Brakkus

Hi guys I believe I was one of the posters who disagreed with the long game being more important. However after reading the data and experiencing first hand how my long game fell apart at Celtic Manor I have to say that long game allows you to use the short game. No good being a wizard around the greens without being able to position yourself first around the green. Example I hit into the wind on a 575 yard par 5. Hit into the rough and hit into the water. Wind against me took 5 shots to reach the green before ending up with an 8. Conditions were bad very waterlogged and muddy underfoot but the principle applies. I know deep down that I could play to my 16 handicap comfortably for many years. However if I am to go up a level clearly I need to hit further and more accurately. There are par 4's out of reach and clearly I don't hit the ball well enough in changing conditions to cope. My swing needs work. What's clear from the data though is that you need balance through your game. Golf all starts with sound fundamentals and that will include all golf swings short and long. I think if most of us were really honest we know that short game technique can be learned more readily than a full swing with a driver. That's a generality which holds true. So I am really seeing the sense of the 65/25/10 ratio for practice. It does make sense in theory.

Hi guys Would love to put up some pictures but they are not good on my mobile phone. Weather was brutal. Roman Road course was tough and spectacular design but wind was very strong and due to all the rain it was very muddy. Somehow shot a 98 after not playing much this winter. Not bad for a championship course. Onto the 2010. Wow what a picturesque setting. Actually the conditions were soft and muddy probably worse than the previous day. Wind got strong as the day went on. Some holes were very long and daunting. Hole 8 a 575 yard monster 666 for the pro's. Lots of carries over water. Hole 15 was just visually overwhelming. I was expecting the route down the left to be easier but heading to right seemed less of a risk. I didn't hit the green but took an 8 iron after my first shot. 17th remembering where Mahan duffed his chip and the 18th coming down the fairway gave me goosebumps. All the staff were terrific and I got Davis Love 111's locker for the day my friend got Tom Lehman. Of course we got to see all the locker room. They gave us an engraved bag tag to commemorate the day nice touch. We were driven down to the course in a blacked out Mercedes people carrier. Electric sliding doors too. Beautiful scenery in the Usk valley too. First hole are like a british links the middle holes very american looking before back section is like a parkland layout. Great trip fantastic hotel lovely food and staff would go again with more benign conditions. Oh yeah scored 108 on the 2010 combination of tough course terrible conditions and not being in good form. I reckon I could score in the low 90's given another chance.

Hi Mike thankyou very much for this. I have tried all sorts of chip putt methods. As someone said earlier in the back of the stance is the main culprit. I hinge and hold for most short game shots but sometimes the ground around the hole is rock hard or bumpy during summer. Sliding a wedge under is almost impossible. This method just gives the ball enough lift. I experimented with some clubs including the sand wedge. It's all about specific shots for certain situationss. There's no wrong or right club to me.

It's not me that I'm worried about. I am under no illusions about my own golf. This course will play much longer this time of year we have had so much rain especially in Wales. It's my mate that worries me. He's talking big and this has happened before. He's one of those guys who plays golf swing at the course. Obsessive nature gotta love him but he can get frustrated. However Celtic Manor has plenty to do as well as golf so should enjoy it as a whole.

Hi guys I'm really excited about this coming Monday. A very good friend of mine has paid for a winter deal for us to play the Ryder Cup venue. Fortunately Gareth Edwards has a course review on youtube featuring every hole. I am likely not to play a course of such caliber again for sometime do I want to do well. I play off a 16 so I'm guessing if I shoot a sub 90 on the twenty ten that would be awesome. We are also playing Roman Road the next day which looks a much easier prospect. I'll let you know how I get on next week

Hi Diablo My own swing has been built on one plane teaching. I actually became aware of it through golflink and Mike Labauve. That led to me buying Jim Hardy's book which gave me the worded concept more than anything and the technical do's and dont's. For the visual info found out that Jeff Ritter was taught by Hardy and he has lots of free videos on Youtube and I have written to Jeff and he does offer online coaching if that's the route you want to go.

