cfritchie

Jim, I'm a single digit player who took off for 8 years and have came back last fall, I was a 0 when I left the game. I was never a long hitter but did hit with adequate distance. My game was always based around making very few mistakes and having a very solid short game..even though I was not a "great" putter. I studied under Hank Haney and a couple other pros of his and would say my preferred and even natural ball flight is a right to left shot. My "Big Miss" is a block, my nick name for years was "high right". After several years working on my swing I decided to "trust it" and only used a Momentus as a training aid/warm up device. This helped me with getting the feel back in my swing. Since coming back to the game last fall I have taken a few lessons under one of Haney's head pros and do believe 100% in their methodology. With that said I still fight the block and occasional big miss right. Give me some thoughts on how you think the Orange Whip would be helpful in getting my club on the correct path on the downswing and helping me get rotation through the hitting area. I'm 50 years old and swing the driver between 101 and 105 mph, also my 5'8" wife is wanting to learn to play the game. I will have her swinging the Momentus as I do think it helps but would be curious how you think the Whip would help both of us. Thanks

It's OK to "care" that you have been omitted or turned down. These are great tools to motivate yourself...now what are you going to do to motivate yourself? Are you going to go be a big fish in a little pond by playing only with guys you know you are better then or are you going to set a goal of qualifying for....say the US Amateur...if you set that goal then maybe you will work harder and practice more. I was in the golf business years ago...one of the things I'd have junior players do that I could tell had the fear of going low is have them play tees where they would shoot really low...this can be fun. Go play a round of golf and play the most forward tees you can find...the ladies tees or what have you. Challenge yourself to shoot 4,5, 6 or 7 under par. You still have to hit the shots and make the putts. Let this prove you can shoot low and then move back to your tees. Find some small money games with some really good players....

Most successful people will use a "no" as a motivation to prove people wrong...most unsuccessful people will quit... Ultimately it is up to you to decide what you want to do...playing college golf is only "playing college golf." There are many many other opportunities to have success in golf. Check out the USGA as well as your regional or state associations.

I have always paid a bit more attention to the last third, I am paying a bit more attention to where the ball must enter the cup. I always did but not sure it was as high on my list as it is now. I am looking at an inch in front of my ball...previously I would pick a spot 2-4 inches in front of my ball and align my self to that, but not anymore. Looking at the spot to roll your ball over and not looking at the ball is a BIG change. That has been the biggest challenge but it starting to feel a bit natural, I can tell I roll the ball better instead of "hitting" it.

I should start by saying I would have considered myself very "above average" with "thinking" about am I making a "correct putting stroke?" I know there are flaws in my stroke (relative to it being perfect"), but I have been a scratch player in the past so the stroke was not really "horrid." I just always felt if I were to have a good putting day I'd have to really concentrate on making a technically great stroke. My misses have usually been a push, especially on short putts. The book really had me to "let go" of trying to make a perfect mechanical putt. With that said there are some basic key things in the book that are discussed with executing a good putting stroke. Those things for me I felt I was doing pretty good. The book got me away from thinking about the technical aspect of making a stroke and really focusing on the speed and then the line. I now "trust" my stroke, since it was technically "good enough". The book completely changed my preshot routine as well as how I execute the stroke, and what I focus on when putting. Simply now I do everything I can to get the ball rolling, and rolling on the correct line for the speed I want. Does it really matter "how" I get the ball to go on the line with correct speed, I don't think it does as much as I use to think it did. This is still very much a work in progress but I do feel I have a chance to make a lot more putts, and last Sunday I did.

My wife drove a golf cart for the first time 2 weeks ago, we are about to start teaching her the game...I guess she is in!

It's his "Bradley Tic" ... LOL

Suggest to them "divisions" within the league. They can offer an "overall" division and a "seniors" division and if players want they can play in both or only one.

Like riding a bike into a wall!

I quit playing for 8-9 years due to some stomach surgery, and started playing again last October. When I quit I was scratch.... I'm 50 years old and am not a long hitter but wouldn't consider myself short either. I've been playing to a 5.2 index since coming back and had some nice rounds in the mid to high 70's and a few blow ups with the worst being an 86. I do hit a lot of balls. I downloaded the book "Unconscious Putting" this past Monday and read it this week, I hit some balls but mostly had 3-4 putting sessions to work on the changes Dave Stockon recommends. I knew the changes would still be a work in progress but felt comfortable enough give it a try. So Sunday afternoon the weather was decent and I decided to "take it to the course." I was never a "good" putter, and wouldn't say I was a bad putter. My game was based around not making mistakes. I'd have a birdie or two per round and a couple bogies and the rare double. Not really a long hitter, I did have an above average short game. The first couple of holes I was a bit "locked up" and made a couple of bad passes at the ball and started the round with two bogies. After settling in the result was a 72 with 4 birdies and 4 bogeys and I did miss a 3.5' birdie putt. I made some amazing putts, including 3-4 big breaking left to right for birdie and pars and had some really really nice rolls from 30+ feet that resulted in tap ins. I'm 50 and it was great to shoot an even par round. As I try to remember my scores back 8-9 years ago I don't think I had many rounds that were even or better, what I recall was a bunch of +1 or +2 rounds that got my official index to a 0. The point of this is if you haven't read the book I'd really suggest taking the time to do it. I was in the golf biz for 3 years and only needed my oral interviews for my Class A back in the early 90's. I am pretty "technical" with my approach to golf, as I studied under Hank Haney and some of his guys...I do however really appreciate the "feel" approach in this book. I have a little bit of a pep in my step this week after shooting even par after being back for just a few months. Looking forward to some spring and summer golf!

Sunday - Even par 72 @ Ridgeview Ranch in Plano, TX I quit playing for 8-9 years due to some stomach surgery, started playing again last October. When I quit I was scratch....Since I started playing again I've been playing to a 5.2 index and my best round was a 76. I read Dave Stocktons book "Unconscious Putting" and it was a tremendous read. I hit balls this past week a few times but did have 3-4 practice putting sessions making the changes he suggested. The result was a 72 with 4 birdies and 4 bogeys and I did miss a 3.5' birdie putt. I should add I only had 26 putts. I'm 50 and it was great to shoot an even par round. As I try to remember my scores back 8-9 years ago I don't think I had many rounds that were even or better, what I recall was a bunch of +1 or +2 rounds that got my official index to a 0.

Snedeker, Brandt -11 Westwood, Lee -11 Fred Couples -12

"FAST" and no thatch are not something that goes hand in hand. A soft green can still be very fast, a hard green can still be slow. The greens at Doral were both. Hard and fast.....they will soften up as the root system gets more substantial, the speed is determined more by how they are mowed and how dry they let them get.

You really should consider playing Piatue, the Wolf course. It's about 45 minutes from Vegas and the course and view is fantastic. Depending on the time of year you go the rates are very reasonable. I'm a professional photographer and former assistant golf pro who started playing again after 8-9 years off. This is a shot I took this January.