Skenny

First, congrats Rkim and Isuk....... Low 90s is good. Strandly, do you have and are you using any hybrid clubs. I have been so impressed by them that I am loading up.... just got a 9 hybrid with 34* loft, and just came in from the range where it consistently went similar distance to my 8 iron. I already had 3 and 4 hybrid, that more than replaced my 3 and 4 irons. I think I'm going to invest in a 6 or 5 hybrid next. High ball flight, and soft landings that will hold the green are what the clubs are supposed to do. If you haven't, you might give it a try.

I play so badly that I can probably instruct better than I play. Like someone else said, "when I do hit one right", I have typically done something similar with my arms to what you described. Although I try to keep my left arm relatively straight during my backswing, and my right elbow nearly "pinned" to my side through contact, when I hit a good ball, I usually don't sense my arms doing much of anything. If I ever feel like they are doing something, the result is usually not good. And, interestingly, like you, an out-to-in swing path is one of my larger issues......

Looks pretty darn good to me. Obviously, if you can figure out how to turn two or three of those doubles into bogeys, and one of those triples into a double, you're in the mid 80s, beating the pants off most golfers I know, and beating my brains out. Did your "others" come on Par 5s, or Par 3s, or did you miss fairways right, more than left, etc.? With a little such analysis and remedial action such as hitting 3 or 5 wood from tee instead of driver OOB, you get your three strokes, and have to leave this thread........

Thanks very much for the feedback. I have been made aware of the excessive hip slide, it used to be worse. My teacher called me "Elvis". Regarding depth in the arms, I looked at the "deep hands" thread, and understand what you are saying. I will work on that. For some reason, in a practice swing, I see the clubhead come straight through the impact point.Then I hit a ball, and the divot is sometimes oriented 15 degrees left of the ball. or I have tee marks on the bottom of the driver with similar orientation. When I occasionally get the club-face closed, the ball goes long but left.

I've been Playing Golf for: 30 years, but tried to get serious about 1.5 yrs ago My current handicap index or average score is: about 100 (Score, not Handicap) My typical ball flight is: fade The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Fat Hits Sorry about "dead time" and video clarity, I'm learning, and my better camera is out of commission. Of five swings, face on and down the line, the last two are short irons which were fat hit, from about :54 to end at 1:13. In some swings, I've detected a slight bobbing (dropping, lunging,...?) of my head right around the point of impact, probably related, bit also is likely just another symptom, of a problem I can't identify. Thanks for feedback, but please be gentle. Probably should add that I constantly struggle with out-to-in swing path.... weak slices. Videos:

Update from OP on Lob Wedge: Kept the club around and have had some fun "lobbing" at pins tucked behind greenside bunkers, from 15 - 35 yards. Gaining consistency, probably due in part to my proficiency at missing greens, and historical fondness of short irons. The point about avoiding over-use is not lost on me. If I have any kind of surface to work with, I'll putt from 30 yards and in..........I'd use a pool cue if I could.

Sorry if someone has already offered this, and allowing that the approach may be different for some of the better golfers..... But for an "average to below' hacker like me, here are the fundamentals of hitting a 2-iron: - Grip the two iron with your dominant hand (Right for Righty, Left for Lefty). - Position yourself, back to target. - Begin counterclockwise spins (clockwise for Lefty) in the fashion of an Olympic hammer throw. - Make sure you are positioned on the edge of a steep, high cliff. - After approximately 2.5 rotations, release the club over the edge of the cliff. - Assuming a floor of rocks, water, hard dirt, etc., the resulting hit of the 2-iron upon such surface will be most satisfactory.

Can't offer much help beyond what's already been offered, particularly if you're already scoring in the mid-90s. In fact, I would like to be as consistent as you. It has not been uncommon for me to par the first hole or two, play the next twelve without a par, and maybe even birdie # 17 or 18, en route to a 101 or 104 for the day. I rarely keep score,any more, just play for the shot, and if I can put three or four together, note pars or the rare birdie. I do occasionally impress my partners with my repertoire of shots for going over, under, around, and through trees.

Probably should have looked here first: http://thesandtrap.com/t/38163/what-wedges-should-a-beginner-have-in-his-bag My answer was there........I need a Gap Wedge, not a Lob Wedge.....

I just got my first lob wedge. Historically, short irons have been the least crappy part of my game, but I can't strike the ball cleanly with this wedge. Seems the flat angle does away with potential ball-contacting surface.It's like paddling a boat with a machete. Does a 30 handicapper have any business with one in the bag? Thanks for feedback.

Most notably during practice swings, I have noticed there is a jerky spot a little beyond the impact point where it feels like my swing has bottomed out. It seems like it occurs at the transition from the straight left arm to the straight right arm and/or turning my hands over. I suppose it could be due to the lack of resistance in a practice swing, and I’m not trying to fix a practice swing, but I wonder if it is normal, or on the other hand, undesirable and translating into live swings. If the latter, I wonder how to fix it, (Will be posting swing video.)