Now not really because I have found my own wheelhouse as a player. In the beginning most definitely. Friend of mine who at his best is an 80-85 shooter made me want to play better. He's the most passionate and serious player I have played with. Once he shot 80 and I 110 so it was inspiring to try and match him which after 7 years I have finally done

Well I agree the par 5's are the easiest holes. I meant the par 4's because I nailed several 5 and 6 irons in the 160-180 range got pars on some of those par 4's. The trouble was I missed some easy par 3 shots one being a 7 iron from 145 that I dumped in the front bunker. So I need to brush up my bunker play first and the mental side of feeling that I should hit a par 3 in one shot.

Short par 3 seen many in 100-110 range Long there is one at a course I have played it's 207 but it's uphill. Plays 20 yards longer than that. It's a hybrid for me. Short par 4 played 253 but topography of the hole makes them difficult Long I've seen 440 which really is a par 5 for me. Short par 5 475 out of the holes I've encountered. Long 638 yards I know of one course where this the case in my county.

For me it is split into three things. Mental Highly recommend reading Dr Bob which ever one you chose read em all if you can same basic message. Physical Practice more than you play. A crap swing will produce the same results wherever you play. I broke 100 barely playing 6-8 rounds a year because I hit balls at home in a net,range,and chipping&pitching; on the lawn. Strategy You can still shave strokes by smart play but you have to be really humble. The number on your card is just a number. Even if you keep stats it is just numbers. I sat myself down and really evaluated how I wanted to play and what shots I could repeat over and over again. You can shoot pretty low with a few basic shots if you are playing a course within your abilities. I have added some variation with my short game to get me out of jams but iron game and long game I don't change. I just hit the same shots because yardage is more important than shape unless it calls for it. In most situations you can take a yardage call over shaping anyway. This is a basic blueprint but the principle for me is to simplify it all. I love reading all the technical stuff and the different thoughts of all. However no one here or on the tour is me with my life and my body and mind etc... Decide plan and play and fully commit and 100 is a very achievable target in fact you don't have to be a super talented golfer to shoot sub 90 scores.

If you have family, job, other time sapping duties and the like then golf is an occasional hobby not your job. I really simplified it for myself this year. Went back over my coaching manual and stuck to that model and basically ignored everything else. Sorry to all you instructors out there! High handicap mistake listening to all tips for the swing. Get a lesson from one pro or get a book and stick with a method that suits. No shot shaping and game improvement clubs! I set up the same swing the same and don't alter a thing. I also only hit average distances according to the data. Why do you need to shape most dog legs I don't have the distance to shape around. If I get out of position most times you can scuttle the ball forward enough to give you a shot in or next best thing a fairway lie to limit it to a double. My clubs are also easy to hit bigger face which equals consistently same distance and tighter dispersion. Practice wedge shots if you have the space like I do. Just does wonders for your touch. It's a part of the game that a mid handicap will have to rely on unless you can hit the ball 280 plus or you are Nick Faldo with a mid iron. I went from a 28 to a 16 in one year mainly because I learnt to chip well. I did improve my ball striking somewhat but that really gave me looks at greens and brought the short game into play when I missed. Mental game read Bob Rotella Golf is a Game not Perfect. Really opened my eyes to my sky high expectations and lack of thought on any given hole. Went out and shot 86 after reading this when six months previous I shot 109. Mainly strategy but focusing properly on each shot and embracing every shot wherever I ended up. Turns out that getting out of trouble can be fun and beating your friends on a par 5 teeing off with a 6 iron when they take a 3 Wood and get a 6 to your par. Remember Conservative strategy cocky swing!! I mean the thing is I could play like this and get down to a 10. Perhaps lower but being as I'm not for a long time going to be investing large amounts of time to golf I'll stick with this current plan as golf is very enjoyable right now.

