the country and I know he's probably been in a few before. That is, if you still count John Daly as a Tour guy.

Also, there's something about distance there, too. Over 200 yards, a small change can be magnified quite a bit. Over 80 yards, that small change looks like a small change.

When I took a lesson, the guy told me: "If you can hit a 7-iron, you can just about hit anything. The swing is about the same for every club." So, that's what he had me hit for just about the whole bucket. We switched to a Driver for the last couple of balls to show me the differences in swing for that long of a club. That was it. Now, when I hit the range, I hit primarily my 7i and my 5i.

I read somewhere that you should be able to adjust your swing to have 5 distances with each club. Full Swing = Full Length Choke to Mid Grip + Full Swing = -10 Yards Choke to Bottom of Grip + Full Swing = -10 yards 1/2 Swing = -10 yards 1/2 Swing + Choke = -10 yards Something like that. Thus, if you are hitting your 48* long, then try choking down on it. ?? However, from what I understand, the Gap Wedge (52* range) is one of the first wedges people add to their bag.

At least get one lesson. One lesson changed me from being horribly frustrated to enjoying the game immensely. There's only so much you can get out of reading. When you have someone stand in front of you and say, "Yes, that is what you should be doing" and "No, you are not looking like you should" helps out a ton. More importantly they can say, "You're doing this good, but this is what you can be doing better" and that gives you EXACTLY what you are asking for in this thread a strategy . That first lesson is the key to unlocking the door. The rest is up to you, but you should at least get that first one. PS: I asked the guy at the local driving range. He offered me my first lesson free. We were just shooting the breeze and I asked him, "Do you have a guy around here that gives lessons? How much?" And he said, "Too much. Hang on, let me get a bucket and we'll go hit some." And he sat there for a solid 30 minutes just showing me stance, grip, and a basic swing. It was perfect.

HELPED A TON! Went out last night. I started off really poorly. Then, my partner in the cart said, "When you take your practice swings, you are really relaxed. When you do your real swing, you really tense up." I guess I was worrying too much. Well, I relaxed, and played the best 3 holes of my life (the last 3 of 9 that day). I kept my grip strong. I kept my right knee from breaking down on my backswing. And I started my backswing slowly from the shoulders, not from my hands/wrists. Those three things helped tremendously. I hit some beautiful shots. On a Par 5, I was less than 5 feet shy of reaching the green in regulation. I've never hit a Par 5 green in 3 shots. I'm happy to reach in 5. I chipped onto the green too softly, and left myself a 2-putt for a Bogey. Bogey golf on a Par 5 is GREAT for me. In fact, I Bogey'd the last 3 holes (a 5, 6, 6) which was brilliant golf, since I consider myself a double-bogey handicap. Note: Since we were playing 9 after 5:00pm, we played 1-5, then skipped to 15-18. It makes it a fun out and back, starting and ending really close to the parking lot making it really simple. I chunked up the 18th losing a ball off my drive, but I did have a GREAT rescue shot. But 15, 16, and 17 were absolutely perfect holes for me. Thanks to you guys.

And the thing about it, you know that if they had played one more hole, he WOULDN'T have let it affect him. He would still be carrying that same goofy smirk to the next hole, and he probably would have shot it straight down the fairway. Both Rocco and Tiger made several bogey's (and a couple of double's) throughout the Open, but both were able to shake it off and make a Birdie soon after. Rocco did it with a smile and a little spring in his step. That's what made it so much fun to watch. He never looked like he was "worried" about losing the Open or "stressed" that he needed to win it. He was just out playing a round of golf. Brilliant.