TheGolfingDetective

I hit a Nike Sumo 2 in a GolfSmith testing bay a while back and thought I needed NASCAR ear protection.

I play a local muni. Balls rarely hit ANY target, much less the intended ones. If a golfer hits one and gives the "FORE!", it's because he thinks its going to hit someone. Few golfers on my course have their shots land where the golfer believed it was going to land immediately after he struck it.

Great posting. I so do NOT want to be the advice guy, ever. Not that I should be given my skill, but my regular partner tees off all the time with a 3 wood, and a ball teed WAY too high. He occasionally makes solid contact, but usually pops it up about 90-110 yards, can't figure out why he did it, then proceeds to do the same thing the next hole. Even I can figure out he needs to tee it lower to start with, but I will NOT give unsolicited advice. Ever.

On public courses in the NYC vicinity, I get about 4 1/2 to a round, walking. In puerto Rico in May I played my second 18 in a day in 2:15 on a wide open course. Played well too, for me!

The best lessons I ever had were from a club pro in Arizona while on vacation. I got in two one-hour sessions with him on a four day getaway in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. He made me think about everything BESIDES swing mechanics. He just had me hit balls, changed a few set up issues, had me work on tempo, and just generally shot the s**t with me in 110 degree heat. The best I could try to hope to find again, is a pro who gives lessons while making you think you're not taking a lesson. (For those of you in that area, the pro is Dan Hurth, of the Phoenician Resort in Phoenix, he was about 5 years younger than I and I HIGHLY recommend him.)

Interesting discussion. I am currently carrying only 13 clubs, listed in my signature. I have been toying with either getting a 3 iron (mostly for low punch outs from the woods, which I seem to play quite often) or another wedge. My gap wedge is 49.5* and my lowest wedge is a 56* sand. What would be a better way to waste some money: a 52 or 54* wedge or a 20* 3 iron, when I'm already carrying a 19* hybrid? Advice.

I have two Cleveland 588 wedges, 56 and 60* jobs, and I am NOT a good player, but I hit them consistently pretty well, considering the rest of my game. I feel more confidant with them than any other clubs. The feeling of hitting down on such a lofted club was unsettling at first, but after I got the hang of it, they feel great. Keep at it.

Give me Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo in the tower, and Feherty walking the course, and I'd be in heaven. Any comments on Peter Jacobsen? I don't even remember much of what he had to say, which can't be good.

Empirical evidence? You have MRI's of his knee?

Is this strictly a matter of personal preference? I recently saw some consistent improvement in my game, but my putting after switching to an Odyssey 2 Ball got better, then worse. I liked the feel of my Taylor Made blade, but the Odyssey has MUCH better alignment aids. Should I learn to putt better with the blade, even though its much tougher for someone of my skill to align? Or stick with the mallet, even though there are times it just feels too.... big?

Well I'm going to be a standard bearer for the first two days. Should be interesting. I am thinking those are the guys carrying the large scorecard billboards behind each group, if so, that should be pretty cool. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

I went from a Taylor Made Imola Classic blade to an Odyssey White Hot 2 Ball, and the difference is huge. I had trouble with alignment with the blade (just a white dot on the topline of the blade) and was missing short putts by thismuch. Switched to the mallet, and I'm sinking breaking putts on occasion, and getting the long ones closer. I would probably buy a putter a week if left to my own devices. I always find one that I test out and feels great. I think the faux greens in the Golfsmith store I go to are designed to make you sink everything.

I volunteered to work the 2008 Barclays in Paramus, NJ, in August, and was just curious what to expect and what jobs the new volunteers get assigned to. I wanted to work an event since the 97 PGA at Winged Foot when Freddie Couples gave me a five as he passed from one green to the next tee. They had a TON of job positions on the online form, I picked hole marshals and standard bearers. In reality, will I be tossing out garbage from one of the sponser tents?

Yeah the movie was Leatherheads, and it was horrendous. There's a reason why sportswriters write sports and not films. Mitch Albom, and to a lesser extent, Mike Lupica being the exception with some of their books. But trust me, Leatherheads was God awful.

My first real breakthrough came last week when I truly felt what it was like to release the club. I broke 100 for the first time, and shot a 46 from the back tees on the front nine (which we played after the back 9). I shouldve shot even lower, had a 40 going into #9, a par three that I tripled. This was after most of my rounds were in the 108 to 120 range. Point is, for the first time I felt that release and had confidance over every shot. Do you remember your first breakthrough? The first time you felt like a golfer instead of a guy playing golf? Hearing from the more experienced golfers would help a lot of us newer ones.

I broke 100 for the first time EVER today. 53-46 and that was with a disaster 6 on a par 3 final hole (played the back nine first). That may not seem like much to you guys, but it's a psychological barrier I was stoked to have broken through.

Van Cortlandt was in better shape than I expected when I played it last week. 8 new greens, although they're slooooow. The layout has been altered each time a new highway was laid through it, the 18 holes are separated by some long, windy paths up, over, and down the adjoining highways. It's short, save for two monster, 600+ yard par 5's. Split Rock is nice, but very, very tight. I recommend Saxon Woods in Scarsdale, it's a public Westchester muni, but nice layout with lots of variety.

Shoulder turn has always been my enemy. I used to be big into weightlifting, and that is NOT good for a full shoulder turn. As I've gotten smaller I've worked on more flexibility and turning... all... the... way... But its a struggle. Where in Westchester do you play?

Hmm. You just made something pop in my head. As my contact got less consistent, I started taking more club and consciously saying to myself, "I'll hit an easy 7 instead of a full 8," and that led to the shorter backswings, which led to lack of distance, and it just snowballed. Maybe I just have to hit that full 8 and get it there, damnit!

I would've preferred letting myself think the added distance was due to my steady progression as a golfer and a man, not due to labeling shenanigans. Sigh. Thanks.

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So I'm waiting anxiously for the new Cobra FP II's I ordered today, but I have just one question for you guys. The set comes in 4 through a Gap Wedge, which I don't mind since all my 3 iron did was fish balls out of the creeks and streams. However, I've never carried a gap before, so where does it fall? I currently carry a PW, 56* sand and 60* lob. I'm assuming it falls between the PW and SW?

I was in the office watching it and all three of us said "Wow," almost in unison. A wedge, from the rough, up and over the trees, and he drew it to within 10 feet. I never much cared for him but today may have changed my mind.

How much of a difference should you have between your driver and woods, and down to your shorter irons. Lately my short irons have been so poor that I notice I slow down considerably in an effort to make solid contact with the face reasonably closed. I realize shorter club, shorter swing, but I am confidant and get good results wailing away with my driver and longer clubs. The shorter clubs I seem to barely have any follow through and tend to leave it short. Wedges especially. Ideas, thoughts, comments, concerns?

I bought my new set of irons, the Cobra FP II's, steel stiff shafts. I also got them regripped with Winn mid-size Dsi grips. They have to come in from another store, I get to try them out Thursday morning. God help us all.