Wind plays havoc with your distances. I remember this year playing into a headwind of 13mph not really strong my hybrid went 185 then in the opposite direction downwind same club 230 just ridiculous difference. You lose on headwinds but gain downwind so staying patient is the key but I seem to get bothered more by really wet weather. Golf is fun but when everything is drenched the chances of enjoying it become greatly reduced. Its happened a couple of times and the scores become kind of pointless you're trying to just get finished

Played a par 5 which was 485 yards. Both times I end up blocking it into the adjacent fairway. Roughly same distance 210-220. Took a 6 iron just to get back in play. That left me with 110 missed the green. Didn't get up and down took a 6. Second time similar position I pull out my hybrid smoke it and left with 60 yards hit the green and get a 5. The green is wide but not deep so getting closer is a great play. A bigger green and 110 would be a good play. Its a hole by hole strategy. I find there is no absolute lay up yardage everytime. Add in some inconsistent yardages and you are changing club decisions on the fly. This part of the game has become a lot of fun for me. Can I adjust and get myself back in the hole? It actually takes off pressure to hit the shot perfect.

What you think about is the key to this. For me its as simple as this. I actually believe each practice session can only really be effective if you work on one thing. I can get totally lost focusing on one movement in my swing. On the course I can mentally and physically know the overall feel of my swing. I've done it that many times I know it. So when I do my pre shot routine and practice swing in connecting with that feel and that's it. As everyone has said you need to conceptualize your golf swing first. If you come over the top in your swing going to the course and not thinking will still lead to coming over the top. You need to accept it, effect the change, practice it and only then will not thinking so much help.

Shot 86 on SSS 71 measuring 6186 Shot 83 on SSS 66 measuring 4552 I'm really not sure my best score carries much meaning. Pro's I think get a real buzz if they have a shot at a 59. Its one of those once in a blue moon things. To me the best rounds are where you are in control of yourself despite the score. My best one was breaking 100. Took 53 on the front nine but knew I had the game to finally do it. Went round in 44 on the back just a great feeling and basically in my mind knew I could break 90 as well and did that next round as well. Massive buzz probably why golf is so addictive.

I actually disagree with the statement about Tiger and his anger. Its Tiger's inner drive and relentless determination to be the best that makes him great. I've watched him many times now and when he's not on its a pretty joyless experience to watch him play golf. I believe he walks a tightrope with his attitude and a few bad shots and for me he's a bad example for an amateur golfer to emulate on the course. None of us who are out past a 5 handicap and even more should look at Tiger for on course attitude not unless you are super talented and plan on golf being your job. Phil Mickelson is the perfect pro to emulate. To be that laid back at the level he is playing at. Amateur golfers would serve themselves very well indeed the more you can slip into the mindset in that kind of way where you enjoy everything you can about your round.

There's a pattern developed in my rounds. Now I'm not expecting to par every par 3 on the course I'm not at that level yet. I should be able to be no worse than a 4. Too many times I make double. Sometimes from a bunker or a 3 putt or a misread chip or pitch. Just analysed my last round short course seven par 3's and I was 9 over, similar story to my last round 4 par 3's and was 6 over. Amazing that I'm shooting in the 80's now with such carelessness. I can't say I need to work on anything mechanical really. I think it might be a mental approach. Perhaps if I play for a 4 because in my mind par 3's are opportunities to shoot par. Plus if you make a poor shot on a par 3 a double is easy to come by. So perhaps a small adjustment to my initial shot from the tee and making sure that I minimize trouble and I'm sure it will improve.

4,552 par 66. Short course interesting topography lots of elevation and small greens apart from a couple. Played a casual round with a friend no warm up went straight in which means it takes a few holes to find the groove. First five holes two doubles and a triple but par on the rest of the front nine and was fine from then. Shot 83 so stay at a 16 handicap exactly a year ago when I started an online handicap was 36 so ecstatic with the progress!!!

Its easy to say its just a game and have fun to someone but it doesn't address the issue of why you're angry. The key to controlling temper is to find the source of it. Cut that off and the temper is banished. For example it may be that losing your temper is connected to how one deals with any disappointment in there life. When things don't go our way it often reveals our ability to cope. Not saying this is the case but it addresses the route cause of the anger. The anger is an effect of a pattern of thinking. If you can open your mind to a more holistic way of thinking I strongly suggest a sports psychology book of some sort in particular one that's golf related. It will help with acceptance of the game and the course. Actually I would say it will help you embrace the challenge and that the fun is had in the imperfection of golf getting yourself out of trouble. It will expand your mind to think differently about golf itself. Life is too short to stress over something which really can be a joyful experience when we learn to approach it in a fuller way and not how we expect it to bend to our will.