Took 48 strokes over nine, yesterday. It felt a little ugly and unlucky until I tallied the scorecard and saw that I had bogeyed 7 of the 9. I am typically pleased with that consistency, but struggled from 100 yards in, on the Par 5s and missed greens on par 4s, largely due to thick rough, and super slick greens. Hit 3/7 fairways, only 1 GIR, which, of course, I 3-putted. . On the plus side, I played a short Par 3 course twice during the week, did not score spectacularly well, but on the short (about 110 yards) downhill # 6, hit it within 8" of the cup in the first round, and within 18" the second time.....

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I will never think I've got this game figured out, but I have been gaining on it. Still need more consistency, but have improved to the point where good shots now outnumber the bad, which was not the case one month ago. I'm working t oward building a repeatable swing, one that just happens without thinking too much, because that's usually where the bad shots come from. One of my best "swing thoughts" is "just hit th e damn ball", which really means just bringing the club face back to th e ball. Simple, right? I have to work to maintain a relaxed grip, turn through the ball, and not over-swing/arm swing. Tendency is to tense up, stiffen up, arm swing, especially after hitting a poor shot. It sure feels good when one goes long and straight. Thanks again to all th e supporters. When I'm a little more brave, I'll put up th e swing video, if only for entertainment's sake.

IT Project Management - From my Desk in my wife's former Living room.

Nathan Nelson - Stop Breakin' Down Blues

Struggling for consistency..... flashes of brilliance, more than surmounted by periods of cataplexy and transmission sticking in neutral.... Last two rounds, Par, Par starts. Then, later in that last round, on six consecutive full swing shots, dribbled the ball off the heel of the club. I begin to suspect set-up, but adjustments in that regard don't fix it. In an individual range session, I hit the driver and 7 wood so crisply and long (for me), that I hurried to put them away. After darn near missing the ball on 8 consecutive shots with the short irons. Got to find some consistency. I'm sure I'm not swinging the same way twice.

... and to answer an earlier question, most definitely playing from the forward tees, prefer the ladies, but can't always get away with it (in spite of being called Alice on the greens).

Thanks for all the feedback. Had a lesson on Friday, played Sunday, as badly, score-wise, as the last time I played before the lesson. Could not putt. Did not go OB right as much, but can't shake tendency to fat-hit. May be sliding hips too much. If I can reign that in, and it helps with chunking, I will be much better off. Instructor worked with me on grip, lower and upper body during takeaway and swing. We'll get to the hands next time. I've got work to do on "body memory" in swing movements. The right way feels "alien". No trust or confidence in swing, manage to hit brilliant shots about one try in 15. The other 14 are mediocre to nauseating. Still pluggin'........

OP here. I have not had lessons in years, currently due to the excessive cost in my neighborhood ($75-100/hr). I suppose I should re-allocate some greens fees and range ball funds to lessons. My old swing was very tight/tense, my head probably didn't move, nor did the rest of me. For a while I think got too loose, too much moving. Now, I think inconsistent sequencing and lack of a repeatable swing are problems. Occasionally, I uncork a long, straight shot, but have no clue why. I have tried to adopt a "total body swing", as I'm sure I was involving arms, hands too much. The feeling of turning has helped, at least on distance, and I'm generating lag, which is magic for distance whenever I make clean contact. I should add here that allowing my arms to trail my turn, creates some pain in a left shoulder I am already favoring due to an impinged nerve in the cervical spine. I know what the advice is in that regard, but like I said, I was a football player.

I have always been a probably-less-than-mediocre golfer (Male, Age 55 ), but found some enjoyment on the course while compensating for a severe slice. A year or so ago, I decided to step up my game, changed my grip, my swing, my set-up, my clubs, shoes, hat, glove, and everything else. There have been periods of improved play and distance, but accuracy has been less consistent for the most part (my slice was reliable). Every time I think I have resolved something swing-wise, slicing and fat-hitting work their way back in, but now throw in occasional hooks, topping, and less frequently, brilliantly struck, long, straight shots. But If you gave me Tiger Woods' swing, I would be slicing it OOB within a week. Here is my question: Are there some who are simply too spastic to hope to ever attain a level of consistency with regard to ball striking? I have typically been above-average in terms of athleticism, but was better at football than baseball. Or breaking stuff as opposed to fixing it. I may lack the finesse required for golf. If so, I think I need to quit golfing or accept the level of play I am capable of. I have become very frustrated, and feel the lack of confidence and trust every time I swing now. I'm sure I need lessons, but the question remains, is it possible that an instructor will tell me that "some folks are too spastic" to play golf much better than a old, blind chimpanzee? Thanks for any feedback.