I feel that my shot is already decided before I hit the ball get all the basics right at address then my personal secret is a turn and a turn. Literally now my only focus is my torso turn it to the right and turn back to the left. Of course its been hours in the making and repeated work for this to happen so maybe the biggest secret is patience that you will discover your swing when you work on the correct things foe you

This is something I really started to trust when I was playing lots of tennis 10 years back. I was actually looking for coaching manuals when I found an old copy of "The Inner Game of Tennis" Timothy Gallwey. If you are unfamiliar with his approach he talks about Self 1 your mind and the ego always looking to control things, wanting credit, and critical when things go bad, and believes that success in learning a task is down to knowing how to do it right. Self 2 is the body itself and it central nervous system which is highly capable and can learn without interference from self 1. It has a silent intelligence of it's own. Gallwey also wrote "The Inner Game of Golf" too and the trick is to get self 1&2 to work together. As Erik opines everybody is a feel player. Some players have changed their swings radically with much success over the years. Ben Hogan is probably the most famous. It's down too knowing having the knowledge of what to do, how to swing your club, the positions of the face and club and so forth. That information is great in itself but useless unless you allow the body to learn it. This is where feel comes in. Awareness of how things feel coupled with relaxed concentration and you can make changes almost seamlessly the more you are in tune with your body. It's very holistic but I believe my experiences with Tennis and having read and put into practice these thoughts have allowed me to learn the golf swing without major frustration. The game itself the approach to the course has been the problem for me and I have spent time catching up there and marrying the two is the key to it. One of the biggest keys to learning golf or other sports in my own way of learning has been to read or see a bit of coaching advice go to a mirror and replicate that move and to be very aware of how my muscles feel through that particular motion. When I'm in the practice net or range it's then a case of making shadow swings trusting my body to replicate that feel and then hit balls.

I don't know if this is something that you would recommend to anybody but when you have the proper set up for a greenside bunker, you are basically encouraging a flip. I found I was hitting to far behind the ball and I think I stumbled on the answer. When you address the ball in a bunker the standard advice seems to be aim for a point a couple of inches behind the ball but when the wrists unhinge my divot starts further back, too much sand. I was practicing the fluffy lie pitch today with a bunker set up and I found that if you aim at the back of the ball to hit it like a normal shot then the divot starts just before the ball because it is still forward in your stance and the bounce is exposed as the wrists unhinge. Not sure if you would teach that or move the ball back a bit in your stance but I found it works well to do this

Well I've played sport all my life but family and job have slowed me down to a bare minimum. However I still workout at home with resistance bands because its important that my body can handle my swing. I also do short bursts of practice everyday if possible. That might be chipping,pitching,putting, or full swing work. Perhaps 10 mins- 30 mins depending on time. I made a conscious effort to make the game simple for myself. A stock swing and I have mid handicap irons so I don't worry about shaping. That cuts the amount of swing maintenance down. I hit to distance without having to worry about getting to tucked pins. That leaves me free to develop creativity with wedges, I practice different shots on my own land and putting practice is mainly indoors. Unfortunately I don't get to play much maybe once a month or twice but it doesn't matter because I can play without expectations

You can learn as a child would again, but its letting go of all the things we have formed about ourselves as adults. Most adults have a false perception of themselves by adulthood depending on what influenced them growing up. That then becomes reality because they think that's who they are. You can tap into your potential for learning again by being aware while learning. If you can use feel,sound,vision, and concentration all together then you can learn much faster. It takes commitment and diligence and a calm state to allow the silent intelligence in your body to do this but it can be done despite age. The big reason why children learn so quickly is they learn without ego. They haven't formed ideas about their ability or coordination or whether they can or not they just do. Its later on when other people tell them this person is better than you or your behind so you have to go in the bottom class. Society tells you that there are elite people and average people and so we get a cluttered mind because that's what we've been fed. The trick is to let go of judgement and allow yourself to learn and have no perceptions of yourself or golf. Just learn.

Think finesse not power. If you can keep your upper body fairly still and allow the wrists to hinge and unhinge briskly it quiets your leg action so you don't dig. The amount of sand is crucial too far behind and you might as well use a spade to get out.